The Cowboy and the Bombshell

by Dove Cavanaugh King

  And then another.

  My smile was instant when I realized that there were six horses from the Mounted Unit coming towards us. In Queens, that wasn’t a common sight, at least not in this neighborhood. The six horses marched toward us steadily, their riders sitting tall and proud in their helmets and aviator sunglasses as people waved and cheered.

  When they reached our house, they stopped, each horse pausing in formation, except the final horse, who continued to move, passing all the others as it approached. I stared in confusion as the rider began to unbuckle his helmet, but I gasped in shock when I recognized that dark head of hair.

  Stone sat atop the horse, his smile wide, as he removed the sunglasses and hung them on his shirt pocket as if he did it every day. I stood frozen, unable to truly process what I was seeing, until he swung his leg over the horse and dismounted. Stone strolled up my sidewalk like the sexy cowboy he was, his rolling gait making every move look smooth and confident. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he smirked up at me. “Hey there, Blondie.”

  The laugh that burst out of me was full of joy. “Hey yourself, Cowboy.”

  As he stood there looking up at me with so much emotion in his eyes, I couldn’t help the tear that escaped, rolling silently down my cheek, regardless of how hard I was smiling.

  Being near Stone just filled me with so much emotion, I couldn’t help but let it out, even if that meant tears.

  “I gotta say, you sure are a sight for sore eyes.”

  “You too, Stone,” I replied quietly, feeling suddenly vulnerable. “I was worried when you didn’t call. I mean, you didn’t even question my leaving.”

  “Oh, I questioned it, Blondie. I questioned the hell out of it. But that’s why it took me so long to get here. I had to take care of some business first.”

  My eyebrows went up at that. “You mean…”

  “Yeah, I sure do.” I watched as emotion flashed across his face, once again showing me so much in his eyes. Where before they had only expressed anger and annoyance, now I was seeing a whole range of things he would have normally kept inside. I had a feeling that Stone was done hiding from me.

  And I was damn glad about that.

  “You won’t be having any more problems with my sister or her husband. Everything is taken care of, Penelope.” He looked deeply into my eyes, his promise there for me to see. “It’s over.”

  The relief I felt was astronomical. I had been living in fear of waking up to see myself splashed over a tabloid, disgraced and shamed for what was truly an act of love.

  Because I did love Stone. I knew that now.

  And I was ready to do what it took to be with him.

  “Thank you, Stone,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck, my whole body trembling with the relief of having him here with me. “Thank you so much.”

  “Anything, Penelope. You know that.”

  I smiled and nodded. When I heard a sniff behind me, I remembered my mother was there, along with a squad or two of police officers and almost all our neighbors. Good grief, how had I forgotten?

  Stepping back, I glanced again at Stone’s handsome face.

  Oh, yeah. That’s how.

  “Stone, I’d like to introduce you to my mother, Sonja Lund.”

  Stone came forward, hand extended. “Stone Pennington, ma’am.”

  “Pennington, now, is it?” I questioned, watching as he shook my mothers hand, and she practically swooned. Good grief. There was no way I was ever taking Stone to meet the ladies at the hospital. He’d never make it out again.

  “Yeah, Blondie. Pennington forever.”

  “Damn right!” came a shout from behind him. I looked past Stone’s broad shoulder to see what I had missed before. One of the mounted riders waved and smiled, grinning like a loon from atop his horse.

  “Mr. Pennington?” I laughed. The man looked like a kid in a candy store, he was so happy.

  “Hello, Miss Lund. Pleasure to see you again. I’ll expect you to be reporting back to work as soon as possible. We still have a hotel to launch, and I need my new Vice President of Marketing working hard to make sure it goes off without a hitch.”

  I had thought I couldn’t be any more shocked, but apparently I was mistaken. “But, I resigned,” I stammered, not truly understanding. “I emailed you my resignation.”

