Chapter Thirteen
That weekend, Roark and Reid stood in the back room of the church waiting for the music to start before heading to the altar.
“Are you doing all right, Roark?” Reid asked him.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Really? I’m not going to argue with you but I can tell you’re not. I’m sorry about you and Priscilla.”
“It’s your day, Reid. Let’s not talk about me.”
“You’re miserable, Roark.” Reid leaned against the wall and folded his arms.
Roark blew out a breath. “I’ll get over it.”
“I doubt it—” Reid was cut off when the door opened and the priest stuck his head in.
“It’s time, Reid,” the man said then turned and walked off. Reid took a deep breath, put a hand on Roark’s shoulder, and gave it a squeeze. Roark nodded and the two of them followed the priest to the altar.
As they took their places, they looked to the back of the church when the music began. Roark stood beside Reid and waited for Lucy to reach them. She looked beautiful as she made her way down the aisle. Priscilla would’ve looked even more so.
Stop thinking about her.
Roark hurt so much, he wished he were anywhere else but here right now. Seeing Lucy looking so happy and Reid so elated made him think of Priscilla and the wedding they were supposed to plan—until she’d lied to him. Damn it to hell .
When Reid chuckled from alongside him, Roark got his mind back on the wedding and grinned when he saw Zeke jumping down from the pew and running down the aisle to head off his mom.
“Mama?” he asked when he reached her and started hopping up and down.
Lucy’s veil moved and Roark was sure it was because she was blowing out a frustrated breath as she squatted down.
“Yes, baby?”
“Can I go home and ride Buttons now?” The guests laughed and Zeke glanced around.
“I told you that your daddy and I are going on a vacation so Aunt Cindy will have to take you.”
“Why can’t I go with you and Daddy?”
Roark chuckled as Lucy looked at Reid and raised an eyebrow as if to say, do you want to tell him? Reid laughed and shook his head.
“You’re going to stay with your aunt Cindy and we’ll pick you up in a few days. We’ll bring you something back.”
“A baby sister?” Zeke giggled and put his hand over his mouth. Reid burst out laughing but turned it into a cough when Lucy glared at him.
Roark slapped Reid on the shoulder. “You’ll need to work on that.”
“I’ll definitely do that.” Reid grinned.
They watched as Zeke galloped back to the pew to where his grandmother sat then crawled up on it, stood, and threw his hand up in the air.
“Hi, Daddy,” he called out.
Reid chuckled. “Hey, buddy.”
Roark grinned as he watched Zeke’s paternal grandmother, Estelle Albright, trying to get him to sit down and be quiet. Zeke shook his head and remained standing in the pew. Roark thought it was great that Lucy’s former in-laws came to her wedding. They knew the Callahans well, and were happy Lucy was marrying Reid. Roark knew Zeke would be happy that his widow had found love again, and with his best friend. Roark had hoped he’d have that one day only it didn’t look like it would ever be now, since the one woman he’d always love had lied to him.
At the reception, Roark stood at the back of the town hall, leaning against the wall, and watched Lucy and Reid dancing to Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers. Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and looked around the room. Spotting Jaxon, he knew not to make his way there because his cousin hadn’t spoken to him since he’d called him about the magazine. Damn it. She’d promised not to use what he’d told her so why had she? He’d trusted her and she’d ripped his heart out. Of course, he was partly to blame since if he hadn’t told her about Jaxon then it wouldn’t have gotten printed, but then Roark wouldn’t know she couldn’t be trusted either. Better to find out now than after they were married.
He straightened up when he saw Devin walking toward him. Roark watched him stop and talk to a woman then made his way to him. Roark shook his head. Devin never turned down an opportunity to talk to a beautiful woman.
“Getting a date?” Roark teased.
“Nah, not yet anyway.” He leaned against the wall beside Roark. “You doin’ all right?”
“I guess. I hate that Jax is mad at me. I never should have told her something so personal.”
“True, but he’ll get over it. He never holds a grudge. He’s just hurt right now.”
“I’d never intentionally hurt him. He has to know that. ”
“He knows that, Roark. Just give him a little time. He was pissed when he saw that article.” Devin shook his head. “I’ve never seen him so mad. I had to calm him down before he called you.”
“That was calm?”
Devin chuckled. “Compared to what he was. Yep.”
“I wanted to talk to him but hell… he won’t even look at me.”
“He’s hurt, Roark. Like I said, he’ll get over it. He loves you so hang in there.”
“I’ll try.” He pushed away from the wall. “I need to get back to the table. Once they come off the dance floor, I have to make a speech.” He grimaced making Devin laugh.
“Better you than me.” Devin slapped him on the back and made his way back to his table.
Roark watched as Lucy and Reid finished their dance and walked to the table to meet them. Each of them hugged him. When everyone sat down and the caterers had served the food, Roark stood and tapped his knife against his champagne flute. When everyone quieted down, he cleared his throat, and looked at Reid and Lucy.
