34. Tucker
Tucker
Night of the Rodeo
The music reverberates through the rodeo grounds as I make my way back toward the main arena. Thankfully, Gracie and Whit had the foresight to organize some demountable dressing rooms for all the staff and volunteers to change and get ready before the gala, so we didn’t have to go home in between.
I’m not even sure Gracie’s here yet, but just in case, I can’t waste a second.
Ducking into the bathroom, I give myself a once over in the mirror.
The taupe suit and chocolate brown button up that Mom and Whit helped me pick out, paired with a matching brown Clark hat, are a match made in heaven, even if I do say so myself. I just hope Gracie thinks so, too.
“God, you’re one hot son of a bitch.” Rhett’s unexpected voice almost has me jumping out my skin.
I reel around to face him. He’s dressed head to toe in black—a black suit and button up, black boots and a matching black hat. “Are you trying to fucking scare me to death?”
“Well that’s the last time I try to give you a damn compliment.”
“Maybe just announce yourself next time. And thank you. You’re looking pretty sleek yourself in the all black get up.”
“There, was that so hard?” He looks in the mirror and adjusts his hat. “Glad you think so. Whitney dressed me, but I’m not sold on it.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I’ve heard the ladies love a man dressed in black.”
He side-eyes me through the mirror. “Just what I need.”
I grin at my brother before turning to walk out. “See you in there, man.”
“Uh,” his voice stops me, “speakin’ of ladies, do you know if Carson made it to the auction this afternoon?”
It’s an effort not to react, but I keep my cool. “Can’t say I saw her. Why’d you ask?”
He scratches the back of his neck and tugs at his collar. “Nah, no reason, forget I asked.” He laughs to himself before muttering, “She could do far better than me, anyhow.”
Rhett’s out the door before I can muster up a response.
When I walk through the doors to the Main Arena, I can hardly believe my eyes.
The place has completely transformed—there’s wooden panels lining most of the dirt and round tables scattered throughout, decorated with floral arrangements and other flash items I couldn’t name, but have seen at weddings.
Pontoon lighting hangs from the beams on the ceiling, giving the entire place an almost magical feel.
There are so many guests here already, and everyone looks fantastic in their evening wear.
But as I glance around at the crowd, the one face I’m dying to find is nowhere to be seen.
After I find my table and confirm Gracie and my placements—together, thankfully—I head over to the mobile bar Sully and his crew are working out of.
“Well, well, you scrub up pretty damn well, Tucker,” Sully says with a low whistle. “What’ll it be?”
“I might have to start dressin’ up more often if I’m gonna get compliments like that,” I say with a laugh. “Two champagnes, please.” Might as well have a drink in hand for Gracie; she should be here anytime.
“Was about to ask where your lady was, but I see her now.” Sully nods behind me, and I turn on my heel.
One glance at Gracie in the distance and I swear my heart stops beating.
She’s in a sapphire-blue dress, the exact same shade as her prom dress.
Except instead of a puffy ball gown, it’s the most incredible fitting dress, accentuating all the curves I’ve fallen in love with, and flaring out at the calf.
It has a deep V neckline, making her breasts look edible, but it’s what’s attached to the necklace that draws my attention like a hawk. I zero in on it and my hand comes to my chest, instinctively checking if my heart’s still beating beneath it, because it damn sure feels like it’s just flatlined.
She’s wearing the promise ring I gave her when we were sixteen.
I haven’t thought about that ring in years. After the first couple of years had passed and we’d completely lost contact, I just assumed she’d pawned it or thrown it away. Seeing that she still has it, let alone has it here in Beaumont Ridge with her, takes my breath away.
I’m across the room in a matter of seconds, coming face-to-face with the girl of my dreams.
“I can’t believe you still have this.” My fingers ghost across the ring, her skin prickling with goosebumps at the barely-there contact. I can see her pulse quicken, feeling mine do the same.
“Despite it all, I couldn’t part with something so special. As long as I still had this ring, there was hope. I don’t know where the hope came from or how I managed to hold onto it as long and as hard as I did, but it was there. You, however, were always just out of reach.”
