by Em Petrova
When he set her down, they turned to watch the girls run into their father’s arms.
Ridge and Ryder approached with happy words and thumps on the back. While they talked about their upcoming events, Asher came up to Channing with a smile.
“Thank you for seeing to my girls. I can’t ever show my true appreciation, Channing.”
“It’s nothing.” She smoothed her hand over each little shining dark head nestled against their father’s chest.
“You’re wrong. It’s definitely something. And I’d like to offer you part of my winnings for helping me.”
She waved him off but he let Montana slip to the ground and reached inside his leather vest to pull out a wad of cash. He pressed it into her palm with a dark, intense look she couldn’t argue with. She couldn’t wound his pride—not when he was already reeling from his wife’s actions.
She closed her fingers around the money. “Thank you.”
Buck’s arm came around her middle. He tugged her back against his chest, and part of her wanted to melt into him. But confusion took over. She needed some space.
Maybe she’d take the money and have a short getaway on her own—give herself time to think and figure out what she wanted. The only thing she knew was she did not want to bind herself to a relationship that wasn’t right for either her or Buck.
The men talked over her head and they all went to hear the final scores. Then Asher took his daughters and tucked them in the truck to drive home to Oklahoma. Buck and Channing waved them off.
When the taillights disappeared around the corner, Buck turned to her. “You know, you’re great with the girls. A natural.”
She lifted a shoulder in a shrug.
“Channing—” He broke off, his gaze darting sideways to the camera fixed on them. Breaking his own rule, he held up a hand over the lens. “Give us some privacy, for fuck’s sake.”
“Yeah, sure, man.” Brant took his equipment away, leaving them truly alone.
There was no choice but to say the hard words now. Channing drew a deep breath. “Buck, we need to talk about us.”
“I know.” The world seemed to enclose them in a private bubble. Not a car engine started and even the few birds that always circled rodeo events fighting over crumbs seemed to have roosted somewhere else.
She looked into Buck’s eyes. She felt like a rubber band, pulled in all directions and she had no idea where her center was anymore. Gulping back tears, she said, “I need some space, Buck.”
He jerked as if she’d slapped him. “Space.” His voice was gritty, dead.
Blinking back tears, she nodded. “It’s not easy for me to walk away but I need some time to think and I can’t do that here.” She spread her hands. “You, the crew, your family… Everything is influencing me.”
“Influencing your decision, you mean. To marry me.”
Unable to speak around the lump in her throat, she nodded.
He rubbed his fingers beneath his nose, his gaze slipping away from her. But not before she saw the twinge of pain in his eyes.
“How much time do you need?”
“I-I don’t know.”
“Am I supposed to fucking leave you here in Billings? How are you getting home?”
“I don’t know that either.”
His Adam’s apple worked in his throat, and his words came out sharp. “Are you done with me, Channing?”
“Please don’t ask me that, Buck. All I’m asking for is a few days alone, okay?”
“You’ll be here in the hotel?”
She looked around. “I guess so.”
He gave a short nod. “I’ll handle your bill.”
“You don’t have to—”
“It’s the least I can do for your trouble, Channing.” He raised a hand as if to stroke her hair and then dropped it to his side, where it hung in a fist.
Her chest was on fire and her heart breaking. Why did this suddenly feel so final? Surely he understood that she couldn’t make a decision one way or another when swept up by everything and everybody?
He started to walk away.
“Buck,” she called him back.
He stopped walking but didn’t turn.
A sob shook her chest. “Thank you.”
With a dip of his head, he walked on, leaving her alone. Just like she wanted, right?
* * * * *
Buck didn’t dare turn around and show Channing how goddamn hard it was for him to grant her wishes. What if she chose to walk away in the end? What if—
He couldn’t think about it without throwing a chair through a plate-glass window, so he just marched up to the hotel desk and paid for several nights stay for Channing. He also left money in an envelope for her to eat and to cover her needs.
Then he went to their room, and averting his gaze from her mess scattered across the dresser and all over the vanity, he packed. He stared at her body wash and on impulse tossed it into his bag. Then throwing his duffle strap over his shoulder, he walked out of the hotel with a fucking cameraman on his ass.
He found Ridge outside the arena packing up his gear and asked to hitch a ride for himself and Havoc.
“What’s wrong with your truck?”
“Nothing, I’m leaving it for Channing.”
“Leaving…” Ridge broke off, eyeing Buck until he felt like punching out a couple of his teeth.
He rumbled a noise of annoyance, and Ridge swung around to the back of the truck. “Sure, get in. No trouble to tow your ass home.”
Part of Buck thought about staying in the hotel on the down-low, keeping Channing from seeing him. He’d be there in case she needed him. But he knew that would only worsen things.
“Ready, bro?”
“Yeah.” Buck climbed into the truck and they circled to the stables to load Havoc. When he put his hand on his horse’s neck, he nearly broke. God, he might have lost her despite all his efforts recently. And they’d been doing okay until…
He stopped, staring at his horse’s shiny coat while his eyes blurred.
