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“Diamonds don’t back down,” he reminded.
When she pulled her hands free from his, his heart sank. But in the next instant, she reached up to lay her palms against his cheeks. “No we don’t, but I can’t take a dare to love you again when I never stopped in the first place.”
This time, finally, the relief was complete. He rested his hands on her hips, allowing a small smile as he swallowed past the emotion in his throat. “I’m so sorry I messed everything up.”
She rose up on her tiptoes. “You’re forgiven. And guess I should thank you for making me figure out for myself exactly what I want.”
“Gold.”
“Definitely gold. And it’ll be that much sweeter if you’re with me when I win it. If you were serious about that?”
“Dead serious. I’ll be right by your side.” He slid his hands up to pull her flush against him while touching his forehead to hers. “I love you, Raine.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered back.
Happiness swelled in his chest as she wound her arms around his neck. He captured her lips with his and kissed her with everything he had.
Moments later, the announcer over the loudspeaker made him break the kiss. He cupped her cheek with one hand while grinning down at her. “You’ve got a jump-off to get ready for.”
“I’ve got a jump-off to win,” she corrected as they walked hand in hand to where everyone waited by Diamond Fire.
A half-hour later, he watched her do just that.
Epilogue
1 year later – first week of August
Grinning from ear to ear, Reyes blinked away the moisture blurring his vision as the Star Spangled Banner played for Raine Torrez and her fellow teammates atop the Olympic podium. At the end of the United States’ majestic national anthem, the brilliance of her smile rivaled the sun when the team held their gold medals and flower bouquets above their heads in joyful triumph.
Her parents and four brothers had come for the whole two weeks, and Mark and Janine had flown in yesterday for the team event. Shelby and Dev had also planned on coming, but Shelby’s morning sickness forced the couple to stay home and watch on TV. Last he’d heard, his brother had arranged for all the Diamonds in Denver to go to their house and watch their cousin go for gold.
At twenty-six, she was the youngest on the team and the only female. She and Fire had given the ride of a lifetime in the jump-off round to secure the US gold for the team event. Earlier in the week, they’d also won a silver medal in their individual event, and he’d never been more proud of anyone in his life.
“That’s my wife up there,” he boasted when a couple from two rows down glanced back at their loud, rowdy group. He didn’t have to say for which team, because they were all proudly displaying the American flag.
It was still surreal to say those words, even though he often spun the ring on his finger while thinking of their wedding two months ago. She’d been radiant in her gown as she walked down the aisle, and then they’d ridden off into the sunset on Fire and Taz. Well, at least until they reached the reception tents erected on her parents’ lawn, overlooking the horse pastures.
He’d suggested they wait until after the Olympics so she wouldn’t have the stress of the wedding while training, but she’d insisted she wanted her name to read Raine Torrez in the history books. She’d been confident without being cocky, and now her dream had been fulfilled.
The medal ceremony drew to an end with the last of the pictures, and Raine met them all on the side of the arena for hugs and congratulations. Reyes stood back with Fire, giving her time with her family. She met his gaze over her mom’s shoulder and mouthed, “I love you.” He tossed her back a grin and a wink, letting her know he could wait for their moment. Yes, they’d been an inseparable team over the past year, but long before him, her family had been an integral part of her dream and they deserved these memories.
Later, after Fire had been brushed and pampered like a king, Reyes finally cornered Raine up against the wall of the stall. All the noise of the busy stables faded away as he pressed his body to hers and leaned in, forehead to forehead. She looped her arms around his neck and grinned up at him.
“You did it,” he murmured.
“We did it,” she corrected. “Fire and me and you.”
“I’ll take credit for one jump, and that’s it. The rest was all—”
Her finger over his lips cut off his words. “Seriously, Reyes, this team wouldn’t be the same without you. Thank you for everything you’ve done this past year.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Raine.”
“No?”
“No.”
“So, you don’t want me to come to bed wearing nothing but my medals tonight?”
