The Cowboy’s Curvy Fling Bonus Scene

Penelope

Today is Lucky River’s annual picnic. Generations of families are gathered. Barbeque scents linger in the air. Corn on the cob and burgers fresh from the grill along with an assortment of casseroles line the picnic tables. Apple pies are set out on a table by the cooler holding drinks and ice for sweet tea.

Conversation and love fill this warm, sunny, Texas day. The sky is so blue it looks like it was painted that way. Flowers are in bloom nearly everywhere I look.

Kids with popsicle-smeared grins are shrieking with laughter and running around the blanket I’m sitting on.

I look over where Mack is standing near the water with one hand on Levi’s shoulder. Our son is upset that his father won’t let him run along the bank and dive in. Mack speaks to him and Levi quiets though he’s still pouting.

I think of all the words I could use to describe my husband. Sexy. Handsome. Kind. Loyal. Hardworking. Gentle. Protector. Hero.

He’s a good father. A good husband. Sometimes when I look back on the past, I can hardly believe that I once thought of not becoming his wife. I was too battle-scarred and thought love couldn’t be trusted.

But he proved me wrong. Time and time again, he’s proven he’s a man of his word. His love is steady. True. We’ve been married five years today.

Tonight, while Levi is spending the night with my Mack’s sister, we’ll go on a special date. Though we have regular date nights, he always does special days up in a big way.

As if he senses me watching him, he looks and smiles in that way of his that tells me he thinks I’m perfect. He thinks I’m a gift.

My throat tightens when I think about how deeply I’m loved. How I only have to speak a word about something I need or want and he’s immediately on it. I try to blink back tears but I’m not successful. It’s these changing hormone levels.

He studies my face, frowns, then makes his way across the grass in quick strides. He lowers himself to the blanket and tells Levi to sit when our son thinks he can sneak away.

Then he gently strokes my cheek. His touch is full of care. “Are you okay?”

I lean into his hand. “I’m good,” I tell him. “I’m overwhelmed with all the beautiful things that have come my way, that’s all.”

Levi stands up. At almost five and a half, he’s a handful. Into everything. Testing boundaries. Constantly announcing he’s a cowboy too and wearing his daddy’s boots the minute Mack takes them off.

I take my son’s hand in mine and guide him back down.

He crosses his arms. “I wanna go play in the water. Can I mommy?”

“What did Daddy say?”

Levi considers the question. Looks between us. His shoulders slump. “He said no.” Then he straightens and implores me, “But you’re the boss.”

Mack laughs and ruffles Levi’s hair. “Nice try, kiddo. You’re not old enough to play in the river. That water moves too fast for you. But someday you’ll be able to.”

Levi flops over. “I’ll be old.”

Mack and I laugh in unison.

“Mommy has a surprise for you.” I take him onto my lap. He’s grown so fast. I feel like I blinked, and his baby days were behind us. Soon he won’t want to sit in my lap.

“Is it a pony for me?” His eyes shine at the possibility.  “I could take care of it.”

“No.” I look at Mack as I announce the news. “You’re going to have a baby brother or sister. Isn’t that great?”

Levi scowls. “I want a pony instead.”

Mack’s throat works and he takes my hand. “Really?”

I nod. I know how much this news means to him. How lonely he was and how much he longed for a family before I came along.

“You’ve given me everything I ever dreamed of,” he says.

Levi’s eyes grow round. “Did Mommy give you a pony?” He pushes his head up between us and loops one arm around each of our necks. “A pony is a dream.”

Mack takes him so he can lean over and kiss me.

“Cotton candy!” Levi shrieks looking over Mack’s shoulder.

With a sigh, Mack stands and holds his hand out to help me up. “I guess we’ll save our celebration until later,” he says for my ears only.

We walk hand in hand toward the booths set up to commemorate this perfect day.

***

Mack

The heat from the day has cooled. It’s one of those glorious summer nights that only Texas can deliver.

All day I’ve looked forward to being alone with Penelope. She’s my wife, the mother of my child. The mother of my future children. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. She makes me feel like I’m the greatest man in the world.

Not a day has passed by that she hasn’t told me how much she loves me.

More than once I’ve sat on the front porch at the ranch, looking up at the same stars I once gazed at in hopes of finding her. And I’ve said my silent thanks that I could have this treasure of a person by my side.

No matter what she goes through, Penelope doesn’t complain. Doesn’t give up. She just finds a way around obstacles. She loves me in ways I’ve never been loved before.

I thought I was rescuing her, but it turns out she was also rescuing me back.

The front door opens, and I lower my boots from the railing and stand. When I see what she’s wearing, I let out a low whistle. “You’re so beautiful.” She’s dressed in a short white dress.

I escort her to the truck and help her in.

“Dinner and a movie?” she asks as I drive toward the surprise location.

“Not even close.”

She taps the end of her chin, the snaps her fingers. “That new restaurant that opened. What’s it called again?”

“The Outlaw Barn.” I turn off the main road. “We’re not going there.” I drive for another ten minutes with her still trying to guess.

Then she realizes where we are.

“Old Texas,” she says, covering her mouth with her hands.

The wedding venue, designed to look like an 1800 hundreds Texas town is where we got married. There’s an old saloon I reserved for tonight.

We pull up and like the owner promised, the place is aglow with lights. It’s decked out with Penelope’s favorite flowers.

I help her out of the truck, and she tucks her hand in the crook of my arm. We walk into the saloon and the soft lyrics of our wedding song is playing.

By then Penelope is sniffing and trying not to cry. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Inside the saloon, I lead her to the bar and pick up a box with a red heart on it. “This is for later.”

She takes a peek inside anyway, then looks at me with delight. “Notes?”

I nod. Before I’d found her again, I’d written her a short note every night we were apart. Sometimes the notes only held the words I love you. Or told her I was thinking about her.

In other notes, I said a little more. Giving her a year’s worth of new ones is a tradition I’ve kept up since we got married.

“This is for now.” I hand her a jewelry box.

She lifts out the bracelet I had custom made for her. She touches each of the charms in turn. “It’s beautiful,” she says on a breath.

I fasten it around her wrist.

“I have two things for you,” she says and hands me an envelope.

I open it. An ultrasound image is nestled in a card. My heart stutters. “Twins? We’re having twins?”

She nods. “Our family is growing.”

I can barely speak. All those lonely nights. All those times I wished I had a family. Now I do. I’m such a lucky man.

I kiss her and she wraps her arms around me. We stand there holding each other. I’m content to stay like this until she winks at me, a promise in her eyes. “The rest of the gift is waiting for when we’re home and it’s just you and me, cowboy.”

***

If you loved Mack and Penelope’s story, you’ll enjoy reading The Cowboy’s Curvy Forever with Nate and Jenna. Preorder the book now!