This day couldn’t possibly get any better. I’m surrounded by my family and friends, the sun is shining, and I’ve got the girl.

Well…almost.

I walk across the yard to where Adley is standing by the pool, watching everyone swim. “Got a minute?”

“Sure.” She spins around and follows me to a quiet place in the yard.

“I had plans of doing this when we were alone, but I don’t want to wait.”

Adley’s lips part. “Lincoln…”

“We may have started this relationship out a little backward, but we’re going to get it right. I promise you, we’re going to get it right. Because you and me…we’re forever, Adley.”

I dip my hand into my right pocket and drop to one knee. Adley’s eyes widen, and everything around us goes eerily silent. “What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Now is not the time to be a smartass,” she says, trying not to laugh.

“You’re right. Now is the time for us. Adley Allen, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I used to think love was an empty promise, a word people use to get what they wanted, because that’s how I was raised. But you taught me different. You taught me that love, in its truest form, is simple and unconditional. And I will love you for all of this life and well into the next. You’re my home, and I want nothing more than for you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

Swallowing, Adley drops to her knees, not even bothering to look at the diamond ring nestled in the box. “Lincoln Bennett, you are the very best thing that has ever happened to me. The first time I saw you, I knew you would be mine. And when I got you, I didn’t know what to do with you, and that scared me. I put up walls—lots of walls to protect my heart, but you broke them down one by one. You refused to give up on me. You are the definition of a strong, loyal man, and I don’t deserve you.”

I shake my head. “Don’t say that.”

“Shh.” She lifts a finger to my lips. “It’s my turn to talk.”

I nod, nipping at the pad of her finger. I hear someone behind us laugh, but I don’t turn around to see who it is.

“I thought I knew what love was all about, but I didn’t—at least not until I met you. There’s nothing more in this world I want than to be your wife and for you to be my husband. I want to take care of you like no one else ever has. Will you marry me?”

“You can’t do this. I proposed first,” I say, slipping my ring onto her finger.

Her breath catches when she looks down at the round solitaire, and then she surprises the hell out of me when she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a box.

Wiping a tear from her cheek, Adley smiles. “My answer is yes. When it comes to you, it will always be yes. But I had plans of proposing to you. Not exactly like this, in front of everyone,” she says, blushing. “But it doesn’t matter where we are or who’s around, nothing will change how I feel about you. This is me, proving myself to you.”

She flicks open the tattered ring box, revealing a thin, worn gold band.

“This was my great grandfather’s,” she says. “He made it himself when he married my great grandmother. He wore it for forty years and then passed it down to my grandfather, who wore it through another forty years of marriage before passing it down to my father. Now it’s being passed down to you. If you’ll agree to marry me, I’d love for you to wear this ring for another sixty or seventy years until you decide to pass it down to our child.”

My heart swells inside my chest to the point of pain. I’m not a crier, but her words bring me to tears.

“This ring is filled with memories and love. I know you don’t have the best memories, and love wasn’t something that came easily in your home, but I want to show you how wonderful it can be—and it will be wonderful because this is us, and we’re pretty great.”

I want nothing more than to put that ring on my finger, but I have to ask, “Doesn’t your dad want to pass this down to one of his sons? And what’s he going to wear if he gives me this?”

Adley looks over my shoulder, and a second later Sawyer is standing behind me like the strong presence he’s been for the last five years.

He rests a hand on my shoulder. “You are my son, Linc, and I would be honored not only for you to marry my little girl, but for you to wear that ring. I could’ve kept it a while longer, but I don’t want to wait. When you walk down that aisle and vow to love and honor and cherish my baby girl, I want you to wear that ring. And every time you look at it, I want you to know you don’t just belong to her. You’re a part of our family too, and we love you.” Sawyer pulls a paper from the front pocket of his flannel shirt and hands it to me.

“What’s this, sir?”

“We may not share the same blood, or the same last name, but you’re part of the family. Rhett and I talked, and if you like working here at the ranch, we’d like to offer you a permanent position.”

I open the paper and see my name scrawled across the deed to the land, alongside Beau, Rhett, Cooper, and Trevor. “Is this… I don’t know what to say.”

Rhett steps forward. “This is the easy part. Say yes.”

I swallow hard and nod up at Sawyer. “Yes. Thank you, sir.”

He steps away, and when I look back at Adley, she’s holding the ring. “If you say yes to me, I was thinking you could wear this on your right hand—sort of like an engagement ring—until we get married.”

