Amanda nearly crumbled under pressure again at the thought of the short deadline. “I have three days.” How was she supposed to make a decision that would change the course of her life in three days? You couldn’t do anything in three days.
“Three days is plenty of time,” Zoe said, blowing it off like she was choosing what shade of pink to paint her nails. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to sleep on it and wake up tomorrow knowing exactly what you want to do.”
Far less confident about her indecision, Amanda simply nodded and grew quiet. She had to mull it over, and this time, she had to be absolutely sure. The offer wouldn’t be made twice, and as she’d told Zoe, there wouldn’t be an opportunity to change her mind and come back to Ryder. Either way she went, it was now or never.
24
Ryder hadn’t meant to overhear Amanda’s end of the conversation with the partners at her law firm. He’d been walking down the hall, and she’d left the door to the office she was using open. Her voice sounded odd, and he’d stood there a moment too long, trying to make sure she was okay. She’d been determined to resign, and if she was going to regret it, he wanted to stop her before it was too late.
To hear her discussing the possibility of accepting a partnership shocked him. More than that, it terrified him. He’d told her only moments before that he was okay with whatever decision she made, but that had been a blatant lie to be sure he didn’t sway her in either direction. As always, her decisions had to be her own. The truth was, he knew he would fall apart and never be able to pull himself together again if she left.
And now that was exactly what it sounded like she was going to do.
He’d hurried home, unable to face anyone, and he’d been pacing his floors ever since. He’d called Sully, but the kid wasn’t at the station, so he’d called one of the other guys to see if Amanda was still there. It made things worse to hear that she’d left an hour before. She hadn’t come home, and that didn’t bode well. It probably meant she was trying to decide how to break the news to him.
And he had to figure out how to control his reaction so he didn’t make her change her mind.
Screw that, he decided. Ryder didn’t need his pride. He needed Amanda and the way she completed his life. Since she’d all but moved in with him, the ghosts of his had parents faded, and the silence and emptiness of the house had stopped echoing in his head. She gave him comfort and peace, but she also fueled him and motivated him. He always looked for opportunities to make her laugh or smile, new things to share with her, and reasons to touch her or kiss her. He hadn’t been this alive in the last ten years.
He couldn’t just sit here quietly and look disappointed but understanding as she walked out of his life, not when it was shredding him to bits inside. He was a stronger person than that, and he was going to fight for what he wanted. He didn’t know if he deserved the sort of happiness Amanda brought him, but he didn’t really care. What man ever truly deserved a good woman?
Grabbing his keys, he rushed out to the garage and got in the truck. He wasn’t going to wait any longer. He’d nearly missed his window the first time, and he wasn’t going to risk that again. Sully had been right. He couldn’t expect things to happen if he didn’t put some effort in. He pulled out of the garage and raced toward town, careful of the ice patches at the sides of the road but mostly unconcerned as the deep freeze was starting to melt.
He went looking for the BMW that Amanda was still reluctantly driving. She had to go all the way back to Cheyenne to return it or exchange it, and she hadn’t much cared for the city. Maybe it would add incentive for her to stay if he offered to turn it in and get her something with four-wheel drive. He would do whatever it took.
He braked in front of the café, seeing the black beast there, and he wrenched the steering wheel into a slot, parking badly and not even caring. If one of the deputies wrote him a ticket, he’d just go to the sheriff and roll his eyes. The citation would go away. He threw open the door to the café and saw Amanda smiling, nodding, and hanging up her phone at a back corner booth.
His heart lurched. So, it was too late. She’d definitely accepted the partnership. He’d waited and worried for too long rather than taking action. But Ryder scowled determinedly. So be it. He would just have to work harder to get her to change her mind.
As he started toward her, she stood and collected that ever present briefcase, and as their gazes locked, her smile faded. “Ryder. I thought you went home.”
He nodded. “I did. A couple of hours ago, in fact. I thought you’d be right behind me.”
