All I See Is You

44. Home is Wherever I’m With You

Quinn

T he cool concrete kissed the bottoms of my sore feet as I helped clean up. It was well past midnight, all the guests were gone, leaving our little crew once more. Well, minus Whit, who I hadn’t seen in a while. Something told me she was off somewhere with that older cowboy. We’d gained another cowboy though, the one who’d bought Hux’s painting—Reid. Turns out they were, like, best friends. They’d been almost inseparable since talking after the auction.

Ollie had already finished cleaning up the bar and was in the process of pulling all the table cloths off the tables and cleaning up any trash she came across.

“Hey,” I said, approaching her with a smile.

She glanced up at me, the thick blonde chunk of her hair falling into her eyes for a moment before she brushed it back off her face. “Hey. What’s up?”

“You did good tonight. Thank you again for saving my ass.”

She flashed me a confident grin. “Thanks for the opportunity.”

I started helping her clear the table she was working on, tossing whatever I could into the trash. “So, what are you going to do now?”

She rose to her full height, and even though she was maybe an inch or so taller than me, she had this larger than life air about her that made a shiver skitter down my spine. Blowing out an exhale, she shrugged. “Not sure. I’ll probably see if anywhere else is hiring in town. If not, I’ll probably start making my way up toward Dallas. Or I don’t know, Wyoming’s nice this time of year.”

“If you wanted, you could stay here,” I said, a bit hopeful. Her head cocked to the side in question, but I didn’t give her time to respond before I launched into the proposal I’d been planning in my head all night. “One of our hands just up and quit last week, and Hux will be taking on more responsibility with the ranch now, so we could use another hand. And hopefully soon I can start using your help for more events once we get that up and running.”

Ollie’s brows scrunched together, her lips pursing for a moment. “I don’t know much about horses. I’ve only ridden a couple times.”

“Something tells me you’d be a natural,” I huffed. “Besides, there’s more to this ranch than just the horses.”

Her mismatched gaze was full of contemplation, and each moment that ticked by had me more and more convinced she’d turn the offer down. Which was fair. But, I don’t know, I liked her, and I thought she would be a good fit here.

“You can stay in the other guest house too. That way you don’t have to be in the bunkhouse with the boys.”

She waved me off dismissively. “As long as I have a bed, I don’t care where I sleep.”

“So, is that a yes?” I asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Her lips pulled up into a lopsided smirk. “Sure.”

I smiled brightly back.

Hux had been right when he’d talked about making something nice out of a ugly situation. Tonight had opened up the doors for so many new opportunities. New friendships and some rekindled ones. New dreams, and the prospect of maybe a couple new relationships.

Overall, I was so happy and impressed with what we’d achieved. And above all else, thankful. I was eternally thankful for everyone who’d helped me make tonight magical

I swear, I blinked and two months flew by. So much had changed in that time.

I’d officially moved to Texas. Whit was in the process of finding a place to have her own salon and would likely be fully moved here after the holidays, which was her busy season. Hux and I were navigating through all the legal things we needed to do to get the therapy center up and running, while managing the new build on the property. I’d gotten quite a few inquiries about hosting and planning some events and weddings, which I was really excited about.

All in all, life felt pretty amazing at the moment.

Smoothing out my dress, I knocked on the door to Hux’s changing room. Reid’s team manager had been eager to make some calls and pull a few strings to get Hux one more ride. And at the Pbr Teams Championship in Las Vegas, at that. Which I’d learned from having so many cowboys in my life now, was a pretty damn big deal.

It was a sold out show tonight, and even from down in the depths of the arena I could hear the rumble of the crowd and the echo of the music bouncing off the concrete walls.

Hux’s gruff, muffled voice called from the other side of the door, “It’s unlocked.”

I turned the handle and made my way in before shutting the door gently behind me. Leaning against it, I couldn’t help but admire him as he slid his left arm into a sky blue button up.

He’d been working out a ton in preparation for this. I’d thought that he was cut when I first met him, but now…dear God, he might as well have been sculpted from marble.

Embers of desire sizzled in my veins. I don’t think I'd ever tire of looking at him.

“Hey, cowboy,” I managed to breathe out, cursing myself internally for how easily he affected me even two months later.

A smile softened his harsh face. “Darlin’.”

Some of the tension in his my muscles eased as he held a hand out to me. I was helpless but to go to him. We were like magnets. Drawn to one another by an invisible pull. His touch was both scalding in its power and intensity, and a balm to my soul. I loved the paradox.

“How’re you feeling?” I asked, resting my chin on his chest as I gazed up at him.

His fingers brushed a path up and down the curve of my spine. “Nervous. Excited. A bit terrified.”

I kissed his chest gently, pulling back enough to trace my fingers over the tattoo on his heart. “I can’t even imagine. But you.” I kissed his chest once more. “Are.” I kissed his collarbone. “Going.” Along the curve of his stubbled jaw. “To be.” I rose up on tiptoe, brushing a kiss to the corner of his mouth as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Amazing,” I finally murmured against his lips.

