His Last Rodeo

by Claire McEwen

  He excused himself and made his way over to her. “Everything okay?” he asked, startled when she jumped.

  “Oh, hi! Everything is fine.” Her voice had a shrill note he’d never heard before. “I needed to take care of something really quick. I’m back now. Hard at work. Yours for the rest of the evening.”

  Her sunny tone rang false. Something was bothering her, but it was clear that she wouldn’t tell him what it was.

  “I’m going to make the rounds,” she said. “Make sure everyone is doing okay.”

  “I thought I’d do the same.” He wanted to walk the bar with her. To celebrate all they’d achieved working together.

  “Great idea.” She gave him a light shove toward the restaurant. “I think Billy wanted to talk to you. Go see him in the kitchen and I’ll check on the sports bar.”

  And she was gone, her heels clicking briskly on the wood floor, her tight dress accentuating every sway of her hips.

  If Billy needed to speak with him, he’d better get going. But he sure would like to know what was bothering Kit.

  When he ran into her again, ten minutes later, she was leaning on the wall at the entrance to the room with the mechanical bull. The contraption bucked and lunged while a young guy in a flannel shirt clung to its back.

  “You were right,” Kit said as he approached. “It’s a huge success.”

  The bull swung to the left and the man went flying off, crash-landing in the padding below. “And you were wise to talk me into that huge insurance policy,” Tyler said, wincing. He gave a thumbs-up to Ernie, who’d decided that operating the bull was more fun than being a bouncer.

  “It’s going to be a big hit.” Kit pointed to the next wannabe bull rider—a young woman whose friends were in fits of laughter, snapping photos with their phones as she scrambled on.

  “Hmm... How was it first described to me?” he teased. “What was that word? Oh yes...tacky.”

  The look she gave him promised retribution, but he was glad to see her spirit back. Whatever had made her so anxious when she returned from her mysterious errand seemed to have been taken care of. “It’s still tacky,” she shot back. “But what can you do? There’s no accounting for some people’s taste.”

  “You tried it. Did pretty well on it, if I remember right.”

  “Oh, I’ll try anything once.” The husky tone he loved laced her words with extra meaning. Or maybe it was just him reading things into every word with her, because she had his mind wandering, always, to what they did in bed together.

  “You’re giving me a lot to think about.”

  She flushed and didn’t deliver the sexy comeback he’d expected. “I’d better go. I told Tim I’d help him restock the bar in here. Our guests are drinking a ton. Maybe we should have offered some kind of shuttle home after.”

  It was a good idea. “We still might be able to. Rob from the Mountain Shop has a van he uses to take folks on tours. He’s here somewhere tonight and he’s been sober for years.”

  “I’ll ask him,” Kit said. “Go walk around and be charming, so all these guests will become regular paying customers tomorrow.”

  He grinned. “That’s all I am to you, huh? Just a piece of arm candy?”

  She flashed him a sardonic smile. “You know it. Now get to work.”

  He watched her weave gracefully through the crowd, stopping to say hello to a few people. She was riveting. Everything he wanted. The image of the plane ticket he’d seen sticking out of her bag haunted him. He shoved his anxiety down. He still had time. She might decide to stay.

  As he watched, she stopped walking suddenly and turned toward him, beckoning with her hand.

  When he was by her side, she nudged him. “Look.” He glanced in the direction she indicated and froze. His father was walking toward them, dressed in jeans and a sport coat, looking uncomfortable and stepping awkwardly past the people in his way.

  “Dad?” Tyler knew he must be gaping like a landed trout. “You came.”

  His dad held out a hand and Tyler shook it, still confused. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

  His dad glanced at Kit for some reason and gave her a quick nod. “I may not be much for bars, but I realized this is a big night for you. That I should stop by and say congratulations in person.”

  Tyler had been disappointed to see his brothers without his dad. But he hadn’t known how much his father’s words would mean. He cleared his throat. “I appreciate that, Dad. I really do.”

  There was an awkward silence, but Kit was there to guide him through, as always. “Tyler, why don’t you walk your dad around? He might like to see the barbecue area. Or even the barn. I can make sure everything’s going well here.”

  He tried to convey his gratitude in a look. “That would be great.”

  “That’s kind of you, Kit,” his father said, though the look he fixed on her didn’t seem appreciative. “But I can’t stay. I’m already up past my bedtime. Just wanted to see the place and congratulate Tyler on his new business venture.” His eyebrows raised as an especially loud whoop came from the mechanical bull arena. “You’ve obviously worked really hard on it.”

  He clapped Tyler once on the arm and nodded to Kit. And headed for the sports bar and the exit there.

  They stood side by side, watching him go. Tyler glanced at Kit and saw a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. And it hit him what her errand had been. “Did you...?” He was unsure whether to suggest that she’d go to such lengths for him.

  Her smile was unreadable and she shrugged. “I’m just glad he realized that he should stop by tonight.”

  “I don’t think he realized it on his own.”

  “I think he cares about you a lot. He just has trouble showing it.” With that, she headed toward the bar, ducking behind it. He watched her slip right into bartending mode, taking a drink order and filling a pint while she listened to whatever Tim said. Working her usual magic behind the bar.

