Page 178 of Saltwater Cowboy

His hands found my waist, his thumbs tracing soft circles against my sides. “Do you remember what you told me once?”

I arched a brow. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

He exhaled a quiet laugh before meeting my gaze, something steady and sure settling in his eyes. “You told me that sometimes, we’re nothing more than collateral damage of a storm that was never meant to touch us.”

My breath caught.

Wells lifted a hand, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. “But, Rose… what if we were meant to survive it? What if every storm we went through led us right here?”

My heart pounded against my ribs as he reached into his pocket and slowly, carefully, sank to one knee.

Everything around us blurred—the distant sound of Wren giggling, the wind rustling through the trees, the scent of sun-warmed wildflowers.

It was just him. Just us.

“I want this,” he said, voice steady. “I want this farm with you. I want forever with you. I want kids, even if they turn out half as wild as Wren. I want more animals, even if it means you keep fake-punching me every time I bring one home.”

A startled laugh broke from me as I sniffled. “Damn right I will.”

His lips curved. “Rose Solace, will you marry me?”

Tears burned behind my eyes, my throat tight.

This man. This man.

“Yes,” I whispered, barely able to get the word out. “Yes, Wells.”

His smile could have powered the entire town.

Wells slipped the ring onto my finger before standing, pulling me flush against him. His lips found mine, slow and sure, and I melted into the kiss, into him.

When we finally pulled back, he pressed his forehead to mine. “You are my sunshine, Rose Solace.”

My heart clenched, full to the point of bursting. I cupped his face, my thumb sweeping over the scruff of his jaw.

“And you are my home, Wells Calloway.”

The moment stretched between us, thick with something unshakable, something permanent.

Wells kissed me again—softer this time, reverent, like he was sealing this promise between us. When he pulled back, his hand found mine, his thumb tracing circles over my newly adorned ring finger.

“Come on, fiancée,” he murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “We’ve got a family to get back to.”

The word sent a flutter through my chest. Fiancée.

I grinned, squeezing his hand. “They’re probably placing bets on whether I said yes.”

“Oh, definitely.”

Hand in hand, we made our way back toward the house. As soon as we reached the yard, Wren’s sharp little voice rang through the air.

“Well?” She stood with her hands on her hips, looking between us expectantly.

I held up my hand, wiggling my fingers to show off the ring.

Wren gasped. “I KNEW IT!” She spun toward Blythe. “Told you!”

Blythe immediately burst into tears and wrapped me in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you.”