Lassoing The Last Dance (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight Book 4)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “I love you, too, sweetheart.” Dale put one arm around her shoulder and one around Randy’s shoulder. “My daughter is dancing again because of you, young man. She glows when she speaks your name. My blessings go out to both of you. Now go dance!” He strolled away laughing, but turned and came back. “By the way, Mrs. Carlson is looking positively stunning tonight. There’s something about her that is quite appealing.”

  “I hear she’s single. Go dance with her. For the record, she is very appealing, but you’ll have to get through her boys first. All three of them.” She winked at Randy. “Maybe four of them if this guy gets involved.”

  “I’ll take that under advisement.” He gently cuffed Randy on the back of the head. “I think I can handle this one, and those three.” Dale walked off laughing.

  Randy drew her in, and she laid her head on his chest. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Nora and Gracelyn wheeling out a three-tiered cake on a cart. The topper had a cowboy groom with a lasso in his hand, and the bride wore a veil, but had on a flared dancing dress. “Look at the cake. Are you sure you didn’t tell anyone?”

  “No, I didn’t. Maybe the marriage license announcements already came out in the Gazette before Leon said anything.”

  “They knew we’d be getting a license eventually,” she replied.

  “Not six months early.” He laughed. “This is the weirdest engagement, wedding party aka reception I’ve ever been to. I’m glad we’re already married so we don’t have to go through this again.”

  “Me too.”

  Randy cupped his hands around her face. “Just so you know, you aren’t dancing again because of me. You’re dancing because you believed you could.”

  She gave him a soft smile. “That’s one of the nicest things you’ve said to me, I mean, besides wanting to screw the hell…never mind.” She diverted her gaze away from his, shy now for saying that again.

  Rob put on music, and they began to slow dance. Roxanne glanced around at their hosts and guests alike. She couldn’t have loved this family more—all of them.

  “Oh, my God, Randy, look at that.” Her father tapped Jase on the shoulder for a dance with Judy, but before her oldest son released his mother to a strange man, he seemed to have a stare down with him. But then he grinned and gave Judy’s hand to Dale. Judy’s smile was bright when she went into his arms, and Roxanne hadn’t seen her dad light up like that since her mother was alive.

  “My dad just stole Judy away from Jase to dance.”

  “What a brave man your dad is.”

  Roxanne chuckled. Her dad had helped to make her a survivor, and Randy had helped her to regain self-confidence. She glanced at Zach standing off to the side with a beer in his hand. His brows were knitted, and his mouth pressed closed. He, too, held the look of concern. Had he been thinking of their ordeal last night? He, of all people, understood what his best friend must’ve gone through in order to keep it together.

  Randy skimmed the back of his index finger over her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

  “Absolutely nothing.” She squeezed his hand, and together they swayed to the song, “I Could Not Ask for More,” which Rob had chosen specifically for them. Their gazes held. Roxanne admired the gentle look of love in his eyes. “This is another night I need to hold a cowboy, have wind blow through my hair, and enjoy a rumble between my thighs on a most perfect moonlit night. Can you accommodate me?”

  He brushed his lips across her cheek. “Yep. But that isn’t all you’ll get between your thighs, and I promise a different kind of rumble in addition to the first one.”

  Her shoulders trembled from his sexy words. How could she not enjoy the entire evening? This was a party for them. She giggled, which caught her off guard. She wanted to always be able to laugh from now on. At the end of the song, she suggested, “How about a glass of champagne?”

  “Sounds good. Put your red dress on for the rest of the dancing. That dress will make it easier to spread your legs around the bike and my thighs. Let’s get some food, and we’ll dance a couple more dances before we get out of here. Don’t forget about the cake Nora wheeled out. I want some cake.”

  ***

  Later that evening after she danced with what seemed like every male there, ending with her father, Randy came up to her.

  “My turn, Mrs. Drake.” He laughed wholeheartedly. “Afterward, distract everyone for a minute or two while I run home to exchange my truck for the motorcycle.”

  “Gotcha. Maybe you’ll recite your moonlight poem to me again?”

