“Is that what you call it? Nice? Dallas, that’s been your goal for years.”
“And to take care of my parents,” he agreed, “but do I really want to spend my years piling up endorsements? Sponsors? Healing from broken bones and bruises? Sweating my brains out in rehab? Is that what I want—what I need most—after all?” From the instant he’d landed today after the eight-second buzzer, he’d felt uncertain, unsettled when everything should have been a green light. Get back on the circuit, work even harder next season. Dallas answered his own question. “No, it’s not.”
Lizzie seemed speechless. Then she said, “You’re—You can’t quit.”
“Why not? Sure, today was fun and I’m glad you saw me ride, sort of, but you were right too. My life on the road is no life for a woman with three kids—” he glanced at her stomach “—and a fourth on the way.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Why give up what you love when you’re this far—” she held up two fingers an inch apart “—from that championship? Where’s your grit, Dallas?
“If I can hold my head up in this town,” she said, “even if a single person never speaks to me again—which I doubt because I do have friends, enough loyal ones to counter the rest—you can go back on the road until you reach that goal. And keep winning to care for your parents’ needs.”
“But is that all I’ve been trying to do? Busting my backside riding bulls to win the money I thought they’d need? Maybe I’ve had this all wrong. When I met Millie and Joe, I was this skinny kid who’d never had a real home, and I always felt guilty that Hadley didn’t have the same chances I did.”
Yet his brother had found happiness with Jenna and the twins. It was too bad they couldn’t have another child, but that wouldn’t destroy what they already had. As he’d said, they’d work that out. Dallas tried to explain. “Maybe I saw rodeo as a way not only to help my parents, to repay them for what they’ve done for me, but to prove I’m worthy of the love they’ve given me all these years. Like I had to earn that too.”
“But you don’t, Dallas. Just as I don’t need to prove anything to my mother. The Maguires’ love for you is unconditional. You’ve always had that.” She said, “Your parents won’t care what you decide as long as that’s the right choice for you.”
He took a long, deep breath. She was right, but the next words weren’t easy to say. “Maybe because of all those hard years in temporary places... I believed I didn’t deserve anyone’s love.”
“Oh, Dallas.” Her eyes had filled.
“I don’t want to mess this up either, but my parents—and you, definitely you—are more important to me than any career.” Who had he thought he was kidding? He hadn’t been falling for Lizzie. He was already in love with her. “You and I said things we shouldn’t, but people who care about each other have such power, they end up hurting that person they love most.”
Her voice trembled. “Is that your way of saying...you love me?”
“Yeah. It is.” And what about you? he wanted to ask. “See? Told you I wasn’t good at this.”
“Neither am I. After Harry and I divorced, I didn’t want to even think about another relationship. When I met you, I felt so wounded, and then, somehow, we ended up... Well, you know, that day before we were even friends.” Her face had turned an adorable pink. “Why couldn’t I see then that there could be so much more? Even when I didn’t feel the timing was right. Last January you didn’t just move in next door, cowboy.” She blinked. “You moved into my heart. I love you, Dallas, and I’m ready to trust again. In you.”
“In us,” he said, holding her gaze. “There’ll never be a perfect time for me to settle down, have a family. That time has to be now. I love you,” he said, “so much. I want you to be part of my life, I want to be part of yours, your kids’ lives. And this baby’s.”
Before she could answer, three wild children charged across the lawn right into the serious discussion Dallas had been about to tie up for Lizzie in a pretty bow. She would really put up with his rodeo career? He wasn’t down on one knee yet, but...
“Mama! I’m going to marry Emmie’s friend when we grow up!”
Lizzie smiled, her free hand brushing back his sweaty hair. “That’s a long way off, Seth.”
Jordan snickered. “Baby, baby, love and marriage...”
“Jordan, don’t tease your brother.”
Wearing his ribbon from the steer, or rather calf, riding event, Jordan looked as if he were about to taunt Seth even more, but then, with a glance at Dallas, seemed to think better of it. Obviously worn-out after the exciting day, Seth dropped onto Dallas’s lap and nestled against him as if he’d been doing so all his life. Lizzie was a great mother, and he’d have to rely on her experience, but it was Stella he still wasn’t sure about.
Lizzie’s little girl stood over him, scowling, which didn’t make her face look any less pretty, and a fresh surge of protectiveness washed through him. He’d have to try especially hard to win her over. But to his astonishment, Stella suddenly plunked down nearby. She studied Dallas for a moment, as if trying to decide if he was a bad guy or a good one.
“You’re a really cool bull rider,” she finally said.
“The high mark of approval,” Lizzie murmured.
In the years to come, Dallas would guide Jordan, who wanted to follow in his footsteps, in rodeo or any other walk of life. Seth too needed a father figure in the house. And so did Stella, whose
