Page 24 of The Rancher's Runaway Bride
Her breath hitches, and for a moment, we’re frozen, the air between us heavy and crackling with something neither of us can ignore. Then she moves, her hands slipping from mine to cup my face, her touch so soft it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Say it again,” she whispers.
I grin, my lips brushing hers as I repeat the words that have been clawing their way out of my chest for weeks. “You’re my forever.”
And then she kisses me, soft and hesitant at first, like she’s afraid she’ll break if she pushes too hard. But I’m not afraid. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her flush against me as I deepen the kiss, pouring every ounce of emotion I’ve been holding back into her.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, her body melting into mine like she’s finally found where she belongs. I lower her onto the couch, my hands framing her face as I pull back just enough to look into her eyes.
“I love you,” I say, the words coming out gruff and unpolished, but real. “I love you so damn much.”
Tears spill down her cheeks, but she’s smiling, her hands gripping my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll disappear. “I love you too, Cal. More than I’ve ever loved anything.”
Her words are my undoing. I kiss her again, slow and deep, savoring every moment, every sigh and shiver. This is everythingI never thought I’d have, and I’m not letting it go. Not now, not ever.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathing hard, I rest my forehead against hers, my hands stroking her hair. “You’re staying,” I tell her, my voice rough with determination. “This is your home now.”
She nods, her smile growing. “I know.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, then her lips, unable to stop myself. “Good. Because I don’t think I could let you go even if you wanted me to.”
“I don’t want you to,” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion. “I want to be here, with you and Carson. I want to build a life here, with our family.”
Our family. The words settle over me like a balm, soothing the parts of me I didn’t even know were raw. I pull her closer, holding her like she’s the most precious thing in the world—because she is.
And for the first time in years, I feel whole.
Epilogue
Layla–one month later
The barn glows with a warm, golden light as the sun dips behind the mountains, casting a pinkish hue over the lake in the distance. Fairy lights twinkle in the evergreens like the stars themselves decided to come down and bless the occasion. The scent of pine fills the crisp evening air, mingling with the soft murmur of laughter and clinking glasses from the guests gathered outside.
I stand just behind the barn doors, my bare toes brushing against the smooth wood floor. My dress, light as air, swirls around my legs with the mountain breeze. The crown of wildflowers atop my head feels like the most natural thing in the world, like I’ve always belonged to this land, to this man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
“Ready?” Ridge, Cal’s friend, grins as he steps back from adjusting the barn doors.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. “Ready.”
The doors creak open, revealing the breathtaking scene before me. Rows of wooden benches are filled with Cal’s friends and the tight-knit community that’s welcomed me like one oftheir own. Strings of lights loop above their heads, casting a soft glow that makes everything feel almost dreamlike.
And there he is.
Cal Walker, riding in atop the wild mustang he’s been training for months. The horse moves with raw power and grace, but it’s Cal who holds every ounce of my attention. Broad shoulders clad in a white button-down shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing those strong forearms I’ve come to adore. His hat is perched low, shadowing those piercing eyes, but even from here, I feel the intensity of his gaze locking onto mine.
I can’t breathe. I can’t move. All I can do is stare as he swings off the horse in one smooth motion, his boots hitting the ground with a confidence that sends a shiver down my spine.
He strides to the end of the aisle, standing tall and commanding, his rough-hewn edges softened only slightly by the way Carson tugs at his pant leg, bouncing with excitement. Duke, the loyal cattle dog he is, sits patiently beside them, the custom-made pouch carrying our rings tied neatly around his collar.
Carson’s beaming smile calms the nervous flutter in my chest. He waves, calling out, “Mommy Layla! You look so pretty!”
Laughter ripples through the crowd, and I can’t help but laugh too, my cheeks warming as I step forward. My father isn’t here to walk me down the aisle—and I wouldn’t have wanted him to be—but that doesn’t matter. Every step feels like a reclamation of my life, my choices, my freedom.
As I move closer, Cal’s gaze never wavers. It’s heavy, intense, and filled with so much unspoken emotion that I feel like I might crumble beneath it. But I don’t. I lift my chin, meeting his eyes with every bit of the strength I’ve found since I came to Devil’s Peak.
When I finally reach him, he takes my hands in his, his rough palms grounding me, tethering me to this moment.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low enough that only I can hear. His thumb brushes over my knuckles, sending a jolt of electricity through me.
