Duke kept his gaze focused on something, but nothing, in the distance. “It’s the circle of life, pal. You and I had this conversation about Carly not too long ago.”
“Sometimes a man needs a fire lit under his ass to steer him in the direction where he should be. I know you love your family, my friend. Don’t allow another six years to slip away. Each moment is precious. And by the way,” Chance pulled something else from his pocket. “I found this in your pocket when I pulled you out of the barn that night.”
Duke shifted his chin and saw the small black velvet box in Chance’s palm. “What is it?” Once the words were out, Duke realized what it was. He reached out and took the box, clasping it tightly. “I thought it was lost in the fire.” His chest filled with emotion. He was a tough guy, but some moments derailed his rough exposure.
“I thought I’d hand it to you at the right moment. I can only say that I’m one happy bastard I got my friend back. So, get yourself a tux and be at the gala. You represent the McAllister now as a rancher, man. Don’t let your people down.” Chance buddy slapped him on the back. He started to walk away but then he stopped and said, “And cut that damn long hair. It just ain’t right.”
Duke laughed. “I’ll give it some serious thought.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Chance said as he walked toward his truck.
Duke stood there for the longest time staring down at the box. He knew what was inside. It took a while before he could bring himself to pop the lid. When he did, all air whooshed from his lungs. Taken back to the day when he’d visited the jewelry shop, he’d been worried he would purchase the wrong ring. The moment the jeweler placed the two-carat dazzling diamond in front of him, he’d known it was Lila’s ring. As the jeweler explained to him what cut it was, what color it was, all he could do was stare at the diamond wanting to see it on Lila’s finger.
He’d carried it with him for weeks, wanting the proposal to be special. He’d planned it over and over in his head. It never happened.
The other night he’d made a fool of himself by not making the proposal extraordinary. Lila had been right for leaving.
He snapped the top shut and dropped the box into his front pocket.
Now what? He wasn’t a man who believed in signs, but this sure as hell wasn’t a mere coincidence. Chance was right; it was high time to do the right thing. One never knew when his time came to leave this world. He was proof. He’d almost lost his life. Now he was given a second opportunity, a second ride at the rodeo, and he had to grab the bull by the horns and take control.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LILA SLID HER fingers through her hair.
Carly, who was standing next to Lila in the ballroom, gave her an annoyed stare. “Stop touching your hair. Do you want the curls to fall flat?” Carly said.
“Sorry, but I’ve never worn my hair so curly and so high on my head. I feel like—”
“A princess?” Leslie Bakerfield piped in. She was standing on the other side of Lila. Over the last few days, Lila had gotten to know the other woman and the three were becoming quick friends. “It is the Rancher’s Gala. Bigger is always better.” Leslie wriggled her brows.
“I wouldn’t go as far as saying a princess,” Lila responded with a smirk.
“But you look like one, Lila,” Carly said. “Red is your perfect color. And I’m so glad you decided to go with the strapless dress. You are one hot momma. In fact, all three of us look pretty darn sexy if I say so myself.”
Lila laughed. She was glad she’d decided to join her friends and wondered if Duke would show up. Carly had bought their tickets at the same table.
“Excuse me ladies, I see my date,” Leslie said as she left Carly and Lila.
“Can you believe who Leslie brought with her tonight?” Carly whispered next to Lila’s ear.
“Dillon Brook.” Lila looked across the room where Leslie and Dillon sat together. “They’re a good-looking couple.”
“True, but he’s younger than her. I wonder how old he is?”
Lila shrugged. “He looks handsome in his tux. I’d day she doesn’t care how the age difference.”
Carly nodded. “Can you believe she’s actually a nice person?”
Lila didn’t get a chance to answer because a noise came from the stage.
“We better go sit down,” Carly grasped Lila’s hand and they joined Chance who was already sitting at the table. “Here it goes, Lila,” Carly said in excitement.
“What?” Lila asked.
“The bachelor auction. I love these things.” Carly looked like she could barely contain herself.
“Oh, shit. I hate these things,” Chance snarled and took a long drink from his wine glass.
Carly looked at him, offended. “Bite your tongue. If I hadn’t bought you that year we may never be where we are today.”
Chance smiled. “You’re right, sweetheart. It was all worth it, parading around the stage like a cow auctioned off to the highest bidder. What more could a man ask for.” He held her chin in his palm and lowered his mouth to hers. The love they shared made Lila’s eyes moist. She blinked back wetness.
“I’m sorry, Lila. We don’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Carly said as she pulled away from Chance.
“No worries. I’m happy for you two. I wonder who is being auctioned this year?” Lila asked, stretching her neck to look at the stage.
An upbeat tune rocked the speakers and the announcer came out, clapping and dancing to the music. He stopped at the mic and the song ended.“I’m Richard Rory and it’s that moment ladies. Let’s start the evening by emptying your purses and bank accounts. I’m sure it won’t be a problem when you see who we’ve corralled as our bachelor for auction.”
“Who would agree to such a thing?” Lila whispered to Carly. She brought her wine glass to her lips and was sipping when she heard the name, “Duke McGraw.” The liquid went down the wrong pipe and she sputtered. “What the hell?” she said through coughing. “Did you know about this?” Lila looked to Carly and Chance, who both seemed as shocked as she was.
Carly and Chance simultaneously shook their heads.
“Has he lost his mind?” Lila held her breath as Duke, dressed in elegant tux, hair cut short and neat, looking like he belonged in a magazine, walked out on stage. Hoots and hollers erupted from the ladies. “Oh my word. What…is…he…thinking?”
