Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders 15)

“I think we’ll grab the kids and head up to the house too,” Brandt said and yelled for the boys.

Dalton’s mom gave him another hug. “I’ll ride up with the judge.”

“Well I’m not staying here by myself to watch the newlyweds suck face,” Sierra announced. Yanking up the skirt of her bridesmaid’s dress, she whistled for Jingle and shouted, “Hey Dad, wait up.”

And then they were alone.

Dalton faced Rory with a grin. “You know, we could…”

“Absolutely not, Dalton McKay. I am not having sex with you on that rock… Omigod please, stop doing that. Right now. Seriously…”

“In a minute,” he murmured against her throat.

Rory grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked so they were looking at each other. “Save it for the honeymoon.”

“You mean tonight, right? And not waiting to have my wicked way with my wife until we’re in Spain?” Having Rory to himself for two weeks in Europe was gonna be some fun.

“Of course I mean tonight. You do have a room reserved for us someplace?”

“Don’t need reservations in the great outdoors.”

“You are not expecting me to spend my freakin’ wedding night in a sleeping bag out in the woods, are you?”

He laughed. “Nope. You get enough of the great outdoors in your job.” Their transition to living together in a new state, as a couple, had gone much smoother than they’d imagined. They’d bought a house, a small fixer-upper to give him something to do. He’d found a logging company that needed part-time seasonal help and he planned to serve as a hunting guide in the fall for Boden. But for the most part, he was content being in their home, taking care of Rory, supporting her in the career she loved.

She swept his hair from his forehead. “I love you. Promise me we won’t get separated for too long at the reception?”

“I promise.” Then he kissed her. The kiss caught fire, like it always did between them. His mouth wandered, as did his hands. He’d just about had her talked into a quickie, when he heard motors gunning behind them and a series of annoying beeps.

Dalton stepped in front of Rory so she could straighten the top of her dress.

Kyler pulled into view in a side by side ATV that’d been decorated with white streamers and graffiti and had tin cans tied to the back end. A big sign said, Just Hitched.

More loud beeps sounded and he saw Sierra riding another ATV. She pulled in behind Kyler.

“Please tell me she’s not wearing her bridesmaid’s dress on that muddy ATV.”

Sierra waved at them with the bottle of champagne and yelled, “Wahoo! We started the party without you, suckas.”

“And…she’s drinking.”

Dalton laughed.

Kyler bounded over. “Your wedding party got back to the house and realized they hadn’t left you a way to get back.” He tossed Dalton the keys and pointed to the ATV. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Thanks Ky. Could you—”

“Drive Sierra back to the house? I’d planned on it.” He propped his hands on his hips. “Not sure an open bar was the best choice for the reception. Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on her tonight.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Rory said.

“Don’t mention it. Seriously. Don’t say nothin’ to my parents.” He frowned. “If they think I’m havin’ any kind of fun they’ll make me stay with the little kids.”

Kyler looked at Sierra when she honked the horn ten times in a row and yelled, “Come on, little cuz. Time’s a wastin’ to get wasted!”

Kyler looked back at Dalton and Rory and grinned. “Hey, someone’s gotta teach me how to be a wild McKay now that the last single man’s been married off.”

They watched as he climbed in the driver’s seat. At the top of the hill he spun the tires and threw mud everywhere as Sierra loudly egged him on.

“You know, this is really starting to seem like an episode of My Big Fat Redneck Wedding,” Rory said.

Dalton laughed. “Then I guess that makes me…your Redneck Romeo, huh, jungle girl?” He swooped her into his arms and carried her to the four-wheeler, the happiest man in the world.