Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders)

by Lorelei James

  That startled her mother. “Montana? I didn’t know you were looking for work elsewhere.”

  “Really? Since you’ve kept mentioning I’ve been in a funk since I moved back here.”

  “You were in a funk. And I didn’t know it was your job making you so unhappy,” she said a little snippily. “It’s not like you talk to me about this stuff anymore. There were plenty of other things that happened to you around that time to put you off your game.”

  She winced. “I’m sorry. Breaking off my engagement with Dillon didn’t cause this funk. I’ve been unhappy with this job from day one. I settle. That’s my pattern. I settled for the first guy I met in a new town and I was so eager to end that relationship, I settled for the first job that came along. Dalton coming into my life shook it all up—but for once I didn’t make decisions based on anything besides what I wanted. So I’ve applied for jobs with other organizations. This is my second interview with CESU in Missoula. I’m really excited about that one. I’d get to utilize my degrees and it could chart the course of my career.”

  “And? Or should I say…but?”

  “I haven’t told Dalton about any of the job applications. I’ll admit I had an ulterior motive at first for keeping it to myself. But after handling this special project, I’ve regained some of the confidence I lost after feeling unemployable for months.” She laughed. “When it rains, it pours, huh? I have three interviews in three days and in the past nine months I couldn’t even get one place I applied to call me back.”

  “I have faith in you in finding the right career path—even if that path leads you away from here.” Her mom touched her knee. “I never expected you’d settle in Sundance permanently.”

  “But?” Rory prompted.

  “But what will you do if you don’t get any of those positions? They’d be a fool not to hire you. Granted, as your mother I’m a little biased.”

  Rory shoved aside the papers. “It’s hard not to get my hopes up. So the answer is…I don’t know.” And she couldn’t share the other problem dogging her; if she picked Dalton for the permit, he’d be stuck in Sundance another two years.

  Problem was, she loved Dalton—not that she’d told him. After everything that’d gone on with his family, Rory didn’t see Dalton leaving here. He’d been killing time in Montana, waiting for the right time to return home to Wyoming.

  So even if she didn’t choose his land for the elk program, he’d find another use for it because he had his brothers’ full support. And it would be the ultimate test on whether he’d choose her. Whether he really had changed and meant everything he’d said about them belonging together.

  “Rory?”

  She glanced at her mom. “Sorry I’m a little spacey.”

  “It’s okay. I want you to do what makes you happy, sweetheart. Wherever that may be and whoever you might be with.”

  “Meaning…you don’t think Dalton—”

  “What matters is what you think. But more importantly, it matters what you do.” Her mom grabbed the empty bottles and stood. “One thing’s for sure, you’ll have plenty of time to think about it with all the time you’ll spend in the car the next few days.”

  “Thanks Mom.”

  “Anytime.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Rory showed up on Dalton’s doorstep a week later. Although they’d kept in touch, it’d been two long weeks since she’d seen him.

  She knocked on the door.

  Dalton opened it and stared at her like she was an apparition. He said, “You’re here,” and crushed her against his chest. His mouth found hers, and he kissed her with surety and tenderness. With love. With passion. This kiss was perfect. So perfect how he knew exactly what she needed. A girly rush of emotions pushed front and center and she just about blurted out that she loved him when he broke the kiss. Just to be safe, Rory kept her face tucked in his neck.

  “I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I like to keep you on your toes.”

  “And I like to keep you on your back.”

  She lightly punched him in the stomach and he laughed.

  Then he nuzzled her ear. “I missed you like crazy, Rory.”

  As much as Rory took comfort in that, her belly fluttered with nerves. “I missed you too, McKay. I just finished up the last of the paperwork for the special project. I thought I’d swing by. So we could talk.”

  “Is this a coffee conversation? Or a whiskey conversation?”

  “Got the makings for an Irish coffee conversation.”

  “Compromise. I like that about you.” Dalton took her hand and pulled out a chair at the breakfast bar. “Sit. I’ll start the coffee.”

  She dropped her satchel on the chair next to her. “Tell me about your day.”

  “Not much to tell. I spent the day doin’ my Cinderella imitation cleaning this place now that all the remodeling is done.”

  “Looks great. I love that you’re comfortable enough in your masculinity that you don’t see cleaning as demeaning.” She groaned. “Unintentional rhyme, I swear.”

  Dalton grinned. “Glad to hear it. I worried maybe you’d secretly been penning poetry.”

  “Dealing with government regulations has sucked every ounce of verbal creativity out of my soul.”

  “I imagine.” He grabbed two coffee mugs. Poured a generous slug of whiskey in each one.

  “It smells clean in here. Sometimes I wonder if my house smells like dog.” Way to babble. Maybe you could ask him what product he used that left behind the lemony fresh scent.

  “Not that I’ve noticed.” His gaze pinned hers. “Why you acting so nervous?”

  “Because I am. I have something to tell you.”

  Dalton crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not gonna like this, am I?”

  “Depends.”

