Lone Star Daddy (McCabe Multiples) (18 page)

Her tension building, Rose could only stare at him.

“I probably should have called first,” he said.

If their nearly two weeks apart had taught her anything, it was that she didn’t want them to stand on formality. Ever again. He’d made the first move. It was up to her to make the second—even if this wasn’t quite the way she had envisioned her apology to him.

Her heart pounding like a wild thing in her chest, she glided close enough to inhale the familiar leather and spice mixed with the masculine fragrance unique to him. Courage, she thought resolutely. If she could manage three kids on her own, she could certainly win Clint’s love.

She smiled, ignoring the growing knot of emotion in her throat. “You can drop by anytime. In fact, I’m glad you did. I have one last check to give you for the blackberry harvest. I was going to mail it, but then I thought I should probably deliver it in person.” Which was where the strawberry-rhubarb cobbler and babysitter she’d gotten for later came in.

He nodded, listening, oblivious to her plans. Not seeming to mind at all the way she was suddenly babbling.

He gave her another long, hesitant look, then hunkered down to the triplets. He held his arms out wide and encompassed them in a big, loving hug, which they returned with all their hearts. Finally they drew apart, and Clint gazed fondly down at them. “Listen, kiddos, do you think you-all could do something for me?”

The triplets nodded eagerly.

Like Rose, they were so lonesome for him, they were more than willing to comply with whatever he wanted.

“Could you-all go draw some pictures for me?”

They bounced up and down. “What kind?”

His grin widened affably. He gave them another brief, encouraging hug, then straightened with easy, masculine grace. “Anything you like.”

They beamed, so pleased to have been asked.

Talk about a good idea!

“I’d like it if you could all draw one for me, too,” Rose added, figuring that would give her and Clint at least ten minutes alone to talk and, ideally, make up. “Your crayons and paper are on the shelf in the family room.”

“’Kay, Mommy!” The triplets raced inside, slamming the door in their wake.

Aware it was her turn to take the lead, Rose took a deep, bracing breath and tilted her head up to his. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

Clint set down the planter. “If you don’t mind,” he interrupted huskily, “I’d like to say what I need to first.”

“Okay.” Aware her knees were shaking, she sat down on the wide porch steps and buried her hands in her apron.

He settled beside her, taking her hand in his, his expression serious and intent. “A lot of what happened has been my fault,” he confessed, looking deep into her eyes. “I knew you wanted me to keep the berry patch on the Double Creek, and that you thought I had changed my mind, even though I knew that I had no intention of doing that.”

The strength of his touch imbued her with warmth. She turned to face him, her bent knee nudging his thigh. “Then why didn’t you say something?”

Regret tightened the corners of his mouth. “Because I didn’t want to do anything that would mess up what was happening between us. And I was looking for a way to save the day without sacrificing what I wanted for my land and my ranch.” He lifted a hand. “You don’t have to say it. I know how selfish that was.”

His sober admission prompted a self-effacing one from her. “I was selfish, too. Wanting things only my way and no other.” She sighed.

“We both made mistakes,” he said, squeezing her palm.

They had.

He reached for the planter he had set aside. “Which is where this seedling comes in.”

Rose looked at it curiously. Without leaves, it was impossible to tell what it was. “I gather it’s some sort of apology...?”

“Actually, a lot more than that,” he murmured, placing it in her hands. “I’ve talked to Amy, and she is taking cuttings from all the blackberry bushes on my land. She’s going to grow and sell them in her nursery. She also gave me an estimate of what it would cost to plant ten acres—or more, however many you want—of the Double Creek berries at Rose Hill, on some of your currently unused farm land. She thinks the optimum time for this would be in late October or early November, and I’ve told her that I will foot the bill.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to. But in the meantime, this plant is what will be, I hope, the beginning of the planting and growing of even more Double Creek blackberries than the ones currently on my ranch.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Throat clogged with tears, she realized he really did get it, that what was important to her
was
important to him, after all. She put the plant aside and turned to him, her hands outstretched.

