Page 32 of Love Me, Cowboy
“Thanks, Cooter,” Claire said, giving the annoying ranch hand a sad smile. Facing Tyler, she said, “Can I come in?”
He wanted to drag her into his arms and make her swear to never leave, but then her words echoed in his ears, and Tyler stiffened his resolve. With a shrug he said, “Suit yourself,” and took the place Cooter had vacated on the arm of the couch.
Claire closed the door behind her but didn’t move far into the house. Lingering in what served as a foyer in his tiny cabin, she hugged herself tight as if she might fall apart if she didn’t hold herself together.
Tyler knew the feeling.
As much as he wanted to lash out at her, Tyler couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. “I’d invite you to sit down, but I need to head into town.” That was a lie, but he didn’t care. Dragging this out would only makes things worse. Better to cut it off quick.
“I was hoping you’d let me apologize.”
Tyler shook his head. “Nothing to apologize for. You’re entitled to your opinion, and it’s better we find out what that is now instead of later.” When losing her would hurt even more.
“You can’t really think I meant those words.”
“Then why did you say them?” This is what had been driving him crazy. No, he didn’t want to believe that’s how Claire felt. That she didn’t respect his choices. But he’d heard her loud and clear.
“Tyler.” She reached for him, but he leaned away. Claire sighed and wiped away a fresh tear. “I was angry, though I know that’s no excuse. The idea of you getting hurt like she said set me off. I don’t know what I’d do if that happened.”
He never intended to be a burden on anybody, least of all Claire. But the idea that his getting hurt would somehow be a deal breaker for her...
“Think about it from my side,” she said. “How would you feel if I was in a bad accident and nearly died?”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is,” she said, stepping close before he could leap off the couch and move away. “You mean more to me than I can ever explain. The thought of seeing you in pain, suffering, and knowing I couldn’t take that pain away, would be a living hell.”
“I doubt it would be a picnic for me either.” Claire had him cornered, and Tyler couldn’t bring himself to push past her. Instead, he crossed his arms and stared past her. “So you’re out. Like I said, better now than later.”
“God, you’re so damn stubborn,” she said, the sudden anger so unlike her. “I’m not out. And I’m not letting you out either. We’ve wasted too much time already.”
“Claire, I’m not walking away from bull riding.”
“And I’m not walking away from you.”
The standoff continued for what felt like an eternity before Claire raised a brow of challenge and said, “I can’t say I won’t be scared out of my mind every time you climb onto one of those animals. But I’ll be there, Tyler. I’ll be there to cheer you on. To celebrate the wins and soothe the soreness. I respect everything you do, and if you know me at all, you know I’m telling the truth.”
He wanted to believe her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Even more than he wanted to climb back on a bull.
Rising to his feet, Tyler dropped his arms. “I’ve loved you for so long, Claire. For exactly who you are, not for who you might change into someday. I need to know you feel the same. I need to know you’re not waiting for the day when I’ll give up bull riding.”
Claire shook her head. “I can’t go back in time and make those words go away. But I promise, I’m not waiting for you to change. I’ve told you before, you’re perfect, Tyler. You’re the perfect man for me. Now and ever after.”
He couldn’t hold out any longer. Tyler crushed Claire against him, taking her mouth in a kiss that he hoped would tell her all the things he couldn’t find the words to say. He was a fool to think he ever could have let her go.
Minutes later, when they were both desperate for air, Claire said, “Do you really have to go into town?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Tyler said, tracing Claire’s lower lip with his thumb. “Not for several hours.”
Wearing the naughty smile Tyler would never get enough of, Claire took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom.
* * *
Claire tried to feel bad that she was the happiest woman in the room, considering she was standing in the middle of her best friend’s wedding rehearsal, during which the bride should have been the one beaming. But Mary Catherine wasn’t beaming. In fact, she looked miserable.
“If that glow gets any brighter, I’m going to need shades,” MC said, downing what Claire counted to be her third glass of wine. “Are you going to tell me what has you shining brighter than Marilyn’s obnoxious, overly illuminated Christmas tree?”
Claire longed to yell her good news from the church’s bell tower, but she and Tyler had agreed to tell Mary Catherine together, and Tyler had yet to arrive at the church. To be fair, Claire had shown up a half hour early, claiming she was there for MC, when the truth was she couldn’t stand to be away from Tyler.