Midnight with You

by Cheyenne McCray

  Bailey’s heart nearly stopped when they reached the entrance.

  Seth stood nearby, his gaze on her.

  “Dara and I are going to head back to the resort.” Charlee put her hand on Bailey’s wrist. “You talk with Seth. Maybe you can work something out.”

  Bailey looked at her friends. “You set this up?”

  Dara hugged her. “Your best friends want what’s best for you. This might be the end, but it might be a new beginning. Talk to him.”

  A lump crowded Bailey’s throat. Should she be mad at her friends or appreciative? She settled for the latter, knowing Charlee and Dara had only the best intentions and loved her enough to do it.

  Charlee hugged her too, and then she and Dara headed out to the parking lot.

  Bailey waited as Seth came to her. He wore Wrangler jeans, a black T-shirt, and his western hat, but wore athletic shoes instead of boots.

  It wasn’t fair of him to look so damned sexy.

  He took her hand. “You have special friends.”

  She didn’t know what to do, so she let him lead her to a waiting car. He helped her into the back seat before climbing in himself.

  “Where are we going?” They were the first words she’d said since he’d walked up to her.

  He put his hand over hers and squeezed it. “Mo`i Beach. It’s a small beach to the north. It’ll be quiet and we’ll have a chance to talk.”

  She didn’t know if she wanted to talk. What good would it do? And she was afraid she’d break down into tears if she did say anything. She wasn’t a big cryer, and she’d never fallen apart like this over any man.

  What did that mean?

  She knew. She just didn’t want to admit it.

  The driver dropped them off at Mo`i Beach, which was farther from the resort than the other beaches had been.

  It was quiet when the driver left. Bailey took off her sandals and carried them down to the white sand while Seth held her other hand.

  Stars winked above them, bright and close enough to gather by handfuls out of the sky. It reminded her of another night on the beach, and her throat crowded again.

  His hand felt so good—strong like he was. His presence was solid and comforting when she wasn’t sure she wanted to be comforted in any way.

  Seth drew her down to sit on the sand, near the water’s edge, close enough to feel the water on her toes. He took off his shoes and socks and set them aside, then laid his hat on top of his shoes. He rolled up his jeans, just below his knees.

  He sat close enough that his bare feet were next to hers, the water touching his toes, too.

  She wrapped her arms around her bent legs and rested her chin on her knees. The moonlight sparkled on the ocean, and the palm tree fronds waved in a light breeze.

  For a long time they remained quiet, watching the waves roll in and draw out again. Sometimes the water splashed on their legs but the tide seemed to be going out.

  “I want to talk,” he said.

  She kept her chin on her knees. “I don’t know how we can do this without either one of us giving up something that is important to us.” Her voice wavered. “I don’t want to regret not doing what I’ve worked for since I was a teenager. And I don’t want to regret walking away from you. But I don’t know how any of this could possibly work.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to him. She raised her head and rested it against his chest. She absorbed his warmth, drank in his scent, felt the hardness of his body against hers.

  This was so unfair of him.

  But she couldn’t move away. Didn’t want to move away.

  “I’ve done a lot of thinking,” he said slowly. “I want to suggest a compromise, something that will work for both of us.”

  She tilted her head to look up at him. “What could that possibly be?”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead before drawing away and looking into her eyes.

  “Twice a year, we pick a time that you want, and we go to Europe and stay there four to six weeks. We’ll get to experience what the life would be like, but still have a home to come back to.”

  Hope started to spark inside her. Could this work? Would it fulfill both their needs and desires?

  But what about teaching English as a second language to college students?

  “There’s online teaching,” he said in answer to her thoughts. “Maybe you can do most of your teaching online, but go to the country for face-to-face classes at the end of every semester.”

  Her skin tingled at the back of her neck and spread through her body.

  “I don’t want to lose you, Bailey,” he said. “I can’t. But we need to compromise to make it work for both of us.”

  She swallowed. “What you suggest is fair and would allow us to be who we need to be.”

  “I love you, Bailey.” He smiled. “I never thought I’d meet someone like you, and I need you in my life.”

  Heat blossomed within her so that it expanded to every part of her body.

  I love you. His words echoed in her mind.

  She found herself returning his smile. “I love you, Seth. More than I could ever have imagined.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her, the depth of his feelings coming through the kiss. She returned it and let him know she felt the same way.

  Her stomach fluttered as he drew back and looked into her eyes.

  “You might think this is silly.” He glanced away long enough to dig into his pocket. “And you might think this crazy.” He pulled out something small that he held in his closed hand.

  She tilted her head. “What’s crazy?”

  He opened his palm. At the center of it rested a simple white-gold band with a design of plumerias all along the band.

  She couldn’t move for a long, stunned moment. What was he saying?

  “With all my heart and all my love, will you marry me, Bailey?”

  Her skin prickled as she looked from the band to meet his gaze. “I—” She couldn’t find the words.

  “The word is ‘yes,’” he said with a smile. “I’ll say it with you…yes.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, I will marry you.” She gave him a wicked grin. “But you’ll have to face my four older brothers and see if you can survive. I think you will.”

