The Bull Rider's Baby Bombshell Page 12

  “Like your comment earlier about your career possibly being over.”

  Wes’s heart thudded to a jarring stop. He had managed to forget the realities of his job for the past hour. “A bull rider has a short shelf life as do many other sport professionals. By the time you hit thirty, your body starts feeling every fall three and four times more than you did in your early twenties. Especially when the same injuries keep reoccurring.”

  “Is that what happened with your shoulder?” Concern etched deep in her features as she frowned up at him.

  “Pretty much.” Wes rested his head against the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling, not wanting to see the pity he was certain would follow. “Now I need to make the decision to either have surgery and sit out for the next six months, possibly longer, or try to finish this season, then rest for a few months and try it one more time.”

  “Six months?” Jade twisted sideways, draping her bare legs across his jeans as the hem of her dress rose, exposing her more to him. Her toned thighs begged to be caressed and his inner voice begged to comply. “I can’t imagine not being able to work for that long.”

  Unable to tear his gaze from her body, he allowed himself the pleasure of studying it without physically touching her. He wanted to memorize every inch, every curve. And the woman had curves. Luscious Marilyn Monroe curves that tested the seams of the cotton dress’s bodice. The tops of her full breasts rose with each breath. He silently thanked God the zipper was in the back because the urge to set them free quickly became a test of his willpower.

  “I’m glad you see it that way.” Wes wished he had kept on his sling. It would have given him a place to rest his arm. He lifted it to drape across the back of the couch and winced. Silently he cursed, at the pain and the effect Jade had on him. He patted the cushion next to him, hoping the steady beat would force his heartbeat back on track. “My doctor and my agent don’t. It’s not just a financial thing. I’ve made quite a bit competing and I’ve socked a lot of it away. Not being able to compete means not being able to teach. It also means someone younger can come in and take my place both in the arena and at the rodeo school. Big names attract spectators, sponsors and students.”

  “Humor me for a second and allow me to play devil’s advocate. If you are planning to retire at the end of next season, what is so bad about retiring this year?”

  “For starters, I wanted to retire on my own terms. To go out on top, with another championship win. I haven’t had one since I was twenty-six. I’ve been chasing my own success for three years. If I retire with the championship, I’ll have more options afterward.”

  “What kind of options?”

  “Endorsement deals and collaborations with equipment manufacturers, my own bull riding clinics, TV analyst gigs.” Everything his father said he could be if he worked hard enough. The man may have questioned teenage rumors and have been cruel with his words at times, but he believed in Wes’s ability to win. “There are a lot of options when you’re one of the best. And I was one of the best. And then I made mistakes.”

  “Mistakes as in your agreement with Liv?”

  “If you had asked me that question a few weeks ago I would’ve answered yes.” Wes still couldn’t believe how attached he’d grown to the girls in a little over a week. “Liv, my uncle’s death, moving to Texas and their birth...they were all distractions. But no, helping to bring Audra, Hadley and Mackenzie into this world definitely wasn’t a mistake. Even with all the past issues between us and your sister’s postpartum depression, I’m glad I did it. I just want them to grow up happy.”

  Jade laid her head on his shoulder as they watched the three beautiful lives they’d unknowingly created together. “So this is what normal feels like.”

  Wes started to laugh. “I’m not sure if I’d call our arrangement normal.”

  “No, I mean two adults at home on the couch while the little ones drift off to sleep. The closest I’ve ever gotten to the experience is on a TV show. It’s nice.”

  “Yeah, it is.” Wes buried his nose in her hair, never wanting to forget the scent of her shampoo. Contentment washed over him as he held her while watching their daughters. It was wrong for him to think of them that way, but he wanted that pleasure. Just for one night. He’d never be this close to having a family ever again. And that was okay, because this was the only family he wanted to remember. That realization welled in his chest. He didn’t want to be a dad. He didn’t want a wife or a family. His career and livelihood were collapsing around him and all he wanted to do was stay in this moment and not let go.

  Chapter Eight

  Jade hated to miss a wedding or any party, for that matter. It went against every fiber of her being. More important, she hated not being able to see Wes amongst the groomsmen. She even bet he’d be the most handsome man there. The more time she spent with him, the more she liked him beyond the physical attraction. If they had reconnected for any other reason, they may have had a fighting chance at something real.

  A cool Montana summer breeze fluttered the curtains on the open windows. It was perfect outdoor wedding weather and the forecasted clear night would make for a magical reception under a star-filled sky.

  Technically she could attend the wedding. Emma had extended her an invite but, despite receiving many offers to babysit the triplets, Jade felt it was more important for the bride and groom’s friends to attend instead of her. She just wished the ceremony wasn’t happening on the most remote part of the ranch where she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of it.

  Jade stepped onto the porch. It was still surreal to her to walk out a front door and see wide-open spaces. Even when she lived in Saddle Ridge as a kid, there had always been other houses surrounding them.

  The ranch was quiet this afternoon. At least where the cabin was. She envisioned the bustle of the bride and her attendants as she got ready, and the guests filing into the newly constructed wedding venue overlooking town and the Swan Range. Jarrod had picked up Maddie an hour ago, giving her a chance to give her friend her seal of approval. She’d spent fifteen minutes with them and she could already envision their wedding.

