TANNER clapped his hands together, sending powder puffing up from between his palms, and breathed in the familiar smells of being part of the action at a rodeo. It had been a couple of months since he’d made the decision, but actually working up to a big event, knowing it was his last professional ride? That was something else entirely.
He’d started riding when he was tiny, when his dad had thought it was a bit of a laugh to put his brave young son on top of a calf and let him pretend he was in the rodeo. Then he’d started riding horses and breaking in the wild ones, riding broncs and going on to watch his heroes who won title after title staying on top of the meanest bulls around.
The bug had bitten early, before he’d even left school, and despite all the rows and threats from his father, Tanner had refused to give in and done what he wanted to do. His father had been furious with him for turning his back on a more stable career, but when he’d started earning more and more money, eventually becoming the highest earner on the PBR circuit, as well as earning his degree, his father had eased off. Until the fall. Then everyone had been on his damn back.
But today was the end. It was a celebration of what he’d done and the man he’d become, but he also knew it was about growing up and moving on. This was a young man’s game, and he’d survived and lasted longer than most.
“And next up we have Taaaaaanneeeeerrrrrr Ford,” the announcer trilled, making Tanner’s name last at least a few seconds longer than it should have. “Ford is one of our most popular riders on the circuit, and injury hasn’t stopped him from being called the second-chance cowboy!”
Tanner channeled all his energy into the ride, lowering himself down onto the back of a bull that he’d probably been drawn to ride three times in his career. He wasn’t a standout bull, but he’d do the job.
Tanner signaled that he was ready and within an instant they were propelled out into the ring, the bull giving it his all and spinning, bucking, and kicking to get his rider off. Tanner loosened his body, let it go with the movement of the beast beneath him. He nudged his spurs in, his left arm raised high as the bull gave one hell of a buck, tossing himself around as Tanner did his best to stay on and give the crowd one hell of a ride to remember him by.
Then just like that, he was flying through the air, stumbling to his feet and leaping up onto the railings to avoid the charge of the angry bull. It was over.
Tanner waved to the crowd as they cheered and bellowed, some of them die-hard fans who’d seen him ride countless times, some who probably saw or heard about the agony of his big fall, and others watching him for the first time. He was sure going to miss it.
“Good ride,” one of the guys said to him as he climbed over and down to the other side.
“Thanks,” Tanner replied, recognizing the young man who’d spoken to him. “Bobby, is it?”
He received a grin in response. “Yeah it is. Didn’t expect you to know me.”
“You’ve got a lot of talent,” Tanner said, straightening his hat as he talked. “I’ll be seeing you from the other side of the fence next time.”
“You’re retiring?” Bobby asked, sounding incredulous.
It took Tanner a second to reply. It was a hard word to get used to saying. “Yeah, this is my last one. I’ll see you around.”
He walked slowly and looked at the bulls, waiting for their time in the ring. He loved the sound of them, the way they moved, their big, thickly muscled bodies. Bulls were in his blood, but there were so many ways he could stay involved in the sport he loved. He leaned on the railings, seeing Thunder Cat, the bastard bull that he’d expected to hate so much. Turned out he wasn’t so bad at giving second chances after all.
Maybe he could mentor someone, a young ambitious rider who needed a hand up. He could breed bulls. Hell, he could take over operations of the entire beef side of Ford Ranch if he wanted to right now. But all that mattered to him now was being happy, and he’d finally seen the forest for the trees—riding bulls wasn’t the only way to feel that buzz of adrenaline that he’d become so addicted to.
* * *
Lauren popped a light, fluffy pink piece of cotton candy into her mouth, grimacing as she watched Tanner half leap, half fall from the bull he was riding. She slurped back a big sip of cola, trying to settle the frantic, twisting sensation in her stomach as she waited for him to leap up on to the railings. Thank god he was about to retire. There was no way she could stand to watch him doing this more than once—her heart had been in her throat the entire time!
She breathed a sigh of relief when he leapt up onto the railings and waved to the crowd who were busy cheering and clapping for him. It was insane how many people were watching. She wondered where he’d gone and how he was feeling.
He was probably trying to absorb the moment and commit it to memory, so instead of going to look for him, she stayed put and kept watching the show. Respecting his space and giving him the time to process what he was doing was the least she could give him right now.
She leaned forward to watch a rider being hurled through the air, cringing as he hit the ground and the clown ran in to distract the bull. She gasped when the bull spun around and came back for him, just as the rider was pulled to safety. This was not something for the fainthearted! She wondered if the guy had a partner or family watching on.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Arms slipped around her from behind, big hands warm to her stomach as lips found her neck and dipped against her collarbone. She relaxed into his touch, loving the softness of his fingers and the deep whisper of his words against her skin when he spoke.
“Are you sure you’re done?” she asked, rocking back into him and wishing her hands weren’t full of cotton candy and cola.
He leaned over her shoulder and sipped through her straw. “You really should be drinking beer, not cola,” he scolded. “And only you would eat cotton candy instead of a corn dog.”
She laughed. “Only me, meaning because I’m a girl?”
“Come on,” he said, tugging at her waist. “It’s time to go.”
“Go where?” she asked, taking a long, final sip of her drink before dropping it into a trashcan.
“Anywhere, I don’t care,” he said, smiling at her as he placed an arm around her.
“Can I have an autograph?!” A young boy raced over, and soon Tanner was surrounded by kids jumping up and down.
Lauren stepped back, watching him and loving that he was so friendly with his young fans. He laughed and signed posters and programs, talking away and admitting that today was his last ride as a professional bull rider. She knew how hard it must have been to admit that, to actually confess to someone other than her that he was officially in retirement now.
“Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and waving goodbye to the crowd that had gathered behind them.
