Coming Home (38 page)

She smiled impishly. “Gee, I don't know. Is there?” His eyes darkened. “I love you, Roxanne. I'd like to hear that you share my feelings.”

She twisted in his arms, raining soft kisses on his face. “How can you even doubt it? I've been crazy in love with you for weeks, but I was afraid that you. …”

“What? That I was just hanging around you for my health?” He gave her a little shake. “You've had to know that I've been off my head about you.” He smiled wickedly. “Probably since we first made love on your countertop.” He rubbed his jaw. “You know, now that I think about it, I should have rescued that damn thing from the rubbish pile—could have shown it to our grandkids. Great family relic.”

She slanted him a reproving glance. “I don't think that sort of tale would be appropriate for family gatherings. That little episode will be our secret. Deal?”

“I dunno, I think that it would make a … ouch! What'd you pinch me for?” he demanded, his eyes dancing with amusement.

Roxanne laughed and hugged him tightly. “Oh, Jeb, you just can't believe how happy I am.” She kissed his brow, his nose, and finally his mouth. Lifting her mouth breathless moments later, she said, “I
do
love you, you know—so much it frightens me and I can't imagine a life that doesn't have you in it.” She looked tenderly into his eyes, her fingers caressing his hard cheek. “You mean everything to me—more than just simple words can convey. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you
precisely
how much I do love you.” She kissed his nose. “Is that OK with you?”

A muscle jumped beneath her trailing fingers. “Better than OK,” he said huskily, his heart so full of love for her, he could hardly speak. He hugged her so hard, she'd thought her ribs would break.

“I never thought I'd fall in love again,” he said quietly. “And when I did, I realized that I had never really been in love before—that I'd only
thought
I'd been in love. What I feel for you doesn't compare to anything I've ever felt before in my life. You blindsided me.” He shook his head and laughed ruefully. “This may come as a big shock, but I think I've probably been half in love with you for the past ten years or so. As I look back, I figure half the reason I was always chewing you out was to keep from kissing you. ”

She beamed. “Good! Because I suspect the reason you irritated me so much was because I was attracted to you and didn't want to be. It seemed so old-fashioned. Girl leaves small town behind; becomes rich and famous and then gives it all up to return home to many small-town boy.”

A stillness came over Jeb. “Have you really given it all up?” he asked carefully, his gaze not meeting hers.

Roxanne's eyes narrowed. “Don't tell me you think that this is all a whim? That I'm just playing house? And that at the first chance I'll be out of here like a bullet from a gun?” She tapped him smartly on the cheek, making him look at her. “Jeb, I love you. I want what you want. I've had my moment of fame and you know what? If it all went away tomorrow I wouldn't regret it and if I had a choice of remaining
Roxanne
or becoming just plain old Mrs. Jeb Delaney—being your wife wins hands down every time.” Her lips twisted. “Now how's that for an old-fashioned girl?” Jeb didn't appear to be convinced. She bent nearer, her face inches from his, her eyes locked on his. “Jeb, how can you even think for a moment that I want to go back to that life? It's sort of a 'been there, done that.' I had a great run and I wouldn't have missed it for the world, but I've moved on. I've grown up—I hope. And now I know what's real, what's lasting, and what I want.” She brushed her lips against his. “I want you. I want Oak Valley. I want to have your kids and watch them grow up here in the valley.”

He still looked skeptical. “You sure you won't be pining for all the attention, the glamour when you're knee-deep in diapers?”

“Come on, I'm not nuts. I'm sure there'll be moments when I'll miss being one of the hottest cover girls in the U.S. But, darling, they'll only be
moments.
Face it—being knee-deep in diapers is going to be a whole lot more … interesting than standing for hours on end under burning lights with some guy pointing a camera and yelling, 'Smile! Toss your head back! Eat this camera with your eyes!' Believe me, all I want is to be your wife and raise our children—that's going to be my career now.” She kissed him. “My last and only career.”

He wasn't entirely convinced, but she felt him relax beside her. Words alone weren't going to convince him; she'd have to prove it to him. She smiled. And she had the rest of her life in which to do it.

They nestled together on the couch, speaking in low murmurs, kissing, caressing, and exchanging those words that only lovers share. It could have been an hour or only moments, but eventually, arms entwined, they wandered off to bed.

