Love Inspired June 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: Single Dad Cowboy\The Bachelor Meets His Match\Unexpected Reunion (18 page)

Epilogue

B
ecause they had only dated weeks when Dylan proposed, they decided on a long engagement, marrying in the spring. Harmony wanted this marriage more than anything.

And inside her wedding shoe was something new, a coin proclaiming 335 days clean and sober. Because she was determined to succeed. She had three very good reasons, three people she couldn't let down.

As they stood in the fellowship hall of the Dawson Community Church waiting for the ceremony to begin, she smiled at this family that had become hers. And the family she already had that loved her.

Lila was her maid of honor, of course. Lila with her beautiful smile, a smile she'd been using on Bryan Cooper for the last week. Bryan, who'd finally come home from South America, to his mother's delight.

Heather was a bridesmaid, along with Sophie, Eva and Mia.

Sometimes Harmony had a moment that took her by surprise, when sadness crept up on her. She thought of Amy, and how Amy would have been there, in a pale pink dress, her blond hair framing her face.

But a little bit of Amy was with Harmony. She wore a necklace her friend had given her years ago. A cheap BFF necklace. Best Friends Forever.

But Harmony knew her friend would have been happy to witness this moment, to see her friend clean and sober, to see her happy.

It was a bittersweet thought.

She blinked away tears as her mom came through the door, a smiling woman with blond hair and blue eyes filling with tears.

“This is a no-cry zone,” Heather warned with a shake of her finger.

“I can't help it,” Olivia Cross sniffled. “I wish my sister was here to see.”

“She wouldn't come. But I'll send her pictures.”

“It's almost time.” Olivia hugged her tight. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. And thank you for not giving up on me.”

“You're my daughter. I couldn't give up.”

Then it was time. They walked down the hallway to the front of the church. The bridesmaids went first. Harmony stood waiting, her hand on her dad's arm.

“I love you, Daddy.”

He cleared his throat. “I love you, too. This is what you want, right?”

“It's what I've wanted all my life.”

“I have a gift for you. That little place down the road. It's your ranch now. Yours and Dylan's.”

“Thank you so much,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her dad pushed a handkerchief in her hand and she dabbed her eyes.

“I'm going to be the bride that got married with raccoon eyes.”

“You'll be the prettiest bride ever,” her dad whispered back.

“You have to say that, you're my daddy.”

“Yes, I am.”

The music started and they began their trip down the aisle. She smiled at Dylan. He had turned to watch her, that cowboy of hers. But today he wasn't a cowboy. Today he wore a suit. He'd shaved. And just looking at him made her heart do a funny dance.

He was
her
cowboy. Her man.

As they went down the aisle, she smiled at Granny Myrna whose ring was on her left hand. Myrna had explained that this ring with the pink stone had been an anniversary gift from her husband, Milt. That made it even more special. Cash and Callie were at the front of the church, the ring bearer and flower girl.

There were several flower girls, actually. Callie was joined by Jackson's newest daughter, just adopted six months ago from Texas. Next to her was Keeton and Sophie's daughter, Lucy. She was just barely three and she knew how to wrap everyone around her little finger.

Harmony's dad handed her over to Dylan with warning look. “Take care of my girl.”

People around them laughed. Dylan smiled at her and her knees went a little weak. He reached for her hand even though Wyatt Johnson had told them to wait until he gave the command to take her hand. Dylan ignored him.

They repeated their vows, holding hands and waiting for that special moment at the end, the moment they had been waiting for now for seven months.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Wyatt said. And then he didn't say more. Dylan shot him a look and Wyatt laughed.

“You may kiss the bride.”

He gathered her up, crushing her beautiful dress in the process, but she didn't care. She cared about this man. She cared that when he held her, she felt stronger.

“I love you, Harmony Cooper.”

“I love you, too, Dylan Cooper.”

They hurried down the aisle with bubbles blowing around them. As they stepped outside, fireworks blasted through the night sky.

It was a very happy ending.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from SECOND CHANCE SUMMER by Irene Hannon.

Dear Reader

I hope you enjoy
Single Dad Cowboy,
Dylan Cooper's story. This is the last of the Cooper Creek books and it wasn't easy for me to say goodbye. The wonderful thing is that through books, we can continue to visit Dawson and the Coopers. We'll never have to leave the Mad Cow Café. We'll always be able to take a moment with Granny Myrna Cooper.

Dylan's heroine is Harmony Cross. She is facing a struggle that real people face every single day. Addiction can strike anyone. It doesn't choose between the educated, uneducated, poor, wealthy, teens or homeless. Addiction strikes moms, dads, pastors, children, grandparents—the list goes on. It takes strength and courage to face addiction and to fight the battle to overcome.