  “Sure. Anything you want.”

  Rob got their attention. “Roxanne, my friend? Don’t go nowhere yet. I have a special request from your guy for the last dance.” He nodded to Randy and in return, Randy tapped one finger against his forehead to acknowledge him. Rob played “Lady in Red.” Her husband gave the biggest grin.

  Randy held out his hand and when she took it, he spun her around fast enough for her dress to flare up, and she laughed. He pulled her up close against him and they danced. “Thank you for this. You’ll always make me swoon. I love you, Randy.” She lay her head against his chest and snuggled close. “Meeting you was the best day of my life, before our marriage, that is.”

  “Mine too, Rox.”

  “Let’s do what Nora said and enjoy the rest of the night. Then later… Vroom, vroom, rumble, rumble.”

  Randy twirled her around again. “You go, biker babe in a red dress!” He held her close for the remainder of the dance. Before the song ended, he whispered in her ear, “I love you more than anything, darlin’.”

  “Mmm, you take my breath away, cowboy.”

  ***

  After cake and more pictures, they bid everyone farewell and trekked down the way toward his bike. Randy removed a leather jacket laying across the seat and handed it to her. “You’ll need this.”

  “You bought me a leather jacket? Thanks!”

  “You’ll have it in case you start to like riding a whole lot.” He pulled her ankle boots from a knapsack and helped get the one on her prosthetic foot.

  “I’d still rather ride a horse.” She slipped on the jacket, zipped the front, and held his arm while changing into her other boot. Roxanne had been leery of the bike at first. She knew what an accident could do to a human body. Her body had had enough damage, and riding on a motorcycle had frightened her. That was the tormented Roxanne, but now she not only wanted, but needed the adventure with him. She trusted this man with her life.

  “We’ll ride a horse tomorrow. How about topless so you don’t get tan lines?”

  She grinned. “Uh huh.”

  He had changed into jeans and a long sleeve button down shirt, and now he donned his leather. Randy threw his leg over the bike and settled on the seat. He offered his arm to hold while she got on behind him. They left the ranch and headed out toward the mountains, but he veered to the left. The moon shone bright in the sky tonight, lighting their way. The shadow of the two of them on the bike followed beside them when they passed under light poles. Roxanne smiled while watching the shadow with her body against his back. She held him tight and laid her head against his shoulder. The fragrance of his cologne smelled sensuous and fresh like cool water on a hot day.

  Where were they going, anyway? Not that it mattered. She’d go to the moon with him. Her dress flew up on the sides and she let it blow. No one was around to see her red panties underneath. Enough eyes probably saw them when he whirled her around on the dance floor.

  They rode until he turned off onto a small dirt road and traveled down it about a mile, she would’ve guessed. The mountain was to the left of them. “Where are we?”

  “Trust me.”

  Her heart raced. Wait. No. Calm down. “Where are we?”

  “On my property, Rox. We came in from the other side. There’s something back here I want you to see.”

  Now? “I didn’t know you had this much property,” she said over the rumble of the engine.

  “I have a lot of prope
rty. We have a lot of property. It’s yours now, too.”

  Hadn’t he only had a small strip of a non-working ranch? He pulled up to an adobe building. “What is this place?” Curiosity drove her crazy!

  “It’s where my mom and dad started out. I’ve been working on it between jobs. All those times you couldn’t get a hold of me, this is where I was. We need a satellite phone out here, so I bought two.”

  She glanced around at the landscape. Tall saguaros grew everywhere out here. There was a creosote bush here and there, and prickly pear. He turned off the bike. Tonight, the sounds of the night were pleasant to her ears and to her soul. “Why have you been working on the place?”

  “For you. Wanna get off?”

  “Oh, yeah, I wanna get off.”

  Randy gave a low chuckle, and a side of his mouth quirked. He supported her arm as she slipped off. “Let’s go inside. Don’t laugh at what I’ve done, okay? Promise?”

  She cocked her head, grinning at the curious look on his handsome face. “Why would I? Yeah, I promise.”