Her eyes flinched. “I’m sorry. I had some business to take care of after my call to the firm.” She looked down at her feet. “Actually, I needed some advice and time to think, and I just happened to run into Zoe when I came in here.”
It was his turn to wince. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. She apologized for judging, bought me coffee, and helped talk me through my mania so I could make a clear, reasonable decision. I think we made friends.” Amanda beamed.
But Ryder didn’t care about all that. He had one purpose right now, and he reached out to take her hands in his. “Don’t do it, Amanda. Don’t take the partnership. I know what I said before, but I love you, and I’m not going to let go that easily.”
She frowned at him. “How do you know about the partnership?”
“You were still on the phone when I left, and the door was open.” He didn’t feel the least bit guilty now about eavesdropping for less than thirty seconds. At least it prepared him for the possibilities. “I didn’t mean to pry, but dammit, Amanda, don’t turn your back on this. On us. Give me a chance I’m never going to run for governor, and I don’t always stop to reason things out. Sometimes, I’m impulsive, like now. But I can guarantee you that I’ll give you passion and excitement. And I’ll even learn to cook, if it makes a difference. Just stay here and love me and let me show you the best that life has to offer.”
She stared at him, expressionless, and Ryder held his breath. But he had a feeling he wouldn’t make the impression he wanted to, and she was going to apologize and leave. When she opened her mouth, he steeled himself for it. “Will you dance with me?”
He frowned. “What, here? If it makes you change your mind, I’ll dance with you in a blizzard in the middle of the town square.”
Her lips twitched at the corners, but she didn’t smile. “That’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to learn to cook, Ryder. I can cook for myself. I want to know if you’ll dance with me. Like you did the other night. And that first morning. Just on a whim, spur of the moment. Surprise me with a dance or a single rose or heaven forbid a horseback ride.”
“Of course I will, Amanda. That’s just who I am, and I couldn’t turn those parts of me off if I wanted to.”
She nodded. “Then I’ll stay.”
“What?” It couldn’t be that easy. Could it?
She threw her head back and laughed, the sound filling him with absolute joy. “It’s all right, Ryder. I just got off the phone with Mr. Marten. I turned in my resignation. I told them I greatly appreciated the offer of the partnership, but that I found my life taking a different direction at this time. I wished them the best, and he said the same for me.” Her eyes glazed over as she looked at him, her love pouring into him. “I can practice law anywhere, Ryder. I can open my own office here if I want. But what I can’t have in Richmond is you. And I can’t let you go. I love you, Ryder.”
A wave of relief washed over him, and he laughed with complete contentment, pulling Amanda against him and lifting her off her feet. When he set her down, he twirled her, and she giggled hysterically. “There’s not even any music!” she cried. But suddenly, the elevator music piped through the speakers in the café got louder, and they turned to the barista, who winked at them and snapped a picture with her phone.
Ryder chuckled. “Now, there’s music. And I hope you’re prepared to be on the cover of the new
spaper on Sunday. There’s not a lot of news around here, so I’m sure they’ll enjoy that picture she just snapped and a story that we’re both mad as a cow on a meat diet.”
She shook her head, laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe as he twirled her around. “Let them post it.”
Ryder was all right with it, too. Let the world see how happy he was. It would be nice for people to stop teasing about his permanent scowl.
25
Amanda squealed and ran toward Ryder, the bouquet in her hand. She waved it in the air and kissed him hard. “I caught it!”
“I see that,” he said, sounding a bit disgruntled.
She faked a scowl. “Cut it out! It’s just a superstition. It’s more about having a good time.” She couldn’t believe he was going to be crass about this. She was going to have to demand that he dance the night away with her. After all, it wasn’t every day her new best friend got married.
“What, that the woman who catches the bouquet is the next to be married?” She nodded, and he shook his head. “It sort of puts pressure on the woman’s date, don’t you think?” But he broke into a smile. “Besides, I don’t believe in superstition, so why don’t we just make it valid?”
