10 Years Later
Travis
The limo hums softly beneath us as Vegas blurs past the tinted windows. The bright lights outside don’t look like they’ve changed a damn bit in ten years.
Maisey’s curled into my side, her boots kicked off, her head resting on my shoulder. It’s her first time back to Sin City since the night we met, but she couldn’t care less about looking at the sights. I know she’s worried about the kids.
Being away from them is hard, and it still twists something inside my chest every time I have to go away for a rodeo, but this is Maisey’s first time away. It took some convincing to get her to leave our ranch. But this trip matters.
Tonight matters.
“I still can’t believe we left them,” she murmurs.
“They’re with Wyatt and Anna.” I squeeze her a little tighter. “They’re fine.”
“I know.” She lifts her head and smiles. “They’re probably having so much fun they haven’t even noticed we’re gone.”
“Exactly.” I lift her chin with one finger and kiss her gently.
Tonight is our anniversary.
Ten years.
Somehow, that still surprises me.
I’ve been retired from riding for a while now.
It was time. I didn’t stop loving the rodeo, just stopped risking my body for it.
For the past few years, I’ve turned my knowledge and passion into a new career as a performance coach for kids who have that same fire in their eyes that I did all those years ago.
You can’t teach the instinct for bronc riding. But you can fine-tune technique that will turn a talented rider into a championship rider.
And that’s exactly what I’ve done. Maisey and I just watched my latest protégée take first place, along with a belt buckle that matches the one I wore the night I met her, and for many years after.
The limo slows, then stops.
I straighten, a grin tugging at my mouth. “Ready?”
“For what?” she asks suspiciously.
I squeeze her hand. “You’ll see.”
The driver opens the door, and the familiar, overwhelming lights of the Strip spill in. Maisey steps out of the car, then freezes when she looks up at the hotel.
“No way.” Her hand covers her mouth, and she stares at me.
“Of course, sweetheart.” I take her hand and lead her inside, past the lobby, to the elevator bank and straight up to the floor and the room I’ve reserved.
The key card slides into the slot, and the door opens.
She lets out a squeal that sends a shot of desire through me. I’ll never tire of making my little filly happy.
It’s the same suite. The same over-the-top, ridiculous size with massive windows looking out over the chaos of the city.
“Is this…” She spins around with a laugh. “It’s our honeymoon suite.”
“I figured it was time we came back.”
She turns to me, eyes shining, her face full of an emotion that hits me. “You planned all this?”
“I brought you back to remind you exactly who you married.”
“Oh yeah?” Her smile turns wicked. “Maybe I do need a little refresher.”
I scoop her up in my arms without another word and carry her straight back to the bedroom, where a bottle of Bodacious Bubbles waits in an ice bucket.
“Ten years later and you’re still the best damn decision I ever made, little filly.” I kiss her hard. “Now, be a good girl and take off that dress so I can get a good look at my sexy wife.”