Beauty and the Bull Rider (14 page)

Her pulse raced madly and her eyes burned with welling tears. She never thought she'd ever hear those words. She'd even married a man who'd never spoken them to her.

“Marry me, Delaney,” Zac continued. “I think I can make you happy—if you'll only let me love you.”

He wanted to marry her? She tried to speak, but her throat was too tight. She swallowed hard and then nodded vigorously.

Zac's gaze narrowed. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes, Zac,” she croaked in a barely audible whisper.

He pulled her into his arms for a long, tender kiss. “You've made me a happy man. I never thought I'd hear you say it.”

Finding her voice, Delaney replied. “I didn't think I needed a man. I didn't think I'd need anything more in my life to be happy once I had a baby, but sometimes you don't recognize what's wrong until the right thing comes along . . . and that's you, Zac. You're everything that's right. So yes, I mean it . . . and even more . . . I promise with all my heart to love you back.”

 

“'B
out damned time you got here!” Ty exclaimed as Zac threw a leg over the bar stool in the Last Chance Saloon. “I've got a lot of shit to wrap up before I get on that plane tomorrow.”

“Sorry, 'bout that,” Zac grunted. “I got waylaid in Albuquerque.” Or better said, laid really great. He and Delaney had passed all night and most of the following day making love in that honeymoon cabin. He couldn't wait to go back.

Ty signaled Gabby for two beers. “So what brought you out here? You've had me wondering about this whole face-to-face thing. You haven't changed your mind about our deal, have you?”

“Matter of fact, I have. That's what I came to talk about. I've been thinking Ty, between rebuilding the hotel and running the Circle B, how are you really gonna have time for stock contracting?”

“That's what I've got you for,” Ty said.

“Thanks.” Zac nodded to Gabby as she slid a foamy mug in front of him. He turned back to Ty. “But why me? Delaney's done a fine job running your place and she knows her livestock. Why not give her the contracting business?”

“Are you for real? Shit, Zac, you know a woman can't handle bulls.”

“Maybe not alone, but what if she had some experienced help?”

“Wait a minute.” Ty's gaze narrowed. “Are you saying you want to work for
her
?”

“Not exactly.” Zac raised the mug to his lips. “I'd like to work
with
her.”

“What are you getting at?” Ty asked.

“When we first made this deal, I asked you if I could buy a share of the business once I sold my place. Well, circumstances have changed, Ty. I'd like to propose something a little different.”

“Go ahead,” Ty encouraged. “You've got my ear.”

“I came to ask if you'd consider selling me your half of the double M instead.”

Ty's brows met, furrowing a deep crease over the bridge of his nose. “You want to buy out my share of the ranch? Delaney would shit a brick.”

“Would she?” Zac asked. “I don't think so. She knows she needs help and you've always said you and she could never run it together. On top of that, you've got your hands full with everything you're doing out here. I think it's the perfect solution. Hell, we wouldn't even have to change the Double M brand. Instead of Morgan—McCall, it'd be McCall-McDaniel Ranch.”

Ty eyed him skeptically. “Do you really think you could get along with that woman?”

“Yeah.” Zac grinned. “I think we'd rub along well enough, which leads directly into my second reason for coming here.”

“And what's that?”

“I wanna marry her, Ty.”

Ty sputtered his beer all over Zac's shirtfront. “Have you been smokin' locoweed?”

“You heard me right. I want Delaney. I love her, Ty. Hell, truth be told, I always have.”

Ty sat back with an incredulous look. “You're really serious? Shit, Zac! Why did it take you eight fucking years to say it?”

“The timing was never right,” Zac mumbled lamely. He didn't want to admit he'd been too chickenshit.

“Are you looking for me to give my blessing?” Ty asked.

Zac jutted his chin. “Don't give a damn if you do or you don't. I'm having her either way, but I would like you to stand up with me if it's not asking too much.”

“So this is the
real
reason you want to buy me out?”

“Yeah. I don't want to go into this empty-handed. I figure she's already getting the short end of the stick.”

“I admit I talk a lot of smack about Delaney, but she got a raw deal with me,” Ty said. “She deserves better. She deserves to be happy. Make her happy, Zac.”

“I promised her I would,” Zac said. “And I'll die tryin'.”

“This is so depressing. We've been looking for hours.” Delaney grimaced as Monica held up an ivory-colored sheath. “That would be gorgeous on you with your slim hips and long legs, but my ass would look huge in it. I need something in a darker color.”

“At least try it on,” Monica replied. “It's not every day you get married. Here. Take these too.” Loading Delaney's arms with pastel-colored designer frocks, she propelled Delaney toward the fitting rooms.

“I didn't wear a dress the first time. We went straight from the rodeo to the courthouse. I can't even remember the last time I put one on.”

“All the more reason to do so,” Monica insisted. “Try the light blue one. It'll set off your eyes.”

