Her Lucky Cowboy (29 page)

Epilogue

B
ell could barely contain her excitement, watching Kaley blow the candles out on her birthday cake. Two years old. The time had gone so fast over the last four months since Christmas. She and Dane were married last month on the ranch. They’d used the snowplow and cleared a piece of land out back, where they’d erected a huge tent with a wood floor. She’d loved the round tables, with their white tablecloths and roses in antique silver ice buckets. Dozens of votive candles filled the tables, and spotlights pointed at the tent walls cast a soft glow over the room. Heaters kept their family and close friends warm in the chilly early spring temperatures, but all she’d needed was the smile Dane sent her when he stared at her walking down the aisle on Sammy’s arm. So sweet, Sammy stood in for his good friend, her grandfather, and had given her away. Katherine, round with her pregnancy, stood beside her at the altar as her matron of honor. Tony struck a deal with her to lease part of her land and Dane’s that connected to the smaller property they owned. It would allow Tony to expand his business. Bell and her sister had grown closer, visiting each other often, especially now that Bell had taken Ella’s offer of a full-time job at the new clinic. She loved it there, and she loved getting home early to spend time with Dane and Kaley. She’d given up filling her days with work. Now she couldn’t wait to get home to her husband and daughter.

Dane smiled at her from across the table as everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to Kaley. That smile never failed to warm her heart. He’d set her ablaze with a searing kiss when the preacher announced them husband and wife. He’d held her so tightly that she hadn’t been able to breathe. After the kiss, he’d pressed his forehead to hers, stared into her eyes, and said for the first time, “I love you, Dr. Bowden.” The name he’d given her. The name she’d always been waiting for.

Gabe, Blake, and Caleb had given Dane a slap on the back and a hug before they’d walked back down the aisle past Dane’s parents and Ella, late in her pregnancy and anxious for her twin daughters, Lela and Amanda, to be born. Gillian had been there, too, holding her newborn son, Casey.

Bell and Dane shared a magical wedding day and night, which resulted in the gift she had for both Dane and Kaley today. She’d held off telling Dane, waiting for this time, when the whole family was together again. A family that had welcomed not only her but Kaley, too, with open arms.

Cheers went up from everyone gathered when Kaley blew out both candles. Kaley and Justin both pulled a candle from the cake and licked the frosting. Justin’s dog, Charlie, barked at the boy, wanting a taste of whatever he had.

Kaley bounced on Patty’s lap. The treatment Patty received had given her these few precious months. They hoped for a few more. Patty’s body grew weaker, but her spirit got stronger every day she got to watch her granddaughter grow happy and healthy.

Kaley accepted Bell and Dane as her mother and father. The transition hadn’t been easy. Kaley missed her mother, but they kept reminders of Brandy throughout the house in pictures and a few of Brandy’s things. Others, like jewelry, diaries, and other special family items, were tucked away for when Kaley got older.

“Now, Mommy?”

“Yes, sweet baby. Now.”

Kaley stood on the chair and pulled the zipper down on her jacket. “See, Daddy. Mommy got new shirt.” Kaley pointed to her pink top, which had a picture of a blonde princess that looked an awful lot like Kaley and the words “I’m the big sister!”

Dane stared up at Bell, his arm already around her waist as she stood beside him, watching Kaley. His hand contracted on her hip and his other came up to cover her belly. “Are you kidding me?”

“You’re going to be a father. Again.”

“We’re pregnant?”

“Yes.”

The whole family sent up another round of cheers. Dane hugged her close and lifted her right off her feet. He kissed her with so much love that her heart overflowed.

Bell saw that same love in his eyes every day, but it sparkled exceptionally bright when they welcomed their son, Thomas Charles Bowden, into the world. He was named for her grandfather and Dane’s father. On that day, she reflected on her life and all the gifts that had come into it since the day she met Dane. Until then, she’d lived an anything but charmed life. Now she had Dane, Kaley, Thomas, their whole family. She truly was lucky in love.

This winter, join Jennifer Ryan as she returns

to her
New York Times
bestselling The Hunted Series

EVERYTHING SHE WANTED

Ben Knight is back . . .

Ben Knight has dedicated his life to the law and to protecting those in need. As a child, Ben couldn’t save his mother from his abusive father, but he will stop at nothing to save his clients, including the hauntingly beautiful Kate Morrison, who’s running from a man who thinks his wealth will let him get away with anything—including murder.

Kate and Ben have crossed paths but have never crossed that professional line. Now that he’s agreed to help her put Evan Faraday behind bars where he belongs, she’ll have to do the one thing that’s never come easy—trust the sexy lawyer with her life and the life of her precious son.

Will Kate learn to trust Ben in time to save herself, and will they have a chance to explore the feelings blossoming between them before it’s too late?

Coming January 2016

from Avon Impulse

Keep reading for a sneak peek!

“H
e did it, Kate.”

Kate stared at her sister Margo, trying to understand her enthusiasm. Nothing ever went this right in their world, so Kate waited for the hammer to drop.

“He left her. We’re going to finally be together like we’ve wanted for all these months.”

“Donald said he’d leave her when you met and practically every month since then. He swore it when Alex was born. What makes this time any different?”

“You’re such a pessimist.”

“No, I’m a realist.”

“The proof is in the safe downstairs. He had his lawyer draw up all these new papers. He told her today. It’s done. He isn’t going back there. He’s staying with Alex and me.”

She’d seen Donald downstairs sitting on the sofa, a drink in hand, balanced on the armrest. The solemn look on his face piqued her interest. She’d thought he’d had a bad day at work. Instead his two worlds had collided and he’d had to pick a side. The miserable life he’d been living with a woman he didn’t love, and in fact despised, or the woman he adored, who made him happy.

Kate hadn’t always been on board with her sister dating a married man. In fact, Kate didn’t find out Donald was married until after Alex was conceived. She didn’t like Margo keeping secrets from her. It still irritated her. Margo wanted this family so bad that Kate overlooked the imperfections in the relationship and focused on her sister’s happiness.

“Why now? Why’d he finally do it?”

“For me and Alex. He wants to be with us.”

“There’s never been any doubt of that, except for the fact he didn’t ask her for the divorce.”

“It’s complicated.”

“That’s an excuse, Margo. You have a son.”

“So does she.”

“Their son is twenty-five. Yours is four months old.”

“Donald had to think about the company, the money, everything else they share. It’s not a simple thing to divorce when there is so much at stake. Breaking up the company like that, giving her a huge piece and a say in what he spent his life building makes it hard for him. I don’t know what happened. We haven’t had time to discuss it, but something changed and he gets to keep everything.”

“How is that possible? This is California. A community property state. She’s entitled to half.”

“She signed a prenup. Whatever stipulations are in there, she violated them and only gets a million dollars.”

“I’d take the million and be happy.”

“Would you? After nearly thirty years of marriage and living with the means to do and buy anything you want, you’d take a million and be happy? A house in most areas around here costs at least half that, if not all of it.”

Kate tipped her head, acknowledging that truth. “So what did she have to say about all of this?”

“As you can imagine, she’s pissed. I don’t know all the details. Donald and I want to sit down and talk about it and what comes next.”

“Which is why I’m here. You want me to babysit.”

“Please. It’s only for a few days.”

“Days? Margo—”

“He’s nervous about what she’ll do now that she knows about the divorce. He wants Alex away from here in case she does something.”

“What does he think she’ll do?”

“Oh, mostly just throw a fit. Maybe come here to cuss him out and demand he give her what she wants. He doesn’t want Alex here if that happens.”

“Does she know about you and Alex?”

“About me, yes. Not Alex. At least Donald and I don’t think so.”

“And you want to keep Alex a secret a while longer.”

“At least until Donald and I can be married. Please, Kate, will you take him for a few days? Four tops.”

“I told you I needed time. I’m just settling in to seeing him with you when I visit.”

“You never expected it to be this hard, did you?”

“No. But nothing is ever easy, is it?”

“Not for you and me.” Margo put her hand over Kate’s and squeezed. “If something happens, go to the safe deposit box. Everything you need is there. I set it up just like you taught me.”

“Always have an escape plan.”

“Everything is going to work out this time. I’ll have Donald, Alex, the happy life we’re building. Everything you and I dreamed of having for ourselves one day.”

“If you believed that, you wouldn’t ask me to take Alex and remind me that even now we need a way out.”

