Red-Hot Texas Nights (29 page)

He eyed her for a long moment, and a light twinkled in the depths of his eyes. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you're jealous. But then that would mean that you actually do care, and you've been hellbent on making it clear that you don't.”

“I'm not jealous, I'm just anxious. I have to be up early tomorrow. They're bringing in my new second oven.”

“Don't worry. I'll get you home in plenty of time for a good night's sleep. But first things first, let's have a dance.”

Two hours later, Brandy stood on her doorstep, her feet aching from all the dancing and her face sore from smiling so much.

She stared at the man who walked her to her door.

“Thanks for tonight.” She stuck out her hand to shake his, desperate to keep the distance between them and end the evening before she surrendered to the push–pull of emotion inside her and planted one smack-dab on his lips. “I wouldn't have even known about the dinner dance if it weren't for you and I want you to know that I really appreciate everything. It was more fun than I expected.”

He stared at her, into her. “I don't want your thanks.”

Her hand fell away. “Please, Tyler. Don't—”

“I want you.”

“It could never work. I live here and you don't. And even if you did, I can't get involved with someone right now. It's too much.” And then she turned and walked away from him, because after years of clinging to her dreams, of fighting to make them happen, she didn't know if she had the strength or the courage to let go.

Not that she wanted to. She was happy just the way she was.

Wasn't she?

*   *   *

She
was
happy.

That's what she told herself the next day as she fed half a dozen loaves of apple cinnamon bread into the oven and tried to forget Tyler and all the ways he'd made love to her since he'd rolled back into town this last time. The way he'd tried his best to woo her the past few days. The way he'd put his foot down at the thought of her going out with Mike the photographer.

As if he had a leg to stand on.

They didn't owe each other anything.

No explanation. No responsibilities. No expectations.

Which was why she did her best to look the other way when he showed up at the Bingo Hall on Friday night with a date.

She was already there, setting up the platters of coffee cake that the bingo coordinator had ordered, in addition to the dozens of boxed doughnuts from her competition.

She watched him steer the young woman to a nearby table and pure longing shot through her.

Because she wanted to be that woman.

She wanted Tyler beside her, smiling at her, loving her.

And he wanted someone else.

She reached for one of the habanera jelly-filled doughnuts and took a big bite.

Mmm … Okay, so they were really good. Better, in fact, than she'd hoped. She took another bite and tried not to look at Tyler and his lady friend.

Walk away. That's what she should have done.

But it wasn't what she wanted to do.

She wanted Tyler. More than anything. She always had, which was why she'd been so scared.

She'd been so afraid of falling for a man who made her feel so much—to the point that there was no room left for anything else. Not her hopes. Her dreams.

Herself.

But she wasn't her mother. She'd already made her dreams come true. She was doing it right now and while she wanted to believe there was no room for anything else, she'd spent far too many sleepless nights to keep fooling herself.

She wanted Tyler every bit as much as she wanted her bakery. More, even.

And as much as that frightened her, what scared her more than anything was her sudden notion that he might leave town and she might never have the chance to tell him how she felt.

The third bite of jelly doughnut lodged in her throat and panic bolted through her. She crossed the room in a few heartbeats and grabbed his arm.

“I really need to talk to you,” she blurted “I need to tell you something. I love you,” she rushed on before she lost her courage. “I always have, I just didn't want to admit it because I was afraid that I would have to choose. I'm still afraid because you're leaving and I'm not and, well, I have no idea how this could possibly work out, but I don't want to blow it off without even trying. I want to work it out. I want to love you and I want you to love me.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. “Is that a proposal?”

“What?”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“No. Yes. I don't know. I just know that I don't want you to give up on me and start dating someone else.”

“He's not on a date.” The woman sitting nearby gave her a horrified look. “Hells bells, I wouldn't date the likes of Tyler McCall. He's just dropping me off on account of my granddaddy's here and he can't see well enough to read his own Bingo cards.”

“She works at the rodeo arena with the barrel racers. She asked if I could drop her off. Since I heard from Duff who heard from Ellie that you were delivering desserts, I thought I'd stop by.” Tyler wasn't the only one sticking around Rebel. Duff had decided to lease a small house on the outskirts of town and stick around long enough to see where things with Ellie might lead.

So far it had led to the two of them living together and an engagement ring. Obviously Duff's declaration of love had been the real thing even though neither had wanted to admit it. But the cat was out of the bag and Ellie oozed happiness.

Enough to make Brandy want a little for herself.

But not to the extent that she was going to trade her common sense for a piece of the pie. “Let me get this straight.” Her gaze swiveled back to Tyler as realization hit. “You mean I rushed over here and made a fool of myself for nothing?”

“You rushed over here and made a fool of yourself because you love me and I love you. I do, you know. I have since the moment I saw you standing outside the locker room. You were a sight for sore eyes back then and you make me feel just as good now. Better because I know what it feels like to kiss you and touch you and love you.” His grin faded and a serious light gleamed in his eyes. “I know and I can't forget, Brandy. I don't want to forget.” She saw the sincerity in his gaze, and felt it in her heart, and she knew. She gave in to the longing inside and threw herself into his embrace. Strong arms wrapped around her and held her tight.

“I love you so much,” he murmured into her hair. “I don't know what the hell I'm going to do about it, I just know that if you love me it's worth figuring out.”

She pulled back and stared up at him, tears streaming down her face, happiness overflowing her heart. “You could stay here.”

“And you could go with me.”

