“Thank you.”
Cam started to drift off. It was tough forcing himself to leave the warmth of her bed, the comfort of her body and the serenity she brought him. It was tougher yet when she kissed him goodnight and it felt as if she was kissing him goodbye.
Maybe it had been a goodbye fuck, because Domini had warned him she’d run with Anton if things didn’t go in her favor.
Fuck that.
No way would she leave here. No way would she leave him. He’d do whatever it took to make sure she stayed.
Whatever. It. Took.
Chapter Sixteen
“Domini, Deputy McKay. Good to have you both here, have a seat.” Ginger Paulson indicated two tweed wingback chairs in front of her desk. She scooted her leather chair in and donned a pair of glasses.
“Without violating confidentiality agreements, I will tell you I filed Nadia’s divorce. When it appeared Rex might contest it, which is a rarity in this day and age, I had Nadia on record discussing the domestic violence issues that’d plagued their marriage. I requested a copy of the police records. At the last minute, Rex agreed to the terms of irreconcilable differences. He also agreed to sign over sole custody of Anton DeMarco, to Nadia, with the stipulation he was no longer responsible for child support, which Nadia agreed to.”
Ginger peered over the rim of her glasses. “Domini, it is your intention to file for permanent legal guardianship of Anton?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s going to be tricky.”
“Why?”
“As much as I hate to admit it, the state does have sound reasons for the recommendation of Anton’s immediate transfer from your temporary care into a foster home.”
Domini compressed Cam’s hand painfully.
“What are the reasons?” he demanded.
Ginger looked right at Domini. “You aren’t a blood relative nor are you licensed for foster care. You are a single woman. You don’t own property. You don’t have family in the area. You have a history of transient behavior. Any one of those is a strike against you. But all of them?” She shook her head.
“But there were circumstances with the church group who sponsored me to the U.S. that I had no control over. They moved around a lot and since I was here with them on a work visa…I didn’t have a choice but to follow them wherever they went.”
“The biggest concern the state has right now, even if you were licensed for foster care, is you are considered a flight risk. A high flight risk.”
Cam said, “Bullshit,” but he noticed Domini didn’t immediately deny it.
Hope drained out of Domini’s face. “I’m going to lose him, aren’t I? The state workers will show up and drag him to a stranger’s house where they don’t know he hates carrots and he loves to draw and he has to have his Cars blanket at night or he can’t sleep and he’s scared of the dark…” Her tears fell.
Cam felt as if he’d been gutted. Dammit, it was his fucking job to uphold the law and he hated these situations existed where the law was utter bullshit. Domini was the best person to have custody of Anton. She loved him, and she’d be a great mother to him. So what if she didn’t have the official foster care certification? So what if she didn’t own a house? So what if she was single?
A light bulb pinged and the “Hallelujah Chorus” rang out in his head.
Bingo. Why hadn’t he thought of it before?
Because you were dealing with your own family issues.
“But if Domini was married to a local law enforcement officer, who has taken the required Social Services classes regarding foster care, who owns property, who has family ties to the area for several generations, what would her flight risk be considered then?”
“Practically zero,” Ginger answered.
“Fine. Domini and I will get married. Today.”
“What? Cam. No. What are you doing?” Domini was flustered and pale and about to start hyperventilating.
Cam aimed a cool look at her and faced Ginger. “Could you give us a minute alone please?”
Ginger didn’t bat an eye at his request. “Certainly.”
As soon as Ginger was gone, Domini blurted, “Cam, what are you doing?”
Cam said, “Do you want Anton? Yes or no?”
“Yes! But I don’t want him temporarily. I want him permanently.”
“I know. You can have him if you marry me.”
She gaped at him. “Us? Married? But…I thought we’d break things off now that everything in my life has changed.”
Don’t bite her head off for thinking so lowly of you. “Domini. I’m not the kind of man who bails when things get tough. You should know that.”
“But married? Us? Really?”
“Do you have a better solution?”
“Umm. No.”
Was that hope or panic glazing her eyes?
“You’d do that for me, Cam?”
I’d do anything for you. “Look, I know you’ve sworn to never get married. Neither of us envisioned this kind of scenario. So this solution makes perfect sense for a situation that was thrust on you. If you marry me, you get to keep Anton.”
“Would this be temporary?”
Fuck no. It’s for good, it’s for real, it’s forever and ever amen. “Is the thought of marrying me, even for a little while, so awful?” he asked softly.
Domini shook her head.
“Then marry me.”
She stared at him, a million questions in her eyes. “Will anyone know the real reason we’re getting married?”
“No. We’ll keep it strictly between us.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Because I love you. Because you’ll think I’m being selfless. Because by giving you the one thing you want so badly, Anton, I get the only thing I want: you.
“Cam?”
He cleared the emotion from his throat and told a bald-faced lie. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”
Domini didn’t smile. She didn’t fling herself into his arms. She didn’t happily shriek the word…yes.
Sweat broke out under his collar. Cam figured the lie was about to bite him in the ass. If he confessed the truth, shouting his love for her to the rafters, would that sway her to say yes? Or scare her into saying no?
