Chapter Forty-Four - Diane

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

DIANE

Keira and Sovereign get married at the ranch. Westin looks so handsome officiating that he's all I pay attention to. Keira wanted a small, private wedding, so it's just the ranch hands, the wranglers, and Sovereign's close friends. It's a balmy spring day, the sun is warm, and the grass is a rich, dark green carpet under our feet.

The wedding is small, but the celebration afterwards feels huge. Everything goes hazy at the end. Sovereign and Keira disappear just as the sun starts to set. Everyone else stays in the tent where the alcohol keeps flowing.

Someone sets up fireworks down in the valley, across the road. The beer runs out, and whiskey is pulled from back rooms and poured. My yellow sundress sticks to my body. Westin keeps trying to put his hands up under it, kissing my neck in front of everyone so I have to give him a look to make him behave.

At some point, Deacon and Jensen start shooting tin cans in the field. Sovereign leans out of his window and hollers at them to cut it out.

Westin shakes his head and mutters something I can't hear. Then, he puts his hat on my head, and we slow dance, both too drunk to do anything else .

Around three in the morning, I'm in bed with a glass of water and Tylenol. Then, it's morning, and I'm so hungover, I can't do anything but sleep it off for the next twenty-four hours.

Westin brings me some toast on Sunday morning when I'm finally feeling better. He looks good, but his body tolerates alcohol better than mine. I brush back his wavy chestnut hair and let him kiss me. He tastes minty, like he just brushed his teeth.

"No alcohol at our wedding," I say.

He laughs. "I think it'll be alright," he says. "Just no whiskey for you, darling."

I sigh, feeling a little messy. "Okay, no whiskey for me."

His mouth trails down the side of my neck. "I'll have better things to do than drink on my wedding night."

"I have a feeling I'm one of those things," I murmur.

He pulls back, face sober. "Now that we're engaged, I want you to wear your collar."

My face warms. I wondered when he'd decide to put it around my neck. It's exciting that he feels like we're at that point.

"I thought you'd never ask," I say.

He rises and goes to the dresser. When he returns, he has a thin gold chain with a tiny knot at the center.

"Turn around and lift your hair."

I obey, gathering my hair and tying it into a high ponytail. This feels important, maybe more so than when he put my engagement ring on. It takes him a second to latch the clasp, and then it falls to the base of my neck.

"Look at you," he says, his voice rough.

I touch the clasp. It feels like a little metal bead. "What is that?"

"It's permanent," he says. "I can cut it off, but I'd prefer not to."

I swallow. Maybe that's why this feels different than a ring. Warmth stirs in my lower belly as my toes curl.

I brush my ass back against him., and he slides his hand over my throat.

"You're beautiful," he says .

He lets me go, and I scramble out of bed to inspect myself in the bathroom mirror. He joins me, rolling up his sleeves to wash his hands. I glance over, enjoying the way he looks, all windswept with his forearms out.

"What are your plans for today?" I ask lightly.

He leans on the sink. "I have a meeting, then some chores."

"What's the meeting about?"

I step between his boots and lean forward, resting my chin on his chest. He tugs my ponytail, gripping it by the base.

"Nothing."

I narrow my eyes. "Carter Farms?"

He shrugs. "Wouldn't you rather I handle that on my own?"

I let out a sigh. "I just… We've been waiting so long. I'm worried something is going to happen."

"Deacon paid off some people in the city to push the paperwork back," he says. "We've got time. I'm handling it."

I hate that he won't talk about what's going on with my farm. I wriggle out of his arms and flick my ponytail over my shoulder as I leave the bathroom to let him know I'm annoyed.

He leans in the doorway, arms crossed. "Diane."

I rub my eyes, blinking hard. I was in such a good mood this morning, and thinking about Carter Farms ruined it. It's a dark cloud in the back of my mind. Sovereign Mountain is beautiful, but I want to be back on my land.

"I just want…to go home," I say, and my voice cracks.

He holds out his arms. I go to him and let him cradle me against his chest.

"I know," he says. "I promise, I'll get you everything you want. Just trust me a little longer."