Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

The wine was gone, the food had been reduced to a few crumbs, and Bella felt the happiest she’d felt in a long time.

Tatum was on her stomach, licking chocolate off her fingers, her feet crossed behind her. “I think Falcon’s going to come after you,” she said. “The man definitely loves you. He’s just scared shitless.”

“Like all the Harts are,” Phoebe said. “Jacob was so fragile in some ways. Still is.”

Bella inclined her head. “This is true.”

“I was fragile too,” Sofia chimed in. “I didn’t want to get together with Keegan. But we healed each other.”

Meg was leaning against a nearby rock. “Do you want him, Bella? For real? Do you really not want to get married and have kids?”

Bella rolled onto her back and stared at the sky, thinking about the question. “When I think of having kids, I think of all of us living under the bridge, carrying all this baggage. I have no idea how to be a good mom. I never saw it. I don’t want to cause that damage to anyone. Ever.”

Phoebe dipped a strawberry in the remnants of the chocolate. “I had a lot of trauma, and I’m figuring out how to be the mom my daughter needs. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to love them, and be who you are. You’re amazing. It will be enough.”

Sudden, surprising tears filled Bella’s eyes. Was it really possible she could be enough? Deserving of a family? Capable of having a family? The notion that she might be enough was overwhelming, and suddenly she wanted to roll into a ball and cry. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “So scared to believe in the fairytale.”

“It’s no fairytale,” Tatum said. “It’s real life. It’s hard work. But it’s worth it.”

Bella turned her head to look at Tatum. “Are you happy with Brody?”

Her sister-in-law beamed at her. “Deliriously happy.”

“What about your career?”

Tatum grinned. “Brody fully supports me and does everything he can to help me shine my brightest. He’d never hold me back. His support makes it easier for me to be successful, which means I work less. The Vegas residency allows me more time with him and at the ranch. He comes with me sometimes, and I come here. Between the two of us, we’re together a lot, but we both have space to be ourselves. It works. It can work, Bella, if both sides are committed.”

“Heck,” Meg said. “Lucas moved to Boston to be with Maddie. I know they’re back and forth from the ranch a lot, but he’s having the best time out there. Our brothers raised us to be strong women, and they appreciate strong women. Falcon is the same. He’ll support you in your career.”

He would. Bella knew that.

“What do you want to do?” Phoebe asked. “Buy that catering business?”

Diana had called six times since they’d been talking, but Bella hadn’t answered. “I don’t want to,” she admitted. “I just don’t know what else to do.”

“Invest in their ice cream business, like you said,” Sofia said.

Bella sighed. “I’m not interested in ice cream.”

Meg raised her brows. “But are you interested in empowering women? Seeing them support each other?”

Bella glanced at her. “Well, yeah?—”

“Do you know that some horrifyingly small percentage of venture capital money goes to women?” Tatum said. “Record companies are mostly owned by men. I started my own label last year, and I’ve taken on several artists.”

Bella had heard the same speeches from Kitty, who had also opened her own label and invested regularly in women’s businesses. “I don’t know anything about business.”

“Oh, well, that’s a deal-breaker,” Phoebe said sarcastically. “If only you could learn about it.”

Bella grinned, recalling how she’d given Falcon that same speech about his healing. She thought about how happy Diana had been, calling her daughter to give her the news about the money so they could build her business.

At the very least, she could invest in their ice cream truck business, to make up for the fact she wasn’t going to buy the catering company.

The minute she thought it, relief rushed through her. “I’m not buying it.” The words felt amazing and free. “I’m not going to cook for the dude ranch either.” She looked around. “I don’t know if I want to be an investor, but I’ll help with the ice cream trucks. Just to see?—”

She paused when everyone looked past her, suddenly grinning.

Bella spun around, and her heart took a little leap when she saw Falcon astride their big, bay gelding, Moonstruck, reining the horse to a halt. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots, and he looked every bit the rancher he wanted to be.

His shirt was open at the collar, and he looked so insanely sexy and at home.

God, she loved him.

“Hi,” he said, his voice low and rough, his gaze only on her.

She lifted her chin. “I told you not to follow me.”

“Yep, you did.” He urged Moonstruck into a walk, and the pair sauntered into the clearing. He nodded at the others. “Hi, ladies.”

