“What if she laughs in my face? What if she thinks I’m not being honest? What if—”
His sister smiled. “What if you don’t tell her you love her? What if you don’t try? Do you love her?”
“With all of my heart.”
“Then stop worrying. She loves you too.”
Just then the bell above the door jingled, and Britney smiled. “Stay here.”
“Okay,” he said, and as soon as Britney was out of the office, he peeked around the door.
Summer’s jaw dropped, and she looked from the paintings hanging on the wall to Britney to Lexi and back. “What’s going on?”
Britney nearly danced to Lexi and linked arms with her. “You should take a look around, and then you have a meeting with someone.”
“You two know each other?” Summer asked.
Lexi winked. “Partners in crime. I love this girl.”
Britney giggled. “I love you too. Now, we have a wedding to plan.”
The door jingled again, and Julian was alone with Summer.
“What is this?” she said almost too quietly for him to hear as she slowly walked around the room. When she got to the painting of the Buchanan’s home, she stopped and touched her fingers to her lips.
Julian couldn’t wait any longer. He stepped out of the office and strode across the room until he was next to her. “Do you like them?” Her opinion meant more to him than any he’d ever received.
She turned and faced him. “They’re incredible. When did you have time to do all these?”
“Over the last week, they sort of poured out of me.”
“This is Nanna’s house…and…that’s you kissing me. It’s so vibrant and beautiful. Is that how you saw that moment?”
He smiled and nodded. “I found that missing piece…the inspiration I’d lost. All of these are moments I’ve had with you.” Pausing, he raked his hand through his hair. “I think I’ve been worried I’d let you down. For the most part, I’ve learned to shake off criticism, but that last gallery showing really got to me. That’s why it was so important that I finished that barn for you. It wasn’t just for you. It was for me. To prove to myself that I was someone who could be counted on. Mostly, I wanted to be someone you could count on.”
“I saw the barn yesterday. It’s beautiful, and I looked for you so I could tell you.”
Nodding, he said, “I was here, getting this ready.”
Summer sighed and glanced around. “All of these are stunning, Julian. I knew you were talented, but these…they’re incredible. But you didn’t have to rent this space just to show me.”
“I didn’t rent it. I bought it.”
“What?” she asked just above a whisper.
“This is me telling you I love you. That I want to be wherever you are, and if you’ll have me, I’m yours.”
“But your family?”
“I love them dearly, but I like Sage Valley. I appreciate the pace of life. I adore your Nanna and Bucky. Most of all, I love and cherish you.”
Summer touched her fingers to her mouth and smiled. “I love you more than anything on this earth. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I was scared. I knew loving you could break me into pieces, and…well, I just don’t care anymore. I would rather love you and risk everything than not have you, even if that means moving away from here.” She stepped into him and took his face in her hands. “I love you, Julian Wolf, with all my heart.”
Relief flooded him. “I was so hoping you’d say that. I don’t want to be with anyone else but you.” He went down to one knee, and she gasped. “I know this is fast. I know it’s probably a little crazy, but I know I want to spend my life with you. Will you please do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Julian Wolf? I would love to have you, hold you, and be with you for the rest of my life.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks. Nodding, she said, “I would. I would love to marry you.”
As he stood, he picked her up by the waist and kissed her. She circled her arms around his neck, threading her fingers through his hair.
This was the best kiss they’d shared so far. It was slow and soft, and it was a promise for tomorrows to come. He’d had one season with her, and now he wanted to work on making many more.
Epilogue
Six Weeks Later…
Summer grinned. “I told you he’d love them.”
The art critic from Julian’s last gallery showing had just left, and he’d loved Julian’s paintings. All of them. He’d complimented Julian on his style and the emotion the paintings expressed, and he said he loved these more than those in his first showing. In fact, he said they felt more inspired than any Julian had ever painted.
Julian’s lips spread into a wide smile as his cheeks turned pink. “I know. I guess…”
“You were nervous.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I was and shouldn’t have been. As long as you love them, that’s all I care about.”
“Well, now you don’t have to worry at all. Not only do I love them, but that critic did too.”
Julian’s mom peeked her head inside the office. “Julian, love, they’re waiting for you to make a speech.”
Once the gallery showing had been booked, Julian’s family had flown in for it one by one. Summer had met all of them and loved them. She’d never met a group of people so welcoming in her life. His mom and younger sister were already planning her and Julian’s wedding. Well, Britney was doing most of it, but Julian’s mom and her nanna were peas in a pod. Their families just fit.
“A speech?” he asked. “I don’t give speeches.”
His mom shrugged. “Well, I think you need to this time.”
He shook out his hands and took a deep breath.
“You can do this. Everyone here loves you. Just say something small, like, ‘Thanks for coming.’” Summer smiled.