His arms caged me against him, one of his hands knotting in my hair. I didn’t miss how his body shook beneath my touch. Whether it was from nerves or desire, I wasn’t quite sure.

“Thanks, darlin’,” he whispered back before capturing my mouth in his.

I reveled in the feel of him. In the scent and taste of him. These past two months had been the best of my life, and I had him to thank for that.

He pulled back, breaking the kiss and the quiet moment, and asked, “Will you do me a favor? Can you grab me the box over on the table to the left. It’s got my belt buckle in it.”

I nodded. “Sure.”

I found the box easily beside his sunglasses and hat box, but frowned as I picked it up. “Um…is this supposed to be so light? It doesn’t feel like there’s a belt buckle in here?”

“I’m sure. You can open it up and check.”

I shrugged. Why not? I wondered which one it was. He’d won a lot during his time rodeoing, and with this being such a monumental moment, I figured he’d probably wear one of his gold buckles.

Only when I opened the box, there was no belt buckle inside.

Time froze, leaving me paralyzed in place. The air left my lungs in a loud gasp, and tears blurred my vision so badly that I couldn’t even focus on the soft velvety pillow where a buckle should have been.

Because in its place was an engagement ring.

“Hux…” The word was little more than a choked out squeak. I blinked, letting the twin tears slide down my cheeks and clear my vision, before turning to him.

He knelt before me, the softest, most earnest look on his face. “I figured it’d be easier for you to put it on yourself. I’m just as likely to lose it tryin’ to put it on the right finger.”

Laughter bubbled out of my chest even as more tears fell freely down my cheeks. “Hux.”

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. He was proposing.

He reached out a hand, and still holding the box with the ring in my one hand, I gripped his with my free one.

“I told you I wouldn’t make you wait long for a ring.” He lifted my hand and brushed a kiss to my knuckles. My heart might as well have had wings, the way it soared from his words and touch didn’t seem possible. “I know this might not be, like, the most romantic setup. I’d been hopin’ to do it back on my parents’ ranch, but we just haven’t had time to get back there. And, well—” He blew out a breath and ran his free hand through his hair. “There’s a decent chance that I don’t…” his words wobbled, “that, uh, I don’t make it out of this arena tonight. And if I don’t, I wanna know that I’ve given myself to you completely. Irrevocably. So, Quinn—darlin’, will you marry me?”

My knees gave out as wave after wave of emotion pummeled into me. Happiness and excitement and terror and worry, but mostly—yeah, mostly pure undiluted joy. I nodded, words too hard to form as I tried to bite back sobs.

“Is that a yes or a no, darlin’? I’m gonna guess that your silence is a yes?”

I laughed through my tears and leaned forward to brush my lips against his in the ghost of a kiss. “Yes, Hux,” I managed to whisper. “Absolutely yes.”

He dragged me against him, claiming my mouth in a soul-scorching kiss. God, he was so perfect. Somehow in what were probably the most terrifying moments of his life, he managed to switch the focus to me. I know he’d argue that he didn’t deserve me, but that wasn’t true. We deserved each other. We were made for each other. And now I got to spend the rest of forever calling him mine.

Officially.

I gasped, remembering the ring in my other hand. “Careful, I haven’t put the ring on yet.”

He chuckled. “Well, hurry it up.”

“Okay, okay!” I giggled as I plucked the ring up and admired it for a moment. It was vintage in nature, and the large center diamond was cut into an oval, with diamonds and swirling filigree on the rose-gold band. “Wait…are you sure you don’t want to put it on me? I won’t let you drop it, I promise.”

“O–okay.” The word trembled as much as his hand did as he held it out for me.

I placed the ring in his palm and helped him grasp it so that I could slide my ring finger through the band. My heart danced in my chest as I watched the emotions playing out on his handsome face. The love and need and want burning in his whiskey brown eyes.

“I love you, Quinn Lane,” he murmured as he settled the ring on my finger.

I smiled through happy tears. “I love you too… And I love the sound of that.”

He pulled me to him, kissing me deeply, fiercely, enough to steal my breath away. “I do too, darlin’. I do too.”

Resting my head against his, I knotted my fingers in his shoulder length hair and whispered against his lips, “Go ride that bull. Face your fears, Huxson Lane. Then come back to me. We got a wedding to plan.”

He squeezed me tighter to him, and I swear, I’d never felt so happy in my life.

T he arena thrummed with music and cheers as I made my way to the private box we’d been given for the night for Hux’s performance. The whole crew had come to support him. Hux’s parents, Walker, all of the ranch hands—Dylan, Wyatt, Brooks, and Ollie. Whit was there, along with Cash and the Mooneys, as well as the rest of the Mercenary Ranch gang, which they liked to call themselves: Ryder, Maverick and their fiancés, Charlie and Cheyenne. Their adorable babies even tagged along for the event.