“Adley Renee Allen…” I cup her face in my hands and bring her mouth to mine so she can feel my words as well as hear them. “I can’t wait to be your husband.”

The place erupts with cheers and laughter as Adley throws herself against me. Her mouth crashes down on mine in a kiss that I’m sure will earn me a good goading from her brothers when no one else is around. But I don’t care, because I have the girl, and I’m never letting her go.

Pulling back, she slips the ring onto my right ring finger. “We can always get you something more modern if you’d prefer.”

Is she crazy? “This is perfect. You are perfect.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Bennett.”

She attacks my mouth again, and we topple to the ground. “Careful, you’re pregnant.”

“Did he just say pregnant?” Vivian says, her voice getting louder with each word. “I swear I just hear him say she’s pregnant.”

Adley giggles and drops her head to my chest.

“We should probably tell them,” I whisper. “You’re past the three-month mark, and we have the all-clear from your doctor.”

Crawling off of me, Adley pushes herself up and holds out a hand. Once I’m settled in by her side, with an arm around her waist, she looks at her mom, who is standing between Dad and Sawyer, surrounded by the rest of her family and friends. Everyone is anxiously waiting.

“I’m pregnant,” she announces. “Lincoln and I are having a baby!”

“I’m gonna be a grandma,” Vivian says, looking at Sawyer, who looks like he’s fighting back tears. “We’re going to be grandparents.”

She squeals and throws herself into her husband’s arms before turning to my dad. He looks stunned at first, but when he realizes Vivian isn’t giving up, he wraps her in a loose hug. After she finally releases him, Dad looks at me. His eyes are shining with pride and hope, and when he smiles and nods at me, I know we’re going to be okay.

The girls flock toward Adley, asking her tons of questions.

“When is your due date?”

“Are you going to get married before or after the baby is born?”

“Are you going to find out what you’re having?”

Rhett shakes his head at all the jabbering as the guys make their rounds, each giving me a congratulatory man hug.

“Welcome to the family,” Cooper says.

“Way to go,” Rhett grumbles. “Now Mo is going to get baby fever.”

“Shit.” Trevor runs a hand over his head. “Claire already has baby fever, and we’re not even engaged yet.”

“What the fuck are you waiting on?” I ask, punching him lightly in the arm.

He leans in close and whispers, “I’ve got the ring. I just have to figure out how I want to ask her.”

“Take it from me,” Rhett says. “There is no right time or right way. If you’re feeling it, just do it.”

“What’s with all the commotion?” a familiar voice hollers. “I could hear y’all from the front of the house.”

We all whip around to see Beau come striding across the yard.

“Oh my God,” Vivian squeals for the second time today. “What are you doing home?” She runs toward Beau and pulls her firstborn into her arms.

“Well, Rhett’s getting hitched, and when Lincoln called and asked for my blessing to marry Adley, I figured I’d better get my ass home and figure out what’s in the water y’all are drinkin’ down here. Everyone is falling in love and getting married and having babies.” Beau’s gaze slides to mine, and he winks.

I may have told him about the baby. I knew we were going to tell the rest of the family today, and I thought that Beau would want to be part of the celebration.

I guessed right.

“No marriage, babies, or love here,” Coop says, handing his big brother a beer.

Beau clinks his bottle to Coop’s in a quiet toast. “Same, brother.”

Adley sidles up next to me. “You asked Beau for his blessing?”

“I asked your entire family for their blessing. Although their answer didn’t really matter. I was going to ask you to marry me regardless.”

She pushes up on her toes and kisses me. “I love you.”

“I love you more.”

“Not possible.”

Laughing, I pull her against my side. “I have a feeling this is going to be a continuous argument for us throughout our marriage.”

“I think you’re right.” She pats my chest as we watch Beau make his way through the small crowd, talking to the various members of his family.

When he spots Tess standing next to Claire, he tilts his head to the side. “Have we met?”

Tess’s body stiffens. Her jaw ticks, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was seconds from throwing a punch.

I lower my lips to Adley’s ear. “What’s her problem?”

She shakes her head. “No clue.”

Mo steps up beside Adley and whispers, “Maybe we should reconsider having them walk together at my wedding.”

But Adley shakes her head. “Don’t do anything hasty. I have a feeling things are going to heat up this summer, and we’re going to enjoy watching.”

Mo looks at Adley like the goddess she is and holds out a fist. Without taking her eyes off of Beau and Tess, Adley bumps it.

“What are you two up to?” I ask.

“No good,” Mo answers.

Adley grins. “You’ll find out soon enough.”