The Cowboy's Gamble: Destined For Love Series (24 page)

She knew what he was asking, and didn’t hesitate. “That I love you?”

“Do you?”

“With all my heart and soul, I do love you, Seth O’Connor,” she solemnly vowed.

He framed her face in both hands. “And you forgive me?”

She smiled gently. “Forgiveness goes both ways.”

“Then I’ll meet you half-way.”

“Yeah, I like the sound of that,” she said, and brought his mouth down to hers. The kiss was tender, and full of the love and forgiveness they’d both pledged.

Most importantly, it held the promise of a new beginning.

S
eth strolled into the kitchen, slipped his arms around Josie as she made pancakes for a lazy Sunday breakfast, and nuzzled her neck. “Ummm, what a wonderful day for a reunion.”

Josie smiled as he affectionately and possessively clasped his hands over her belly, though she found his remark a little confusing. “Reunion?”

“Did I say reunion?” He thought for a brief second. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

Exasperated, she stacked the pancakes on the plate on the counter and turned in his arms. “
What
are you talking about?” He’d been in an exceptionally good mood the past three days, acting like a kid with a surprise, and she’d yet to figure out what had prompted his lively, playful behavior.

He frowned at her, ignoring her question. “Hush, while I talk to my baby.”

Bending low, he pressed his cheek to her slighted rounded tummy beneath her cotton t-shirt and leggings, and murmured sweet nothings to the baby growing inside her. It was a nightly and morning routine Seth had insisted on. Josie listened to his silly one-sided conversation and endured his gentle touch and tender rubs with as much pleasure as he received from the daily practice.

From the moment she’d announced her pregnancy, Seth had told her he didn’t want to miss a moment of this child’s growth, that he wanted to be as much a part of the development process as he could possibly be. After losing that opportunity with Kellie, she understood his fierce need to bond with this baby from the start. She was only in her fourth month—she estimated she’d gotten pregnant their first night together—but by the time the baby was born, he or she would know their father’s gentle voice.

Unable to help herself, she touched Seth’s soft hair, her heart expanding with emotions so powerful, they defied words. This man she’d been forced to marry had become her best friend. He was a wonderful, caring husband, a good, loving father to Kellie, and she knew this second child of theirs would flourish from so much love and attention.

Before her emotions could get the best of her, which they frequently did these days due to hormones, Josie rolled her eyes dramatically at her daughter as if asking, “Can you believe this marshmallow of a guy talking to my belly?”

Sitting at the table, Kellie grinned at Seth’s openly affectionate display. Her daughter had adjusted well to the news that Seth was her father, and with every day that passed, their father-daughter relationship only grew stronger, closer. There was a natural connection between them that even the years apart hadn’t been able to sever.

Their life together over the past couple of months had settled into a comfortable routine. She and Seth still argued—she wasn’t about to let him get the upper hand—but their arguments were healthy and productive. And making up afterward was delightful. Seth, the rogue that he was, seduced her mercilessly, holding back what she ultimately wanted until they came to a mutual compromise. It was a frustrating, but fun way to dissolve the tension between them.

Sarah visited often with Brianna and Brendan, and Josie thoroughly enjoyed the other woman’s company. A few weeks ago Josie had run into Robert at the feed store in town. After the initial awkwardness of unexpectedly meeting face to face, Robert had stammered out an apology that seemed to encompass every wrong-doing he’d inflicted on her through the years. Knowing that was Robert’s way of asking for a second chance, she graciously accepted his expression of regret. Next week, she and Seth planned to have Robert, Sarah and his children over for their first family get-together. It was a start to mending the rift between their families.

Though life had settled into a certain tranquility, and everything seemed as perfect as a woman could ask for, there was one thing missing from her family. Her father. She hadn’t heard from him since he’d left, and she worried endlessly about him, and missed him terribly. When she mentioned her concerns to Seth, he assured her that her father would come home. She appreciated his support and optimism, but the letter her father had written to her on his departure left her with doubts.

Finally, Seth lifted his head, ending his one-way conversation with their baby. “So, what do you think it’ll be, Kellie?” he asked, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “A boy with my brawn and handsome good looks, or another girl as beautiful as you and your mother?”

“How about twins?” Kellie suggested enthusiastically. “I’d like one of each.”

Josie groaned and shook her head adamantly at her daughter’s over-zealous request. “How about one at a time, and we’ll see if we can fill your order over the next few years.”

A lop-sided grin crooked the corner of Seth’s mouth. “You’d give me another baby?” His voice was tender and expectant.

This baby hadn’t been planned—though it had been a gift and a blessing—but she’d always wanted lots of children. “I’ll give you as many as you think you can handle.”

His dark brows wiggled lasciviously. “Sounds like you’re gonna be barefoot and pregnant for a while, wife.”

She experienced a brief flutter in the pit of her belly, and wondered if it was due to the sexy gleam in her husband’s eyes, or her baby’s first movement. Before she could contemplate that thought further, the blare of a car horn outside interrupted the moment.

“Who could that be?” Josie wondered out loud. It was early Sunday morning, and they weren’t expecting anyone.

Seth grabbed both of her hands, suddenly looking boyishly nervous. “Remember that reunion I mentioned earlier?”

She nodded. How could she forget such a cryptic comment?

“This is it.” He blew out a long breath. “I hired a private investigator to look for your father, and they finally located him. I talked to Jake a few days ago, and this should be him. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

She swallowed back the emotion gathering in her throat. “He came home?” she whispered, unable to believe the wish she’d made by the creek a few months ago had come true.

Seth grinned. “Only after I assured him that I was hopelessly in love with you and Kellie.”

“Oh, Seth!” Wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck, she held him tight, tears of happiness filling her eyes. What a precious gift he’d given her! “Thank you.”

