Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Renn
Live in the Moment
After what could only be described as a monumental night, Renn and Miranda woke before dawn in the quiet paddocks. They were wrapped in a barn blanket and there was straw in Miranda’s mussed hair, but she didn’t shy away from his touch, and they made love again before both getting dressed.
“Is it a walk of shame if I’m proud of how we spent our time last night?” she asked with her husky morning voice.
He kissed her swollen lips. “No, but wear this flannel just in case you run into anyone in the lobby.”
“Because stilettos and a flannel make me look less guilty?” She smiled but buttoned the flannel over her black fitted dress.
“Yes.” He stole one more kiss. “I’ll take care of the boys while you get cleaned up at the hotel.”
“Thank you,” she said before leaving him to it.
After making sure both horses were exercised and fed, Miranda returned in plenty of time for her meeting with Mr. Dixon and Renn headed back to the hotel.
His mind was filled with vivid memories of Miranda with flushed cheeks as they stared into each other’s eyes and shared their climaxes just that morning.
After a quick shower and putting on fresh clothes, he grabbed a few coffees and breakfast sandwiches before heading back to the arena.
She was still talking with Mr. Dixon and by the look of her smile the conversation must be going in the right direction.
“Like mother like son, you were right—Renn the Beautiful Beasts live up to their name,” Mr. Dixon said when he spotted Renn.
“You would know better than me, sir.” He shook the man’s hand but didn’t miss the questioning look on Miranda’s face.
“Alright, I’ll worry about the horses, and you worry about football. I expect you to take us to the big game this year, all the way.”
“Yes sir,” Renn agreed, trying not to cringe when Miranda’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Ms. Sutton, I like your style and there’s no question you’ve done a wonderful job with these two. We’ll be in touch,” Mr. Dixon said before departing.
Once Mr. Dixon was out of earshot, Miranda’s smile faded. “You told him to make an offer for Beast?”
“No, I ran into him at the hotel yesterday at check-in. He asked why I was here. I told him and I guess he inferred he should probably take a look at your studs. Did he make an offer?”
Miranda began to pace. “Well, he offered to buy Beast and Thor on the spot for an obscene amount.”
“Oh,” Renn said, knowing her plan was to build a business not just sell everything she’d been trying to build. “I mean that’s great—it proves you’re on the right track if the most successful ranch in Georgia wants to buy up all your stock?”
“But I’m not interested in selling Beast. And I don’t want to find success based on some good ole boy network. What did he mean about the big game?”
Renn lifted his hat off and ran his hand through his still-damp hair. “Um that’s the reason I’ve had so much free time. Technically I’m a professional football player, not an out-of-work cowboy. But I’m between contracts and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next.”
“Football player?”
“Yes.”
“Like for the NFL?”
“Yes, the Georgia Aces specifically. But I’m not sure I want to play for them anymore, or play at all.”
“What are you even talking about?” Miranda stopped pacing and waved her hands like a bird.
“I’ve been playing for the Aces for six years, second string, but last season the quarterback got injured in a big game, so I played the rest of the season. And we did pretty good.”
“I don’t follow football. What does that mean?”
“We went to the championships. Basically, we were one game away from going to the Super Bowl.”
Her green eyes grew big as her mouth opened but then in a flash she narrowed her eyes on him.
“You almost played in the Super Bowl last year? So, you’re like a big-time NFL player and you called in a favor with your mom’s old boss to take a look at my horses.
Which is why the other ranchers were all interested. ”
“No, I ran into Dixon and mentioned the Beautiful Beasts. He’s a billionaire rancher. He’s not going to make any offers based on my opinion.”
“Is there anything else you’ve been hiding or not telling me?” Miranda said with her hands on her hips.
Renn hesitated because he knew this was his chance to be totally honest with her about her land.
“Renn.”
He stepped toward her and took her hand.
“Last night was the best night of my life, and I didn’t mention football because I’m not sure what I want to do. I don’t like the way people treat me once they find out about the Aces.”
“Anything else?”
“The money for the purchase of your land came from my inheritance from my dad, my brothers insisted on me having it. But I didn’t want that money.
So, I asked Wes to just use it for the land.
My brothers all agreed we wouldn’t want someone else owning land between our two ranches and you needed cash. ”
Miranda’s mouth fell open.
“So, I used your money, your connections, and your time to pull off my big business debut. Once again proving I need a man in my life to accomplish anything.” She pulled her hand away from him and began to pace.
“Don’t do that. You’ve worked too hard. Mr. Dixon would have done his research on you and your horses before bothering to come down here.
So, if I’d never shown up my brothers would have bought your land, and you would have made it through this weekend running on pure determination.
You would have impressed Dixon either way. ”
“But you did show up, and you did help me, and it was your money.”
“That’s not my money. After twenty-six years I don’t feel like I have any claim to an old inheritance from a man who didn’t want me. So, I wouldn’t take the money—it was sitting in an account. As for helping you, I just wanted a reason to be close to you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the first person I’ve met, since all this football stuff got crazy, who didn’t want me for that.”
“Poor famous football star?”
Renn bit his lip. “You’re the first person to make me want more than I’ve ever dared to think I could have. You’re so brave with all your dreams and plans. You don’t need me but I’m yours all the same.”
Miranda twisted her fingers and he could see her struggle with what she wanted to believe.
“You know there’s something between us—I know you feel it too. Fate.”
“You should have told me you were always going back to Atlanta and are basically a famous football player.”
He nodded. “I’m still not sure what I’m going to do.”
Miranda poked him in the chest. “Someone is handing you your dream, a winning lottery ticket, financial freedom, a chance at the most success a person can have in a sport you’ve dedicated your life to.
I get you’re scared. But you know what you want to do.
You’ve always known. You just need to believe you’re worthy, and you are, baby.
You need to take the offer and make it yours.
There is nothing about you that is second string. ”
He reached out and gripped her hip to pull her closer. “Maybe what I want has changed.”
“Don’t try to use me, or your newfound family, as an excuse to run from being everything you ever wanted. They aren’t going anywhere.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Were you afraid to tell me because of my reputation for being a gold digger?”
“No,” he said immediately, but he could tell she wasn’t convinced.
“I’m not sorry we got to know each other like this, on normal terms.”
She shook her head. “There is nothing normal about us.”
“Who’s scared now?”
“The thing is, I’ve always needed a man, had a man to help me, fix me, and disappoint me. I need to do this for myself and by myself. I need to know I can provide for myself and my family. I need to fulfill my potential and this dream.”
“I understand, I really do. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still be together.”
She shook her head no. “But don’t you see, I can’t be some famous NFL star’s small-town hookup, or sometime girlfriend, and be taken seriously. And you’ll be in Atlanta and all over the country for games, while I’m hours away in Sandy Point.”
“What if I want you more? We don’t have to go public—we can make it work long distance until you get the business up and running.”
“I think we need some time to both see where our paths will lead us. And not treat each other like security blankets.”
“Fine, we’ll do this your way. I can wait until you’re ready, but I won’t promise to stay away or pretend I’m not falling for you.”
“I need to get Thor ready for the auction,” Miranda said, taking a deep breath.
“Okay.” His mind was going a million miles a minute, but he knew she needed to focus on her business. And he was going to have to bide his time and hope she chose them too.