  “You’ll see.”

  “Is this where I get to bang the hell out of you?”

  Randy grinned. “Okay!”

  Excitement and inquisitiveness made her walk faster. What was this guy up to?

  “Wait here while I turn the lanterns on.” He unlocked the door and entered without her.

  Roxanne folded her arms and peered upward at the gray sky. The moon had risen since they had left the party. It appeared smaller and had lost its golden glow. The bike made pinging sounds as the engine cooled down. A glow showed behind curtained windows in the little home. Randy opened the door and clasped her hand. “Come in.”

  She entered to the sight of a sparsely decorated room with built-in bookcases and a slate-like floor. Exposed rafters met her gaze, which gave the place a pleasant and homey feel. The building was warm, but Randy lifted the windows to let a breeze blow through. They removed their jackets. She strolled toward the quaint but small kitchen that owned only a countertop and a two-burner stove. A refrigerator stood on the opposite wall. “How long did your parents live here?”

  “Long enough to have the ranch house built. They got married when they weren’t even eighteen. My mom was pregnant with a brother who didn’t make it much past the birthing. Between both of my grandparents, they helped them with the financial part of building the Circle D Ranch. My mom worked at the old restaurant in town, and my dad did horseback tours into the mountains—like Zach does. Two kids in love was all they were.” Randy frowned. “Too bad it didn’t last.”

  “What happened?”

  “I’ll tell ya about it someday.” He nodded toward a doorway where a faint glow gave little light to a room. Before he opened the door all the way, he embraced her. “This is when I hope you don’t laugh.”

  The beginning of his mom and dad’s life was a nice story until he’d said the ending. He took her into the only bedroom.

  Roxanne caught her breath. “Randy!” The painting of her was hung on the wall above a brass bed, which was adorned with a wedding ring quilt. Rose petals were scattered over the quilt. Her heart swelled with love at the painting of her. Not at the fact of it being her, but that he painted it. “Your painting is fabulous. Absolutely fabulous work. How’d you finish so soon?”

  “Lots of midnight hours, but it isn’t finished. You’re a sound sleeper these days. That’s a good thing.”

  She threw her hands to her cheeks. “Don’t laugh when I cry. You did all this.”

  “Well, yeah. I suppose it’s from the side of me that likes to write poetry. I hope you don’t think it’s silly or not macho.”

  “Everything about you is macho as hell.” She went to the brass bed and scooped up rose petals and let them fall back to the bed. “It’s romantic! I love it.”

  “I kind’a debated bringing you here.”

  “I’m glad you did.” She peered into all the little nooks and crannies of the small but pleasant room. An old bachelor chest sat against the wall. The chest could’ve belonged to his great-grandparents.

  “Do you want to stay here tonight? We don’t have to.”

  “I do.”

  “Good. The champagne is chillin’ in a cooler. Come back into the living room.” Outside the door, he held her. A softness filled his eyes. “I wanted something different for tonight. To help us forget about the past months, so we could concentrate on ourselves.”

  “It’s a brilliant idea. I love you so much, honey. To think I could’ve lost you—”

  “Don’t say it, Roxanne. You’re my heart’s desire, darlin’. I’ve loved you from the moment I first saw you. The way your hair bounced with each step you made toward me, you looked like an angel walking across the way.” He grasped a lock of hair. “Your hair captured the sunlight, and the glisten in your blue eyes when you looked at me that day, all blew me away. I knew by the smile on your face, you felt it too.”

  “Yes, I did.” Her eyelashes fluttered, and she smiled. “Is that the makings of a new love poem?”

  “It is now. Pardon me while I make notes.” He squinted one eye, bit a side of his lip, concentrating as if he put it into his memory. “Got it.”

  “Can we frame your poem when you get it written to hang next to the painting?”

  “The picture will be moved back to our bedroom at the house. But, yeah, sure we can if I ever write it.”

  You will. “We’re on our way to a beautiful future.”

  Randy pulled up her dress and slipped his hands underneath. He caressed her backside, but he slipped his hand beneath the material of her panties. “You know, we’re in our future right this minute.”