His voice dropped a notch. “I also wanted to tell you I’ve changed my mind about doing the advertising campaign for the farm-equipment company. I agreed to keep the berry patch intact and let them film there next year, and every year after that, if they so desire.” He paused for a brief moment. “In return, they’ve agreed to give us the berry picker and reinstate the discount on any future farm equipment we purchase. They’ve rehired me to do appearances with you, as they originally envisioned, with the two of us playing off our remarkable chemistry.” He took her hands in his. “Of course, you’d have to agree to all of this.”

She squeezed his fingers. “I will. But only,” she kept her gaze locked with his and stipulated carefully, “on the condition we become friends again.” Because she couldn’t bear it if they weren’t. And they had to start somewhere, if they were ever to recoup what they had enjoyed—and lost.

He pulled her to her feet. “Actually, I’d like a little more than that, Rose.” His eyes twinkled with mirth. “And believe it or not, I’m even prepared to negotiate the conditions and parameters with you.”

Rose admired the masculine planes of his face, the determined slant of his lips. “We don’t have to strike a deal to be together, Clint. Especially since it was all my wheeling and dealing—” and her constant need to take both their businesses to the next level “—that helped break us up in the first place.”

He brought her all the way into his arms and ran a hand tenderly down her spine. “I know you like excitement and being in the thick of things.”

She snuggled against his hard, strong body. “And I know you’re a rancher, not a farmer, and that you like the quiet of wide-open spaces.”

The need she felt was reflected in his gaze. “The fact we’re opposites in a lot of ways, and just alike in others, is what makes our attraction so powerful. And it
is
, powerful, Rose,” he concluded softly, bending his head to kiss her, sweetly and evocatively.

Tenderness wafted through her, fueling an even deeper reverence and need. “I know that,” she whispered back, cupping his jaw in her hand. “But I’m also aware that you can’t have a successful relationship unless both partners are willing to acquiesce to make the other happy. So—” she took another deep bolstering breath, meaning her next words with all her heart and soul “—if you want to mow down the berry patch and make it all pastureland, I’m okay with that. If you still want to give up on the ad campaign entirely, I’m okay with that, too. I’ll even give my part up if—”

He cut her off with a Texas-size grin. “Actually, I like the idea of us working together. And playing together. And building a life and a home and raising a family together.”

The tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over her lashes.

Eyes dark with emotion, he hugged her close, everything they had yet to say symbolized in that single move. He caught her against him, their hearts pounding in unison. He threaded his hands through her hair, pressed a kiss on her temple and gazed adoringly down at her. “I love you, Rose.”

Everything she had ever wanted was suddenly hers for the taking. “Oh, Clint,” she murmured joyously, “I love you, too. So much.”

“And one of these days, when you’re ready and your kids are ready, I want you to marry me.”

“I want you to marry me, too.” She marveled at the wonder of the moment, then sighed contentedly, teasing, “Perhaps sooner than you know.”

He laughed out loud. “Is that a yes?”

Rose nodded and hugged him closer still. “You better believe it is!”

Epilogue

“I get to be in a wedding!” Stephen zoomed past.

Clint scooped the little boy up in his arms before he could run out into the chapel, where guests were gathering. What a difference six months could make. Rose’s son had gone from complaining about anything and everything ceremony-related to sheer elation.

“Slow down, little fella,” Clint chided fondly, bussing the top of his head before giving him an affectionate hug. “You have to save some energy for your trek up the aisle.”

Stephen beamed and laced his arms around Clint’s neck, looking as happy to be with Clint as Clint was to be with him. “I get to carry the ring on a pillow!”

“Yes, you do.”

“And us girls get to carry baskets and sprinkle flowers,” Scarlet announced, not to be outdone.

“And then you and Mommy are going to say ‘I do’ and put rings on and kiss and you’ll be our daddy and we’ll be a forever family,” Sophia concluded.

