Getting Ahead (12 page)

“Do you really think I can manage to handle you and a competitive career?” The question had been in her mind since the day she met him. Each of those individually sounded like a lot of work. Keeping up both would require a lot of effort. At this point, she couldn’t imagine having one without the other. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, her soft lips pressing against his.

“I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. As long as this life is what you want, I’ll do anything I can to be sure you get it. The minute you want something else, I’ll support you in that as well.” He leaned in and captured her mouth again.

It felt good to be in his arms. For the brief moment she had thought he might slip away forever, her heart felt as though it’d been ripped from her chest. Now, having him here, everything seemed to fall into place again.

Chapter Eight

“Can we please go to dinner now?” Amber’s voice was whiny, but she was starving. All day, she’d been too nervous to eat, and now that everything was over, the only thing she could think about was getting a juicy steak and a bottle of beer.

“Are you tired of the attention already?” He smiled and took her hand, bringing it to his lips and pressing them gently against her knuckles.

“Not all of it. I’d take a little special attention from you.” She winked at him, sure he caught her meaning. The whole day seemed like one whirlwind. After all the work she’d put into winning in Cheyenne, she’d managed to place. It wasn’t first, but it was enough to give her back her confidence. For the last six months, she had been training constantly and competing everywhere. Today, she’d woken up on top of the world. Or, more accurately, Las Vegas. National Finals Rodeo. It was everything she’d ever dreamed of, and the day seemed to go by way too fast and way too slow.

“In that case, why don’t we skip dinner and head straight back to the hotel?” He pulled her close to him, ran his hands over her back, and then planted them firmly on her ass.

“Not so fast, don’t you think you need to help me regain my strength first?” She’d been a giant ball of nerves all day. When her turn finally came, she wasn’t sure if she should ride or throw up. She’d chosen to ride, and it’d paid off. She’d been announced as the winner.

“I’d get you room service later.”

Tonight, she had a more important announcement. One that Colt needed to hear before anyone else. “How about you buy me dinner now, then we can have dessert sent to the room later?”

“Why do you want to go out so badly?” He looked exhausted.

She was wired, though. She’d finally met her life’s goal, and it was time to move on to some of her other plans. No more competitions. She was ready to retire and put everything on the line for something else. A family. She looked down at the hand he was holding; the engagement ring he’d given her the week before sparkled brightly, even against her dirty skin. Now, with the excitement of the day, she couldn’t hold in her surprise any longer. “I’m retiring.”

“When did you announce that?” He stepped back, obviously concerned. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“I’m announcing it right now. To you. Six months ago, you told me you’d support me all the way to the top. Today, I’m on top. I’m ready to conquer something new.” She’d thought about it a lot. She loved riding, but more and more, her attention had shifted toward other priorities. So she had made a promise to herself. If she won Nationals, she’d hang up her spurs. It was the perfect way to go out, undefeated.

“Please tell me you don’t want to take up bull riding?” He rolled his eyes, but she could see his concern.

“No, something a little more challenging. I want to start a family with you.” The thought had been rolling around in her head for quite some time. At first, it sounded crazy. She’d never really been the mothering type. The more she mulled it over, the more she wanted it. Some days she swore her uterus actually ached when she saw the baby animals. Clearly it was a sign.

“You’re not…?” He placed a hand against her abdomen, the fear apparent in his eyes.

Pushing his arm away, she laughed. “No, not yet. I was thinking that would be something we could start working on tonight.”

The suggestion made his face light up.

“After you take me out to dinner.” If her new life was half as exciting as barrel racing, she couldn’t wait to work hard to make sure she was just as good at being a wife and mother.

Biography

Emily Cale spent the majority of her childhood as a visitor to the worlds of her favorite authors. With encouragement from her English teachers, she put pen to paper and began imagining her own stories. Preferring the fascinating lives of her characters, she majored in creative writing. When not lost in a manuscript or a good book, she enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and playing board games. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband and a very spoiled cat.