Learnin' The Ropes

by Shanna Hatfield

  As Swede passed her over to Ty, she lightly squeezed his hand, hoping her love was conveyed in her touch. At his wink, she knew it was.

  Together, they turned and faced the pastor who did his best to keep his face impassive. However, he couldn’t hide his smile from the couple he had come to know and enjoy having in his congregation.

  The ceremony went quickly and flawlessly. Braced for the passionate kiss that was sure to come, the pastor grinned at the look that passed over Ty’s face when he announced it was time to kiss the bride.

  Not one to hurry moments of pleasure, Ty slowly lifted Lexi’s veil and carefully folded it back. He had worried about doing it properly and Beth gave him plenty of pointers and practice in the two days she’d been at the ranch.

  Gazing into Lexi’s eyes, deep green orbs reflecting the love, joy and longing in his own, he smiled at her from his heart.

  Gently, he brushed his thumb across her cheek, her chin, and finally a fleeting touch across her bottom lip before he dropped his head to hers. Although he planned on a brief touch, especially in front of the yard full of her family and the ranch hands, Ty quickly lost himself in the sensations and emotions of the moment.

  He gathered Lexi in his arms, exchanging a kiss that was deep, strong, and filled with promise. Nate finally bumped him on the shoulder while the pastor cleared his throat and Swede cackled loudly.

  Red suffused Lexi’s cheeks when they turned to greet their family and friends as Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Lewis, but neither of them seemed able to stop grinning.

  The wedding party finished posing for photographs as guests began pouring into the ranch yard, bearing gifts, cards, and smiles.

  After a tasty barbecue lunch, those who had the energy got out on the dance floor. Thanks to Beth, Ty was a passable dancer. He danced with his beautiful bride as long as he could before her many male relatives demanded a turn. With a jaunty smile, he wandered off to dance with her aunts, cousins and eventually Sunny.

  “Thank you,” he said as he respectfully held Lexi’s grandmother during a slow dance.

  “For what, sweet thing?” Sunny asked, tipping her head back to look at her handsome new grandson. For sure, her Lexi girl knew how to pick a real man. Not only was he drop-dead gorgeous, he was also kind, loving, a hard worker, and funny.

  “For Lexi,” Ty said with a warm smile. When Sunny looked at him confused, he continued. “The first time I was in the ranch house, she showed me your painting above the fireplace. I could see where she got her pretty face. After meeting you, I know she shares not only your outward appearance, but your inward beauty as well.”

  “Oh, you’re going to make my mascara run and who wants to dance with a raccoon-eyed grandma?” Sunny swiped her finger under her eye to catch the lone tear that escaped. “I’m proud to have you in our family, Ty. I know you’ll cherish Lexi as much as her grandpa cherished me and her daddy cherished her mama.”

  “Forever and always,” Ty said, giving Sunny a hug as the song ended. He walked her back to where Bertie and Linc sat at a table in the shade of the tent by a big fan.

  “Well...” Bertie said, looking at him expectantly. “Did she do it?”

  “Who do what?” Ty asked, playing dumb. He knew what Bertie was after.

  “Did she brand you?” Bertie asked with a mischievous glint in her eye. “I told her she should months ago.”

  “Lexi sent a brand to me this morning with a note to wear it.” Embarrassed, he fidgeted slightly. “It’s one of those rub-on tattoo things.”

  “We’ll let’s see it,” Bertie said, waiting for Ty to roll up his shirtsleeve. He’d long ago abandoned his jacket, vest, and tie.

  “No, ma’am,” Ty said with a wicked grin. “The only one who’s seeing that part of my anatomy is my wife.”

  Linc and Sunny laughed as Bertie’s cheeks turned pink.

  It was nearly time for Lexi to be whisked inside to change before they headed off to Sisters by way of Bend.

  Before he could ask anyone else to dance, Lexi came and took his arm. “Come dance with me,” she said, dragging him on the dance floor. He laughed as the country band they’d hired began playing Bryan Adams’ Can’t Stop This Thing We Started. It was the perfect song to play as they prepared to leave the reception.

  Holding Lexi close as they danced, he smiled down into her sparkling eyes. “That was a great song to pick, babe.”

