A prenup shouldnothave surprised me.
Having it handed to me while I’m in my wedding dress, moments after battling with my mother, refusing my inheritance to keep my integrity—that stung.
But like the stupidly in-love fool I am, my heart hurts forhimmore.
I know he didn’t want it. And I know what it’s like to have someone who’s supposed to be rooting for you only care about protecting you financially.
Despite who it hurts.
Brushing the pain aside, I focus on the beauty of the moment. The sun dipping behind those pretty blue mountains. The same ones I’ve loved waking up to from his bedroom window. The setting sun casts a warm gold glow over the open field.
Heat lamps are lined up on either side of our seated guests, adding to the warmth and light.
A week ago, I would have been too nervous to look at anyone. Feeling like a fraud. But when I lock eyes with the man under the tree, the one with the cool easy grin, I don’t feel like a fraud at all.
I’m a woman marrying the man I’ve fallen for.
He and I may not be forever. But I’m not lying to anyone today. And whether or not he feels the same, one thing is for sure—he’s going to win his daughter.
Andthat’sforever.
I glance at my mother with a small smile and she perks her brow. I know what she’s thinking.
I inhale a deep breath, my heart sinking to my stomach. Then, I give her a subtle nod.
Fine. I’ll do it.
Her shoulders rise proudly and she mouths,That’s my girl.
I hand Rose my flowers and step under the tree to join Dallas. His eyes warm as he watches me.
He takes a couple of steps toward me, cupping my chin as we meet. “Just you and me, Sunset,”he whispers low, an inch from my mouth.
At first I’m confused, frowning up at him. Then he adds. “Against them all.”
I suck in a breath, my heart still pounding with confusion for my emotionally driven decision. “For better or worse,” I say with a light shrug.
He watches me, reading me. “I’m all in, Willow. I’m not just ready to spend the rest of my life with you. I was meant to.”
29
“I thought she’d never leave,” Willow exhales as I shut the door behind us, having said goodbye to her mother. Wes agreed to drive her to the airport, so Willow didn’t have to.
I pull her into my arms. “She’s not that bad.”
From across the room, Dad gives me a pointed look and I glare at him to keep his mouth shut. Lucy lost him when she said we had a “cute farm.”
The woman was here less than thirty-six hours—arrived Saturday morning—and when she wasn’t on the phone with her agent or boyfriend, she complained about everything from bottled water to the crickets.
But I must say, the woman was in surprisingly better spirits after the ceremony. Still, it was no surprise to anyone that Willow didn’t ask her to stay another night.
“I’m going to go check on Ellie. She’s had a long night.” Willow presses a hand to my chest and I lean down for a quick kiss before she pads up the stairs barefoot.
I look at the floorboards. The same ones that were thick with dust only a few weeks ago. When she walked into this property I had abandoned for too long.
Made it a home.
I feel Dad’s eyes on me and I lift my gaze to his.
