His To Claim. Brenda Jackson
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glanced over at the man walking beside him. Lawton was walking so fast you’d think he was rushing to put out a fire. Against his better judgment, Mac had let Lawton talk him into coming here of all places—a rodeo—just to see a woman.
“You shouldn’t walk so slow,” Lawton said, grinning, not breaking his stride.
“Whatever. Now, how did you and this woman meet again?”
“We met online three months ago and officially met last month when I flew to Atlanta for the weekend. She’s a photographer for the Bill Pickett Rodeo circuit. LaDorria mentioned they would be in the DC area, so I figured this would be my chance to see her again.”
As they neared the entrance to the arena Lawton slowed down and so did Mac. “Is there a particular spot where the two of you plan to meet once we’re inside?” Mac asked, looking around.
“Yes. She said to meet her at the booth that sells the commemorative booklets.”
Ten minutes later they were there, and Lawton introduced Mac to LaDorria Clark. Mac had to admit she was an attractive woman, and just for the hell of it, he asked if she had a single friend. She quickly replied, “It just so happens I do. Her name is Teri and she’s competing tonight.”
LaDorria grabbed one of the commemorative booklets and flipped through to a certain page, pointed and said, “This here is Teri.”
Mac figured if a man could fall in love with a photograph, then he had done so in that moment. The very beautiful woman in a cowgirl outfit was smiling for the camera and she captured his heart then and there.
“What event is she competing in?”
“Roping and barrel racing. She’s the current champ in the women’s division. She was also rodeo queen last year.”
Mac looked at the photo again. He could definitely believe that. He figured her age was around twenty-two or twenty-three and she had the most gorgeous pair of honey-brown eyes. They were perfect for her high cheekbones and full, shapely lips. Her skin was the color of rich mocha and he loved the way the mass of curly hair fell around her shoulders.
He looked over at LaDorria. “And you’ll introduce us?”
She laughed. “Yes, just as soon as the rodeo is over, and only if you cheer for Teri tonight. Like I said, she’s competing.”
As far as Mac was concerned, Teri Cantor didn’t need him cheering for her because she had her own fan section in the stands. And she was good. So good that she won both competitive events easily. He couldn’t help admiring how well she handled a horse, how skillfully she rode the animal. Nor could he fight his attraction to her—she was a beautiful woman in person and in action in the ring. And he definitely liked the way she looked in her cowgirl outfits. She had changed into a couple of different ones and each one he would claim as a favorite.
He liked the way she handled a rope and how easily her lasso fell over the cow’s head. He knew that sort of aptitude came from hours of practice. That meant she was well disciplined.
Mac had heard the comments from the men around him. Men who’d made it obvious they had the hots for Teri. Some had even admitted to hitting on her and striking out. He hoped he wouldn’t be one of those men.
He thought about other women he’d dated in the past. Most liked the idea of dating a military man, but none ever fancied marrying one. They’d all heard the life of a SEAL’s wife was too demanding. The thought of not knowing where their husband was and when he’d be returning was just something they couldn’t tolerate.
Their attitude was something he hadn’t been able to tolerate, either. Although he had no intention of acquiring a wife for years to come, it still bothered him how some women thought a relationship was all about them. They had no idea that a navy SEAL wife was, in a way, serving her country, as well.
“I just got a text from LaDorria,” Lawton said at the end of the rodeo. “They asked us to give them thirty minutes and then they’ll meet us by that souvenir table again.”
“Okay, and it looks like you’re kind of serious about LaDorria,” he said to Lawton.
“I am. I just hope she’s serious about me.”
Mac hoped she was, as well, since Lawton was a pretty decent guy.
It was almost forty-five minutes later, but Mac was convinced it was worth every minute of waiting for LaDorria and Teri to arrive. When he saw Teri Cantor walking toward them, he thought she looked even better up close and in person.
She had changed out of her riding outfit into a pair of slacks and a blouse that made her look feminine as hell. Her hair was no longer tied back away from her face but hung in loose curls around her shoulders. He could tell the moment their gazes connected that there was interest between them and he didn’t intend to let that interest go to waste.
“So, what do you think?” Lawton leaned over to ask before the two women had approached them.
Mac’s response was quick and honest. “I think I’m in love.”
Lawton laughed but Mac was totally serious. That was how his father claimed it had been for him when he’d seen Mac’s mother for the first time, when the two had been attending classes together at Ohio State University.
Mac drew in a deep breath and didn’t release it until the women had reached them. Introductions were being made by LaDorria. “Teri, I’d like you to meet a friend of Lawton’s. Thurston McRoy.”
Teri offered him her hand and the moment he took it, he felt...something flow through him. From the look in her eyes, he knew she’d felt it, as well.
“Nice meeting you, Thurston.”
He smiled down at her. “My friends call me Mac.”
She nodded. “Okay. It’s nice meeting you, Mac.”
“Same here.” And he truly meant it.
That night they went to one of the bar-and-grills that stayed open late. He got to know her better but not as well as he wanted to. They exchanged phone numbers and stayed in touch, sometimes talking on the phone at night for hours.
They had their first official date a month later, when he’d flown to Montana to watch her perform in another rodeo. That was when he was about to be stationed in Spain and he’d wanted to see her again before leaving the country.
They exchanged texts and phone calls whenever they could, and it was two months later that she’d told him she was thinking about selling her ranch and moving to New York. She felt that maybe it was time to put her college degree in business to good use. He’d known it would be a tough decision for her to make. From their talks, he knew how much she’d enjoyed living on the ranch.
Once she made the decision to sell the ranch it had sold quickly, and before she could pack up and move to New York, he had persuaded her to visit him in Barcelona. When she said she would, he’d made all the arrangements and had sent her an airline ticket within twenty-four hours. He had been there to pick her up from the airport and the moment he saw her again he’d known he wanted to make her a permanent part of his life.
Teri had spent two wonderful weeks with him in Spain and it was during that time that they’d shared a bed for the first time. Making love to her had been just like he’d known it would be.
She’d literally rocked his world.
The intensity of their sexual joining was powerful. It was as if her body was made for him and his for her.
Before leaving to return to the States, he’d asked her to marry him, and she’d accepted.
A month later they were married.
* * *
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Mac opened his eyes and glanced down at Tasha. She had gone back to sleep. Standing, he placed his daughter back in her bed and then he walked out of the room.
It