Page 147

I move the mouse on my laptop over the PDF files Wyatt just sent over. “Yep.”

“We’ll need lots of money.”

“Lucky for us, the ranch generates a lot of that.”

“You ask her to marry you yet?”

“That’s none of your goddamn business.”

“Ah. So you’re going to.”

I look around the room. I’m at the small desk, which is squeezed underneath Mollie and Wheeler’s design boards. These aren’t ideal working conditions, but then again, neither are the conditions at the office back at the ranch.

If I had to, I could make this work for however oftenMollie and I would be back in Dallas. Especially if we’re able to move some of this stuff to the studio I want to build her on the ranch. I also have an idea for a Bellamy Brooks storefront in downtown Hartsville, but I figure we’ll take this one step at a time.

“It has to be special.” I fall back in my chair. “I also wanna her mama to like me before I propose.”

Wyatt lets out a low whistle. “Godspeed. How are you gonna convince a woman who hates cowboys to let her daughter date one?”

“I’m that good.”

“Lord save us. You got your work cut out for you. Sure you don’t want reinforcements?”

“I can’t bum-rush Aubrey and Mollie like that. It’d be unfair. I know Mollie loves y’all, but I’m the one she’s marrying. The one I hope she’ll marry, anyway.”

Wyatt pauses. “Permission to be honest?”

“Like you need it.”

“I get the feeling there’s something you need to tell me.”

“And what would that be?”

“I heard through the grapevine that y’all were spotted together at the pharmacy recently.”

“Jesus Christ. Can’t get away with anything in a small town, can I?”

“Nope.”

Running a hand through my hair, I take a deep breath. Our pregnancy scare made me realize a lot of things. That I’m ready to start a family of my own, for starters. And that getting married and having babies—it doesn’t mean I’m abandoning the family I already have. Just means I’m growing it.

Really, it showed me I’m ready to put my happiness first. Mollie’s too.

“We thought Mollie might be pregnant. She’s not.”

“But you want her to be.”

I swallow. “I do, yeah. I’d like to marry her first, though. Do things in the right order.”

“Y’all come back to the ranch engaged, then. If these sketches you and Tallulah are working on don’t convince Mollie y’all can do this thing…” I can practically see my brother shaking his head. “I’m proud of you, brother. You’re trying to make a change. A big one. I like this new you.”

Aw shit, the sun’s not even up yet and I’m already getting all choked up. This is gonna be a long day. But hopefully a good one.

“Appreciate that,” I reply gruffly. “I should get back to these sketches. Have a lot of work to get through before Mollie wakes up.”

“Let me know how it goes, all right? Y’all best share the news as soon as it happens.”

“Boundaries. I have them now. You should get some too.”