The Cowboy's Rebel Heart: An Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Romance (Wild Texas Hearts Book 4)

by Deborah Garland

  Delsey stopped as I charged at her. I made sure to smile so she wouldn’t spin around and call for the guards to shoot my ass.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked her.

  “I work here.” She looked at a plain watch on her wrist. “And you’re late.”

  “Late? Late for what. What do you mean you work here? I know you left your company.”

  “Delsey?” Maddie’s voice clipped in a soprano lilt and next, she dove in Delsey’s arms.

  “Hi, you.” She hugged Maddie so damn tight. “Are you ready?”

  “Ready for what?”

  “I have your new leg.”

  “You?” she asked, Delsey.

  “I admit, I knew nothing about prosthetics or alloys, but I went right to work in the lab. I’m on the team who’s redesigning the next generation.”

  “You mean my new leg is already old?” Maddie crossed her arms. “It’s like my phone!”

  I barked a laugh and scooted the kid away. “Maddie, can I... Get in there.”

  “Oh right, sorry, love birds. You keep kissing while I’m waiting for a leg.” She adorably crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

  “Hey, Maddie.” The man we’d met the last time we were here breezed past us. “Kevin, remember?”

  “Oh right,” Maddie said, blushing. “Hi. How are you?”

  “Good as new, thanks to this lady.” He cast a glance at Delsey.

  Oh, hell no. How far up did his fake leg go? Jealousy burned through me thinking of all the wounded warriors who’d risked their lives for our country and who would now be lining up to take off their clothes to get sized and measured by my...

  My...

  Mine.

  “Excuse me, Mads, Kevin. I just need this, I need Delsey.” I pulled her in and kissed her mouth. Pecked at it again and again. Hopefully, my tongue would get to explore the inside of her mouth and other parts later. Or sooner. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  “Maddie, Miss Campbell will be out in a minute to take you back and get you fitted. I’ll be there, too.”

  “We’ll be there,” I corrected Delsey.

  “We’ll?” Delsey asked, letting me steer her away behind a column. “Are we a...we?”

  “We were.” My lips found her cheeks, starting with the scarred one. I left a trail of moist kisses across the indentation and past her nose to the less interesting cheek. Anything not scarred was set against her peaches and cream skin. “Then somehow, I fucked it up. It got intense and I shut down. I walked away when I should have fought for you. For us. Damn, I liked us. I would have... Could have tried to make it work. With you there. And me here. Anything was better than those three damn weeks without you, darlin’.”

  “Logan...” Her strained whisper sounded like I floored her with my confession.

  I pulled her in close. “Damn, you smell so good.” Just like that, the air was breathable again.

  “That’s soap.”

  “I smell mint, too. Your shampoo?”

  “From Target. It reminded me of you.”

  All of this put us on the same page. I had scars, too. On the inside. I may look good according to women who gawk at me, but inside I was damaged and hiding it. From everyone. Except Delsey. I’d opened up to her more than anyone.

  She loves me.

  She’d told me.

  And I didn’t say it back.

  Asshole.

  She blinked big green, beautiful eyes at me, her features so striking with her platinum hair. She looked dizzy, affected by the kiss. “Logan,” she whispered.

  “Tell me, why did you really quit your job?” I wasn’t delusional, thinking it only had to do with me, and I didn’t want it to be.

  She pulled me to one of the sofas and when my ass hit it, even covered in jeans, I realized I was sitting on leather. White with peach pillows. No... Pink. Maddie taught me the color was pink. The colors from her cosmetics company. Only it wasn’t hers anymore.

  After she noticed me gawking, she said, “Do you like it? The new waiting room? I had to say something. And toss some money to them. The other one was too depressing.”

  “You bet I like it.” I could only imagine what she planned to do with my house. Mine. It was mine. Damn. It felt good to say that. Delsey took a breath, gaining strength like this subject was tough for her to talk about, so I gripped her hand tighter to let her know, I was her damn rock.

  “All I ever wanted to do was help people. The way that scandal shook out, I would have dragged down Delsey Cosmetics by being defiant. It was best for the company if I left. Honestly, it didn’t click until I realized I could do this.” She glanced around. “This is helping people, too. Maybe more.” She choked up.

  “And you work here now.”

  “Now I can use my gifts to help people in another way.”

  “Wounded warriors.”

  “And little ones, too. I donated money to open an official pediatric lab. No more favors needed to be here.”

  My heart pounded. “And then what? Every night, do you get on that plane and fly home to Houston?”

  She blinked again. “No. I get in a Volkswagen and drive home. To Nickel Song.”

  “Home to Nickel Song? What the heck?”

  “I live there now. Back there. I was born in Wild Heart, Logan. Like you.”

  “When were you going to tell me?” I asked her and realized, Walker had known, hadn’t he?

  “I saw Maddie’s appointment in the computer and figured I’d wait to surprise you.”

  “Give me a heart attack!” I held her face and brought her lips back to mine. “You know what this means.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You’re a genius, you know everything.”

  “I surprised you, now you surprise me.”

  “I don’t live in a house you own anymore. And I’m not behind on my rent. And you don’t live in flippin’ Houston.”

  “That does sum it up. I’m good at math, too.”

  I swallowed. “Will... Will you...” My throat closed.

  “Whoa, cowboy. We only dated for a week,” she whispered to me. “Sort of.”

  Smiling, I said, “Will you be my girlfriend?”

  She snorted a laugh. “That’s something I waited to hear you ask me in high school.”

  “I’m sorry it’s taken me this long.”

  “Better late than never.” She took a breath and held her head high. “This is me, Logan. No more piles of makeup. Sure, I’ll get dolled up to go two-stepping with you, but this is who I am. Are you okay with that?”

  “I’ve always been okay with that.” I smiled at her. “It doesn’t matter how I feel about your looks because I love you. Inside and out. Especially the inside. Because the inside person brought me back to life. And you don’t have to say it back because—”

  She stopped me with her mouth. “Stupid man. I told you I love you, and I meant it. All of it. Every bit. Every side of you.”

  “That’s what I love about you. You can handle me.”

  She practically growled, and I felt that pull in my jeans. I needed some proper make-up sexy time with her. And I hoped to hell it was soon.

  “You’re really living at Nickel Song?”

  She shrugged. “For now.”

  “Maddie had been right all these years, loving Nickel Song. Even though it’s not a ranch. It has something better than horses?”

  “And what’s that?”

  “You. You’re there. And you’re perfect for me.”

  She gripped my hand. “Come on, let’s go get our girl all squared away.”

  “I love that.” I went to kiss her, but her eyes strayed over my shoulder.

  I glanced that way, seeing Kevin. Hmmm.

  She nodded to him, and I blocked her. “What’s going on, darlin’? You a butterfly now, floating from flower to flower feeling your power?”

  She snorted a laugh in my chest. “I want you to have a cup of coffee with Kevin.”

&nb
sp; I cinched my eyebrows together. “Setting me up?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “In a way. He and I have been talking about a partnership.”

  I staggered back. “Holy shit, Delsey. I ain’t sharing you with no other man.”

  She patted my forehead. “Silly. Not that. I want you to talk to Kevin about going into business with him for a Hearts and Horses certified therapy ranch. I already spoke to Cam and he said you can use Renner Ranch while you build a stable on your land.”

  Hearts and Horses...

  Training horses for therapy. I glanced around at all the people I could help and now got what made Delsey so excited about working here.

  “One thing at a time, princess.” I smirked at her and glanced over my shoulder. After tipping my Stetson at Kevin, he smiled and wandered off. His perfect gait gave me hope that one day Maddie would walk with that kind of grace and no one would ever know about her leg.

  “Come on, let’s go find our Madeline.”

  “I like how you say that.”

  Maddie waited by the double doors, smiling.

  As we strode toward the exam room, Maddie said, “Delsey, if you’re not the CEO of the makeup company anymore, can I still be your biggest fan?”

  “No, honey,” I corrected her, dragging them both into a hug, letting the wholeness consume me. “I’m Delsey’s biggest fan.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Delsey

  “Last chance to run,” I whispered to Logan on my doorstep. Well, the one wooden step that led to Nickel Song’s mudroom.

  No one entered Nickel Song from the front door. In the south that was rather untoward.

  “I told you, woman. I will hunt you down if you run out on me.” Logan’s minty breath in my face was needed after spending all morning with my mother preparing for today’s feast.

  “And you got the goods?” I murmured.

  “I’m kind of cold out here,” Maddie clipped from behind him.

  “I’m negotiating with your uncle.” I narrowed my eyes on him. “He’s not setting foot inside unless he brought me—”

  “I always got the goods.” He held up a blueberry pie from Iona’s and a white bag on top of that. If my man knew what was good for him, it had a few donuts and a dozen chocolate chip cookies.

  I hated turkey which made Thanksgivings awkward.

  “Hell’s bells, Delsey, let the child in,” my mother twanged from behind me, and Logan stepped aside to let Maddie pass.

  “You two are so weird.” Maddie strode toward me walking so smoothly, it shocked me every time. You go, girl! Her hugs never got old, either.

  “Here.” I handed the pie and the bakery bag to Mama. “Anyone opens that box before me, dies.”

  “Oh, Delsey, that dry sense of humor of yours is killing me.” She gripped Maddie’s hand. “Now, I hope you like turkey, child. I ordered three.”

  “Ordered?” Logan raised his eyebrows at me. “Your mother ordered turkeys.”

  “Where did you think I got it from?”

  I turned to go inside and expected Logan to follow me, but he pulled me into his chest from behind. “I’m tired of you sneaking out of my bed every morning, darlin’.”

  “We agreed.” I turned in his arms. “Once Maddie was used to us more, I’ll move in with you in your house.” And start redecorating.

  I loved calling it his house. He and Kevin from the VA had framed out a snazzy barn for horses and cleared out enough land for two training rings. Together, they applied for a Hearts and Horses-certified equine therapy license. I’d offered to pay for it, but the way Logan had glared at me you’d have thought I tried to take Maddie’s other leg. When it was approved, he planned to leave Renner Ranch, something he grew more and more emotional about when we brought it up. That was life. People grew and moved on.

  Only, I sort of went backward. I moved back to Nickel Song, but I didn’t exactly hate living with Mom and Dad. My mother, heaven help me, had even hinted about Logan and Maddie moving into my wing.

  Truth?

  I loved him picking me up for our dates there. Like he would have done when we were back in school if we’d have gotten out of our own way back then. I loved just sitting in his F-150 listening to music and making out in his driveway. I loved when he parked on that single-lane road dividing Sutherland Farms and Renner Ranch where we just laid in his truck bed on a blanket under the stars. And yes, made love.

  And I finally fulfilled my fantasy, making love with him on my dock listening to the river and the crickets.

  “If you haven’t noticed, darlin’...” Logan kissed my neck. “I’m plenty used to us and in my house, what I say goes.”

  “Let’s get through our first holiday season together and see if you still want to be my boyfriend.” I giggled in his chest. Logan Grady was my boyfriend.

  “Are you two coming in here or not?” Walker said from the doorway to the kitchen.

  “Been here long?” Logan asked him.

  “Long enough,” Walker answered.

  “Why are you sweating?” Logan asked him.

  “Yeah, it’s not like my mother has ovens going or anything.” I had noticed Walker seemed odd since he arrived a little while ago with Emma, Grace, Owen, and Emma’s parents, the illustrious Phillips of Chicago. That could set a cowboy off-balance, meeting his lady’s mom and dad.

  Walker looked over his shoulder and flapped his lips a few times. “Okay, I can’t keep this to myself anymore.”

  I held my chest, thinking Emma was pregnant. And oh, my word, he was going tell his parents, her parents, and my parents at Thanksgiving dinner.

  My mother was in a happiness coma lately, bringing Nickel Song back to life with parties and taking advantage of our grand dining room with a Chippendale table long enough to accommodate thirty people for a meal.

  “Did you knock Emmaline up?” Logan asked, channeling my thoughts.

  Walker narrowed his eyes at us and reached into the pocket of an army jacket he’d not taken off. “Not yet. I reckon this means we can start working on it.” A blue velvet box sat in the center of a rough-skinned palm.

  I screamed.

  I literally frickin’ screamed and jumped into his arms as my legs dangled and kicked in the air with happiness.

  “What are ya’ll cackling about?” Olympia Rhodes said from the doorway. “Are ya’ll fixin’ to eat in the mudroom?”

  “We’re coming in, Ma. Hold your horses.”

  I snorted because that saying sounded even funnier in Wild Heart. I watched Mama Rhodes, the endearment I’d called her growing up, shake her head as she walked back into the kitchen, her shoulder-length honey blonde hair bouncing on her shoulders.

  That woman had the shock of a lifetime coming at her. He he.

  “Congratulations, man,” Logan said, shaking Walker’s hand. “You seriously gonna do it tonight? With everyone here?”

  “I’m guessing no one would believe me getting engaged, so I need lots of witnesses.”

  “Instagram is going down tonight!” I grabbed Logan’s hand, but kept my head pressed against Walker’s chest as he steered me into the kitchen. Another wonderful benefit of being home, I had my pseudo-big brother back. I gasped and pulled on Walker’s collar. “Parker’s gonna have to come home for your wedding.”

  Walker grinned. “I’m calling him right after I propose and asking him to be my best man.”

  Logan nodded, even though somewhere I knew maybe he’d wanted the job. If I knew Emma, she’d have a large wedding party and dear Lord, an ugly bridesmaid dress may be in my future.

  “I assume Emma will ask Grace to be her maid of honor?” I whispered to him.

  Walker nodded.

  I never wanted to skip dinner and get to dessert so much in my life. But I’d felt so honored to know the secret.

  The meal was pleasant. Three restaurant-cooked turkeys carved, plated with all the fixings, and dished up by a team of servers my mother had hired.

  My daddy sat at the head of t
he table with Mama to his left and Maddie next to her. I sat on Daddy’s right with Logan next to me.

  Mama and I were in a death battle claiming Maddie as our best friend and spoiling the heck out of that little girl.

  On the other end, Harlan Rhodes, Daddy’s best friend sat with Mama Rhodes on his left, and Walker on his right. The Phillips’, Emma’s parents, got wedged in the middle of the table. Owen sat next to Maddie on one side with his mama Grace on the other.

  The picture made my heart happy. I’d gotten my degrees and moved away so Mama never had this.

  “I’m full, is everyone full?” I kept asking.

  Logan squeezed my hand under the table. “Stop. Walker looks freaked out enough.”

  Proposals made people lose their minds.

  “I can’t believe he chose to do it like this,” I whispered and then glared at Logan. “Don’t. You. Dare.”

  He grinned. “I’m gonna ask you when you’re naked in my truck and I won’t give you your clothes back unless you say yes.”

  “You want me walking around Wild Heart naked?” I bit into a biscuit.

  “That’s one mighty walk of shame. Especially if it’s because you turned me down.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Challenge accepted.”

  Walker clinking a sterling silver utensil on a wine goblet drew my attention.

  “Oh my God, here it comes,” I squeaked.

  “Here comes what, child?” my mama, who grew back her mother’s ears, whispered to me across the table.

  I held up my hand, wiggled my ring finger, and then nudged my head to the end of the table where Walker looked like he was having a heart attack.

  Mama audibly gasped and grabbed Daddy’s hand. Walker and Parker were the sons my parents never had. And I looked forward to giving them a son-in-law one day. Logan’s parents were gone and Charles and Mimi were all he had. Bless his heart.

  “Here we go,” Logan said over his shoulder, kissed my nose then faced the other end of the table. “Showtime.”

  “Can you imagine if she said no?”

  Logan choked on his water, laughing.

  “Before I say anything else,” Walker began, a blush turning his handsome face scarlet. “Welcome home, Delsey Mackenzie.” He raised his glass to me. “It’s no massive coincidence that we’re all here at Nickel Song having Thanksgiving dinner because you’re here.”