  Jade had developed a sixth sense about relationship longevity years ago and she had a pretty good track record at picking the odds. She could also tell when her own relationships were doomed and had learned to eliminate the heartbreak by getting out early on. The problem with Wes was, if she removed Liv and the girls from the equation, she didn’t see that heartbreak potential. She genuinely liked him and wanted to spend whatever time they had left together. But her sister and the triplets did exist and no amount of justification would make any relationship with Wes right.

  It wasn’t fair. She’d made a career of planning happily-ever-afters and her life was more of a lonely-ever-after. Los Angeles was the land of opportunity. Where big dreams were made and realized. For the most part, Jade lived that life and she’d been satisfied. Now that she’d had a taste of family, she wanted it. Only the family she wanted wasn’t hers to keep.

  Jade stormed back inside, annoyed for worrying about her love life instead of Liv’s recovery. She wasn’t in Montana for herself. She was there for her sister and no sacrifice should be too big. Then why did it already feel like it was?

  “It’s all temporary, Jade,” she said to no one as she pulled out a kitchen chair and sat at the large round table covered in wedding paraphernalia. Any feelings she had for Wes were only in the here and now. In a few months, they would be a distant memory. She shook her head to clear him from her brain. “Okay...time to focus on Delta and Garrett’s wedding tomorrow.”

  Jade checked and rechecked her lists. Even though the sunrise ceremony was much more casual than tonight’s wedding, there was still a lot involved to pull it together before the guests arrived. Normally she’d schedule vendors to come in and do all the setup, but Delta and Garrett’s budget left Jade doing much of the work herself. It had
been a long time since she’d planned an old-school wedding, and she secretly loved every minute of it. Even with teams of people helping her back home, the intense stress to coordinate every event was exhausting. This wasn’t. From assembling table centerpieces in mason jars, hand folding silverware napkin pouches and arranging a bridal bouquet from flowers grown on the ranch, Jade welcomed this new level of stress. She enjoyed her celebrity events in Los Angeles, but she loved the close family atmosphere of this more.

  It’s only temporary.

  “Go away.” Jade didn’t need her inner voice reminding her none of it was hers to keep.

  “How did you even know I was here?” a man said from the doorway. “I haven’t knocked yet.”

  “Wes!” Jade shot out of her chair so fast she almost knocked it over. “You scared me half to death.” She quickly grabbed the baby monitor to see if she woke the girls. “What are you doing here?”

  Good heavens! Jade gripped the table for support. Wes’s tall silhouette in the open door frame was a memory she never wanted to forget. His broad shoulders, lean waist and muscular long legs made her breath catch in her throat. But it was when he took a step forward and she saw him standing before her in his black cowboy hat, dress Wranglers and boots, white button-down shirt and silver-gray vest that her tummy flip-flopped a thousand times over.

  “You look great.” Had she just said that out loud? Get control, girl.

  “Thank you.” He touched the brim of his hat and nodded.

  Now, that was something she didn’t see in LA. “What are you doing here and where’s your sling?”

  “I refuse to wear that thing today. I’ll be fine if I don’t overuse my shoulder or arm. And I’m here to escort you to the wedding.”

  “Did Emma or Maddie put you up to this?”

  “Nobody puts me up to anything. Emma would like you to be there, though. Megan’s mom is on her way over to babysit the girls and before you argue with me, she said she’s happy to do it.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I need to work on tomorrow’s wedding. I have to start setting up as soon as the reception ends tonight. Delta and Garrett put together a group of volunteers for me.”

  “I know. I’m one of the volunteers.”

  “You?” Jade mentally kicked herself for not realizing Garrett would ask him for help. It was a given. Yet in the back of her mind, she couldn’t wait to see Wes’s appreciation for her contribution to his brother’s wedding. Especially since she refused to accept any payment beyond the necessary supply and rental fees. This was her gift to Delta for being such a good friend to her sister. She would have preferred to cover all the expenses, but the bride and groom refused.

  Wes crossed the room to her. “I won’t take no for an answer.” He placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her toward the hallway. “By the time you’re ready, the sitter will be here. Just don’t take too long, I have to be there in twenty minutes.”

  “Twenty minutes?” Jade tried to look at him over her shoulder as he continued to push her toward the bedroom. “Nothing like giving a girl short notice.” Truth was, Jade had mastered the art of getting ready for a formal event in under ten minutes. It was a requirement in her industry, especially on the occasion she juggled multiple events in one day.

  “I will spend the rest of the night helping you with whatever you need.” He stopped and released her shoulders as they reached the girls’ bedroom.

  “Wes?” Jade whispered. The smile he’d worn only moments ago had faded to sadness. “What is it?”

  “In twenty-four hours, I’ll be on a plane to Texas. I’ll never see them again.”

  Jade rested her hand lightly on his arm, uncertain how to console him. She couldn’t even begin to comprehend the thought of walking away forever.

  “Liv’s original plan may have been to keep you out of their lives, but she may not feel that way now. There’s still hope.”