When they made love that night, it might have been imagination, but each touch, each caress, each kiss, seemed richer, more intense, and the sensations they shared seemed more powerful, more meaningful than previously. It was magic. It was love.

Later, lying with her head on his shoulder, their hands locked together, they spoke quietly about their love. “I almost need to pinch myself,” Roxanne said at one point. “It seems like a dream.”

“If you'll give me a couple more minutes,” Jeb murmured, lazy amusement in his voice, “I'll show you it's no dream.”

Roxanne giggled and, twisting her head slightly, blew in his ear. “Hey! Cut that out,” Jeb grumbled. “No fair when I'm too weak to retaliate.”

Dawg indicated that she and Boss had been polite long enough and that it was urgent they be put outside. Muttering and complaining, Jeb snapped on a light and scrambled into the nearest available clothing. Half dressed and loath to leave Roxanne, he wandered out the front door to keep an eye on the dogs while they took care of nature's calling. They didn't take long.

Back inside, Dawg rushed ahead and made a beeline for her side of the bed, curling up against Roxanne's back. Coming into the room, Jeb eyed the dog. “I guess romance is over for tonight.”

Roxanne sent him a seductive smile. “I can always push her off onto the floor.”

Jeb shook his head and crawled into bed beside Roxanne. Turning to flick out the lamp near the bed, he said, “Nope, that's all right. Besides, we've still got important things to talk about.”

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“Such as when and where we get married.”

Roxanne yawned and snuggled closer. “Can't be soon enough for me. Reno, tomorrow would suit me just fine.”

Jeb shifted, his gaze incredulous. “Are you serious?”

“Sure. Why not?” She reached up and kissed his chin. “I want to marry you. And unless it's what you want, I don't want a big, elaborate wedding. Quick and quiet is my preference.” She made a face. “Very quick and very quiet—especially if we don't want the paparazzi to find out about it and hound us to death.”

Jeb hadn't thought about that aspect of it. That the news media might be interested in their wedding hadn't even occurred to him. He didn't care what kind of a wedding ceremony they had—he'd been through the big wedding routine—twice. But he didn't want to deny Roxanne her moment in the sun.

“Are you sure?” he asked uncertainly. “Reno sounds great to me, but, honey, I've done the splashy wedding before—you haven't. Are you sure you don't want to get married here in the valley surrounded by our families and friends?”

Roxanne sat up, her hair falling in glorious disarray around her shoulders. “Jeb, what do you want?

” His eyes traveled over her silky skin, lingering tinthe tempting thrust of her naked breasts. “You,” he said thickly. “Only you.”

“Then Reno it is, just as soon and as quiet as we can arrange it.”

How they got through the next couple of days, they never knew. It had been decided that on Friday morning, they'd leave the valley, drive the six or seven hours to Reno, stay the night, get married, and drive back in time to attend the dinner at Jeb's parents'. The time in between was magical and passed in a blur. Jeb knew he got strange looks at work; the perpetually goofy grin on his face might have been the reason. He didn't care. He was so happy, he felt certain his feet never hit the ground.

Roxanne was little better. She giggled. Constantly. And caught herself laughing aloud for absolutely no reason at all. She was giddy with delight; drunk on happiness.

And when they were together it was even worse. They laughed. Made love. And laughed some more, before making love again. They lay in bed each night, whispering and giggling over their elopement to Reno like a pair of teenagers.

Thursday night, Jeb dropped off Dawg and Boss at his house, locking the dogs in their kennel with the promise that he wasn't deserting them forever. The looks they gave him told him they didn't believe one word of it. He'd already made arrangements with Mingo to feed and water the dogs on Friday and Saturday so he could leave them with only a slightly guilty conscience. “I'll be back, guys,” he said softly, tickling their noses through the kennel fence. “And then we'll all move up to Roxanne's for good. You'll like that, won't you?”

Dawg whined and licked his fingers. Boss sniffed, turned his back on Jeb, and sauntered off to the doghouse. Clearly he was not impressed.

