Page 62 of Wrangling a Texas Hometown Hero

Jace didn’t even glance in Coach Denny’s direction. That spoke more than words. Jace loved football, but his attention was solely on her. “Your dream is me?”

She smiled as tears dripped down her cheeks. For a girl who hated to cry, she couldn’t have cared less. All she cared about was this man standing in front of her. “Crazy, huh? I mean here I was thinking that I wanted to start my own brewery and never get married and now suddenly I want to run my family’s ranch and marry a high school coach. Who would have figured?”

“Coach!” This time it was the referee that yelled. You didn’t mess with Texas referees.

Jace didn’t seem to know this. He continued to stare at Hallie. “Marry?”

She realized what had slipped out of her mouth and freaked out. “Uhh . . . did I say marry?”

Jace smiled his lopsided smile that would always make her knees weak. “I believe you did.”

The referee walked up. “What’s going on? Is there a problem? Do I need to call security and have this woman taken off the field?”

The way he said woman had Hallie bristling. “Are you saying that a woman has no place on a football field? Because if that’s what you’re saying—”

Jace cut in. “I’m sure he wasn’t saying that, Hallie. He just wants to know if we have a good reason for delaying the game.” His eyes twinkled bright blue in the bright stadium lights. “And I think a marriage proposal is a damn good reason.”

Hallie swallowed hard. “I didn’t exactly propose marriage.”

“I don’t know what else you would call it, Teeny Weeny. You said you want to marry me. That’s a proposal.” He looked at the referee. “Right, ref?”

The big guy in the striped shirt tipped his head. “That depends on how it was worded.”

“She said her dream is running the Holiday Ranch and marrying a high school football coach.”

“Did she use your name?”

“Well, no, but I’m the only single high school football coach in Wilder.”

“Not true.” Coach Denny walked up. “I’m single.”

The referee looked at Hallie. “Were you talking about Coach Denny or Coach Jace?”

“Well, Jace, but—”

“Then that’s a proposal.” The referee glanced at his watch, then at Jace. “So you want to answer her so we can get on with the game?”

While Hallie stood there in stunned disbelief, Jace looked at her and shrugged. “Since we need to get on with the game, I guess I’ll have to say yes.” Before she could blink, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. A cheer rose up from the crowd and Jace drew back and grinned. “We’ll take this up later, Halloween Holiday . . . soon to be Halloween Carson.” He cocked his head. “Now that has a nice ring to it.”

He released her and headed back to the sidelines. Before he got there, she called his name.

“Jace!” When he turned, she flashed him a sassy smile. “You know that forfeit you owe me? Well, I want it now.”

He glanced around. “Now?”

“Yes, now.”

He gave a brief nod. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

She smiled even bigger. “Win.”

The look on his face could only be described as pure love. “I already have, Teeny Weeny. I already have.”

Chapter Twenty-One

It was a wedding unlike any other wedding.

Not only because the decorations and cake were orange and black. Or that everyone in attendance wore costumes. Or that a black straggly cat with one chewed-off ear was the ring bearer and after performing his duties now watched the reception from the top of a stack of hay bales. This wedding was unlike any other because the bride was unlike any other. Not because she was dressed like a witch, but because of the person beneath the green makeup, pointed hat, and long black flowing dress.

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