My Rancher Valentine (Be My Fake Valentine)

Chapter 12

Beau

T he sound of clicking woke me. I looked around the sterile white room, trying to get my vision back in place. Everything felt as if it was swimming in double. The buzzing in my head competed with the one in my ears. Fuck me, either I had a hard night, or something wasn’t right. The groan was involuntary. The clicking stopped, followed by a scratch and a soft touch on the side of my face.

I closed my eyes, still trying to focus. Everything felt so off, and I couldn’t remember why.

“Just relax.” The touch continued. “The nurse should be in soon.”

Nurse? What the hell sort of night did I have?

Slowly, I opened my eyes. This time, the room didn’t spin. I tilted my head to the right. Beautiful, foggy eyes greeted me.

“Hey, Kitten.” I smiled, or at least I think I smiled. That was my goal. My hand felt heavy as I reached up to touch her. “God, you’re gorgeous.”

The way she giggled reminded me of when we were in grade school and the class came to learn how to make ice cream. They gave each of us a sample, but I snuck Kat an extra scoop. Maybe I was always in love with her. I liked that idea.

“Come back to bed, baby. I want to hold you.” I tried to move, but all of me felt so heavy.

“Sorry. No can do.” She kissed the top of my forehead.

I heard the creak of a door before I could ask why.

“You’re awake. That’s good.” A male voice flowed around the room. “Let’s take a look at you.”

“What’s going on?” Why was there some guy here?

“Beau, relax.” Hailey's voice came from somewhere close. “The nurse is just going to make sure you’re alright.”

“Nurse?”

“Don’t you remember falling? The rodeo?” Kat asked.

“Falling?” Memories came back slowly.

Being on Valentine ready to ride, seeing Kat walk out of stands, the barrel. “Fuck. I fell.” Again I tried to move, but I couldn’t.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” Panic took hold of my voice. “Why can’t I move?”

“You’re going to be fine.” The guy I didn’t know answered. “You’ve got a mild concussion, and a few bruises, but other than that, you are very lucky.”

“Are you sure?” I looked over at him.

“Yes.” He typed something into the computer in front of him. “The doctor should be in soon. They will probably want to keep you overnight, at least for observation.”

“Absolutely not.” I wasn’t staying here if I didn’t have to.

“Don’t be difficult,” Hailey ordered. “Just let them do their job.”

“Fine.” I’d let them take a look at me, but if I was fine, then I was getting out of here tonight.

I stayed still like a good little boy while the doctor looked me over. Turned out the concussion wasn’t as bad as they originally thought, and I was able to talk them into letting me return to the hotel. They wouldn’t clear me to go back to Bliss until I came back in tomorrow for a few more tests and agreed to see my doctor back home, but at least I didn’t have to stay in the hospital.

Hailey, Daphne, and Kat all fussed over me while we drove back to the hotel. Then it was the three of them trying to get me settled in the room. Hailey fluffed up the pillows behind me, Daphne kept flipping through channels on the television, and Kat stayed glued to my side. That one I didn’t mind so much.

“I should call Mom back.” Hailey pulled out her phone. “I had a bitch of a time talking her and Dad into not coming down here until we knew how bad it was.” She dialed.

That’s the thing about when you ride in a rodeo so close to home. They broadcast it for everyone to see.

“Hey, Mom.” I tuned out the rest of her conversation.

“Are you alright?” Kat asked.

“I’d kill for a double up from Grill Down Burgers, but other than that, I’m fine.”

“I don’t think you can have something that greasy and heavy, but I could go get you a grilled chicken sandwich or something.” She offered.

“How about we send my sisters to get us food when Hailey gets off the phone?” I suggested. “That way, we can have a moment alone.” I wanted to know why she left earlier at the rodeo.

“Okay.”

“Good.” I picked up her hand and pressed my lips to her soft skin.

It took some convincing, but I was finally able to get Hailey and Daphne to leave us alone. As soon as they left, I grabbed hold of Kat and pulled her mouth to mine. She leaned into me. The taste and feel of her in my arms was better than anything else in the world. I hated to pull back, but I still had questions.

“I’m sorry.” She spoke first. Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked down at me. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright, Kitten.” I smoothed her hair back. The sight of her crying broke me. I never wanted to see her this hurt again. “Talk to me.”

“I got scared.” She sniffed to hold back another wave of tears. “This wasn’t supposed to be real. You weren’t supposed to be real. I just thought I would spend a couple days with you flirting and getting on my nerves, and that would be that. I didn’t know I’d fall for you.”

I held my breath. Excitement coursed through me. “You’ve fallen for me?” I had to know for sure that she felt even half of what I did for her.

She nodded. “Yes, and I’m so scared that this isn’t going to work or that you have just been putting on an act for the leather people that I don’t know what to do.”

“Kat.” I tried sitting up more, but my body wouldn’t do it. Instead, I turned on the bed and pulled her alongside me so we were face to face.

“I love you, Kitten.” It felt amazing to say the words. “I think I’ve loved you my whole life, but I was too stupid and too scared to tell you.”

Her face pulled together. “Why were you scared?”

“Because you deserve everything, baby,” I told her. “I’m just a rodeo rider and a rancher.”

“Who owns like half of our hometown.”

“My family owns it, but I didn’t do anything but be born into the right last name.” I pointed out. “You yourself said I have the worst reputation, and I spend so many months on the road. I have women who come on to me all the time. I’m not saying that to brag, but because you shouldn’t have to deal with things like that.”

“True, but it could serve to reinforce exactly how handsome my man is.” She bit the side of her lip, and I smiled.

“You think I’m handsome?” I pinned her to my chest.

Kat rolled her eyes. “You know you’re hot.”

I liked hearing that from her. “Am I your man?” I already knew I was, but I wanted her to say it again.

She hesitated for a moment, and my heart stopped once more.

“I’d like you to be.” There was no confidence in her voice.

“All you have to do is say the word, and I’m yours.”

“Word.” She joked.

“Done.” I laughed. “I’m yours, baby.” I dropped my lips to hers. Sealing our bond in the best way possible, or the only way I was allowed to until I got the all-clear from the doctor.

“I hope you don’t think that we are keeping up this fake engagement story.” She broke away.

“Who says it has to be fake?” I’d marry her in an instant.

“That better not be a proposal.” Her eyebrow went up.

As easy as it might have been to push that button, I’d wait. When I asked her to marry me, I wanted to do it right, and I wanted to do it for us.

“Not yet, but I still have plans for our engagement party next Friday.”

“Friday is Valentine’s Day.” she reminded me.

“And who else would I want to spend the day with other than my girl?” I kissed her softly.

“Well, when you put it that way.”

We spent the rest of our time making out like a couple of high schoolers until my sisters returned.