  He grinned. “I’d face a firing squad for you.”

  She held up her hand. “Well?”

  He took her hand in his and slid the band onto it.

  It was slightly loose, but she smiled. “Perfect.” She studied the intricate design of plumeria along the band. “It’s so beautiful.”

  “I wanted to get you a diamond, but I couldn’t find one I liked at the jewelry store in Kanoa, or anywhere else for that matter.” He touched the band. “But this—it just seemed right.” He looked up at her. “When we get home, I’ll get you a real ring.”

  She drew her hand back. “You will not take this from me. It comes from your heart, and that’s the most important thing of all.”

  “You are the most amazing woman I know.” He brought her into his arms. “If there wasn’t so much sand, I’d make love to you right this minute.”

  “I would more than love that, but sand in awkward places…”

  He helped her to her feet and flashed her a grin. “Let’s get back to the resort and I’ll make love to you good and proper.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her, long and so, so, so sweet.

  When he broke the kiss, she could do nothing but smile at him. She’d be smiling for the rest of her life with this man at her side.

  “I love you, Montana,” she said with a smile.

  He grinned. “And one day you’ll be Mrs. Montana.”

  She laughed. “I certainly will.”

  Seth settled his hat on his head and grabbed Bailey’s shoes and his own in one hand.

  He took her hand in his other, and they walked beneath the stars, straight to a future Bailey never thought she could ever hav
e.

  17

  “Please wait to tell your family about our news until I can be there.” Seth smiled as he looked down at her. “I want to ask your father for your hand in marriage.”

  “My hand in—what?” Bailey snorted with laughter and slapped her hand over her mouth to hold it in.

  More giggles rose up inside her and she dropped onto the bed and started rolling with laughter. She giggled so hard she got hiccups and her belly hurt.

  When she could finally control her laughter and breathe again, she sat up and looked at Seth.

  Hiccup.

  He gave her a sheepish grin. “I take it that’s a no.”

  She smiled and hiccuped again. “My dad might think that’s cool—but my brothers, who knows.” She grinned. “Me on the other hand,” hiccup, “don’t make me laugh so hard.”

  “Let me get you some water,” he said. “It should help get rid of the hiccups.”

  Bailey crossed her ankles and braced her hands to either side of her on the bed.

  He went to the small bar in the room and grabbed a full bottle of water. He cracked it open before handing it to her. “Drink as much of this as you can all at once. It should help.”

  Bailey took the bottle and chugged almost the entire thing. She lowered the bottle and waited a few moments.

  She smiled. “No more hiccups.”

  “Good.” He took the bottle from her and set it aside on the nightstand before he plopped onto the mattress beside her. “Can I ask you one more time to wait for me to tell them our news?”

  She liked the way he said, “Our news.” Something about we, our, us, all sounded pretty wonderful. She was so used to me, my, mine that it might take some getting used to.

  Bailey thought about it a moment. “You’re right.” She grinned again as she added, “But promise me you will not ask my dad for my hand in marriage.”

  He laughed. “Agreed.”

  “We’ll sit them down and tell them all at once a week from tomorrow.” She pictured their stunned expressions. It wasn’t hard.

  “We have Sunday dinners at Mom and Dad’s home fairly often,” she continued. “I’ll talk with Mom about setting it up.”

  Excitement made her feel bubbly. “I don’t think they’re going to be so crazy about it, but they’ll get used to the idea—eventually,” she said. “Once they meet you, they’re going to really like you.”

  “Well,” he gave her a serious look. “I’ll be getting things in order in case your brothers decide to string me up from the closest oak tree when I meet them and we break the news.”

  Bailey lightly punched him in the arm. “I’ll take care of you, Montana.”

  Seth laughed. “I have no doubt you will.”

  Bailey peeked out wood blinds of the window in the foyer of the home she’d grown up in.

  Seth would be here soon and she couldn’t wait for him to get here. A week had been far too long.

  A gold SUV appeared on the road leading up to her parent’s ranch, a plume of dust in its wake. It had to be Seth. He had flown into Sky Harbor in Phoenix and had rented a vehicle for the two-hour drive to Prescott.

  Her heart leapt into action, pounding hard at knowing she’d be in his arms soon.

  Bailey’s family—her mom, Molly, and her dad, Gus, along with her brothers Jack and James, and Jayson with his wife Celine, and Justice with his wife, Fiona—were all in the large living room off the hall.

  Jack’s son and daughter, and Justice and Fiona’s two daughters, were at home.

  Last Sunday after she’d returned, Bailey’s family had caught her up to date on what had been going on while she was in Hawaii.

  She’d told them about some of the fun things she’d done while on Momi. She skipped over the parts with Seth, because she had wanted to save that for later, when he was here.

  They knew Bailey had a guest coming for dinner tonight, she just hadn’t told them who he was, other than a man she wanted them all to meet.

  When the SUV pulled up, Bailey opened the door and ran down the steps. Seth was out of the vehicle by the time she reached him. She flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his T-shirt.

  It felt so wonderful to be in his arms again.

  He smiled down at her before he kissed her so long it made her mind spin. When he drew back and gave her his sexy smile, she just about dissolved into a puddle of happiness.

