And I do.
Because I can do anything with this man at my side. I can open a dance studio. I can live my dreams. I can face my fears. I can build the family that is right for us.
“I have loved you since before I knew what it really meant to lose you. I have lived so many years with your ghost sitting in the front row and clapping with the audience every time I stepped on stage. I can’t wait to experience the life I get to live with you and our girl.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, wanting to make sure there’s no doubt. “I’m all in, Cowboy.”
He lets out a feral growl. It’s the only warning I get before he rolls me onto my back and takes my mouth in a kiss that borders on brutal. Brutal but also so damn beautiful.
My fingers thread through his hair as I pull him even closer to me. We get lost in each other, but I’ve never felt more found. I know this is how it’ll always be now. Even on the hard days.
“I love you,” we whisper the words to each other, in synch, just like the beat of our hearts.
EPILOGUE
TWO MONTHS LATER
COWBOY
“This is ridiculous,” Brielle grumbles as I lead her toward the door of Tiny Dancer Studio. “I’ve already seen the studio; it’s not like this is a surprise.”
I chuckle because she’s so damn adorable when she pretends to be upset with me. She’s not upset at all; she loves this.
When she stumbles slightly since she’s blindfolded, I’m right there to make sure she doesn’t fall. The wary breath she blows out only makes my smile grow.
“Yes,” my voice is low and husky as my lips brush the shell of her ear, “you’ve seen it, but not when it was all done. Everything is done and ready to open now. And you should get the full effect.”
The way she nibbles on her lower lip tells me just how nervous she is. When I guide her inside the studio, I smile at all the people who are fanned out throughout the room. They’re all practically vibrating with excitement. Not for me, for my woman.
And that does something to me.
I look at my brothers and am also swept away by a wave ofgratitude. Years ago, after Brielle left, I needed to decide what to do with my life and where to go, because I knew Seneca Falls wasn’t my destiny. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would find this. But I did.
And the entire club is here ready to celebrate my woman and her accomplishments.
My eyes sweep over to my parents and siblings who are just as excited to see Brielle live out her dream. They saw how losing her devastated me when I was only 18. They also saw me head out into the world to find a place where I could breathe fully.
Mom is doing a little happy dance while her eyes are fixed on my woman. I can see the pride on my father’s face as he looks between me, Brielle, and our daughter.
Then there’s Rian. She is wiggling in place while wearing a shirt that says, ‘Mommy’s Little Dancer’, which I know is going to make Brielle cry.
I give my woman’s shoulder a squeeze before taking a step away and positioning myself in front of her. When I drop down to one knee, even though she can’t see me, the gasps around the room have Brielle freezing in place.
After clearing my throat and opening the ring box, my words come out gruff, “Open your eyes Tiny Dancer and see what the next part of our path looks like.”
The blindfold is ripped away from her head and flutters to the floor as her eyes dart around the room before landing on me. Tears turn her brown eyes glassy, and her hands fly up to her mouth.
“Brielle,” my voice is deep and carries the resonance this moment deserves, “Years ago when our lives took us in differentdirections, I thought it was the end of our story no matter how much I didn’t want it to be. Still, I knew you had to go, knew you had to chase your dreams and I’m so damn proud of you for doing exactly that.”
I take a deep breath as the first tear slides down her cheek. She’s so damn beautiful and I’m stunned by it for a moment. But my knee on the hard floor reminds me that I need to move this along.
“I got lucky,” I tell her honestly, hoping she can see the sincerity in my eyes, “and you came back into my life. I wasn’t expecting it, but I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by.”
Someone snorts, but I don’t even look in their direction. I’m sure it’s Ace. He loves to give me shit, but now I can give it right back to him. But that’s not my story to tell.
“You danced back into my life and fell in love with our daughter. You listen to her dreams and have helped her learn how to fly. I want to spend the rest of our lives loving you, supporting you, laughing with you, and building whatever family is right for us.”
“Oh, Everton,” she murmurs softly as more tears fall.
“Will you marry me, Brielle?”