Amanda didn’t know if she had understood him correctly. “What?” She blinked at him, trying to process what she’d heard to assure it meant what she thought it did.
Ryder’s smile grew bigger, and he snatched her by the waist, pulling her with him as he fell into the nearest chair so she was at an awkward angle in his lap. “You heard me. I guess it makes sense, now that you’ve caught the bouquet. We just have to get married. And if you turn me down, I’ll have to get drunk and give a speech about the callous behavior of women at weddings.”
“Oh, heavens no! I wouldn’t allow that. I guess you’ve trapped me. I’ll just have to marry you.” She was thrilled. They’d talked about it, especially with Noah’s and Zoe’s wedding, but they hadn’t settled on anything. Ryder was always trying to make her laugh, always trying to surprise her, so Amanda couldn’t have asked for a better proposal. This was fantastic!
“That’s good news, since I didn’t want to go all the way back to Cheyenne to return the ring.” He opened his fist, and a diamond ring rested in the center of his palm. This time, she really did gasp.
“When did you…” But she already knew as he started laughing.
When he’d gone to cash the check Fillmore Investments had sent just as the investigation began. And to return the awful BMW that stuck out like a sore thumb. He’d come back with a shiny black Ford pickup and, apparently, a ring. “What better way to spend the settlement money than on the woman who helped me get it?” he asked, sliding the ring on her finger.
It was a perfect fit, and Amanda kissed him solidly. The settlement had amounted to nearly a million for each rancher affected by the fire, plus Ryder as the head of the fire department for personal suffering. The rest of the money had been set aside so Amanda could open a legal practice of her own, and though she was just now ready to open her doors, there was a lot of interest in her services.
There was nothing more she could ever ask for. Maybe her father wasn’t singing her praises, but he hadn’t expressed his disappointment out loud. She had a wonderful man who wanted to marry her, good friends, open spaces, and a slower lifestyle that was going to suit her just fine.
The only thing missing was kids, and she figured those weren’t far away. Not that it mattered. Amanda knew she had to loosen up about planning ahead. She couldn’t control everything, and she’d discovered she liked not knowing and being surprised as much as she’d enjoyed having everything neatly outlined. And she wasn’t in a hurry. She had the rest of her life. She was young, and she had plenty of time to have as many kids as she wanted.
She kissed Ryder again. “Thank you. For making me the happiest woman in the world.”
He pointed to Zoe. “I might have to argue with you. I think she’s the happiest woman in the world at the moment.” Zoe was dancing around and giggling wildly. “But I’ll take the compliment and return it. Thank you for filling the emptiness inside me.” He waggled his eyebrows, and the tender moment was gone. “And when we get home, I fully intend to fill the emptiness in you!”
“You’re incorrigible!” she shouted, running from him as he chased her toward the dance floor. The music had started, and she’d gotten him right where she wanted. And she was going to keep him there—in her arms.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Ryder and Amanda. I’d really appreciate a review. Next up, Cowboy Casanova, Book Three in the Wild at Heart Cowboys series.
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Welcome to Charlene’s World!
Charlene writes sweet, heartwarming stories of small-town romance where lucky ladies seem to always fall for the ruggedly handsome cowboy next door. Charlene is a lifelong resident of the American South currently live in southern Oklahoma on a family-owned cattle ranch near the Red River. She loves to greet each morning with a hot cup of coffee and an optimistic smile. After raising their children, she and her husband recently became empty-nesters. With the peace and quiet that comes with that, Charlene began to hear the characters in her head begging for their stories to be told which is when the author inside her was set free. She has always enjoyed reading romance and it was her husband who encouraged her to write her first novel. You can find all of Charlene’s book by visiting and following her on her Amazon Author Central Page.
The Cowboy In Me (Wild At Heart Cowboys Book 2) Page 12
