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“I don’t know,” I admit quietly. “It’s still so new with us. But I am really falling for him. Is that crazy?”

“No,” Cami says gently.

“You’ve known the real him for longer in your heart. You’ve been waiting for him.”

Sutton smiles. “I think it’s romantic.”

“What if we’re rushing?” I ask.

Poppy laughs. “Everyone has seen the way Ty looks at you. And you look at him the same.”

Cami nods. “You two have insane chemistry. When you know...”

“You know,” Sutton finishes. “I edit romance books for my job, and this is like an epic romance playing out. Someone should write this into a book.”

“And if you’re still figuring it out?” Tessa says. “That’s okay too. You have your whole lives ahead of you.”

Poppy adds, “I don’t even know what next week looks like for me.”

“Take it one day at a time,” Cami agrees.

I smile as I look back out at the mountains.

For the first time in years, I can actually picture a future without smog, traffic, or palm trees. Sure, there are some things I loved about living in California. But it wasn’t home.

I feel like I’m beginning something right now. It’s new, and it’s scary. But I’m happy. And it feels right.

16

ty

Finding Home Again

Jack reins in beside a freshly repaired broken fence post, studying the wire stretched between two braces. “Looks good,” he says. “It’ll hold.”

Tucker nudges his horse forward, his breath hanging in the cold morning air. “I still think we ought to replace this whole stretch.”

“You volunteering?” Jack ribs.

Tucker laughs. “Hell no.”

Jack laughs. “Didn’t think so.”

I smile as I tighten another loose post. Working with Tucker and Jack here at the Wilder ranch was exactly what I needed. Honest work that feels good.

We get on our horses and head back toward the ranch. Jack slows, squinting toward the lodge. “Whose truck is that?”

I look up and see a black truck parked near the barn that I don’t recognize.

Tucker frowns. “I wasn’t expecting anyone today.”

Jack turns his horse toward the buildings. “Let’s see.”

The closer we get, the louder the voices drift toward us. One of them is familiar and stops me cold.

Mom and my brother Cody. My stomach drops.

Jack looks over. “You know ‘em?”