‘Holy shit,’ I exclaimed, catching Lottie and Cole’s eyes across the floor. Both were grinning – partly at the eight thousand dollars the lot had raised but partly because, as Cole lifted his hand in greeting, Jesse had put his left arm round my shoulder and pulled me close, kissing my hair.

  ‘Next lot for sale is . . . well, ladies and gents, a real Jackson exclusive!’

  There were a few laughs from the crowd and a long, loud wolf whistle from Bailey.

  ‘That’s right, this lot is a date night with none other than Jackson’s very own Elizabeth Dean, Jackson High’s most beautiful Prom Queen and fifth generation Jackson Hole rancher!’

  There was a chorus of encouraging whoops, shouts and yells as Lottie brought Lil up to the stage area.

  ‘Now, sadly, her equally beautiful cousin isn’t part of the deal,’ the auctioneer went on, prompting a hard glare from Cole, ‘but we’re only accepting top quality bids here for the chance to take Miss Dean out for dinner. Let’s start the bidding at four hundred dollars. Do I have four hundred dollars?’

  Jesse chuckled as Lil exclaimed, turning to face the auctioneer with a bemused expression, clearly unable to believe anyone would bid that much. But, in the same moment, one, then two, then three people raised their hands. As the price went up, Lottie barely covered her laugh as she watched her cousin’s expression.

  ‘Man, there’s some money in this town,’ I said, Jesse humming in agreement. ‘I mean, Lil’s gorgeous and fucking hilarious, but fuck – fifteen hundred dollars for a date?’

  The bidding paused as things slowed, until –

  ‘Five thousand dollars,’ a voice called out from the back, hidden from view by the crowd.

  ‘Well!’ the auctioneer called, above a burst of cheering and clapping. ‘Now, Miss Dean is a mighty fine date, but that is quite the generous bid! Do we have any further advance on—’

  ‘Eight thousand!’ another voice called from the opposite side of the room – a similar tone to the previous bid. It was almost as if the same person had shouted twice. Lil’s face, already incredulous, drained of all colour as a figure began striding forward through the crowd.

  ‘Who the hell . . .?’ I asked, turning to Jesse, but he shook his head in confusion, frowning as he noted Lil’s reaction too.

  ‘Ten thousand,’ the first voice said, the accent now clear. It had a Wyoming edge, but the rest was all British. This bidder too appeared to be making his way through the crowd towards the front of the room.

  As he stepped into view, I felt Jesse go rigid. Lil’s mouth fell open.

  ‘Ten thousand dollars,’ the man repeated as everyone stared at him. He was tall, dressed in an expensive suit, with short, dark hair and a tanned, chiselled face. He nodded a greeting to Lil, his expression firm, then glancing in the direction of the other high bidder as if challenging them to continue.

  There was a silence, broken only by whispers throughout the crowd. After a pause, the auctioneer carried on, clearly as stunned as everyone else.

  But no one was more astonished than Lil. As the auctioneer declared the date sold, the room erupted. The man in the suit glanced at her, gave one more nod in her direction and then turned away, stepping back into the crowd.

  ‘What the fuck just happened?’ I breathed, turning back to Jesse, following his stare to Cole. Then both of them looked up at Lil.

  Lottie was with her, concern in her eyes, talking rapidly as she supported her cousin.

  ‘That right there was Ryder Sinclair,’ Jesse said, frowning, his gaze still on Lil. ‘Son of Zach Sinclair, the owner-in-waiting of the Diamond Back’s biggest rival, Elk Creek. And . . .’ He winced, shifting his gaze back to me. ‘. . . Lil’s onetime fiancé.’

  CHAPTER 27

  HESTIA

  It wasn’t until the first flurries of snow had fallen, coating the fir trees around the ranch house, that I realized how quickly time was passing.

  Pressed against the biggest window in the kitchen, I all but forgot everyone’s drinks order as I gazed out at the view beyond. The valley floor had partly disappeared under a fine crystalline blanket. It was almost too beautiful to take in.

  I heard footsteps approaching.

  ‘Happy first Thanksgiving,’ Jesse whispered, appearing behind me, his lips automatically grazing over my neck as I closed my eyes, leaning back into him.

