*
Cole kept glancing at his watch. It was after nine o’clock on Monday morning and Day wasn’t at work yet. Which was odd—she usually started work right at eight, if not earlier. He’d stuck around the house, sipping coffee, shuffling paperwork, and watching for her out his parlor window. She’d been on his mind a lot lately and when he woke this morning, he was anxious to see her.
Christmas-morning anxious.
Where in hell was she?
She’d put him in his place during the past few days and he didn’t like being rebuffed one bit. But Day was Day, and he loved her. She meant everything to him, and he feared he’d done irreparable damage to her.
Enough was enough. He had to know where she was. Grabbing his cell, he spoke into the phone, “Call Dakota.”
A female voice responded. “Calling Dakota.”
The phone call didn’t go through.
He tried again to the same result.
He began pacing the floor. “Where are you, Day?”
A brisk knock at his door made him jump. Was she here? Did she have some wild excuse why she was late? Hell, he didn’t care. He needed to see her.
He opened the door with a yank and found Jack Walker there. He was in full uniform, his patrol car parked in front of the house. Jack’s expression put fear into his heart. “What’s wrong? Is it Day?”
“Hang on, buddy. I’m here as a friend. Day was in an accident this morning. Her car stalled in the intersection and someone in a sedan came barreling into her.”
“Holy shit. How is she?”
“She’s going to be fine, Cole.”
“Really?”
“I’m giving it to you straight. She’s okay. I didn’t want to tell you over the phone because I know how you feel about her. In case you haven’t figured it out, you love her.”
“Damn right I do.”
Jack grinned and nodded. “I see you’ve come to your senses.”
Cole ignored him. “How bad is she?”
“She hit her head on the steering wheel, but fortunately she just got banged up a bit. The ER said there’s no concussion. They treated her for contusions and sent her home. Jillian insisted on staying with her today. She’s at Day’s house.”
“That damn car of hers. I knew one day something like this would happen.”
“The car is totaled. So you don’t have to worry about that anymore. And her phone got smashed in the process too.”
“Man, I’ve got to go see her.”
“No. That’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“The doctor said she needs to spend the day resting. And…well, she told Jillian she didn’t want to see you.”
Cole swallowed hard. He pushed his hands through his hair. “Oh man.”
“Yeah, you fucked up, buddy.”
Cole’s heart was thudding. He was sick to his stomach. “What the hell am I going to do?”
“Try telling her how you feel about her, dickhead. I’m saying that as your best friend.”
Cole stared at Jack, deciding whether to punch the sheriff in the nose or not. Instead he squeezed his eyes shut. He was a dickhead, among other things. He’d been fighting it for too long and after Sarah left, he found himself falling hard. But he couldn’t admit it to himself. He didn’t want to blow another relationship and he didn’t feel like he deserved a second chance with someone. He didn’t want to ever be placed in a position to do harm again and yet here he was, hurting Day. “Shit, Jack. I do love her, so much. If anything happened to her…”
“It didn’t. She got lucky.”
“Amen to that. Now, what am I going to do?”
“You’ll think of something. You and Day have history together. You need to gain her trust again. You need to show her how much she means to you.”
“Okay, okay. I can do that. You’re sure she’s all right?”
“Positive. I’ve got to get to work now. You hang in, buddy.”
Jack turned to leave and Cole patted him on the back. “Thanks for coming out to tell me.”
“Welcome.”
“And for making me see what’s been right in front of my nose.”
“That’s what friends are for. Just remember me, when you get around to naming your firstborn.”
An image of Day pregnant with his child entered his mind and he smiled for the first time this morning.
Jack smiled back. “You’re a goner, you know that?”
“I’m beginning to. And it feels pretty damn good.”
*
Day was furious, her breaths rushing out in short rapid bursts. Her stomach ached and her head pounded. But none of the sensations were a result of the accident she had two days ago. None of it was because her car was wrecked and her mother was calling her morning, noon and night. None of it was because the bruises on her face made her look like the loser of a WFC fight. She could put up with all that.
What she couldn’t put up with was Cole’s betrayal.
She drove a rental car onto the Circle R Ranch, the wheels bumping along the road leading to the house. She was early and she didn’t see any of the crew’s vehicles yet.
Good thing. Because Day was going to cause a scene and she didn’t want any of her co-workers to witness her tirade. They deserved better.
She parked in front of the house, bounded out of the car and climbed the steps, fury spurring her on. Knocking hard on the door, she waited and waited. “Cole,” she called out. “Open this door.”
The door finally opened and Cole stood there dressed in jeans and an everyday metal gray work shirt. The facial scruff on his face was looking more like a pirate beard today but his eyes twinkled and the smile he gave her cut right to the heart of her anger.
“Morning, sweetheart.”
“Is it? Is it a good morning, Cole?” She stomped inside his house and turned to face him. She had a mind to slap that silly grin off his face.
“It is, because you’re here.” He put his hand under her chin and gazed at her bruises. “Still a beauty even with those purple bruises. I’m sorry you got hurt. It killed me to hear you were in an accident.”
She slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me. You’re a rat. A scoundrel. I can’t believe I trusted you! I can’t believe you did this to me!”
“Day, come inside and talk to me,” he said, almost too calmly. It baffled her why his voice was so composed, why he wasn’t yelling back at her. But she was too far gone to work that out in her head. Cole was going to get an earful and then she never wanted to see him again.
“No, I’m not going to come inside your house and have a civil conversation with you. You don’t deserve that. You took my dream away, Cole. You bought that land I wanted out from under me. I went to the Jasper place today. Arnold told me you offered him five thousand dollars more than it’s worth and his sons wouldn’t let him turn down the deal. Why? Just for spite? Or was it to keep me working for you? Is that it? You didn’t want to lose me as an employee? Damn you, Colby Ryan. Well your plan backfired. I quit. I’m quitting my job, my friendship with you…everything. You have no idea how much I hate you right now.”
His expression softened and a bright gleam entered his eyes. “That’s funny, because you have no idea how much I love you, Dakota. You have no idea because I’ve never told you. But I do, Day. I love you.”
“You’re a fool and a jerk and… What?” She stopped her rant and let his last words sink in. “You love me?”
He was smiling again, those pearly whites warring with his very kissable dimple. “Yes, more than anything else in the world.”
“But you betrayed me,” she said, puzzled.
“I would never do that. And I think in your heart you know that as truth.”
He took her hands now and she let him, because her head was spinning and she couldn’t muster a refusal. It was all so strange. Cole said he loved her? He walked her into the dining room. Morning sunlight poured over an embroidered lace tablecloth and the beautiful bou
quet of red roses sitting in a vase at the center of the table. But it was a gift-wrapped box with a giant white silk bow on top that caught her eye.
“What is all this?” she asked, her mind clicking away. She was still confused. She’d set out to quit Cole and now here she was in this sun-kissed room holding his hands.
He released her and picked up the box. “This is for you, Day.”
She trembled and stared at the box.
“Take it,” he said softly, putting it in her hands.
She was still unsure and more than a little bit dazed. Cole had put her on a roller coaster lately. Was she going up or coming down? The man confused the life out of her. “What is it?”
“Open it, sweetheart.”
She stared at his smiling face while untying the bow and lifting the lid of the box. Inside was a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and began reading. “It’s the agreement you made with Arnold Jasper. It’s in my name.” She lifted her lids to stare at him. “Cole, what did you do?”
“I bought the land for you, Day. It’s all yours.”
“Why would you do that?” Her mind was buzzing away.
“Because you said you wanted everything from me and this is part of the everything.”
Day set the box down, blinking her eyes. They were misting up and she couldn’t stop it.
“You wouldn’t let me come see you after your accident and, well, I knew even before that car plowed into you that I loved you. I knew it and was afraid to admit it, afraid to love so strongly again. But, Day, if anything happened to you my life would be over. I mean that. I love you very much. I, uh, would do anything not to lose you. I’ve been a jerk, I know but the truth is I didn’t think I deserved love. Not after what happened with Sarah. I had myself convinced that it was the price I had to pay for what happened to her. I’ve lived with that guilt every day since she took that terrible fall.”
“And she convinced you, you should go on with your life?”
“No, it wasn’t Sarah who convinced me. It was you, Day. I’ve never been happier than when we were together. You and me fit. We’re right for each other in so many ways. Your accident sealed the deal. I realized my hang-ups had wasted so much time. Time you and I could be together and I want that. More than you can ever imagine. I was hoping you’d come to me, but I was prepared to break down any barriers to get to you. To make you see we belong together. Do you think you can give me another chance?”
Tears dripped down her cheeks. “I still can’t believe you love me.”
“God, I do. So much and I’ll say it until my dying day, sweetheart.”
“You knew I’d find out about this? You knew I’d go to Arnold Jasper?”
“I didn’t know when you would. But I’m impatient and if you didn’t come to me today, I was going to come to you.”
“How did you pay for the land, Cole? It’s expensive and you paid more than that land is worth.”
“Wrong. The land is worth everything, if it means your happiness.” Cole sighed. “I think that money was meant for the woman I love all along.”
He wrapped her into his arms and she felt safe there and whole and complete. She could’ve made it without him. She was a strong woman, and she was only just seeing how strong she really was. But having Cole in her life would be her everything. “I love you, Cole. I have for a long time.”
“I can be slow on the uptake,” he said, kissing her forehead.
“Tell me about it.”
“But I make up for it in other ways.”
And then he clamped his mouth over hers and took her in a fiery hot kiss that got all her juices flowing. When she came up for air, Cole was dipping in his pocket. And then he was bending on one knee. She could hardly believe this was happening. Her fantasy was coming true.
