Bargaining for Baby(31)

She shucked back her shoulders and felt herself grow. "I want to travel."

When her father laughed, not in derision but an uncommonly merry sound, she almost fell over.

"Sweetheart, that's a marvelous idea. I wish now I'd had time off when   you were younger to take you myself. And when you get back-"

"You're not angry?" Maddy shook herself. He'd spent so much time helping her, coaching her.

"Honey, advertising can be cutthroat. At least it is at Tyler. It's not you. Never was."

The rest of his words faded. Maddy had pivoted around. Now her attention   was hooked on the terminal's automatic sliding doors-or rather, on who   was striding through them.

The air left her lungs in a whoosh.

"Jack … ?"

His purposeful gait pulled up. Long denim-clad legs braced apart, he   cast a hawkish gaze around. The thunder in his face said he was ready,   and able, to tear the place apart if need be.

Maddy swallowed to wet her dry throat. "Dad, I need to call you back."

She didn't hear the reply. The phone dropped from her ear at the same   time Jack spotted her. He marched over with such masterful purpose,   Maddy almost wanted to hide. What was the matter? What on earth had she   done? Was something wrong with Beau?

He stopped a foot away. Before she could think, he drew her in hard   against him and kissed her-kissed her with what felt like everything his   soul could gather and give.

One hot hand cupping her neck, the other winging her shoulder in, his   caress penetrated every aching, wanting layer-of her mind, of her heart,   of her spirit. She'd schooled herself to accept she would never feel   the divine skill of his mouth on hers again. She'd fortified her   willpower and was determined not to break and go back.

But as the kiss deepened and the pounding of his heartbeat melded with   hers, Maddy couldn't bury the truth. She loved this man. Like no woman   had ever loved a man before. Every day, every minute of her life, a part   of her would be with him. How she wished she'd met him first.

As thrilling as this hurricane display of affection was, a man couldn't   be in love with two women at the same time. Although she couldn't think   badly of Sue, it broke her inside to know she wasn't the blue ribbon   one.

The kiss broke softly. She went to speak, but his fingertip touched her still-wet lips.

"I've tortured myself," he said. "I can't count the times I've asked why   people I love keep leaving me. Maddy, you had the answer."

"Jack, I so don't have any answers."

She tried to wiggle free-nothing could change her mind, make this work-but his hold remained firm.

"You told me that night in Clancy. What happened in the past was out of   my hands. This isn't. I've made mistakes before. No doubt I'll make  more  in the future. But letting you walk out of my life won't be one of   them." He lifted her chin and scanned her eyes. "I love Leadeebrook.  But  I love you a thousand times more. Whatever it takes to keep you in  my  life, I'll do it. If you want to live in the city, we'll do that.  And  we'll live every day to the fullest. We have enough money to live  three  lifetimes in luxury."

Maddy's jaw unhinged. Her brain was stuck way back.

"You'd sell Leadeebrook?"

"If it means having you-" he smiled with his eyes "-in an instant. I'd   shut down. Closed myself off. You and Beau opened me up again-to hope.   To feeling. To all the things that make living worthwhile."

When Maddy grew dizzy, she remembered to breathe.

He was deluded. Must have fallen off his horse and bumped his head. He couldn't know what he was saying.

"I-I can't let you sell." That sheep station was a part of him, as much as an arm or a leg.

But he seemed to think her confusion was funny. He chuckled. "Don't   worry. I've never thought more clearly in my life." His smile changed.   "Driving here I wondered … Do you think Dahlia might've hoped for   something like this?"

"You mean for us to-"

She couldn't say it. If she did, this wild wonderful dream would dissolve and she'd wake up.

But he nodded and said the words for her. "For us to fall in love. Maybe   Dahlia could see the three people she loved most in the world finding   happiness together."                       
       
           



       

Tears raced from the corners of her eyes as her gaze slipped to the open   V of his shirt. The chain was gone. She honed in on his naked left   hand, just in case, and a sob caught high in her throat.

