Of The Cowboy's Own Accord (Double Dutch Ranch; Love At First Sight #3)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  She took a step back and folded her arms across her midriff. “Doing what? The marriage? Your ranch? Tickets? Clarify what you mean.”

  What the hell? They were at his ranch. “See the ranch? It’s plain what I meant.”

  “It was a test.” She attempted to stare him down but broke first into a fit of laughter.

  The smirk on her face about drove him wild, and was too damn cute. This side of her was fun. Dane seized her. “You’re an awesome woman, but take note. Before you try testing me, let me tell you I’m the king of testing…and passing tests. You have no idea what kind of tests I’ve been through.”

  “Note taken.” She attempted to step away when a vehicle came down the road from above, and she pushed at his chest, but there was no give. “It’s embarrassing to get caught making out with you on your own property.”

  “Honey, you call that making out?” She asked for it. He slipped his hand to the back of her neck and held her. With a tilt to his head, he hovered over her mouth—making her wait for it. “I’m about to kiss you…you know…real good.” He pressed his lips against hers and might have kissed her better than he did the first time, but this time he didn’t hesitate rolling his tongue between her lips. Yet, he had to pull away when she responded with the same, or he’d be damn embarrassed.

  “Whew. Rebel? Can I start calling you that?” she quipped, a devilish grin across her lips.

  Dane lifted his chin and stared down his nose at her. “Sure. I’ll tattoo it on my chest for you, darlin’.”

  “Deal.” With a glint in her eyes, she winked then glanced over when Jase got out of his truck.

  Jase leaned against the door with his arms folded, and his legs crossed at the ankle, and stared at them—a grin away from a snicker. “Hey there, little brother. We’re even now from the time I didn’t know you were in my house when you came home unexpectedly. Remember that night?” He took his hat off and wiped sweat from his face.

  “Hey, Jase, I remember it fine, but unlike you, I got my clothes on.” Dane laughed until Brenna got out. Razzing Jase was okay, but it wouldn’t be fair to her, who’d been nearly out of her clothes that night, too. “Hello, Brenna.”

  Brenna waved. “Hi there, Dane.” She nodded to Gracelyn.

  “I’ve seen them before,” Gracelyn whispered as she diverted her eyes back to Dane. “Oh, boy, they’re the ones who came to my workplace. I remember talking to her about my pregnancy. If I had only known.”

  Dane slid his arm around her shoulder on the way to where they stood. “Come on, I’ll properly introduce you.” Now, the idea of sending Jase up to check on her seemed wrong. If not, he might’ve hit the floor when she walked around the corner pregnant. All in all, it had been the right decision, he supposed.

  Jase met them half way to the truck. “Nice car.” He immediately reached for Gracelyn’s hand to introduce himself and Brenna. “Great to meet you. I mean…again.”

  “Yes, exactly. Nice to meet you, too.” Gracelyn admired Brenna’s friendly smile, pretty blonde hair, and her sparkling eyes as they shook hands.

  “You come to get the dog?” Jase asked to Dane. “Because my kids are falling in love with him.”

  Dane removed his hat and gave Brenna a hug, then said, “Wow, I wondered how he’d take to kids. We can’t baby him. If he has to return to the Army it’ll soften him up too much. We depend on those dogs to save our lives out there.”

  “That dog’s not going back. I’m sorry, but he’s practically a family dog.” Jase put his arm around Brenna. “She’s already in love with him.”

  “He’s beautiful,” said Brenna. “Jaelle stayed right beside him on the floor in the great room.”

  Dane planted his feet into a wide stance. “Corporal Hanson will be happy. He didn’t want to leave the dog when his service time was up, but the Army won’t let him go if he can still work. Boston’s a real asset.”

  “It’s bittersweet,” said Brenna. She peered at Jase and grinned. “We’re talking about getting the kids a dog now.”

  “Uh, one of us is talking about it, Bren. One of us.” He winked at Brenna with a teasing smirk. “We gotta go,” Jase said. He turned to Gracelyn. “Sorry about the way we came to the restaurant that night, but around here, blood runs thick. You’ll figure that out. You’re blood now.”