  The old man smiled at me, looking for all the world like a jolly old grandpa. “I am truly sorry, Miss Lund, but I received no such email. Looks like you still have your job, whether you like it or not.”

  I turned back to Stone. “Is this for real? I’m the new VP?”

  “As real as it gets, I’m afraid.” I stared for a beat longer, then I erupted in a squeal that was half shock and half laughter. I spun around and hugged my mother furiously, then turned back to see Stone smiling at me, pride shining in his eyes, and something else I was hesitant to name.

  He looked at me seriously for a moment. “You okay? Honestly?”

  I reached for him, letting my hands trail up his arms and come to rest on his shoulders, drawing him closer to me. “Did you come here for me?” I asked, looking into his gorgeous hazel eyes.

  “You bet I did. You’re never getting rid of me.”

  “Then, yes, I am honestly okay,” I said, ready to take a chance. Ready to be vulnerable in a way I hadn’t ever been before. “I’m better than okay. I’m in love.”

  I waited with baited breath as he froze, and the part of me that always doubted myself was afraid I’d just ruined everything. But it wasn’t long before his smile broke free, the biggest one he’d ever shown me. I laughed as a dimple popped on one cheek, knowing I’d do anything I could to make sure I saw it as often as possible in the future.

  “Well, that’s damn good news, Blondie. Because I love you, too.”

  With that, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, wrapping his arms around me and hauling me against him tightly. My feet left the ground as I clung to him, feeling as if I might burst with joy. All my worry and sorrow melted away as I felt my heart pound in triumph.

  The crowd that had gathered around us started to clap, and I threw my head back with a laugh, having forgotten for the second time that they were even there. All I saw, all I felt, was Stone. His arms around me, his lips on my neck, and his heart beating wildly against mine.

  This was perfection. And I never wanted it to end.

  “Now, how ‘bout you go grab some shoes and get back out here?”

  “Where are we going?” I asked, giddy at the prospect of doing anything, as long as it was with him.

  “Well, later tonight, we have a flight to catch.”

  “We do?”

  “Of course we do. You have a hotel to market, and there are only ten days left until your Soft Launch. I’m sure you have a ton of work to do.”

  My mouth dropped wide open. “Holy smokes! I do! I have so many things to finish. Oh, man. I just left everyone hanging. I have to get in touch with the vendors and check on the guest performers for the evening. I was expecting to meet with the videographer last week. And I missed the appointment with the printing company, so I’ll have to-”

  “Breathe, Blondie. Just breathe. Moira has been handling everything. She managed your calendar and spreadsheets just like you planned. The whole thing is still on schedule.”

  I exhaled in relief. “That’s amazing. Oh, man. You are gonna have to give that woman a raise.”

  “So she’s been telling me,” he grumbled, rolling his eyes. “Now, come on. Get your shoes. We don’t have all night.”

  “What are we doing?”

  “Penelope,” he looked at me, shaking his head from side to side. “What kind of cowboy would I be if I didn’t take the girl and ride off into the sunset?”

  This man.

  I threw my arms around his neck, crushing him to me once more. “I do love you, Stone Pennington.”

  “Glad to hear it, Blondie.” He squeezed me once more, then spun me toward the house and swatted my butt. �
�Now, get. These fine officers have work to do.”

  As I returned to the sidewalk, shoes and hoodie firmly in place, I waved at the officers I knew. “How did you manage to arrange all this anyway?” I asked as we stood next to the horse Stone had ridden, a beautiful bay with a gorgeous black mane and tail.

  “It pays to have a dad who knows everyone in town,” he said with a wink.

  I looked at him in shock. “Dad? Not just Harold.”

  Stone looked at his father, laughing and chatting with some of the police officers near him, and the love that shone in his eyes made me so happy. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “My dad.”

  I squeezed his hand, conveying all my pride and love for him into that touch. “Seems like a few things have changed for you this week.”

