Marrying The Cowboy: A BWWM Cowboy Billionaire Romance (8 page)

Kate and Bruce had not completely discussed what they were going to
do in reference to any ceremony now that they were back in the
states. But they were going to have to share with their families that
they had gotten married. Somehow she thought that Bruce's parents
would take it much better than her own would.

As soon as she awoke in the morning, she called to check in with the
ladies at the boutique.

"Look who made it back in one piece," Linda joked.

Kate sighed, still basking in the glory. "Yes. Paris was
amazing."

"Paris is always amazing," Linda replied.

"True. How are things at the boutique? I will be in as soon as
I'm dressed."

"Everything is wonderful. But your schedule for your personal
clients does not start for another two days. Bruce made it clear that
he wanted to whisk you away."

"Linda, when I say that Paris was amazing, it truly was."

"Well, are you going to tell me or what? I was kind of hoping
you would call me screaming in the phone that the two of you had run
off and gotten married."

Kate got quiet. Had Linda already known Bruce's plans?

"What if we did?"

Linda laughed. "I would tell you that it is about time."

"We got married." Kate just blurted out the words.

"Finally!" Linda exclaimed.

"You say that like it took us a million years to do it."

Kate could here Linda clapping her hands. "No, but I know you.
It would have taken you forever to get to the point of even
discussing marriage seriously with the man if he had not whisked you
away. Now, I need full details."

"That is not something I will do over the phone. It's more of a
lunch kind of conversation."

"Hmm, very true."

"As a matter of fact, I have an idea. I will give you a call a
little later. Oh, and keep my schedule clear for those next few days.
I will be back to work on Friday."

"Alright. Call me later."

An idea had popped in to Kate's mind. Maybe the correct way to do
things would be to gather all of their friends and family together
for a dinner party and then they could announce the fact that they
had gotten married.

She called Bruce into the bedroom where she had been sitting in the
bed with her laptop, reading emails.

He appeared in the doorway, drinking a glass of beer.

"What's on your mind?"

"I was thinking. Maybe we should have a dinner party with all of
our family and friends to let them know we have gotten married. What
do you think?"

Bruce stood casually in the doorway. Since they returned to the
states, they had been staying at her condo. Bruce had suggested they
both start thinking about finding a place together. She agreed.

"Good idea. Let's get it together. Tomorrow night. But let's
start with the parents first. They may need a little time to process
alone before we start adding friends to the mix."

"You have a good point. But I was thinking this weekend for the
dinner."

Bruce turned the entire beer mug upside down, obviously drinking the
rest of the liquid.

"Why wait? It's just our parents here with us on a weekday
night. Besides, I don't want to wait to tell them. I want to let the
world know that you are Mrs. Stanger."

The more Kate thought about it, the better it sounded. Bruce stood
there, eyebrow raised, waiting for her answer.

"Fine. I'll make a few phone calls tonight and get everybody
here, say seven o'clock?"

Bruce nodded. "Yes. That is perfect." He disappeared from
the doorway, only to reappear and peek his head back in. "And
just so you know, I'll cook."

Kate threw a pillow at his head as he laughed. There was no way that
she would try to cook for other people. It would be total insanity
and ending up in the emergency room just did not seem like the way to
end a celebratory night.

Her first phone call was to Bruce's parents.

"It's so good to hear from you, Kate. How is everything?"
Mrs. Stanger asked.

"Absolutely wonderful. I hope the same for you."

"Yes. We are getting along very well. I hope that the two of you
will come out to the ranch soon and visit."

"Actually, that's why I was calling. Bruce and I thought that it
was time to get our parents together to meet. We are having dinner
together at my condo tomorrow night around seven."

"That sounds wonderful dear. You can expect to see us there.
What can be bring?"

"Nothing. Bruce and I are taking care of the dinner and dessert.
We are just happy that you will be there. We will see you tomorrow."

They ended the call and Kate immediately called her own parents.