  “It seemed fitting, considering your love of eighties music,” Lexi said, leaning back in his arms as they danced to better admire the face she loved.

  “There’s a county song I wouldn’t mind seeing you dance to again, if you’re ever in the mood to shake that fine fanny of yours around the kitchen,” Ty growled as he bent down to her ear. “In fact, maybe I need to download it to my phone so you can dance for me later.”

  “I don’t think so, buckaroo.” Lexi blushed and smacked playfully at his arm. “In case I didn’t mention it before, I love my ring.”

  “I’m glad,” Ty said kissing her cheek.

  “It’s absolutely perfect,” Lexi said, turning her fingers so she could admire the white gold band on her finger.

  Ty had a friend in Portland who was quite talented at designing jewelry. Once he decided to propose to Lexi, he called Kye and begged for a rush job. With a general idea of what he was looking for, Kye guided him through the design process. The result was a white-gold ring featuring a running rope pattern that looped into hearts.

  The really fun part about the ring was that Ty had it made so that the engagement ring and wedding band had to be together to see the whole pattern. He’d made Lexi give him back the engagement ring a week ago so he could have the two bands permanently connected. On the inside of the band, he’d inscribed, “Hearts tied forever by love.”

  “Did you read the inscription?” Ty asked as he twirled Lexi around.

  “Of course!” Lexi said with a laugh. “Roped, tied, and yours forever!”

  “Forever,” he agreed, kissing her neck then her lips as they danced.

  Those watching the couple could see the love on their faces. Sunny and Bertie smiled when Ty bent down and whispered something that made Lexi blush.

  When the song finished, Sunny and Bertie, along with a few of Lexi’s cousins, swooped in and took her in the house to help her change.

  The newlyweds were taking her car, but she had agreed to let Ty drive. Giving up on keeping it from being festooned, it now sat at the end of the walk, with crepe paper streamers and a big sign in the back window that said “just married.” Thankfully, no one felt inclined to tie tin cans to the bumper.

  Finished saying goodbye to Beth, Nate, and the baby as well as the hands and Swede, Ty waited impatiently for Lexi by the front door.

  A noise at the top of the stairs drew his attention. Ty looked up to see Lexi on the landing sandwiched between Bertie and Sunny. She wore high wedge sandals with a hot-pink summery dress that skimmed her curves and accentuated her bronzed skin. Her hair was still piled on her head and she wore an indulgent smile as Sunny kept an arm around her waist.

  He reached out to her as she came down the last step. Sunny gave his hand a playful smack and engulfed Lexi in another hug.

  “Congratulations, girlie, you made an excellent choice. I expect you two to come visit me this winter. Promise?” Sunny whispered in Lexi’s ear.

  “I promise, Grandma. Thank you for coming and for welcoming Ty to the family,” Lexi said, clinging to the older woman. She was glad for the momentary distraction from Ty. He wore jeans and boots with a new blue western shirt that brought out the intense color of his eyes. The sleeves, rolled up past his elbows, revealed his tan, muscular forearms and a peek of his impressive biceps. All that virile, gorgeous man now belonged to her and the thought of it left her completely unsettled.

  “Well, why wouldn’t I welcome him, honey? He’s a keeper for sure,” Sunny said, kissing Lexi’s cheek before turning her over to Bertie for another round of hugs.

  “Baby girl,
we’re so proud of you,” Bertie said, snuffling back tears. “You go have a wonderful time with this handsome husband of yours.”

  “I will, Bertie. Thanks for everything,” Lexi said, grateful to her family for their help in making her wedding something she would always remember.

  “You bet. Give us a ring when you’re home and ready to be part of the regular world again,” Bertie teased as she pushed Lexi away. She gave Ty a quick hug and kiss to his cheek then stepped back, letting Sunny have a turn.

  “Sweet thing, you take good care of my granddaughter,” Sunny said, hugging Ty one last time. “I expect to see that good-looking face of yours in Florida before spring.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Ty grinned. He reached out and pulled Lexi to his side before anyone else could distract them.

  “You ready to go Mrs. Lewis?” He asked as he opened the front door.

