Her mother and dad and Susan were waiting just inside the door when the couple walked back to the farmhouse and up the steps.
“I take it congratulations are in order.” Her dad beamed and shook Clay’s hand. “Welcome to the family. And thank you, Clay.”
“Dad, what are you thanking him for?” Sophie laughed. “Surely I’m not that hard to give away.”
“No,” her father replied, moisture forming in his own eyes. “I’ll let Clay tell you. It’s his place to do so. But let me just say it’s thanks to him I can look forward to walking my youngest daughter down the aisle.”
Clay shrugged. “I just contacted a couple of specialists I know. They arranged the transfer. Luck did the rest.”
It didn’t take Sophie half a second to realize she owed her father’s life to Clay. He had taken the time and gone to the effort to arrange everything. Her dad’s new heart was thanks to him. Tears misted her eyes as the reality hit home.
“If you’re ready,” Clay said to Sophie, “we need to be headed out. There are some vital things I need to address on the flight home.”
After hugs and congratulations all around, Sophie excused herself and entered the bedroom she’d been sharing with her sister. Pulling a small suitcase down from a high shelf in the closet, she set about packing the few things she would need until she could go shopping. Her mother joined her with Susan right behind. Together the three of them, with hugs and laughter, filled more than one suitcase.
Clay scooped up the bags and after saying good-bye to her family, he walked toward the chopper, Sophie at his side. Clay helped her inside and got in behind the controls. He circled the small house once before taking off toward Indianapolis International Airport.
“So,” she said, her hand in his, the brilliant four-carat engagement ring glistening in the evening sunlight. “What’s so important that you just have to get to Indianapolis?”
“The 747 is waiting there. No way can I wait to get you home before I make love to you again. If I recall, you may have changed your mind about flying.”
Sophie grinned.
“I feel the need to reinforce that newly found love,” he said, squeezing her hand. “All the way to Texas.”
Epilogue
The wedding took place a week later with an impatient Clay still suggesting they elope to Vegas. But Sophie wanted the memory of her wedding day with her family and friends around her. And she insisted on being married in Royal, Texas.
While Clay wanted to give her the moon—anything she wanted for their special day, as well as the rest of their lives—in the end she kept it simple. A country wedding on the ranch in a small chapel that had been constructed on a rise looking out over the land they both loved so much. Clay looked extraordinarily handsome in his tux—complete with Western boots and Stetson—as he dismounted the black stallion and waited for his bride to walk down the aisle on her dad’s arm.
Arriving in Clay’s grandmother’s carriage, laced with ribbons of blue and gold and pulled by two white horses, Sophie couldn’t take her eyes off the man of her dreams, her cowboy love forever and always.
It was a day of love and laughter and best wishes for the future.
And many more flights on Clay’s 747.
As she walked toward her future husband, she smiled at the memory.
“Where are we going next?” Clay whispered, his green eyes twinkling as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. And he did.
“Does it matter?” she asked and grinned.
Solemnly he slowly shook his head, his eyes holding hers.
It didn’t matter at all.
* *
Don’t miss a single installment of the
TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB: BLACKMAIL
No secret—or heart—is safe in Royal, Texas...
THE TYCOON’S SECRET CHILD by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child
TWO-WEEK TEXAS SEDUCTION by Cat Schield
REUNITED WITH THE RANCHER by USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig
EXPECTING THE BILLIONAIRE’S BABY by Andrea Laurence
and
May 2017: TRIPLETS FOR THE TEXAN by USA TODAY bestselling author Janice Maynard
June 2017: A TEXAS-SIZED SECRET by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child
July 2017: LONE STAR BABY SCANDAL by Golden Heart® winner Lauren Canan
August 2017: TEMPTED BY THE WRONG TWIN by USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Bailey
September 2017: TAKING HOME THE TYCOON by USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann
October 2017: BILLIONAIRE’S BABY BIND by USA TODAY bestselling author Katherine Garbera
November 2017: THE TEXAN TAKES A WIFE by USA TODAY bestselling author Charlene Sands
December 2017: BEST MAN UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Jules Bennett
***
If you’re on Twitter, tell us what you think of Harlequin Desire! #harlequindesire
Keep reading for an excerpt from DOWN HOME COWBOY by Maisey Yates.
Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003
Read on for a sneak peek of DOWN HOME COWBOY by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.
When rancher and single dad Cain Donnelly moves to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to make a fresh start with his teenage daughter, the last thing he wants is to risk his heart again. So why can’t he keep his eyes—or his hands—off Alison Davis, the one woman in town guaranteed to complicate his life?
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Desire story.
You want to leave behind the everyday! Harlequin Desire stories feature sexy, romantic heroes who have it all: wealth, status, incredible good looks...everything but the right woman. Add some secrets, maybe a scandal, and start turning pages!
Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Desire every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
Join Harlequin My Rewards & Instantly earn a FREE ebook of your choice.
Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever & whenever you shop.
Turn your points into FREE BOOKS.
Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!
Register Today & Earn a FREE BOOK*
*New members who join before December 31st, 2017 will receive 2000 points redeemable for eligible titles.
Click here to register
Or visit us online to register at
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001
Down Home Cowboy
by Maisey Yates
“HEY, BO,” CAIN called , looking around the kitchen and living room area for his daughter, who was on the verge of being late for her second week on the job. “Are you ready to go?”
He heard footsteps hit the bottom landing, followed by a disgusted noise. “Do you have to call me that?”
“Yes,” he said, keeping his tone and expression serious. “Though I could always go back to the full name. Violet Beauregard the Walking Blueberry.” She’d thought that nod to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was great. Back when she was four and all he’d had to do was smile funny to get her to belly laugh.
“Pass.”
“I have to call you at least one horrifying nickname a week, all the better if it slips out in public.”
“Is there public in Copper Ridge? Because I’ve yet to see it.”
“Hey, you serve the public as part of your job. And, unless you’re being a bit overdramatic about how challenging your job is, I assume you see more than two people on a given day.”
“The presence of humanity does not mean the presence of culture.”
“Chill out, Sylvia Plath. Your commitment to being angry at the world is getting old.” He shook his head, looking at his dark-haired, green-eyed daughter who was now edging closer to being a woman than being that round, rosy-cheeked little girl he still saw in his mind’s eye.
“Well, you don’t have to bear witness to it today. Lane is giving me a ride into town.”
Cain frowned. He still hadn’t been in to see Violet at work. In part because she clearly didn’t want him to. But, he had assumed that once she was established and feeling independent she wouldn’t mind if he took her.
Clearly, she did.
“Great,” he said, “I have more work to do around here anyway.”
“The life of a dairy farmer is never dull. Well, no, it’s always dull, it just never stops.” Violet walked over to the couch where she had deposited her purse yesterday and picked it up. “Same with baking pies, I guess.”
“I have yet to sample any of the pie you make.”