Page 253 of Micah

A slow grin spreads across his face.

“The cowboy's been hoping that.”

My heart stumbles.

“I think...”

I lean toward him the last little bit.

“I'd like another kind of lesson.”

His gaze drops briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

“Yeah? You sure, Princess?”

Instead of answering, I close the distance.

Our lips meet softly.

No urgency.

No desperation.

Just warmth.

Gentleness.

A promise still being written.

When we finally part, I can't help smiling.

“I think this might be your best lesson yet.”

He rests his forehead lightly against mine for just a heartbeat before easing back into his saddle.

“I've got a whole lifetime of lessons planned, Princess.”

And for the first time in a very long time, I’m not thinking about surviving through the month. I don’t feel like I have to live my life paying back an impossible debt to my brother.

Suddenly, life feels like an adventure.

One I’m lucky enough to share with the man I love.

Epilogue 1-Micah

Late summer looks good on Jersey Iron Ranch.

The hay's been cut.

The bulls are fat and healthy.

The cryo system hasn't so much as hiccupped in over two months.

And my cabin...

Well.

It finally feels like a home.