“Maybe he isn’t thinking. Maybe he’s just acting,” Carly said.
“Chance, you’ve got to stop him.” Lila looked over at Chance who was laughing.
“I think it’s a bit too late. Sit back and enjoy,” he said through another bout of laughter.
“Sit back and enjoy as women battle to win Duke? Are you serious?”
“It’s okay, honey. He’s being bought for a good cause.” Carly winked.
“You’re not helping,” Lila snapped. “Oh, hell no. This can’t be happening.” Lila watched as Duke showed off his sexy confident smile. She looked around the room and swore she could see women melting into puddles of desire.
“You know, you could bet and win him,” Carly interrupted Lila’s tirade of jealousy.
The bidding started and the numbers escalated. Lila felt her heart quicken. “I don’t have that rich of a bank account.” She squeezed her hands into fists. One of the women across the room kept throwing up her hand. Lila wanted to punch her.
“But Chance and I do,” Carly grabbed Lila’s hand and lifted it.
The auctioneer pointed her out and said, “It appears we have another bidder. This is getting good, folks.”
“What are you doing?” Lila whispered to Carly.
“Yeah, sweetheart, what are you doing?” Chance asked as the bidding continued to rise.
“Lila is going to get her a cowboy,” Carly answered as she poked Lila in the arm. “You better be more aggressive or you’re going to be outbid.”
“I can’t let you do this, Carly.” Lila couldn’t allow her friends to donate the money. It was rising into th
e thousands.
“No worries, hun. I planned on donating tonight in dad’s honor.”
Lila didn’t argue another second. Standing up, she readied herself for war. Duke caught her gaze from the stage and he smiled cockily. She gave him her best pissed off look. The woman across the room stood up, giving Lila a dirty expression. Lila’s frustration grew. She marched across the room in her three-inch heels, stopped in front of the woman and stated in a controlled voice, “He is my baby’s father. There’s only one woman he’s going home with tonight and it sure as hell won’t be you.”
The woman’s cheeks turned as pale as her bleached hair. Her mouth fell open as she dropped into her seat, quiet and flabbergasted.
Lila turned on heel and lifted her hand one more time. The auctioneer called the bid three times before announcing, “Auction is over. The young lady in red won herself a date with a cowboy.”
Seething, she couldn’t wait for Duke to get off the stage so she could give him a piece of her mind. But, he shocked her again.
“Richard, I’m not quite finished yet,” Duke said as he took the auctioneers mic. “I not only want the woman in red to take me out on a date, but I want her to take me home tonight, and every other night for the rest of our lives.”
Richard looked like he’d lost his tongue. He didn’t say a word. All eyes in the room turned to stare directly at Lila who was in a daze. The spotlight turned on her.
“This, ladies and gentleman is the love of my life, Lila. She has been there for me through thick and thin. I’ve been an idiot and a stubborn ass, but one thing has never changed, my heart belongs to her. She has given me the greatest gifts a man could ever ask for. And because I can’t live another day without her, I want her to be my wife.”
Lila watched in disbelief as Duke left the stage and strolled down the aisle toward her. When he reached her, he whispered, “Try to smile.”
“I’m going to kill you,” she said through tight lips.
“No you won’t.” He pulled a tiny box from his jacket pocket and lifted the lid. “I’d rather be driven insane with you than living numb with anyone else. Just say yes and we’ll live happily together for the rest of our lives.” He dropped onto one knee.
Tears fell from her eyes. She didn’t even try to wipe them. He was offering her the world on a silver platter. He was the love of her life. “What if I hadn’t won you?”
“I had no doubt, sweetheart. You won me years ago. Now claim your prize.”
“Yes, Duke. I will marry you.”
He stood up, retrieved the ring from the velvet nest and placed it on her finger. “Forever, Lila. I’ll never run again.”
“I won’t let you.”
“Come here, baby.” He pulled her into his arms and brought his mouth to hers. Claps sounded around them as they kissed. Lifting his head, he gazed deep into her eyes as he said, “I love you, Lila. I love Ava. Take my hand and walk with me forever.”
“Always, Duke.”
Rhonda Lee Carver…”Writing Men Who Love to Get Their Hands Dirty…”
Suffering from years of hopeless romantic notions with sexy, sassy heroines and bad-ass heroes taking residence in her mind, Rhonda decided to write, bringing the stories alive. With baby on hip and laptop on the other, and a couple of years later, Rhonda has published a delightful array of books with a handful of spicy love stories waiting for the final touches. Many of her stories begin on used napkins because when an idea strikes, she must write it down.
When Rhonda isn’t crafting edge-of-your-seat, sizzling novels, you will find her with her husband and children, too many cats and dogs to name, watching a breathtaking movie, traveling to exotic places, doing (or trying) yoga, and finding new ways to keep her smile bright.
Rhonda thrives on making her readers happy. She believes life can be a challenge, but reading is a place where one goes to get away. Everyone deserves romance—one page at a time…
I hope you’ve enjoyed Second Ride Cowboy
For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit:
www.rhondaleecarver.com
Find me on Facebook, too!
www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver
Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver
Diamond in a Rose
Double Dare
Delaney’s Sunrise
Second Chance Cowboy
Castle’s Fortress
Dreaming Ivy
Friends With Benefits
Sin With Cuffs
With Honor
Second Ride Cowboy (Second Chance Series) Page 13