Oh, and how could I forget Cash’s uncle, Goodie?

Crazy how in just a couple months, these strangers had practically become like a new family to me.

The only one missing was Reid, and that was only because he was also riding tonight.

“How’s our boy doin’?” Mr. Mooney asked, noticing me first. I swear, nothing got past him.

“He’s ready,” I said with a soft, but no less confident grin.

He and Mr. Lane—Paul, I needed to stop calling him that. He’d told me time and time again Paul was fine—exchanged looks and nodded.

I greeted everyone, taking a few moments to fawn over Charlie and Cheyenne’s babies, before making my way to the front of the box where Whit, Ollie, and Walker stood. The last two had quickly become my closest friends back here in Texas. They hadn't replaced, nor would they ever replace Whit, but I was so glad to have them here these past two months when Whit had been busy back in California.

All the while, tension rose and rose through the box. I mean, I guess it was understandable, with Hux’s ride coming up as one of the first events to kick off the evening, but still. It left me wanting to tell them all the amazing good news just to make things feel more normal. But as much as I wanted to tell someone, anyone at this point about my engagement, I didn’t want to make this night all about me when it was supposed to be about Hux.

Even Cash was unusually quiet, which was practically unheard of.

And what was worse, was that everyone wouldn’t stop looking at me. I could feel their stares like the heat of a thousand suns—just staring, staring, staring. It was maddening.

What were they expecting? Did they think I was going to break down or something? Why was everyone being so damn weird?

When I couldn’t take it anymore. When the weight of their stares turned suffocating, I whirled to face them all and asked, “What’s going on?”

Dotty swooped in like a vulture, settling before me in an instant. “Well, let us see it!”

“See what?” I asked.

“The ring, sweetheart! Let's see the ring.”

The entire box erupted into a fit of chaos then as everyone converged on me to see the sparkly diamond on my ring finger—well, mostly the women, though Cash was there, because, of course he was.

They’d known? How had they known? I took them all in, unable to say anything, just silently shaking my head. “What? How?” I managed to finally get out.

Dotty wrapped me in a warm hug, squeezing me tight. “Oh, honey. We all knew. How do you think he managed to pull it off?”

Walker giggled and drew me into a hug the minute her mom let go of me. “Why do you think I kept badgerin’ you all week about us gettin’ our nails done?”

“Or why I made sure you looked cute as hell,” Whit replied with a wink, squeezing me tightly after Walker.

I glanced at Ollie. “Did you have anything to do with it?”

She offered me a wry grin, before pulling me in for one of her awkward one shoulder hugs she wasn’t very fond of handing out. “The guys and I loaded up the room with little hidden cameras so I could get some pictures and video of it. I'm gonna go through it tomorrow and edit a video for you.”

My eyes stung, and my throat tightened as tears slipped down my cheeks. “You guys,” I squeaked out, trying to wipe at my face without messing up my makeup. “Thank you.”

Cash wrapped an arm around my shoulders, jostling me. “I call dibs as maid of honor.”

I laughed and shoved at him playfully. “You can’t be my maid of honor.”

“Well, then what about flower boy? I can toss beer cans or something to the crowd as I walk down the aisle,” he replied with a grin.

Another laugh escaped me. “I actually think that sounds kinda cool.”

“See!” Cash whirled to face Charlie. “I told you it was a good idea. You’re just bein’ no fun, Charlie girl.”

Charlie rolled her eyes even as a grin lit up her face. “Why are you even complainin’, dummy? You’re already in the wedding!”

I grinned at their exchange and silently soaked up all of the happiness around me in that moment.

Who would have thought that planning my dad’s wedding in Texas would lead to new friends, a new home, a new career, a soulmate, and the promise of happily ever after?

The lights overhead flickered, and a commentator’s voice reverberated through the indoor arena, announcing the start of events. Excitement thrummed to life as the opening ceremony full of music and strobing lights and pyrotechnics commenced. They introduced all the teams competing, each of their men walking into the arena to stand and wave to the crowd.

“And folks, you’re in for a special treat tonight as we have two time World Champion bull rider, Huxson Lane with us, who came outta retirement for this last ride.”

There had been no point fussing over my tears before, because they just started anew as an archway of fire blazed to life in the middle of the arena and Hux walked through it, waving a hand in the air as he made his way forward. If he was nervous, he didn’t show it. I could see the bright grin on his face from the huge screen hanging in the middle of the arena.

He was so handsome, and full of life and confidence. He’d argue that when we met, he was washed up and broken. But I’d never seen him that way. He was like a diamond in the rough. Beautiful, magnificent, he just needed something to help him shine again.

“Go get em’, cowboy,” I whispered under my breath as I clutched my hands to my chest, sending up a silent prayer that he came back to me.