Page 37 of Forbidden Ride
“Why do you think I enlisted the second I turned eighteen? Why do you think I’m here in the middle of nowhere? I’m my own man, Jenny. I was ready to start a new life until you rolled down that hill and set my heart on fire. And now I know the new life is with you.”
I’m stunned. Warm tears tumble from my eyes and roll down my cheeks.
William wipes the tears and kisses the top of each of my hands. “I love you with all my heart, Jenny. I want to be the man who takes care of you. The one you share your dreams with. I want to make you smile, and fuck you, and see your belly swell with my baby. I’ll protect your kids and love them like they’re mine, and they will be. We’ll have a whole herd of kids together, all mixed as one family. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. To have a family of my own that wasn’t sick or twisted. Will you marry me, Jenny? Hell, I know you love me. I can see it in your eyes.”
“I do love you, William. I tried to fight it.” I sniffle, smiling and wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “I didn’t believe that any of my dreams could come true anymore.” I take a big breath. “I think I lost faith.”
I scramble off the couch and get down on the floor with him so we’re eye level. “But here you are.” I close my eyes, letting the tears pour. “You’re my real-life dream come true.”
“Jenny.” His voice cracks. “I love you even more after hearing that.” He brushes the hair off my face, and I glance at the window behind the couch.
“What about what just happened with Chase? How are we going to handle my brothers? Your mom? Your family? My kids? You haven’t even met them yet. What if you all don’t get along? What if?”
“I know. There are so many what ifs, it must be scary.” He kisses me tenderly. “We can go slow. We’ll take our time. We have the whole future together, but I know in my heart everything will work out.” He clasps my hands tighter, his eyes brimming with so much love I can feel it in my soul. “Now make me the happiest man on the planet and say you’ll be my wife.” He chuckles. “That’sifyour children like me.”
The tears start pouring again, and I can’t stop smiling and laughing.
“Say yes, and trust me, Jenny West, I’ll never let you, Jessie, Lara, or Leo down. I swear it on my life.” William sucks in a breath and waits.
“You’re the man of my dreams. Yes. I love you so much. Yes.” I wrap my arms around his neck, plaster myself against him, and push him down on the floor. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” I kiss his forehead, cheeks, nose, and finally his lips. “A million times yes.”
***
EIGHT MONTHS LATER—FOURTHof July.
“Let me see that thing.” Chase’s wife, Lexi, snatches my left hand and holds it up to the kitchen window. My ring sparkles in the light, spraying a rainbow of colors against the glass. “Wow.” Lexi whistles. “I just love a princess-cut diamond, especially when they’re big.” She laughs. “So a Christmas wedding, huh? You sure you’re not going to get cold feet?
“Positive. We’ve been engaged for eight months, and I’m dying to call William my husband.” I wiggle my fingers, glancing down at the ring. “I knew he was the man for me all the way back in November. Love at first sight seems crazy, but when you know—”
“You know.” Lexi’s chocolate-brown eyes light up. She squeezes my arm, giving me a wicked grin. “Girl, I’m the last person who would say anything about rushing. One week with your brother and I was a goner.”
I smile, thinking back to when Chase left Vital Studios. The company sent Lexi to talk Chase into coming back, but they ended up staying right here in West Palomino and getting married instead. They have two kids now and are still going strong.
“I’m just so happy everyone gets along.” I sigh, lifting my gaze to the window, watching my kids drag William through the sprinklers.
Lexi sidles up next to me, craning her neck for a look, just as William scoops Lara into his arms and spins her. Lara throws her head back, laughing so hard her whole body shakes. “It looks like Lara has him wrapped around her finger.”
“And Leo, and Jessie.” I turn back to Lexi. “They’ve never had a real dad. William stops everything to make time for them. Whatever they need, he’s there. As far as my kids are concerned, William walks on water.”
Lexi jumps and looks down at her ankle. “Wait. Who is this little cutie, again? I forget her name.”
“That’s because it keeps changing.” I laugh as Lexi reaches down to pet her. “The kids have been calling her Sprinkles, but her real name is Frosty.” I giggle, remembering that when I first met her, William was calling her Pussy.
“Well, whatever her name is, she’s awfully cute.” Lexi straightens, getting back to business. “Emma’s trying to round up the kids. We put two of the picnic tables together, so there’s enough room for everyone, but it’s a little tight.”
“Who knows, maybe next year we’ll do Fourth of July at William’s. His place is much bigger, and he has a pool—we’ve been swimming practically every day over there.”
“Does he have a hot tub?” Lexi brightens, looking like she hit the jackpot.
I nod, smiling. “He does. We would’ve invited everyone over there today, but we don’t want to make any major changes until we’re officially married. We always have Fourth of July here, so why switch now? Once we’re married, we’ll probably move to his house.”
“I know it’s still a long way off, but I’m looking forward to the wedding. Brooke and Emma are as excited as I am. We should probably start looking for dresses next month, especially yours. I know you’re hoping to find something off the rack and we’re not doing anything custom, but we might need to make alterations.”
“Good point. But to be honest,” I confess, peering out the window, “these family gatherings with William still feel so new, I’m a little on edge. Our dresses are the last thing on my mind.” My oldest brother, Shane, his wife, Brooke, and their one-and-a-half-year-old are here. Ryder and Emma are out in back with their baby, and Chase is running around somewhere with his and Lexi’s children. “There are an awful lot of balls in the air today.”
“Stop worrying.” Lexi refills her wine glass. “We’ve already made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and a few birthday parties without a blow up. Everything will be fine. Brooke took care of the sides you asked her to make. Emma brought I don’t know how many pies, and I brought ice cream and all the fixings to make sundaes. We’re going to lay everything out buffet style, except for the ice cream, just like we planned. Right, boss?” She winks.
“Right.” Relief settles into my bones. “Thanks, Lexi.”
