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“Well done up there,” Gareth says and kisses my cheek. “It takes a lot of bravery to sayI doto a man like Ford.”
“Easy there, Gareth,” Ford says and hugs me against him protectively. “She’s a married woman now.”
“Lucky her,” he says.
Ford laughs and Evander joins the party, roaring about taking shots and getting drunk and finding something to ride, which is typically veryEvanderof him. Carmine hugs me, Brice hugs me, and even Lanzo says his congrats. Mom’s sitting alone, and she’s been sober since leaving the clinic. Attending a party like this and not drinking is hard for her, but I’m proud of her for making it work.
“You look amazing, sweetie,” Mom says later once the night’s really going. “I’m so happy for you, you know.”
“I guess I have you to thank for this. I never did talk to you about that.”
“Ah, well, I took a shot and, hey, I was right.”
“Could’ve really backfired, you know.”
“Life’s all about risk, sweetie.” Mom hugs me tight. “I’m glad you took this one.”
The night devolves into drinking and partying. Ford barely leaves my side. His eyes are on me all the time like he can’t help himself and it’s intoxicating, his stare, his hands on me while we’re dancing, his lips against mine. Cheers erupt every time we kiss.
“Are you happy?” he asks me halfway through the night.
“Never been happier.”
“Good, because I have one more surprise.” He takes my hand and leads me away from the dance floor and out back. Mom’s standing with a Scavo cousin, both of them smoking. I wave, but we don’t stop. He takes me down a paved path, between two outbuildings and toward the open paddock.
The area’s beautiful. Lots of flat grazing land and a forest butting up against it. I lean against Ford as the moon hangs in the sky and the stars sparkle.
“What’s the surprise?” I ask him. “You’re not about to make out with me, are you?”
“I wasn’t, but that sounds like it would be fun.”
“Ford.”
He squeezes me tight against him. “The surprise is all this.” He gestures at the paddock and the land beyond it.
I frown at him with confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“I was talking to the owner a couple days ago. Apparently, the horse farm side of their business hasn’t been doing all that great, and he’s been looking for some outside investment.”
My eyes widen. “Ford. You didn’t.”
“It wasn’t much and if you’re not interested, it doesn’t have to go any further—but as of right now, you and I are partial owners of this place.”
“Ford.”
“You could come work here if you wanted and maybe we could even poach Melody. You could turn this place around.”
“Ford!”
“Yes?”
“I love you.” I stand on my toes and kiss him. “God, I love you so much.”
“Is this the part where we make out?”
“Don’t be a bastard.”
He kisses me slow and deep. “I love you too,” he whispers and holds me tight against him. “I won’t lose you again.”
