Page 89 of Roping My Rival

“Nothing is wrong. I’m just wondering what I did to have all this. My life was at rock bottom three months ago. I thought I’d be living out of my truck the rest of my life and never have…family again.” He swallows so hard it must hurt. “No rodeo would have been a death sentence for me without you and your family, Warren. I’m not being dramatic. What your dad proposed is more than generous, and I’m not sure he understands how much it means to me.”

I know very well how Hunter Burke can make you feel once he’s welcomed you into his fold. He always said his journey was for a reason, and he’ll pay it forward until he’s dead. So far, I’ve lost track of everything he’s done, but adopting me and two others was no small task. He knows exactly what it means to finally catch a break.

“Dad doesn’t make offers lightly. He believes in you. He didn’t do it to make me happy. He sees you, Dane. All of your potential. I bet he knows what it means, but I know he’d appreciate it if you could tell him that.”

“Maybe I’m just in shock. I can’t believe I’m about to own a business I’ve dreamed about since the first time I helped my dad in the shop. It’s just…” He puffs out another breath. “If I can find words, I’ll tell him.”

“They’ve been out there a long time.”

Jesse sits next to me on the sofa. When we came home from Dane’s rodeo hearing, I had planned to take him on an actual date. We’d have dinner, maybe dance, and we’d go back to my favourite star-gazing pocket. Dane had other ideas, and he was so passionate about it that I couldn’t deny his request.

We came back to the ranch, and he immediately got to work making phone calls before finally calling my dad and asking him if he’d be available for a chat. Of course, my dad excused himself from his time with Maise. He’d already started teaching her to ride on the pony he’d picked out with Jesse’s approval, and he’d taken her to the giant tack shop to pick out new boots, a saddle, and lord knows what else because a girl needs new things, he’d said.

None of us commented on the riding boots he showed up with that match Maise’s.

“I’m not worried,” I answer. “I’m actually happy they’ve found each other.”

Jesse chuckles. “Is it a bromance?”

“Sort of.” Smiling, I turn to Jesse. “We’ve all been through some shit, and we have each other. Dad and Pops found us young, and we had a second chance. Dane…he’s no different except he misses his parents. He had a family that fell apart, which is heartbreaking, and I don’t think he’s grieved his loss properly. I think Dad gets that, and it’s helping Dane.”

“That makes sense. He was thrown into the decision-maker and caregiver roles right away. Sounds like he’s been in survival mode all these years.” Jesse nods. “We’ve all kinda been there, haven’t we?”

“Yeah. I wish everyone could have a Hunter Burke in their life.”

Pops walks into the room with a sly smile. “Uh, no.” He laughs as he flops into the armchair. “He can’t save the world. He thinks he can, and it makes me love him more every time. After he found Clarence and we had the three of you under this roof all within a year, I had to gently remind him that large farmhouse or not, we were only two people, and I still wanted quality time with my kids.”

“Did Dad want more of us?” I ask, but I think I already know the answer.

“He did, and it’s sort of funny when I think about it. When I met your dad, he didn’t even want to be married. When he met you, Warren, we had only just started thinking about being foster parents. But your dad wastes no time when he wants something or sees potential. That’s how he built the rodeo school. It’s how all of you found a home here, and it’s why he’s still outside with Dane.”

Finally, the front door opens, and I stand to greet Dad and Dane. Dane’s smile is the biggest I’ve ever seen. Both of them also have red-rimmed eyes, and I won’t comment on that.

“I was starting to worry about you two.”

“Nothing to worry about, son. Just a long business meeting.”

“So it’s done?”

Dane grins and smiles at Dad. “Yep. You’re looking at the new owners of Walker’s Mobile Mechanic Services. We’ll be sourcing a vehicle this week, and while I get it retrofitted, I’ll rent a space in the rodeo school.”

“He can use the old storage building out back. It’s just wasted space. As long as it’s okay with you and your brothers, of course.” Dad grimaces, and I laugh. “Sometimes I forget I don’t have a say anymore, but it could be a great partnership. His ideal clients will be in and out of there all the time.”

“Sounds like we need to celebrate,” I say.

Jesse joins us at the door and pulls on his boots. “Only if it can wait. My nanny just texted and said Maise isn’t feeling well. She won’t want to miss a party.”

“She was fine when I was with her,” Dad says. His brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“You probably just let her eat her weight in hot dogs, and she has a tummy ache. He’s not concerned, but I’m going to check on them, anyway. Keep me posted.” He nods to Dane. “Welcome to the family, and this brother thinks it’s a great idea. I don’t think renting space will be an issue.”

Jesse exits, and Dad joins Pops, leaving Dane and me alone in the entranceway. Dane reaches out and brushes the hair off my forehead. “I love you, Warren. So much I’m afraid of it sometimes.”

“I’m really not that scary. I have a rabbit tattoo, after all.”

He laughs. “You do, and it’s so you.”

“Soft and cute?”