Katy patted at her eyes one more time as she and Dax followed the other guests to the veranda space where Alice and James had strung twinkling lights and guests were already mingling under the stars.

“How are you still crying?” Dax teased as he laid an arm across her shoulders and gave her a comforting squeeze.

“How are you not?” she said through sniffles. “That ceremony was so beautiful.” Her voice got choked up just talking about it. Cole and Claire had opted for a simple affair, but that simplicity did nothing to take away from the intimacy and beauty of their vows and this celebration.

If anything, the lack of pretenses of the bare bones event only underscored the real reason they were all gathered at the ranch this evening. They were there to celebrate the happy couple and their love. She took notes for Hannah’s upcoming nuptials, which would almost definitely happen here. She’d received a text from her friend just that morning and she’d been gushing over the pictures and descriptions Katy had left for her when she’d run off into the sunset.

She glanced up at Dax who was smiling down at her with unabashed love. Yes, it was fitting that her first full day living at Twilight had been spent celebrating love when that was what had brought her back here and it was what would keep her here, hopefully for the rest of her life.

Now that she’d embraced this new path, she couldn’t wait to head down it fully. Her mind was already leaping ahead to the day when they would get married on this same property, when the main house would be filled with the voices of little children, and when the love she and Dax already felt grew to envelop a family of their own.

They took their time strolling the grounds, watching the sun set as the wedding guests and the family hurried ahead.

“So,” Dax said. “Are you going to tell me what you and Alice were talking about for so long last night?”

She grinned. He’d been remarkably patient about the whole thing. It wasn’t like she’d been trying to keep her plan a secret, but she’d wanted to talk to Alice first before telling her ideas to Dax.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but your sister is dying to spread her wings,” Katy said. She refrained from saying any more than that when she saw Dax’s frown. He didn’t look angry, but he did look…hurt.

“She never said anything to me about that,” he said.

Katy gave him a smile. “Of course not. Because she knew you would have told her to leave town. You would have supported her. And that’s a good thing.”

His frown intensified. “So then why didn’t she tell me?”

She wrapped one of her arms around his waist and squeezed. “Because she was trying to be responsible and reliable.” Katy tilted her head back so she could meet his gaze. “Alice was trying to be a hero, just like her older brother.”

She watched the dawning understanding in his eyes as he muttered something under his breath about how he’d wished he’d known. “I would have made her leave,” Dax said. He looked down at Katy as if trying to convince her. “I never wanted her to sacrifice anything for me or this ranch. If I’d known—”

“I know.” She gave him a smile that said better than words how well she knew that he was speaking the truth. She’d had him pegged all wrong that first time they’d met. He might have his old-fashioned ways, but he would never try to control the women in his life. Not Alice, and never her.

She’d finally found herself one of the good ones.

Dax looked lost in thought—probably stewing over this new realization about Alice. Katy interrupted his thoughts. “Anyway, your sister opened up to me before I ran away last week. I could see how badly she wanted the life I was living. The chance to live in a big city, to expand her experience and learn new skills…”

She watched as Dax pieced it together. When he did, he came to a stop. “Alice is going to Los Angeles?”

She bit her lip. Maybe she should have let Alice tell him, but she and Alice had agreed that it might be best for Dax if he could process this bit of news before talking to his little sister. He’d be supportive, they both knew that, but it would take some getting used to.

The poor guy’s world had been flipped on its head this past week, and now it was about to take another turn.

“It won’t be forever,” Katy said. “At least…probably not. We’ve agreed she’ll use this opportunity to try out city living. She’ll stay at my place and be a point of contact for me in Los Angeles when I need someone to be there in person.”

He was staring off into the distance, and she realized he was watching Alice as she laughed and joked with James.

“This is just a trial run,” she reassured him. “She’ll come back regularly, just like I’ll go to Los Angeles as often as I can.”

Dax nodded. They’d been through this part. He’d even talked to James about taking on more responsibilities at the ranch for those times when he joined her on her trips back to LA.

He was doing his very best to make this transition easier for her, and for that she was appreciative, but with each passing minute she spent with Dax and on this ranch, her trepidations faded.

She breathed in the fresh evening air as a breeze whipped past them, tousling her hair. He’d teased her for wearing these heels when the wedding venue was outdoors on the rocky hills of the ranch. But she loved the way they made her feel, they were a part of her and if she wanted to stay true to herself while starting a new life in a foreign world, it seemed like an important statement. Sure, she’d have to wear boots when Dax taught her how to ride, but when the occasion was right, you better believe she’d be glamming it up.

Even now her stilettos threatened to sink into the soft earth, but Dax’s arm around her held her steady as they walked.

Dax still had his gaze trained on his family, but when he spoke his voice was low and intimate. “You know, Katy Hunter, I think you might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to the Twilight Ranch.”

She grinned up at him. “Funny, I was just thinking you and this ranch were the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Thank you for reading Steel Toes & Stilettos! Stay tuned for Alice’s story in the next book, Hollywood Nights & Rodeo Days, coming Summer 2018. If you missed Cole & Claire’s story, you can find it in .

Looking for more sweet contemporary romance? Check out Maggie Dallen’s modern-day fairytales, starting with the FREE first novel of the series, . Turn the page to check out the first chapter of this feel-good, sweet romance.