“Buck?” Ridge was the only brother he could tolerate right now. He wouldn’t prod him for answers and he was good at saying nothing at all. Just what he needed.
“Yeah, let’s load him up. C’mon, Havoc. You did a mighty fine job here in Billings.”
They were on the road few minutes later, leaving word with their family that they’d gone ahead. And of course there was an irritating camera blinking from the back seat, recording Buck’s misery as they drove away from the love of his life.
* * * * *
When Channing went back into the hotel, she stopped at the front desk to speak with them about extending her stay. And learned that Buck really had taken care of it. He’d also left her an envelope, which she had to take up to her room before opening because she couldn’t trust her emotions.
After walking into the room, she noted his belongings were gone and tears clogged her throat.
Better get it over with.
She tore open the envelope and found a thick stack of bills and a scribbled note.
Take your time and figure things out. But I’ll miss you. Buck~
Fighting big, ugly tears she set aside the note and money and curled up on the bed. Her mind worked furiously over too many issues in her life before she fell into a fitful sleep.
Then she showered and discovered Buck had taken her body wash, leaving her with his manly scent. Which she lathered herself with, half angry with him, half comforted. Even if she was alone, he was still with her. Because she was in love with him.
The next two days she slept and cried. She got in touch with her brother to ensure he was all right, which he was. And she watched a lot of TV.
The third day she got out of her room and walked through Billings. The city was large and culturally diverse, but she couldn’t help but look at every passing face and wonder if she’d spot Buck. Finally, she settled at a coffee shop with an outdoor seating area where she could people watch.
She hadn’t
been on her own in far too long and hadn’t realized how much it had worn on her soul. Spending a lot of time with the Calhouns was one thing—the film crew was another.
None of them liked it—well maybe Wynonna. But it was a sacrifice for their ranch.
As she sipped a chai latte, she let her mind wander over the ranch and Ennis. A small breeze washed over her face but it didn’t bring the fresh hay scents she loved.
She missed home. And home to her was the Calhouns’ ranch. Which meant she had to save it as well. She’d made a tangle of things with her borrowing money from Buck to help her brother but there had to be something else she could do to help.
As she racked her brain and reached the bottom of her mug, she watched people come and go.
One man with the beautiful, deep complexion of a Native American took a seat a few tables away and opened a book to read. She gasped, her eyes going wide.
All at once she clearly saw the path—she just needed to call a certain friend at the courthouse.
Excitement whipped through her, and she practically ran back to the hotel. With a mountain of a problem moved in her mind, through the gap it created she clearly saw what she wanted—needed.
Buck.
Hands shaking, she sank to the bed and found her friend’s name in her contact list. When her friend’s chipper greeting sounded, she couldn’t help but smile. She related the plan to her friend and five minutes later had everything set in motion. Now she needed Ryder.
She tapped her lips with a forefinger. If he was anywhere near Buck when she called, Buck would be hurt that she wasn’t calling him. But Ryder had a certain acquaintance she hoped could help enact her plan.
Buck had his own role in this, and that was to get Ennis to the ranch. And to get his ass into town to be fitted for his tux.
Chapter Thirteen
Buck walked into the barn, his shoulders slumped and feeling as if a boulder weighted him. Wynonna and Ma were in the back dragging old equipment and tack out of the corner. Dust choked the air and Buck sneezed.
They looked up at him through the swirling particles. “What the hell are you doing?” he asked.
“Cleaning out the barn for your reception.”
His heart flipped painfully. His wheezing sigh had more to do with his emotions than the allergens fogging the space.
Ma swept a hand to the right. “We know you’re head over boots for that woman, so don’t even question the wedding. It’s happening. Dance floor here. Band right there.”
“Bridal table here.” Wynonna pointed toward the wall where a few windows would toss pale evening light on the bride and groom. If there were actually to be some, that was.
“Have you gotten your tuxes yet?”
Buck shook his head, unable to speak. Since he had too many brothers and Channing had only wanted Wynonna, he’d long ago asked Asher to stand up for him as best man.
He turned his head to look at the space—right now a cruddy barn. He shook his head. “I don’t see it.”
Wynonna snorted. “Men.”
He’d forgotten why he’d come into the barn in the first place. To cover his confusion, he walked to the horse stall farthest from the females in his life. He’d been more than lost in the past few days since leaving Channing in Billings. Nobody had asked him where she was or what had happened between them. He had a feeling Ridge had covered for him.
Voices sounded from the open door, and he caught bits of speech.
“Channing—”
“—for?”
“Up her sleeve.”
He practically leaped out at his brothers. They stopped scooping chicken shit out of the coop and looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
Buck’s chest heaved. “What’s this about Channing?”
Ryder did that thing with his lips that meant he didn’t want to tell. Since they were kids, he’d done this and Buck had figured out that tickling him worked well. But it’d be weird to tickle a grown man now. He settled for intimidation.
He swaggered up to his brothers and glared at Ryder. “What about Channing?”
“Back off, Buck.”
“Not until you tell me what you’re talking about.”
