Page 108 of Say it Ain’t So

She pulled back before I could get my fill but tucked herself into my side.

“I can’t believe you’re both here! Look at you!” She gestured to her friend, who was dressed much like we were, in jeans and cowboy boots. “You look amazing! And Dakota! Your hair is all grown out!”

Dakota dipped his chin as his sister tugged at a long lock of his hair. “It’s taken forever, but he finally looks like himself again.”

“It’s been a long road,” he said, yanking his hair from his sister’s grasp. “It’s good to have it back. And it’s good to see you doing well.”

“Thank you. You too.”

“Should we go inside where it’s warm?” Van asked from behind me.

“Absolutely!” I rubbed my hands together, then tugged at Joss’s arm. “I swear, I’m feeling lucky tonight. I’m going to beat you this time.”

“Beat her at what?” Cheyenne asked, sneaking up beside me and giving Joss a look. Joss returned it, but I spoke before she could.

“We made a bet,” I told them as we reached the front door. “They’ve got a mechanical bull inside, and we agreed that the person who stayed on longest got to choose our honeymoon destination. And this damn bum leg of mine kept me from winning.”

Van snagged the door and pulled it open. “And he keeps trying to beat her, even though it’s obvious she can’t be beat.”

I gave Van a playful push. “I can do it! Just you wait and see.”

“Don’t count on it.” Cheyenne planted herself in the open doorway and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at Joss. “Are you going to tell him, or am I?”

“Chey!”

“Tell me what?”

“That your wife grew up riding real bulls, so bum leg or not, you still wouldn’t beat her.”

“What?” I turned to Joss and found her hiding behind her hands.

Dakota gave a quiet laugh. “Our father did the rodeo circuit back home. Where some people had a swing set for their children to play on, we had a barrel strung up on bungee cords in our barn to help us learn how to ride bulls. Joss got her start on our sheep before she learned to ride a bike.”

“The only reason she didn’t stick with it was the zoo.”

“No.” I turned my gaze to my wife. “Say it ain’t so, gorgeous.”

She lifted her chin. “I don’t know what they’re talking about.”

“My wife’s a liar. Did you hear that? She’s a liar!”

Van shook his head. “Isn’t that the same thing you did to us with rock climbing?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I grabbed Joss’s hand, tugging her into the bar and over to the tables we had set up in the corner. We joined our friends, and we spent the evening the only way I would have wanted to: Together.

32

RYLAN

The warmth of Joss’s body sank into mine as we swayed together on the dance floor. I would dance with her to any beat, but I’d found the slow songs were my favorites. What better reason to hold her in my arms, against my chest, and feel the steady rhythm of her heart under my hands?

Around us, our friends and family had gathered, but all I cared about was the woman in my arms. My lucky charm. My greatest adventure.

I wouldn’t be alive without Joss. I wouldn’t be here, in this city. I wouldn’t know these people. Without her, I’d still be chasing the high, going from one adventure to the next as I tried to find something that could hold my interest and make me happy again.

Joss made me happy. From the minute I laid eyes on her in that casino in Vegas, my life was changed. My heart was calm. The happiness that flowed through my veins was what I’d been searching for all my life.

She tilted her chin up, giving me a glimpse of her beautiful face, her stunning blue eyes. Her smile made my heart stutter in my chest. “You’re going to have to let me go at some point.”