Page 145 of Distress Signal

“That is genius,” I agreed, kissing her soundly.

Reagan beamed.

Crew and Aspen finally entered to raucous cheers and whistles, the sound system we’d installed around the barn for tonight booming out some high-bass song I’d never heard before.

Dinner and speeches passed without incident.

At last, the real party began, kicked off by Aria, serenading Crew and Aspen through their first dance with “Something I Need” by OneRepublic.

Once the rest of the guests were welcomed to the floor, I extended my hand to my girl and spun her around. Despite her cast and missing sister, Reagan seemed genuinely happy, and it mademehappy to see her letting loose and enjoying this night.

Tomorrow, we’d go back to work on locating Lainey.

Tonight, we were simply two people in love, celebrating the union of my baby brother and his bride.

Other men—particularly the single ones—routinely cut in on my dancing time with Reagan, twirling away with her. Normally, it would’ve pissed me off, but I knew Reagan would be ending the night with me and was mine forever.

While Burns, Childers, Tuck, several of Lane’s deputies, and even a ballsier few of my ranch hands took their turns with my girl, I danced with Aria when she wasn’t singing, Mama, Delia, Aspen, and even Sutton.

When the band started strumming another slow song and Aria returned to her place at the mic, I stole Reagan back from Tuck.

Her cheeks were flushed. Tendrils of hair had escaped the simple twist she’d pulled it into at the base of her skull, sticky with sweat and clinging to her forehead and temples.

I brushed them away as Aria started to sing a Shania classic. “Hey, belle.”

She grinned in response, her expression alight with pure joy. “Hey, soldier.”

For a moment, we swayed to the beat. With her in my arms, her chin on my shoulder—even her casted arm tuckedawkwardly between us—I couldn’t remember a time when I’d ever been happier.

“What do you think?” I murmured in her ear before I could stop myself. “Think you want to get married some day?”

She pulled back, eyes dancing with mischief as she replied, “If the right man asks.”

I chuckled. “Honey, I’m theonlyman.”

forty

. . .

REAGAN

Honey,I’m theonlyman.

Well, he was right about that. Now that I’d found my way back to him—now that we’d found our way back to each other—I knew without a doubt there would never be anyone else for me. He wasit. The elusiveoneI’d searched for my whole life.

Goddesses, I couldn’t wait for Lainey to meet him.

The thought pulled me up short, timed perfectly to the end of the song.

Finn didn’t seem to notice my mind was a million miles away as he led me off the dance floor.

But when he bellied up to the bar to order us fresh drinks, and he turned to see what I wanted, his brow creased in concern before he ever got the question out.

“Are you okay?” he asked instead.

I wanted to lie, to not ruin the perfect moment we’d shared with my mental struggles. But I’d never get away with it; he knew me too well.

“Yes and no,” I answered honestly. “Today has been wonderful, but…”