Chapter 26
Danielle and Wade
“Welcome back, you guys,” Dani said, giving her sister and brother-in-law a hug. “How was the trip?”
“Wonderful!” Libby said, smiling.
“It was very relaxing,” Richard added, bringing in their luggage.
“Wonderful and relaxing enough to make a baby?” Dani asked with a hopeful smile on her face. “I’m putting in my request for a niece, since I have two nephews already.”
“Either will work for me,” Richard said, grinning. “Look at how my wife became a beautiful cowgirl. My daughters will do the same. Now enough about us, what’s this I hear about you and Wade?”
Dani rolled her eyes. “I guess it was too much to hope that my sister would keep a secret from her husband.”
“Not in this household,” Richard said, laughing. “We tell each other everything. Does that mean Steve is truly out, or are you just trying to make him jealous?”
Dani dropped down in the chair across from her sister and brother-in-law. “Steve is definitely out, and I would never use Wade that way.”
“I hope not. I’ve known him forever. He, Cal, and I grew up together. He’s a good guy,” Richard said.
“Glad you think so, because he’s been spending a lot of time here. In the guest room with me, of course.”
“That’s too much information, Danielle Manchester,” her sister said, giving her a stern look.
“Heck, I want to hear more,” Richard said, grinning again. “How serious is it?”
Dani glanced at the brother-in-law she adored. “I’d say pretty serious, but I think he wants to give me time to get over Steve. I told him I didn’t need that, but he’s still playing it safe. I guess I’ll just have to show him. Telling him isn’t doing the trick. I invited him to dinner, by the way.”
“Who?” Libby asked, “Wade or Steve?”
Dani rolled her eyes again. “Wade, not Steve. Let me repeat. Steve is out of the picture. Accept that.”
Richard stood. “Wade is coming to dinner? Good. It will be just like old times.”
“Thanks for inviting me over, Rich,” Wade said, as they leaned against the corral, watching one of Rich’s ranch hands give one of the neighbor’s kids a riding lesson.
“I didn’t invite you. Dani did,” Richard chuckled. “And what’s this I hear about you sleeping in my bed while I’ve been gone?”
Wade grinned as he pulled off his Stetson and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Usually, at this time of year, the week before Thanksgiving, the weather was cool. However, for some reason, it was incredibly hot today.
He placed the hat back on his head. “Your bed, the one you and Libby sleep in, belonged to your parents first. Out of respect for Richard Senior and Ms. Fiona, I would never sleep in it or do anything else.” He grinned again.
“Besides, I didn’t have to. Ms. Fiona said that the guest room I claimed as mine when I was ten would always be mine whenever I came to visit.
By default, I also get to claim anyone or anything else in that room.
Including your wife’s sister.” He then glared at Richard.
“And who gave you permission to let Libby change out my Marvel curtains for all that frilly nonsense?”
Richard rolled his eyes. “The permission became automatic when we got married. I like making my wife happy.”
“Whatever.”
“So, is this thing with you and Dani serious, or is it just an extreme case of lust?” Richard asked.
Wade met his friend’s gaze. “You have to ask Dani what it is on her end, but for me, it’s serious. I love her, Rich.”
Richard studied his friend’s features and obviously saw he was telling the truth. “Have you told her?”
“Not yet. She broke up with her ex-boyfriend six months ago, and I want to make sure she’s fully over him before I say anything.”
“You think it’s one of those rebound situations?”
“Could be. Eradicating someone from your heart isn’t easy, no matter the reason.”
“Are we talking about Steve and Dani or you and Gail?”
“Steve and Dani. That boat sailed for me and Gail a while ago. She’s moved on, and so have I.”
“What about your heart, Wade?”
“It belongs to Dani whenever she wants to claim it. No matter how long it takes.”
Richard nodded. “And the rodeo?”
“I decided this will be my last year on the circuit. I’m not getting any younger, and Carlos and Elena are talking about doing some traveling, going to visit their kids and grands.
I want them to be able to do that. They have dedicated their lives to the Harrisons long enough.
It’s time for me to come home for good and run my ranch.
And it would be nice if I had Dani by my side. ”
Richard grinned and rubbed his hands together as if excited at such a thing happening.
“Then Libby will have her sister close by. I can fire our cook and eat dinner at your place every day. Just like my mom gave you a bedroom in our house, your mom told me I would always have a place at her dinner table.”