  “More than you know,” Lexi said with a flirty grin as they ran down the porch steps and to her car. Well-wishers blew hundreds of bubbles at them and tossed rose petals while cheering and waving.

  Baby sat near the car, wagging her gigantic tail and barking. She licked their hands as they gave her a pat on the head and told her to stay out of trouble while they were gone.

  A few hours later, they pulled up at a resort at the edge of Sisters. While Lexi was immersed with wedding details, she asked Ty to be in charge of the honeymoon. He knew they couldn’t be gone very long and he didn’t want to spend too much of their precious time traveling. After searching online, he settled on the cabin at Sisters. It was convenient, romantic, and looked perfect on the website.

  As he walked into their secluded cabin at the back of the property, it lived up to his expectations of providing a romantic getaway. From the sunken tub big enough for two by a fireplace to the plush king-sized bed, it was just what he hoped for.

  He set down their luggage then hurried back outside where Lexi looked around, taking in the beautifully landscaped grounds.

  When he made the reservation, he asked to have the refrigerator in the room stocked with an assortment of sodas and juice as well as a meat and cheese platter. A basket of fruit sat on the coffee table along with crackers, cheese, and a decadent plate of specialty chocolates.

  The sun sent shimmering rays dancing around his beautiful bride. Ty had to remind himself all this was real, she was real. And she was finally his.

  The weight of his gaze settled on her. Lexi turned and offered him a smile that shot straight to his heart.

  “Ready to go in?” he asked as she held her hand out to him.

  “Sure,” she said, staring at the cabin. “Want to get some dinner?”

  “No, ma’am.” Ty turned over her hand and kissed her palm, keeping his blue eyes focused on her green ones.

  “Aren’t you hungry?”

  “Famished,” he said, the heat in his gaze increasing.

  “Then let’s get you something to eat,” Lexi said, taking a step in the direction of the restaurant on the edge of the property.

  “Nope.” He swept her into his arms and carried her into the cabin, toeing the door shut with his boot.

  Caught off guard by being swept into his arms, Lexi looped her arms around his neck. Her lips were just inches from his. Suddenly, the thought of eating didn’t hold as much appeal as it had a few minutes earlier.

  “I thought you said you’re starving,” Lexi whispered, uncertain what Ty was thinking.

  “I am.” His voice dropped in pitch as he held her tightly to his chest. “Starving for you. Famished for your kisses. Hungry for your arms around me. Dying to taste every little bit of you.”

  The air whooshed out of her as Ty captured her lips in a kiss unlike any she’d ever known. It was wild, demanding, urgent, and the most wonderful thing she had ever experienced. Heat and electricity exploded between them with a brilliant force of unrestrained passion. Lexi wasn’t aware of anything except the feel of Ty’s arms around her, his body pressed against her, and his lips moving insistently on hers.

  “Ty, I love you,” she whispered as he carried her into the bedroom and let her feet slowly slide to the floor.

  “I love you too, Lexi. More than anything.” He stepped around her and unfastened the hook at the top of her dress. Carefully, he tugged on the zipper. When it didn’t budge, he impatiently tugged on it. As it finally slid down, his warm breath caressed Lexi’s neck. “Thank you for marrying me.”

  When her dress was unzipped, Ty pulled it off her shoulders then held her hand while she stepped out of it and kicked off her sandals before turning around.

  Lexi wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t the undiluted look of pure wanting on Ty’s face.

  “You are so beautiful, Lexi Jo. Absolutely the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Ty said, trying to keep his passion in check and finding it more difficult with every passing second.

  There had been moments in the last month when it taxed every bit of his self-restraint to keep from taking things too far with Lexi, but he held on for this moment. The moment when she would finally be his wife.

  The aching need that had started in his gut had now grown to a throbbing desire that encompassed his entire being. The sexy white lingerie Lexi wore, the gentle curves and softness of her skin, along with the pink blush in her cheeks, left him nearly undone.

  His fingers shook as he pulled the pins from her hair and watched the mass of curls tumble around her shoulders and down her back.