"My sweetheart. How was your trip?" To hear her mother's
voice was comforting.

"It was amazing. I feel like I could live in Paris full time."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself dear," her mother
chuckled.

"Well, I called because I wanted to invite you to dinner
tomorrow night. Actually, Bruce and I are inviting you and dad to
dinner. We thought that it would be a good idea to get our parents to
meet."

"Oh my goodness. Is there something special that the two of you
want to discuss with us?"

Kate smiled. "We have a little something to share, but we really
want all of you to meet first. It's about time anyway. Bruce and I
have been dating over a year."

"Alright. Well, count me and your father in. We'll see you
tomorrow."

"Perfect. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie."

Kate jumped out of bed and went to find Bruce. He was exactly where
she thought he would be. Watching a bull ride on the sports network,
relaxing on the couch with a beer.

"So everything is set. The invites have been sent out and
accepted. My parents and your parents will both be here tomorrow at
seven. Now, we have to figure out what is on the menu."

"I was thinking, cooked food."

"Bruce!" Kate exclaimed. He was not taking this as
seriously as she wanted him to. She closed her eyes, took a deep
breath, and opened her eyes again.

"Okay, fine. I will step back off of the menu. It's not like I'm
cooking anyway."

"Exactly." Bruce gave her a thumbs up and turned his
attention back to the television program he was watching.

Kate shook her head and walked back out of the room. It was no use in
trying to talk with him about the menu or stressing over the outcome
of the dinner. Their parents would think what they wanted and feel
whatever they felt about the fact that she and Bruce eloped.

Besides, what was done was done. It was not a choice she regretted so
she decided to focus on other things. Tomorrow night would happen
when it happened, the way it was supposed to happen.

*****

The dinner display looked like something out of a homemaker's
magazine.

"I think you have another talent you are not tapping in to,"
Kate commented, speaking of the elaborate dishes that Bruce prepared.
Accompanied by her eye for decorating, the entire meal looked like
something straight out of an ad campaign.

"Maybe a partnership that we haven't explored yet. Here, sit
this bowl over here next to the asparagus."

Kate made herself busy, trying to make everything perfect.

"Sweetheart, stop fusing over everything. It all looks perfect."
Bruce turned her to face him.

"We are perfect. There is no reason for you to feel otherwise.
Let's just make this happen tonight. Our families will be happy for
us and life will be great."

Hearing those words were like music to her ears. It was exactly what
she needed to settle her nerves.

The doorbell chimed and Kate practically jumped out of her skin.

"They're here!" She smoothed her red, knee length dress and
then checked the hallway mirror to make sure not a hair was out of
place and her lipstick was perfectly applied.

"You look sensational. I'm here with you."

Bruce squeezed her hand to reassure her. He nodded in the direction
of the door and she walked over to open it.

Her mother's smiling face was the first thing that Kate saw. "Mom!
Hey!"

The women embraced, spreading love. Kate's father stood behind,
waiting his turn. "Daddy, it’s so nice to see you. You
look great."

Kate's father rarely left the house for social gatherings, so it was
a treat to have him out.

"Katie, you look beautiful." Her father was the only person
that called her Katie.

"Thank you, Daddy. The two of you remember Bruce."

Her father offered Bruce a hearty handshake. Her mother did a polite
wave.

Just as Kate was about to close the door, she heard a "Hello!"

"Mrs. Stanger. Mr. Stanger. The two of you are right on time."

Kate hugged them both and stepped to the side to let them inside.

"Something smells absolutely fabulous here."

Kate threw up her hands in surrender. "I can safely say I was
not the one to cook today. It was all Bruce."

"I certainly can't wait to eat then," Mrs. Stanger
commented. Kate directed them all to the dining room.

"Everyone, please take a seat wherever you are most
comfortable." Kate tried to be the perfect hostess.

Their parents took a seat at the table and Kate waited for them all
to appear comfortable. Bruce came from the kitchen, holding a bottle
of wine.

