Texas Wild (16 page)

“Wrap your legs around me now, baby.”

She did so, and he began walking them toward the bed, where
they collapsed together. He pulled her into his arms and gazed down at her. “I
love you,” he whispered softly.

She sucked in a deep breath and reached out to cup his jaw in
her hand. “And I love you, too. I think I fell in love with you the moment you
looked at me at the wedding reception.”

He chuckled, pulling her closer. “Same here. Besides wanting
you extremely badly, another reason I didn’t want you to come to Texas with me
was because I knew how much finding out about Clarice and Raphel meant to you. I
didn’t want to disappoint you.”

“You could never disappoint me, but you will have to admit that
we make a good team.”

Rico leaned down and kissed her lips. “We most certainly do. I
think it’s time to take the Rico and Megan show on the road, don’t you?”

She lifted a brow. “On the road?”

“Yes, make it permanent.” When she still had a confused look on
her face, he smiled and said, “You know. Marriage. That’s what two people do
when they discover they love each other, right?”

Joy spread through Megan, and she fought back her tears.
“Yes.”

“So is that a yes, that you will marry me?”

“Did you ask?”

He untangled their limbs to ease off the bed to get down on his
knees. He reached out for her hand. “Megan Westmoreland, will you be my wife so
I can have the right to love you forever?”

“Can we get wild anytime we want?”

“Yes, anytime we want.”

“Then yes, Ricardo Claiborne, I will marry you.”

“We can set a date later, but I intend to put an engagement
ring on your finger before leaving Texas.”

“Oh, Rico. I love you.”

“And I love you, too. I’m not perfect, Megan, but I’ll always
try to be the man you need.” He eased back in bed with a huge masculine smile on
his face. “We’re going to have a good life together. And one day I believe those
other Westmorelands will be found. It’s just so sad Fanny Banks has lived with
that guilt for so many years.”

“Yes, and she wasn’t planning on telling us the truth until we
confronted her again. Why was that?” Megan asked.

“Who knows? Maybe she was prepared to take her secret to the
grave. I only regret Raphel never knew about his child. And there’s still that
fourth woman linked to his name. Isabelle Connors.”

“Once I get back to Denver and tell the family everything, I’m
sure someone will be interested in finding out about Isabelle as well as finding
out what happened to Clarice and Raphel’s child.”

“You’re anxious to find out as well, right?”

“Yes. But I’ve learned to let go. Finding out if there are any
more Westmorelands is still important to me, but it isn’t the most important
thing in my life anymore. You are.”

Megan sighed as she snuggled more deeply into Rico’s arms. She
had gotten the answers she sought, but there were more pieces to the puzzle that
needed to be found. And eventually they would be. At the moment, she didn’t have
to be the one to find them. She felt cherished and loved.

But there were a couple of things she needed to discuss with
Rico. “Rico?”

“Yes, baby?”

“Where will we live? Philly or Denver?”

He reached out and caressed the side of her face gently.
“Wherever you want to live. My home, my life is with you. Modern technology
makes it possible for me to work from practically anywhere.”

She nodded, knowing her home and life was with him as well and
she would go wherever he was. “And do you want children?”

He chuckled. “Most certainly. I intend to be a good
father.”

She smiled. “You’ll be the best. There are good fathers and
there are some who could do better…who should have done better. But they are
fathers nonetheless.”

She pulled back and looked up at him. “Like your father. At
some point you’re going to have to find it in your heart to forgive him,
Rico.”

“And why do you figure that?” She could tell from the tone of
his voice and the expression on his face that he definitely didn’t think so.

“Because,” she said, leaning close and brushing a kiss across
his lips. “Your father is the only grandfather our children will have.”

“Not true. My mother has remarried, and he’s a good man.”

She could tell Rico wanted to be stubborn. “I’m sure he is, so
in that case our children will have two grandfathers. And you know how important
family is to me, and to you, as well. No matter what, Jeff Claiborne deserves a
second chance. Will you promise me that you’ll give him one?”

He held her gaze. “I’ll think about it.”

She knew when not to push. “Good. Because it would make me very
happy. And although I’ve never met your dad, I believe he can’t be all bad.”

Rico lifted a brow. “How do you figure that?”

“Because you’re from his seed, and you, Rico, are all good. I
am honored to be the woman you want as your wife.”

She could tell her words touched him, and he pulled her back
down to him and kissed her deeply, thoroughly and passionately. “Megan
Westmoreland Claiborne,” Rico said huskily, finally releasing her lips. “I like
the sound of that.”

She smiled up at him. “I like the sound of that, as well.”

Then she kissed him, deciding it was time to get wild
again.

Two weeks later, New York

Rico looked around at the less than desirable apartment
complex, knowing the only reason he was here was for closure. He might as well
get it over with. The door was opened on the third knock and there stood the one
man Rico had grown up loving and admiring—until he’d learned the truth.

He saw his father study Rico’s features until recognition set
in. Rico was glad his father recognized him because he wasn’t sure if he would
have recognized his father if he’d passed the old man in the street. It was
obvious that drugs and alcohol had taken their toll. Jeff looked ten years older
than what Rico knew his age to be. And the man who’d always taken pride in how
he looked and dressed appeared as if he was all but homeless.

“Ricardo. It’s been a while.”