  ‘Does it normally snow this early?’ I breathed, trying to control the impulses his mouth usually inspired. Even now – two months since the auction, living and working alongside each other – every time we touched, it still felt the same. Somewhere between relief, like taking a deep, calming breath, and lighting a taper. It burnt low and slow with a desperate urge to be alone together, whether it was physical or not, hours spent getting to know each other in every possible way.

  ‘Sometimes earlier,’ he murmured. ‘Means we’ll need to stay extra warm, honey.’

  His hands circled me; his right arm was moving more freely by the day. Both hands slipped under my sweater, one heading north and the other south, my breath catching as his fingers slipped into my jeans.

  ‘I need to get drinks,’ I whispered, barely able to stifle a moan as he started to work his hands in the way he knew I liked.

  ‘It’s not my fault my girlfriend’s a goddess,’ he rasped, his own breathing becoming erratic as I felt him becoming hard, pressing into my back. ‘Or maybe it’s just remembering our first time in this kitchen.’

  Slowly approaching the point of no return, I turned around to face him, his hands reluctantly withdrawing.

  ‘Later this evening, when everyone else has gone home, I’m going to fuck you until it feels like summer again,’ I promised, digging my nails into his ass as I squeezed it. ‘But it’s about Lottie tonight, right?’

  He smiled down at me, leaning in for a long, heart-stopping kiss.

  ‘Always thinking about other people,’ he said eventually, biting his lip as I reached up to run my fingers through his hair.

  I shook my head.

  ‘Mainly you,’ I admitted, rewarded as his smile grew. ‘But right now, Cole.’

  His outraged expression was worth it, making me laugh as I kissed his cheek and moved over to the fridge, desperately trying to unscramble my thoughts and pick up the right drinks as well as the magnum of champagne.

  ‘So what exactly is your role in this?’ he asked, eyebrows raised as I turned back to him.

  ‘See,’ I smirked, reaching over to grab a tray from one of the drawers. ‘This is what it’s like to tease someone with a secret and keep it to yourself.’

  He grinned, looking down as he scuffed his boot against the wooden floor.

  ‘All right, that’s fair enough, I guess,’ he began. Then, looking back up, he added, ‘But I was planning to tell you later – show you, actually.’

  I studied him for a moment as I gathered flutes and glasses together, placing them next to the bottles on the tray. Two months he’d kept this a secret – his plans for the rest of the rodeo prize money.

  The auction had been a huge success. So much so that not only could Jesse buy his mum all of the medication she would need for many years to come, but he could donate significant sums to both the Livingston and Jackson hospitals, where his physio treatment was rebuilding his strength at pace.

  But the rest of the money – that was still a mystery. And there was one other part of the auction that had remained a secret, barely mentioned since.

  As far as we knew, Lil’s ten-thousand-dollar date hadn’t yet happened. Avoiding all conversation around it, she wouldn’t even open up about it to Lottie, let alone actually go through with it.

  ‘You’re gonna show me, huh?’ I asked, secretly proud of my increasingly convincing Wyoming accent.

  He chuckled.

  ‘C’mon, better do this for Cole before the poor fucker combusts.’

  I nodded, imagining how strung out Cole must feel, and picked up the tray, carefully balancing everything as Jesse held the door open.

  A blazing fire in the gargantuan fireplace had warmed every part of the living room, throwing a honey-coloured glow across everyone in it. Everyone from the ranch was there, as well as Dee and her new guy, Austin; her cousin Rosie and little Addie, now curled up on the sofa, fast asleep; Jesse’s mom, who couldn’t stop smiling at Jesse and me together; and his sisters, Clara and Belle, with their husbands.

  The vast space was finally full, Lottie at the centre of it. Her cheeks rosy, her dark, wild curls pinned half up, she looked completely and utterly beautiful in the pale pink dress I’d suggested. Thankfully she hadn’t questioned it, my ulterior motive nicely covered by my genuine admiration.

  I set down the drinks, asking Jesse to take over with serving them. Looking up, Cole gave me a small nod before heading out of the room.

  ‘Hey, girl,’ I said, sidling up to her, hand on my phone. ‘So, this is pretty fucking nice? That Thanksgiving dinner was unreal. You’ve set a bit of a high bar though.’