“So what’s your answer, princess?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Cam could’ve floated out of the room.
When Ginger returned, Cam announced, “We’re getting married as soon as possible.”
“Congratulations!” Ginger beamed at both of them. “However, the courthouse is closed today.”
“Tomorrow then,” Cam insisted.
Domini’s face went pasty white.
“After I receive confirmation of the marriage, I’ll file a rebuttal with the Department of Social Services, requesting Anton DeMarco immediately be placed in the foster care of Cameron and Domini McKay.” Ginger grinned again. “I do so love a happy ending.”
Cam wondered if Ginger’s happiness stemmed from figuring out a way to buck the legal system. Lawyers got off on shit like that all the time.
“Stick around Wyoming the next couple of weeks until we’re through the preliminary foster care assignment process. Then you can jet off for a romantic honeymoon.”
“Understood. Thanks.”
Cam helped Domini to her feet. She seemed to be having a hard time functioning.
Not Cam. Cam felt like doing a jig.
Domini wobbled to Cam’s truck on jelly-like legs.
Domini and I will get married. Today.
She’d almost passed out hearing Cam’s matter-of-fact tone. Like it was no big deal. Like it was already a done deal.
By this time tomorrow Cam McKay would be her husband.
Unreal.
She sagged against the front bumper of his truck, twisting the necklace chain around her finger. As soon as they’d walked out the door, Cam’s cell phone rang with police business and he instructed her to wait for him. So, they’d ha
d no chance to discuss this bizarre development.
What was she supposed to say to him anyway? Ask him why he was suddenly willing to take on the responsibility of a wife and a child? A child he didn’t know?
It made zero sense. Why was he volunteering to turn his life upside down? Cam loved his privacy. He loved living by himself to the point his own family was rarely welcomed into his sanctuary. Why would Cam offer to open his home and his life not only her, but to a rambunctious boy with emotional scars?
Sex. Pure and simple.
It might’ve been different if Cam had confessed his undying love for her. But he hadn’t. He’d merely resigned himself to doing the right thing.
When Domini asked him if the marriage was temporary, he’d hedged. So maybe Cam wasn’t treating this as a lifetime vow. Maybe the spectacular sex was enough incentive to keep up the appearance of a real marriage for a while. But once she started the adoption process, his “do the right thing” mission would be successful and he’d be free to move on.
If that was the case, then there was no reason to tell Cam anything about her medical issues because it wouldn’t matter. She’d be his wife for as long as it took her to adopt Anton.
Now that made perfect sense. She’d consider this a business arrangement. She’d keep her finances separate. Keep her job. Keep everything simple.
Domini just had to keep herself from falling in love with him.
A Cam-sized shadow fell over her. “Sorry about that. I traded with Sayzers to get the next two days off.” He touched her face and offered a dazzling smile. “The ceremony is one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”
Ask him why he’s doing this. Force him to give you a real reason.
But Domini couldn’t get her tongue unstuck from the roof of her mouth.
“Talk to me, princess. The look on your face is scaring the holy hell outta me.”
“I-I can’t…” White specks wavered in front of her eyes. She couldn’t suck enough air into her lungs. Blood whooshed in her ears. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.
Oh God. Please, not now.
“Domini? Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I can’t breathe.” She flapped her hand in front of her face as if that would help.
“Shit.” Cam hauled her to her feet. He put his palms over her ears and tipped her head to look directly into her eyes. “Breathe with me. Nice and slow, okay?”
Below her line of vision, she could see his chest expand as he inhaled. She followed his lead. In. Out. In. Out.
“Good. Three more. Come on, you’re doin’ great.”
Finally, she felt calmer, but she was still embarrassed. She focused on the placket of his uniform shirt and tried to blink the tears back. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Cam kept stroking the side of her face. “Should I be worried you had a panic attack at the thought of marrying me?”
Domini’s gaze flew to his. “No! It’s not you! It’s me. This happens when I’m stressed and I can’t remember ever being more stressed in my life. I want Anton, but what do I know about raising him? Babysitting isn’t the same as living with him every day for the next eleven years. What if I’m not the best choice? And then you offer to marry me, which you’ve got to admit—”
“Hey now. Relax.” His hands tightened on her scalp. “No reason to get worked up again. Breathe.”
She concentrated on breathing slowly.
“Does this happen often, princess?”
“Not as much as it used to.” Her eyes searched his. “I’m not exactly a prize, Cam. I have issues and baggage and…damage that I don’t know if I’ll ever get over.”
“I have plenty of my own issues, most of which you’ve already seen and dealt with, so I think that makes us pretty evenly matched.” He wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “So are you feeling calmer now?”
“No! I am getting married tomorrow! I don’t have a wedding dress. My best friend is dead and I don’t have anyone else to talk to. I don’t have a clue if I’m supposed to pack everything tonight. Are we moving in with you right away? Do you want me to tell Anton we’re getting married, or should we do it together? And who all is coming to the wedding? What about the other legal stuff? We hardly discussed that with Ginger—”
Cam placed his finger over her mouth, stopping her tirade. “You can really work up a head of steam, can’t you?” He traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “One thing at a time. You and Anton will be living with me as soon as we exchange I do’s. You can tell him the happy news because I’ll be wrapping up a few things at my place tonight to get ready for you to move in.