  Gracelyn faced Dane but spoke to Jase. “It told me something about your brother—him sending you up there to check on me.” Directing her attention back to Jase and Brenna, she said with a low voice, “I wish I would’ve known he was alive.”

  Jase took Brenna’s arm, saying, “We’ll see y’all again.”

  When they pulled away, she faced Dane with tears in her eyes. “They’re nice. You two look similar, especially those blue eyes.” She gazed downward.

  “Not to mention his muscles,” he joked. “We’ll stop by and see Tristan a minute on our way out.” Dane lifted her chin and gave her a tender kiss. “I like when you get all soft and girly.”

  “Okay, soldier, rancher, cowboy…man.” She chuckled. “Let’s go get our dog.” Gracelyn turned toward the car but pivoted. “It didn’t take but a minute to get attached to him. Hard to believe that dog is a killer.”

  Did she think the same thing about him? “Come on. I hope you like ice cream. It’s like a family tradition. I’m surprised my dad didn’t name the ranch double dip or something like that.”

  Pointing to her abdomen, she halted him. “You see this belly? This boy likes ice cream. The little rebel kicks pretty hard when I eat it.”

  “Yep, a Carlson trait.” Rebel included. “For sure I’m getting that tattoo now. Rebel times two. I can picture it.” He dragged his finger against his chest. “Right here. That’s where it’s going.”

  “Then so will I get one. But not there.” She pointed to a spot on her lower abdomen. “There.”

  The perfect place. No one would see it but him. Dane took a step back and ran his fingers over his jaw. Hmm. He’d change that to Rebel times three. “I bet you like motorcycles, too.”

  “Maybe we’ll find out when I have the baby. You can sit back with your arms around my waist after you teach me how to ride.” A tug on his waistband and she pulled him into her. “Will you show me your bike, big boy, when we get up to your ranch?”

  “Sure, but don’t expect me to ride on the back of a motorcycle with anyone.” He held his hand up. “You think I can’t use this?” Dane leaned forward for a quick kiss. “Wait and see.”

  Draping her arms over his shoulders, she smiled. “I have no doubts you can do anything you want. If you tell me you can fly me to the moon, I bet you’ll find a way.”

  She pushed it a little, but he loved her confidence.

  Gracelyn tilted her head and smiled. “What a lovely family you have. And to think I was ready to use a Kubotan on you that night we met.”

  “You think so.” They sauntered toward her car. It clouded up in the distance. A storm raged a ways off. Dane peeked up at the sky, filled with dark, rolling clouds. It wouldn’t be long before it poured here. He might go out and run in the rain to meet the monsoon head-on.

  Gracelyn took a seat on the passenger side and kicked sand off her flats before bringing her legs inside. She reached for his hand before he closed the door. Her eyelashes fluttered before raising her eyes to him. “Thank you.”

  He knelt beside the car and placed his hand on her thigh. “For what?”

  “Offering me a chair in the airport that evening.”

  “Darlin’, that good-looking guy in the Armani suit at the bar trying to make a move on you wasn’t your type anyway. You needed somebody like me.”

  ***

  When Dane and Gracelyn entered the back door the dog ran toward them at full speed, barking and growling. Dane held his palm facing the dog. “Boston, down.” He knelt and Boston came to him, his ears lowered as if he’d been scolded. “It’s okay. You did your job.” He had the sudden urge to grab for a molasses cookie, but he couldn’t contribute to this dog
being a house dog, not yet.

  His mom entered the kitchen and sauntered directly to Gracelyn. “Welcome to our home.” She hugged her then faced Dane. “It appears it could very well be your home. Tristan talked to me about moving me into a new house.” Judy fiddled with buttons on her sleeveless top and glanced to the stove.

  “Well, damn, I hope he was tactful about it. It was his idea, you know. I had nothing to do with it.” A warning would’ve been nice. All of a sudden the whole idea sounded wrong, like she was being pushed out. Never his intention. In fact, he didn’t want her moving across the property.

