The Cowboy SEAL's Jingle Bell Baby

by Laura Marie Altom

  “Just a formality. Since you’re leaving, I wanted there to never be a question regarding the fact that you’re Johnny’s father, but I thought there should at least be a few guidelines in place.”

  “Huh?” Brows furrowed, he asked, “Are these custody papers?”

  “Yes. Just sign in a few places, and you’ll be free to do whatever you want without worrying about Johnny.”

  “Come again?” He still looked confused.

  “Give them a read when you can. The document basically states that I have full legal custody of our son but that you have my blessing to visit him as often as your schedule allows. Oh—and that—”

  “Are you shitting me?” For a second, she thought he might explode, but then he regained his composure. “The fact that you would sink to this level of distrust when our boy is barely over a week old is...” He shook his head, clamped his lips tight. “I can’t even begin to put words to what you’ve done. Get dressed. Let’s get my mother’s party behind us—then you and I are going to launch the next world war, because, babe, there’s no way in hell I’m signing over custody of my son. I’ll be waiting in the truck.”

  What had she done?

  While Rowdy exited the house, filling the entry hall with cold night air, Tiffany wished she’d handled this whole thing differently. Why hadn’t she come right out and told him she wanted nothing more than to marry him and try giving their little family a chance at a happy ending?

  The answer to that question was heartbreakingly simple. She couldn’t tell him what she wanted, because she was afraid.

  It was bad enough that he was leaving her, but if she handed him the extra rounds of emotional ammunition stemming from her admission? Well, that would be too painful to bear.

  For Patsy’s sake, she had to paste on a smile and somehow get through this awful night.

  Later she and Rowdy could make their final goodbye.

  Tiffany opened the oversize gift box, hands trembling from the fight.

  The spellbinding beauty of what she found nestled amid silver tissue paper only made her feel worse. A white cashmere sweater with a Peter Pan collar dotted with shimmering crystals and pearls. The garment’s opulence took her breath away. Tucked beneath it was a full floor-length white satin skirt with layers of tulle beneath. This was an outfit suitable for a Christmas bride...

  No...

  Gigi and Patsy and Pearl wouldn’t dare?

  But when Tiffany added up all of the instances of her grandmother and mother being oddly away from the house and how Rowdy’s mom had been running him ragged with either errands or what could have been diversionary goose chases, it all made perfect sense.

  What had Gigi and Patsy been thinking?

  Obviously, Tiffany and Rowdy were in no shape to get married—they might never be. If her mother thought she could force the issue by literally forcing a wedding, she had another thing coming.

  The next time Tiffany married would be the last time.

  Her broken marriage had been beyond painful and she would never put herself—and now her son—through that again.

  Even if Rowdy bowed to pressure and agreed to the ceremony, what then? What good could come of being tied to a man who clearly despised her?

  Leaving the outfit in its box, Tiffany marched to the front door, tossed it open, then charged across the front porch and down the steps, where she promptly slipped on an icy patch and fell on her behind.

  The pain was considerable, but she knew she’d live.

  The shame of walking in on a surprise wedding with a groom who didn’t want to be there—now, that would hurt!

  “Tiff, what the hell?” Rowdy hopped from his truck to help. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Not that you’d care!”

  “What are you talking about? You’re the one passing out custody papers like Christmas candy!”

  “What else could I do? It’s obvious you don’t want to be with me.”

  “Are you mental? How many times have I told you we should be together?”

  “We should be? I’ve already had one broken marriage, Rowdy. Now that I have a son to watch after, why in the world would I turn around and hitch my wagon to a man who doesn’t even want me? Let alone love me?”

  “Woman, now I know you’ve lost a few brain cells from lack of sleep. Those are your insecurities talking, because when I tell a woman I love her and want to marry her, I mean it.”

  “But you never said any of that!” she shrieked.

  Inside the house, Mr. Bojangles barked.

  A light snow began to fall.

