One year & four months later
There are a lot of should’ves in this world.
Like…
I should’ve studied harder in school.
I should’ve listened to my parents more growing up.
I should’ve partied less in college.
But I wouldn’t change any mistake in my past because they’ve brought me here, to this point, with the people I love the most in this world.
“Guys, squish in closer,” the photographer yells.
My family jostles together, my mom shivering in the chilly air. I wanted to do official family photos for the holidays, and since everyone loved the idea, we’ve all trekked down to San Antonio to do a special shoot at the River Walk. It’s lit up with twinkle lights for the holidays. Every branch of every cypress tree that lines the sleepy waterway is glowing bright. The festive air grows as the late afternoon sky turns to dusk and more tourists bustle along the cobblestone footpath.
Brady’s parents and Ethan’s brood stand off to the side, watching my sister and me pose with our mom and dad in an alcove that extends over the water. Behind us, another tourist barge floats by, the sound of laughter and merriment spilling over.
The flash goes off. Holy crap, that’s bright.
Ethan winks at me, and I smile a big, goofy grin, my heart doing a twirly-whirl in my chest.
He and I have been going strong since the summer I took that nanny job. After Cody’s disastrous birthday party, even though Ethan and I were on the same page about moving forward in our relationship, we also decided we needed to take things slower. For the sake of the kids. For the sake of his divorce. For my own sanity.
Anyway, I thought it would be easier for him to fight for custody if he didn’t have his new girlfriend shacking up with him. So I stayed with my sister and helped her with baby Annie and Izzy and took classes two days a week in Austin for a semester to finish my degree.
Living with my sister had its advantages. Besides being able to spoil my nieces, Kat tutored me, and I totally aced my classes. She also taught me how to balance the books for her lavender business, and with the right training, I found I was pretty decent at it.
When Ethan heard I was doing my sister’s accounting, he wanted to hire me to do the same for Carter Cutting Horses. Tori Duran, decent at math? Who knew? I sure as hell didn’t. But since bookkeeping is largely done on the computer, I’m not taxing my big brain too much.
Working for him also gave me an excellent reason to be at the ranch several days a week.
But Ethan was serious about taking me on dates. About wooing me like some hero in an old black-and-white movie. Even if some weeks he was so tired all he did was make me dinner, he made me feel special.
My favorite nights, though, are the ones where he wraps me in a blanket under the stars.
Our first “big” date was here, actually, at the River Walk, so today, as I look around this beautiful setting, all I can think about is how he kissed me right in this very spot and told me how much he loved me. It’s pretty sweet that he suggested we take our photos here.
“Great! Let’s switch things around.” The photographer motions for Brady and his family to move in, so he and Kat can get their family’s pic.
I’m stepping out of the shot when Brady calls my name. “Where you going? Get back in here, doofus.” He’s holding a slobbery Annie in one arm, and Izzy with the other. “We can’t do a family portrait without my little sister.” I smile like an idiot and squish back in.
Nerves twist in my stomach. Ethan’s family is up next. Will they want me in their photo? Logan is hugging his mom to keep her warm, and Joey is holding everyone’s coats when they step into the photo, poor girl. I’m really hoping Logan offers to take a pic with her because if he just brought Joey along to be our bellhop, I’ll throttle him.
Next to them, Cody is climbing up his dad. Cody’s almost three and a half now, all rough-and-tumble boy, and still one hundred percent adorable. His arm healed well, thank God.
Mila smiles at me over her cup of hot chocolate. She and her brother have had a tough time with their mom, who finally admitted to Ethan she stood to gain a substantial inheritance from her late grandfather, but the stipulation in the will required her to be married. Which explains why Allison wanted to reconcile with her ex-husband all of a sudden that summer.
Ethan didn’t have to rake her through the mud to maintain sole custody of the children. She met a guy, got married—probably to inherit that money—and lost what little interest she had in her kids.
As for the money Ethan owed her, since she had her grandfather’s inheritance, she was less dogged about the situation. Ultimately, she agreed to getting repaid within three to five years, which meant she and Ethan would save the massive fees they were forking over to their attorneys because they didn’t drag it out in court.
The day that was settled, Ethan asked me to move in with him, which I did in a heartbeat. My parents weren’t thrilled, but where’s the fun if I’m not keeping them on their toes? They do love Ethan and his kids, though, so they’ve been supportive and not too judgy.
The photographer claps and motions for Ethan’s crew to move in. I step out with my family, but a hand wraps around mine and tugs me back.
“C’mon, sweetness.” Ethan’s voice, low and raspy in my ear, sends chills down my arms. “You know you belong in this one. You’re my family too.”
If there was snow on the ground, I’d be making snow angels. Instead, I bite my lip to contain my smile a smidge, but he’s laughing, so I know he sees it.
He’s exhausted from his trip to Fort Worth, but you’d never know it by how chatty he’s been today with my family. I guess it helped that he did so well at the Futurity, nabbing first place in his division. It’s been a team effort to help him and his brother attend the contests, and I have to be honest—I like being on a team. Especially his team.
Between his winnings and how business is booming on the ranch, Ethan has been able to hire more help. That means we always have time to take the kids to the zoo or enjoy a late-night baseball game on TV.
After several more pics, the photographer tells us we’re done, but Ethan waves at her. “I’d like to get a group shot of all of us if that’s okay.”
It’s a tight fit, but Brady, Kat, and their kids stand on one side, both sets of parents on the other. Then Ethan’s clan all get on their knees in the front. I start to move down too, but my sister tugs on my hand.
“What? Should I stand?”
She gives me the strangest smile. “Yes, I think you’re supposed to stand for this part.”
But I’m in the middle of the front row. Won’t it be weird?
Except…
I look down and…
Whoa.
The flash goes off.
Ethan is on one knee holding up a small, velvet box.
“Oh, my God!” I jump up and down. “YES!”
Our families laugh, and Ethan gives me a wide smile. “Baby, I think you’re supposed to wait until I ask.”
I laugh, my pulse racing. I can be quiet. I think.
Taking my hand in his, he clears his throat. “Tori, in such a short time, you’ve become everything to me. My best friend, my soulmate, my confidante. Thank you for bringing me back to life. For showing me how to take challenges in stride. For believing in me. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone else, and it would be my greatest honor if you’d be my wife.”
That sound? That’s the sound of my heart melting all over the pavement. “I love you too, Ethan.” He blurs through my tears. “Can I say yes now?” I whisper. When he nods, I tackle him in a hug. “YES!”
The flash keeps going off, and there’s a crowd of tourists oohing and awwing, and I’m crying all the tears.
His strong arms wrap around me, and he sits me on his knee. “You might want to see the ring before you say yes,” he jokes.
I grab his handsome face in my hands. “You could give me a trinket out of a vending machine, and I’d still say yes.” Truth.
Those baby-blue eyes on my rugged man mist a little. “But my girl deserves diamonds.” He opens the velvet box and pulls out a blinding ring with a stunning rock in the middle and a gazillion small diamonds all around. “It’s an eternity setting because that’s how long I plan to love you.”
Sniffling, I tuck my face into his neck because I’m overwhelmed. “Love you too. So, so much.” I breathe him in and take a minute to count my blessings. “Does this mean we get to ride off into the sunset?”
Gently, he lifts my face to his and wipes away the tears. “Absolutely. You’ll be mine,” he whispers. “Always and forever.”
I smile against his kiss. “Always and forever.”
Once upon a time, I didn’t believe in fairy tales.
But then I found my prince.
And we saved each other.