  “Of course, he was.” Judy untied her apron then grabbed the cussin’ jar from the table afterward. All she did was hold it out without saying anything. “Would y’all like something to eat?” She placed the jar on the table on her way to the refrigerator.

  “We ate, but I have another idea about the house situation. Gracelyn and I talked about this and it’ll be better for you.” Dane reached into his pocket for a buck, nonchalantly dropping it into the jar. In his mind, his new idea didn’t seem as harsh as putting his mother nearly a quarter mile down the road.

  Judy eyed him. “Well, what is it? I don’t have a problem with moving, you know.” She stood at the sink and stuck her hands into her front pants pockets. Her lips pressed together in a slight grimace.

  Hmm, her body language said something different. He pulled a chair out for him and Gracelyn. “Tristan is almost moved out of his office. Instead of you moving across the property, let us build on to the office.” He waited. She appeared satisfied. “That way you’ll be right here, still close to what’s been your home for a long time. What do you say?”

  “Hmm.” Judy came forward to take a seat at the table but plucked at a plant in the center before speaking. “That would work. Part of it is already built, anyway, and has plumbing.”

  “We’ll stick a fireplace in there. Knock the partition out and it’ll be a large room we’ll call your great room.” Dane peered around the kitchen and into the dining room. “Make the whole thing an open floor plan like here.”

  “Yes, it could all be an open floor plan. Sure. An extra room for when the kids come stay with me would be nice.” She peered at Gracelyn then back at Dane. “This is perfect. A good idea.” She swatted at the air in front of her. “It’ll be much easier than getting all those building permits for something new.” She got up and wrapped her arms around Dane. “Well y’all are so sweet, but you know I don’t have favorites. I’ll discuss this with Tristan when he comes later.”

  Dane hugged her back while winking at Gracelyn over her shoulder. “Of course you’d never have favorites, but I know if you had one, it’d be me.”

  Judy backed away and pushed him in the chest. “Stop teasing.” She opened the freezer door. “I bet you have room for ice cream. Your favorite. Cookies and cream.”

  “You’re not going to believe it,” Gracelyn said with a big grin. “Or maybe you will… Cookies and cream is my favorite, too.”

  “Yep, no doubt,” Dane said. “That’s why the little rebel kicks when you eat it.”

  Judy set matching blue bowls on the table. “You two seem like you’ve known each other for a long time.”

  Dane nodded. “It’s like we’re old souls brought back together, which reminds me. We’re getting married in a few weeks to a month.”

  Gracelyn looped her arm around his. “You couldn’t have put it any better than that, Dane.” Her hand smoothed over the baby. “That’s exactly what it feels like. We’re old souls brought back together. There’s always been that unexplainable bond there.” Her chin quivered as she spoke low.

  When those amethyst gems welled with tears, his heart softened. Here he was getting all sentimental in front of his mom. She’d never experienced this part of him—having a fiancée and being in love. Dane got up from the table and coughed to clear his throat. “Let me dish that out for you.”

  “Your wedding? I’m so pleased.” Judy took a seat as Dane dished out the ice cream. “Well, I’m thrilled. You both have my blessing on your marriage.” She hugged Gracelyn. “I can tell that you’ll be a great wife to Dane. This old woman has an excellent sense of character.”

  Chapter 14

  “I wanted to arrive earlier,” said Dane. “I hate to be late.” Once through security, Dane accompanied Gracelyn through the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for their flight to Vegas, pushing through others to get through.

  The man at the gate took their boarding passes. Once buckled in their seats, Gracelyn looped her arm around his. Here she was, eight months pregnant and eight months after they met—now it was their wedding day. Most people would raise an eyebrow if they heard that. What if the bar hadn’t been crowded that night? Would their eyes have met? He wouldn’t have needed to offer a seat at his table.

  Dane gazed at the last few passengers who boarded. He turned to Gracelyn and smiled. “Eight months ago you unexpectedly walked into my life…” A quick glance to the flight attendant as she walked by, then he faced her again. “The moment I looked into your eyes, something told me everything was about to be altered.”

