Page 84 of A Baby for the Texas Cowboy
“Then work.”
“I want to be partners, not just follow your lead.”
“I don’t want less than or more than equal, although I do love the way your eyes go honey-gold when I rile you up.”
She stepped forward so that they were almost touching. She looked up at him, her lips a whisper away. “I don’t want you to change for me,” she said. “I don’t want you to quit the tour until you’re ready. I want you to quit on your terms.”
He ran his hands through her loose hair. It flowed through his fingers like liquid flames. “I’ll admit tonight felt pretty damn good. Riding makes me feel so alive. I love everything about riding bulls, but I don’t like the distance, and I can already tell the time apart from you is going to be hard.”
“I miss you too,” she admitted. “And I’ll take some time off and travel with you sometimes.”
He pulled her tight into his body and buried his face against her neck. His heart felt so full it hurt.
“It killed me to meet your mother,” he said. “I hated how she talked to you and treated you. You are a treasure, and yet I don’t think she ever once realized your value or how she has been blessed, and these past few days apart gave me time to think that I don’t want to make the same mistake. You are perfect for me. Perfect as you are. Perfect woman. Perfect wife. Perfect mother of our children.”
“Don’t say anything else.” Tinsley sniffed and blinked hard. “You’re going to make me cry and I have a party to go to.”
“You got the champion in your room.” He smiled at her, happier now than he had been earlier when he’d won. “We can make our own party here.”
“Later, cowboy.” She levered her body back, nipped his jaw and stared up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “This is your night, and I want you to fully embrace it.”
He loved her strength, but her vulnerability got him every damn time.
“I got everything I want right here, Tinsley. Everything.”
“And this is only the beginning.” She took his hand, kissed it and placed it over her baby bump. “The beginning of us.”
Epilogue
Anders got themessage after he hopped off Brawler and saw his score. Ninety-one. Hard to beat that.
“Your brother called and chartered a helicopter for you,” one of the AEBR PR people said as they hurried up to him. “Your wife went into labor a little while ago.”
His heart leapt in alarm. It was three weeks early. He was riding this week and next and then he’d planned to take two to four weeks off, which would back up to a break. The AEBR hadn’t been thrilled with his plan, but they hadn’t kicked up too much of a fuss.
“The crowd is going to love this announcement,” she said. “As a reason for not waiting around to stand in the winner’s circle, it kills, Daddy.”
He barely noticed that she took pictures and video of him as he gathered up his things and made it out to the parking lot. Another Texas rider was going to drive his rig to Last Stand along with his winnings. Between the AEBR and his brother, Anders just had to show up.
He’d never been in a helicopter before. It would have been amazing if he hadn’t been so nervous and excited and worried all at once. Talking to Tinsley on his cell kept him calm. She seemed excited, which was good because he felt like he was falling apart—especially when she had to stop and grit out each contraction.
The ride was fast. Axel picked him up from the Gillespie regional airport since the hospital frowned on civilian helicopters using their helipad—who did he think he was, a dang celebrity? Anders hurried to the maternity ward.
“Good, the father’s here.” Dr. Graham was suited up like she was about to perform surgery. Was that normal?
“Wash. Put on a gown. Gloves. Don’t touch anything.”
“What’s going on?”
“Just a precaution,” the nurse said. “We’re going through those double doors. C-section.”
He had time to wave at August and Cat, who held their baby daughter, and at Cruz, whose baby bump grew more obvious by the week. Axel immediately went to his wife and held her.
“I got to time the contractions!” Diego said. “Best math project ever.”
Anders laughed, and his heart swelled with love even as he was urged through the double doors.
Tinsley was awake, her beautiful hair tucked under a cap.
