Page 54 of Ride a Cowboy

“You know, you don’t have to tell everyone yourself. Just call your dad. TJ can take care of spreading the word for us.” And then they could head straight to bed now.

Macie looked horrified by his suggestion. “You’re right. If I tell him first, I won’t get to tell anybody else. Come on. We’ll go in person.”

Hank chuckled. That backfired spectacularly. “Phone call won’t suffice?”

She shook her head. “No. Besides, I’m supposed to close the place down tonight.”

He tugged her hand when it was clear she was ready to leave. “Forgetting something?”

She frowned. “No. I don’t think so.”

He laughed and grabbed her cell from the counter.

“Oops,” she murmured as she took it from him.

He let her drag him toward the driveway and his truck. Looked like the romantic lovemaking would have to wait until later.

And given Macie’s excitement and ability to embellish any and every story, he figured it would be much later.

Hank was too happy to care.

She’d said yes.

Chapter 9

Macie stood at the window of her suite in the Bellagio, looking out at the bright lights of Vegas, and shook her head in wonder. One minute she was standing in the kitchen of Hank’s ranch, looking down as the most amazing man on the planet proposed to her. The next she was surrounded by her family and friends at Sparks Barbeque, all of them hugging her, gushing over the ring, and then toasting them with bottle after bottle of wine…and beer…and then tequila.

Her head actually still hurt a little from that celebration, and it happened nearly a week ago.

Now she was standing in the fanciest hotel room she’d ever been in—the Bellagio was a far cry from the Super 8 she’d stayed in when she went to New Orleans with Amanda and Brandi a few years ago.

When Macie had described Las Vegas as her dream wedding location, she’d obviously envisioned something a lot tackier, cheesier and sillier than Hank had. The day after she’d accepted his proposal, she’d stayed in bed nursing the mother of all hangovers while Hank hit the Internet and started making arrangements. By the time she’d pulled herself out of bed late that afternoon, he’d booked their flights and this suite and made arrangements for an intimate ceremony in the hotel’s gorgeous courtyard. Hank had even filled out the pre-application for their wedding license online.

Her mom and dad, Amanda, Brandi, Porter and Adele had all made the trip with them, insisting on being their witnesses. Porter was going to be the best man, Adele the maid of honor. And even though Porter and Adele had been carrying on with that bickering, somewhat-playful banter that screamed “Just fuck me already!” since getting on the plane in Texas, the trip had been a lot of fun.

Macie had tried to tell Hank she didn’t need anything so fancy, that a quickie ceremony at one of the Elvis chapels or even a drive-thru wedding would suit her just fine, but he’d put his foot down. Told her she deserved to be surrounded by beauty at her wedding, which had been a challenge, since she’d stuck him with Vegas as the locale. He insisted he was going to spoil her with nothing but the best.

And apparently he’d meant it, considering there had been a limousine waiting to pick up the eight of them at the airport. The chauffeur had given them a scenic tour, driving them down the Strip and pointing out all the famous landmarks before dropping them off here.

No one had ever looked at her and thought “princess” before Hank. And given her less than girlie-girl ways, she couldn’t really blame anyone. Now that she was here, she wanted to be treated like royalty all the damn time. Hell, she might look for a tiara to wear during the wedding ceremony. A woman could get used to this.

“Happy?” Hank asked, as he stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. In one hand, he had a single rose.

She took it, wondering where on earth he’d gotten it. The man was a master of surprises. “That word doesn’t even touch what I’m feeling right now.”

She saw his smile through their reflections in the window.

“Good.”

She twisted to face him. “Hank, you really didn’t?—”

“Don’t, Macie. Don’t tell me one more time about what I did or didn’t have to do. I know what you meant when you said you wanted a Vegas wedding. And as much as I want to give you what you want, I just think you deserve more.”

“All of this is exactly what I would have wanted if I’d known to ask for it. I’m overwhelmed. And touched. And so fucking in love with you right now it almost hurts.”

He swallowed heavily and though he didn’t say anything, she could see the same emotions in his eyes. “I love you too.”

He bent his head and kissed her. It was a soft melding of lips. Their tongues touched. Macie wrapped her arms around his neck as his hands moved along her back, pulling her closer as he caressed her. They kissed without heed of time. Macie had noticed that since she’d accepted his proposal, Hank no longer kissed her like his life depended on it. Now that they’d promised each other forever, they could relax, enjoy, develop their skills without fear of blinking to find the other gone.

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