  “So this paperwork you finished up… That means you’ve made your final decisions on who gets awarded the permits?”

  She nodded.

  “Is that why you’re here?”

  “Partially.” Stop stalling. Rory dug in her satchel and pulled out two pieces of paper.

  “What’s that?”

  “Your future.” She placed the identical documents on the counter. “I did all the research on this, but the final decision is up to you.” She tapped the closest document. “This one recommends your land for the elk farm permit.” Then she tapped the next. “This one denies it.”

  “I’m confused.”

  She shoved both papers at him. “You get to choose. Whether you stay here and run it. Or whether you don’t. I’ll back you on either decision.”

  He stared at the papers in silence. Then he poured coffee.

  “I know it’d mean a lot to you, finally getting to utilize the land you own for something you want. And I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t believe the habitat was more than adequate.”

  “So why are you givin’ me the option?”

  “There’s something else you need to know first.” Rory swallowed a mouthful of coffee. The burn of the whiskey and the hot liquid sent her into a coughing fit.

  Dalton was right there, rubbing her back, asking if she was all right, asking how he could help her.

  “I’m okay. Maybe some water.”

  “Be right back.”

  Maybe his concern was a stupid little thing, but it just reinforced her feelings for him. Dalton McKay was a capable caretaker, something she wouldn’t have believed if he hadn’t proven it to her time and time again over the past few months. No one had ever believed Dalton capable of taking care of himself, let alone anyone else. The fact he showed her that side of himself meant she had a part of him that no one else did. He didn’t only act sweet and loving when he wanted something from her in return.

  He handed her the glass of water and watched as she drank. “Better?”

  “Much. Thank you.”

  “Will you please tell me what’s goin’ on?”

  “I haven’t been happy in my job, prior to this special ass
ignment. I’ve been dreading going back to being a part-time lackey.”

  “I thought you said they might reward you for a good job and move you up the ladder?”

  Rory forced herself to maintain eye contact. “That was a lie. I’ve been applying for jobs with other agencies for months. I never intended on staying in Sundance permanently.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “Because you’re you. Or I thought you were the same love ’em and leave ’em guy you’d always been. Showing up here after three years and swearing we were meant to be together. I didn’t believe it. I didn’t trust it. I didn’t trust you. I suspected you had an agenda—even before the permit issue arose between us.” As much as she wanted to hide her face, she looked him dead in the eye. “I decided I’d hang out with you to cure my loneliness, gorge myself on hot sex with you until I had a great new job and I’d move on.”

  The strong muscle in his jaw worked but he said nothing.

  “But something happened. I fell in love with you. The Dalton I knew now. Not the asshole from years ago, not even the sweet, bossy Dalton I used to antagonize when we played in the woods.”

  “Rory—”

  “Just hear me out. Inasmuch as I realized that assholish side of you didn’t exist anymore, I understood I haven’t been that wronged girl for a number of years. I may talk tough, may act tough sometimes, but I’m not cruel. I’ve never been a cruel person and I won’t start being that way now—especially to you. You’ve dealt with enough cruelty in your life, Dalton. You don’t deserve that from someone who loves you.”

  “You really love me?”

  “Really. Truly.” She fought tears. “Which is why this is so hard.”

  “Aurora. Love makes everything easier,” he said softly.

  Such a vulnerability to this man. That just made her love him more. “But I’m not the only one who loves you. Your family loves you and they’ve got you back. You finally came clean with them about what had kept you away. You just lost your father and you’re dealing with some pretty mixed emotions about that. You’ve stopped running from your problems so it’s not fair to ask you to run away with me. Seems like we both have horrible timing with the run away with me thing, huh?”

  That startled him. “What are you talkin’ about?”

  “Last week I got offered a permanent fulltime position with Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit in Missoula.”

  “So you’re takin’ it?”

  “Yes.”

  “For sure.”

  “For sure. I interviewed there in person last week and they offered me the job on the spot. I also interviewed with the BLM in Cody but didn’t make the final cut because they were looking for someone with more experience. Anyway, I gave notice at WNRC. Next week is my last week.” She stared into those compelling blue eyes. “So I’m leaving Sundance. But I don’t want this to end. I’m asking you to come with me to Missoula.”

  Stunned silence.

  “I want to be with you. But I realize the timing for this couldn’t possibly come at a worse time for you.”

  “Rory, that doesn’t—”

  She put her fingers over his mouth. “Don’t. Even if you’re convinced you’ve made up your mind and know what you want, I’m asking you to take a little time and really think it through. Talk to your brothers. Talk to your mom. Make a rational decision, not an emotional one.”

  Dalton was so shocked or deep in thought that he couldn’t speak.

  Rory shouldered her satchel and walked out.

  She made it to her Jeep before she heard the screen door slam. She whirled around and Dalton was in her face.

  “Don’t make an emotional decision?” he demanded, crowding her against her car. “That’s the only kind of decision that’s worth anything.” He snapped the paper in her face. Then he crumpled it into a ball and threw it over his shoulder. “Deny me the elk farm permit. The only reason I applied for it is because I thought you’d be livin’ here and I’d need something to do.”