Questions for Discussion

1. Single Dad Cowboy
   begins with Harmony Cross trying to buy a horse that isn't worth much to anyone but her. Why does she want this horse?
   
2. Harmony Cross wants a place to be alone. Why is space important to her?
   
3. Dylan Cooper isn't looking for romance, although everyone in town thinks he needs a woman. Why would having a woman in his life make a difference?
   
4. Does Harmony fit stereotypes? If so, which ones and why?
   
5. What does Harmony expect to find in Dawson?
   
6. Dylan's plan for himself and Harmony is a platonic relationship, helping each other. How could things go wrong with such a relationship?
   
7. Why is Harmony worried about letting people down?
   
8. We all know that we need to forgive people who hurt us. There are people who need to forgive Harmony. Why does she need to forgive herself?
   
9. Dylan is raising Cash and Callie, but it hasn't really hit him that they are his kids. When does this begin to happen?
   
10. When does Harmony begin to trust herself more?
    
11. What changes take place in her spiritual life that increase her chances of staying clean?
    
12. Why is it important for her to meet the mother who abandoned her?
    
13. How does the recovery program change things for Harmony? What does she learn that will help her in the future, not only with addiction?
    
14. It is easy to look at a family like the Coopers and expect them to be perfect. No one is perfect, though, and the Coopers have had their share of struggles. How do the struggles change them, affect their faith or their family?
    
15. What changes for Harmony when she realizes she can be the person who loves Dylan Cooper and his kids?
    

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

You believe hearts can heal.
Love Inspired
stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

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Chapter One

M
an, could that guy swim.

Under cover of her wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, Rachel Shaw kept a discreet eye on the powerful shoulders cutting through the water a hundred feet beyond the crashing surf. The swimmer was moving as fast and effortlessly as the ubiquitous Jekyll Island dolphins that had been cavorting in almost that same spot yesterday.

And he'd been at it since before she'd arrived on the beach twenty minutes ago. Yet other than the few brief times he'd floated on his back while switching strokes, he showed no sign of tiring or slowing down.

Impressive.

A soft, snuffling sigh sounded close to her ear, and she looked over at the golden retriever flopped down next to her low-slung beach chair. He, too, was watching the figure in the water—until he turned to her with a pleading “Can we please swim, too?” look.

“Sorry, boy.” She patted his head. “I promised Aunt Eleanor I wouldn't bring you home sopping wet. But we'll play a quick game of Frisbee in a few minutes.”

At the word
Frisbee,
his ears perked up and his tail began to sweep the sand.

“I thought you'd like that. But give me five more minutes to veg.”

Leaning back in her chair, Rachel tossed her book into her tote bag, abandoning any pretense of reading. It wasn't every day a woman got treated to such a demonstration of athletic prowess. And a quick scan left and right confirmed she had the show all to herself. Ah, deserted beaches—one of the beauties of summering on an off-the-beaten-path barrier island in Georgia.

Well, not quite deserted.

Her gaze swung back to the man in the water—who suddenly changed direction and headed for shore.

As Rachel followed his progress, her canine companion put his chin on her knee.

“Getting anxious, are we?” She gave him a distracted pat, her focus still on the dark-haired swimmer as she waited for him to stride from the sea like some mighty Greek god, all muscles and brawn and sinew.

Didn't happen.

Instead, he washed up on shore like a limp piece of seaweed, then scuttled backward with his hands, away from the frothy surf.

Sheesh.

Talk about a letdown.

Adjusting her glasses, Rachel watched him fiddle with his ankle as he sat at the waterline. Maybe he'd had a close encounter with one of the jellyfish that were sometimes a painful nuisance here.

At the soft whimper beside her, she tugged the Frisbee out of her tote bag. Whatever was going on with that guy, he seemed well able to take care of himself.

“Okay, boy. You've been patient. Time for a quick game.”

After settling her hat more firmly on her head, she stood and moved away from her chair. Throwing against the stiff breeze would be nuts; better to face the swimmer and aim the Frisbee his direction.

As she made the first toss, the man rose to his feet, diverting her attention.

Squinting into the sun, she peered at his left knee. Was that an elastic bandage?

Even as the question echoed in her mind, he sent her a quick look, picked up the towel that was draped over his duffel bag...and turned his back without the merest hint of appreciative interest.

Huh.

That wasn't the usual male response when she wore her swimsuit.