Delaney shed her jeans and boots with a sigh. In truth, she did recall the last dressy dress she'd worn. It was a red sequin-covered body-con Donna Karan she'd worn to the party at the Houston Livestock Show the night she'd met Ty and Zac. She'd unknowingly bewitched Zac that night, but that was at least twenty pounds ago.

She hadn't paid much attention to her looks in years, not that she'd let herself go completely. She just hadn't had any occasion to stun. But suddenly she wanted to. She wondered if this soft, bust-hugging blue chiffon would have the desired effect on Zac.

She stripped to her undies and pulled it on over her head. The ruched bodice and hips enhanced her curves while the skirt fell gracefully down her legs to float just above the ankle. She twisted her hair off her neck and pivoted in the mirror. Monica was right. The fit was great, and the color set off the blue of her eyes. She glanced at the price tag and cringed. Once upon a time, she wouldn't have thought twice about paying five grand for a designer gown, but many things had changed since her beauty-queen days.

She shed the dress and threw it over the fitting room door. “I'll take this one.”

“You might as well put it back on,” Monica said. “We have less than two hours for shoes, hair, and makeup.”

“Is that enough time?” Delaney asked.

“It is if we go straight to the hotel,” Monica said. “My driver Frankie's already waiting outside to take us.”

Two hours? Delaney sucked in a breath to calm her racing pulse. Was it only a couple of days ago that Zac had decried her lack of spontaneity? She'd made him eat those words at the Clark County Marriage Bureau, where seventy-seven dollars cash and a simple one-page form had granted them a license to wed. Now, in less than two hours, her life plans would be forever altered. She should be terrified, but the prospect of spending it with Zac thrilled her. The rough-and-tumble cowboy was everything she could have dreamed for—had she ever dared to dream.

 

Zac nearly wore holes in his boot soles pacing the curb outside the hotel. He glanced at his watch for the sixth time in a quarter hour, his chest tight with anticipation. Where the devil were they? Had she changed her mind about hitching herself to a dumb ol' Okie bull rider? He exhaled a sigh of relief at the vision of Monica's black Lexus limo easing into the entrance and halting under the porte cochere. Before Monica's chauffeur could climb out of the driver's seat, Zac had already opened the rear passenger door.

His breath seized in his throat at his first glimpse of Delaney, looking like a fantasy come true in a light blue dress. His gaze took in a glimpse of smooth bare shoulders as she extended her hand and leaned out of the car. “Zac?” Her gaze widened. “It's bad luck for you to see me.”

“Had to meet you at the car,” he said. “It's the only way I could know for sure you won't run off.”

“Are you really afraid I'd leave you standing at the altar?” she asked.

“Ain't taking the chance,” he replied. “So you'd best be aware that if leavin's on your mind, you're going in there over my shoulder.”

“Leaving's the last thing on my mind.”

He grinned. “Good answer. You ready?”

She flashed a nervous smile. “As ready as I'm ever going to be. How about you?”

His grin stretched. “Baby doll, I was born ready.”

 

Delaney entered the swinging doors of the Last Chance Saloon on Kade McDaniel's arm just as a karaoke-singing Elvis struck up a heart-wrenching performance of “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.”

The bar was packed with people, friends and hotel employees who'd gathered for the impromptu wedding, but Delaney only had eyes for Zac McDaniel. With his green eyes glittering and teeth shining brilliant white against his sun-bronzed face, Zac looked sexy as sin all in black. Her gaze took in every inch of his tall frame—from the top of his Stetson to the gleaming tips of his boots as she joined him at the altar. Handing her bouquet to Monica, she joined hands with Zac. He squeezed her hand while Elvis sang the final chorus.

Delaney didn't know whether to laugh or to cry so she did both. In all her life, she'd never experienced those two contradictory emotions simultaneously, but it was poignant and funny and totally surreal.

Microphone in hand, Elvis began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the exchange of solemn vows between Delaney Eliza McCall and Zachary Dylan McDaniel. If there be any suspicious minds present, it's now or never 'cause their love won't wait.”

Delaney rolled her eyes. Zac's mouth twitched.

Elvis looked up, suddenly stone sober. “All jesting aside folks, marriage is an honorable estate and not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but discreetly and solemnly. Into this relationship these two persons come to be joined. Zac, do you take Delaney to be your wedded wife, to live together in bonds of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, so long as you both shall live?”

“I will,” Zac replied, his gaze locked on Delaney.

“Delaney, do you take Zac to be your wedded husband, to live together in bonds of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, so long as you both shall live?”

“I will,” Delaney whispered.

Zac fumbled as he slid the plain gold band onto Delaney's trembling finger.

Clasping their hands together, Elvis resumed, “Inasmuch as you have consented together in marriage, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Zac drew Delaney into his arms for a long, dizzying kiss. As a new song commenced, Zac enfolded her tightly in his arms and whispered softly in her ear, “I couldn't help falling in love with you.”