Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(133)

Stunned silence.


“I want to be with you. But I realize the timing for this couldn’t possibly come at a worse time for you.”


“Rory, that doesn’t—”


She put her fingers over his mouth. “Don’t. Even if you’re convinced you’ve made up your mind and know what you want, I’m asking you to take a little time and really think it through. Talk to your brothers. Talk to your mom. Make a rational decision, not an emotional one.”


Dalton was so shocked or deep in thought that he couldn’t speak.


Rory shouldered her satchel and walked out.


She made it to her Jeep before she heard the screen door slam. She whirled around and Dalton was in her face.


“Don’t make an emotional decision?” he demanded, crowding her against her car. “That’s the only kind of decision that’s worth anything.” He snapped the paper in her face. Then he crumpled it into a ball and threw it over his shoulder. “Deny me the elk farm permit. The only reason I applied for it is because I thought you’d be livin’ here and I’d need something to do.”


“What?”


“I wasn’t completely honest with you. I don’t have a burning desire to raise elk. I saw an opportunity, a reason to stay in Sundance. Yes, I have family here and I’ve dealt with some issues that will keep my brothers and their families part of my life. But Rory, I was here for you. I stayed for you. If you’re not here, there’s no reason for me to stay.”



She blinked at him. Maybe the inability to speak was contagious because she couldn’t make her lips move.


“I love you. I thought I lost you once and that’s never happening again. Never. I don’t even need five seconds to make a decision. You go, I go. We belong together. Not just while you’re killin’ time waiting for a killer job, or I’m killin’ time hoping to heaven that you’ll fall in love with me. We are forever.” Dalton curled his hands around her face. “So yes, I’ll run away with you to Missoula. But when we go, you’ll be wearing my ring.”


“Are you asking me to marry you?”


“No. I’m telling you that we will be married. I’m willing to wait until you’re settled in your new job, but I want you as my wife, Rory. I want everyone to know that you’re mine. That we’re building a life together.”


Over the past few months when Dalton looked at her a certain way, or placed a kiss below her ear, or ran his finger down the inside of her arm, she sensed his satisfaction. His possession. She’d chalked it up to sex. Now she saw it for what it really was. Love that went beyond anything she’d ever thought any man could feel for her, let alone this man who owned her heart, body and soul.


It was past time she let him know she felt the same.


She ran her hands through his hair. “I love you.”


He quit breathing entirely. Then he said, “Say it again.”


“I love you.” Before she could repeat it for a third time, because she knew that’s what he’d ask for, his mouth was on hers. Not consuming her with a fierce kiss, but leveling her with tenderness and gratitude. And hope. There was so much hope in him, in this kiss, that her eyes grew wet.


The kiss went on and on. Gentle and hot, packed with the type of sweet need that caused her to cling to him tighter.


When he finally released her mouth, he murmured, “You really mean it?”


“Yes, I do. I love you, McKay.”


“This is the best day of my life. Right now, in this moment with you.”


“Mine too.”


Epilogue


Six months later


“Do you, Dalton Patrick McKay, take Aurora Rose Wetzler to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?”


Dalton froze.


This was it. The next step would tie him to this woman permanently and the judge’s final words would pronounce them husband and wife.


Dalton McKay, husband.


That sounded…perfect. Really f*cking perfect actually.


“I do.” He lifted Rory’s hand to his mouth for a kiss. “I do, I do, I do. I cannot wait for this woman to be my wife.”


“You sorta went off-script,” Rory whispered.


“I’m an off-script kinda guy.”


The judge cleared his throat. “May I continue?”


“Ah, yeah, sure, go for it.”


“Do you, Aurora Rose Wetzler, take Dalton Patrick McKay to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?”


“I do.”


They exchanged rings.


Then the judge said the magic words. “By the power vested in me by the State of Wyoming, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your bride. Kiss your groom. This union is official.”


Dalton curled his hands around her face, the beautiful face of this woman whose eyes were shining with love for him. “I love you.” He kissed her with sweetness and devotion. And he had to laugh softly when he finally pulled back. “Sugarplum lip gloss. Nice touch.”