  Stone slung his arm around my shoulders, drawing me into him, and I breathed in his scent, the spicy cologne that I had missed so much while we were apart. “Penelope,” he said quietly, his lips pressed to the top of my head. “Everything has changed. Absolutely everything. And I’ll tell you all about it. But first,” he stepped away from me, placed his foot in the stirrup and mounted the horse like it was his job. I grinned as he reached for me.

  “I don't’ know if I can do it without Smitty’s stairs, Cowboy.”

  “Sure you can. Just put your foot in the stirrup and hold on to me.”

  I did as he instructed, and was soon snuggled against his warm broad back, my arms wrapped around his waist as he sat astride the horse, when I had a sudden thought

  “Stone? What’s this horse’s name?”

  Stone laughed out loud. “Penelope, you’re not gonna believe it when I tell you.”

  “What?”

  “This horse’s name is Crockett.”

  I was stunned. “You’re joking!”

  “I am not. When I saw it on the stall, I knew he was the one I had to ride today.”

  It was serendipitous, to be sure, because John Wayne had played Davy Crockett in the movie The Alamo.

  And if that wasn’t an appropriate horse for us to be riding, then I don’t know what was.

  I turned my head to see my mother smiling at me as tears slipped down her face. I waved as she blew me a kiss.

  When everyone was mounted again, the police cars bleeped their sirens one more time and then Stone coaxed our horse into motion and I held on to the man I loved as he turned us west into the setting sun.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Stone

  The casino floor was buzzing, the sound of happy chatter a low rumble that hung over the louder noises of slot machines and roulette tables. I stood near the bar, a glass of bourbon in my hand, and surveyed the room, that feeling of pride swelling in my chest again as I did.

  The Alamo was incredible and I loved every square inch of it. From the rounded cream-colored corners of the external façade, to the wooden finish on the bar tops and the tin lantern style lights that hung throughout the cavernous space, I felt like my heart and soul was in every aspect of this hotel. It spoke to me on a visceral level, breathing life into me as I wandered the halls, drinking it in.

  The sound of laughter drew my attention, laughter that I was very familiar with. I turned my head to see Penelope, looking incredible in a floor-length black gown, her hair falling in golden waves down her back, the daringly high slit in the side of the dress parting as she moved to reveal her sexy pink high heels.

  As if she could feel my stare, Penelope turned my way, a slow smile spreading across her face as she took me in, uncomfortable as fuck in my tuxedo, but playing my role for the evening. With the amount of press and celebrities here, it was important that all the Pennington staff looked the part, even, and maybe most especially, me.

  Earlier today, Harold had held a press conference, officially announcing me as the new CEO of Pennington Hotels and the subsequent media frenzy had left me exhausted. I was glad for the quiet time with my bourbon. In all my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined ever ending up here; it all just seemed so surreal. Standing in a hotel that I had a hand in launching, practically from the ground up, as the CEO of my father’s company was completely surreal. Hell, even just being on cordial terms with my father would have been beyond belief as little as six months ago.

  But so much and changed, and it all came down to that bombshell in the pink heels. Penelope had opened my eyes to so many things, and I could never thank her enough for it. She had shown me that it was okay for people to make mistakes, okay to forgive them, and that vulnerability is not necessarily a bad thing. Because being vulnerable to Penelope? Opening my heart and letting her in, even knowing the wreckage she’d leave behind if she left? That was worth every ounce of risk. Just to get to hold her, to spend my days in her presence and my nights in her arms, made all the rest bearable.

  Penelope was light and goodness and laughter and all the things I was missing in my life due to my own stubborn pride.

  And, God, how I loved her for it.

  I was drawn from my mushy thoughts and from admiring Penelope’s incredible legs in that dress, when Harold approached me, his own tuxedo looking sharp and a sparkle in his eye I hadn’t seen before. The man looked happy. I guess the prospect of retirement after over fifty years of hard work would make anyone happy.

  “Stone, my boy. Great work earlier. The vultures sure did love you. Those camera jockeys were eating up your pretty face, weren’t they? I bet they’re glad to see the backside of this old man, don’t you think?”

