The Bull Rider's Keeper

by Lynn Collins

  Taylor sighed. “We both know that’s not going to happen.”

  “Why not? We make a good team—as long as we’re completely honest with each other.”

  Taylor laughed. “When have we been honest? We always seem to be doing this dance. If I’m chasing, you’re running. And if you chase. . .”

  “You run. I get it. You need more of a commitment.”

  “Like a painting of me in your bed.” Taylor turned back to the painting. It was hauntingly beautiful, not because she was beautiful, but because the artist had painted her that way.

  “I never said it was my bed. But no, that isn’t what I’m talking about.” Jesse paused. “I know I’m not in your league. But I’m going to take a chance here. If you say no, I’ll quit bothering you. You can stay on as manager, or not, it’s your choice.”

  “You’re asking me to keep running the gallery?” Taylor kept her voice steady, even though she wanted to scream, or turn and kiss the heck out of the man next to her. How could he mess with her feelings so much? No one ever got her this worked up. No one, except Jesse.

  “No. I mean, yes, but that’s not my question.” He took her shoulders and spun her around to face him. As she searched his eyes, he kneeled before her.

  This can’t be happening, she thought. No way. I’m misunderstanding the action. As she watched, Jesse pulled a ring out of his shirt pocket.

  He held the diamond up to her. “Taylor DeMarco, will you marry me?”

  “Have you lost your mind?” Taylor stared at the perfect marquise-cut diamond in a platinum setting. It couldn’t have been more perfect if she’d chosen the ring herself. Brit had to have had a hand in this decision. Her mind raced. Marry Jesse. She glanced at the painting.

  “Probably. I can’t sleep, food tastes like sawdust, and all I’ve been able to focus on is that painting for weeks. So, insanity is an option. Is that a no? I’m feeling a little foolish down here on one knee, especially if you’re going to blow me off.” Jesse rubbed his thumb over the top of her knuckles. “Think about it. We’re good together.”

  “When we’re not trying to kill each other.” Taylor’s heart was going to beat out of her chest. So this was what it felt like. She felt scared, disorientated, and ecstatic, all at the same time.

  “Life will never be dull. We have passion.” Jesse squeezed her hand. “I can’t imagine going through the rest of my life without you. When we met, something in me awoke, like I’d been asleep for a really long time. And honestly, that scared me. You weren’t a one-night stand.”

  “Two.” Taylor reminded him.

  “Fine, two-night stand. Stop interrupting me, woman, I’m trying to make a point.”

  “Yes, sir,” Taylor said, stifling a laugh.

  “Anyway, you scared the crap out of me. I know love doesn’t come to everyone. I’m not stupid enough to throw it away when it does. Someone told me once, to marry the person I can’t live without. That’s you.”

  “I think it’s from a movie. Don’t marry the person you can live with, but the one you can’t live without.” Taylor broke her gaze away from Jesse and looked at the picture. “Do you really see me like that?”

  Jesse swore under his breath. “No, I couldn’t get the right look. You’re so much more beautiful than I could hope to draw.”

  She turned back, her free hand waving at the portrait. “Oh, Jesse, I could never be this beautiful.”

  This time he stood and pulled her into his arms. “To me, you are.” He kissed her then, deep and slow. A kiss that was more of a promise than a desire. When he stopped, he stared into her eyes, pausing just a moment before asking, “Will you marry me?”

  She took the ring away from him. “I just bought a ticket to Paris for next month.”

  “So that’s a no?” Pain flitted across Jesse’s face.

  Taylor shook her head and slipped the diamond on her left ring finger. “That’s a yes, but my ticket better be refundable.”

  This time when he kissed her, she felt the room moving under them. “I’ll eat the cost if it isn’t.”

  16

  The first weekend in May was unseasonably warm that year. Lizzie and James had pushed off the opening of Hudson’s Spa for a week, letting the family take over the four cabins surrounding their home. James had been busy remodeling the big house to add more bedrooms. The twins were getting kicked out of the nursery to make room for a new arrival coming that fall.

  “I swear, you’re carrying a girl,” Selena said, patting Lizzie’s stomach. They sat around a picnic table out on the large backyard, enjoying the spring sunshine next to the riverbank. Selena’s hair was spiky, short, and gray—a look she sported after being able to give up her scarf collection. She donated them all to a cancer support group for newly diagnosed members. “You’re carrying her totally differently than you did with the boys.”

  “That’s because there’s just one growing in there.” Lizzie laughed. “Not that we don’t want a girl, I just don’t want to jinx it.”

  “Be careful what you wish for,” Barb said. “I never thought raising a girl would be the challenge Kati’s putting us through. Did you know she wants her ears pierced? Apparently, she’s the only child in her class that can’t wear earrings. And don’t get me started on the makeup argument.” Barb leaned over and touched her newborn son’s foot sticking out of the blanket covering the car seat. “Grey won’t give us half the trouble Kati does.”

