She softly shook her head. “No, you need to forgive me. I blamed you for losing us, but it wasn’t you. I could’ve done more, too, right?” She forced an over-bright smile. “It’s too late, now, though, right? We both have…” Her voice trailed off as if she didn’t know what they had, but it had to be something after all that time apart.
Stryder lowered his voice to a near-whisper, the hoarseness sharp in the quiet of the night. “I need you.”
“No, you don’t. You’ve done so well without me. I’ll just cause more problems for you.” Melody shook her head, tears dripping from her cheeks. Her hand shook as she futilely wiped her skin.
Closing the distance between them, Stryder grabbed the tire to keep her movement minimal. He had to make her believe him. He had to convince her. “No. I need you. You’re the only thing worth living for.”
“In spite of me, you’ve become so much, Stryder.” Melody didn’t move away from him. Her chest rose and fell with a panting style of breathing and she gave a slight hiccough as if she’d been crying a while.
Stryder refused to back down now. He wouldn’t hold anything back. He needed her and that was worth fighting for. “No. Hear what I’m saying. Because of you, I’ve succeeded. All I’ve ever wanted was to deserve you. You make me better. I need you. Can you… Is there a chance?” He had nothing left to do but take the chance. She was everything he’d ever wanted.
Could she ever feel like that about him again?
Chapter 19
Melody
The things Stryder said were too good to be true. How could he honestly want the same things Melody did after everything that had happened? “A chance? I’ve been here waiting for you. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” Didn’t he know what he meant to her? What the time apart had done to her?
Stryder pulled her between his knees, in the same position he’d said goodbye to her. He brushed the hair from her face, his touch whisper soft. “I left you so many years ago like this. I said goodbye but all I wanted to do was beg you to marry me and to live here together, even though we were just kids. I’ve always known I wanted forever with you. Marry me. Don’t put off being happy another day. Let’s do the big day as soon as possible.” He arched an eyebrow in challenge, mentioning the misunderstanding with Brock as if it would now become their secret joke.
She laughed, relieved but still unbelieving. “Can you really be happy with me? I’m not used to money. I mean, I’ve been living off ramen noodles for the last few weeks. I don’t fit in that lifestyle.” Fear flooded her with uncertainty. She’d never be good enough. He’d figure out she was a fraud and regret having her in his life.
“I don’t need that lifestyle and to be clear, you would fit in anywhere with your natural grace.” He rubbed a thumb across her cheek. “Let’s stay here. I can make money from anywhere. I have enough money as it is to last multiple lifetimes. We can stay here and develop Two Rides together.” Leaning his face forward, he placed his lips beside Melody’s ear. “Marry me, Mel.”
The warmth of his breath on her skin flooded her with more memories. Melody didn’t want to take the time to think about it. If she thought, she would come up with reasons why it wouldn’t work. Before she could stop herself, she nodded and murmured, “Yes.”
Stryder whooped into the darkness and swung her around. After a moment, they quieted and Stryder bent over her, cupping her face in his hands. He leaned down and for the first time in years, the sweet comfort of his lips on hers returned.
She’d found her second chance and she’d never felt more whole.
Chapter 20
Stryder
Pulling back from a kiss that left him feeling euphoric and like he was home all at the same time, Stryder scooped Melody into his arms. “Come on! We can’t wait.” There was no way he was going to put off their union one more day.
Melody clutched at his neck as he strode quickly across the bridge and then the field. “What? Wait, where are we going?” Her touch was warm and strong and Stryder never wanted her to let go.
He set her down on the gravel by the truck and grabbed her hand. “You said you’d marry me.” He wasn’t going to give her time to rethink anything. He’d waited long enough.
Opening the passenger door on his truck, Stryder closed it after she climbed in, albeit looking a little confused. Jumping into the driver’s seat, Stryder glanced at Melody as he drove them out of the driveway and toward town. “I haven’t had a chance to check on the mayor or change. Is it still Mayor Mork?”
