Teaching Her Billionaire Cowboy Rookie - April Murdock Page 0,51

away.

“Now I have to know.”

“Everything happened so fast…”

“Ty.”

His amused expression became serious. “I realized I didn’t want a life without you in it. I told her she didn’t have the right to choose who you end up with. It’s your life and you are entitled to happiness whether or not that includes me.” His eyes shut briefly and when they opened, they were full of emotion. “I think I’m in love with you, Penny. I know it’s too soon, and you don’t have to say it back, but—”

Blood rushed in her ears and heat swarmed her entire body. “I think I love you too, Ty,” she whispered.

He froze. His mouth dropped open before he closed it. Then a smile slowly spread across his face. “You do?”

She nodded. “It’s the only reasonable explanation.” Penny rested her cheek against his chest. “And to think my mom practically disowned me for coming after you.”

Ty stiffened. “She did?”

“My dad talked her out of it.”

He gently pushed her back and held her at arm’s length. “I told you how I’ve seen families torn apart for less important things.”

Penny’s features pinched. “Yeah.”

“My family didn’t exactly approve of my career choice. My parents told me if I enlisted, I wasn’t allowed to come home.”

She gasped. “Why?”

He lifted a shoulder and shook his head. “They wanted a different life for me that they thought was better. I wanted to serve my country.”

“You’d think that would make them proud.”

The broken expression on his face tugged at her heart. No wonder he didn’t want her to go against her mother’s wishes. He’d struggled with losing his family over his own choices. She cupped her hand against his cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s in the past.” His voice caught. “I don’t regret it. I know it was the right decision—”

Shaking her head, she pressed her lips together. “But it doesn’t make it any easier. Some wounds don’t heal.”

“I never want you to experience that. I fought that thought every step of the way—every time I told myself I couldn’t turn back after walking away.” That crooked grin crossed his face. “But I guess we don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

Penny tilted her head to the side. “I guess not.” She stood on her toes, her hands wrapping around his neck as she pulled him down to her. Pressing her lips to his, she closed her eyes against the stars and sparks of electricity. His arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her further off her toes into a tight embrace.

Cole whooped from the doorway of the barn and Ty broke the kiss with a smile. “And I thought he hated me.”

Epilogue

Ty stood in front of the antique mirror framed with rustic oak, tightening the knot at his throat. The uniform felt foreign after wearing Wranglers and cotton shirts. He wiped his hands down the fabric of his pants and turned to face Maddox, who smirked at him. “You’ve served tours in Afghanistan, and you’re telling me you’re nervous about this?”

Ty scowled. “I never said I was nervous…”

Maddox chuckled. “Penny will start walking down that aisle and everything will disappear.”

“Is that how it was with you and Addy?”

“Something like that.”

A knock sounded on the door and Mathew poked his head inside. “You ready, son?”

Ty swallowed. “Absolutely.” This was the moment he’d waited for his entire life.

Mathew entered the room, closing the door behind him. He placed a hand on Ty’s shoulder and squeezed. “I know it’s early, but I wanted to give you this.” He held out an envelope.

Ty took it from his hand. His fingers slid along the top of the envelope. “You’ve already done so much.”

Mathew smiled, his eyes crinkling. “I’ve been where you are, Ty. Us guys have to stick together. It’s not easy loving these women.”

He meant Hannah more than Penny. Ty smiled. “Yeah.”

“I know she doesn’t show it, but Hannah cares about you too. This was her idea.”

Ty glanced at the envelope. Now his curiosity was piqued. Carefully, he slid his fingers under the flap and tore it away. The sheet of paper wasn’t extraordinary by any means, but when Ty unfolded it, his entire body froze.

Maddox came up behind him and stared over his shoulder. A slow whistle came from between his teeth. “Congrats, Langston, you’re an official cowboy.”

Ty’s gaze shot to Mathew. “This is the deed to Horseshoe Ranch.”

Mathew nodded. “Now, don’t go kicking us out.” He chuckled. “Watching you take care of this place for the past year has really opened our eyes. You may not