“As best man, I’m expected to make a speech. I’m not very good at this but I do know love when I see it. These two here are meant to be together. Anyone looking at them can see that. It’s no secret that Reid has loved Lucy since he first saw her but it wasn’t their time then. Well, now it is, and I can’t express how happy I am that they found each other again. They’ve been through a lot with Lucy losing her first husband and Reid losing his best friend, but I think Zeke would be the first one to congratulate them. I’m positive he’s looking down and smiling. So… everyone please raise your glasses to this wonderful couple. Reid, Lucy, we wish you years of happiness, and get to work on that little sister it seems Z-man wants.”
Everyone laughed and raised their glasses to the happy couple. Roark took his seat and tried to eat his dinner, but it had no taste. Yes, he knew love when he saw it. He saw it when he looked at Priscilla but she’d broken his heart beyond repair. Taking a deep breath, he ate his meal and just wished the night would be over soon.
Later, he stood at the door and watched Reid and Lucy on the dance floor again. Devin stood beside him.
“I’m going to head home after I say goodbye to Reid and Lucy,” Roark said as he looked at them on the dance floor.
“I’m glad he’s happy. He loves Lucy more than anything,” Devin said as he watched them.
“Yeah, I hate that she lost Zeke but Reid’s always loved her and he’ll be good to her. He stayed away from her for years but I’m glad he’s finally home with her.”
“We all are.” Roark shook Devin’s hand. “I’ll see you later.”
Roark walked to the edge of the dance floor and waited for the song to end then he stepped forward to intercept Lucy and Reid.
“Hey you, I’m leaving.” He hugged Lucy. “I’m happy for both of you.”
“Thank you, Roark. I’m glad you were able to be here,” Lucy said.
Reid hugged him. “Thanks man. I’m sorry about you and Priscilla.”
“I’ll get past it. ”
“I doubt it. Take it from someone who knows about leaving things unsaid… you need to talk to her.”
“I’ve said all there is to say. You two have a safe honeymoon and remember what I said about getting Z-man a baby sister.” He laughed when Lucy swatted at him.
Walking outside, the evening air was still hot. He looked up to see the moon hanging up in the sky lighting the way like a beacon. The night was beautiful, but it didn’t matter. His heart hurt and he missed Priscilla more than he could say, but he refused to call her. She’d betrayed his trust. He couldn’t forgive that. Sighing, he made his way to his truck, climbed in, and drove home to another long night alone and sleepless.
The next week, Roark was in the barn mucking out stalls when he heard his name called. He stepped from the stall and saw Jaxon barreling down on him. Hell, was he here to punch him out? Roark leaned the rake against the wall and tugged his gloves off then stuffed them into the back pocket of his jeans, folded his arms across his chest, and stared at his cousin.
“Jax,” he said nodding.
“Roark.” Jaxon gave him a nod then leaned against the wall, folded his arms across his chest, and stared at him.
“Look, Jax, I’m sorry—” He stopped when Jaxon held his hand up.
“No need to apologize. It’s over.”
Roark huffed out a relieved breath. “I’m glad you feel that way. I’d never hurt you intentionally, Jax. I shouldn’t have told her but I trusted her.”
“You love her.” Jaxon shrugged .
“For what good it does me.”
“Roark, go after her. Don’t let the love of your life go.”
“I can’t trust her.”
“It was off the record,” Jaxon said.
“It was but—wait—how did you know that?”
“She called me and told me.”
“And you believed her?”
“You sure don’t have much faith in the woman you love.”
“She could have just told you that for some other reason.”
“True but when Sanders called, I knew she told the truth. Hell, he’s the one I don’t trust. I don’t even think he did it to take the blame off her. I asked him why he called me and after a lot of hemming and hawing, he finally told me his boss, the owner of the magazine, told him to call me and apologize.”
“He did?” At Jaxon’s nod, he went on. “Did you accept his apology?”
“Hell no. I told him to fuck off and hung up. Go to California and bring Priscilla back to where she belongs. You love her and she loves you. She belongs here with you. Go.”
“If she’ll talk to me. I never even listened when she tried to tell me she didn’t know what I was talking about.”
“Just like I didn’t believe you when you said it either. She’ll forgive you because she loves you. I did. Now go! ”
Roark hugged his cousin then they both strode from the barn. As he entered the house, he heard Jaxon’s truck start up then he headed for the shower, but stopped when his phone rang. He looked at it and saw it was a private number. Who?
“Hello?”
“Is this Roark Callahan?” a feminine voice asked.
“Yes, ma’am, who is this?”
“Jackie Butler, Priscilla’s mother.”
“Is something wrong with Priscilla?” His heart hit his stomach.
“Oh, no. I’m sorry, hon, didn’t mean to upset you worse. I just wanted to tell you that you need to call her. She didn’t put that information about Jaxon in the article.”
“I know.”
“You know? How?”
“Jaxon just told me.”
“Then why aren’t you calling her?”
“Hadn’t had a chance, Jackie. I just came in from working in the barn and wanted to grab a shower first.”
“Well, I seemed to have jumped the gun then,” she said laughing.
Roark chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll call her as soon as I clean up.”
“No, don’t call her. Just come and get her.”
“Do you think she’ll see me, if I do?”