He'd put away the ring. He wanted to move on? Could he honestly, truly give his heart to another woman … to her?

Another possibility came to mind and her throat swelled.

"Are you doing this for Beau … so he'll have a mother?"

Somehow she couldn't hate him if he was.

He came close and his warm breath murmured against her temple. "I love you, Maddy. Please … let me love you. Say you'll marry me."

Something in his voice, in the way his lips brushed her skin, told her   it was safe. Not just for now but forever. And suddenly it didn't matter   where they lived or what they did. As long as they were together. The   three of them together from now on.

Her cheeks were hot and wet. Her voice was a desperate, elated whisper needing to be heard.

"Yes, I'll marry you. I love you, Jack." Her breath caught on a   joy-filled laugh. "I want to be with you so much. Wherever that is.   Every day. Every night."

When she answered him again with a kiss that was created from deepest   faith and sealed with the promise of everlasting love, smiling into her   eyes, Jack swept up his bride-to-be.

And took her home to Leadeebrook.





Epilogue




Maddy's silk gloved hands tugged back on the ribbon reins and Herc's brief journey came to an end.

Pink-and-white petals littered the outdoor aisle, which led to a gazebo   laced with climbing roses and gold satin bows. Friends, seated on  either  side, kept their rapt, so-happy-for-you faces turned her way.  But  Maddy's gaze was drawn to only one.

Jack's shoulders in that crisp dark jacket had never looked broader. She   already felt the rasp of his freshly shaven jaw, could already smell   the masculine scent that made her feel so warm and prized. His eyes were   dancing. Dancing with love. The same unique love she'd felt thrive   these past nine months. Today she could barely hold back from shouting   and telling the world.

Drew Tyler, in his morning suit, took her hand and helped the bride from   her sidesaddle onto an elevated platform then down two steps to the   lawn.

"I've never seen you look more beautiful." Her father's eyes glistened   as he smiled. "I'm so pleased for you, sweetheart. Your mother would be,   too."

Emotion filling her throat, she squeezed her father's hand while three   bridesmaids fussed to arrange her sweeping train. Her wedding gown's   white silk and organza bodice hugged to the hips before flaring out into   a fairy-tale skirt, which was highlighted by scatterings of sequined   leaves gold flecks that echoed her fiancé's eyes.

Adoring eyes that were pinned on her.

The music swelled. Her father looped her arm through his and Maddy   closed her eyes. Her mother and Dahlia were close. She felt their wishes   for happiness drifting over her.

Her father whispered near her ear, "You ready?"

Smiling, she opened her eyes and together they took the first measured step.

Standing beside Jack, Snow looked splendid in a black-tie dinner suit.   He'd even trimmed his beard. As he winked at her, Maddy's gaze, through   the fine net of her veil, tracked over to Cait, sitting up front.   Year-old Beau was perched quietly on her lap, his big eyes glued on   "Mummy." Nell sat beside them, well-behaved, too, wearing a pale pink   tutu Cait must have organized for the occasion.

Then the music was fading and she was standing beside Jack, tears of   pure joy misting her eyes. He'd never looked more handsome. More proud.   Carefully he folded back her veil and the minister raised his book.

When the vows and rings were exchanged, Beau clapped harder than anyone.   He jumped off Cait's lap and, blond curls bouncing, scampered up in  his  tuxedo playsuit to hug his parents' legs extra-tight.

The wedding breakfast was served in a twinkling marquee with a billowing   white silk ceiling. When Jack led her to the dance floor for the  bridal  waltz, Maddy wanted to warn her husband that she hadn't  forgotten her  promise: today she'd ridden a horse and changed her name.  He needed to  get ready to dance the polka.

But she had far more important news and she couldn't hold back a moment more.

Her gaze on his bow tie, she ran her hand down his satin lapel. "There's something I need to tell you."