Page 97 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

“I’m moving to Cheyenne.”

Kristy hung on to him like she was drowning, because that’s how his words made her feel. She leaned back in his embrace to get a good look at the pained expression on his face. “Why are you moving to Cheyenne?”

He grimaced. “Two reasons. I decided I was going to fight for you, and if I was going to fight for you, I had to be where you were. And two, I was offered a civilian job at the air force base in Cheyenne, training recruits for the pararescue team.”

She took a deep breath and blew it out.

“You were ready to do that to be with me? So you want a real relationship now?” Joy bubbled up inside her like champagne being uncorked.

“Yes.” His eyes searched her face, as if trying to read something there.

“But I’m not going to be there, and you said you didn’t want a desk job—you wanted to be part of the action.”

He shrugged. “Besides training, which will keep me physically active, I’m also going to be part of the strategic team that helps plan missions and slots the personnel to accomplish the mission. That will provide enough challenge. I’m actually looking forward to it. Or was.”

He hugged her close, and she tightened her arms around his neck. She’d gone from fear, to happiness, to confusion in the space of a few minutes.

“I’m also committed to understanding what’s behind those nightmares that plague me, and the base has counselors I can use.”

“I’m really proud of you, Rusty.” She kissed his cheek. It took courage to face one’s demons. “But you’re going to be in Cheyenne and I’m going to be in Gillette?” And not just for two years. “How are we going to make this work?” His rock-hard body was like an anchor, keeping her from drifting, because she definitely felt at sea.

“We’ll find a way, Kristy. Together. We have to.”

His lips found hers, hard and demanding, making her believe him. For the moment, at least.

Chapter 25

Three Months Later

The ballroom glittered under the large crystal chandeliers that hung from the hotel’s ceiling. Guests dressed in black-tie and formal gowns strolled around the tables, stopping to chat with familiar people. The band had been on break but started to tune up again.

Kristy felt a sense of satisfaction as she surveyed the scene. The fundraiser she had planned for her father was going according to plan. No major hiccups. No Dean the Weasel either. Out of a rare sense of decency, he had declined the invitation despite being her father’s new chief of staff.

She checked out the head table, where her father presided, sitting next to the governor. Like minions greeting their leader, a reception line had formed as people streamed over to the table to pay their respects. And sitting on the other side of her father was her mother, making small talk as people strode past.

She didn’t know what was going on with her mother and father, but they were on much better terms than they had ever been, even when married. And her father seemed much more attentive to her mother, interested in her comfort, how her day had gone, how her business was going. No one knew what the future would bring, but for now, Kristy was happy to see her parents happy.

She felt a hand at the small of her back and turned.

“Well, you did it. Your dad has to be pleased.” Rusty looked handsome in his tux, if a bit out of context.

“I won’t know until it’s over, and maybe not even then.” Her dad wasn’t the compliment-giving type. “ButI’mpleased.”

He kissed her lightly on the forehead. “That’s all that matters.”

She brushed a hand down his chest. “Everything okay at the base? They aren’t mad you took off?”

“All I had to say was that the new Wyoming attorney general had requested my presence, and suddenly they had someone to cover maneuvers tonight.”

Attorney general. The idea that her dad was now attorney general for the state took some getting used to. Likely the governor had appointed her father to the position to keep her father from running against him, or maybe it truly was fortuitous that the former attorney general had just happened to accept a job as general counsel with one of the energy companies.

After Marcia’s health scare, Marcia had offered Kristy a bigger stake so Marcia could cut back her hours and stress. Kristy was now responsible for the profit and loss of all of Wyoming, with staff in both Cheyenne and Gillette. Kristy had moved back to Cheyenne to run the operation from there. Ariel had stayed behind in Gillette and, with Greta’s help, who had announced she was retiring from modeling, was running the Gillette office. Marcia headed up the business but would be focused on Colorado.

Per the agreement she had signed, the profits would be based on their ownership percentage. Gratefully, An Affair to Remember was a lucrative event planning business, even more so with the expansion into the northeast part of the state.

And because of that, she had finally gained legitimacy in her father’s eyes, though she’d always been “legitimate” in her own eyes. She had reminded her father more than once that he had a hat to eat, since Marcia had more than fulfilled her part of the bargain. He’d yet to do so, but it was fun to tease him about it.

“I’m so happy things are going so well,” Including his work with the counselor. Those nightmares were less and less frequent. “And the job has been fulfilling enough for you.” Kristy had been concerned when Rusty had pulled his application for the police force. It had seemed like an impulsive decision at the time, even if she was gratified that the decision had been made because Rusty wanted her in his life.

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