“She won’t have a choice. I’m leaving for a vacation in Italy and she’ll be here alone. She’s staying with me because she lost her job and can’t find another one. Although, I have to admit that I told her not to bother looking—yet. I’m still hoping for you two. I’ll have the guard at the gate let you in then you two can talk. She loves you, Roark, and I know you love her.”
“I do. All right. I’ll get my uncle to fly me out there. If I don’t see you, have a nice vacation.”
“I will and I expect a wedding when I return. I’m going to love being your mother-in-law. Bye Roark.” She hung up.
Roark laughed. He was beginning to see that the Butler women were both a force to be reckoned with, so he’d better get used to it.
The next day, Roark drove a rented SUV to where Priscilla was staying. Jackie had kept her word and let the guard at the gate know he would be coming. He found his way to the condo, and parked the vehicle out front. Sitting there, he stared at the front door.
What if she didn’t want him anymore? What if she told him to leave? Not that he wouldn’t deserve it if she did, but he wasn’t leaving until he talked to her. He needed to make her see just how much he loved her. He opened the door of the SUV, stepped out and walked to the door. Taking a deep breath, he rang the doorbell.
****
Priscilla sat on the sofa eating ice cream from the container. If she kept this up, she’d need a new wardrobe. She jerked in surprise when the doorbell rang and the ice cream on the spoon fell onto her shirt then to her lap. She wiped at it with a paper towel and smeared the chocolate on her chest and sweatpants. Who in the world?
She supposed it most likely was a neighbor. After all, no one could get through the front gate without her expecting them, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. Setting the container down, she dragged her sad body up off the sofa and walked to the door. When she opened it, she quickly closed it again when she saw Roark standing on the stoop. She couldn’t—not now.
“Priscilla? Open the door. ”
“There’s no one here,” she called out.
“I saw you,” he said and she could hear laughter in his voice.
“That was a figment of your imagination.”
“I’m not leaving. Open the door or I’ll just camp out here.”
Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her T-shirt with ice cream stains on it. Her hair was up in a messy bun but she was sure he’d seen her looking worse. Oh, yeah? When?
“Never,” she muttered as she opened the door. God! He looked so good.
“Can I come in?” he asked as he leaned against the doorjamb with his arms folded across his broad chest and his hip cocked. His hat sat low on his forehead and those jeans were sinful the way they fit him. Total cowboy.
“Yeah, I guess so.” She shrugged.
He straightened up and strode past her then turned to look at her when she closed the door. His eyes moved over her and his lips twitched as he looked down at her feet.
“What? You don’t like my bunny slippers?”
“I love you in anything, darlin’, and I especially love you out of anything.”
“What?”
“I know you didn’t put that personal stuff in the article. Jaxon told me you called him, and that Earl called him to apologize too.”
“Mom had a hand in that.”
“I figured as much.” He stepped closer to her and cupped her face in his hands. “I love you. I’ve missed you like crazy. Please come home to me. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen when you said you didn’t know anything about what I was yelling at you over. I let my prideful stupidity get the better of me when I should have known you wouldn’t do something like that. Can you ever forgive me for not listening to you? For thinking you’d lie to me or betray my trust?”
“Of course I can, because I love you so much, Roark.”
Roark leaned down and pressed his lips to hers then his hands moved down her back to her ass and he squeezed it as he pulled her to him.
“Darlin’, I’ll never doubt you again. I can’t tell you how miserable I’ve been without you. I should have listened to you instead of letting my temper take over and think the worst. You’ll come home with me, right?”
“I’ve missed you too. I love you and yes, I will come home with you. I can’t wait to get back and plan our wedding.”
“I hope you want a fast one because I’m not in the mood for waiting.”
“I don’t want to wait either.” Priscilla put her arms around his neck, stood on her toes, and kissed his lips. “Take me home, Roark Callahan. I finally have a cowboy of my own again. Oh, that reminds me… how was the wedding?”
“Z-man stole the show, of course. I’ll tell you all about it later.”
“Wha-what about bull riding?” She nibbled on her bottom lip, nervous he’d changed his mind but willing to accept it if he had.
“I told you I would quit. I won the buckle I wanted and I have you back in my life. I’m not going to jeopardize losing you again. I can’t go through that again.”
“I don’t want you to quit because of me, Roark. If you changed your mind about competing, I’ll live with it.”
“It’s not because of you. It’s for you. I’ll do anything to make you happy. If you’re happy, I’m happy. I love you and that’s all that matters. You come first.”
“As long as you’re sure… I don’t want you to regret it then blame me.”
“I won’t. Besides, I’ll still be involved because of my bulls participating so sometimes we’ll be traveling with the circuit. Is that all right?”
“Absolutely. I’ll go anywhere with you,” she whispered against his lips.
“Then show me your bedroom.”
He took her hand and started down the hallway she pointed out to him, half dragging her along behind him with her bunny slippers tripping her up. She loved how eager he was… she was eager too.
“Okay… anything you say, cowboy. Anything you say.” Then she laughed when he tossed her over his shoulder, entered the bedroom, and kicked the door closed.