The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. She shed a few tears, shared hugs with the Rangers and then her cousin.
“Congratulations, Jovy,” Ross said, smile genuine.
“Speech!” the crowd chanted.
She was happy and shaking and didn’t even know where to start. She returned to Stone’s side and smiled at everyone. “Thank you all so much. First of all, I have a confession to make and it’s been killing me for four weeks now. I am not a vegan. I love meat and if anyone tries to take another steak away from me at that table in there, you may lose a hand. Just sayin’. I’m gluten-free, not vegan, only did it for business.”
Laughter rippled through men, and Vince shook his head with a grin, while Stone chuckled and pulled her in tighter.
“There are a few other things you should know, too,” she said. “I came to Joyful not so joyful, having to embark on a seemingly impossible task. But I had a dream and a promise to keep, so determination kept me going all month. During those weeks, things changed. I discovered that Joyful wasn’t so bad. That the task really wasn’t so impossible. And that my dream, my promise, had changed.”
“I’m pretty sure I know what you’re saying.” Her grandfather winked. “But I have the feeling you’d better spell it out for everyone else.”
Jovy smiled. “I’m saying, thank you, Grandpa, but I can’t accept. I’m turning the position down.”
Shock rang through the crowd.
“Ross loves the company just as much as I do, and is almost as smart,” she said with a grin.
“Hey.” Her cousin feigned a wounded look, but his twitching lips gave him away.
She grinned. “He will make a great CEO, and I’ll rest just fine knowing the company is still in good hands, and that Mr. Met has things covered.”
Ross stilled, and the color drained from his face. “You’re going to make me get that hideous tattoo?”
“You bet your butt.” She slapped her cousin on the back and laughed.
“Jovy?” Stone turned her to face him, concern darkening his gaze. “What are you doing? What about your promise to your dad? You’ve worked so hard for this. The fact that you sacrificed it all without hesitation for this ranch last week means the world to me, but sweetheart, if you’re worried about us making a go of things long-distance, trust me, we’ll be fine. We’ll make it work. Please don’t give up your dream for me. I couldn’t live with that.”
By this time, tears were spilling down her cheeks, one after another. She swiped them away, then cupped his face. “Don’t you see, Stone? My dream has changed, but not the promise to my dad. He made me promise to do what made me happy, and for the longest time, running Larson Industries was what made me happy. Then I met you, and the men here at At-Ease, and now that’s my dream. That’s what makes me happy.” She drew in a ragged breath and smiled. “You make me happy, Stone Mitchum.”
Emotions filled his warm, gray gaze. “God, I love you,” he said again, then kissed her crazy amazing and deep. Just how she liked it. Her legs were shaking again and her pulse pounded out a wild, unruly beat. It was heaven. She wanted it to go on forever, but lack of air was making her ears ring.
It wasn’t until she heard her cousin’s startled gasp that she realized the real reason for the ringing in her ears.
Lula Belle.
Damn cow had the worst timing.
“Ah…Stone, you might want to take your woman in the house while we thwart your girlfriend,” Brick stated, already moving with Vince and Cord to intercept the charging cow.
Before Jovy could react, Stone swept her off her feet and carried her inside behind Leo, her grandfather, and Ross.
“Is it always this crazy here?” her cousin asked.
“Yes,” Jovy and Stone answered in unison.
And as their laughter mingled, she stared up into his handsome face, happier than she’d been in her life. Everything came full circle. Jovy was home. Where she belonged and wanted to be. Right where she’d started. Her very favorite place.
In her Ranger’s arms.
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Acknowledgments
What an amazing foray into Entangled Publishing this has been for me. Thank you so much, Heather Howland, for all your hard work and dedication into making this book a reality. I look forward to working on book two with you.
Lots of thanks to my incredible street team, especially Pamela, Emily, and Mel, for going above and beyond! Your support means so much to me.
Huge hug to J for offering up the extra bedroom at your condo where I penned a good chunk of this book between the two conferences we attended.
Love to my husband, Michael, my own military hero, and our family for putting up with an absentee mom while I was deep in my writing cave. <3
And most of all, to my readers. Thank you so much for your dedication and kind words, and for urging me to keep ’em coming.
About the Author
Donna Michaels is an award winning, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Romaginative fiction. Her hot, humorous, and heartwarming stories include cowboys, men in uniform, and some sexy, primal alphas. With a husband in the military fulltime, and a household of nine, she never runs out of material to write, and has rightfully earned the nickname Lucy…and sometimes Ethel. From short to epic, her books entertain readers across a variety of sub-genres, and one was even hand drawn into a Japanese translation. Now, if only she could read it.
To learn more about Donna Michaels and her books, or to join her mailing list, visit www.DonnaMichealsAuthor.com.
Thanks for reading,
~Donna
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