  She shrugged, her expression so happy and contented that I almost welled up on the spot at the thought of what was coming.

  ‘It’s just a big Sunday roast, really, isn’t it?’ she admitted, smiling as I laughed. ‘But I know this time of year is a bit rough for Cole. And Lil . . .’ She trailed off with a glance at her cousin, now talking animatedly with Clara. ‘So, yeah, I just wanted to make it special for them. And you.’

  She took one of my hands.

  ‘This is more than I ever thought could happen,’ she said, holding my gaze fiercely. ‘This is the family I choose. I can’t believe I got this fucking lucky, to have you here too. It wouldn’t be right if you weren’t.’

  I drew her into a tight hug, tears already starting.

  ‘First off,’ I said, pulling back, my hands on her shoulders. ‘You’re a bitch for trying to ruin my make-up.’ She chuckled, reaching out to gently wipe under my eye. ‘And secondly, if we weren’t in love with cowboys, I would be happy to just be here, with you. I know you never got your gay awakening,’ I added, both of us smiling at the other. ‘But you’ll always be my first love, in every sense.’

  ‘Same,’ she whispered, holding me tight again. ‘Thank fuck Lil swung the work visa situation.’

  I nodded, a shiver of excitement at the thought of all the plans for the creative retreat slowly coming to life, combined with my growing tattoo waitlist here in Jackson. With my London flat sold and the studio wrapped up, there was nothing left but good things on the horizon.

  ‘Although there are other means to getting more permanent visas and green cards,’ I murmured, waiting for her to let go, her eyes suddenly wide.

  ‘What?’ she began, sudden, fierce excitement brewing.

  I shook my head, grinning, holding up a hand.

  ‘All in good time,’ I promised, my own excitement deep down, knowing what I had planned for Jesse tonight. ‘But first, I’ve got something to show you. C’mon.’

  She trailed behind me as I headed out, giving Jesse a wink and mouthing, ‘Two minutes.’

  In the hallway, I gently urged Lottie ahead of me towards the back door and the porch beyond. It was golden hour, the waning sun tinting the valley a molten bronze, the snow glistening on the trees and rocks.

  ‘What . . .?’ she began, but I shooed her to the door, prepping my phone.

  ‘It’s outside. Brace yourself,’ I said, her puzzled smile so fucking precious that I almost reached out and squeezed her again.

  Opening the door, letting the cold wash over me, I held up my screen to capture every second.

  ‘Seriously, what’s . . .’ she began; then, as what Cole had set up became obvious, her hand went to her mouth, covering it.

  The huge fir tree ahead, snow weighing down the branches nearest the house, was strung with fairy lights. A small path, lined with pillar candles and storm lanterns, led to the base of the trunk.

  Cole stood there, utterly fixed on her, his expression as it often was – in perpetual disbelief at his luck that Lottie was his, that she loved him back just as much.

  He gestured to her to walk over, and I captured the glow of the lights reflected in the fabric of her dress as she passed under the canopy.

  Before she reached him, Cole went down on one knee. I moved around to the side, my own heart in my mouth; I didn’t want to intrude on the words, but I captured her expression as Cole asked her, his voice low and rough, to be his wife.

  Tears beginning, hands still over her mouth, Lottie nodded and knelt down right in front of him, taking his face and kissing him, the tears brimming as he returned the kiss.

  I could barely see the phone screen, now just hoping they were in shot as Cole pulled out the ring box and opened it. Lottie’s eyes grew wide as she saw it. He took it out, taking her left hand and gently slid the ring onto her finger.

  My hand, now unsteady from my own emotion, held still just long enough to hear her say yes and to see Cole’s raw joy, the way his smile lit his whole face.

  ‘You fucking knew, the whole time,’ she cried as she hugged me a minute later, staring at her finger in disbelief while Cole grinned at us both.

  ‘You’re not the only sneaky motherfucker, you know,’ I chided her, drawing her back onto the porch and handing her over to Cole. ‘Now, go tell everyone. I need to wrestle with a huge bottle of champagne.’

  Barely an hour later, celebrations well under way, Jesse took my hand.

  ‘This way,’ he said, smirking as he took us out, grabbing both of our jackets and hats off the rack. ‘You’re gonna need these.’

