Baby Girl: Dare to Love (22 page)

Later that night, after all the festivities were over, Tesla and Turner had a makeshift celebration for Kassie at their house.   Jemma was overwhelmed at the love his family had shown them. 

Turner was grilling burgers and steaks and Tesla was cooking everything else.  Jemma’s parents, Jared’s parents, Janna and her family, along with Kyle’s family filled the house.  It was quite a celebration.

Jemma felt herself tearing up again, so she hurried outside.  It was late January, so the weather was cool bordering on cold.  She should have brought her jacket.   Instead of going back inside, she sat by the swimming pool and took a seat in one of the lounge chairs.

She was so lucky, she thought.  If she hadn’t move to Mansfield, Kassie might not have ever spoken again.  Maybe it was this place, maybe it was the horses, maybe it was Kyle and his gentle spirit.   Who knew?  Something led her here, as if she was supposed to be here at this time in her life. 

Was Kyle a season, or the real thing?  She knew she loved him, but he was a ranch manager.  His place was here.  What kind of woman would ask him to give that up?

“You look really deep in thought.”  Kyle sat beside her.  “I couldn’t find your jacket, so this is the best I can do.”  He put a leather jacket over her shoulders.

“I was.”  She gazed at his tanned face in the dark.  “I was thinking about us.” She shrugged into the jacket.  She knew in an instant it was Kyle’s jacket.

“I like the topic.”  He cleared his throat.  “I wanted to run something by you.”

Oh, that didn’t bode well with her.  She glanced back at the house, hoping Kassie didn’t see her mother lose it.  “What is it?”

“I want Kassie to have Nutmeg.”

“I don’t understand, Kyle.  She always rides Nutmeg when she has a lesson.” 

“I’m saying that I want to give Nutmeg to Kassie. They’ve bonded like nothing I’ve ever seen,” he said. 

“Kyle, you can’t give her a horse!  You’ll get fired for sure,” Jemma said.  “I mean, I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t do that to you.  She’ll just continue to ride her for the lessons.”

“It’s okay, really,” Kyle said.  “You can ask my parents.”

“Kyle, we can’t accept it,” Jemma said, hoping he would just drop the subject.  She didn’t want him endangering his job.  “Kyle, you’re finally in a good place, don’t jeopardize your job for us.”

He stared at her for an eternity.  “So, if my job wasn’t on the line, you’d let me give her the horse?”

“Okay, yes.  If your job wasn’t on the line, then yes, I’d let you give her the horse.”  Maybe he would drop it, she hoped. 

“Well, that’s more like it.  I guess I should tell you a few things.”

“Just tell me Kyle, I’ve had a crazy day,” Jemma said.  Her emotional makeup was strung tight.  She wasn’t sure how much more she could take.

“Remember, when you asked me about the boss?”

“Yes.”

“My family owns this ranch.  It’s been in the family for over a 100 years.  When my father retires in April, the ranch passes to me.” 

Jemma was confused.  “So what are you telling me?”

“I’m telling you that I can give Kassie the horse.”

Jemma had trouble digesting the information.  “So why didn’t you tell me this at first?”

“Because I am the ranch manager.  I didn’t lie to you, Jemma.  I just didn’t tell you everything.”

He was right, so she couldn’t really be upset, could she?  “So is there anything else I should know?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment.  “Well yes, there is one more thing.”

Jemma just wanted to go home and relax.  So he owned the ranch.  That explained a lot of things.  While a part of her thought it was cute, a part of her didn’t see how this could go any further.  “What now?”

He grabbed her hand and caressed it.  “I’ve thought about us a lot.  Knowing you has made me a better person.  I never thought I would ever love anyone again, but you showed up and I was done for.”

Jemma’s heart thumped against her chest.  Surely, he wasn’t going to propose here at his parents’ house?  They hadn’t even talked in those kinds of terms.  What on earth was going through his head? 

“I know you’re scared, Jemma,” he said, “I’m scared too.  Scared of all that’s happening between us and to us.  But I’d walk through the fires of hell to keep you and Kassie safe.”

“But Kyle, we’ve never ever talked about this step.  I don’t think I’m ready, I don’t think you’re ready.”

He dropped her hand.  “How do you know what I’m ready for?  I run a multi-million dollar ranch every day, and you don’t think I’m ready to get married?”

“Are you?”