  She laid her head against his chest to inhale the fragrant smell of his cologne. “Life’s been hard up until now, and it’ll probably be hard again, but whatever comes, we’ll face it together. We’ll get through anything together.”

  “I didn’t expect life to turn out this good. It’ll get a lot sweeter in about five minutes.” He pulled her dress over her head and unbuttoned his shirt. “Turn the bed down. Remember what we talked about earlier? It had something to do with dirty talk. Right over yonder is the pillow.” He removed his shirt and had a delightful smile on his face.

  He wants dirty talk? Her eyes raked up his body and ended at the roguish hint of his grin. Roxanne smiled and strutted to the bed in nothing but her sexy low-back bra, panties, and a flesh-colored prosthesis. Shaking off the rose petals at the top, she pulled down the covers. “Get the champagne, partner. You’ll need a drink to quench your dry throat from sucking in deep breaths while I screw the hell out of you. I expect no less in return.”

  Randy eyed her in the most tempting way. She gulped when he pulled his zipper down. “You know what it takes to get me going. By the way… You look fantastic in red.”

  She sat on the bed to remove her panties, tossed them at him, and with a sweet smile, she unhooked her bra and let it fall to the bed. “Champagne?”

  He opened the bottle, poured two glasses, and sauntered over to set them on the bedside table. He charged toward her and lifted her into his arms. “Mrs. Drake? I believe it’s time to get the ball rolling. You started this back at the barn, and now I’m collecting what was promised. Under your sweet exterior, you’re a naughty woman with deep, dark lusts. Let the promise of desire begin.”

  Roxanne hugged him. “Remember where your massage started after the fire? That’s where I’m starting tonight.” Her words led to a sexy kiss. “Does that do it for you?” she whispered when their lips parted.

  Randy shuddered. “You outta know it does.”

  She grinned devilishly. “Let’s press you up against my mouth.”

  Randy lowered her to the bed and dropped his pants with the most luscious look of desire in his eyes.

  She leaned on her elbows and peered up at him. “You’re my man, a ranching cowboy who lassos his wife to reserve last dances. How lucky can one woman be?”

  He took their glasses from the ta
ble and handed one to Roxanne. “Cheers. To what promises to be more than either of us had ever hoped for.”

  “Cheers.” Roxanne stared into his warm brown eyes, which held so much meaning and love. She focused on his words: ‘More than what either had hoped for.’ His words were so true.

  She’d overcome the violence—overcome the filth stemming from the night at the hands of psychotics. She overcame the pain of recovery, of deceit and betrayal. She had found true love in the man who had a gift with horses.

  Randy sat their glasses back on the table and turned to her. “I love you, Mrs. Drake.”

  She smoothed a lock of hair behind his ear. Leaving her palm against his cheek, she smiled softly while her insides danced the samba. “I love you.” Her dreams had come true. She had more than she had allowed herself to hope for, dream of. A future filled with a cowboy’s love and romantic poems. She loved life. She loved herself again. “My dear husband? Let the pillow talk begin from now until forever.”

  Randy pulled her into his arms and rolled onto his back with her on top of him. “Yes, ma’am! Forever sounds good to me…” Their lips connected in a fiery, passionate kiss.

  *****

  Thank you for reading Lassoing the Last Dance.

  Note to Readers:

  I hope you enjoyed Randy and Roxanne’s story. Don’t go away without checking out the other books in this series. If you can’t wait for the next Double Dutch Ranch Series book, you’re in luck! I created a spin off series—Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series. You briefly met Jake Lawton in this book, and you can read his and Beth’s story now in Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas, Book 1. You also met Zach Bryson who will be featured in his own book too—Finding Kimber, Book 2 in the Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series in late 2017.

  To stay updated, you can sign up for my Mailing List. I don’t bombard your inbox with newsletters, and only send one on occasion to keep you updated with a cover reveal, a new release announcement, contest info, or a book update. If you have a question or comment, please contact me at my website at Contact Mary. On my website, you’ll also find my current blog posts.