“Well, I’m here now, sweetheart. For as long as you’ll have me.” I continue to trail my fingers across her bare skin, tracing up along her collarbone and down her slender arm. Her breath hitches, and the sound goes right to my cock.
“I can’t believe how handsome you look. You should definitely consider making this,” she runs her fingertips across my chest and down the front of my jacket, “a regular staple in your closet.”
“Oh, you think so?” I place my thumb beneath her chin and tilt her head up to meet my gaze.
She bites her lower lip, and her eyes drop to my mouth. When she looks me in the eye again, she gives me a lazy smile. “No, I’ve changed my mind. You’d be far too tempting for wandering eyes, and I’d rather keep you to myself, if that’s alright with you?”
“I’ve never wanted to be anything but exclusively yours. If you give me that, I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”
Standing on her tip toes, she places one palm on my chest and the other on my shoulder, stabilizing herself. Her breath is warm against my ear as she speaks. “Does that include being the reason a horse is saved?”
My brain is too focused on the breathy sound of her voice to put two and two together before my hat’s being removed from my head.
Instinctively I run a hand through it, doing my best to minimize the hat hair I’m bound to have.
Gracie gives me a wicked grin, my hat in her hand.
Taking a small step back, her smile only grows, looking downright mischievous, as she places it on her head.
“I’ve been gone a while, so you’ll have to remind me.
Is that hat rule still a thing, cowboy?”
I can’t believe I almost let Whitney talk me into leaving that thing at home. I’ve never been so thankful for ignoring my sister’s advice.
“Hat rule?” I tilt my head and feign ignorance, but I can’t keep the smile off my face.
Gracie narrows her eyes at me and pokes my shoulder. “Don’t play with me, Beaumont. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
I place my fingertips beneath her chin, tilting her face up. “Oh, the one that says you ride the cowboy who’s hat you wear?”
There’s a glimmer in her eye as her lips curl up in a wicked grin. “That’s the one.”
“Looks like I owe you a ride. Should we get out of here, then?” My voice is low, and the last word comes out like a growl.
Gracie lets out a sweet laugh and slaps my chest playfully. “We just got here.”
“That wasn’t a no,” I say, grinning ear to ear.
“C’mon, cowboy. Let’s find our seats.” She curls her fingers through mine and begins walking, my hat still sitting on her head. “The sooner we sit, the sooner it’ll be over and we can get the hell outta here.”
In a surprise to absolutely nobody, the rest of the evening goes off without a hitch. The three course dinner we’re treated to is catered by a mix of local livestock and fresh produce ranches, and it’s incredible. It’s got nothin’ on Mom’s cooking, of course, but it’s damn near close.
Throughout the evening there’s a couple of speeches from sponsors who all rave about how wonderful the day has been, and express their gratitude at having the opportunity to contribute to such a special anniversary event for the town.
The final speech belongs to Whit. She’d tried to talk Gracie into making a speech, but as someone who hates being the center of attention, she quickly vetoed that idea. Unfortunately for Gracie, I know what my sister has planned in her speech, and it’s coming up any second.
“My final and biggest thank you goes to the person who made this event what it was today. Nobody could have predicted her involvement, but we simply couldn’t have done it without her. Grace Clark, get your ass up here, please.”
All eyes turn to Gracie, who sits wide-eyed beside me, gripping my hand tightly beneath the table.
“It’ll only get worse the longer you sit here, Gracie girl. You can do it.”
With a hand on her elbow, I help Gracie stand.
The crowd erupts into the biggest round of applause of the entire festival as she makes her way to the stage on shaky legs.
She mouths something like you’re going to pay for this to Whitney as she climbs the stairs, but my sister just grins.
One of the volunteers follows Gracie onto stage with a huge bouquet of flowers and a bottle of whiskey, presenting them to her when she stops beside Whitney.
Her eyes find mine in the crowd and we smile at each other.
