; “Someday I’ll tell you all the things I thought about you that day, but we don’t have much more time. How would you feel about getting married secretly in Fort Worth three weeks from now? I’ll arrange to take the weekend off.”
“Only the weekend?”
“I can’t take more while I’m still on this case. We could be married by a justice of the peace in the afternoon, then I’ll watch you win your last rodeo. We’ll honeymoon for a day on our way back to Austin. After Finals we’ll have a family wedding at the church and a reception.”
She burrowed her face in his neck. “I think it’s perfect, but I don’t know how I’m going to last until Forth Worth without you.”
“I’ll phone you every opportunity I get.”
“If you’re undercover, I don’t want to know about it.”
“That’s good. We’ll both be happier that way. Tomorrow I’ll tell my folks we’re engaged.”
“I’ll do the same and inform the parents we want to be married right after Finals. I’ll tell Mom to call your mom. The two of them will get together to plan the wedding.”
“My folks have been waiting for this day forever. I have a three-week vacation coming up whenever I want to take it. The last night of Finals will be Saturday, December 12. We could get married on New Year’s Day and take off for that long honeymoon you announced on your blog.”
She crushed him to her. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”
“You will.” After another kiss, “I have to leave for the airport now, sweetheart. Come on. I’ll walk you to your trailer.”
“You don’t need to do that. I know you’re in a hurry.” On a groan, she gave him one more kiss to last until they saw each other again in Fort Worth. “Never forget how much I love you, Ranger Vance.”
Somehow she forced herself to get out of his car. She ran to the trailer and opened the back to check on Starburst. The headlights of his rental car shone on her and her horse. When she couldn’t see them any longer, she turned to Starburst and half sobbed for joy against her neck.
“He loves me, Starburst. See my engagement ring?”
Her horse nickered in response as if to say she already knew.
* * *
KELLIE HAD A hard time keeping her secret from Cody, even though he knew she was engaged for real. On Friday they reached Fort Worth. After getting settled at the RV campground, she told him she had some shopping to do in town and would work out with the horses later in the day.
After several stores she found a lovely oyster-colored two-piece lined wedding suit with long sleeves and pearl buttons. The jacket had lace trim on the collar and around the hem. She wanted to look bridal yet smart and sophisticated for this fabulous man she was marrying. This outfit was for him alone. She bought matching high heels and a beaded clutch bag. A new pair of pearl earrings caught her eye plus new underwear and a nightgown, the kind she’d never worn in her life. All soft lace and tiny straps.
Once she was back in Austin, she’d hunt for a gorgeous wedding dress with her mom. Her parents were thrilled Cy had proposed and were already planning a New Year’s Day wedding with his parents.
Excited out of her mind because she was marrying Cy in the morning, she hurried back to the RV park and exercised both her horses. She told Cody she’d be going into town in the morning, but would be back by noon to prepare the horses for the drive to the arena.
That evening she put her children to bed and she got started working on herself. First to wash her hair, then do her nails and toenails.
Cy would fly into Forth Worth in the morning. Everyone would presume he was out of town on a case. They planned to meet in the lobby of the Fort Worth Police Administration Building on West Belnap at 9:30 a.m. He’d arranged everything and Justice of the Peace Wilford Hayes would marry them.
Trust her fiancé to want their marriage to take place at the police bureau. As for Kellie, she didn’t care where it happened, as long as it did!
At a quarter to nine the next morning of November 7, she left for the police administration building, not wanting to be late. The parking was in a lot adjacent to the building. She drove in and parked her truck. As she walked out and across the street, she received so many wolf whistles and horn honks, it was embarrassing.
“That’s some lucky dude!” a guy called out from his cement truck.
She was almost to the doors of the building when she caught sight of the most handsome man she’d ever seen. He stood in front of the doors holding a small florist box. He was wearing a light gray suit and dazzling white shirt. Cy.
“I’m the lucky dude all right.”
Those piercing dark blue eyes were alive with desire as they swept over her. “Good heavens you’re gorgeous.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her right on the street where everyone could see them. “These are for you. Let me pin them on.”
While she stood there in a daze, he undid the lid and fastened a gardenia corsage on her shoulder. People waited to go in until he’d finished and had opened the door for her. He ushered her inside and kept his arm around her waist all the way to the elevator. “If it was your plan to take my breath, you’ve succeeded.”