Page 150 of Colt

Shoving that terrifying thought aside, I clear my throat. “Since everybody’s here, are we ready to begin?”

Paige holds out her arms. “The floor is yours.”

“Screen should be up and working.” Nash brandishes a remote control, nodding at the enormous television that hangs on the wall behind me. “The cord to connect is right there.”

The quiet that settles over the room as everyone sits and I get my computer set up is unnerving. How did the time fly like this? I feel like I just got to the ranch, and all of a sudden, I’m about to make my presentation. I’m about to wrap up another job. But this one is gonna stick with me in a way none before it have.

I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing.

I do know I’m really, really proud of the concepts I’m about to present.

So I screw my courage to the sticking place, roll back my shoulders, and begin.

“First and foremost, I want to thank y’all for welcoming me to Hartsville with open arms. Well, with a notable exception or two.”

Colt holds up a hand. “Guilty.”

It’s all I can do not to stare at him. He’s seated just to my right, his hands on the armrests of his chair. His ankle is crossed over his knee, and he’s leaning slightly back, the massive bulk of his body relaxed, at ease.

“Look at you, being able to admit when you’re wrong.” Mack gives his brother a shove. “I like the new Colt.”

I do too. So fucking much.

“The operation y’all have built is incredible. I recognize that it’s been the work of generations to keep the ranch intact, but I also see the personal stamp each of you is putting on your family’s legacy. Y’all have so much to be proud of.”

Dale puts a hand over his heart. “That means a lot, Lainey. Thank you.”

I bend down to hit a button on my laptop, queueing up the presentation. I forward to the page where I share my thought process.

“Tradition is important here,” I continue. “Not only because it’s the glue that keeps your family together but also because it’s how you know yourselves. It’s what differentiates y’all—what makes a Wallace a Wallace.”

I feel Colt’s eyes boring into me. Glancing at him, I see that he’s doing his squinting thing.

“I’ve tried to capture that in your new branding. History plays a huge role here. So does innovation. You survive by calling on the traditions of the past but also by staying curious about the future. Billie’s animal therapy program is a perfect example of that. So is the training program for barrel racing.”

“Dang.” Tate spears a hand through his hair. “You make us sound like professionals or some shit.”

“You’re the best in the business.” I flip to the next slide. “That’s no secret. I think we use your new branding to call on your heritage—the past—and make it a point to show you’ll bring your traditions with you into the future while also nodding to the excitement and potential of the present.”

Tate starts to speak, but Colt shushes him.

“It’s all right,” I say. “Tate, did you have something to add?”

“He can do it at the end of the presentation,” Colt answers for him. “The floor is yours, Lainey. We’re all ears.”

A strange, not altogether unpleasant pressure builds inside my chest. That exchange lasted all of twelve seconds. Most people would forget it even happened.

But I’ll never forget how valued and important Colt made me feel by holding space for me. All my life, I’ve been taught to put everyone else first. To listen to everyone else before I even think about speaking up myself.

Here’s Colt, though, telling me to speak up.

Telling everyone that I come first.

He’d have something very dirty to say about that.

That’s when I know I’m in love with Colt Wallace. Standing in front of his whole family, I wobble on my feet beneath the weight of what’s happening inside me. Between us. All around us.

I know him. But he just might know me better. He’s been paying very close attention.