I’m so proud of you, I mouth at her, and she visibly relaxes.
Whit reaches out and grabs Gracie’s free hand.
“Now I won’t ask her to say anything, because she already hates me enough for making her come up here.
” A laugh ripples across the crowd. “But I just want to sincerely thank you, Grace, for everything you’ve done.
Not just for the Rodeo Festival, but for my family, and the Rodeo School.
I think I speak on behalf of everyone here when I say Beaumont Ridge is so lucky to call you theirs. ”
I can see tears welling in my sister’s eyes as she gives Gracie a tight hug, and the crowd roars once more.
As Gracie heads down the stairs, my sister clears her throat.
“I don’t want to talk y’all’s ears off, but there is one more person I need to mention—our dad.
This rodeo was always the highlight of his year, and I don’t doubt for a second that he’s here with us tonight.
” Whit’s voice wavers as her watery eyes meet mine.
I give her a smile, and whisper, “You’ve got this.” I know she’s understood when she returns the grin.
“Tonight’s gala is in honor of Garrett Beaumont Sr.—a rodeo champion, the best dad to grace this earth, and forever a pillar of this community.”
“To Garrett!” Someone at a nearby table declares. I turn to find Declan standing in place across the room, raising his glass.
“To Garrett!” Voices echo throughout the barn.
“To Dad,” I whisper, raising my own glass with a sad smile.
As the clinking of glasses dissipates, Whit gently swipes her forefingers beneath her bottom lashes and flashes the audience a megawatt smile. “I think that’s enough emotion for one evening! What do you say we get this dance floor started, y’all?”
Cheers ring out across the arena as the house lights go out, replaced by strobe-style lights coming from the stage.
With formalities officially done and Gracie off the clock, I glance over at her to find her already looking at me. We nod in tandem and she grins wickedly. She leans over, her chest grazing my shoulder as she whispers in my ear. “Let’s get outta here, cowboy.”
I’m out my seat in a heartbeat, grabbing her hand and making a break for the door. We’re only a few feet away when a curvy brunette steps into our tracks. “Headed somewhere in a hurry, are we?” Carson crosses her arms across her chest with a smirk.
“Busted,” I whisper to Gracie.
“Don’t worry, I won’t rat you out to your parents or siblings,” she says with a wink. “I just wanted to see how the auction went. I’m still so bummed that I missed it.”
“It was pretty incredible, to tell you the truth. The guys were a big hit, but Rhett was definitely the fan favorite. Kenny beat out about a dozen others to win him. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
There’s a mischievous look in Carson’s eye as she listens to Gracie talk about Rhett. “Of course not,” she says righteously. “After all, I wasn’t there.” With one final smug smile, Carson kisses Gracie on the cheek and gives me a quick hug before wandering back into the crowd.
Trying to hold in a shit-eating grin, I turn to Gracie and find her expression matches mine. “Oh, we’re so getting involved in that.”
I bark out a laugh. “What’s this we business? I want no part in your antics.”
“Don’t lie to me, Beaumont. I saw the look on your face. Just admit it, you love a bit of meddling.”
“I’ll do no such thing. If we’re leavin’, we better do it before someone else stops us.”
Gracie’s hand doesn’t leave my thigh the whole drive back to my house. The anticipation of what’s to come is enough to have my cock at half-mast for most of the trip, which is surprisingly painful beneath my suit pants.
We’ve barely made it through my front door before we lunge at one another.
She tastes like champagne and dreams coming true.
Bending down, I wrap an arm around the back of Gracie’s knees.
With my other arm across the back of her shoulders, I sweep her up into my arms. With a squeal, she throws her arms around my neck, one hand in my hair and the other keeping hold of my hat on her head.
We make out like teenagers the whole way from the front door to my bedroom.
Kicking the door open, we tumble into my room and fall onto the bed in a heap of tangled limbs.
In another life—one, perhaps, where I didn’t let the girl of my dreams slip through my fingers like little more than sand—I never would’ve had to know another woman’s touch. We’d have stayed like this, as one, forever.