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“He’s going to disown me.”

“I mean, probably not.”

“He’s going to pull the CEO role right from underneath me.”

“Possibly, but that’d be extremely cruel.”

“He’s going to use you against me. I can just fucking feel it.”

“Cole…” We’d been in Cole’s bedroom since last night, spending the night together after the wedding. I’d wanted to do more than sleep, but I was too exhausted post wedding planning, and Cole was too wound up from declaring his affection for me publicly. Instead, we’d cuddled close until we’d both passed out, my head resting on Cole’s chest the whole night.

I looked up at Cole now, one of my hands running through his hair. “I want you to think about the worst thing that can happen.”

“That’s all I’ve been thinking about since last night…”

“I’m serious. I want you to catastrophize. Like, earth ending stuff,” I replied. “So, not just you not getting CEO but the entire ranch burning down. The city being overtaken by zombies.”

“You’re not really helping here, baby.”

“Imagine it,” I pressed. “The absolute worst thing.”

“Okay, okay…” Cole sighed. “I’m imagining Amber, Shane, and Levi getting their brains eaten by a zombie right in front of me. I’m imagining the ranch being turned into someone’s plaything, where they can pretend to be a cowboy when they feel like it and just let everything else go to shit…”

He kept his eyes on mine. “And… I’m also imagining you not being around anymore. Just completely out of my life.”

“Good.” I smiled.

“Good?”

“Now, I want you to think about you not being CEO…” I let my words trail off. “When you compare what you’re feeling right now, to what you were feeling a few seconds ago…”

“It doesn’t seem so bad…” Cole smiled a little now too. “Still sucks, though.”

“Ooh, what if your dad makes me the next CEO?”

“I think you’d be incredible at it… but I’d still have to take it from you.”

“Yeah?” I smirked. “Do your worst, cowboy.”

“Maybe I will.” Cole pulled me in close for a kiss, and I lost myself in him, somehow falling into him even more.

My stomach was in knots.

All the Strattons had assembled in the main house for Joseph’s big announcement, even Amber and her new husband delaying their honeymoon. He’d gathered the family under the pretense of deciding who would be the next CEO of the ranch, but since he wasn’t in the room yet, I was worried he’d changed his mind.

Maybe no one would get to be CEO.

And all because of me.

Would Joseph really punish Cole like that? I grimaced at the back of the room, feeling like running off into the woods. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to forgive myself if I somehow ruined Cole’s future. What would he do if he weren’t running this place?

“Do you believe that everyone’s real?” There was an older man seated next to me, although he looked vaguely familiar?—

Oh, right.

This was Uncle Virgil, the eccentric that Cole had mentioned a few times in passing. Virgil was smiling over at me, like he knew some big secret but was keeping it to himself.

“What do you mean?” I whispered, not wanting to pull any focus from the potential announcement, assuming Joseph ever showed up.

“Doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that Cole’s real.” Virgil nodded after he spoke. “He’s as real as you and me. He’s got a mind for it.”

“Are you saying that some people are… fake?”

“Just not real. Figments of our collective imagination. Spill water on them and they short-circuit.”

“I don’t think I know what that means, Virgil.”

“Ha. Lucky you.” Virgil crossed his arms over his chest. “I envy the ones who don’t know what I know.”

What a fascinating man.

I was ready to pick his brain further but as I turned towards him, Joseph finally walked into the room. He had a presence about him that was engaging yet slightly terrifying, nothing on his face ever betraying what he was thinking. He always looked a little disinterested and a little pissed off, to the point that I wondered if it was something he’d spent time perfecting.

Honestly, he reminded me of Cole, back when we first met.

I smiled to myself at the memory, annoyed with how much he’d blown me off but happy that there was so much more to him.

Joseph soon took his place at the front of the room, his eyes meeting mine just once.

He started to speak: “This has been… an interesting time for the Strattons. With Amber’s wedding?—”

“Woohoo!” Amber interrupted her father, pumping her hands in the air.

Joseph nodded in response, not quite smiling. “Yes. Woohoo. I couldn’t be happier for you, Amber, and I wish you nothing but health, wealth, and happiness.”

Happiness is dead last?

Crap. Cole might be in real trouble.