“Dakota May Jennings, you’re the most amazing woman I have ever met. I love everything about you, especially your tomboy ways. You’re my mate. My match. A woman I don’t want to live without. I want to marry you. And have babies with you. I want to take my very last breath beside you. Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
Day looked at the ring and her heart nearly burst. It was the one Cole’s father had given his mother on their wedding day. She’d know Alice’s square-cut diamond ring anywhere. “It’s beautiful. Your mom is okay with this?”
“Yes. Even after all her warnings to me about you, she finally admitted she’d secretly hoped the two of us would get together. Your mother knows too. I spoke to both of them the day of your accident. And the ring arrived late last night.”
“Oh, Cole.” He’d finally opened up his heart. He was finally letting her in. And it was the best feeling in the world.
“Day? You haven’t answered my question.”
She stared into his deep dark eyes and shook her head. “Are you kidding? I’ve wanted this day to happen since I was ten years old. It’s a big beautiful dream of mine. Yes, of course I’ll marry you. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Cole rose to put the ring on her finger. It beamed in the morning light. And then she touched her lips to his, sealing their love.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” he said.
“For loving you?”
“For helping me find my way. For helping me see the love right before my eyes. For redeeming me, Day.”’
“I did all that?”
“And more.”
She made a decision right then and there. What Cole had done for her was the most generous gift anyone had ever given her but it wasn’t necessary any longer. She loved what she did for a living. Loved her life now that Cole was front and center in it and she could do this for him. For both of them.
“You know what? I don’t want a horse ranch of my own, Cole. Not anymore. We’ll use the land you gifted me to expand the Circle R Ranch.”
“That land is yours, Day. It’s for your dreams to come true.”
She caressed his face. “Silly man, my dream has already come true. Now, we’ll work on yours. We’ll build and grow the ranch for our children.”
Cole’s eyes gleamed. “Our children. I like the sound of that.”
She roped her arms around his neck. “Oh yeah? Well, the Walker family got a jump on us in the children department, but I think if we’re very diligent we can catch up.”
“I can be diligent, sweetheart. Very, very diligent.”
“Oh, I know you can, Cowboy.”
He laughed and his face lit up. “I’m all for getting started on making those babies now.”
“Me too.”
Cole was in the process of lifting her into his arms when a knock resounded on the door. “It’s Sam, Cole,” his ranch hand called out. “Have you seen, Day? The boys and I need her.”
Cole growled low in his throat. “So do I.”
But he released her and she slid down his legs until her boots touched the floor. “It’s okay, Cole. We have a ranch to run.”
“I said we were a perfect match, didn’t I? C’mon,” he said, taking her hand. “Let’s tell the boys together we’re getting married.”
The old Cole would’ve held the news back. He would’ve wanted to keep their engagement a secret. “You’re sure?”
“About marrying you? Absolutely and I want the entire world to know. I’m giving you all I have to give, sweetheart. It’s what you asked of me and I hope it’s enough.”
It was a turnabout, a complete one-eighty on his part, which led her to believe that maybe her love had helped redeem the Texas rancher. She’d asked him for everything he had to give, but this went way beyond her expectations.
And that notion brought her immense joy. “It’s more than enough, Cole. But for right now, I’d settle on sharing our news with our friends and family.”
“It’ll be a good start.” Cole gave her another heart-melting kiss as they headed toward the door and the future they’d both earned.
The future they both deserved.
The End
You’ll love the next book in…
Foreve
r Texan Series
Book 1: Taming the Texas Cowboy
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Book 2: Loving the Texas Lawman
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Book 3: Redeeming the Texas Rancher
View the entire series here
More by Charlene Sands
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Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from
Claim Me, Cowboy
Charlene Sands
Copyright © 2015
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Red dust settled on the Marietta rodeo grounds, all the cowboys had gone home. Silence fell upon the arena, except for a distant whinny of a horse stabled not too far away and the occasional howl of a coyote. The fairgrounds were empty, the grandstands no longer crowded with fans cheering their favorites on.
That had been Summer Simmons’ first mistake. She was so sure her favorite cowboy, Joshua Meade would win the All-Around she’d made a bet with cocky Tyler Warren.
And lost.
And now he expected her to pay up.
Gosh, if her parents ever found out she was alone with him under the steel underpinnings of the grandstands, they’d ground her for a month. Or more.
“Come a little closer, Summer. I’m not gonna bite.”
His deep voice made her insides go squishy and gazing at his outstretched hand had her heart crashing against her chest. Oh, Lordy. He’d asked her for a kiss as payment for the bet. He’d laugh his head off if he ever found out she’d never kissed a boy before. Never in her sixteen years.
She stepped close enough to see the gleam in his dark eyes. Gosh, he was tall. Secretly, every girl in school dreamed about him. At seventeen, he wasn’t scrawny like most of the boys at Marietta High. He had shoulders made of stone and roughness on his face from the beard that wanted to grow there. But he was bad news, a troubled boy with no direction her parents said, over and over. And most of the town agreed, yet here she was, standing toe-to-toe with him now, looking into his long-lashed, daring eyes.
Redeeming the Texas Rancher Page 17