“Okay.” He let out a big breath and stepped into the main room with Summer following behind him and linking arms with his mom.
Julian raked his hand through his hair. “Uh, I’m told it’s necessary to give a speech.”
“Come on, big brother, spit it out,” Noah called.
Summer had never met a man with as many muscles as Noah had, and all of Julian’s siblings shared his bright blue eyes.
Zach laughed. “Yeah, spit it out.”
“Shut up, you jerks.” Julian laughed. “I want to thank all of you for coming. This was a little different than my other showings. Not only because of the subject matter, but the location. I know most of you drove the four hours to be here, and I appreciate your support.”
“Or flew,” Noah chimed in.
Julian rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He caught Summer’s gaze and grinned, holding his hand out to her. “Mostly, I want to thank this beautiful woman for being here. If you’ll notice, most of these paintings have a common denominator. Summer Brown…soon to be Wolf.”
Summer wrapped her arm around his waist and felt the burn in her cheeks as attention shifted to her. It was sweet, but she wasn’t used to all this yet. “Stop.”
He tipped her chin up, and it was like they were the only two in the room. Those blue eyes of his held hers. “I knew there was a missing piece in my life, and the moment I met you, I felt whole. The paintings in this room are because of you. You were the missing piece, and you’re the best inspiration I could have ever hoped for. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” And she was marrying this sweet, sensitive, incredibly romantic man as soon as she could. He’d given her someone with whom she could trust her heart and her future. Summer lifted on her toes and touched her lips to Julian’s.
It was a perfect ending to a perfect night with the perfect man for her.
Read The Ranger’s Chance Now!
___
Sage Valley Ranch Series
Romancing the Conflicted Cowboy
By Crystal Walton
Falling for the Younger Cowboy
By Liwen Y. Ho
Wrangled by the Watchful Cowboy
> By Tamie Dearen
Charmed by the Daring Cowboy
By Melanie D. Snitker
Inspired by the Creative Cowboy
By Bree Livingston
Acknowledgments
There are plenty of people to thank.
Thank you to Kathy, for your honesty, and thank you to the incredible ARC readers who catch my typos and propel me to be better.
Thank you to the Sage Valley Ranch authors, Crystal Walton, Liwen Ho, Tamie Dearen, and Melanie Snitker. This is fun and I love working with you ladies.
Thanks to my editor, Christina Schrunk. She makes my stories…readable.
Thanks to my husband and girls for giving me the time I need to write these stories!
Other Books by Bree Livingston
A Clean Billionaire Romance Series
Her Pretend Billionaire Boyfriend:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book One
Her Second Chance Billionaire Sweetheart:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Two
Her Broken Billionaire Boss:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Three
Her Fake Billionaire Fiancé:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Four
Her Stranded Billionaire Mix-Up:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Five
Her Secret Billionaire Roommate:
A Clean Billionaire Romance Book Six
A Clean Fake Relationship Romance Series
The Cowboy’s Fake Marriage:
A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Book One
The Star’s Fake Marriage:
A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Book Two
The Bodyguard’s Fake Marriage:
A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Book Three
The Matchmaker’s Fake Marriage:
A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Book Four
The Beast’s Fake Marriage:
A Sweet Fake Marriage Romance Book Five
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Series:
The Ranger’s Chance:
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book One
The Ranger’s Peace:
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book Two
The Ranger’s Heart:
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book Three
The Ranger’s Hope:
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book Four
The Ranger’s Forgiveness:
A Clean Army Ranger Romance Book Five
A Clean Scottish Romance Series:
Mending the Billionaire Movie Star:
A Clean Scottish Romance Book One
Mending the Billionaire Scotsman:
A Clean Scottish Romance Book Two
Mending the Billionaire Brother:
A Clean Scottish Romance Book Three
Clean Romance Stand Alones:
Love and Charity
The Mistletoe Game:
A Clean Christmas Novella
About the Author
Bree Livingston lives in the West Texas Panhandle with her husband, children, and cats. She'd have a dog, but they took a vote and the cats won. Not in numbers, but attitude. They wouldn't even debate. They just leveled their little beady eyes at her and that was all it took for her to nix getting a dog. Her hobbies include...nothing because she writes all the time.
She loves carbs, but the love ends there. No, that's not true. The love usually winds up on her hips which is why she loves writing romance. The love in the pages of her books are sweet and clean, and they definitely don't add pounds when you step on the scale. Unless of course, you're actually holding a Kindle while you're weighing. Put the Kindle down and try again. Also, the cookie because that could be the problem too. She knows from experience.
Join her mailing list to be the first to find out publishing news, contests, and more by going to her website at https://www.breelivingston.com.
Inspired By The Creative Cowboy (Sage Valley Ranch Book 5) Page 11