“Moving on, I’m sure you’re all aware of the McMillan property. We’ve been trying to be in business with the family for a long time, but they never budged on their price or their estate. That is… until now.”

Joseph nodded towards Cole. “Cole was able to get them to sign over their property, and as of last night, the estate will now be considered an extension of Stratton Ranch. According to the eldest McMillan, they appreciated Cole’s approach, treating them like the neighbors they were instead of a cold, unfeeling corporation. Something about Cole’s personal touch…”

He coughed before he went on. “Of course, this means that Levi and Shane were unsuccessful in their bids for the McMillan property.”

“Never really had a chance.” Levi chuckled. “Cole was born for this.”

“That and the McMillans wouldn’t take our calls…” Shane’s response trailed off. “But that’s Cole for you. Master negotiator.”

“Yes. My son. The master negotiator…” Joseph looked over at me again, his expression still impossible to figure out. He then brought his attention to Cole. “Cole’s negotiating skills, along with his several other good qualities, make me believe that he’s the best fit for next CEO of Stratton Ranch.”

“To the surprise of no one!” Amber shouted before leading the room in a round of applause. “Yay, Cole! We love you!”

“Nice going, bro!”

“The ranch is in good hands with you, Cole.”

“There’s something else…” Joseph held up a hand, encouraging silence in the room.

Shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Here it comes.

Joseph was about to ask Cole to get rid of me in front of everyone. He was going to turn me into Cole’s final test, see if he were willing to play straight for the rest of his life in exchange for the job and life that he’d always wanted. And if Cole went along with it, how could I even blame him? We hadn’t known each other for that long. How could he think that I was worth throwing away his dream?—

“Cole will not only be the next CEO of Stratton Ranch. He will also be the sole successor of all of my assets and properties,” he continued. “Cole will be my sole inheritor. If and when he chooses to divide up my portfolio among the rest of you will be left up to him. I trust in his judgment, completely.”

The room was so quiet it felt like I could hear everyone breathing.

“Sole inheritor?” Amber slowly blinked. “Whoa.”

“I trust Cole to be fair with how he divides the assets.” Shane’s tone was confident. “And I couldn’t think of a better person for such a great responsibility.”

A look of concern flashed across Levi’s face, before his usual smile broke through. “You know what? Yeah. Let Cole handle all the hard stuff. I don’t need anything else on my plate, anyway.”

“Called it.” Virgil nudged me in the shoulder. “I told you. Cole’s real, just like you and me. Things couldn’t end any other way. Joseph sees it, too.”

“Cole? Did you want to say something?” Joseph moved out of the way, before he waved his son to the front of the room. “It’ll be helpful to get familiar with addressing the troops.”

“Yeah, I can say something.” Cole was calm, all of his earlier anxiety suddenly dissipated. He took his father’s place, taking a deep breath. “I just want to say… I love you. Each and every one of you. You’re all near and dear to me and it’s been an honor growing up alongside you. Getting to know you…”

Cole’s eyes cut over to me. “And… I look forward to the future. Leading this family. Growing and changing. I hope that I’m the man all of you expect me to be and more. I hope I live up to all of your expectations and you’ll stick by me even when I fall short. I hope… I hope I’ve earned your loyalty and your love, all of you. That’s… all I wanted to say.”

As soon as Cole was finished, the room erupted into applause again, this time everyone gave him a standing ovation to boot. Even as the rest of the room congratulated him, I felt stuck where I was, my brain going over every last word he’d just said.

I know that he’s talking to everyone he’s known his whole life…

So, why does it sound like he’s talking to me too?

Does Cole…

Does Cole love me?

“Do you think Levi was a little raw about it?”

Cole and I were driving through the open pasture, the sun setting around us. It was a golden warmth I was getting used to, set against the sky as it turned purple and blue. I took in the air around us, filling my lungs with it, still loving the way it smelled out here. I looked over at Cole in the passenger seat of his truck, cowboy hat firmly in place, his rough hands gripping the steering wheel like he’d done it a million times before. The distant hum of crickets played in the distance, the sort of comforting symphony I’d never find in the city no matter how much I looked.

