Page 25 of Playing Dirty (Millionaire Cowboys of Lucky Ranch #2)

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Final Jackpot

Callie

T he cab door swung open, and Vegas lunged at me in a rush of neon and noise—horns blaring, bass pounding, lights sparkling like the city had draped itself in every sequin it possessed.

Two weeks ago, Rhett had slid that diamond the size of Montana onto my finger, and now here I was again, stepping into the same chaos.

Only this time, I wasn’t second-guessing every choice I’d ever made. I was here to say yes all over again.

Rhett hadn't let go of my hand since we'd left the private jet—his fingers tangled with mine as if he was afraid I might drift away in all this neon chaos.

Even with the Strip spinning around us like some glittering tornado, I felt the ground solid beneath my feet.

When I looked up and saw that half-smile, the flutter in my chest turned to a warm glow.

Just like that. Just like always.

Behind us, Tessa hopped out of the cab with enough energy to power the Strip. “Oh my gosh, Callie, can you believe this? A Vegas wedding! I swear I’m more excited than you are.”

Colt climbed out after her, slow as ever, dragging his boots across the curb. “Don’t go stealing the bride’s thunder, Tes’,” he muttered, though the way he slid his arm around her shoulders said he’d follow her anywhere, stolen thunder or not.

Sawyer slammed the cab door shut and stretched, his voice dry as the desert. “I give it ten minutes before one of y’all drags me into a slot machine marathon. To clarify, I’m not babysitting anyone’s ego when things go south.”

Those words earned him a snort from Tessa and a sideways smile from me. It was precisely the kind of jab I’d expected, sharp enough to sting but not deep enough to wound.

And then there was Easton, quiet at the back of the group, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. He gave me a single nod that said more than words. He wasn’t the type to gush or joke, but he was here—one of Rhett’s oldest friends, mine by extension—and that meant everything.

We navigated through the hotel’s glittering lobby, mirrors and marble reflecting all the sparkle, until we stood at the chapel entrance. My pulse thumped faster. This was really happening. Not a fantasy, not a gamble, not another “maybe” that could fall apart.

I looked up at Rhett. His thumb traced circles on my wrist, his eyes locked on mine. “You ready, darlin’?” he asked.

“Let’s get the ball rolling,” I teased, carefully keeping my veil in place.

The chapel was quaint. Real roses framed the door, their petals a deep crimson that contrasted beautifully with the whitewashed walls.

Inside, the air was fragrant with the scent of fresh blooms, and my gaze was immediately drawn to the stained glass windows.

Each pane told a story of love in vibrant hues that took my breath away.

I hadn’t expected such amazing craftsmanship in this bustling city; it felt like stepping into a hidden sanctuary. As I crossed the threshold, the noise of the Strip faded, and the world outside shrank away, leaving only this serene space enveloping me in warmth and promise.

My dress wasn’t some rhinestone-covered Vegas costume. I chose a simple, elegant gown—ivory satin with a clean neckline and just enough shimmer to make me feel like a bride. When Rhett’s eyes landed on me, all the noise outside faded away.

He looked steady, sure. But when I came up beside him, I caught the twitch of his jaw, the telltale flex of nerves he’d never admit out loud.

And then Easton shifted behind him, resting a hand against his shoulder.

A quiet gesture, but it steadied him like an anchor thrown deep.

Rhett’s shoulders relaxed, and he looked at me again.

The officiant spoke words I barely heard. My heartbeat drowned them out, each one echoing: You’re here. This is real. He’s yours.

Rhett went first with his vows. No jokes, no swagger. Just his voice, low and rough, cracking once when he said my name. “Callie, I can’t promise I’ll always have the right words. But I can promise I’ll stand with you, fight for you, and hold on—no matter what comes.”

The sound of his voice breaking made me blink back tears. My steady cowboy, who never flinched or bent—he was shaking now, for me.

When it was my turn, my throat wobbled, but I managed to speak. “Rhett, I’ve run from a lot of things in my life, but never again. Not from you. You’re my home, my heart, and the reason I’m brave enough to stand here today.”

Tessa sniffled loudly beside me, already dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

Colt stood straighter next to her, proud and quiet, as if he had known this was how it would always turn out.

Sawyer looked straight ahead with his arms crossed, pretending to be bored, but the corner of his mouth twitched into a slight grin.

And Easton—steady as ever—gave Rhett a single nod, the kind that spoke volumes without a word, like he was silently saying, about damn time.

When the officiant declared us husband and wife, Rhett didn’t wait for the applause. He pulled me close and kissed me so fiercely that the lights above the altar might have shorted out. The world swayed then stabilized all at once, his hands clutching my waist, my gown brushing against his boots.

For all the chaos outside, this moment was ours—and it was perfect.

The hotel lounge smelled like leather and citrus polish, low light bouncing off rows of bottles stacked behind the bar. It wasn’t fancy, not compared to the glitter just outside the doors, but it was exactly what I needed after our whirlwind of vows. A quiet bubble where we could catch our breath.

Tessa clinked her glass against mine before I’d even sat down. “To the newlyweds!” she declared, voice ringing like a bell. Colt shook his head, smiling anyway as he lifted his beer.

Sawyer leaned back in his chair, whiskey glass in hand. “Here’s hoping Elvis doesn’t come knocking, asking for an annulment.”

“Ha, ha,” I muttered, though I couldn’t stop grinning.

Rhett’s arm slipped around my shoulders, his glass raised steady. “To my wife,” he said, and the word hit me square in the chest—my wife. I couldn’t even breathe for a second.

Tessa was already buzzing again. “So, where’s the honeymoon? Hawaii? Paris? Oh my gosh, Paris would be so romantic.”