  “That’s a big if, and until I know for sure, I can’t allow myself that hope. I made an agreement with your sister and I have to stand by that unless she says otherwise. I can’t just watch from a distance, though. You should go get ready,” Wes said before walking back to the dining area.

  Jade didn’t know which was harder...remaining in their lives and always wondering what could’ve been, or never having the opportunity to see them grow up. Either choice was a tremendous sacrifice and there was no alternative.

  She sealed herself in her room and leaned against the door. The realization she may never see Wes again struck her heart like a lightning bolt splits an oak. Attending the wedding with him would be the only date they’d ever have. Not that dating Wes was ever a possibility. Then why did it hurt?

  She quickly tugged her shirt over her head with one hand while opening the closet door with the other. She’d found the sweetest vintage clothing store in town the day she met with Liv’s attorney. The shop owner had been setting out a display of ’50s dresses and other outfits, all in her size. They’d fit as if they had been made for her and Jade couldn’t resist buying the whole collection.

  She removed a red-and-white rose dress from the hanger and slipped it on. The tailored bodice, nipped waist and full, flared skirt accentuated her curves and made her waist appear smaller. And she was all for anything that thinned her out a bit. The accompanying petticoat added a touch of extra volume and made her feel ultrafeminine and a little giddy about attending the wedding with Wes. Of course, he would be up front with his brothers during the ceremony, but a small part of her looked forward to a dance afterward. Jade hadn’t allowed herself that pleasure in years because it was a rarity she was a guest at anything. Tonight, she’d make an exception. It was the last chance she’d have to enjoy Wes’s company on a personal level and she wanted to savor it, because come tomorrow night, she’d miss him and what could never be. Tonight was theirs.

  * * *

  WES STRUTTED PROUDER than a peacock down the white pine walkway of the wedding venue with Jade on his arm. He heard a few gasps, a hint of a whisper here and there and quite a few “they look lovely together” from the older crowd as they made their way to the front of the outdoor ceremony site.

  Dylan had designed and built the gazebo and surrounding venue seating as a wedding gift for Emma on the very spot they had fallen in love. It had been six months of hard labor to complete it on time, but the location overlooking Saddle Ridge with the majestic Swan Range before them was their declaration of love to one another in front of everyone and heaven above.

  For a man who’d never cared about sentiment or long-term relationships, these past two weeks at home had forever altered Wes’s sense of family. He wanted someone to look at him the way Emma looked at his brother. He wanted someone to plan the rest of his life with and children to watch grow up and raise families of their own. He wanted the woman who was ever so slightly pressed against him. The woman whose perfume tickled his nose in an “I can’t get enough” kind of way. He wanted the chance to see where things could lead with Jade. Even an early retirement didn’t look so bad with her in the picture. Only she wasn’t in the picture. At least not past tomorrow.

  Wes clenched his fist against the painful vise slowly squeezing the life out of his heart. Twenty-three hours and counting before he stepped on that plane. It would be all right once he was away from Jade and the girls. It had to be because he couldn’t live with the agony of always wondering what if. He just needed some time to shake it off. And since he refused to retire early, he needed to focus all his attention on winning the championship.

  “I’m so glad you decided to join us.” Dylan hugged Jade. “Emma will be too.”

  “You did a beautiful job.” Jade glanced around at the long, curved pine benches Dylan had permanently built into the ground. “It’s absolutely breathtaking here. I never knew Saddle Ridge could be so beautiful.”

  Neither could Wes.

 
“Emma and I hope to one day see our children get married here. And maybe the rest of both our families will choose this place too.” Dylan nudged Wes. “You’re next, little bro.”

  “Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Wes said, feeling as if his tie was suddenly about to choke him to death. As he adjusted it, he noticed Jade’s shoulders sag as she turned away from him. Crap! Even though they both knew they had zero chance of a future together, he could’ve chosen his words a little more carefully. He looked up at Dylan, who stood there shaking his head. Double crap! “Why don’t I show you to your seat?”

  “I can manage, thank you.” Jade hurried to her seat before he had a chance to stop her. He would’ve appreciated a private second alone to explain himself, although what explanation was needed? Neither one of them could possibly be that disillusioned to believe they had anything past tomorrow.

  “Go after her.” Dylan gave him a friendly shove.

  “No.” Wes took his place beside his brother. “It’s not like that between us. We’re just friends.”

  “I don’t know who you’re trying to convince, but there’s a lot more between you and Jade than friendship.”

  “Are you ready?” Reverend Grady asked Dylan. “I just got word your bride is on her way.”

  “I’ve never been more ready.” Dylan excitedly rubbed his hands together.

  Garrett squeezed in between them. “Let’s get you married.”

  Once again, neither of his brothers had chosen him to be best man at their weddings. It was such a petty thing, but considering they had been each other’s best man at their first weddings, it would have been nice if they could have chosen him and Harlan to stand up for them this time around.

  Harlan clapped him on the back. “Hey,” he whispered. “The other day Belle and I decided to renew our vows and I want you to be my best man. I didn’t have one last year and I’d really like you to do the honors.”