Kyle rose, bringing her with him.  “Yes, I’m ready.  I want to wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life.  I want to see Kassie as she grows.”

Jemma shook her head.  “Kyle, I want to say yes, but I have to talk to Kassie.”

“Absolutely.  Can I adopt her?”  He looked into her eyes.  “I want Kassie to be a part of the Cosgrove family.”

“I’m sure Jared parents’ are not going to like that.”

“This isn’t about his parents.  This is about us as a family.”

Jemma’s head swam with the possibilities, it was too much too soon and she couldn’t handle it.  “I need to sit down.”  

Kyle caught her right before she hit the pavement.  Okay, maybe he hit her with too much at one time.  But he wanted them to start married life off on the right foot.  He scooped her up in his arms and took her inside. 

Jemma’s mother met him at the door.  “What happened?”

Kyle set her on the sofa and reached for a bottle of water.  He began touching her face with the cold plastic hoping to revive her.  “We were talking, then she passed out.”  He hoped no one questioned his sketchy answer. 

“My baby is stronger than that,” Emmy said.  “What were you talking about?”  The family had crowded around them. 

“I told her that our family owned the ranch.”

“What?” Emmy asked, sitting next to Jemma.  “My baby wouldn’t have fainted at that.  She’s stronger than that.”

He was going to have to tell them.  He glanced around the room, looking for Kassie and not seeing her.  “Where’s the kids?”

His mother brought an ice pack from the kitchen.  “They’re upstairs playing. What made her pass out? Should we call an ambulance?”

Janna examined her sister.  She picked up Jemma’s hand and held it.  “Her pulse is strong, Kyle.  She’ll be okay.  Must have been some conversation, huh?”

“All right,” Kyle said, “I asked her to marry me.”

“What?” Jemma’s mother asked.  “You asked her at Kassie’s celebration?  Oh, come on, Kyle.  You can do better than that,” her mother scolded him. 

“I was going with the moment.”  Jemma finally moaned and opened her eyes.

“What happened?  Did Kassie see me?”

Kyle shook his head.  “You passed out when I proposed.  Kassie is upstairs.” 

Slowly, she sat up.  “I’m okay now.” She took slow breaths, most likely trying to calm herself.  

Kyle sat next to her, and pulled her in his arms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”  He rubbed her back.  Finally, everyone left them alone and resumed what they were doing.  Janna watched from a discreet distance.  Ready to rescue her sister when necessary.  “I’m sorry for overwhelming you. Today has been an emotional day for you as it is.  Kassie winning and breaking the state record was big enough without me proposing. I don’t need an answer right now.  We can keep it like it is.  No pressure.” This was what he got for trying to be spontaneous and romantic.  Darn that Krista.

“I have one.”  She played with buttons on his shirt.   “I thought about what you said and I have an answer for you.”  She sat up and faced him.  A hint of a smile touched her lips.

“What?  We can do this later.”  He really didn’t want to face his family when she turned him down.  He wanted to be able to wallow in pity alone. But something in her words made him think the impossible. He took a deep breath.  “Okay, what’s your answer?”

“Yes.”  She leaned against him.  “I realized that I’m not going to love your any more than I do at this moment.”

Kyle kissed her.  “I love you, baby.  I thought you needed to ask Kassie?”

“I know she loves you and that’s not going to change, either.”  She caressed his hand.  “Your family is loving, kind, and gentle.  They gave Kassie this party.  They made us feel like part of your family.”

“Thank you.  You will not regret one moment of our life together.”  He reached inside the leather jacket and pulled out the box he’d placed in there earlier.  He opened the box and showed it to her.  

“Oh, Kyle, it’s beautiful,” she said, holding out a shaky hand.  “I love it. I love you.”

He slipped the five-carat diamond ring on her finger.  It fit perfectly.  Jemma admired it.  “Just think just a few months ago, I wouldn’t have thought this was possible.  Thank you for proving me wrong.”  She kissed him. 

Janna noticed first.  “Oh, my goodness,” she said walking to the couple on the couch.  “You guys are getting married?”  She reached for Jemma’s hand.  “I knew it!  Mom! Dad!”  She called to her parents. 

Kyle and Jemma groaned together.  “So much for a little privacy,” he mumbled against her lips.  “We’d better tell Kassie before everyone else does.”