Rhett chuckled, but his gaze slid toward me. “Honeymoon’s gonna have to wait a bit. First, I’ve got a truck to show tomorrow.”

I groaned, nudging him with my shoulder. “You’re really thinking about chrome and polish less than two hours after saying ‘I do’?”

His grin was unapologetic. “Truck’s earned its moment.”

Before I could fire back, Sawyer spoke up, his tone quiet but sure. “He’s right. The man put his whole heart into that Ford. Wouldn’t be him if he didn’t want to see it shine.”

I glanced between them—my brand-new husband, stubborn as ever, and his friend, backing him up like always. I sighed, but I couldn’t help smiling. Maybe I’d married Rhett, but I’d inherited this whole wild family, too.

The convention center buzzed like a hive, and the air was heavy with car wax and gasoline fumes.

Chrome shone under spotlights, and rows of trucks stood like soldiers on parade.

I’d never seen Rhett so alert, his shoulders squared as if he was personally protecting our Ford from the thousands of hands and eyes scouting the place.

“Stay close,” he murmured, slipping his hand into mine as a crowd drifted past. His tone was protective, but it was more than that—this was his world, and he wanted me right there in the middle of it.

I tried to match his calm, but nerves fluttered through me.

That ’49 Ford wasn’t just his project anymore.

Rhett had asked me to oversee the paint work, and I’d hovered over every step—checking samples, making sure the finish caught the light just right, fussing until even the pros at Sin City Body Shop were rolling their eyes at me.

Standing here, hearing the judges talk about “craftsmanship” and “attention to detail,” I felt exposed too, like every decision I’d signed off on was under the spotlight.

A pair of enthusiasts stopped in front of the hood, eyes wide. “How long did it take you guys to finish the paint project?” one asked.

“It took us several weeks, start to finish,” I said before I could stop myself. The word us slipped out naturally, unthinking. Rhett glanced at me, the faintest grin dawning over his features, and my cheeks warmed.

Easton leaned against a merchandise table a few rows over, holding up a shirt as if it might bite him in front of Sawyer and Colt. “You really see me wearing sequins?” he asked dryly.

Sawyer snorted. “Better than the one with flames. You’d look like a midlife crisis waiting to happen.”

Colt just shook his head, stuffing a plain black shirt into Easton’s hands. “Quit whining. Buy the damn souvenir.” Colt picked out a couple of T-shirts for the twins. “I think Tessa would approve of the one with the race car and flames.”

The crowd thickened, voices buzzing with speculation about which truck might take first place. Rhett kept one hand on the Ford’s fender, like he could shield it from everything, his focus razor-sharp. And all I could think was—he wasn’t standing there alone. We were in this together.

The loudspeaker crackled, and the announcer’s voice rolled across the convention center. “Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have reached a decision!”

The crowd pressed closer. My stomach tied itself in knots, but Rhett stood steady as a fencepost, one hand resting on the Ford’s fender like he was staking his claim.

When his name rang out— Rhett Callahan of Lovelace, Montana, winner of the classic division with his vintage ’49 Ford F1 —the sound hit me like a wave.

Applause, whistles, the roar of engines revving in celebration.

Rhett blinked once, almost stunned, then that grin of his broke loose—half cocky, half boyish, the kind that made my knees weak. His hand closed around mine, and he tugged me toward the stage as if the crowd was nothing but background noise.

“C’mon, darlin’,” he murmured, voice rough in my ear. “Time to collect our prize.”

The lights blazed hot on the stage. The emcee reached for the microphone, but Rhett beat him to it, pulling me close with his arm snug around my waist.

“Appreciate the honor,” Rhett said, his voice steady, but his thumb was tracing circles against my side. “But I got something more important to tell y’all. This woman and I—” he tipped his head toward me, his eyes shining like nothing else in the room existed— “we got married yesterday.”

The crowd erupted. Cheers, clapping, even a few gasps. My cheeks burned, but Rhett only grinned harder, soaking it all in like it was another win.

The emcee threw up his hands. “Well, congratulations indeed! And folks, that’s not all. Our winner also receives an all-expenses-paid luxury cruise for six to Hawaii!”

The noise doubled, the whole convention center buzzing with envy and excitement.

Tessa squealed, grabbing my arm. “Did you hear that? Six! Hawaii!” Colt tried to shush her, but his grin gave him away. Sawyer smirked, muttering, “Guess I’ll need a new pair of flip-flops.” And Easton—quiet, steady Easton—just gave a low whistle, eyes wide for once.

I couldn’t stop laughing, dizzy from it all. A truck show win, a husband, and now Hawaii. Somehow, against all odds, Lady Luck kept stacking the deck for us.

The Strip pulsed around us as we walked back to our room, neon signs flickering against Rhett’s profile, painting him in gold, then crimson, then blue. My heels clicked on the pavement, but his hand was warm and solid in mine, steadying me against the chaos like always.

He glanced down at me, that grin still tugging at the corner of his mouth. “So… I’m thinkin’ we push the honeymoon back a month.”

I arched a brow. “Oh? That far?”

His thumb brushed over my knuckles, rough and gentle at once.

“Darlin’, we just got handed a cruise for six and a special deal if we want to add more.

It would be a shame not to take everyone.

Tessa’s already packin’ in her head, Sawyer’ll never admit he wants to go, Colt’s in whether he says it or not—and Easton?

” He gave a quiet laugh. “He never is one to miss a party.”

My chest swelled, not with nerves this time, but with something deeper.

This wasn’t just about me and Rhett anymore.

It was about all of us—the family I’d stumbled into, the one I hadn’t even known I was searching for.

Vegas had started in chaos. But tonight, walking back under a sky that was more radiant than the stars, I realized it had given me more than I ever imagined: a husband, a family, and an adventure just waiting on the horizon.