Wade laughed. “I do remember Mom telling you that.” He paused and then said, “Dani is a damn good cook.”
“I know. So, I’m counting on you to win her heart, Wade.”
“I promise to do my best, Rich.”
“I wonder what those two are talking about,” Dani said, peeking out the window at Richard and Wade.
“Richard is probably telling him what a great time we had on the cruise. By the way, are you going to invite Wade to Thanksgiving dinner, or should we expect Steve to be there?”
Libby’s question let Dani know it was time for her to make that dreaded call. Obviously, her sister still didn’t believe Steve was permanently out of the picture. Moving from the window, she came to sit across from Libby. “I am about to do a three-way call with Mom and Kim.”
Libby raised a brow. “Why?”
“You’re about to find out.”
Once Dani had her mother and sister on the phone, she placed hers on speaker so Libby could be included as well. “Mom, Kim, and Libby. Thanks for making time for this call. I think it’s time you knew why there will never be a Steve and Dani again.”
She took a deep breath and began talking, starting at the beginning with Steve’s first missed hit and then the slap, two months later. She had to pause while they released their shock, then outrage, followed by threats of what they would do if they saw Steve again.
And finally, there was the indignation. How dare Dani go through that without telling them?
She tried to explain that at the time, it was something she had to figure out herself.
The last thing she needed was for them to baby her.
It was her decision to make. She couldn’t expect them to do it for her.
She continued, telling them how Steve had shown up at Libby and Richard’s ranch last weekend, but Wade had taken care of him, kicking his legs out from under him, giving him a busted lip, and then a hard knock upside the head.
“Who’s Wade?” her mother asked.
Before Dani could answer, Libby said, “He’s our sexy neighbor who is also a rodeo star. He has the hots for Dani.”
At Dani’s frown, Libby said, “Well, he does. I saw the way he was looking at you during dinner. And Dani really likes him, too.”
“Isn’t it a little soon for you to be getting involved with someone else, Dani?” her oldest sister, Kim, asked.
Dani thought it was time to bring the call to an end. “Look, I just wanted you guys to know the truth so you can stop hoping Steve and I will one day kiss and make up. I won’t be with a man who’ll hurt me.”
She drew in a deep breath and said, “And to answer your question, Mom, Wade Harrison is my new and permanent boo. I understand he thinks like you do, Kim, that I’m on the rebound.
But that’s okay, because I plan to show him that I’m well and truly over Steve, no matter how long it takes.
I want Wade to be as sure of me as I am of him.
He’s the man who should be mine. It was never meant for me to be with Steve. ”
The phone conversation got quiet, and then Thea asked, “Will Wade be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner, Dani?”
“If you’re extending an invitation, then I’ll ask him, Mom.”
“Yes, Jeremiah and I are extending an invitation. We’re looking forward to meeting this hero of yours.”
Later that night, Dani lay in Wade’s arms at his ranch house. They’d just made love, and the night was quiet.
“How long will you be remaining in Texas?” Wade asked carefully.
She gently rubbed her hands across his chest, loving the way the hair felt beneath her fingers.
“Since it’s so close to Thanksgiving, I was going to fly to Chicago and spend a few days there and then drive to Gary on Thanksgiving Day.
Mom invited you to Thanksgiving dinner. She wants to meet my boyfriend. ”
“Am I your boyfriend, Dani?”
She smiled. “I hope so. We rock well together. I like cooking, you like eating, we both like riding horses, and although I’m not crazy about doing ranch chores, I manage.”
“Could you handle a long-distance relationship?” he asked.
“I can handle one just fine. What about you?”
“I can come see you every chance I get, when I can take time away from being on the circuit.”
“And when you can’t come to me, Wade, I will come to you.”
He nodded. “Will you take out that restraining order on Steve when you get back to San Francisco?”
“I already have. You can do more stuff online these days.”
“His number has been blocked on your phone?” Wade asked.
“Yes. I blocked him before he arrived that day. That’s probably why he was so angry.”
When Wade didn’t say anything, she said, “I know what you’re doing, Wade.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
“You’re giving me time to trust my feelings. And that’s okay, because I want you to be sure of them. But just so you know, Wade Harrison, I play for keeps. And one day you will accept that I have fallen hopelessly in love with you.”
Leaning over her, he placed a kiss on her lips and whispered, “And I have fallen hopelessly in love with you, too.”