  Gracelyn fanned her face. Her fiancé gave away more from his heart, the more time they spent together. Maybe she always knew that side of him lingered. Sneaking her hand over her abdomen proved how she had loved kissing his irresistible lips…that night. “Dane…” She settled into the heartfelt look in his eyes—savoring the love staring back at her. “I love you.”

  “I love you back.” He pulled the neck of his shirt away from his throat. “Woman, you mess with my head and make me say crazy things. We have a busy week. Please tell me junior’s up for it.”

  “He’s up for it at the moment. The little one wants to see his parents get married.” She chuckled. “I hope he doesn’t mind that Elvis won’t be there.”

  “What are you saying? He won’t be at our wedding?”

  Dane cocked his head with a questionable look on his face he probably gave his mom growing up. No doubt his grin got him everything he wanted. “Nope.”

  He opened his hands as his arms rested on his lap. “No Elvis?”

  She paid mind to his snarky smirk. “You’re teasing me again.” It’s a wonder the smile on that man’s face didn’t bring TSA agents over—the look sexy enough to get him arrested. “We’re getting married in a matter of hours…without Elvis.”

  He chuckled, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

  The plane backed out as she peered out the window. By the end of the week they’d be on their way to Ft. Benning to turn in the paperwork and visit some of his friends. It wore on her mind about how Dane would deal with the loss of his military career. It would’ve happened whether she had been in the picture or not. His turmoil—the fact he had to give up one more thing in his life, pained her to see him go through it.

  Being here for him right now meant a lot to her. Lord knows, the time might come where she’d need to lean on him. “How good are you with seeing someone in pain?” He’d seen more pain than she wanted to know about. What a silly question.

  Dane’s heel jittered against the floor. With a deep breath in, he held it until he blew it out in a long, slow exhale. His foot stopped shaking and he peered at her. “I’ll be here for you. Are you afraid of delivering?” He studied her face. “You have my strength and more…you know this.”

  “A little.” The care in his eyes told her his words were true. It gave her calm over the fear she had over delivering the baby—or the aftermath so to speak. Sarah’s delivery itself went fine, but the hell happened moments later when she hemorrhaged and they couldn’t stop the bleeding. Observing his now relaxed state while he rested told her everything would be okay. She leaned over to kiss his cheek. A faint smile quirked his lips.

  She settled back thinking she’d call her parents a couple hours before the ceremony to tell them the time of the live broadcast, so both families could see them get married.

  “I’ll be right back.”
Dane got up and went to the bathroom. When he returned, he leaned toward her. “Will your brother be at your house when we arrive there in two days? Any more soldiers in your family? How many people do I have to remember to salute besides your dad?”

  Why’s he being a smartass now? “My brother will be there. I’m his big sister. He watches out for me. My family accepted my pregnancy, the fact that I’m marrying you, so I wish you’d stop worrying and kill the attitude.”

  “It isn’t worry.” He opened his hands from their fists-like clench. “While I’m in a mood…well, you might get upset with what I say next, but I’m saying it anyway.” He hesitated, and his cheeks puffed out, one side then the next. “If your brother watches out for you how come he wasn’t around to keep an eye on the stalker?”

  Why now? She checked her seatbelt when the plane descended. Haphazardly, she tossed her water bottle into her bag, needing a moment to answer him—his question being one she didn’t have an answer for—so she’d do the best she could. “How do you know he wasn’t there?”

  He gave a low chuckle. “That’ll teach me, I suppose. Was he?”

  “No need to worry everyone. The word stalker never came up until you said it.” Her voice trailed off. This was a conversation she didn’t want to have at this moment. “To ease your mind, he hasn’t been around me or the restaurant since that night in the parking lot. I believe you scared him off.”

  Dane casually turned his head in her direction. “You need to be more observant of your surroundings. Have you done something to piss this guy off?”

  Good Lord. What’s the matter with him? Her jaw clenched and she called in composure. “I told you before you can’t be my bodyguard, and if you’re going to be jealous about it, stop, because I haven’t done anything to anyone. I watch my back.” Now wasn’t the time for this, especially sitting on a freaking airplane.

  “Then you must already know he’s sitting ten rows behind us on the right.”