Not that they didn’t already feel like one, Clint thought on a wave of contentment. But it would be good to have it official, to have the whole world know how deep his commitment to Rose and the kids went, and vice versa.

Clint sat down on the bench in the anteroom, Stephen on his lap, the girls on either side of him. It was a scene that had been enacted many times, yet he never got tired of it. And never would.

“You-all look so nice today,” he complimented them warmly. Stephen was in a black miniature tuxedo and pleated white shirt that matched Clint’s. The girls wore dark green chiffon with ribbon sashes and big flouncy skirts, like the rest of the bridesmaids.

“Mommy is pretty, too,” Sophia confided with a dreamy look on her face.

“But you can’t see her yet,” Scarlet warned. “Not until she comes down the aisle.”

Clint smiled. “I can hardly wait.” Not just to see his beautiful bride in her wedding finery, but finally to have Rose and the kids move into the Double Creek Ranch house.

They were going to use the bungalow at Rose Hill Farm, too, as an office for Rose and a small, cozy retreat when they all needed a change in scene, or simply to be closer to Rose’s base of operations.

That way they’d be able to hold onto everything that meant so much to both of them and minimize the number of changes the kids went through, too.

In the chapel, the music started.

Clint realized on a satisfied exhalation that it was time.

Rose’s five sisters filed into the anteroom. As previously arranged, they took charge of the flower girls and ring bearer. Gannon came to collect Clint. He and Clint and the groomsmen joined the minister. The ceremony started on a rush of excitement and joy. First the children and bridesmaids came down the aisle. Then Rose appeared on her father’s arm. Clint met his bride’s eyes. And in that instant, Clint lost his breath and his heart all over again.

In an ivory lace gown and tiara, Rose was not just gorgeous as could be. She was getting the wedding of her dreams. He was getting all of his wishes, too. A woman to love who loved him back just as fiercely as he loved her. A family. With, Rose had promised him the last time they’d made love, more babies to come. It would be impossible, he thought, to be any happier than they were at this very moment. By the time Jackson gave his daughter’s hand in marriage, and Clint joined her at the altar and took Rose’s hand in his, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. The wave of emotion built as they said their vows in clear, steady voices. It ended with a rousing cheer when the rings were on and he finally, exuberantly kissed his bride, cementing the union for all time.

“What do you think?” Rose asked hours later, when the reception had finally wound down. The two of them were getting in the limousine hired to drive them the short distance from the dance hall to the cottage on Lake Laramie, where they planned to honeymoon. She snuggled as close as the skirt of her wedding gown would allow and laid her head on his shoulder. “Were our nuptials everything you had hoped?”

“You’re everything I ever hoped.” Shifting her onto his lap, Clint buried his face in the fragrant silk of her hair and cuddled her close. She felt and smelled so good. Like a soft, warm field of wildflowers on a sun-drenched spring day. Like Rose...

He nestled even closer, aware she stole his breath, even now. He admitted gruffly, “But to answer your question, yes, they were. And then some.”

He felt her lips curve against his throat. Saw her smile. “For me, too.” She kissed his pulse and made it jump.

He smoothed a hand down her back, over the gentle slope of her hip. “Have I told you how much you mean to me?” he rasped. “How you’ve made every single one of my dreams come true?”

She loosened the bow on his tie, undid the first two buttons of his shirt and ran her fingers over his skin. “Only about a hundred million times.”

Threading both hands through her hair, he tilted her face up to his and kissed her softly, evocatively. “Just so you know.”

They drew apart. She gazed into his eyes for a long moment. “You mean the world to me, too,” she told him tenderly.

“That’s good to know,” he whispered back triumphantly, kissing her once again with everything he had.

And their life together as husband and wife began.

* * * * *

Watch for the next book in the
M
C
CABE MULTIPLES
miniseries,
LONE STAR BABY by Cathy Gillen Thacker.

Coming September 2015, only
from Harlequin American Romance!

Keep reading for an excerpt from THE SEAL’S MIRACLE BABY by Laura Marie Altom

http://www.harlequin.com/harlequinexperience