Second Chance Ranch: a Hope Springs novel (Entangled Bliss) (17 page)

After a few more events, it was time for bronc riding. Just like in high school, she regretted everything she’d eaten, and she couldn’t stop rubbing her palms up and down her jeans. “I hate this part.”

Quinn watched the horse bucking wildly as the cowboy tried to hang on. “Hey, I hate to admit it, but it’s totally hot. Makes me want a cowboy.”

Sadie tried to swallow past the lump of anxiety that’d lodged in her throat. “It’s different when it is your cowboy.” A sharp pain clenched her chest. “Not that I have one.”

“Oh, you have one. And he’s up next.”

The pickup men herded the now riderless bucking bronco toward the gate, and the guys manning it swung it open to let it through. When the previous rider was out of the area, Royce set up on the horse he’d drawn—Nacho Man. If a horse was named that, Sadie didn’t want to think about how crazy that meant it was.

She grabbed Quinn’s hand as the loud buzz pierced the air. The horse shot out like it meant to fly to the moon, and Royce clung on, one of his hands waving through the air. Each second took an eternity, and Sadie could feel her blood pressure steadily rising.

Just hold on for a little longer, babe.

And don’t get crushed, okay? My heart couldn’t take it.

The eight-second buzz sounded out and Sadie released a shaky breath. There was still the dismount to worry about, though. The horse got in front of the pickup men and Royce bailed off, sending up a cloud of dust but landing on his feet.

Just when relief was starting to wind through her, the horse charged him, still bucking like mad.

“Oh holy shit!” Sadie was on her feet before she realized she was going to stand. Royce jumped out of the way, clinging to the nearby fence, and the horse bolted past him and out of the arena. She threw her hands over her rapidly beating heart and took a few deep breaths, trying to get the adrenaline coursing through her body to calm down.

The entire crowd was looking at her now. She let out a nervous laugh to try to show she was perfectly fine and then plopped back down next to Quinn. Maybe it was only her paranoid imagination, but it seemed like everyone started whispering about her.

The announcer was asking Royce a couple of questions, so he was still in the area, his Wranglers and chaps coated in dust.

And all she saw was the guy she’d never have.

The life she’d never have.

Agony gripped her body, holding each muscle prisoner. “I need to go.” Sadie couldn’t even tell her family good-bye, because then the entire town would see her burst into tears. She’d sign that contract, pack up, and then she’d put all of this behind her. She’d work so hard that her grief would have no choice but to take a backseat. In the quiet moments, when it caught up to her and tried to drag her down…well, she wasn’t sure how she’d get through it, but if she thought about that now, she’d drop down to the ground and never be able to get up again.

“…the microphone?” the announcer asked in the background.

“Wait up, Sadie.” Quinn’s footsteps followed behind her. “I’m coming.”

Sadie pounded down the steps of the grandstand and hit the ground, starting to round to the walkway that’d take her out to the parking lot.

“Sadie Hart.”

She froze at the sound of Royce’s voice. Slowly turned around to see him standing in the middle of the arena.

“You best not be leaving yet, because I have something I need to say.”

Chapter Eighteen

Royce had thought that hiring Sadie had been the dumbest decision he’d ever made, but he was about to top it.

After he’d jumped off that bucking bronco, all he could think was that he didn’t want it to be the last exciting thing he ever did. Sadie was a risk, like those eight seconds of wondering if you were going to be able to hold on. There was a good chance of being dumped on your ass, but man, was the in-between time amazing.

Then suddenly he’d looked up and seen her leaving, and he’d panicked and asked for the microphone that he was now clutching so hard he was surprised it didn’t crack. The girl had rejected him before, and he couldn’t help thinking she was about to do it again, but this time, it’d be in front of everyone.

Yet, he couldn’t stop. Couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Trying to block out all the faces staring at him except for one, he said. “I lied to you.” His heartbeat seemed to be everywhere at once. He licked his dry lips, needing to get the rest out before he lost his nerve. “I want to be with you, Sadie.”

After how he’d pushed her away, he knew she deserved more than that. She deserved the absolute truth, even if his brain was screaming for him to hold in the rest before he made a complete fool of himself.