Instead of answering, Rico walked past his father to stand in
the middle of the small, cramped apartment. When his father closed the door
behind him, Rico decided to get to the point of his visit.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and said, “I’m getting
married in a few months to a wonderful woman who believes family is important.
She also believes everyone should have the ability to forgive and give others a
second chance.”

Rico paused a moment and then added, “I talked to Jessica and
Savannah and we’re willing to do that…to help you. But you have to be willing to
help yourself. Together, we’re prepared to get you into rehab and pay all the
expenses to get you straightened out. But that’s as far as our help will go. You
have to be willing to get off the drugs and the alcohol. Are you?”

Jeff Claiborne dropped down in a chair that looked like it had
seen better days and held his head in his hands. “I know I made a mess of things
with you, Jessica and Savannah. And I know how much I hurt your mom…and when I
think of what I drove Janice to do…” He drew in a deep breath. “I know what I
did, and I know you don’t believe me, but I loved them both—in different ways.
And I lost them both.”

Rico really didn’t want to hear all of that, at least not now.
He believed a man could and should love only one woman, anything else was just
being greedy and without morals. “Are you willing to get help?”

“Are the three of you able to forgive me?”

Rico didn’t say anything for a long moment and then said, “I
can’t speak for Jessica and Savannah, but with me it’ll take time.”

Jeff nodded. “Is it time you’re willing to put in?”

Rico thought long and hard about his father’s question. “Only
if you’re willing to move forward and get yourself straightened out. Calling
your children and begging for money to feed your drug habit is unacceptable.
Just so you know, Jess and Savannah are married to good men. Chase and Durango
are protective of their wives and won’t hesitate to kick your ass—father or no
father—if you attempt to hurt my sisters.”

“I just want to be a part of their lives. I have grandkids I
haven’t seen,” Jeff mumbled.

“And you won’t be seeing them if you don’t get yourself
together. So back to my earlier question, are you willing to go to rehab to get
straightened out?”

Jeff Claiborne stood slowly. “Yes, I’m willing.”

Rico nodded as he recalled the man his father had been once and
the pitiful man he had become. “I’ll be back in two days. Be packed and ready to
go.”

“All right, son.”

Rico tried not to cringe when his father referred to him as
“son,” but the bottom line, which Megan had refused to let him deny, was that he
was Jeff Claiborne’s son.

Then the old man did something Rico didn’t expect. He held his
hand out. “I hope you’ll be able to forgive me one day, Ricardo.”

Rico paused a moment and then he took his father’s hand,
inhaling deeply. “I hope so, too.”

Epilogue

“B
eautiful lady, may I have this
dance?”

“Of course, handsome sir.”

Rico led Megan out to the dance floor and pulled her into his
arms. It was their engagement party, and she was filled with so much happiness
being surrounded by family and friends. It seemed no one was surprised when they
returned from Texas and announced they were engaged. Rico had taken her to a
jeweler in Austin to pick out her engagement ring, a three-carat solitaire.

They had decided on a June wedding and were looking forward to
the day they would become man and wife. This was the first of several engagement
parties for them. Another was planned in Philly and would be given by Rico's
grandparents. Megan had met them a few weeks ago, and they had welcomed her to
the family. They thought it was time their only grandson decided to settle
down.

He pulled her closer and dropped his arms past her waist as
their bodies moved in sensual sync with the music. Rico leaned in and hummed the
words to the song in her ear. There was no doubt in either of their minds that
anyone seeing them could feel the heat between them…and the love.

Rico tightened his arms around her and gazed down at her.
“Enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, what about you?”

He chuckled. “Yes.” He glanced around. “There are a lot of
people here tonight.”

“And they are here to celebrate the beginning of our future.”
She looked over his shoulder and chuckled.

Rico lifted a brow. “What's so funny?”

“Riley. Earlier today, he and Canyon pulled straws to see who
would be in charge of Blue Ridge Management's fortieth anniversary Christmas
party this year, and I heard he got the short end and isn't happy about it. We
have close to a thousand employees at the family's firm and making sure the
holiday festivities are top-notch is important…and a lot of work. I guess he
figures doing the project will somehow interfere with his playtime, if you know
what I mean.”

Rico laughed. “Yes, knowing Riley as I do, I have a good idea
what you mean.”

The music stopped, and Rico took her hand and led her out the
French doors and onto the balcony. It was the first week in November, and it had
already snowed twice. According to forecasters, it would be snowing again this
weekend.

They had made Denver their primary home. However, they planned
to make periodic trips to Philly to visit Rico's grandparents, mother and
stepfather. They would make occasional trips to New York as well to check on
Rico's father, who was still in rehab. Megan had met him and knew it would be a
while before he recovered, but at least he was trying.

“You better have a good reason for bringing me out here,” she
said, shivering. “It's cold, and, as you can see, I'm not wearing much of
anything.”

He'd noticed. She had gorgeous legs and her dress showed them
off. “I'll warm you.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her to him and kissed
her deeply. He was right; he was warming her. Immediately, he had fired her
blood. She melted a little with every stroke of his tongue, which stirred a
hunger that could still astound her.

Rico slowly released her mouth and smiled down at her
glistening lips. Megan was his key to happiness, and he intended to be hers. She
was everything he could possibly want and then some. His goal in life was to
make her happy. Always.

* * * * *

Don't miss Riley Westmoreland's story
ONE WINTER'S NIGHT
Available December
2012
Only from Harlequin Desire
Keep reading for an
excerpt of
Up Close and Personal
by Maureen Child!

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