She laughed nervously.
“I think maybe my space has always been yours, too, Trix. It just took me a long time to figure that out. I have no idea what I did to deserve you, but, darlin’, whatever it is, I promise to keep doing it and more, because I don’t want to live a single day without you by my side.”
A sob tumbled out, and she covered her mouth with her trembling hand.
“You taught me what it means to love and be loved, and now I want more. I want to wake up to your beautiful face every morning and fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I want to raise our four-legged babies together, spend nights under the stars doing dirty things, and in the barn, drinking champagne and talking to our animals.”
Laughter rumbled through the crowd.
“And someday I hope we have two-legged babies who we’ll teach to love the way we do, to ride horses, and to crave the outdoors. I want to help make all your dreams come true, baby, and I will stop at nothing to make sure they do, because you are the only woman I have ever loved, and I will love you long past my dying days.”
More sobs broke free.
“Trixie Jericho, will you marry me, darlin’?”
She nodded, and as he slipped the ring on her finger and rose to his feet, “Yes!” burst out. She threw her arms around him, their mouths colliding as cheers rang out and her brothers began playing “Hurricane” by Luke Combs.
“I love you, darlin’.”
“I love you more, cowboy.”
He laughed, kissing her again as their family and friends clapped and whistled.
When their lips parted, the lights went on, and red and white balloons rose all around them, filling the ceiling and bouncing in the air. More cheers exploded as a CONGRATULATIONS, NICK AND TRIXIE banner came down from above the stage, and Nick, and every guy around them, ripped open their shirts, revealing black T-shirts that had #TEAMNIXIE printed across their chests in white and #SHESAIDYES in red beneath it.
“Ohmygod, Nick! You got us T-shirts!” Through the blur of tears, Trixie saw Lindsay grinning behind him and knew she’d had a hand in the planning. She mouthed, Thank you, and more tears fell down her cheeks.
Trixie laughed and cried as she and Nick were hugged and congratulated by everyone in the place. Graham had Nick’s family, Walt, and Irene, on FaceTime during the whole event, and Morgyn had captured it all on video, including Nick singing. Sable’s band and Axsel took over the stage, and when Trixie finally landed back in Nick’s arms, she was so happy, she could barely speak. She looked at all the people she’d grown up with, at the balloons, T-shirts, and the banner, and felt full to near bursting.
“You’re such a private guy. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
“You wanted the fairy tale, darlin’, and I don’t know much about fairy tales, but I know this. There’s no greater love than the one we’re building, and nobody deserves to have their dreams come true more than you.”
As he lowered his lips toward hers, she said, “You’re wrong, cowboy.”
His brows slanted. “Seriously? You’re challenging me on this?”
“You deserve for your dreams to come true, too, and I’m going to make sure they do.”
He chuckled. “I dream of the day I can kiss you without a challenge.”
As his lips came closer to hers, she whispered, “No you don’t.”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
“Make—” He silenced her with a hard press of his lips, sealing their vows with another breath-stealing kiss.
Ready for more Bradens & Montgomerys?
I hope you have enjoyed getting to know the Bradens and Montgomerys. If you haven’t yet read the previous books in this series, you can start with EMBRACING HER HEART, the first book in the Bradens & Montgomerys series. If you’ve already read the previous books in the series, grab SWEET, SEXY HEART, Amber Montgomery’s love story, and then continue reading for more information about my fun, sexy family series—including the Bradens at Weston, where you’ll meet Nick’s uncle Hal and the cousins Nick adores.
Amber Montgomery is perfectly happy with her quiet life. She loves running her bookstore, taking long walks with Reno, her Labrador retriever seizure dog, and spending time with her close-knit family. She’s never needed thrills the way some of her sisters have. In an effort to control her epilepsy, she tries to avoid anything that creates too much excitement or stress—including relationships. When Amber hosts a book signing for famed-athlete-turned-author Dash Pennington, he’s everything she’s spent her life avoiding: loud, aggressive, and far too handsome—just ask the hordes of women who surround him everywhere he goes. Sparks fly, but it’s a no-brainer for Amber to ignore the chemistry and hold her breath until he leaves town. There’s only one problem. Charming Dash has other ideas.
Buy SWEET, SEXY HEART
Fall in love with the Steeles on Silver Island!
Get sexy with Grant Silver and Jules Steele on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, and midnight rendezvous.
Even war heroes need a little help sometimes…
After spending years fighting for his country and too damn long learning to navigate life with a prosthetic leg, Grant Silver returns to Silver Island to figure out a future he couldn’t fathom without fatigues and a gun in his hand. He’d almost forgotten how a man could suffocate from the warmth and caring community in which he’d grown up, and if that weren’t bad enough, his buddies’ beautiful and far-too-chipper younger sister won’t stop flitting into his life, trying to sprinkle happy dust everywhere she goes.
As a cancer survivor, Jules Steele knows better than to count on seeing tomorrow. She doesn’t take a single moment for granted, and she isn’t about to let a man who used to be charming and full of life waste the future he’s been blessed with. She’s determined to get through to him, even if it takes a few steamy kisses…
Buy MY TRUE LOVE
Love the Bradens? Meet Hal and their Colorado cousins!
Fall in love with Treat and Max in the very first Braden book, LOVERS AT HEART, REIMAGINED, free at the time of this printing (price subject to change without notice).
Treat Braden wasn’t looking for love when Max Armstrong walked into his Nassau resort, but he saw right through the efficient and capable facade she wore like a shield to the sweet, sensual woman beneath. One magnificent evening together sparked an intense connection, and for the first time in his life Treat wanted more than a casual affair. But something caused Max to turn away, and now, after weeks of unanswered phone calls and longing for the one woman he cannot have, Treat is going back to his family’s ranch to try to finally move on.
A chance encounter brings Treat and Max together again, and it turns into a night of intense passion and honesty. When Max reveals her secret, painful past, Treat vows to do everything within his power to win Max’s heart forever—including helping her finally face her demons head-on.
Buy LOVERS AT HEART, REIMAGINED
Have you met The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor?