The Bull Rider's Secret--A Wholesome Western Romance

by Jill Lynn

  Jace laughed, and man, did he look good doing it, too, with his eyes crinkling at the corners, his smoking smile turning her stomach inside out. “I love you, Kenzie Rae—always have, always will.” He kissed her then, burying his fingers in her hair, the scrape of this morning’s lack of shave against her lips, moving into her space like he was meant to be exactly there. And he was.

  The sky, which had only been sputtering up until now, opened up, pelting them. Jace grabbed her hand and directed her to the passenger door of his truck, then ushered her inside. Mackenzie scooted over the saddle and other items, and slid behind the steering wheel, leaving Jace room to crawl in behind her. After climbing in, he slammed the creaking door shut and they both cranked the windows up, fighting the sheet of rain flooding the cab.

  The driver’s window stuck halfway up, and Jace stretched over her. “Here. You’ve gotta—” He slammed the side of his fist into the door near the handle and then finished the job.

  Mackenzie brushed the moisture from her arms, but without a towel, plenty remained. “You really need a new truck, Hawke.”

  “And you really need to stop calling me Hawke. Especially since that’s going to be your last name pretty soon, too, and continuing to call me that would just make things confusing and awkward.”

  Her stomach curled into a warm little ball. “Oh, really?”

  “Absolutely.” He invaded her personal bubble again—hadn’t really left it since reaching over her to get to the window—swooping in for another taste, which she was just fine giving. Jace kept hold of her hand as he eased back from kissing her, and all of her doubts and worries and fears vanished. Whatever came, they’d figure it out together. Mackenzie would start her in-sickness-and-in-health vow now and carry it into forever for this man.

  “I was planning to watch you compete. The boss—” she grinned when one of his eyebrows arched “—gave me a couple of days off so that I could drive to Miles City and talk to you. But then I found you stranded on the side of the road.” Mackenzie wasn’t even going to question how that had come about. And she’d never been happier to see someone have car trouble.

  “You like that, don’t you? Think you came along to rescue me?”

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  His mouth sported a wry arch. “You did. I have a lug nut I can’t get loose. You could probably handle that for me.” He sat back against the seat, facing forward, toying with her fingers. “So...”

  Had he turned shy all of a sudden? “What?”

  “I’m not sure I want to go back anymore.”

  “Where don’t you want to go back to?” Wilder Ranch? Westbend? Montana?

  “The rodeo.” Jace met her gaze, his earnest, and her heart broke and stitched back together at the same time. “All I can think about is screwing up the rest of my life for this sport.” She’d thought the same so many times, but it still killed her that Jace would have to give up something he loved so much. “I talked to Evan. We figured some things out.”

  “It’s about time.”

  “Kenzie Rae.” His head shook, but the twinkle in his eyes told her he wasn’t offended by her being...her.

  “Evan doesn’t remember asking me to live his dreams for him. And I’m sure he’s right. He probably didn’t. But that was all I could see and hear that day, the only way I knew to somehow try to make it up to him.” Jace smoothed his thumb across her knuckles, making her stomach spin cartwheels the length of a football field. “He told me not to let that dictate what I do anymore. My choices. And I think...you’ve always been my dream. I just never allowed myself to ask and answer that question before. You’re what I want.” He said it steady and strong and sure. “And the rest? I have to figure out.”

  “So you’re not going to go back? Even this weekend? Not going to compete?”

  “Nope. I think I’m going to retire. At least for now. Maybe God will change that for me in the future. But currently? I’m done.”

  Everything in her erupted in celebration, her nerves tingling, face heating. “I’m so glad. Not that you have to give up something you love, but that you’ll be okay.”

  “Me, too.” He kissed her softly. Mackenzie took her time, enjoying every second of the feel of Jace under her fingertips, letting her hands scoot up his arms, which were still damp with rainwater.

  Jace tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “So, you don’t have to be back until when?”

  “Sunday morning. Why?”

  “Any chance you’re interested in going to a wedding tomorrow?”

  “Whose?” He’d been planning to attend a wedding? How had she missed that detail?

  “Ours.”

  Mackenzie’s shoulders straightened. “What? Are you serious?”

  “I’ve never been more serious.”

  “But...” That was crazy. Right? Except...what else did she want? She already knew from being a spectator and participant in Emma’s wedding that all of that fussing wasn’t a fit for her. But this man was.

  “We could get married tomorrow.”

  “How does that even work with a marriage license? Can we get one that fast?”

  The slow curve of his lips was completely distracting. “Does that mean you’re actually considering it?”

  “Are you? You’d better not ask if you’re thinking about backing out...J.” She’d almost said Hawke again.

  “Not a chance ever again. You’re it for me, and you’re never getting rid of me.”

  “A little stalkerish, but I like it.” She couldn’t believe she was actually considering marrying him tomorrow. But was that even an option? Mackenzie wasn’t exactly up on the how-tos of eloping. “Isn’t there a waiting period for a marriage license? Or blood tests?”

  “I have no clue.” Jace grabbed his phone from its perch on the dash as thunder erupted. This storm had come out of nowhere. “I’ll look it up.”

  They scrolled through the State of Colorado website as Mackenzie tucked her arm through his and leaned against his shoulder. “We’d get the certificate the same day. It says we can marry ourselves after we get the license. We don’t even need someone else to do a ceremony.”

  “What? That’s crazy.” Mackenzie stole his phone and read. “I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’d like someone to do it. Pastor Higgin would be great, but then we’d have to drive back to Westbend, and not only are we closer to Denver, but if we go home, someone will talk us out of this. And I really don’t want that to happen.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  “We need a judge.” She clicked. “But it almost looks like we have to call and schedule it with them. I thought people could just walk in and have a judge marry them. Who knows.” She handed the phone back. “We can get the certificate and then ask questions when we’re there.”

  Jace scrolled with the pad of his thumb. “They’re open for a few more hours. Want to get it done today?”

  Mackenzie should probably be experiencing panic at the idea of marrying Jace tomorrow, but she wasn’t. Instead a steady thrum of excitement was racing under her skin. It felt right. He felt right.

  And they’d choose each other for the future, just like she’d been quietly choosing him for years. After all she’d never been able to truly kick the man, or the memories of him, to the curb. Keeping him forever only made sense.

  “Time’s a wastin’. Let’s go.”

  His face lit up, and his lips met hers, swift, sweet, a promise. “I think impatience may be one of your better qualities.”

  She laughed.

  A line jutted through Jace’s brow. “I still need to change my tire.”

  Pouring rain rolled down the windows without interruption and another crack of thunder rumbled.

  “Any objections to leaving this—” Mackenzie tapped the dash “—lovely specimen here? We can call roadside assistance and have them change the tire,
then swing back for it later.”

  Jace tugged her into his arms, and she crash-landed against his steady chest as he pressed a kiss to her hair, her forehead, the hollow of her cheek. “No objections from me.”

  Epilogue

  It only seemed fitting that since she’d fallen for Jace Hawke twice, Mackenzie should marry the man twice.

  But at least she hadn’t been forced to plan the wedding reception at Wilder Ranch that she was about to attend.

  Emma, Mom and Cate had seen to that.

  When Mackenzie and Jace had returned to Wilder Ranch two months ago with simple wedding bands on their left ring fingers, giddy, unable to stop smiling at each other like lovesick fools and completely delighted with their decision, no one had mustered the heart to be upset with them for very long.

  Even her parents had reacted well during the phone call, when she and Jace had spilled the news. Mom had quickly started plans for a reception. She’d asked if they would consider redoing their vows and letting Dad give her away as part of the evening.

  Mackenzie hadn’t always dreamed of a big wedding, but she had imagined her dad walking her down the aisle. She and Jace had quickly agreed to Mom’s requests, though the night could never compete with their actual wedding.

  Which, for being thrown together, had been absolutely perfect.

  The day Mackenzie and Jace had decided to get married, they’d driven back to Denver, gotten the license, found a judge—the father of one of Jace’s buddies. It had all fallen into place. Quick. Easy.

  Jace had suggested they find outfits for each other. At first she’d balked. After all, shopping ranked close to hair bows and red lipstick in her world. But he’d convinced her it would be fun, and it shockingly had been.

  He’d picked out a dress for her. Simple lines. A sundress, really. An ivory color with a delicate pattern sewed around the neckline and hem. It had spaghetti straps and a crisscross back. And then he’d declared that, most important, she needed new boots. The pair she’d been wearing that day definitely hadn’t been fit for a wedding. He’d picked those out, too—camel brown with off-white stitching. It would almost seem as if the man knew her.

  Mackenzie had selected new jeans and a button-up shirt for Jace, plus a vest. Because if he was making her wear a dress, she’d required the same level of fancy from him.

  And oh, my, had he looked good in the outfit.

  Judge Berg had met them at Lookout Mountain Park the next morning, and they’d said their vows outside, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.

  Mackenzie would never forget all of the little details she hadn’t expected to remember about that day. Or the man who’d been consistently by her side ever since. They were still praying and figuring out Jace’s next career steps. But in the meantime he was helping out at Wilder Ranch again. She secretly hoped he’d stay on. She liked working with him. But whatever he figured out, they’d make it work, because they were stuck with each other now.

  “Kenz, you ready to head upstairs?” Jace bellowed from the other side of the lodge’s bathroom door. She’d been trying to fix the zipper on her dress, which kept edging open, but she couldn’t get the clasp done without help.

  She cracked open the door. “And people say romance is dead. Come in here. I need help with my dress zipper.”

  Jace stepped inside the bathroom with her, shutting the door behind him and letting out a low whistle. “You don’t even give anyone else a chance, woman. It should be a crime to look as good as you do.”

  They were both wearing what they had chosen for their elopement, and again the man was ad-worthy. He rezipped and clasped the back of her dress in two shakes, and she turned, adjusting his vest, lingering for the faintest of seconds near his abs. Retiring from bull riding hadn’t changed his physique, and Mackenzie didn’t have any complaints. By the way his brows toggled with amusement, she’d been caught.

  “I just got a text they’re ready for us.” But instead of leaving, Jace wrapped his arms around her, and Mackenzie let herself fall. He felt so good. So right. Warm lips pressed against her neck. “You smell good.”

  The continued embrace unraveled her muscles one at a time. “You do, too.”

  “What do you say we get out of here?”

  She laughed and eased back. “We already stole the wedding from them. I’m pretty sure we have to give them this.”

  “True.” He gently pressed a kiss to her cheek, as if she was some sort of delicate doll that could easily be broken. “I don’t want to muss you up before everything starts.”

  “You don’t have to be so careful with me.” Her hair was natural—down in loose waves. “I’m not wearing any makeup but mascara.” Which had been her one concession.

  “Which stuff is that? The eye goop?”

  She nodded.

  “That’s why your stormy eyes look so striking. It’s a good thing you don’t wear it all the time. I already have trouble not letting you get your way all day long. Adding makeup when you’re already so gorgeous is just unfair.”

  Warmth flared at the compliment.

  Jace’s heart was visible in the inky pools of his eyes. “I’m feeling kind of sentimental, being that I get to marry you twice.”

  “I was thinking the same thing.”

  The party tonight wasn’t huge—family and friends. Most of the summer staff had come back for it, even though it was on a Tuesday. The fall schedule hosted groups every weekend, so a weeknight had been the only option. Jace’s mom was present, of course, but Evan couldn’t make it, because he was climbing some mountain. He’d sent a gift and expressed how happy he was to see Jace moving on with this new part of his life.

  “Well, I suppose we should get upstairs.” Jace’s drawl was thick, exaggerated. “Time’s a wastin’.” Ever since she’d said that line to him in his broken-down truck, it had become a favorite of his.

  He started opening the bathroom door, but Mackenzie slammed it shut. “Wait! Check if anyone is out there first. We don’t want to be seen coming out of the bathroom at the same time.”

  Amusement and are you serious? warred for dominance in his expression. “You do realize that we’re already married, right?”

  “Yes. But it’s still weird.”

  His sigh said, You’re crazy, but I still love you, all in one swollen breath.

  He opened the door an inch and made a big show of peeking out. “The coast is clear.”

  They sneaked out of the bathroom and then headed up the stairs to where her dad was waiting outside the square dance/multipurpose room. They’d opted to have the reception in the simple space, and Emma and Cate had been decorating all day.

  Mackenzie was grateful to have two sisters on her team.

  “Ready? I think everyone is all set.” Her dad held out an arm, and Mackenzie slid her hand through it. “I hope you two were behaving yourselves.” Mackenzie knew her dad was teasing, but by the way Jace’s face lost all color, he didn’t.

  “Yes, sir. We were just—”

  “Son,” Dad interrupted. “I don’t want to hear what you were doing. I’m joking. You do realize you’re already married, right?”

  “Right.” Jace visibly relaxed, though his Adam’s apple bobbed as if he were trying to swallow a rock.

  “I understand why you asked for my blessing to marry my Kenzie-girl after the fact, instead of permission beforehand.” Distress pulled Jace’s features taut as her dad continued, “I want you to know, I would have deferred to her decision anyway. I trust her. And you. And I couldn’t be happier to have gained another son-in-law. I think she picked well for herself.”

  Jace cleared his throat, no doubt fighting emotion. “Thank you, sir.”

  “You’re part of this family now, son. You’ve become a Wilder as much as Mackenzie has become a Hawke.”

  Mackenzie had never been more thankful for her father�
��s wisdom than right now. His gracious, wide-open heart somehow knew exactly what Jace needed to hear. The way her dad had cared for this husband of hers—first as a wounded teenage boy and now as a man—made her cup overflow.

  The two men hugged, and then Jace stepped inside the room to stand with Pastor Higgin.

  “Thank you, Dad.” There weren’t enough ways or words to express what his support meant.

  “Anytime you need me, I’m here, baby girl. But I’m guessing that won’t be as often, since you have a good man by your side.”

  True. Mackenzie had already noticed how her fears of being forgotten had faded lately. She’d stopped anticipating everyone rushing forward without her and started expecting to be included, in the middle, part of it.

  Very Vera-like of her.

  The music started, which was their cue. “You Look Good” by Lady Antebellum blared, and Mackenzie laughed. Jace must have arranged the song. She walked in on her dad’s steady arm, and he whispered how much he loved her and how proud he was of her before handing her off to Jace.

  They repeated their vows, with Jace’s adoration and devotion radiating. Pastor Higgin pronounced them husband and wife—again and still—which resulted in laughter and cheers. They ate scrumptious barbecue that Joe had prepared and caught up with friends and family and staff. Mackenzie didn’t get to spend much time with her husband throughout the evening, which only made her more thankful they’d gotten married with just the two of them back in August—when they’d been able to focus only on each other.

  She was talking to some friends from church later in the evening when Jace approached. “Ladies, I’d like to steal my wife for a dance, if that’s okay.”

  “What?” Mackenzie rocked back in surprise. “You don’t dance.”

  In answer, Jace whirled her into the small area reserved for exactly that—a space Ruby hadn’t left all night. She’d been twirling in her flowered dress, and Hudson had been with her for much of the evening, his diapered bottom—in baby dress pants—bouncing to the beat. Her niece and nephew both knew how to boogie when the occasion called for it.