Roxanne and Jeb made good time on Friday, leaving Oak Valley just after daylight. The traffic and weather cooperated, no pileups or storms to slow them down. They arrived in Reno in the early afternoon. Roxanne was media shy and suggested that they wait until almost closing to purchase the wedding license. Wryly she'd said, “Less time for the news to leak.” So they drove around checking out wedding chapels. They found a little ivy covered place tucked off the main drag and after talking with the couple who ran it, made an appointment for 9:00 A.M. the next morning.

Buying the license made it clear to Jeb that Roxanne had been smart to suggest a quick and quiet wedding. The clerk behind the counter recognized Roxanne's name, and despite Roxanne's halfhearted attempts at a disguise, scarf and sunglasses, she took a second look and gasped, “Oh, my! It
is
you!” Her words were heard by everyone in the vicinity and in seconds Roxanne and Jeb were the objects of an excited group of coworkers.

Roxanne was nice about it. She smiled and answered questions and autographed the slips of paper that were thrust at her. Several minutes later, she and Jeb made their escape.

“Think they'll notify the news?” Jeb asked as he started the truck.

Roxanne shrugged. “Probably, but by the time they run us down, we'll be married and headed out of town—I hope.”

Wedding rings were next and they lingered over their selection. They finally decided on heavy, plain gold bands adorned with delicate filigree. Staring at the ring on her finger, Roxanne's eyes filled with tears. Jeb must have guessed her emotions, because he took her hand and kissed the trembling finger wearing the gold band. She smiled mistily at him.

The people who ran the chapel proved to be discreet and to Roxanne's relief they were not greeted that morning by a shouting horde of news media. She wasn't even sure if she had been recognized. Neither the gentleman who would marry them, nor his wife and secretary who would act as witnesses, gave any sign that she and Jeb were anything other than just another couple getting married.

The chapel was tiny; three golden oak pews on either side of the room provided seating for guests. The walls were white, broken only by two stained glass windows on either side of the chapel, and the thick carpet was a tasteful swirl of rose and cream. On each side of the tiny altar, bouquets of pink and white gladiolus, baby's breath, and ferns stood in tall pale green vases. The man who would marry them, wearing a dark blue suit, was standing there waiting for them, his wife and secretary smiling as they waited just off to the side. Jeb gave Roxanne a quick kiss and then hurried down the short aisle to await his bride. A second later the sounds of the wedding march filled the room from speakers on each side of the room.

Roxanne had chosen to be married in a pale peach silk pantsuit with a matching broad-brimmed hat that framed her face. Jeb had surprised her that morning by arranging for a charming bridal bouquet of deep apricot-hued baby roses and white carnations to be delivered to the suite at the hotel where they had stayed. She'd teared up when he'd handed them to her.

“Oh, damn,” she half laughed, half cried. “You're ruining my makeup.”

“And I'll ruin it a lot more later on,” Jeb murmured, wiggling his brows.

As Roxanne walked down the aisle, she was aware of nothing but Jeb standing there, tall and handsome in a dark gray suit. Until this morning when he'd put it on, she'd never seen him in a suit and he'd taken her breath away. He still did, she thought, as she drew nearer. He always would.

It was a simple ceremony, but meant so much to the pair of them. And when they had promised to love, honor, and obey and exchanged their first kiss as man and wife, Roxanne thought she'd melt right there in a puddle of love at Jeb's feet. Smiling into her face, Jeb said, “Hi, Mrs. Delaney.”

Roxanne's eyes filled with tears again, but she managed to say, “Hi there, husband.”

Afraid the paparazzi might still run them down in Reno, as soon as the paperwork was finished, they turned the truck west and lit out like bandits for home. The long drive to Oak Valley seemed to pass in minutes. They were so busy making plans for the future, speculating on how the news of their sudden and unexpected marriage was going to take the valley.

“Are your parents going to be unhappy that they didn't get to see you married?” Jeb asked as they left 1-5 and turned onto Highway 20.

Roxanne shook her head. “They'll be taken aback, but then I'm always surprising them, so no, I don't think they'll be disappointed. Don't forget when Samantha was married they got to put on a huge affair. I remember Mom saying afterward, only half teasing I think, that one big fancy wedding was enough for any parent to suffer through. And they were there to see Shelly and Sloan married.” Roxanne looked thoughtful. “Of course they did miss Dica's wedding ….” She made a face. “I guess the less said about that the better.”