Page 49 of The Cowboy's Redemption
“This is your first time competing in Tanner Shannahan’s hometown. Will you be attending the bull riding event with his family later this evening?”
Dana finally caught sight of Levi. The warmth in her eyes stole the winter chill from the arena. The heat of her smile sent the temperature of the air around him soaring about a hundred degrees. He really liked this new, confident version of her.
And this was what he’d wanted for them—this warm connection that meant they could communicate without words, whether they were alone or surrounded by thousands of strangers. Her eyes saidI love youto him as clearly as if she’d shouted the words over the arena’s loudspeakers.
“Unlikely,” she said to the blogger, her attention on Levi. “I have other plans.”
Levi smiled back. He had plans for her, too.
She tossed Tanoa’s reins to Chance Avery, who’d been standing nearby, likely waiting for her to have a free moment.
“Would you mind walking her for me?” she said to Chance.
She then started toward Levi, who met her halfway. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, sending a clear, public message that flashed on video display to hoots of surprise from their rodeo audience around the entire arena.
Lady Dana was done grieving.
“Great ride,” Levi said, his nose touching hers, even though he hadn’t stayed for the finish. He rubbed his hands the length of her back. He’d missed the feel of her against him. The scent of her hair. He buried his nose in her throat and inhaled a deep breath of warm skin.
“It was an okay ride. Tanoa’s not the problem today, though.” Her arms tightened as she whispered into his ear, “I think her rider handles better for men.”
He laughed a little at that. “Any man? Or one in particular?”
“Depends on the man.” Dana kissed him again. Phones were actively flashing around them now, but she wasn’t paying any attention, reminding him that she tended to express herself physically when conveying emotion. “I’m talking about the one who thinks he knows what’s best for me. What I need. Let’s see if he does.”
He felt obliged to remind her that all eyes were on them. “Keep this up and you’re going to earn a far less flattering new nickname, Lady Dana. We might make it to one of the change rooms before we get our clothes off, but once we’re inside, there won’t be any doubts as to what we’ll be doing.”
She let her arms drop, her hands maintaining physical contact as they journeyed the brief distance to his. She laced their fingers together. She didn’t take her eyes off his face. “I’ve always hated that nickname. They can call me Lady Luck from now on and read into it what they will.”
So much for caring about what other people thought.
The video displays had returned to the action inside the arena. The noise level was high enough that they could at least have a conversation without the entire building listening in.
“Making peace with the past has been harder,” she admitted.
“I saw you with Tate. It’s a start,” he replied, because she’d put in the effort and Rome wasn’t built in a day.
“Tate was easy. The stop I made on the way here wasn’t, and while I can’t say I found peace in it, I did manage to let go of a few things—because I really do want to give us a chance.”
He held her close. He’d been so afraid that he’d pushed her too hard. “Thank you for that.”
She touched his cheeks. Her hands were warm, and her eyes promised him things. Good things. Things he’d missed. Desperately.
“I love you,” she said, so intensely he found himself blinking. “I don’t ever want you to think you aren’t first in my heart, or that I’d allow the past to ruin any chance we have for happiness together. What we have—what you mean to me—it’s about us. Nothing else. And I had to tell you this, because I knew if I didn’t, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”
“I love you, too. So much, in fact, I’ve given you four months, three days, and twenty-one hours to come to your senses.”
She laughed. “You made that number up.”
“Maybe.” The joy her laughter held had set his heart spinning. “But I didn’t expect you to take quite so long. I had to bring in plan B.”
“Plan B?”
“Ryan didn’t believe you’d fall for him having to review that contract between you and Ford before you could sign it. I won a hundred dollars.”
“Youbeton me?”
He kissed her again. Fiercely. Uncaring that they weren’t alone. He could fix that easily enough. He had the keys to the arena’s boardroom in his front pocket.
