The sun hung low in the late afternoon sky, casting its gilded light over the freshly bloomed flowers and carefully arranged beds of herbs. The air was thick with the scent of lavender, rosemary, and honeysuckle, the fragrance dancing on the soft breeze that drifted through the garden. Briar stood in the center of it all, her heart beating wildly in anticipation.

She had spent weeks restoring Colt’s mother’s garden—planting, pruning, and nurturing it back to life. She’d banned him from it early on so she could surprise him, and now, it was ready. It had taken time, patience, and just a little bit of magic—both the mundane and the otherworldly—to coax the soil into giving its bounty, but it was worth every effort. Colt deserved this. They all deserved this.

She smoothed her hands over her gauzy sundress and adjusted the crown of wildflowers she had woven into her hair. The sight of the garden filled her with pride, but the anticipation of showing it to Colt made her pulse quicken. She heard the familiar crunch of his boots on the gravel path and turned, her heart warming at the sight of him.

Colt appeared at the garden’s entrance, his tall frame casting a shadow over the blooming lavender. His dark eyes softened when they landed on her, and a slow, easy smile spread across his lips. The way he looked at her, like she was the only thing that mattered in the world, sent a shiver of happiness down her spine.

“You’ve been keeping me away from here for weeks,” Colt said, stepping closer, his voice a low rumble. “What’s going on, sweetheart? Not growing anything illegal, are you?”

Briar smiled, the warmth in his gaze making her feel happier than she’d ever been. “Close your eyes,” she whispered, tilting her head playfully.

Colt arched a brow, but the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement. “You planning to ambush me, witch?”

“Maybe. You’re just going to have to take your chances.” Briar gave him a little shove, her hand pressing lightly against his broad chest.

With a low chuckle, Colt obliged, closing his eyes. His rugged features softened in the golden light, and Briar took a moment to admire him—the strong lines of his jaw, the hint of scruff on his jaw, the way his lips curved like he was always a second away from smiling.

Taking his hand in hers, she led him deeper into the garden. The scent of blooming flowers surrounded them, sweet and intoxicating. When they reached the heart of the space, Briar stopped, letting the silence wrap around them like a promise. The only sound other than their breathing was the sound of the restored stone fountain.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Open your eyes.”

Colt’s lids lifted slowly, and his breath hitched as he took in the sight before him. The garden was alive—lush with flowers his mother had once planted, herbs she had nurtured, and new life that Briar had woven into every corner of the space. Bees buzzed lazily over the lavender, and the soft hum of nature filled the air.

His gaze roamed over the space before landing on Briar. Something deep and fierce flickered in his dark eyes—something that made her heart beat a little faster.

“Briar…” Colt’s voice was thick with emotion, rough around the edges. He took a step toward her, his large hands finding her waist and drawing her close. “It’s perfect.”

Briar’s breath caught as his hands tightened, grounding her in place. The pride and gratitude in his voice were palpable, but it was the way he looked at her—like she was magic, like she was everything—that made her entire being ache with happiness.

“I wanted to give this back to you,” Briar whispered, her hands sliding up to rest on his chest. “I know how much this place meant to your mom… and to the rest of you.”

Colt cupped her face, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheek. “You didn’t just bring the garden back,” he murmured, his gaze locking with hers. “You brought me back.”

The raw honesty in his voice sent a wave of emotion crashing over her, and before she could say anything, Colt leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that stole her breath away. It was slow and deep, the kind of kiss that felt like a promise—a vow that this was theirs, now and always.

Briar melted against him, her hands curling into his shirt as his mouth moved over hers with a tender intensity. He kissed her like he couldn’t get enough, like she was sunlight and water and every damn thing he needed to survive.

Colt’s hands slid from her waist, trailing down her back, gathering the fabric of her sundress until he could lift it over her head. She gasped as the cool breeze kissed her bare skin, but the heat of Colt’s body pressed against her quickly erased the chill.

“You’re beautiful,” Colt whispered, his voice rough with desire. His hands roamed over her curves, worshipping her with every touch.

Briar’s breath hitched as his fingers traced the curve of her spine, drawing shivers in their wake. “You always say that,” she whispered, a teasing lilt in her voice, but her heart raced at the sincerity in his words.

“That’s because it’s always true,” Colt growled, his lips brushing against her ear.

Before she could respond, Colt’s hands hooked beneath her thighs, lifting her effortlessly. Briar wrapped her legs around his waist, a soft moan escaping her lips as he carried her deeper into the garden, where the flowers bloomed in wild abandon. He laid her down gently on the soft bed of lavender, the fragrant blooms cushioning her bare skin.

“You’re crushing my plants,” she teased.

“You’ll bring them back,” he said hovering over her, his eyes darkening with desire as he traced his fingers down the length of her body. “You made this garden perfect, Briar,” he murmured, his voice low and heated. “Not a big surprise, you make everything perfect.”

Briar’s heart stuttered in her chest as his lips found hers again, and this time, the kiss was hungrier—deeper. His hands explored every inch of her, setting her skin on fire, and she arched beneath him, lost in the sensation of him, of them, of this perfect moment.

The garden, the ranch, the entire world fell away, leaving only the two of them—entangled, breathless, and utterly complete. Colt’s touch was worshipful, reverent, as if he were memorizing every curve, every freckle, every gasp that escaped her lips.

“Colt,” Briar whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” Colt murmured, his hands cradling her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

And in that moment, Briar knew—with a certainty that felt like a whole new kind of magic—that this was her forever. Colt was her home, her future, her everything.

As the sun set over the garden, casting its final golden rays over them, Briar and Colt moved together, their bodies in perfect harmony, the world around them blooming with the same love and life that thrived between them.

And when they finally lay together, tangled in each other’s arms, the stars beginning to shimmer above, Briar pressed a kiss to Colt’s chest, her heart full to bursting.

“This garden,” she whispered, her voice soft against his skin, “isn’t the only thing I want to grow with you.”

Colt’s arms tightened around her, his lips pressing into her hair. “Then let’s make it grow,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “You and me… forever.”

And as the night settled over them, Briar knew that no matter what life threw their way, they would bloom together—strong, wild, and unbreakable.