Challenge, challenge, challenge.
Trixie invited them to the barbecue, but Jace and Dixie were going to New York that weekend to see Jace’s family. Dixie and Jace told Trixie about how they’d met years earlier and had come together when Jace had won Dixie in a charity bachelor auction at Whiskey Bro’s. “Nick was on the auction block that night,” Jace said.
Trixie looked over her shoulder at him. “No way. You actually got onstage and were auctioned off?”
Man, he’d hated that shit. “Yeah.” He hiked a thumb at Dixie. “This one harassed me every day until I finally agreed to do it. But it was for charity, so I couldn’t exactly turn her down and feel good about it.”
“And we were very appreciative of him for his service,” Dixie said. “He earned several thousand dollars for the Parkvale Women’s Shelter.”
“I’m not sure I want to know what you did for the winner.” Trixie settled against his chest again.
Nick leaned his chin on her shoulder and said, “She was a hyped-up banker who packed on makeup and talked about herself all night. We went to dinner at one of those places where the meal is overpriced and undersized. I drove her home, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and went back to my place to make a burger.”
Trixie went up on her knees and turned around, taking his face between her hands. “Nick Braden, I don’t care if that’s the truth or a lie. Either way, it was the perfect answer.” She pressed her lips to his.
Jace and Dixie laughed, and Nick fell a little harder for his girl.
As she settled back down between his legs, he said, “It’s the truth, darlin’. But a better story is that when Dixie put herself up on the auction block, Jace and her brother Bullet nearly came to blows over her.”
“Bullet?” Trixie asked.
“His real name is Brandon. Bullet is his biker name—or road name,” Dixie clarified. “He’s ex–Special Forces.”
Trixie nodded. “Oh, wow. I could see my brothers doing something like that if I were auctioned off. Guys are so weird. What did you do, Jace?”
“I told Bullet to back the hell off, and I won my girl.” Jace pulled Dixie closer.
“Damn right you did.” Dixie kissed him. “He proposed a few weeks later.”
“After she clocked me in the jaw,” Jace added.
Trixie’s eyes widened. “She hit you? Why?”
“Let’s just say I’d been alone for so long, I didn’t realize how important it was to answer texts and phone calls.” Jace looked at Nick and said, “You should learn from my mistakes.”
If the other day was any indication, they’d have no issues in that department.
“What’s the plan with you two?” Dixie asked. “Trixie’s going back to Virginia and you’re going to do the long-distance thing?”
“That’s right,” Nick said.
“Good luck with that. It was hell for me,” Jace said.
“We’ll be fine,” Trixie said. “We’ve been long-distance friends forever. Nick will be busy with his ranch, and I’ll be too busy with the business to pine away for him. Just today I set up three appointments with facilities near Oak Falls for the week after I get home, and I have more referrals to call.” She looked over her shoulder at Nick. “But I’ll miss you like crazy.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
“You can always get down on one knee, Nick,” Dixie suggested.
“Dixie.” Trixie laughed. “I just got him to acknowledge he has feelings for me. We’re good for now. Right, Nick?”
“That’s right, darlin’.” He was so damn glad she got him. “Why fix it if it ain’t broken?”
Dixie and Jace exchanged a glance Nick couldn’t read, and the moment was interrupted by the familiar sounds of horses galloping.
“Look!” Dixie pointed down the beach to a herd of horses headed their way.
Nick dragged Trixie up to her feet as Dixie and Jace pushed to theirs, and they all jogged back to the base of the dunes, giving the horses space. Nick put his arms around Trixie from behind, and they watched the horses gallop past. They were a majestic sight, their manes and tales flying, powerful bodies untethered by reins.
“They’re beautiful,” Trixie said with awe.
He kissed her cheek. “Not nearly as beautiful as you.”
After the horses passed, they talked on the beach for a long while, tossed rocks into the water, and walked along the shore. Then they headed into town and ate dinner at an outdoor café and ended their evening with a walk down Main Street. It was a low-key, lazy, and incredibly enjoyable few hours. Nick had never been a traveler, but this short trip opened another door inside him he hadn’t known existed. He wanted more of this with Trixie—more time away from work, time to sit and watch other parts of the world go by, time to do couple things.
When they hit the open road on the way home, with Trixie’s warm body against his back and a wealth of new memories he knew he’d treasure, he thought about all the other places he’d like to take her—because after such an incredible day, this trip would definitely not be their last.
Chapter Twenty-Four
TRIXIE SAT IN the stands at the Heart Valley Rodeo Saturday evening, waiting for Nick’s exhibition. They’d had a busy, wonderful week. Her business was really coming together with the launch of her website and the arrival of her Rising Hope shirts and the horses’ vests and shoes. She’d booked eleven more visits with facilities between Maryland and Virginia starting the week after she returned home, and even though she had a handle on training, Nick was still helping her. She looked forward to it every day, just as the horses did. She’d gotten to watch him practice for his show a few more times, which she’d never tire of. They’d also gone on trail rides together, visited Walt, and had even gone on a dinner date to Whiskey Bro’s, because Trixie had dared Nick to take her there.
Maybe she’d pushed him because she didn’t like being told anyplace was off-limits, or because she kind of loved seeing him get jealous. But even if those were some of the reasons, they weren’t the biggest reasons she’d dared him to take her to the biker bar. She’d wanted to show him that it didn’t matter where they were, no other man could threaten their relationship. It had worked a little too well. They’d had a great time hanging out with the people they’d met at the bar, playing darts and pool, but they’d stayed until closing and had paid the price of exhaustion the next day.
But the best parts of the week were the evenings they’d spent talking under the stars while Nick played his guitar, or just hanging out, and tumbling into each other’s arms whenever the urge hit. Trixie was falling so deeply in love with him, she wished their time together would never end. But the end of her visit was only a week away, looming like a graying cloud ready to open up. She wanted to slow the clock to spend more time with him, and at the same time she wanted to speed it up to get her business started.
Applause rang out, jarring her from her thoughts as the horses that had been in the last event before Nick’s show were led out of the arena. Trixie’s cell phone chimed. She pulled it from her pocket and filled with happiness seeing Nick’s name in the bubble. This one’s for you, darlin’. Meet me at the gate afterward. They were taking off right after his event. She didn’t respond because they were already announcing Nick’s show, and she didn’t want to sidetrack him.