"If we are all ready, dinner is served."

"I'll have some water please. No wine or alcohol for me,"
Kate's father commented.

"Sure thing, Mr. Walker. Let me get that for you."

Kate almost kicked herself for not remembering to get her father a
bottled water since he did not drink alcohol.

"Here you are Mr. Walker."

"Ah, thank you, Bruce."

Bruce took his seat at the head of the table. He took the lead and
blessed the food. Everyone began eating, commenting on how good the
meal was. Bruce took the compliments in stride and everyone continued
the friendly conversation. As the meal came to a close, Kate was
grateful that their parents were all getting along. She had not known
what to expect, but she knew she wanted nothing more than an easy
going night.

"If we could all go to the living room, I have a little dessert
and coffee. And Bruce and I wanted to share something with you all."

The older couples gave each other a glance, then got up from their
seats to follow Kate in to the living room.

Once seated and comfortable, Kate told them that she would be right
back. She went to her room to get her wedding ring. She had not had
it on the entire dinner because she thought it best they break the
news to their parents on their own accord, not because someone saw
the ring on her finger.

She met with Bruce in the kitchen and helped him put the plates with
the caked on a tray.

He was grinning. "Are you ready for this?"

"We can't turn back now. Let's get in there."

Bruce followed behind her as they entered the living room. Setting
the tray on the table, Bruce then began to serve the cake and Kate
poured the coffee. She could not believe that no one had seen her
ring.

Bruce and Kate stood there in front of their parents. Kate was hoping
Bruce would speak first. But she knew if she did, he would simply
blurt out the facts, versus breaking it to their parents slowly and
delicately.

She started talking. "So as you all know, Bruce and I have been
dating for about a year now. We are happy, in love, and plan to be
together forever."

When Kate looked around, all eyes were on her. But she saw as Bruce's
mother's eyes zeroed in on her hand. She had seen the ring. Mrs.
Stanger looked from Kate to Bruce.

Kate wanted to finish her statement before Mrs. Stanger, or Bruce
blurted anything out.

"We got married in Paris." Too late. Bruce beat her to it.

The room was silent initially.

Mrs. Walker was the first to speak. "Married." It was more
a comment than a question.

Kate flexed her fingers and showed the ring. "Married."

Mr. Stanger bolted outright out of his seat. "Well, son, we
thought this would be the next step. Congratulations."

Kate could not decide if the look on Mrs. Stanger's face was one of
confusion, anger, or sheer surprise. She looked to her own mother who
sat stoically, while her father rubbed his temples and sighed.

"Thanks, Pop. I appreciate it." Bruce hugged his father.
Mr. Stanger turned and hugged Kate, who was happy to have some kind
of response from someone.

"Is everyone just going to sit there? These two have gotten
married. They love each other and have made it official. That should
be something to brag about." Mr. Stanger stood in the middle of
the floor, throwing his arms in the air in disbelief.

Kate looked over to her parents, waiting for them to say anything.
Bruce pulled Kate closer to him.

"I love this woman," Bruce began to confess. "She is
the single most important thing in my life. I could not wait to marry
her and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make her happy."

Mr. Walker stood up. Kate braced herself for what would happen next.
He extended his hand to Bruce first.

"Then I guess congratulations is in order."

Bruce received the handshake. Mr. Walker then
turned to shake Mr. Stanger's hand.

"Welcome to the family," Mr. Stanger said to Kate's father.
The men then looked to the women.

"So does this mean that we aren't having a wedding?" Mrs.
Walker questioned.

"We planned to have a ceremony here very soon with our friends
and family."

"Please forgive me," Mrs. Stanger jumped in to the
conversation. "You know how us womenfolk are about weddings and
brides. It just felt like, for a moment, that we would not be allowed
to be a part of such an important time in our children's lives."

Mrs. Walker nodded in agreement.

"I assure you both, we will have the whole ceremony."