Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys 5)

“I meant every word I said.” She fussed with his bow tie. “You look hot in this tux. But I can’t wait to strip it off you later in the bridal suite.”

Fletch placed his hand over hers, which rested above his heart. “So alls you gotta do is slip on your fancy wedding dress and satin shoes and you’re good to meet me at the wedding chapel”—he glanced at the clock—“in forty-five minutes?” The crazy woman had set their wedding date two months ago—for 1:01 a.m., immediately after the CRA Nationals ended. She’d known all their friends and relatives would be in Vegas to support her during the final night—win or lose—so it made sense to get married here. But she’d insisted on keeping what she claimed would be the happiest day of her life—marrying him—a different day from the day she competed for the world championship.

“I’ll be there, giddy as a schoolgirl, nervous as a virgin, horny as a toad.” She nipped the end of his chin. “This staying in separate rooms the last few nights has sucked.”

“No argument from me. So, how did you manage to ditch Celia, Lainie, Harlow, Summer and all the Mud Lilies? I thought they had you under lock and key in the ready room.”

“I wasn’t sure I could get away when I got your text. But as soon as Garnet cranked up Bobby Darin, I snuck out.” She smirked. “How’d you escape from the man cave?”

“At my suggestion, Eli, Hank, Kyle, Devin, my dad and your brother decided to try their luck playing Texas hold ’em, in the guise of winning us a cash wedding gift.” Fletch tipped her chin up and looked into her eyes. “I wanted us to meet alone so I could give you your wedding gift before the ceremony.”

“August Fletcher. I thought we said no gifts.”

“This is a gift for both of us really.” He inhaled a slow breath. “Renner agreed to turn that big empty building at the Split Rock into a training arena. We’ll have to lease it, but your training time will get priority. And the Gradskys have signed off on letting you work with Madera there, instead of at their Colorado facility.”

Her jaw nearly hit the floor. “Are you serious?”

“Completely.”

“So next season I don’t have to spend half my time in Colorado?”

“Nope.”

“Not that I wanna look a gift horse in the mouth—ha-ha—but . . . why?”

“Guess Renner—or more likely financial whip-cracker Tierney—would rather have some income while waiting for the commercial stock-breeding program to become viable, rather than let the building sit unused another two years. As far as the Gradskys . . . they know you take better care of their horse than you do yourself.” He flashed her a grin. “Plus, you’ve got a top-notch vet at your beck and call, day and night, to treat their newest prize-winning horse, which also weighed heavily in our favor.”

Tanna shrieked and threw her arms around him. “This is the best news ever.” She kissed him. “I love you so much.” More kisses. “So, so, so much.”

“I love you too.”

Tanna’s cell phone began to vibrate on the bar. “Shoot. They noticed I was missing. I gotta go.”

“You promise you’re meeting me in the chapel? You won’t get cold feet and run away?”

“I’m never running away again. In fact, I just may run down that aisle to reach you.”

“And my arms will be wide open to catch you.” He kissed her. “Always.”