“I know everything will be okay. I’m being cautious and protective of what I have. When we had nothing, it was easy to walk away. Now I have too much to lose to leave it to chance. Please, Kate. Do this for me, so I’ll have peace of mind and can see Donald through this rough patch.”

Kate gave in to need and picked up Alex from his crib, holding him to her chest. She stared down into his beautiful silver-blue eyes and frowned. “Your mother knows exactly how to get me to do her bidding.”

“I know it’s a lot to ask . . .”

Kate brushed her lips against Alex’s forehead and smelled his sweet baby scent. Her heart softened, threatening to melt in her chest and reduce her to a teary-eyed mess. “I got this, Margo.”

“You always do.”

“Is everything okay?” Donald asked from the door.

“She said yes,” Margo answered.

“Thank you, Kate. It’s a lot to ask . . .”

“Both of you stop. I’m the aunt. I’m the perfect person to ask. You two enjoy a few days alone. Alex and I will hang at the bar, go dancing, you know, have some fun.”

Margo laughed and touched Kate’s shoulder. “You know he doesn’t have ID to get into the bar.”

Kate shrugged that off. “I could probably call some old contacts and get him a fake one.”

“Okay, but cut him off after one bottle,” Donald teased, holding up the baby bottle in his hand.

Kate took it and stuffed the nipple into Alex’s mouth. He sucked greedily.

“You hear that, little man,” Margo said, “One bottle and you’re done. Aunt Kate will take care of you. Maybe you can teach her to smile more often.” Margo kissed Alex’s head and gave Kate a look that clearly said, “You’re too serious.”

“I’ll take the bags down to the car,” Donald volunteered, grabbing the diaper bag and a small suitcase.

“I put two cans of formula and extra bottles in the suitcase. More than enough for the few days you’ll have him.” Margo picked up the blanket from Alex’s crib and a soft teddy. “These are his favorite. Donald will also put the play pen I left downstairs in your car. He can sleep in that.” Margo scanned the room. “His pacifier is pinned to his shirt, but let me run downstairs and grab a spare just in case.”

Kate sat with Alex in her arms in the rocking chair and let him finish his bottle. “Go. We’re good here.”

Margo stopped at the door and turned back. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother someday.”

Kate plastered on a fake smile for Margo’s benefit. “You were always the sweeter, kinder, gentler one of us. Alex is in the best hands. I’m better by myself.”

“Anything is possible, Kate. Just look at what I have with Donald.”

“You two seem happy together. I’m happy for you.”

“I hope you have something even better than what I’ve found. You just have to learn to trust and have a little faith.”

This from the woman who fell in love with a married man and went to extreme lengths to have his child and the family they never had growing up at all costs, including sharing him with his wife—though he swore he hadn’t slept with her in the last few years, especially since he met Margo. Kate dropped her cynicism and admitted the couple seemed happy. Kate wanted them to get past the impending divorce, marry, and be a family. They deserved it. Alex deserved to have his two loving parents together and happy without all the hiding their relationship and the drama.

“Come downstairs when he’s finished.”

Margo left the room. Kate sat in the waning sunlight and rocked Alex back and forth. She studied his sweet face from his wide forehead to his softly rounded cheeks. He caught her watching him and took time out of gorging on his milk to smile at her with his mouth still wrapped around the nipple.

“Charmer. You know I can’t resist you. Don’t tell your mother, but I really am looking forward to having you all to myself for a few days.”

Dangerous, dangerous ground. Her heart might not be able to take letting him go again. She loved the little boy. He almost made her think dreams do actually come true and don’t always turn into nightmares. Almost.

Kate put Alex up to her shoulder to pat his back. He let out a huge belch and settled his cheek back on her shoulder. “That’s my big boy. You sound like every guy I’ve ever met in a bar.”

Actually, it had been a long time since she’d been a part of that scene. She’d given up playing the party girl, the tough girl who liked even tougher guys, the girl who didn’t care about anyone or anything, who only wanted to have a good time. Nothing about that scene or that girl seemed fun anymore.