At the unexpected twinge of disappointment, Rachel huffed out a breath, straightened her shoulders and smoothed a hand over her hip. She might not be eighteen anymore, but her thirty-three-year-old body had held up fine.

Besides, why should she care whether a stranger noticed her? It wasn't as if romance was on her agenda for this visit. Her goals were the same this year as they'd been for the past three summers: rest, recharge and renew. And a broad-shouldered guy who swam like a fish wasn't going to change that—no matter how good-looking he might be.

She took the Frisbee from her eager companion and tossed it again, doing her best to give the other occupant of the beach the same I-couldn't-care-less treatment he was giving her.

Except a gust of wind snatched the Frisbee and hurled it straight toward the man's back as he pulled a T-shirt over his head—and her canine friend, in hot pursuit, was focused only on the soaring blue plastic disk.

Uh-oh.

“Hey!” Rachel jogged forward, waving her arms. As the distance between man and dog shrank at a frightening pace, her pulse tripped into fast forward and she doubled her volume. “Hey, mister!”

Just as the man turned, seventy pounds of golden fur took flight toward the broad chest.

Rachel came to an abrupt halt, cringed and closed her eyes.

Five seconds ticked by before she had the courage to peek at the scene.

It wasn't pretty.

The man was flat on his back. Her aunt's dog—not
her
dog, she'd be clear about that—was nosing through the guy's stuff, which must have flown out of his duffel bag in the melee.

“Bandit! Get back here! Right now!”

Excellent retriever that he was, her aunt's dog snatched up the Frisbee and streaked toward her, leaving the guy in the dust...er, sand.

“Hey! Bring that back!” Anger nipped at the man's voice as he righted himself, yanked down his T-shirt and slammed on a pair of sunglasses.

Bandit bounded up, tail wagging, and sat at her feet—holding a flipper that was the same color as the Frisbee.

Great.

But, hey. Anyone could make a mistake, right? The flipper looked a lot like the Frisbee at first glance. Sort of. To a dog. Maybe.

Somehow, though, Rachel doubted the man striding toward her was going to see it that way.

Especially since he'd just been flattened by the dog in question.

Better to jump in fast and get the apologies over before he reamed her about losing control of her dog and threatened a lawsuit for bodily injuries. Although other than that bandage on his knee, he appeared to be in fine condition.

Her gaze lingered on the bandage. Dropped lower.

Wait.

It wasn't a bandage.

It wasn't even a real leg.

The man was wearing a prosthesis.

Good grief.

Her aunt's dog had tackled a man with one leg.

Was there any possible way she could transform herself into a sand crab and disappear into the beach?

As Rachel stared at his leg, a blue Frisbee held by long, lean, sun-browned fingers appeared in her field of vision.

She jerked her head up, heat rising on her cheeks.

Smart move, Rachel. Add insult to injury by gawking.

“I think this is yours.” He passed her the Frisbee.

She couldn't read his eyes behind his dark glasses, but she had no trouble deciphering his tone.

He was ticked.

Big-time.

Clenching the fingers of one hand around the edge of the disk, she leaned down, took the flipper from Bandit and handed it over. “Look...I'm really sorry about this. Are you hurt?”

“I've had more painful falls.”

Her first instinct was to glance back at his leg.

She quashed it.

“That flipper does look kind of like a Frisbee.” She aimed a distracted wave toward the appendage in his hand.

“A swim
fin
doesn't look anything like a Frisbee.”

At his correction, her chin lifted a notch. Flipper, fin, who cared? “Maybe it does to a dog. And for the record, Bandit is very friendly. But when he's focused on retrieving, he tends to be oblivious to everything else.”

The man regarded the dog. “Bandit. An apt name. I can see why you picked it.”

Rachel appraised him. Was that a touch of amusement in his voice?

Maybe.

She softened her tone. “Actually, he belongs to my great-aunt. So on behalf of both her and Bandit, I apologize again. You're sure you're not hurt?” Hard as she tried, she couldn't keep her gaze from flicking down to his leg.

The sudden stiffening of his posture was subtle but unmistakable. “I'm fine. But you might want to keep that guy on a leash around kids. A forty-pound child wouldn't have fared as well.” He leaned down and patted Bandit, but his cool tone suggested he was far less willing to forgive her faux pas. “And for the record,” he parroted her own words back at her, “I'm no more prone to injury than a man who has two good legs.”

With that, he turned away and headed toward his towel.

Rachel watched his retreating back, fanning her burning cheeks with the Frisbee.

That had gone really well.

Bandit nudged her leg, and she looked down at her canine friend. At least her aunt's dog liked her.