  Magic he was pretty sure she’d used to get his dad to show up here tonight.

  * * *

  KIT CLOSED THE door on the last of their customers, then turned the key in the lock. She leaned against the door and let out a breath. It had been a great night. People had loved the food, the different bars, the dancing. Tyler had been smart to close early. It had left everyone wanting more. Tomorrow night would be busy. And many nights after that.

  Tyler strode toward her, beaming. “What do you say, Kit Hayes? Do we know how to run a bar or what?” His hand went up for a high five, and she gave it to him, surprised when he scooped her off her feet and twirled her around in a hug. “We did it,” he said, setting her down. “We opened and people liked it and it went great!”

  “It was amazing,” she agreed. “Can you believe five months ago you walked in here with a dream, and now it’s all happening?”

  He laughed and tucked her elbow through his arm, and they walked through the sports bar to the dance floor. “Can you believe that five months ago you threw me out and dumped me in the parking lot?”

  She laughed. “Now that I can believe.” But their teasing didn’t feel as lighthearted as usual. She’d learned so much since that night. And fallen in love with Tyler in the process. And now that the renovations were finished and the bar had reopened, it was time for her to move on. She just wished the thought didn’t hurt quite so much.

  * * *

  THE STAFF PARTY was held in the back bar by the dance floor. Tyler kicked it off with a short speech thanking the staff. He was tired and so were they, but they’d created something great and he wanted them to know it. Then he set them loose to party.

  And what a party it was. The kitchen staff had made tons of food and that’s where everyone went first, filling their plates, hungry after rushing around to make opening night run smoothly.

 
Kit stepped behind the bar and yelled, “Come get your drinks. I challenge you to request a cocktail I don’t know.”

  And for the past hour, no one had been able to stump her.

  He’d stayed away, finding opportunities to chat with everyone and congratulate them on their work tonight. But he was also aware of Kit, watching her work, listening to the banter she traded with whoever was at the bar. But now everyone had a drink in hand, and most of them were on the dance floor, bopping around as the DJ spun eighties music.

  He couldn’t stay away anymore.

  “What can I do for you, boss?” Her smile was warm, a little shy. “I hope you’re celebrating, too. You deserve to cut loose.”

  He held out his hand. “How about you let me take you around the dance floor?”

  Her dark eyes widened. “Really? Is that a normal boss-employee activity?”

  He laughed outright. “Since when have we had a normal boss-employee relationship?” He pretended to think for a moment. “Let’s see...almost never. And certainly not last night. Or the night before.”

  Her cheeks went bright pink. “Shush. Okay, I’ll dance. For a moment.”

  “Good. Because we both deserve to cut loose and celebrate.” She came around the bar, wiping her hands on a towel. He tucked her arm in his as they crossed the room. Maybe it was weird to ask her to dance so formally, but he didn’t really care. Their agreement was over. The bar was open and it was clear to him already that it would be a success. So he’d enjoy this night with her and try to make it another one she couldn’t forget. Hoping that all of their unforgettable nights would add up to something she couldn’t leave behind.

  The staff let out a cheer when they stepped onto the dance floor. “Right on, Tyler and Kit,” Loomis shouted, drinking a beer and bobbing up and down to the music, like a huge dancing bear. “To our awesome bosses,” he yelled, and everyone joined in the toast.

  It was amazing to remember that they’d all hated him at that first meeting. One more thing he had Kit to thank for. She’d taught him how to listen, how to be flexible. How to keep an eye on his vision but make it work for everyone else, too. He took her hand and spun her around. Then pulled her closer. He wasn’t much of a dancer, but there was something about her that made him want to dance.

  She twirled, laughing, into his arms, and her gaze met his. And he saw it then. The thing she kept so guarded, the thing she kept hidden behind all her teasing. Love. She felt it, too. He could see it in the shy warmth in her eyes. In the way she bit her lower lip when she looked at him. And he wanted a chance to tell her that he felt it, too.

  He lowered his head to hers, just a little, and caught the sharp intake of her breath. “Kit...” he murmured.

  “Not here.”

  “I don’t want to wait another minute for you,” he murmured.

  “Your staff—”

  “Can think whatever the hell they want.” He wasn’t hiding how he felt anymore. Not from her or from anyone.

  She laughed low. “Okay then.”

  So he kissed her, right there on the dance floor, his hands in her hair, his mouth over hers, to the cheers and catcalls of the Dusty Saddle staff.

  Then he had the best hour of his life. Because now they weren’t hiding how they felt. She beat him at pool, he beat her at darts, the entire staff danced in a circle to “YMCA,” and he felt like a fool but at least he had plenty of company. He took a spin on the mechanical bull and rode out eight seconds on the highest setting, Kit rewarding him with a passionate kiss at the end.

  Then it was time to clean up. Everyone helped stack chairs, then Kit sent them home, and it was just them washing the glasses and wiping down the bar. “We did good, didn’t we?” he said.

  “I’m so glad we threw them this party. It was great for morale. And now the new people know everybody and it will make work so much more fun for all of them.”

  “It is fun, isn’t it? Working at this bar. I like it.”

