Page 84 of The Cowboy's Second Chance Bride

Home. We’d decided that would be the Wyoming ranch. It made sense. All the people I loved the most were there except Nick. Cal said he wasn’t worried about his company; he could run it from anywhere.

Nelson stared down at my ringed finger and became even more flustered as he went from rubbing his lapels to gripping them white-knuckle style.

“Sabrina, this is Nelson Maher, head of GSI,” Cal said.

Nelson didn’t look ready to shake anyone’s hand but took mine lightly with his fingers and gave me a damp, tepid shake. I returned my hand to Cal’s arm, subtly wiping my fingers on his jacket. Other than the shake and a jerky nod, Nelson barely registered me. His eyes were on Cal.

“But, Cal, you heard about the award?”

Cal waved a dismissive hand. “Yes, Nelson, I did. I’m here because I’d like the board to tell me to my face why they withdrew the award. You understand how this withdrawal has devalued the award and the committee?”

Nelson’s ears turned pink. His left eye twitched four more times before Cal clasped him on the shoulder again. “Relax, Nelson. I think my presence is causing enough of a scene.”

The man visibly relaxed in front of us, his eye spasm slowing down. “It’s not that. I was worried you’d be upset. It’s the most ridiculous thing, isn’t it? But I was outvoted.”

“I appreciate that, Nelson.” Cal shifted his weight so I was leaning more on him and off my foot. Only ten minutes into the evening, I could feel a dull throb coming on.

Nelson nodded several times and stuck his hands into his jacket pockets, making the coat tent around him. “It is good to see you, Cal. For what it’s worth, Hitchens is the one who started the cancel campaign.” Then he shuffled off to greet other people.

I blinked in surprise. Terribly nervous Nelson outing another person like that spoke to his respect for Cal. “I read him wrong. I thought he was horrified when he saw you here, when he was actually worried you’d be upset.”

“Nelson’s a good guy, and he won’t start spreading word of our marriage, so we need to find the gossips.”

We mingled, moving slowly around the room with occasional stops to let me rest. Cal was approached by a lot of people who all seemed to not only like him but admire his work as well. One guy waxed poetic about the initiative they’d pushed out to colleges, regarding updated plans and procedures for school shootings.

“Standing here in a formal gown and talking about how to prevent school shootings feels like a weird juxtaposition,” I said.

“Mm, I can see that, but part of change starts here. Sadly, it’s not always a given that people will do what’s best unless there is an incentive behind it.” He glanced at my foot. “How ya doing?”

I waved away his question. “If someone needs an incentive to do the right thing when it involves keeping people, especially children, safe, they should be… I dunno, but something bad should happen to them.”

“Thankfully, those people are the minority.” He brushed a lock of curled hair behind my ear. “I’m glad we came. I often wondered what it would have been like to have you beside me at things like this. Now I know.”

“A lot of work, huh? With me leaning on you so much. It makes me think of that terrible saying, ‘the ole ball and chain.’”

“I think that’s more about being shackled. And I’d pick you to be shackled to every time.”

“Such sweet words,” I cooed.

“We’ll give Dalton another hour to show up before we bail. Think your ankle can take it?”

“Of course. What if he doesn’t show up?”

“Then he’ll send a proxy. We need to show them we aren’t rattled and we’re ready to rumble.”

“Okay, I’ll go sit at the bar and see who approaches,” I said.

“And rest your ankle while you’re at it.”

“Win-win.” I brushed a kiss across his mouth.

Cal’s phone chimed, and he checked the text message. “Paul’s contact in Vegas said someone from the Beck Group called to confirm the validity of our nuptials.”

The gauntlet had been thrown. Now we would wait.

ChapterThirty-Three

SABRINA

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