“What?” I was admittedly a little distracted by Cole, by the ranch, by everything. I was experiencing a sort of Zen I rarely got to feel, without a wedding planning worry in my head.

“Levi? Do you think he was raw about Dad leaving me everything?” Cole’s lips were pursed tight. “I’d never do wrong by him, ever.”

“I think he knows that, Cole. You’re a good person.”

“It just feels like a final test.” Cole let out a slight laugh. “But the funny part is, even if my dad’s still trying to get in my head… I don’t care anymore.”

“You don’t?”

Cole shook his head. “Nope. The only person’s opinion I have to care about from here on out is?—”

He stopped himself, his focus returning to the road.

“Is your own?” I guessed. “Because this whole thing has taught you to… trust yourself more?”

Cole let out another laugh. “Damn. That’s probably what I’m supposed to say, huh?”

“What were you going to say, Cole?”

“I was going to say that the only person’s opinion I have to care about from here on out is… yours, Dylan.”

“My opinion?”

“If you’ll… stick around to give it to me?” His tone was lined with hope. “I don’t want to get in your way though, Dylan. I know you have big dreams, just like me. I just… I want Stratton Ranch to be the place you…”

Cole sighed before he parked the car. We were in the middle of the ranch, it seemed, surrounded by nothing but beautiful greenery and the stars of the night sky now shining above us. He unclicked his seat belt as he turned to look over at me, his eyes meeting mine. “I don’t know how to say any of this without sounding… I don’t think there’s a way to say it without…”

“You want Stratton Ranch to be the place I come back to when I’m done working…” I couldn’t help but smile as I helped him work through his thoughts. “Sort of like my… home?”

“I don’t ever want to take anything from you, Dylan?—”

“I’ve never thought about it before.”

“Thought about what? Living here?”

“No.” My skin flushed as I spoke. “I never thought about… my happy ending before. I spend so much time giving people their one perfect day that I never thought about my own. I never thought about where I could belong, Cole. Not until you. And ever since I got here, even before I met you… there was just something about this place.”

“So, you could really see yourself in Montana? With me?”

“I could see myself anywhere with you, Cole.” I beamed. “That’s sort of the problem. If you moved to Antarctica, I’d be right behind you.”

“That reminds me. I’ve been meaning to tell you?—”

“Don’t you dare.” I chuckled, and soon he was laughing, too, the sound of our laughter blending together in the night. He shifted closer to me, his mouth meeting mine, his hand on my waist. When he leaned back from me, I reached my palm out for his, linking our fingers across the car’s console.

A few moments passed in silence before Cole completely moved away from me. Before I could say anything about it, he was out of the car, coming around to the passenger side. He then pulled open my car door, offering me his hand again. I took his hand in mine, and he guided me towards a spot of open pasture. When it seemed like he’d found the place he wanted, he bent down on his knees, gently pulling me down with him.

When we were both lying on our backs, looking up at the sky, Cole pulled me onto his chest. “There’s something else I… want to say to you, Dylan.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“I love you.” The words came out clear as day. “I’m in love with you. I know that might seem fast but?—”

“I love you, too, Cole.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” I kissed a spot on his chest. “I love you. I’m in love with you.”

“Does that mean we should figure out labels or?—”

“Later.” I shook my head. “We can do that in the morning.”

“You sure?”

“I mean, I already canceled my flight back.” I smirked. “It’s not like I have anywhere to be until the next wedding?—”

I paused before I went on. “Oh, my God. Am I going to have to plan my own wedding? Am I going to be a groomzilla to myself ?”

“I’ll try to keep you in line,” Cole answered, without missing a beat. “Especially when it comes to the budget part.”

“Oh, the budget doesn’t exist. I’m getting my 15-minute firework show, Cole.”

“Dylan—”

“And have you ever heard of diamond dusted champagne?”

“Yeah, that’s enough of that.” Cole shifted down until he was able to kiss me again, interrupting all of my wildest wedding suggestions. We both smiled, our lips pressed against each other’s, my heart beating so fast that I couldn’t do anything about it. I’d never imagined that my first trip to Montana would be the one that convinced me to stay, but I also couldn’t imagine being anywhere with anyone else.

I was exactly where I belonged, right here, with my Cole, my cowboy.

**