  “It’s been really, really fun,” she said quietly.

  And he tried, really hard, to ignore the way she’d just spoken in past tense.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  KIT WATCHED TYLER jump out of his truck in front of her house. So much about him was familiar now. The way his fingers fidgeted with his car keys as he walked up. The excitement in his smile and the searching way he looked at her.

  “You’re not too tired? I mean, we did open a bar and restaurant tonight.”

  “Oh, I’m tired,” she told him. “But you promised to make sure I stayed wide awake.” She shot him a teasing look. “Or was that all talk?”

  His laugh rang out. He put his mouth to hers, weakening her knees with a long, slow kiss. “Not just talk,” he said against her mouth. “Definitely some action, too.”

  “Then come in.” She tugged at his hand. “Sleep with me.” She kissed him again and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her as he walked her through her front door and down the hall to her bedroom, shedding clothes as they went.

  She clung to the solid strength of him, while his kisses moved to her neck as he laid her on the bed, to her breasts as he lowered himself next to her, to her waist and thighs as he chased away all rational thought.

  He slayed her when he was like this, loving with no hesitation, no doubt, going after loving her with the same intensity he had when he pursued every other thing he wanted. He was hands, mouth, whispered words...every part of him showing her how much he wanted her. Every move he made pushing her toward her peak again and again.

  They slept, but sometime in the night she woke and worried, desolation creeping over her. The black-hole knowledge that this relationship would be over soon and her heart would break. He must have sensed her mood even in sleep, because he woke, his hands seeking her, warming her, lulling her fears with the heat he brought, stoking that heat to incinerate her worry, at least for now.

  After, he wrapped himself around her and snuggled them under the covers. “Let’s get some rest.”

  She was already boneless, lost deep in the contentment he’d wrought. “I love you, Tyler. So much,” she said, only half-conscious.

  There was a pause, then she felt his lips, soft on her shoulder. “I love you, too, Kit. So much.”

  Then exhaustion caught up with her and she slept.

  * * *

  KIT STARED AT her suitcase, waiting so quietly by the door. Looking so innocent. Just a simple piece of luggage. Except it was so much more. When she’d bought it, it had been a symbol of hope. A sign that she was finally doing something different with her life. That she was going to have adventures and see new things.

  But this morning it looked different.

  It looked like sadness, because she was leaving. It looked like cowardice, because she was leaving without a goodbye.

  But how could she say it? She’d take one look at Tyler’s beautiful face, his warm eyes, and she’d unpack in a heartbeat. And never know a life outside of Benson.

  The very thought of that made the walls of her rental cottage feel smaller, as if they were inching in on her to crush her forever.

  But she loved him. This past month had surpassed any fantasies she’d had, gone beyond any of her wishful thinking about what love could feel like.

  When they’d finally rolled out of bed today, it had been late morning, and Tyler had to get to the bar. He’d had a fast shower, then they’d shared a quick kiss. He’d asked her if he could see her tonight, and she’d nodded yes. He’d caught her hands in his, looked into her eyes and told her he loved her. I love you, Kit, with all my heart. I just want you to know that. It was one thing to whisper it in the dark. But to say it out loud, in the bright light of day... She’d always remember his sweetness and the way she could see the love in his eyes. She’d also remember the way she hadn’t found the courage to say
the words back.

  When she’d shut the door behind him, she’d slid to the floor, letting the tears she’d been holding back slide down her face.

  Their timing was just so bad.

  Her sobs had slowed as resolve kicked in. She’d told herself that love was only a feeling, and feelings could be managed. That bad timing happened all the time.

  She’d pushed herself up and gone to her computer, tapping her fingers restlessly until the screen lit up and she could access her email account. And her plane ticket.

  She was supposed to leave next week, but she read the fine print. For a hundred-dollar fee she could change her flight and leave tonight. She logged into the airline site, hesitating only a fraction of a second before changing her ticket. It was better this way. Better for both of them.

  So here she was. A note for Tyler clutched in her hand. Her suitcase, so innocent-looking, so full of turmoil, waiting by the door. She walked toward it slowly. Hefted its weight. Took one last look around her shuttered cottage then wrenched open her front door. So what if her insides churned like a blender? So what if her heart hurt with every beat? Her new life started now, before old patterns could get in the way. Before she gave up everything for love one more time.

  She glanced at the note in her hand. She’d drop it in his mailbox on the way out of town. That way he could read it after work this evening. She’d be in Mexico by then, and that was for the best.

  * * *

  TYLER PRIDED HIMSELF on his stamina. He’d always been able to push himself harder than the next guy. Hang in there, just a little longer, when the clock was ticking. But opening the bar yesterday, and his night with Kit afterward, had worn him out. So much that he’d left the bar in Lila’s care to head home for a nap.

  A nap. He must be getting old. Or soft. But sleep blurred his brain as he pulled his truck up to his rental house. He was surprised to see Kit on his doorstep, tucking something into his mailbox.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he called softly from the sidewalk. “Is that a love note?”

  She faced him and he noticed her skin was paler than usual. That her eyes were shadowed underneath. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?” He went to her.