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The word hit me like a punch to the chest, and for a second, I just stared at her, dumbstruck.

“Oh, no, she’s not my—”

“Colton, come on!” Eleanor called out, waving her arms. “Ask her to take our photo!”

I cleared my throat, frozen in place for a moment.

The woman smiled knowingly, a twinkle in her eye, and gave me a little wink, as if she could see straight through me.

I glanced back at Eleanor, who was still waiting beneath the sign, radiant and full of life.

Without thinking too much about it, I handed my phone to the woman and jogged over to Eleanor.

She slipped into me effortlessly, resting against my side just as she had that night at the gala. My arm moved instinctively around her shoulders, holding her close as we smiled at the camera.

But before the woman could snap the picture, something shifted in me. Without hesitating, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Eleanor’s chestnut brown hair.

And just like that, something inside me cracked open.

I felt it—a flicker of joy so deep and real it made my chest ache. Happiness. It had been so long since I’d allowed myself to feel it, and here it was, catching me completely off guard.

This moment, watching her experience something brand new with such joy and excitement, rattled me hard. Seeing her want to document this last trip, the last bit of being out West, told me how much the land and time here had impacted her.

But, true to form, the shadow of dread lingered in the back of my mind, whispering that this emotion couldn’t last.

Then, with a turn of her head and a smile so bright it battled the stars, Eleanor leaned up and placed a kiss on my lips.

Everything else disappeared.

The world faded away, and all that existed was her—the softness of her kiss, the warmth of her presence.

When we finally pulled back, the older woman grinned as she returned my phone.

I glanced down at the screen.

A frozen memory of joy, proof of a fleeting moment I’d cling to, even as I braced for the inevitable storm.

Chapter 32

Colton

THE REST OF the trip passed without incident. We flew through the remaining hours, stopping only once, and arrived just as the sun began its descent. The last rays of light stretched across the sky, bathing the mountains surrounding Stone Ranch in a golden glow.

As we stepped through the grand front doors, Tawnie stood waiting, her arms crossed and a tight, sympathetic smile on her face.

Since I never flew, Tawnie always beat me to the next location.

Something was off. Tawnie wasn’t one to greet me with that look, not ever. She’d arrived just a couple of hours ahead of us, but whatever news she carried had clearly weighed her down.

“I hate to hit you with this the moment you get here,” she said, her tone unusually subdued, “but the lawyer’s upstairs in your office. He needs to see you immediately.”

The tension in her voice sent a ripple of unease through me. Tawnie was always direct, sharp, and unapologetic, but right now, her hesitance only made the knot in my gut tighten.

Eleanor paused beside me, her gaze darting between Tawnie and me. “Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice softer than usual, almost timid.

I hated the way they were looking at me, like I might shatter if the truth came too quickly.

“Why is he here?” I asked Tawnie, my voice low and gruff.