The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,107
as the birthday song concluded.
“Since it’s my birthday, it’s my turn to share.” He glanced down the table, making eye contact with each person there. “This year, I am thankful as always for my family. For how much each one of you means to me and how much you challenge me to be a better brother, son, uncle, and friend.”
His gaze twisted to spotlight Julia. He caught her fingers and pulled her to her feet. “I am happy this year to be able to add another title to that list. We won’t worry about the specific name, but it comes down to this—I am happy to be Julia’s.”
His sisters were awwwing. Petra wiped her eyes.
Not good. Julia felt her own eyes fill with moisture as Zach lifted her hands and kissed her knuckles. “I hope to spend the next fifty years learning what that means and how to do it better.”
Family at the table or not, there was no way to resist. Julia leaned in and kissed him.
Hers. Because he made her happy.
Epilogue
Red Boot ranch, September 5th
Zach took the stairs two at a time, glancing left and right to make sure no one spotted him. Everything went well until he hit the second-floor landing and came face-to-face with Karen.
He jerked to a stop. “Oh, hey.”
Karen raised a brow. “Hey.”
They stared at each other for a moment. Zach rocked on his toes. “Great day, right? Weather is totally cooperating.”
“Zach.” She put so much disappointment into her tone. “Are you trying to pretend you’re here to talk about the weather? Or are you going to admit you’re trying to sneak in to chat with Julia when you know that’s against the rules?”
“Fuck the rules,” Zach murmured before offering a huge grin. “Come on. You just snickered. You don’t care if I bend the rules just a teeny, tiny bit.”
“No, I don’t mind at all,” Karen agreed. Then she leaned forward and lowered her voice. “But if you think I am going against your mother and sisters on this one? Hell no. I might’ve grown up with Lisa and Tamara tormenting me, but those hellions you’re related to scare the bejesus out of me.”
Figures. He was on his own for this one. Zach pressed a hand on Karen’s shoulder and squeezed. “I give up. I’ll wait to see Julia until later.”
He turned and walked slowly down the stairs as if defeated, the heat of Karen’s gaze boring between his shoulder blades.
Okay, he hadn’t really given up. He took the first corner and rushed back out onto the porch, examining the back of the house.
Waiting nine months to get married had been weird at first, but as time passed, the delay had grown to be kind of special. His family had gotten into it, Julia’s as well, and now that the day had finally arrived, it promised to truly be the celebration they’d hoped for.
Except, dammit, he wanted to see her now before meeting her at the altar to say I do. Only his sisters had decided tormenting him one more time was vital. Julia had vanished from their cabin early that morning. That was nearly five hours ago, and he was tired of waiting.
He examined the roofline of Finn and Karen’s house more closely than he had over the past year.
“Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?” Finn laid a hand on his shoulder. He leaned in and peered up at the house as well. “Or were you thinking about cleaning my eaves troughs?”
“Trying to figure out the easiest way to break into the second bedroom,” Zach confessed. “I want to see Julia.”
A snort escaped his best friend. “You just can’t leave it alone, can you?”
“All the girls are set on us not spotting each other until the big moment. A true friend would help me find a way.”
“A true friend would make sure you didn’t break your neck before you officially get hitched.” Only Finn lifted a finger and pointed. “Maintenance hatch to the attic. Access code is 3542. If you follow the ridgeline past the chimney, there’s a ceiling hatch from the attic into the hall bathroom.”
Zach grabbed him by the hand and pumped hard. “You’re the best. I won’t be long,” he promised, already heading for the side of the house where the massive maple tree would give him a climbing base to get to the roof.
“If you’re not in the guest house in thirty minutes, Josiah and I are coming to get you,” Finn warned.