   Jemma laughed.  “Too late.” Kassie ran into the room and jumped on Kyle’s lap and hugged him.  “You’re going to be my daddy!  I’m so happy!”

The room erupted in cheers.   Kyle wiped his eyes.  “Me too, baby.”

EPILOGUE

One year later

Jemma sat in her office, checking the blog and returning emails.  The last year following her marriage to Kyle had been one rollercoaster ride after another. 

They were married a month after they announced their engagement.  Kyle, the master planner, was in charge of everything for the wedding, while Jemma was in rewrite hell with her book.  But everything came off perfectly.  She and Kyle were married in a candlelight ceremony with family and friends looking on.  They honeymooned in Hawaii while Kyle’s parents looked after Kassie. 

Now her book,
Life after Death
, was a top seller.  So much, that Hollywood had come calling. Jemma had been overwhelmed with all the attention she was getting.  She had to hire a part-time assistant, to handle inquiries, and interview requests, so that Jemma still had time for her family. 

Kyle was just as busy as she was.  His book featuring Kassie and Nutmeg, was also doing very well in the ratings.  He’d wanted to designate some of the horses on the ranch as therapy horses.  Due to his book being such a success, he’d been flooded with requests for talk shows.

Once Kyle and Jemma married, they moved into the main house and Kyle’s parents moved into his home. Kassie loved living at the ranch full-time.  She rode Nutmeg every chance she got.  She and Kyle rode horses together every Sunday.

Destiny was a funny thing, she thought. Jemma’s parents decided they wanted to be closer to Kassie, purchased Jemma’s home.

“Honey, it’s time to pick up Kassie Patterson-Cosgrove,” Kyle said, standing in the doorway, with a glass of water in his hand.  He was his usual sexy self, in jeans, boots, and white shirt. 

His smile was infectious.  “You just love saying her name, don’t you?” After they were married, Kyle adopted Kassie as his own. It took some fancy talking, but Jared’s parents gave their blessing.  

“Yes, I do. Next to marrying you, adopting Kassie was the best thing I’ve ever done.  Makes me happy just saying her name.” He walked to her desk.  “I love saying your name too, in a little more intimate situation, if you get my meaning.” He pulled her out of her seat and hugged her. 

“Kyle, we don’t have time,” Jemma pleaded.  “I have to go pick up Kassie, remember?”

He kissed her on the neck, moving slowly to her lips.  “I know that.  We could always send Harriet to pick her up.”  He started unbuttoning her blouse.

This man was relentless, she mused, as she moved his hands.  “No, Kyle.  I pick up my daughter.  That was our deal.” 

“Our daughter.”  He stepped back from her.  “Save my place for later, after Kassie is in bed.”

She picked up her keys and grabbed her purse.  “You’re just awful.”  She headed out of the office.

He smacked her on her behind as she walked past him.  “You know you like it.  I certainly do.”

She shook her head and went to pick up her daughter.

Later that night, Kyle sat on the couch in the living room, relishing in a quiet home.  Harriet had left hours earlier, Kassie was asleep and Jemma was upstairs taking a bath.  He couldn’t remember when he was so happy. 

Married life suited them both.  Everything seemed to fit into place like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.  Even the success of both he and Jemma’s books were well timed.  He reached for the beer sitting on the coffee table. 

This last year whizzed by once he and Jemma got married. He was worried about Kassie and how she’d react to the marriage, but Kassie adapted quickly and loved living so close to the horses.  Every time she called him ‘daddy’, his heart swelled with pride.

“You have the silliest look on your face,” Jemma said, walking toward him.  He inhaled the aroma of her favorite soap.  She was dressed in her silk bathrobe and she sat on his lap. 

“I was just thinking.” He kissed her, wrapping his arms around her.  He quickly untied her sash and opened the bathrobe to find a lacy nightshirt.  “I thought we agreed on no nightclothes.  It slows me down.”  He kissed her again. 

She laughed.  “You came up with that.”  She wiggled on his lap.  “I see you’re ready as always.”  She rose and grabbed his hand. 

Kyle chuckled.  “Now who’s ready?”

“See what you did?” She led him upstairs to their bedroom.  “You turned me in a freaky farm girl.”

He pulled her against him, and he rubbed his body against her.  “I like it.”

She unbuttoned his shirt, then unbuckled his belt, before she ran her manicured hand over his erection. “I can tell you like it.  I like it, too.”

THE END