“Marry me, Delaney,” Zac continued. “I think I can make you happy—if you’ll only let me love you.”
He wanted to marry her? She tried to speak, but her throat was too tight. She swallowed hard and then nodded vigorously.
Zac’s gaze narrowed. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes, Zac,” she croaked in a barely audible whisper.
He pulled her into his arms for a long, tender kiss. “You’ve made me a happy man. I never thought I’d hear you say it.”
Finding her voice, Delaney replied. “I didn’t think I needed a man. I didn’t think I’d need anything more in my life to be happy once I had a baby, but sometimes you don’t recognize what’s wrong until the right thing comes along . . . and that’s you, Zac. You’re everything that’s right. So yes, I mean it . . . and even more . . . I promise with all my heart to love you back.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Las Vegas
“’Bout damned time you got here!” Ty exclaimed as Zac threw a leg over the bar stool in the Last Chance Saloon. “I’ve got a lot of shit to wrap up before I get on that plane tomorrow.”
“Sorry, ’bout that,” Zac grunted. “I got waylaid in Albuquerque.” Or better said, laid really great. He and Delaney had passed all night and most of the following day making love in that honeymoon cabin. He couldn’t wait to go back.
Ty signaled Gabby for two beers. “So what brought you out here? You’ve had me wondering about this whole face-to-face thing. You haven’t changed your mind about our deal, have you?”
“Matter of fact, I have. That’s what I came to talk about. I’ve been thinking Ty, between rebuilding the hotel and running the Circle B, how are you really gonna have time for stock contracting?”
“That’s what I’ve got you for,” Ty said.
“Thanks.” Zac nodded to Gabby as she slid a foamy mug in front of him. He turned back to Ty. “But why me? Delaney’s done a fine job running your place and she knows her livestock. Why not give her the contracting business?”
“Are you for real? Shit, Zac, you know a woman can’t handle bulls.”
“Maybe not alone, but what if she had some experienced help?”
“Wait a minute.” Ty’s gaze narrowed. “Are you saying you want to work for her?”
“Not exactly.” Zac raised the mug to his lips. “I’d like to work with her.”
“What are you getting at?” Ty asked.
“When we first made this deal, I asked you if I could buy a share of the business once I sold my place. Well, circumstances have changed, Ty. I’d like to propose something a little different.”
“Go ahead,” Ty encouraged. “You’ve got my ear.”
“I came to ask if you’d consider selling me your half of the double M instead.”
Ty’s brows met, furrowing a deep crease over the bridge of his nose. “You want to buy out my share of the ranch? Delaney would shit a brick.”
“Would she?” Zac asked. “I don’t think so. She knows she needs help and you’ve always said you and she could never run it together. On top of that, you’ve got your hands full with everything you’re doing out here. I think it’s the perfect solution. Hell, we wouldn’t even have to change the Double M brand. Instead of Morgan—McCall, it’d be McCall-McDaniel Ranch.”
Ty eyed him skeptically. “Do you really think you could get along with that woman?”
“Yeah.” Zac grinned. “I think we’d rub along well enough, which leads directly into my second reason for coming here.”
“And what’s that?”
“I wanna marry her, Ty.”
Ty sputtered his beer all over Zac’s shirtfront. “Have you been smokin’ locoweed?”
“You heard me right. I want Delaney. I love her, Ty. Hell, truth be told, I always have.”
Ty sat back with an incredulous look. “You’re really serious? Shit, Zac! Why did it take you eight fucking years to say it?”
“The timing was never right,” Zac mumbled lamely. He didn’t want to admit he’d been too chickenshit.
“Are you looking for me to give my blessing?” Ty asked.
Zac jutted his chin. “Don’t give a damn if you do or you don’t. I’m having her either way, but I would like you to stand up with me if it’s not asking too much.”
“So this is the real reason you want to buy me out?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to go into this empty-handed. I figure she’s already getting the short end of the stick.”
“I admit I talk a lot of smack about Delaney, but she got a raw deal with me,” Ty said. “She deserves better. She deserves to be happy. Make her happy, Zac.”
“I promised her I would,” Zac said. “And I’ll die tryin’.”
“This is so depressing. We’ve been looking for hours.” Delaney grimaced as Monica held up an ivory-colored sheath. “That would be gorgeous on you with your slim hips and long legs, but my ass would look huge in it. I need something in a darker color.”