Ridge shook his head and started scooping out manure at a fast pace.
Fury whirled through Buck like a tornado, whipping up too many feelings of worry and fear. A devastating black cloud he couldn’t control.
He slammed the heels of his hands off Ryder’s chest. He rocked back but didn’t even stumble, which only pissed Buck off more.
“Cut it out, Buck.” Ridge almost sounded bored but Ryder’s eyes gleamed with anger. Exactly what Buck wanted—a fight.
When he swung at Ridge’s midsection, his brother sidestepped, lightning fast. A growl burst from Buck as he hurled himself at his brother. They went down, rolling. Suddenly their ma was screaming at them and Ridge and West pulled them apart before Buck even landed one satisfying punch.
He shook loose of West’s hold and glared at Ryder.
“What’s this about?” Ma asked, gloved hands planted on her hips.
“Buck thinks we’re hiding something from him about his fiancée. I don’t know why he doesn’t just ask her himself.” Ryder looked beyond Buck.
His stomach dropped out. Channing couldn’t be standing there, could she?
He turned slowly and saw her, long blonde hair teased by the wind and a mutinous expression on her pretty face. As she stomped up to them, he stopped caring about why she was pissed off and focused on the fact that she was here.
She must not have stayed in Billings that long. Either that or she’d driven nonstop to get home. He skated his gaze over her curves, barely registering the rumpled state of her clothing. He grabbed her hips and yanked her to him, locking her to his chest and crushing his lips down on hers.
“Ew, cooties,” one of his brothers joked to several chuckles. But Buck didn’t care. He probed the tight seam of Channing’s lips with his tongue.
With a gasp, she let him in. He plunged his tongue inside, groaning as he tasted mint and caught the scents of his own body wash on her. She spun her arms around his neck and lifted on tiptoe to kiss him back with abandon.
His mind pulsated on one fact: she was here. But that didn’t mean she was here to stay, he reminded himself. But he’d do everything in his power to keep her here.
He spread his hands across her round ass and kneaded it. Her breath hitched. He tasted passion and lust and…tears?
He pulled back to look at her face. Sure enough her eyes swam and one drop broke free and rolled down her cheek.
“Oh darlin’.” He looked at the empty yard and the abandoned chicken coop. Nobody was around but that didn’t mean they weren’t nearby. The place was crawling with Calhouns and cameramen.
In fact, this was all being caught on film.
“Dammit.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house. She dug in her heels.
“Wait, Buck. I need you to do something first.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing first. Getting you naked in my bed. You’ve kept me waiting too long, Channing.”
She let him drag her into his bedroom. He kicked the door shut and reached for her.
“No, Buck. We need you to call Ennis right now.”
It took several heartbeats for his mind to catch up to her words. His cock throbbed for release and he hungered for another taste of her. He shook himself like a dog. “Ennis?”
“Yes, didn’t Ryder tell you?” Her face registered understanding. “Oh you were going to beat it out of him.”
He made a noise, deep in his throat. “You’d better fill me in right now before I finish pounding my little brother into the dirt.”
“It’s not Ryder’s fault. I told him not to tell you yet but I was delayed on the highway—an accident eastbound—and now there’s no time to waste!”
He stared into her face. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Ryder has a friend coming over and we need
Ennis to be here when he arrives.”
“Channing.” His warning tone seemed to fluster her more. She raised a finger to her hair, a dead giveaway that she needed a thorough fucking.
He reached for her. She threw herself against him, kissing him wildly for too brief a time. She wrenched herself away from him.
“Joseph Screaming Eagle should be on his way here and we need Ennis to come to the ranch.”
“I don’t under—”
“Call him, Buck. Now.” She waved her arm in such an agitated manner that he could do nothing but listen to her. Something was definitely in the works here, and the fact that she’d called Ryder in on it stung.
He pulled out his cell and dialed his asshole cousin.
“Be nice,” Channing whispered as if seeing his irritation.
He snorted. “You’re telling me everything after— Ennis, it’s Buck. We have some news you need to hear.” He listened to his cousin’s asshole reply and grunted. “See you then.”
Stabbing the off button on his phone, he tossed it onto the dresser and riveted his attention on the pretty little cowgirl in front of him.
She held up both hands to ward him off. But the way she’d kissed him, no way was she through with him. He took a step toward her. She backed up. “We can’t, Buck. When we get in this bed, I won’t want to get out of it. There’s no time.”
Happiness ripped through him. Was it too soon to hope that the season finale wedding would be legitimate in all senses of the word? He issued a slow breath to calm himself.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“Joseph Screaming Eagle—”
He shook his head. “Not that. I want to know what you decided about us.”
Her eyes were shiny with love and tears. His heart felt as if it had been trampled by a bull.
“I love you, Buck. I always have and always will. Our problems seem to have been worked out and…”
“And you’ll marry me? For real, no pretenses?”
She nodded.
“Thank God.” He was with her in a step, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her. Drawing on her lips and tongue until his cock bulged, and he was inches away from a bed and sealing the deal—