  She took his hand and led him to the front door. “It’s now or never,” she teased him.

  “Does your dad have a shotgun?”

  Bailey laughed. “Yes, but it’s in the gun safe, so I think you’ll be okay.”

  She led him into the family room and introduced him to her brothers and parents, along with her sisters-in-law.

  Everyone was friendly and warm, bringing Seth into their circle as if they’d known him a good long time.

  Bailey could tell her brothers were sizing up the man who filled her heart. She didn’t mind. She loved her big brothers, and they only wanted what was best for her.

  Dinner was fun. Seth was a great conversationalist and told them about his family ranch in Montana and his four sisters.

  Bailey’s family hadn’t known she’d met Seth in Hawaii until they started talking about the vacation. Bailey shared about their trips to the grotto, the private beach with the wonderful sea life, and the fact that Seth was a surfing cowboy to boot.

  “Seth showed me a lot before Charlee and Dara could make it,” Bailey added.

  Bailey had a feeling her family didn’t know entirely how to react to all this news.

  She went on to tell them how Seth had accompanied her backstage to meet Kade Fields.

  “Funny thing was,” Bailey said, “Kade recognized Seth as the WRCA All-Around Champion from this past year.”

  Surprise was on everyone’s faces.

  “That’s wonderful.” Molly smiled at Seth. “That says a lot about your career in rodeo.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Seth had been respectful all night with the women in the house. “I’ve been blessed.”

  “I think I’ve seen you ride.” Jayson looked thoughtful. “Weren’t you in Las Vegas last December?”

  “Yes, I was,” Seth said.

  Celine, Jayson’s wife, nodded. “Yes, I remember you, Seth. You looked familiar, but I couldn’t place you until now.”

  “I was impressed by your bareback riding,” Jayson said. “Took the whole damned show.”

  Seth gave a humble nod. “Thank you.”

  “Is rodeo your full-time career?” Gus asked. Bailey wondered if her father disapproved. “Or do you have any other plans?” Yep, he was not entirely happy.

  “Seth is a doctor of physical therapy.” Bailey squeezed Seth’s hand beneath the table. “He plans to open a practice once he retires from the sport.”

  More surprised and impressed expressions. This time her dad looked like he approved a little more, but her brothers still appeared to reserve judgment.

  “Where will that be?” Molly was likely fishing to see if Seth planned to whisk her daughter to Montana.

  “That all depends on what the future holds,” Seth said.

  “Seth has a special needs ranch in Montana.” Bailey’s family looked even more interested. “His sisters and mom run it for him.”

  Justice and James asked Seth questions about how he had started the ranch.

  Her family thoroughly grilled Seth, but he seemed to go with the flow. By the time Molly was ready to serve dessert, Bailey knew her parents approved of him. Her brothers—they would always be protective of their little sister. Just came with the territory.

  Celine and Fiona brought out a McBride old family recipe red velvet cake along with vanilla ice cream. Molly set out a stack of dessert bowls.

  Bailey’s stomach flipped. She and Seth would give her family the news as soon as dessert was served.

  This was going to be a lot harder than she thought.

  Dishes of cake and ice cream were passed ar
ound.

  While everyone was eating and talking, Bailey slid her hands beneath the table and slipped on the white gold band Seth had given her.

  She was surprised her hands were shaking.

  Seth took her hand and looked at her. “Ready?” he whispered.

  His touch steadied her. “Now or never, right?”

  He gave a low nod and a sexy smile.

  Damn. He melted her every time. She wondered if that would happen every time she looked at him for the rest of her life.

  Actually, that sounded pretty awesome.

  “I have something I want to tell you.” Bailey raised her voice and captured everyone’s attention. She looked at Seth. “We have something we want to tell you.”

  Seth spoke before Bailey could say another word.

  “I asked Bailey to marry me,” he spoke in his low country drawl. “She said that magical word—yes.”

  Stunned silence, then excited congratulations from Celine and Fiona—Bailey loved her sisters-in-law more than ever for that.

  “Never letting you out of our sight again, Bailey,” Jack said in a grumble.

  That broke the ice. Laughter and smiles. Well, her brothers didn’t smile, but at least they didn’t threaten to string him up.

  “Bailey wouldn’t let me ask you for her hand in marriage, Gus,” Seth said with solemnness. “As a matter of fact, she laughed so hard she was rolling on the floor.”

  Just about everyone burst into laughter. Molly, Celine, and Fiona had tears in their eyes from giggling. Her father chuckled good-naturedly, and her brothers clearly had difficulty holding back broad grins.

  Seth took Bailey’s hand from beneath the table and raised it so everyone could see her ring finger. Her simple white-gold band shone beneath the dining room lights.

  “I have a little something to add to the band I gave Bailey when I proposed.” He opened his other palm. In it was a band that matched the one she wore, only a single solitary diamond was mounted in the center. A hell of a big diamond.

  Bailey’s eyes widened and Seth slid the ring on her finger.

  She totally forgot about her family as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  Applause from Fiona and Celine brought her back to the present. Her brothers grunted their congratulations and her mom was beaming.