(Calahan Cowboys 08) The Cowboy Soldier's Sons (22 page)

She was right. He was no good with suspense.

“Look.” Tempest pulled him into a room where two cribs and a playpen were set up. Gage and Josh were in the playpen, holding soft stuffed animals. A babysitter sat beside it, smiling at the babies. “This is Dana. She’s awesome with the boys. Dana, this is my husband, Shaman.”

“Hi,” Dana said.

“I’m done filming for today. You can go, Dana. Thank you for your help.”

“I love watching them!” the teen exclaimed. “They’re the best. Nice to meet you, Shaman.” She grabbed her purse and went off.

Shaman felt immensely hopeful that Tempest had introduced him as her husband. He took Josh out of the playpen and kissed him, then did the same with little Gage. “If you’re done filming for the day, does that mean you can lose the wig? I’m really hoping that’s a wig.”

She nodded. “It’s a wig.”

“I mean, you’re beautiful this way, too,” Shaman said, “but I fell for you as a blonde. And I never was much for make-believe, as I said.”

She smiled at him. “You’re a salt-of-the-earth guy, Shaman. It’s one of the things that attracted me to you in the beginning.”

He didn’t like the sound of that; wasn’t she attracted to him now? “Yeah, well, it can be boring, I guess.”

Tempest looked at him. “How is the family?”

He recognized a change of subject when he heard it. “Xav is on the mend. He and Kendall are going to work at Dark Diablo. With Xav, I understand, but Kendall, never.”

Tempest went to a mirror, pulled off the wig, began scrubbing at her makeup. Shaman was relieved to see his wife reappearing.

“I’m not surprised,” she said. “Dark Diablo is the kind of place where people figure out what they want in life.”

He eyed his wife with great interest as she began shucking her costume. He didn’t want a divorce, he wanted Tempest. Here in California or in Tempest or even in Hell’s Colony, he really didn’t care.

“Hey,” Shaman said. “I could hang out in California while you film, watch the boys. You know, be a full-time dad.”

She turned to gaze at him, her eyes wide. “Are you serious?”

Was he? Of course he was. He shrugged. “I’m a pretty easygoing guy.”

“You are not,” Tempest said.

“I’m trying to be,” Shaman countered.

She gave him a long look. “What about us?”

“Well,” he said, not exactly certain how to answer a question that was about to kill him. “I guess you want a divorce.”

He thought her face fell just a little. But she was still wearing those darn brown contacts, so it was throwing him off a bit.

“Can you take out the contacts? I miss your eyes,” he said.

She smiled, turned back to the mirror and popped them out. He walked over and sat down next to her, shifting the babies so that they were comfortable in his lap. “That’s better,” he said. “See? There’s your mommy, boys.”

Tempest shook her head. “Did you come here to ask for a divorce?”

“No,” Shaman said. “I came here to find my wife. For that matter, I came here to try to keep my wife. I’m trying to square your job with my understanding of life. It’s not going to be easy to watch you smooching skinny actor dudes with gel in their hair, but I can suck it up.” He shrugged. “Well, I can handle it infrequently. Not every day. I have only so much goodness in my soul.”

She leaned over and put her lips on his. “The only way I get through the kisses on set is by imagining that it’s you.”

He pulled back to look at her, searching her eyes for her real feelings. “So, what happens after this gig?”

She looked at him. “You tell me, soldier.”

He wasn’t sure. But something—that sense of timing he relied on—was telling him he was headed into safe water, that everything was going to be good. He could actually win the princess, if he was a changed beast. “I love you, Tempest. Zola Cupertino. I’m madly in love with you and have been since the moment you walked into my life. You gave me sons I adore, and you make me want to spend every day of my life making you smile. If you want a divorce, I’ll go along with it just to make you happy.” He took a deep breath. “But if it’s up to me, I’d rather have a real wedding. A big, wonderland wedding with all our friends and family around to see me make the most wonderful woman in the world my wife. I’m talking amazing. Because that’s what you are to me.”

Tempest’s eyes sparkled with joy. “I’ve dreamed of being a real wife to you, Shaman. One with no strings attached.”

“And no contracts,” Shaman said. “No prenups. We’re together, all in, you and me. And these little tigers. I want to build you a house for a wedding gift, to replace the one you had. A big house, where we can have plenty of kids. And a media room, so the kids can watch their mother’s movies.”

“I would love a house you build for me. Thank you, Shaman. It’s a wonderful wedding gift.” Tempest’s heart swelled with happiness and love. She smiled at him. “Want to hear a secret?”

“Sure.” Although there had been enough secrets they’d had to dig through to be together. He hoped this one was a good secret.

“If you didn’t ask me, I was going to propose to you.”

“Really.” He perked up, feeling as if he’d caught the moon. “I would have said yes, beautiful.”

She kissed him again, a little longer this time. “And I’m saying yes, soldier.”

The babies squirmed between them, and Tempest smiled down at her sons, taking one from Shaman. With one hand now free, Shaman framed Tempest’s face with his palm and gave her a kiss nothing like the one the fake doctor had given her.

“Wow,” she said, “if that’s the way you’re going to kiss me when we’re really married, I’m going to be a very happy wife.” She peered at him. “Are we really going to do this?”

He kissed her again, making certain she had no doubt about his intentions.

“I think that’s a yes,” she said breathlessly.