Melody nodded her head cautiously, like she wasn’t sure about Stryder’s mental state. She’d understand soon enough.
The drive to the mayor’s house didn’t take long and they were climbing from the truck in no time. Melody moved slowly. Of course, she wouldn’t be quite certain what was happening since Stryder hadn’t told her. He wanted her to have as little time as possible to argue with him. She’d already said yes. He just needed her to say I do.
The late hour didn’t matter. Stryder would make it up to the small town official. He couldn’t wait another day. What if something happened the next day that would keep Melody from marrying him? No, he needed her bound to him immediately. His heart wouldn’t last another moment without the certainty of being tied to her.
Before she could object, Stryder stormed the house, banging on the front door with little more enthusiasm than eleven o-clock at night warranted. He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and placed his other hand over her fingers. He leaned forward and knocked on the door with his knuckles.
First one light and then another came on inside.
The mayor opened the door, a shotgun pointed toward the carpet at his side. He sighed in relief and then set his gun to the side. Calling over his shoulder, he said. “Never mind calling Sheriff Stuart, Martha, it’s just Stryder.”
“Stryder Flint?” A kindly older lady called back from deeper inside the home. “I wasn’t calling the sheriff anyway, Bob. You know he won’t answer the phone on poker night.”
The mayor rolled his eyes and looked back at Stryder and Melody. “What can I do for you, Stryder?”
Clearing his throat, Stryder patted Melody’s fingers and glanced at her, pausing before answering with a conviction that filled his heart. “I can’t wait. I need to marry Melody, now, sir. Before someone else tries to steal her or convince her she doesn’t need me. I don’t want to make a mistake or another dumb decision.”
The mayor chuckled, an all-too-knowing expression on his face. “It’s good to have you back, Flint. This town needs your touch and I daresay, Melody needs to be appreciated.”
Stryder grinned and turned to Melody. “I’ll make everything up to you. I’ll throw you a big fancy wedding, with all the extras any time you want, whatever you want, but I can’t wait. We’ve been apart too long. Is this okay?” He ducked his head to study her expression. Was she going to leave him stranded? He was pushing too hard and too fast, but his heart wouldn’t let him stop. She’d reject him as she had the flower shop and the help with anything else. Please, don’t turn me down. Say yes. Could she feel him? Could she know how much she meant to him?
Eyes bright, Melody nodded without making him wait too long. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
The mayor chuckled again, opening his front door fully. “I haven’t asked you that yet.” He laughed more, motioning them inside. “Come in. Let’s get you married. Martha, put on some tea. We need to perform a wedding.”
“Stryder brought Melody, right?” Her chuckle reached them from the kitchen. “I always said Flint and Steel would end up together. They were created to make a fire. Didn’t I say that? I know I told you that. People need to start listening to me.”
Stryder laughed, gripping Melody’s hand tight. “Is it that obvious?” He couldn’t hide it from anyone and he didn’t want to try ever again.
“It’s long overdue, son.” The mayor patted Stryder’s back.
Stryder pulled Melody close, wrapping his arm around Melody’s
shoulders. He couldn’t agree more.
Epilogue
Melody
Melody’s ring was heavy on her hand, slipping around her ring finger base as she arranged the sunflowers mixed with mini ferns in the crystal vase. Melody had told Stryder to keep her ring simple, like a band with their initials or something. But Stryder liked to buy things as big as possible for her which was infuriating but also endearing since she knew where his intentions were.
Working at the flower shop gave her something to do while Stryder was gone working rebuilding other towns or whatever else he did.
A text came in.
A dozen Gerber vases to the Two Rides assisted living center, please. Put it on my tab.
Stryder liked to order flowers every day for people around Two Rides. There were a few good reasons, but the two main ones he’d told Melody were to keep her business in the black and to help the businesses around town by pushing money into the economy. Stryder had bought a lot of the businesses in town and he’d pushed a lot of advertising toward outsiders stopping in town. The town was growing, but in a great way.