  “Don’t count on it. Boys are different.” Selena sipped on her iced tea. “I’ll take her next weekend and get her ears pierced. You should have told me, and I would have done it last month when we went clothes shopping.”

  “Hunter would have a cow if she came home with studs in her ears.” Barb dipped a chip into the homemade salsa. “Let’s just give him some time to adjust to the pre-teen years, okay?”

  “I just don’t see the problem. Let the girl live. She’s already had a taste of how unfair and short life can be.” Selena ran her hand through her hair. “Take it from someone who knows.”

  The women wore sundresses, shorts, and sandals for the parade. They waited for the boys to get ready to go. JR and James had gone ahead with the horse trailer, as they were riding as part of JR’s horse club. The twins ran around the edges of the yard playing chase with Kati, who looked more like the child she was than the teenager she’d be. Hunter sat alone near the river, watching the water sparkle over the rocks.

  Only two people were missing. Jesse and Taylor.

  “I should wear the suit.” Jesse reached for the black suit lying out on the bed. Taylor slapped his hand.

  “You look great.” She smoothed his button-down shirt, flipping his too-long hair over the shirt collar. “A suit is overkill. You wanted to have your first show here as part of Shawnee Rodeo Weekend. Now you have to dress like a cowboy, or all the critics will be disappointed.”

  “I wanted to get away from the bull rider stigma. What was I thinking?” He sank onto the bed and put his head in his hands.

  Taylor sat next to him. “Your show is going to be amazing. I’ve already heard from six of the major art sites. They have people here from Boise, Portland, and Seattle just for today’s opening. Bull riding is what you did, not who you are.”

  “Tell that to Selena. I swear, she was showing everyone who walked into the studio last week photos from the championship last winter.” He took her hand. “You really think they’ll like the show?”

  “You’re a talented artist. Why do you think DeMarco Gallery is sponsoring your show?” She kissed his cheek.

  “Because I own the gallery?” He smiled. “I hear the tribe getting anxious out there. We better make our appearance.”

  She stood and put her hand on his chest. “I love you, Jesse Sullivan.”

  He kissed her, slow and sweet. “I love you, Taylor DeMarco Sullivan.”

  He went to step away but she held him.

  “Seriously, they’ll come looking for us in about three minutes. Lizzie won’t miss
JR riding in the parade.” He squeezed her hand. “I don’t have time to ravage you on the bed, or in the hot tub.”

  “In your dreams.” Taylor bit her lip. “I just wanted to tell you one thing before we met up with your family. Something you should know. Although, I’m not sure how happy you’re going to be.”

  “Oh God, you’ve already heard from the critics. They hate the show. They hate me.” Jesse searched her face. “Wait, you look happy. They liked me?”

  “No. I mean, I don’t know.” She took a deep breath. “What I need to tell you, before we go meet with your family, is that we have a family right here. In this room.”

  Jesse laughed. “Oh, honey, I know. You’re my family now. It’s just, the Sullivans are pretty in-your-face close, especially when we all get together. You’ll get used to it.”

  She held him tight as he tried to step away. “Listen to me. We’re a family. You, me, and…” Taylor let her gaze drop down to her stomach. “Lizzie’s not the only one expecting a new arrival.”

  Jesse’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant? What, when?”

  “Well, I’m pretty sure it happened on our trip to Sun Valley a few months ago. I thought I was just busy, that I had forgotten. But when I started feeling sick, Brit took me to the doctor last week. We’re having a baby.”

  Jesse picked her up and swung her around the cabin bedroom. “A baby.”

  As they walked out to the backyard to tell the family about their newest addition, Taylor felt tears fill her eyes. She saw the picture take shape in front of her. Their life had become a painting Norman Rockwell could have done, and called A Summer Gathering. Family. Messy, crazy, and most of all, loving. Her family now.

  She was a Sullivan.

  Letter from the author

  Hey, Reader,

  Thanks for taking the time to read The Bull Rider’s Keeper, an opposite attracts novel. Jesse was always a favorite character of mine. He has his issues, but under that rough, cowboy exterior is a heart of gold. He needed a woman that was strong, independent, and challenge. In more ways than one.

  And coming in 2020 – Selena’s story – The Bull Rider’s Mother, a Silver Fox novel.

  I hope you enjoy your vacation to my mountain home town.

  Lynn

  Sign up for my newsletter at www.lynncollinsauthor.com

  You’ll get a just for you, short story.

  Legal bits

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014 by Lynn Cahoon

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  Published by Lynn Cahoon

  Visit Lynn Collins on the Internet

  www.lynncollinsauthor.com

  First issued under Lynn Cahoon 2014

  Reissued under Lynn Collins 2019

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  First Electronic Edition: November 2014