  Frowning, wondering if we were going down to the barn, I came to a stop as he opened his truck passenger door.

  ‘C’mon, Jessica,’ he urged, squeezing my ass as I climbed up.

  ‘Is this finally the big secret, huh?’ I asked as we set off. We got straight onto the highway, heading away from Jackson. He said nothing, just smiled, reaching out with his hand to hold mine.

  I went with it. I’d long since learnt that all things came to those that waited with Jesse, and that it was always worth it.

  So when we took a right off the highway, heading down a wide dirt road, I didn’t question it. Up ahead, nestled into a group of fir and birch trees, was a small, one-story ranch house: a miniature version of the Diamond Back.

  ‘That looks just like . . .’

  ‘The Diamond Back?’ he finished, grinning as he turned up the short drive, coming to a stop before the closed wooden gate. ‘Yeah, it was built by Lottie and Lil’s grandfather as a spot to come fishing and hunting here down in the valley. He loved the main ranch so much, he built a smaller version right here.’

  I could see the river snaking through more trees; beyond it, the Tetons puncturing the fading sky.

  We climbed out, Jesse taking my hand and leading me to the gate. It was beautiful, so peaceful and private. Just the sound of the river and the birds in the trees around us.

  ‘Do you like it?’ he asked, his voice soft, hesitant.

  I exhaled.

  ‘It’s fucking gorgeous,’ I exclaimed, unable to take my eyes from any of it. It felt as though we’d landed in our own personal paradise.

  ‘Hestia,’ he said, taking both my hands and leaning on the gate, ‘I didn’t want to tell you about the rest of the money, in case it didn’t pull off. But . . . it did. Thanks to you, for what you did for me . . . and Mom.’

  I searched his face, not following.

  ‘I already had some money put aside from my last bull riding season, when shit went really well, before Mom got sick. But this win . . . this pushed me over the line. Hestia, honey, this place – I’ve bought it from Lil’s mom.’

  My mouth opened, unable to process it.

  ‘What? But – all of this?’

  He nodded, smiling.

  ‘This house and a hundred acres, stretching down to the river,’ he said, reaching out to brush my cheek. ‘It’s ours, sweetheart. If you want to share it with me – hell, there’s plenty of room for Luci too. I don’t want anything else in this world. Just you and our own space, together.’

  Tears rose up again as I blinked at him, almost unable to comprehend the size of the gesture he was offering. Generosity was like breathing to Jesse – I’d told him as much weeks ago as I’d thanked him for keeping Luci at the Diamond Back, for breaking her in for me.

  ‘In fact, Cole and I, we kinda agreed we’d both do something today,’ he added, holding my gaze with such an intensity that I felt my insides begin to melt. ‘I wanted to ask you, again, maybe in a more traditional way than I did in the hotel room.’ He released one of my hands and, as my brain moved into slow motion, he dropped down onto one knee.

  I could barely breathe, but it was happiness – of a kind I’d only just come to recognize – that filled me up instead.

  ‘Hestia, whether it’s on an official piece of paper or not, I don’t fucking care. I just want you to be my everything, for ever, even if it’s just us that know. I love you more than I ever thought was possible, honey. Will you be my friend, my partner, the love of my life?’

  I knew I was crying, but I couldn’t feel anything, see anything but him. Our future.

  ‘Yes,’ I whispered as he stood, pressing his lips into mine for a moment. Neither of us could speak, only hold onto each other. His thumb brushed away my tears before he bent down to kiss them away. ‘But – I think . . .’ I began, my throat thick with feeling, ‘if you want to, I – I want to marry you.’ I saw his eyes widen. ‘In a way that’s just about us – right here, if we can,’ I decided, looking up into the trees. The first stars were appearing above the eastern peaks in the distance. ‘Just us, and the same people up at the ranch right now.’

  ‘You want . . . to be my wife?’ he murmured, his voice cracking a little.

  I nodded, holding his gaze as he stared, his disbelief turning to something else, tears forming in his eyes.

  ‘I know where all of the negative feelings have come from, about marriage. They have nothing to do with us, with what you are to me. I . . . I want everyone to know what we are to each other.’

  There was a silence as he gathered himself, just the rush of a breeze through the trees.