Page 84 of Finding Peace
Lawson handles the conservationists and major investors in the area.
Lincoln talks policy and land rights.
Beau charms the pants off of anyone who will listen to him talk about the animals.
And Jasper stays close while speaking to any of his sponsors, as well as anyone interested in wanting the rodeo superstar in attendance at their events.
People’s eyes linger with every introduction.
Some curious.
Some calculating.
Some surprised.
But no one says anything outright.
My assumption is that it’s because they know the four men that keep my company. They know any blatant disrespect won’t be tolerated. No, they’ll just keep their insults and snide looks for when we’re not around—if there’s any at all. And honestly… I don’t really mind. Seeing how each of them beams with pride when they introduce me pushes the self-doubt further and further away each time.
Dinner’s a blur of candlelight and soft laughter. Lincoln’s hand brushes mine under the table. Jasper leans back in his chair every so often, reaching around Lincoln and brushing his fingertips along my shoulder. Beau feeds me a bite of his chocolate mousse in exchange for a bite of my crème brûlée. And Lawson’s eyes hardly ever waver from staring at me.
And suddenly… I’m the one feeling proud.
Proud to be loved by them.
Proud to be here with them.
Proud that these four intelligent, caring, loving, hard-working men want me for everything that I am—regardless of what came before them.
In New York, my life was chaos and fear, but I was used to rooms full of people. Used to just blending in and observing. All while being exactly who I was “supposed to be.”
Here though?
I’m not blending at all.
Here, I’mseen.
With them… I am seen.
When the music shifts after dessert, Jasper stands first, holding out his hand. “Dance with me.”
It isn’t a question. I laugh softly but go.
His palm settles firm at my waist, pulling me flush against him as we move to a cover of “Sweet Symphony” by Joy Oladokun featuring Chris Stapleton. Jasper doesn’t spin me dramatically or show me off.
He just holds me.
Safe and secure.
Like he isn’t worried about a single other soul in this room besides me.
Jasper doesn’t say a word as the two of us move throughout the room, but his emerald-green eyes never leave mine. And as the last chorus starts, he surprises me by singing along softly to the words. His voice is raspy and rough, but it washes over me in a way I’d never expected. So much so that I don’t notice the tear that rolls down my face until Jas smiles and wipes it away gently with his thumb before placing a soft kiss on my lips. “Bet you didn’t know I could sing better than Beau, huh?” he murmurs against my lips.
My smile nearly splits my face in half, and a laugh bursts free.
When the song ends, Beau steals me from his arms with a dramatic flourish, dipping me backward the second our hands connect
Those damn dimples practically knock the wind out of me as he looks down at me. “He was trying to steal my thunder, wasn’t he?”