At twenty-two, she turned a corner and got serious about herself and her life. For all her negativity about what happened to her in the past and the rotten way she’d been raised and treated, she’d never done a damn thing to change things for the better. A hard realization to wake up to on her birthday, to look back at her life and realize all she’d been doing is surviving. She wanted more. So she went back to school and got her degree in social work, using the supervised hours she worked in the field to gain experience and hone her skills to help with teenagers. She worked during the day and attended school at night to finish her masters this past year. Twenty-eight now, she finally had a job and a purpose in life that filled her up most days, even as the daunting task of helping others who sometimes didn’t necessarily want it dragged her down but never knocked her out. She loved her clients. Most of them anyway. Teenagers had a way of making you earn every small achievement. They made her think and come up with creative ways to connect with them so she could get them to trust her and eventually try to change their lives.

Like she’d done.

“Come on, let’s go find your mom and dad. It’s time to blow this joint and get you settled at my place. Don’t get me wrong, kiddo, I’m happy to have you for a few days, but that’s it. You’re not staying.”

She tickled Alex’s belly, making him laugh, before rising and carrying him out the bedroom door and across the landing to the stairs.

“It’s going to be all right,” Donald assured her sister. He reached up and cupped Margo’s face in his hands, sweeping his thumbs over her cheeks and looking her right in the eye with so much love and devotion that Kate looked away. The tenderness in his affection for Margo stunned her every time. She’d rarely seen that kind of kindness and love between two people. She envied her sister that connection to Donald. It’s why she’d agreed to help them, why she believed in them even if she didn’t admit as much to her sister.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, stepping down the last few stair treads. “Did something else happen?”

“Evan called. He’s upset about the divorce and what that means for him as well as his mother,” Donald said in his usual diplomatic way.

“Donald is cutting off his unlimited supply of funds and putting him on a reasonable budget,” Margo added, rolling her eyes. Although Margo lived in a big, fancy house, she still clipped coupons and bought items on sale. She didn’t take what she had for granted.

Something about the worry clouding Donald’s eyes about the call triggered Kate’s inner voice to warn her of danger. Her gut went tight. As easygoing as Donald was, his son Evan’s personality swung the other way. All the way to volatile. Rage mixed with antipathy and entitlement. Not a good combination when you just told a rich kid he’d been essentially cut off.

“How did you leave things with him?”

“I told him to speak to his mother to get the real truth of why I’m doing all of this. He deserves to know, then he’ll understand that what I’m offering is generous under the circumstances.”

“He’s been in trouble in the past. Do you think he’ll come here and cause trouble for the two of you? Is that why you want Alex out of the house?”

“No,” Donald said definitively. “No.” This time the word held a lot less certainty. “My concern is that these types of calls will go on for the next few days, especially when my lawyer contacts Christina to serve her the papers. It’s going to be a stressful time, and I don’t want my emotions and Margo’s worry to upset Alex. It’s better this way.”

Kate read between the lines. Donald didn’t want to upset Margo, but he expected trouble in some form from his wife and son. At the very least, he knew they wouldn’t go away quietly.

“I promise, Kate, I’ll take care of everything. I won’t let anything happen to Margo.”

“I hold you to that promise.”

He smiled, released her sister, and came to stand in front of Kate. He put his hand on Alex’s back and the other on her shoulder. “I know you will. Margo, Alex,
and you
are my family. This will all blow over and we’ll move on together and watch Alex grow into a wonderful and loved man. He is the gift we share. Nothing will make me happier than to have this business behind us. I want to spend the rest of my life making Margo happy and raise our son. All of us together and happy.”

Kate’s inner pessimist shouted, “Yeah, right.” But holding Alex in her arms, seeing his happy face and the innocence in his eyes sparked the belief that maybe the life Donald described wasn’t out of reach. They needed to work for it, and that included taking care of old business.

“Call me if anything more happens. Keep me in the loop.”

“We will. I promise,” Donald agreed.

Her sister and Donald walked her out to the car. Margo took Alex, hugged him close, and put him in the car seat in the back. Margo settled Alex, then kissed him on the head. “Be good for Auntie. I’ll miss you, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I promise, I’ll take good care of him.”

“I know you will. It’s just I’ve never been away from him since he came home.”

“Go with her,” Donald suggested at the last minute.

“No. I’m staying with you and seeing you through this ordeal.”

“That’s just it, it is an ordeal. I’ll handle it. It’s not for you to work out, but for me to do.”

“We’re a couple. Partners. We do things together. The fun things and the tedious.”