They all waved, but none of them got up to leave. Bella realized they were staying with her, having her back, and her heart turned over. The day with these women had created a bond that was already taking root, real, deep roots of love.

Falcon reined Moonstruck to a halt, then swung his leg over and landed in front of Bella. He kept one hand on his horse’s neck, scratching softly as he turned to Bella. “Thank you.”

She shifted, restless. “For what?”

“For hiring Dylan.”

Surprise stole her words for a moment. “Really?”

“Yes.” He took a breath. “I had a good talk with Dylan and Brody. It’s time to leave that behind.”

Oh, thank God. Relief rushed through her. Falcon wasn’t going to get himself killed . She nodded, her heart starting to race. “You didn’t want to do it anyway,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm.

“I didn’t,” he agreed, still scratching Moonstruck’s neck. “And I called all three healers on your list. I’ve scheduled meetings with all of them.”

Her throat suddenly clogged. “Really?”

He ground tied Moonstruck, then closed the distance between them. “If there is any chance I can make the world a better place, I have to do it. I’m going to try.”

She nodded, emotions thick in her chest. “That’s wonderful, Falcon.”

He held out his hands to her, but she didn’t take them. “You were right. I was scared of actually going after my dream.” He didn’t lower his hands. “I do want to get married to you, and only to you. Kids? Yeah.”

She nodded, pressing her lips together.

“But I will tell you this,” he said. “There are a lot of ways for me to help kids like we used to be. Like Gordy. If my healing works out, I’m going to find a way to help those kids. Do I want to be a dad? Yeah. But I don’t need to be. You’re my first and only, and if you don’t want kids, I can make a hell of a lot of difference anyway.”

Behind her, Bella heard the murmurs of her friends. Maybe some romantic sighs, which almost made her laugh.

“I do want to stay on the ranch, and I know you will always be connected here, too. We might find places we want to go, but our roots will always be here. I know it.”

Bella nodded. “I know,” she whispered. “I feel the pull of it when I’m here.”

“Because it’s built on love.” He put his palm over her heart. “All I want is to heal this beautiful heart of yours and help it love.”

He dropped to one knee, and tears filled Bella’s eyes. “Bella Hart, I give you my whole heart. You’ve always had it. I want to marry you, and I’ll never, ever break your trust. We will figure out how to thrive together, and it will be amazing.”

She couldn’t stop the tears now. “Falcon?—”

“Hang on.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little woven bag. “About ten years ago, I saw this ring. It spoke to me, and I knew it was for you. I’ve kept it on a chain around my neck every minute since then, except the last couple days, because I didn’t want to freak you out.”

She managed a giggle. “It would absolutely have freaked me out.”

“Right? You’re so predictable.” He pressed the bag into her hand, his hand warm and solid. “I kept you in my heart all this time, and this ring has years of love woven into it.”

Behind her, the gallery was definitely making swooning sounds.

Bella opened the bag and slid the ring into her hand. “Oh,” she whispered, stunned. “It’s so beautiful.” It was a huge center diamond with intricate carvings on the band and more diamonds woven into it, a pattern she’d never seen before. It was warm in her hand, and she closed her fist around it, absorbing the heat. “It’s hot.”

He nodded. “It’s you. It’s your energy and spirit. I knew it when I saw it.” He held out his hand. “Marry me, Bella. It’s been so long. No more waiting.”

She smiled through her tears. This man, this beautiful man, had had her heart for years and years. He’d been her hero, and he’d let her grow into her own heroine as well. Time had made them both more, and they fit together now, better than when they were young. “I’m never going to let you be the boss. I’ve had enough protecting from my brothers.”

He grinned. “I’m well aware of that, Bella. I love you as you are.”

“I’m still figuring out my career.”

“As I am,” he said, hope building on his handsome face. “New identities for both of us.”

She nodded. “Ask me again.”

He grinned, took the ring from her, and then took her hand. “Bella Hart, will you marry me?”

She smiled as love filled her whole body. “Why, yes, Falcon. I will.”

He let out a whoop, and she giggled as he slid the ring onto her finger. Then he swept her up in his arms and spun her around, whooping like a genuine cowboy. She wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing, her heart so full she felt like she was going to explode.

And when her friends, no, her sisters , came running over to bury them in hugs and shrieks, she knew that she’d found her home…right where it had been all along.