Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

The Ranch was alive with excitement, and the evening felt charged with anticipation. The bonfire crackled, casting a warm light across the gathering crowd, and the New Year’s celebration had taken on a magical feel. Rowan, Sebastian, and Forrest stood with Jessica, enjoying the party as if it were any other night, but all three men knew this wasn’t just another evening. Tonight was about more than a celebration.

Sebastian watched as Jessica mingled with her friends, his heart swelling with pride and affection. She looked radiant, her carefree laughter mingling with the sounds of the party. For a while, they let her be, watching her as she enjoyed some special Little time with Sadie and the other Littles. It was also a joy to see her like this—her playful, vulnerable side fully on display.

She’d been so brave, opening herself up to them bit by bit, and tonight they could finally show her just how serious they were about her.

Rowan came up beside him, nudging him with his elbow. “She’s happy,” he said, his voice soft. “Look at her.”

Sebastian followed Rowan’s gaze to where Jessica was playing with a set of blocks, giggling with a friend over something silly. Her eyes sparkled in the firelight, and she looked so at peace, so content.

“Yeah,” Sebastian said, his voice thick with emotion. “She is.”

Forrest joined them, carrying drinks for the three of them. He handed them out with a grin. “Our girl’s having the time of her life, huh?”

“She deserves it,” Rowan said, sipping his drink.

They watched her for a while longer, letting her play and enjoy the evening. Sebastian felt his chest tighten with every laugh she let out, knowing that soon they’d be giving her a surprise that would change everything.

When the clock neared midnight, they gathered around her, subtly pulling her away from her friends as the countdown to the New Year began. She didn’t notice anything different at first, laughing as Rowan pulled her close for a dance, twirling her in circles. Forrest joined in, lifting her off the ground playfully while Sebastian kept his hands on her hips, steadying her between them all.

“You’re spoiling me,” she teased, giggling as they passed her from one to the other in a whirlwind of movement.

“Only the best for you, little one,” Rowan whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek as he passed her back to Sebastian.

As the countdown began—ten, nine, eight—Jessica beamed up at them, her face flushed with joy and laughter.

Seven, six, five—she blinked up at them, nothing but adoration on her face.

Four... three... two... one! Happy New Year!

The Ranch exploded with cheers and laughter, but for Jessica, time seemed to slow as her three men crowded around her.

Sebastian reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope, holding it in front of her. “Happy New Year, sweetheart,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “This is for you.”

Jessica blinked, her eyes wide with surprise. “What’s this?”

“Open it,” Forrest urged, his voice gentle but filled with anticipation.

Jessica looked from one man to the other, confusion and curiosity warring in her expression. With trembling hands, she opened the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. Her eyes scanned the first page, and as realization dawned on her, she gasped.

“These are... what is this?” she stammered, looking up at them with wide eyes.

“It’s a promise,” Sebastian said, stepping closer to her. “A promise for our future together.”

Rowan pointed to the paper in her hand. “That’s the offer we made on a piece of land up on the Ridge. It’s private, close to the Ranch and perfect for us.”

Forrest nodded, his voice warm. “We want to build a home there, with you. Somewhere we can all be together, where you’ll always feel safe.”

Jessica’s eyes filled with tears as she stared at the papers, her hands shaking slightly. “You... you bought land? For us?”

Sebastian took her hand, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. “Not just any land. A parcel on Rawhide Ridge where we can build a future together, sweetheart.”

She looked down at the papers again, her breath hitching as she flipped through the pages. And then she found the memo—a printed email from Sebastian to his entire company, informing them he would work remotely from now on.

Her gaze shot back to Sebastian. “You’re leaving the city?”

Sebastian nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. “I’m not leaving you, Jessica. I’ll still be working, but I’m staying here. To be with you. We all are. We’re not pushing you to move in with us immediately, we know it’s way too soon for that, but we need you to know how serious we are about you.”

Jessica’s lips trembled, her eyes flicking to Rowan and Forrest, who were both watching her with love and hope in their eyes.

Forrest stepped forward, his voice calm and soothing. “I’ve been talking to Master Derek about coming on staff here at the Ranch. Whether or not it works out, I’ll be staying here too.”

Jessica’s hands flew to her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks. “You’re all staying?”

“We all know that I am a rolling stone. I go wherever my whims take me, and for the first time in my life, I want to stop rolling. I want to find someplace to settle and build foundations. We’re not going anywhere,” Rowan said firmly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “We want you, Jess. Not just for now. For the long haul.”

Sebastian reached out, gently wiping away her tears. “This isn’t just about the land or the job. This is about us. We want a future with you.”

Jessica’s breath came in short, uneven gasps as she processed everything. The land, the promise, the fact that they were all willing to change their lives to stay here. With her.

“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Forrest said softly, cupping her cheek in his hand. “Just know that we’re all in. For you.”

Jessica blinked, her tears spilling over as she looked at each of them, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she threw herself into Sebastian’s arms, hugging him tightly as sobs wracked her body.

Sebastian held her close, his heart aching with love for the woman in his arms. It was too soon to tell her. He knew that would scare her for sure, but that didn’t stop him from feeling it. Rowan and Forrest quickly joined their huddle, surrounding her with warmth and comfort, holding her as she cried.

When she finally pulled back, her face streaked with tears, she looked at them with a smile that took Sebastian’s breath away. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment. Her eyes were filled with an emotion echoed in Sebastian’s chest and he felt a moment of hope and relief that she finally understood how they felt about her.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice thick with the same emotion Sebastian saw in her eyes.

Sebastian’s heart soared at her words, and he pulled her into a deep, tender kiss. When they broke apart, Rowan and Forrest each kissed her in turn, their touches gentle and filled with love.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” Sebastian told her, his words like a vow. Rowan and Forrest quickly followed with their declarations of love, and Jessica’s eyes filled with tears all over again.

This moment was a dream come true. A dream Sebastian hadn’t even realized he had.

“So,” Rowan said with a grin as he pulled back, “Does that mean you’re okay with the idea for the house?”

Jessica laughed, her tears finally drying as she looked at them with shining eyes. “Yes! Yes, I’m more than okay with it.”

Sebastian’s chest tightened with love, affection and relief as he pulled her close again, kissing her temple as he whispered, “Best New Year ever.”

It wasn’t just a new year. It was the beginning of the rest of their lives, and Sebastian knew, without a doubt, that it was going to be everything they had ever dreamed of.