Chapter 16
Danielle and Wade
On Sunday morning, Danielle woke up to the aroma of coffee and eased up in bed the moment Wade walked into the room carrying two cups.
He was shirtless, and his jeans rode low on his hips.
How did he manage to look so darn sexy this early in the morning?
She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and discovered it wasn’t as early as she thought. He had let her sleep late.
All she had to do was think about the last two days and how enjoyable they had been.
Waking up Friday morning in his arms. Taking a shower together.
Getting dressed and then going over to his ranch to help him with his chores.
Of course, he’d had to explain more than once what she was to do and how she had to do it, but he hadn’t seemed to mind.
More than once, he’d called her his ‘city girl’.
She laughed. Richard called Libby ‘New Yorker’.
They had spent Friday night at his ranch and in his bed.
After completing early morning chores on Saturday, which she had become more proficient at on the second day, they’d showered, gotten dressed, and gone to the county fair.
There, he had introduced her to several neighbors who had stopped to chat with Wade about the rodeo circuit.
It was easy to see he was the local celebrity.
Dani figured that by now, this entire section of Dallas, known as Serenity Pines, had probably figured out something was going on between them.
He had held her hand or slung his arm around her shoulder, leaving no one to wonder if Wade Harrison was interested in Libby Manchester-Mercer’s sister. He’d openly displayed his affection.
They had spent the entire day at the fair and had even run into Elena and her husband Carlos, as well as Richard’s brother, Cal, and his wife Faith.
They had joined the couple later for dinner and drinks at a nearby restaurant.
Dani could now fully understand how Libby had adjusted so well to living in Texas.
She knew it had been a challenge for Libby, but obviously, the kindness of the folks living here had made it easier.
Last night, she and Wade returned to Richard and Libby’s home to spend the night.
It would be their last night together since tomorrow, a whole new work week would start back on Wade’s ranch.
She had received a call from Jerry Alloman to let her know he was back in town and would be by to check out the internet problem first thing Monday morning.
“Here you go, city girl,” Wade said, handing her the cup of coffee.
She took a sip and closed her eyes. “Umm, I love how you make coffee. I could get used to this, Wade Harrison.”
He chuckled. “What else could you get used to, Danielle Manchester?”
She decided to be honest with him. “Waking up every morning in your arms, deliciously sore after making love with you the night before.”
“Funny you say that. Because while I was making coffee, I was thinking the same thing.”
Had he? From the look in his eyes, she knew he was being truthful. How could they be moving so fast when her last relationship had moved at a snail’s pace? “When do you have to go back on the rodeo circuit?” she asked.
“I’m home until the first of the year, and then we begin practicing for the first opening show of the season ─ Denver in January. If you can’t make it to that one, I hope you’ll at least be able to get to one of the performances.”
“I intend to,” she said, and meant it.
He’d been taken aback by how well she could ride a horse, until she explained that she and her sisters had taken horseback riding lessons when they’d lived in Germany. She had also surprised him by how well she could cook, as evidenced by the breakfast she prepared at his place on Saturday morning.
“Tell me about the rodeo and why you love it so much,” she said.
He eased down in the chair in the room. After taking a sip of his coffee, he said, “The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is the longest-running Black rodeo in the U.S.. It was founded by Lu Vason. For years, Lu was my hero because he was a man who had a dream to honor Bill Pickett as the legendary cowboy that he was. And Lu worked to make that dream a reality.”
“Have you met Mr. Vason?”
“Yes. He only passed away a few years ago.”
“How long have you been on the circuit?” she asked.
“I started when I turned twenty. That means I’ve been doing this for fifteen years now, but like my parents, I love it. The rodeo celebrates and honors the Black cowboys and cowgirls who helped build the American West.”
He paused, then added, “Unfortunately, their contributions are often overlooked today.”
“Then I’m glad you and the rodeo are still out there, telling their stories and the culture that goes along with it,” she said. “I can’t wait to see you perform.”
“I plan to hold you to it,” he said, placing his coffee cup aside. He stood, and when he came toward the bed, she handed him hers. He placed it next to his on the table.
“So, what are our plans for today, cowboy?” she asked.
He slid off his jeans, eased into bed beside her, and pulled her into his arms. “I thought we would enjoy each other some more, and then later go riding around my spread again. There are still parts of it that you haven’t seen.”
It amazed Dani just how much land both Richard and Wade owned ─ land that had been in their families for generations. “That sounds good to me,” she said, locking her arms around his neck.
He leaned in and kissed her. She smiled. She could get used to this.