Page 127 of On the Wild Side

“I’m stepping aside so that young riders can do what they love, and that’s how it should be. How it’s supposed to be. I wish my friend was here to retire with me so we could have a beer and talk about the old days.” He smiles faintly, then shrugs a shoulder. “Thank you for an amazing career, for allowing me to do what I love for so many years. This was one hell of a way to go out.”

He passes the microphone back to the announcer and then wraps his arm around my shoulders and buries his lips in my hair.

“Let’s go,” he says. “I’m starving.”

After celebratingwith the family for a while, Brady and I decided to take Daisy back to our suite to order room service and relax.

He needs to ice the ribs that he tweaked again. Of course, he was stoic and didn’t let on that they were killing him.

My stubborn cowboy.

“This is a good burger,” Daisy says as she takes a bite.

We’re all sitting cross-legged on the king-sized bed, our plates in front of us, enjoying our meal.

“I almost forgot something,” Brady says and walks out of the room for a second.

Daisy and I share a look, but she shrugs as if to say,I don’t know.

When he returns, he sits on the bed again and grins at me.

“What are you up to?”

“I love you more than anything in this world.” He sets our plates back on the table by the bed and takes my hand in his. “I’ve been waiting a hell of a long time for this. I didn’t want to make this one last promise to you until after the season was over. Icouldn’tmake this promise to you until I knew without a doubt that I’d never ride another bull again.”

His thumb brushes over my knuckles as he stares into my eyes.

“I promise you that I will love you, no matter what, for as long as there is breath in me.”

I bite my lip and feel the tears spring to my eyes.Holy shit.We’re doing this. Right now.

“You are the reason for everything in my life. You are the light and the goodness that I didn’t know was missing. I can’t wait to move into our home, to make more babies, and to live this life with you, every day, knowing that no matter what happens, we choose each other.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a sparkling diamond ring, and Daisy starts to jump on the bed with glee.

“Will you marry me, Abs? Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”

I look up at Daisy, and she giggles. “I already said yes, and he made me keep this secret until tonight.Pleasesay yes, Mom.”

“You already asked her?”

“Well, yeah. If she wasn’t in on this, there was no way you would be.” He reaches out and catches a tear on his thumb. “Don’t cry, baby. I can’t stand it when you cry.”

“Happy tears. Of course, I’ll marry you, Cowboy.”

He slides the ring onto my finger and then kisses me long and slow and deep until Daisy makes a choking noise.

“Do we get to be Wilds now? For real?” Daisy asks.

“Yes, ma’am,” Brady says with a wink and then turns back to me. “Wild will be the last name you ever have.”

I can’t help but laugh at that. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

“Hey, what ifIget married?” Daisy asks, and Brady’s face goes pale.

“Absolutelynot.” He shakes his head. “No way. Not happening.”

I take his face in mine and kiss his lips. “Breathe, Cowboy. We have a few years before we have to cross that bridge.”

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