  “What?”

  “I wasn’t completely honest with you. I don’t have a burning desire to raise elk. I saw an opportunity, a reason to stay in Sundance. Yes, I have family here and I’ve dealt with some issues that will keep my brothers and their families part of my life. But Rory, I was here for you. I stayed for you. If you’re not here, there’s no reason for me to stay.”

  She blinked at him. Maybe the inability to speak was contagious because she couldn’t make her lips move.

  “I love you. I thought I lost you once and that’s never happening again. Never. I don’t even need five seconds to make a decision. You go, I go. We belong together. Not just while you’re killin’ time waiting for a killer job, or I’m killin’ time hoping to heaven that you’ll fall in love with me. We are forever.” Dalton curled his hands around her face. “So yes, I’ll run away with you to Missoula. But when we go, you’ll be wearing my ring.”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  “No. I’m telling you that we will be married. I’m willing to wait until you’re settled in your new job, but I want you as my wife, Rory. I want everyone to know that you’re mine. That we’re building a life together.”

  Over the past few months when Dalton looked at her a certain way, or placed a kiss below her ear, or ran his finger down the inside of her arm, she sensed his satisfaction. His possession. She’d chalked it up to sex. Now she saw it for what it really was. Love that went beyond anything she’d ever thought any man could feel for her, let alone this man who owned her heart, body and soul.

  It was past time she let him know she felt the same.

  She ran her hands through his hair. “I love you.”

  He quit breathing entirely. Then he said, “Say it again.”

  “I love you.” Before she could repeat it for a third time, because she knew that’s what he’d ask for, his mouth was on hers. Not consuming her with a fierce kiss, but leveling her with tenderness and gratitude. And hope. There was so much hope in him, in this kiss, that her eyes grew wet.

  The kiss went on and on. Gentle and hot, packed with the type of sweet need that caused her to cling to him tighter.

  When he finally released her mouth, he murmured, “You really mean it?”

  “Yes, I do. I love you, McKay.”

  “This is the best day of my life. Right now, in this moment with you.”

  “Mine too.”

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  “Do you, Dalton Patrick McKay, take Aurora Rose Wetzler to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?”

  Dalton froze.

  This was it. The next step would tie him to this woman permanently and the judge’s final words would pronounce them husband and wife.

  Dalton McKay, husband.

  That sounded…perfect. Really fucking perfect actually.

  “I do.” He lifted Rory’s hand to his mouth for a kiss. “I do, I do, I do. I cannot wait for this woman to be my wife.”

  “You sorta went off-script,” Rory whispered.

  “I’m an off-script kinda guy.”

  The judge cleared his throat. “May I continue?”

  “Ah, yeah, sure, go for it.”

  “Do you, Aurora Rose Wetzler, take Dalton Patrick McKay to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?”

  “I do.”

  They exchanged rings.

  Then the judge said the magic words. “By the power vested in me by the State of Wyoming, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your bride. Kiss your groom. This union is official.”

  Dalton curled his hands around her face, the beautiful face of this woman whose eyes were shining with love for him. “I love you.” He kissed her
with sweetness and devotion. And he had to laugh softly when he finally pulled back. “Sugarplum lip gloss. Nice touch.”

  Loud clapping behind them echoed through the trees.

  They turned together and faced their family.

  Hugs and claps on the back and even more hugs were exchanged. Then everyone backed off, giving them time alone.

  They’d kept the ceremony for immediate family only. His brothers had stood up for him. Rory’s mom and Sierra had stood up for her.

  Now they stood before each other, husband and wife, in the exact same place where they’d met for the first time.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked.

  “Us. How perfect this is. But also in all those years we hung out here and all the games we played, we never once played house.” He kissed her again. “Why?”

  “Because playing house isn’t a game for us. It’s for real. For keeps.”

  And she swore she didn’t have a romantic streak. The fact she’d insisted they get married here and she carried a bouquet of plum blossoms and her lip gloss spoke volumes to him.

  “I recognize that look, McKay. You were thinking of a way to get me up onto that rock just so you could push me off.”

  “No way. It wouldn’t be the same because the six-year-old Rory I remember wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a princess dress. She would’ve jumped into the creek before I could shove her off, just to save face.”

  She grinned at him. “You’re right.”

  “But you look spectacular.” The white satin dress clung to her every curve from the waist down. From the waist up it was all fancy beading, lace and poufy stuff. Rory had let her hair hang loose rather than putting it up, knowing the second Dalton got her alone, all the pins would come out and he’d take it down anyway.

  “Thank you. You look pretty spectacular yourself.”

  He’d chosen a western-cut black suit with a plaid vest and no tie. Not once during the brief ceremony had he felt like he was choking.

  “Sweetheart,” Rielle said to Rory, “Gavin and I are heading up to the house to make sure everything is set for the party.”