He took a couple of steps toward her, surprised his limbs were still working, since they didn’t feel like they belonged to him anymore. “I love you. I’ve loved you since I was sixteen years old, and I’ll love you until the day I die. And I just…needed you to know that.”

The entire crowd took a collective breath, the rodeo grounds so still he swore even the animals didn’t make a sound. Or maybe his rapid pulse thundering through his head blocked it all out.

Sadie lifted a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. It was hard to be sure, but he thought she was crying. Just like she’d done all those years ago right before she left. He shoved the microphone toward the kid who’d brought it down to him and started away, thinking at least he’d tried. Better that than live with regrets strangling him day in and out, right?

A buzz went through the crowd, growing louder and louder, and Royce slowly turned back around.

Sadie was rushing toward the arena. She climbed the wide bars of the gate and jumped inside. He strode toward her, just short of running himself.

She met him halfway and flung herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, her hair brushing his cheek as she hugged him like she was afraid he’d float away if she didn’t squeeze for all she was worth.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, squeezing her back. “I don’t want you to have to give up your dreams, but I want you to choose me this time. Even if it means figuring out how to pull off a long-distance relationship, or even if I look into moving into Nashville part-time—I’m sure we could find a way.”

Sadie lifted her head and placed a hand on the side of his face, her eyes peering into his. “I love you, Royce Dixon.” She pressed her mouth to his and kissed him so deeply the world around them blurred. He could hear the crowd cheering, louder applause than he’d ever gotten for winning any event. Even better, he heard it when Sadie moved her lips next to his ear and whispered, “From now on, no matter what happens, I promise I’ll always choose you.”

Epilogue

With CMT playing in the background, Sadie danced around the kitchen, singing and mixing her chocolate milk. She spun over to Royce’s fridge and pulled out the green olives—he didn’t even like them, but he always kept a jar just for her, and that always made her smile.

Most people who heard the story about her giving up a contract with Belle Meade Records looked at her like she was straitjacket crazy—except for Royce and Quinn and her family, who looked at her more like she was just slightly insane—and maybe she was.

But she was also insanely happy, and she knew they were all thrilled to have her permanently in Wyoming as well. Shortly after she’d decided to stay, she and Royce ran into Heath Brantley at the Triple S. They got to talking about how he played the guitar, and he told her he also had a friend who played the drums, and they just so happened to be looking for a singer. After booking a few gigs, gaining a decent-size fan base that spread across the entire state, and one amazing meeting where they’d been offered a contract, they’d decided to sign with an independent record company that afternoon. It’d require less travel and promo than the contract she’d almost signed—and even better, way more letting Sadie be herself.

It was perfect.

If only this damn bottle of olives would open so she could celebrate properly. She banged the edge of the lid on the counter and twisted again.

While she was running hot water over the top, seeing if that’d loosen it, she heard the front door—Royce had gone to check on the horses, but the booted steps across the floor meant he was back.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, and then she felt his lips on her neck. “Hey, babe,” he whispered against her skin. “Need some help with that?”

“No, I—” She took a deep breath and then twisted again until the muscles in her arms shook. “Got it,” she finished, even though the lid refused to budge.

Royce stepped off to the side, an amused smile on his face as he watched her struggle. “Just say the word.”

Sadie beat the jar on the counter again, fighting the temptation to just crack off the top—that’d show the lid. And possibly get glass in her olives, but still, results were results.

“You’re gonna break it and then get mad at me for trying to help you, just like that fateful day in the grocery store. Looking back, I think that was one of the best days of my life.”

“It did start something amazing,” Sadie said. Then she glared at the jar and gave it one more twist. Nothing. She looked at Royce and stuck out her lips in a pout, hoping he wouldn’t actually make her ask for his help. He took the jar from her, and with a twist that made all the muscles in his forearms stand out, the lid popped loose.

“Let me guess, you got it started for me?”

“Totally.” She grinned, took it from him, and tossed an olive in her mouth. Royce skimmed his hands over her hips and then pulled her flush against his warm body and kissed her. He smelled like the outdoors, hay, and sunshine, and as she soaked in every amazing detail, a happy sigh escaped her lips.

“After you called to tell me you and the guys officially signed the contract, I bought a bottle of wine. Thought we’d celebrate by opening it and watching a movie.”