Warmth coursed through her and she smiled. “Yes,” she blurted.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I'm proposing to you. I mean, sort of. I'm declaring my intentions. I want marriage and babies and a future, and I want it all with you. Only you. I don't care where we live. If I have to follow you around the country—”

“I won't let you do that.”

“If that's what it takes to make it work.”

“All it takes is you and me. We can make it work through this season.”

“And then?”

“And then we can make it work right here. I'm coming back to Rebel, Brandy. I'm going to buy a little spread near the rodeo arena and train there in between rodeos. I'll hang on and hopefully win a championship or two and then I'll come back here and help with the younger guys the way Brett is trying to help me.”

“But you hate it here.”

“I hate the memories here, which means it's time to make new ones. Better ones. It's not this place that I hate. I used to think so, but I know now it's the way it always made me feel. But you changed all that. When I'm with you I feel good. Better. Hopeful. It's not so much about getting away from the past as getting over it.”

She knew how he felt. She'd cried when the boxes had been loaded into the church van. She'd cried and she'd let go of the past.

And now it was time to get on with the future.

“I love you,” she murmured, and then she pressed her lips to his and showed him just how much.

 

EPILOGUE

“And the first-place ride goes to…” The anticipation inside the Las Vegas hotel reached fever pitch as the crowd waited to hear the identity of the new PBR champion. “Archie Wolznak from Quebec, Canada!”

The cheers erupted and Tyler held tight to the second-place buckle in his hand. He waited for the rush of disappointment, but it didn't come.

The only thing he felt at that moment was a sense of excitement thanks to the woman standing next to him.

“I'm so sorry,” Brandy murmured, holding tight to his free hand. “It should have been you.”

“No, it shouldn't have. I was a long shot. Reaching second place after being number thirty-five in the ranks? That in itself is a miracle.”

And how
, he realized over the next few hours as the reporters came at him left and right. Everyone wanted a chance to talk to the dark horse who'd shocked the world by climbing the leader board to a solid second. Tyler McCall was the hottest interview ticket behind the scenes and it took several firm refusals to finally shut down the circus.

But Tyler was done talking about the past few hours. He wanted to think about the night to come and the woman standing next to him.

“What do you say we call it a night and head back to the hotel?”

“If I didn't know better, I'd say my fiancé missed me these past few months.” Brandy and Tyler had been going back and forth since the ride in Cheyenne. She would join him on the circuit every other weekend, while he flew back to Rebel when he wasn't riding.

It had been hectic and stressful, and the best three months of his life.

Because of her.

Because being with her was worth the plane rides, and the dread driving by the Happy Times Trailer Park. She made everything seem better. Doable.

Especially since she'd agreed to be his wife.

While she'd set up the groundwork with her declaration at the VFW Hall about wanting kids and a future enough to pop the question, he'd wanted to do things right. Traditional. And so he'd dropped down on one knee and popped the question smack-dab in the middle of a Saturday at the bakery.

Brandy had cried. The few customers had applauded. And the gossip had started. Another Sawyer tying the knot with another Tucker. Talk about shameful.

But Tyler didn't give a lick what people said, and neither did Brandy. Just as her older sister had bucked tradition and married Brett Sawyer, Brandy was more than happy to face the critics and declare her love for the enemy.

Callie and Brett's wedding had been the biggest event to hit Rebel in a long, long time and folks were still talking about how lavish and extravagant it was.

And they were still talking about Brandy and her elaborate cake creation. One that had landed her on the Home page of the Hill Country Happily Ever Afters wedding site and a steady stream of cake orders throughout the next year.

Brandy was in cake heaven, and Tyler was just in heaven. Despite the recent news that had just surfaced.

Sheriff Hunter DeMassi had just announced that he was officially reopening the investigation into Brandy's grandfather's murder based on new evidence that put him at Big Jimmy's still just a few short nights before the explosion. And even more DNA confirmation that someone else had been at the scene of the explosion.

Big Jimmy's DNA had turned up just outside the blast site and Sheriff DeMassi was busy trying to pin a murder rap on the man.

But there were still many unanswered questions, and so the investigation would continue.

The news had stirred even more questions about Brandy's grandfather and her lack of relationship with him—all of which she'd shared with Tyler. And while he couldn't change her past any more than he could change his own, he could make the future so bright it overshadowed everything else.

He loved her and he intended to spend the rest of his life making her happy.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look good in a cowboy hat?” he asked as he sat his on top of her head and stared into her brilliant green eyes.

“No, but I seem to recall someone who likes to see me in boots and little else.”

“Now, there's an idea, sugar,” he murmured. “Only this time we'll try it with the boots and the hat. I already had my ride.” His gaze caught and held hers. “It's time for you to climb into the saddle.”

“Lead the way, cowboy. Lead the way.”

 

Coming soon …

 

Look for the next Rebel Moonshine novel by
Kimberly Raye

 

TEMPTING TEXAS

 

Available in November 2016 from St. Martin's Paperbacks

 

Also by
Kimberly Raye

TEXAS THUNDER

 

Praise for TEXAS THUNDER

“Fast-paced and smoothly plotted, Raye's lighthearted series starter deftly evokes a variety of emotions while building multifaceted characters.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A sweet, passionate story that captures the heart and provides a thrilling happily-ever-after.”

—
Night Owl Reviews

“Love and moonshine blend well in Raye's latest novel set in Texas, with her modern, amusing storytelling and strong, lively characters. Callie's sassiness is the perfect complement to Brett's toughness, and their tension is just as fiery and intense as their chemistry, which will appeal to readers. Raye gives us a well-crafted, down-home romance.”

—
RT Book Reviews