The phone rang and Melody wiped her hand on her apron and swiped the screen. “Hi, Stryder, I miss you!”
The front door chime cut into his reply. “I miss you, too, Mel.” He called her constantly, probably to reassure her that he was coming back. She hadn’t been able to get rid of the inkling in the back of her mind that she wasn’t worth staying for or that things were too good to be true.
“Will I see you soon?” Melody carried the phone toward the front to greet her customer and paused at the sight of her husband standing there with a box of chocolates. She squealed in excitement and hung up the phone, rushing to his side.
“I think it will be sooner rather than later.” He winked as he held out his arm to her.
Melody moved into his arms, tucking her face into the crook of his neck. “I needed you.” Being with him never got old. He was home for her and she never needed anything but him.
“I needed my wife, too.” Stryder folded her in his embrace, his arms warm and sturdy around her. “I missed you.”
Melody didn’t speak as she lifted her lips to his. Her kiss said more than she’d ever be able to put into words. Stryder was the only word she’d ever need to speak to be whole.
Trevor: The Fake Engagement Billionaire is next in the Billionaire Cowboys of Clearwater County!
He needs a fiancée and he’s willing to pay.
Trevor Hart is in danger of losing his inheritance and that’s not an option. After visiting his friends in Two Rides, Montana, he’s determined to bring a girl back to the ranch and claim her as his own.
He grabs the first girl he passes outside of a bustling diner. Sassy and pretty, she’s more than he’s bargained for, but will his sudden proposal be able to win her over?
Will Jesse give up her in-demand position at the café? For a few million she might…
All she has to do is put up with Trevor for six weeks. Six weeks. But the more she’s around him, the more she realizes that her dreams to help others just might start with finding happiness herself.
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Love this book and you want to read more? I’m so happy to oblige! I have all sweet romances some westerns and some contemporary. All FEEL GOOD with BOLD TWISTS
Western Romances
The Clearwater County Romances
The Billionaire Cowboys of Clearwater County
Stryder – The Second Chance Billionaire
Trevor – The Fake Engagement Billionaire
Brody – The Betting Billionaire
Mac – The Secret Daddy Billionaire
Zack – The Brother’s Best-Friend Billionaire
Wyatt – The Romeo Billionaire
Vance – The Kidnapped Billionaire
Jacob – The Mail-Order Billionaire
Deegan – The Mistaken Billionaire
Ethan – The Secret Billionaire
Shane – The Out of Place Billionaire
Chance – The Desperate Billionaire
The Montana Trails series
Broken Trails (book 1)
Forbidden Trails (book 2)
Unbridled Trails (book 3)
Hidden Trails (book 4)
Forgotten Trails (book 5)
Endless Trails (book 6)
Forsaken Trails (book 7)
Lonesome Trails (book 8)
Lost Trails (book 9)
Untamed Trails (book 10)
Boxset – Books 1, 2, 3
Boxset – 4, 5, 6
Boxset – 7,8,9
Lonely Lace series
Spurs and Lace (book 1)
Secrets and Lace (book 2)
Sorrows and Lace (book 3)
Boxset (all 3 books)
Redemption series
Romancing Redemption (book 1)
Riding for Redemption (book 2)
Resisting Redemption (book 3)
Regretting Redemption (book 4)
Rewarding Redemption (book 5)
Boxset (all 5 books)
Contemporary Romance
ClickandWed.com series
With This Click, I Thee Wed (book 1)
IDo.com (book 2)
DIY Vows (book 3)
eHoneymoon (book 4)
Keyword: I Do (book 5)
Let US-B Wed (book 6)
The Right Click (book 7)
Downshift series
Downshift (book 1)
Full Throttle (book 2)
Block Pass (book 3)
Copyright © 2018 Bonnie R. Paulson
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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Stryder: The Second Chance Billionaire (The Billionaire Cowboys of Clearwater County Book 1) Page 11