Royce would only take a few sips and then switch to Coors, but that was okay. Cuddling up next to him and watching a movie sounded like perfection. She nodded and tipped onto her toes to kiss him.

“Grab the corkscrew while I get the bottle and glasses?”

“Sure,” she said, although she was reluctant to leave Royce’s embrace. She rummaged through the utensil drawer until she found the corkscrew. When she turned around, Royce was down on a knee, something very sparkly and ringlike pinched between his fingers.

Afraid she’d accidentally faint and end up with the corkscrew embedded in her skin, she set it on the counter. Light bounced off the diamond ring as he held it up higher.

“Sadie Hart, you know I love you. I don’t even want to imagine what my life would be like if you hadn’t come back into it, and I promise to spend every day of the rest of it trying to make you happy. Are you ready to become my wife yet?”

She gave a laugh that was all joy and half tears. “Hell yeah!”

He slid the ring onto her finger, straightened, and drew her to him. They clung onto each other, laughing as if neither one of them could believe it. Sadie lifted her hand, studying the ring. Thick silver band with beads on the edges and lots of swirled detailing—perfectly country—with a raised square diamond in the middle. She thought of the image she’d had at the rodeo with kids in their future, and happiness filled up her heart and made more tears spill over.

Insane would’ve been walking away from the best thing that ever happened to her. She tilted her head up, and he leaned down, pressing his mouth to hers. Then he was parting her lips with his tongue, deepening the kiss until there was so much heat building in her body she could hardly breathe.

“Cowboy, I’m thinking the wine can wait a little while.”

Royce flashed her a wicked grin that gave her even more wicked thoughts. Then he started slowly unbuttoning her shirt, his fingertips brushing her skin in that intoxicating way that drove her crazy. “This is why I’m not letting you slip through my fingers ever again. You’ve always got the best ideas.”

…

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Acknowledgments

This book was like coming home to me in a lot of ways. I grew up on a cattle ranch in a small town, and writing it made me miss home and all the amazing people who live there. I have to thank my dad for answering my many phone calls while I was writing this book. He talked to me about horse breeds and horse care, roping, and all the ranching terms I couldn’t remember. He’s why cowboys have always been heroic to me. Thanks to my uncle Keith Harmsen, for answering all the rodeo questions I had and, bonus, always being fun to talk to. Thanks to my friend Seth Vance, who came up with the name for my restaurant, and then let me use his likeness as the bartender/owner. (Although he was sure to add “be nice.” As if I’d be anything but. Hehe.) And as usual, I’d never survive without Amanda Price. She’s always there when I need to ask questions, vent, laugh, and everything in between. We managed to have quite the adventures growing up, and I’m glad we still manage to have some. There aren’t enough words to thank her for all her support through the years.

Rachel Harris, I could write an entire paragraph about you! She’s my go-to girl when I’m brainstorming, writing, and editing, and there’ve been many times when we suspect we share the same brain. Thanks for letting me use sexy country singer Tyler Blue in my book and for putting a Sadie cameo in yours. That was fun! Diet Mountain Dew cheers! Big hugs to Gina Maxwell, who’s an awesome friend to have and someone I can happily stay up chatting with until insane hours in the morning. To the CKM, you all rock! So glad I know you!

Thanks to my editor, Stacy Abrams, for her editing prowess and for helping me through author freak-outs. My books are always better after they’ve been through you. Thanks to Alycia Tornetta, Debbie Suzuki, and the rest of the team at Entangled Publishing! You all are made of awesome.

My family is always so supportive and keeps me sane(ish) through the writing process. My kiddos are so excited about Mommy’s books and make sure I get enough writing time, but they also force me to take breaks and remember to have fun. Michael, thank you for keeping the house running when I’m working. You’ve saved many dinners from being burned and many loads of laundry from that horrific mildew smell they get when I forget about them. I love you!

Shout out to Wordsmith Publicity, who is so awesome to work with and is made up of two of the coolest, funniest girls I know. Thanks to all bloggers and reviewers for helping spread the word about my book. TZWNDU, you guys are awesome and get tackle-hugs!

And last but not least, thank you to my readers. I heart you all!