“Ah, Josie, darlin’,” he sighed blissfully. “I’d give you the moon and stars if you asked for them.”

The car horn sounded again, this time more insistently and in longer intervals.

“Grandpa’s really here!” Kellie scrambled from her chair, running for the front door.

Josie and Seth followed, and by the time they’d reached the porch, Kellie was already in her Grandpa’s arms, welcoming him back home with a fierce hug. There was an older woman standing beside Jake, someone Josie had never seen before, but at the moment she couldn’t think beyond the fact that
her father was finally home
! And he looked good—happy, healthy and handsome in his Wranglers, pearl snap western shirt, and new snake skin boots. Not at all like the drifting old man she’d envisioned he’d become.

Absolute joy filled Josie to near bursting, and she eagerly made her way to her father and embraced him with all the emotion she’d been holding back. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again!” she scolded like a worrisome mother. “And you probably wouldn’t be here now if Seth hadn’t hired a P.I. to search for you!”

“Nonsense,” he scoffed gruffly, though his gaze was affectionate. “I planned on coming home when the time was right. When the P.I. approached me and told me who’d hired him, I knew it was the right time.”

Josie shook her head. “But your letter . . . I thought you were gone for good, that you believed I’d never be able to forgive you for losing the Golden M in a poker game.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know what I said in my letter,” he said, waving a hand in the air as if to dismiss the correspondence. “It was all part of the plan.”

His statement gave her a moment’s pause. “What plan?” she demanded, the first glimmer of suspicion slithering through her.

Jake held up his hands in front of him. “Now, Josie-girl, don’t go getting all riled up on me, I did it for your own good.”

“Did what for my own good?” She propped her hands on her hips and narrowed her gaze. “Out with it, Dad.”

He scrubbed his fingers through his thick salt and pepper hair, his gaze flickering to Seth. “I never did like the O’Connors, especially you,” he said begrudgingly. “Because you were the smartest of the lot, but foolish enough to believe the lies about my daughter when it was obvious how in love Josie was with you.”

Seth cringed in embarrassment, his tanned face taking on a slight pink hue. “Guilty as charged,” he admitted.

Jake gave a low hrmph, but there was no condemnation in his gaze. “I knew someone in the O’Connor family had to be behind the lies and rumors, but could never pinpoint a source.” He shifted his gaze back to Josie. “And through the years I watched you live a lonely existence, and I wanted you to have better than living the rest of your days without a husband and family. You and Kellie deserve better than that.”

Confusion puckered Josie’s brows. “I still don’t understand-”

“Hush, girl, I’m not done.” Her father frowned sternly at her. “I suspected from the beginning that Seth was Kellie’s father, even though you wouldn’t admit to it. There was something special between the two of you once, before the lies and rumors, and I hoped that with a little help you two would resolve the past. Something had to force the two of you together again and end the rift between the O’Connors and McAllisters, and the only way I could figure out to do that was give Seth what he wanted.”

“You
gave
me the Golden M?” Seth nearly choked on an incredulous burst of laughter.

“All but handed it to you on a silver platter.” Jake’s expression was smug, and extremely pleased. “I bluffed that last poker hand, and deliberately lost the game to you.”

Seth’s mouth twisted wryly. “But not before demanding a few stipulations of your own, which included marrying Josie.”

“Of course.” Jake puffed out his chest in typical male arrogance. “I knew it was an offer you wouldn’t pass up. And I know my stubborn daughter wouldn’t give up the Golden M to you, either.”

Josie knew she should be upset with her father’s interference, but found she couldn’t summon the anger. What her father had done was sneaky and underhanded, but luckily, everything had worked out for the best.

“Grandpa, who’s your lady friend?” Kellie asked, peering curiously at the pretty older woman who stood quietly next to Jake while he’d shared his story. She appeared to be near Jake’s age, maybe a few years younger, with graying brown hair and kind blue eyes. She was simply dressed in faded jeans and a western shirt that matched Jake’s, giving the distinct impression that the two of them were a matched pair.

Beaming proudly, Jake gently grasped the woman’s hand and drew her forward. She smiled adoringly at Jake, and a becoming blush shaded her smooth cheeks. “This here is Emmy Dalton, or rather, as of yesterday, Emmy Dalton McAllister, my new bride,” Jake introduced her. “I met her while passing through a small town in Wyoming, and I wasn’t about to come back home without her.”

Josie recognized the soft, loving expression on her father’s face—it reminded her of the same look Seth often gave her. Josie was thrilled that after so many years her father had finally found someone to spend the rest of his life with.

“Welcome to the family,” Josie said, and gave her a friendly, warm hug.

“Thank you. I was a widow before meeting Jake, and never had any children of my own.”

“And now you’re a grandma!” Kellie announced gleefully, giving the newest addition to their family a hug, too.

Emmy grinned, delight sparkling in her eyes. “Finally, a grandchild to spoil!”

They all laughed, and Seth stepped forward, clasping Emmy’s hand in a hospitable embrace. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” he said in his best charming drawl. “Looks like we’ll be building a new house on the Golden M for the newlyweds.”

Jake scowled at his new son-in-law. “We ain’t good enough to live in your house?”

Seth took no offense to Jake’s umbrage. “There won’t be any spare rooms for much longer. We plan to fill all the extra bedrooms with babies, the first of which is due in the spring.”

Jake’s eyes widened in surprise. Then a jovial grin creased his face, and he slapped Seth on the back in masculine comradery. “Well, I’ll be damned! I guess the two of you have settled into marriage just fine.”

An amused look passed between Josie and Seth, and he winked at her. Neither of them were about to enlighten Jake as to the more turbulent moments of their marriage. No, they’d let the sly devil believe his “plan” was a grand success from the beginning.