“As far as the ceremony? You and me are the only ones who matter. We’ll need witnesses and I’d like Colt to stand up for me. I can talk to Keely and see if she’ll help you figure out some of the girly stuff since she’s been through a dozen weddings.”
“But—”
“Ah-ah. I ain’t done. Now, what haven’t we addressed as far as legal issues?”
“I think we should have a prenuptial agreement.”
Cam’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want your money if this doesn’t work out. I will want sole custody of Anton and I won’t expect you to pay child support for him. And Skylar mentioned legal issues Jessie’s dealing with, as far as Luke’s stake in the McKay Ranch—”
“Forget it. None of that shit matters. We’ll figure it out as we go along.” Cam leaned in so they were nose to nose. “You are changing your name.”
Not a question.
“You think I want to keep Katzinski?”
Cam granted her the slow, sexy smile that turned her knees weak. “Now that we’ve got that settled…” He kissed her. Lord did he ever kiss her.
After he released her mouth, he nuzzled her cheek, her hair, her neck. “Domini, I…”
“What?” she whispered, feeling the urgency in his tone.
“I-I’ve gotta go.” His breath drifted across her ear. “I’ll call you later and I’ll see you at the courthouse tomorrow.”
Cam smooched her forehead and climbed in his truck.
Evidently what he’d meant to say hadn’t been so urgent after all.
Cam had chickened out telling Domini he loved her and none of the legal stuff mattered because their marriage would be real in every sense of the word.
It’d been hard seeing her caught off balance, seeing her struggle. She wasn’t sure of anything.
But Cam had never been more sure of anything in his life.
His first call was to his sister. “Hey Keely, I need your help.”
“Big surprise.”
“Seriously. This is important. Can you keep a secret?”
A beat passed. “I’ll keep your secret if you forget what you saw at Colt and Indy’s wedding reception and we never ever ever bring it up again.”
He frowned. “You haven’t talked to him about it?”
“No! I hate him! Hate him, understand? And if I ever see that smug, self-serving, self-righteous prick again, I’ll cut off his limp—”
“Okay, okay, I get it. So, if you help me, I will erase my memory of the incident in question.”
“Deal. What’s up?”
“Domini and I are getting married tomorrow.” Cam grinned like a loon. He couldn’t help it. By this time tomorrow that Ukrainian princess would be his. His wife. In his bed every night. Forever.
Keely squealed. “Get out! That is so awesome.” She went quiet. “Dammit, Cam, you’re not telling anyone else in the family, are you?”
“Nope. Well, I’m gonna ask Colt to stand up for me at the courthouse. Which means Indy will know.”
“Why the big secret?”
“The McKay family can be overwhelming. With Luke’s death, and what Domini is going through after Nadia’s death, and dealing with Anton…we decided to keep it simple.”
“Who’s standing up for Domini?”
“Umm. I don’t know. I don’t think she knows
.”
“Oh, pick me, pick me! I couldn’t stand it if I didn’t get to be in your wedding, Cam. Please?”
“That’s Domini’s choice. If you get over to her place right away and help her, she’ll probably pick you. She was kinda freaked out, to be honest. She doesn’t have a dress or flowers, and the rest of that girly crap I don’t know nothin’ about.”
“Say no more. I will take care of it pronto.” She sniffled. “And can I just say I’m really really really happy for you?”
“Yeah, you can.” His wild child baby sis was such a softie. “Do you still have Grandma Dinah’s wedding ring?”
“Yeppers. Why?”
“I know Grandma left it to you and all, and obviously I’d pay you for it—”
“Cameron West McKay, you’ll do no such thing as pay me! I don’t know why the hell she ever left it to me anyway, unless she thought it was the only wedding ring I’d ever get.”
Cam laughed.
“I’d hoped one of my brothers would want it.”
“As I am the last male to get married, it ain’t like you’ve got a choice on which brother,” he said dryly.
Even though Keely was mute on the other end of the phone, he heard the gears churning.
Why the sudden marriage? Why was he denying his family a chance to share in his happiness? Especially when he’d had so little of it in the last few years?
Cam heard her intake of breath and he braced himself.
But Keely’s train of thought had nothing to do with his impending nuptials. “So if Domini is moving in with you right away I totally call dibs on her apartment.”
Chapter Seventeen
“…by the State of Wyoming, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
“Can I kiss my bride?”
“By all means, Deputy.”
Cam flashed Domini a devastating, possessive grin. Then his hands were cupping her face and he kissed her with such melting sweetness, with such pride and intent, Domini knew she’d start bawling if he kept it up.
She murmured, “Save some of those kisses for tonight when we’re alone.”
“Got plenty more where those came from. Now that you’re mine, I can kiss you pretty much any time I please, wife.”
Shoulda Been A Cowboy: Rough Riders, Book 7 Page 20
