Change of Hart (Wells Ranch, #3)(120)
Blair loosens off Sandy’s cinch with a breathy laugh. “I think we’ll both be adding another one to the collection today. Sandy’s on a roll this afternoon.”
The two kids—and their grandpa—immediately tie into the plastic container filled with homemade marshmallow treats, courtesy of Beryl. The troublesome trio giggle away like absolute fiends. As hard as it is sometimes to be away from the ranch, it’s been a blessing to have a loving grandparent a couple doors down, especially since we moved Blair’s mom into a permanent care facility three years ago. If we’re not at Frank’s house, he’s at ours. And recently, we’ve even been able to stand out on the porch and let Avery walk alone down the quiet street to his house.
It’s a bittersweet reminder of the relationship I had with my grandfather, and something I didn’t know if my future children would get to experience. My own dad’s around more often now than ever before, but he has no interest in moving back to the ranch or Wells Canyon, and I don’t fault him for that.
Blair scratches Sandy’s shoulder, making his entire body shudder. Then she pulls the hat from my head to plant her warm lips on mine. Five years and two babies later, I can’t get enough of kissing my wife. I also haven’t gotten over the fact that she’s my wife.
“Hopefully all three of us will go home winners today,” she says.
“Baby, winning bronc ride or not, I’m still going home a winner.”
“Right answer.” She plops the hat back on my hair.
Adjusting it, I rub my other hand up and down her arm. “I’m gonna go say hi to Mom quickly before my ride, if you got time?”
“Always.” She looks over her shoulder, confirming Frank and the kids are all good. Interlacing our fingers, we saunter toward the barn with our hips bumping into each other at random. Her hair flounces over her shoulders, and I let go of her hand to sling my arm around her waist when we step inside.
The barn my family built when I was a kid is dimly lit and quiet, filled with the familiar smell of horses and alfalfa. Blair and I were near-strangers the first time I saw her in this barn at thirteen, not realizing that mere weeks later my mom would coerce me into buying her a pop that would change my life. A simple drink—one I bought reluctantly, no less—gave me the family I’ve always dreamt of. Maybe that was Mom’s plan all along; she always seemed to know exactly what we needed before we did.
I hold on to Blair, silently thanking Mom for bringing her into my life—at thirteen, and again when I was finally ready to be the man she deserved. A man my mom would be proud of. A man I’m proud of.
“Do you know how happy I am that you found your way back to me?” I whisper against her hair.
“I was always coming back to you, Denver. No one else has ever felt like home.”
Acknowledgments
What is life?! That’s what I’ve been asking myself repeatedly. The last year has been beyond anything I could’ve imagined, and I have so many people to thank for that.
To my incredible family for coming on this journey with me and taking the chaos in stride. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without your love and unwavering support. Sometimes I’m too much like Blair for my own good, so thank you for recognizing when I need help, even if I’m too stubborn to ask for it.
Speaking of which, I’m not sure I would’ve finished editing this book in time if it weren’t for the help of our bonus family, the Bremners. Thanks for wrangling the wild four-year-old for an entire long weekend to make sure I had time for edits.
This book wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for my brilliant beta readers: Abby, Albany, Amanda, Ceilidh, Chelsea, Danie, and Maddy. Thank you not only for providing helpful feedback, but for constantly making me laugh with your unhinged comments. I’m forever thankful for your willingness to help, even when I had you reread certain parts of the book on the fly as I made a million changes.
Speaking of making this book shine, a huge thank you to Alicia and Bhavna for loving this book as much as I do. You’ve helped me turn this into something I’m incredibly proud of, and somehow I love Blair even more now than I did before. I’d apologize for making you cry, but you know I’m not sorry for that.
A huge thank you to my agent, Carly, for making my dreams come true. Having you by my side throughout this entire process has given me so much confidence and determination. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together next. LFG!
“Queens of Wells Ranch”—I love you. Thank you for giving me a place I can celebrate, cry, vent, or ramble incessantly when I need to work out a tricky plot hole. Abby, Chelsea, and Danie, you’ve become three of my best friends, and I can’t wait for the day when we can be together eating our weight in Nerds Gummy Clusters.
Special shout-out to my one-bed trope girlie, Ceilidh. I would probably be a lot more productive if we didn’t spend so many nights voice-messaging each other, but I wouldn’t be as emotionally fulfilled. Here’s to many more nights full of vodka-crans and McFlurries.
I’ve been blessed to meet, and become friends with, so many authors I look up to. This career can be really isolating, but there’s something magical about a group of badass women supporting one another. I’m sure I could name a million names here, because this community has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, but a special shout-out goes to: Kayla Grosse, Sarah A. Bailey, Albany Archer, Karley Brenna, Ruth Stilling, Elliott Rose, and Elsie Silver. You ladies are such an inspiration in so many ways.