“Sorry, big guy. I think we'd better cool it for a while.”

Tail drooping, he skulked back to the beach chair and flopped down, chin on paws, angled away from her—the same cold treatment she'd gotten from the other occupant of the beach, who was packing up his gear to make a fast exit.

With a sigh, Rachel trudged back to her chair and sat. As she did, one of the slats emitted an ominous crack.

Three seconds later, she found herself sprawled on the sand, staring up at the dark clouds invading the blue sky.

And hoping her rocky start to this year's vacation wasn't an omen of things to come.

* * *

Why in the world had he gotten so bent out of shape because some stranger had been taken aback by his prosthesis?

Jack Fletcher strode toward his SUV, stabbed the remote on his key clip and tossed his beach gear into the backseat.

After two and a half years, he should be past all that. He
was
past all that. It had been months since an awkward or uncomfortable or shocked reaction had rankled him.

So what had happened back on the beach just now?

He slid into the driver's seat, started the engine and cranked up the air. Instead of putting the car in gear, however, he rested his arms on the wheel and considered that question.

Most of the women he'd socialized with since reentering the dating game a year ago had never suspected he had a prosthesis. Why would they? After months of painful practice, he'd mastered a natural gait. And the couple of women he'd told—the ones who'd seemed as if they might have potential for more than a few laughs on a Friday or Saturday night—hadn't appeared to be too bothered by the news.

Then again, they'd already known him when he'd dropped the bombshell. He'd made certain of that.

Too bad he hadn't had an opportunity to lay the same groundwork with the woman on the beach.

Expelling an annoyed breath, he shifted the SUV into drive. What did it matter, anyway? His mission here was straightforward and twofold: help Gram until she regained use of her broken wrist and try to keep his clients happy, despite the remote location. That was more than enough to occupy him for the next six or eight weeks. Impressing a shapely blonde with a friendly dog wasn't part of the plan.

Besides, the woman had been wearing a wedding ring. In all likelihood, she was here for a short family vacation. Maybe she'd dropped her kids at the Sea Turtle Center for one of the youth programs and decided to grab a few rays while her husband played golf. Assuming she was like most Jekyll Island visitors, she'd be gone in a week.

If he was smart, he'd forget about her.

Fletch pulled onto the main drag—such as it was—and pointed his SUV back toward Gram's. Not a single car passed him as he cruised down the island's two-lane circular road...a nice change from the Norfolk traffic. And in less than five minutes, he was swinging into the driveway of the tidy cottage Gram now called home. The short distances between destinations were also nice.

He set the brake, snagged his duffel bag and exited into the heat. All was quiet in this octogenarian neighborhood. That, too, was welcome. He'd heard enough loud noises to last a lifetime.

Still...this island's gentle, laid-back nature could drive someone who was used to action stir-crazy—unless there was an interesting diversion or two.

Like an attractive blonde.

Not going to happen, Fletcher. Suck it up and just do your duty.

Duty.

A twinge of regret echoed in his soul as he closed the car door and started for the house. Duty...obligation...responsibility—yeah, he knew all about those. They were part of Navy SEAL DNA, on and off the job. Forever.

He stepped up onto Gram's porch on his artificial leg.

He was here for the duration. That's how SEALs operated. They didn't let people down. No matter the cost.

* * *

“Did you have a pleasant time, dear?”

Rachel pushed through the outside door to the screen porch and dropped her tote bag onto a wicker chair before responding to her great-aunt's greeting. “It doesn't get much better than an afternoon on a Jekyll Island beach.”

“True enough. Why do you think I moved here twelve years ago?”

She surveyed the woman across from her. Eleanor Kavanagh's driver's license might list her age as seventy-four, but one glance at her trim figure, wedge-cut blond hair and fashionable capris busted any stereotypical notions of the term
elderly.
“Don't you ever miss Cincinnati?”

Her aunt let loose with an unladylike snort. “Not a lick. I didn't have any complaints about my life there, mind you. I had a fine job that provided a steady income and a comfortable retirement—but being an accountant can't hold a candle to running an art gallery.” She patted the retriever as he settled at her feet. “I see you kept Bandit dry.”

“It was a struggle.”

“I imagine.” Her features softened as she stroked the dog. “Good thing I didn't go. Once he turns those dark brown eyes on me, I'm a goner. They're impossible to resist.”

For some reason an image of the man from the beach materialized in Rachel's mind. Though his eyes had been hidden behind sunglasses, she had a feeling they were hard to resist, too.

“Rachel?”

She blinked and refocused on her aunt. “Sorry. I drifted for a minute.”