  I smiled into my glass, shaking my head. “Oh, I’m sure they’ll be sick of me in no time. After all, a pretty face, maybe, but a pretty personality? Not a chance.” Penelope may have softened me in some aspects of my life, but I was still the same grouchy asshole in others, in business most of all. I was determined to continue my father’s legacy in a way that would make him proud, and I couldn’t do that by being a pushover.

  “Just remember, son. You catch more flies with honey, yes? It’s a balance. You can be the smiling face they want to see, but don’t ever let them forget that that smile belongs to a shark.”

  There was the fiery businessman that had built a billion-dollar empire; I could learn a lot from him. I felt a pang of sadness in my chest as I realized all the time I had missed with my unnecessary obstinance. All the wasted years I could never get back.

  As if he could sense my thoughts, my dad turned serious. “Hey,” he said, drawing my gaze to his eyes, so like my own. “None of that. We’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I could only move forward, and that’s exactly what I intended to do.

  Harold and I stood in silence for a while, just watching the party flow around us. Occasionally, someone would approach us, talking about the leadership change, the hotel, or some other aspect of the event that they felt was important enough to discuss. I had to give it to them, the food was outstanding, and I would have to remember to thank Geoff Yates and his team in my speech later. Christ. I hated public speaking, but that was just one more thing I was going to have to work through. Because I wanted this. I wanted to succeed at this, and I hadn’t even known it until it was offered to me.

  I spied Gideon Langford across the casino, his shrewd eyes watching every move people made when they sat at his tables. The former FBI agent was intimidating as hell, but there wasn’t a better man around for reading people, and Gideon could spot a liar or a con artist from a mile away. He tried to explain it to me once, something about micro expressions versus macro expressions. I didn’t follow, but I knew that there was no one on the planet more suited to be the Pit Boss of The Alamo. As they say, the house always wins. And with Gideon in charge of the casino floor, I knew that would always be true.

  Casting my eyes around again, I saw that Penelope was now standing on the far side of the room, laughing with Dolly and Carson Young. The show had been the astounding success that we knew it would be, and The Queens of The Alamo was already splayed across the internet as a must-s
ee Las Vegas attraction. That was all down to Penelope. I was so proud of her. She had such drive and ambition, such a keen sense of the business and the market, not to mention she ruled on social media, as well. She was a total asset to the company, and I was thrilled she was my Vice President of Marketing.

  As I watched her interacting with her peers and coworkers, I noticed Carson darting his eyes to Dolly repeatedly, following every move she made as she worked the crowd like the entertainment professional she was. No matter where she went or who she was interacting with, Carson was at her side, a silent shadow that couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her.

  It wasn’t until I saw her return one of his looks that it clicked for me.

  Interesting. Good for them.

  Penelope excused herself from the conversation, gliding across the floor as she made her way to where I stood with my dad. She smiled slyly as she approached. “Gentlemen, how are you enjoying the event?”

  “It’s spectacular, Penelope,” Harold gushed before I could even respond. I did, however, slide my arm around her, drawing her to me as I trailed my fingers over the exposed skin at the low back of her dress. I smirked when I felt her shiver at my touch and she leaned farther into my chest. “I could not have asked for a more wonderful party.”

  Penelope blushed at his praise. “Thank you, Mr. Pennington.”

  “Harold, please.”

  Her blush deepened. “Harold.” She turned and looked at her success. “I can’t believe how many famous people are here. I mean, it’s like the freaking Oscars or something!” She was giddy, but trying desperately to hide it. I could relate to her excitement, though. Harold may be used to events like this, but it was all new territory for Penelope and me. And as I saw the star from the latest Hollywood action blockbuster slide up to the bar next to the hottest female singer in country music and make small talk, it occurred to me again just how different my life was going to be from here on out. Growing up in Austin, I had spent time around musicians, but nothing of this scale. It was a bit overwhelming if I stopped to think about it.