“Tanner, I’d love a drink and something decent to eat. Want to check out a cool little restaurant I read about online?” she asked, trying to play it cool so that he’d never guess what she had planned. He wouldn’t expect her to know anywhere to eat or drink in Georgia, and she didn’t want to give anything away.
“Ah, sure. Whatever you want.”
He no longer had his chaps and spurs on, but he was wearing his worn-in jeans and a plaid shirt, a few buttons undone at the front and his sleeves rolled up to show off deeply tanned forearms. He had a bag slung over his shoulder, and his hair was curling slightly around his ears. Lauren walked beside him, holding his hand, unable to take her eyes off the handsome man at her side.
“I love you,” she said, her voice barely a whisper as she pushed up to kiss him, nipping at his plump lower lip.
“I love you, too,” he replied, his smile starting at one corner of his mouth and slowly spreading to the other as he looked sideways at her.
She giggled and dipped her head to his, before falling back into step beside him and heading for the exit.
* * *
Tanner kept his arm tucked firmly around Lauren as they walked toward the restaurant she’d chosen. They’d taken a cab there, and he’d noticed how overly talkative she was. Maybe she was still on a high from attending her first PBR event or seeing him ride? It didn’t really matter why though, he was just pleased to have her by his side, happy as hell and talking a mile a minute.
He still found it hard to believe that they were together. That his career had just ended. That life was about to change forever, and that he surprisingly was fine with it all.
She tugged on his hand for a moment and he stopped, trailing a hand down her arm and wondering why she was giving him such a strange look.
“Kiss me,” she said, her smile infectious.
He bent to kiss her, hovering over her mouth once he’d finished. “Why do you look like the cat that got the cream?” he asked.
“Maybe you’re the cream,” she replied, sucking in her lower lip between her teeth, the way she always did when she was nervous or unsure.
He slapped her playfully on the bottom and grabbed her hand back, glancing up at the sign for Stone’s Cuisine & Cocktails. She was up to something, he just didn’t know what.
Tanner pushed the door open, holding it for her, and she hurried past him before stepping aside. Tanner went to say something, had opened his mouth, when he froze as the door shut behind him.
What the hell?
“Surprise!” Lauren murmured, sidling up beside him and pressing a warm kiss to his cheek. “Happy retirement, baby.”
Tanner was speechless as he looked at his family—all of them—sitting at a table, all sporting big grins and waving at him to come join them.
“You brought everyone here?” he asked, incredulous. “How did you convince them? How did you keep this a secret from me?”
She nudged him toward his family. “The secret was easy, and so was getting them all here. I don’t think you realize how much they all love you.”
He laughed. “Or how much they’re all thrilled I’ve retired.”
Mia was on her feet first, arms extended, and Tanner bent to give her a big hug.
“That was a great final ride, Tan,” she said, squeezing him tight. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Of course you are,” he replied, “you were always my number-one fan!”
Sam stood up beside his wife, hand extended. “Great ride.”
“You all bothered to come to Georgia for me?” Tanner said, shaking his head as he clasped his father’s hand. “Hell, I thought pigs would be more likely to fly than get all of you to watch me on a bull.”
“Not all of us, me and Ange have been propping up the bar and drinking cocktails!” Cody called out.
Tanner dodged around his dad and bear-hugged his brother, slapping him hard on the back. “Typical that you’ve been the one sitting in here drinking while I say goodbye to my career. I don’t even think you remember what it’s like to be a real rancher and go to rodeos. Too busy being a city slicker.”
Cody punched him in the arm and he howled, pretending to nurse his arm.
“And you, unbelievable,” he said to Angelina, kissing his sister’s cheek and embracing her. “I can’t believe you came all this way.”
She hugged him, kissing his cheek back. “That gorgeous girl of yours is demanding. She wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Ange said. “But I like her—she’s definitely a keeper.”
“Hell yes, that’s one thing we won’t ever be arguing about,” he said, giving his sister a wink as he turned to the rest of his family.
Lauren was standing across from him, on the other side of the table, and he noticed that she was slightly apart from his family, looking unsure. Was she worried what his reaction would be to having all his family here?
Thank you, he mouthed, hoping she could tell what he was trying to say.
He would have kept wondering, too, if her smile hadn’t lit up her entire face.
“Anyone ordered champagne yet?” he asked, still grinning at Lauren.
His father waved a waiter over and Tanner moved around everyone else to Lauren. Her smile was wide as he wrapped his arms around her and dipped her backward, kissing her as she giggled.
“Thank you,” he said, not caring that they were in the middle of a restaurant or that his entire family was watching. “For future reference, I hate surprise parties, but this”—he sighed and kissed her again—“this is about as perfect as it damn well gets.”
“Good,” she replied, pushing him back a little and hauling him toward his family, her grip on his hand firm. “Now stop kissing me and start drinking. We’ve got some celebrating to do!”
Tanner pulled out a chair for Lauren and took the bottle of Veuve Clicquot from the waiter. Another waiter was placing a tray of oysters on the table as Tanner popped the champagne, grinning when everyone started to clap.
“To my last bull ride!” Tanner said.
“To finally getting rid of the rocks in your head!” Cody added, holding up his glass.
Tanner poured Lauren’s glass first, bending to whisper in her ear. “To the most beautiful, perfect woman I could ever have wished for,” he said quietly, his words spoken only for her.
Her cheeks tinged pink but she touched his hand to stop him from rising.
“To our second chance at love,” she whispered back, staring into his eyes.
“Hurry up, lovebirds! We’re getting thirsty over here!” Cody called out.
Tanner ignored his brother, discarding the bottle on the table and kissing the hell out of his girl instead.