Page 153 of Thaw My Heart

“It’s a tax write-off,” I rock on my heels.

Or that’s what I’m going to claim it as when I talk to my new accountant. With all of Cole’s cancer treatments and radiation therapy appointments, Annie has been preoccupied. So, I hired a new accountant to take the stress off her shoulders. And now that calving season is almost over, she’ll have the proper time to train her.

“So, you invited me here for my approval?” Ryker arches a brow. “Or did you just want me here as a backup in case Sadie refuses and tries to dump your ass?” he muses.

Well, he’s not far off.

But I invited him here for an entirely different reason, and it’s not about the truck. I’m just scared shitless to even mention it. To pull out the small velvet box in my pocket because I’m damn sure he’s going to laugh at me. “No, I uh…” I clear my throat. “That’s not why.”

He stares at me, confused.

“I sort of… did something.”

“Illegal?” he perks up.

“Not entirely.” I pause, reaching into the pocket of my flannel coat. “Can you just promise not to laugh?”

He grins. “That depends. Is it funny?”

I sigh, quickly pulling out the box and opening it up like ripping off a Band-Aid. Ryker’s eyes go wide, snagging on the oval, two-carat aquamarine halo ring, set in gold with accent diamonds, sparkling in the evening sunlight.

“Holy shit,” he exclaims with a bright smile. “When did you—” he stops mid-sentence at a loss for words.

“Last month,” I answer, closing the box and shoving it back into my flannel. I’d gone into the shop just to look, and the ring was too perfect. I had to have it. “I just need to find the right time to ask her.”

Which is a hard ask. Any man getting down on one knee to propose to Sadie Lane is most likely insane or asking for a swift hit to the face. Which maybe I am crazy. But I was raised right. Raised on tradition by a traditional cowboy. Call me territorial, but I want my damn ring on her finger, and I want her to have my last name. I want the promise of forever and everything that comes with it.

Tears build in his eyes.

“Don’t you dare start crying, Ryker.” If he cries, I’m going to cry.

Ryker wipes a tear from his cheek. “I’m just so happy for you, man. This is—” his words cut off as he meets my eyes. His facial expression deflates. “Oh shit.”

It seems that realization finally hit him.

“Has she changed her mind about marriage?”

I rub the back of my neck. “No, not exactly.”

Because of Ryker’s constant jokes about our relationship, Sadie snapped at him three months ago. He’s been quiet about wedding jokes ever since.

He glances at the truck, crinkling his mustache. “So, this is a peace offering?”

“No.” Only partly. She needs a birthday gift, and the gift of a new truck would set my mind at ease. “This is for her own good.” To keep her safe from her own recklessness.

“Right,” he laughs.

Sadie’s truck appears over the ridge.

Bandit and Foxie perk up their ears, watching Sadie from the window inside the house. Not wanting to come out into the cold. There’s a loud enough engine in her old truck that you can hear it from miles away. Another reason it needs to be replaced.

“It was really nice knowing you,” he pats my shoulder.

“Just keep your mouth shut,” I warn.

“This is one of those times that I agree with you, brother. All that rage is reserved for you.” He pauses. “When are you going to propose?”

“When the moment’s right.”