  Burying his hands in her fragrant tresses, he pulled her close and breathed deeply of the scent that was solely his wife – a combination of her warm, floral perfume, her sweetness, and the lingering hint of outdoors and sunshine.

  “Oh, babe,” he moaned, kissing her neck, worrying her earlobe, searing her with his kisses.

  Lexi wrapped her arms around his neck and savored every touch, every kiss from the man who had sauntered into her life and claimed her heart for his own. When she raised her lips to meet his, their kiss was filled with wanting. Lexi’s insides grew molten, her limbs languid. Finally breaking the contact, she offered Ty a seductive smile. “I don’t think this is quite fair.”

  “What’s that?” Ty ran his hands over her exposed skin in delirious pleasure.

  “You’re still fully dressed and I’m not,” Lexi whispered. Suddenly emboldened, she pulled the tails of his shirt from his jeans. In one smooth motion, she yanked the snaps free. Hurriedly pushing it off his shoulders, she admired Ty’s rock-hard chest and arms, tanned by the summer sun.

  While she was lost in the wonder of his physical beauty, he pressed hot kisses down her neck, across her collarbone to her shoulder.

  “Is it my turn again?” he asked, sliding his fingers down her back toward the hooks that kept him from treasures he could wait no longer to explore.

  “Not yet,” Lexi said with a saucy grin. She pushed him backward onto the bed and grabbed his foot. She removed his boots and socks then divested him of his belt and jeans. By the time she finished they both trembled from the sensations passing between them.

  “Aunt Bertie said you put on the brand but would only let me see it. Care to show it off?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Ty looked up at her with such heat in his eyes, she thought what few clothes she had on might melt into a lacy puddle at her feet. Nervously licking her lips, she couldn’t muster the strength to draw her eyes from his.

  One of his strong arms snaked out and grabbed her waist, tumbling her down beside him. Unable to restrain his desire any longer, Ty rolled on top of her, ravishing kisses down her neck, rapidly removing the last bits of fabric separating him from his blushing bride.

  “Lexi Jo,” Ty whispered in her ear. “I love you so much.”

  “Are you sure we have to go home already?” Lexi asked as they set the last of their bags in her car and looked fondly at the resort. “It seems like we just got here.”

  “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Ty wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her
neck. When she turned to look at him, he suggestively waggled his eyebrows at her.

  Playfully, she smacked his arm then kissed him on the lips. “Promise we’ll come back here at least once a year.”

  “I promise.” Ty held her car door as she climbed inside. “We’ll come back at least once a year, my beautiful bride. Maybe next time, we’ll even get to see something beyond the resort.”

  Ty waited until she had her seatbelt fastened then ran around to the driver’s side and slid in the car.

  Lexi held out her left hand, studying her unique and lovely wedding ring.

  Indulgently, he smiled at her. “What are you doing?”

  “Thinking about how glad I am you answered that classified ad.” Lexi smiled at her husband. “I had no idea what a bargain I was getting.”

  “A bargain?” Curious, he stared at her.

  “Sure. I got a wonderful husband, a mind-blowing lover, a true friend, a great mechanic, a hard-worker, someone willing to learn the ropes, and the only guy Baby likes.” Lexi squeezed Ty’s hand. “Not to mention, you are quite possibly the most handsome man I’ve ever seen with that bad-boy aura, sexy eyes, tempting hair, and undeniably fine caboose.”

  Ty grinned at her. “Is that so, Mrs. Lewis?”

  “That is so. Just ask Aunt Bertie. Besides, when I turned around that first day and saw you standing by the corrals, you completely took my breath away.”

  “You not only took my breath,” Ty said, his eyes glowing bright with warmth and love as he kissed her hand. “You took my heart. Forever and always, Lexi Jo.”

  She reached into her purse and withdrew a tiny box, holding it out to him.

  “What’s this, babe?” Ty asked, taking her hand in his and kissing her palm, making tingles begin at her toes where they worked their way up to her head.

  “A wedding gift,” Lexi said. “Open it.”

  Ty opened the box to find a set of car keys attached to a keychain with the Rockin’ R Brand. He knew the keys went to the Mustang.

  “Are you serious?” he asked, studying the keys in his hand.