Shaman smiled. “And I hear there’s a magic wedding dress that’s been offered, if that’s of any interest to you. I don’t know if you believe in magic.”

Tempest leaned her head against Shaman’s. “All my life, I dreamed of being swept away by a handsome prince. And now it’s happening.” She kissed him with her whole heart. “I believe in magic every time you hold me.”

Shaman held his wife and his babies to him. From beast to prince... He was the happiest man on earth.

Soldier, husband, father. It was all about family.

Happily ever after.

Epilogue

Three months later, after filming wrapped

The magic wedding dress fitted Tempest the way she always dreamed her wedding dress would. It fell in soft folds around her, shimmering and luminous, and she held her breath every time she glanced in the mirror.

“Did you see him?” Cat asked, her little face shining with delight.

“Who?” Tempest asked, pretending she didn’t know about the legend of the gown’s magic. “Did I see who?”

“The man of your dreams, Aunt Tempest!” Cat seemed as if she could barely stand the excitement. She looked darling in a long, sky-blue dress, feeling very important because she got to be a junior bridesmaid.

Chelsea, her matron of honor, gazed at Tempest. “Did you?” she asked. “I will admit that I didn’t really believe in the magic wedding gown, but I definitely saw my true love once I put it on.”

Tempest was very familiar with the world of make-believe and fairy tales. She smiled at Kendall, her maid of honor, and the others. “Of course I did. But then, I saw him in Las Vegas, too.”

She’d always known that Shaman was the only man for her. Maybe she’d tried to ignore it, and maybe she hadn’t thought she deserved a man as wonderful as him.

“I can’t wait for my turn to wear the magic wedding dress,” Cat said breathlessly, and her aunts groaned.

“Not for many, many years, sweetie.” Tempest hugged the little girl who’d brought her back home. “First college. Then we’ll see.”

Cat touched the fabric with one finger. “It is so beautiful.”

It was a perfect gown, but then again, it was a perfect day. Rancho Diablo was abloom with Fiona’s special touches, and come evening, lots of white twinkly lights would make the grounds a romantic fantasy. Bows and flowers adorned chairs set out for the guests. Looking out the upstairs window, Tempest had spied a lovely wedding cake on a lace-covered table, and so many friends milling around chatting that it made her happy to have such wonderful people in her life.

There had been many blessings in their lives, and she could hardly wait to say yes to Shaman all over again. “I love him,” she murmured. “So much.”

“I know.” Chelsea smiled.

“The Phillips brothers are great guys,” Kendall said, nodding.

“Shaman’s such a good father.” Tempest looked in the mirror one last time, adjusting her veil.

“We’re going to take Cat across the hall and put the sparkly barrette in her hair,” Chelsea said. “It’ll give you a moment of calm.”

Tempest smiled warmly, then said, “You’re beautiful, Cat.”

The teen beamed. “Thanks, Aunt Tempest.” She followed Chelsea and Kendall out the door, practically skipping with excitement.

Then Tempest was alone, her first moment by herself since she’d gotten dressed. She looked down at the stunning engagement ring Shaman had given her, a sparkling two-carat oval he said represented the two precious sons she’d given him. Then she closed her eyes, thinking about what a wonderful day today was, and how much it meant to her that Shaman wanted to be her husband, wanted to be with her for the rest of their lives.

She opened her eyes and found him standing behind her, smiling at her. He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She turned to tell him how much she loved him—and realized she was alone in the room at Rancho Diablo.

And then Tempest knew the legend was true. There was a difference between make-believe and the magic of love.

And she was truly in love with her cowboy soldier.

* * *

S
HAMAN THOUGHT HIS HEART
was going to beat right out of his chest as first Cat, and then Kendall, and then Chelsea walked to their places. And finally his gorgeous bride walked down the beribboned pathway to the altar.

Tempest looked like a fairy princess, and he could hardly believe she was all his. He hoped the photographer was snapping photos like mad because he wanted their sons to see how beautiful their mother was on her wedding day. She was on Shinny’s arm, and her stand-in father looked as proud as he could possibly be.

Millicent and Fitzgerald were smiling from the first row, and Shaman thought his mother might even have tears sparkling in her eyes, which was surprising, because she’d never been sentimental.

They had all changed so much, and he appreciated those changes as only a man whose heart had been touched could.

Tempest walked toward him as Diablo’s string quartet played a soft bridal march, and then she was at his side, smiling up at him. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. But he must have said it too loudly, or the words were picked up by the deacon’s microphone, because the guests laughed with pleasure at his compliment.

Tempest gazed into his eyes. “I love you, Shaman Phillips.”

“I love you, Cupertino. You’re the magic in my life.”

“I should probably start the ceremony,” the deacon teased.

Shaman grinned as widely as he ever had in his entire life, except for when he’d realized that he was a father to two wonderful babies. Tempest had brought him so many good things.

Suddenly, Shaman thought he heard the sound of Rancho Diablo’s famous Diablos running through the canyons, a portent of magical things to come, and peace washed over him.

Tempest’s eyes widened, and he knew she’d heard them, too. “Magic,” she whispered.

Shaman just smiled. He knew all about magic, and Tempest and the boys were the magic he’d finally found after so many years of searching.

Wonderful, beautiful magic. Forever.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt of
Bet on a Cowboy
by Julie Benson!

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