  “Great.” She threw her hands up. “Now my makeup and hair will be ruined. I’m sick of snow!” she shouted to the heavens.

  Rowdy knelt, taking her hands to help her to her feet.

  He took the liberty of brushing snow from her behind, and she’d be lying if she said his lightest touch wasn’t a thrill.

  “Let me be real clear.” He cupped her cheeks with his hands. “I adore you. I love you. I need you. When I leave for Virginia, more than anything, I want you and Johnny with me. I selfishly want you two seeing me off on every mission, and I want you waiting for me at the base for a kiss the second I get home. You’re stubborn and sassy and will probably be the death of me, but until then, I’m never letting you go. How’s that for plain talk? Unless you love plaid. If you do, then I’m gone.” His hopeful wink told her he remembered their silly conversation on the topic while house hunting.

  Was it possible he’d wanted her to be his future wife even back then?

  Since the lump in her throat was too big to speak, she nodded and then kissed him so very hard. “Not only do I vow to never buy a plaid sofa, but I love you, too,” she admitted when coming up for air. “I was so afraid—of everything. Of becoming a mom and wife and of needing you but you not needing me. Johnny needs his father and I need my man. God help me, but that man is you, Rowdy Jones.”

  “Damn straight. And don’t ever forget it.” He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her right off the ground. He pressed his lips to her so softly, so sweetly, if she hadn’t been so darned cold, she might have thought she was dreaming. “Want me to make a fire and we’ll skip Mom’s party?”

  “The party—how could I forget what I raced out here to tell you? It’s a setup.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She explained her theory, topping it off by describing Patsy’s over-the-top gift that wasn’t exactly suitable for a family night of a casual dinner and carols.

  “You know—” Rowdy scratched his head, then led her inside out of the cold “—that makes a lot of sense. I even tried calling my friend Logan yesterday, but he blew me off. Sounded like he was at an airport. Could he have been headed here?”

  “Only one way to find out.” She winked. “But first, wanna have a little fun with our matchmaking mothers and grandmother?”

  “You know it. But only if I get to help you dress.” His slow and sexy wink was back, along with his stupid-handsome grin. He had enough dark stubble to make him look just like the bad-boy cowboy she’d instantly fallen for all those months ago.

  On her tiptoes for one more kiss, she whispered, “I think that could be arranged.”

  Epilogue

  Rowdy held Johnny while Tiffany ducked into the bathroom located just off the baggage-claim area at Norfolk International Airport. She was expecting again—this time, a girl. At eight months and three weeks, she was big as a house and prettier than ever. Also sassier than ever, but since their Christmas Eve wedding, he’d had plenty of time to figure out not only her many moods but what flavor of ice cream best soothed them.

  “Any sign of our families?” Tiffany asked on her way back to him with an impatient glance toward the passenger entrance.

  “Not yet. Relax. Pear
l will be fine.”

  “I know. But this is her first time in a plane. I want everything to be perfect.”

  “Since your dad got his early release for good behavior and sprang for them all to fly first class, I’m sure she’s fine.”

  Big Daddy’s release had come just in time for Valentine’s Day. Gigi had been over the moon. An old college buddy back in Dallas had gotten him on board with a new high-paying position, and he and Gigi were back to living their old luxe life. Pearl’s second mortgage had been paid in full, and all of that good news was enough to have had the two most important women in her life forgive them for faking a big fight, then calling off the surprise wedding.

  After they’d assured their shocked guests and family that the quarrel was a joke, everyone had shared a good laugh and gotten on with the romantic event. Patsy had even arranged for a few of Rowdy’s friends and their wives to be there—including Macy, Jessie and Hattie, who had become Tiffany’s rocks whenever Rowdy was deployed.

  Hattie owned a favorite SEAL hangout and had introduced Tiffany to loads more wives, who formed the best support system she could have wanted—although, she was still awfully excited to see her grandmother and mom.

  “There they are.” Rowdy pointed to the women accompanied by Tiffany’s barrel-chested dad.

  Tiffany’s eyes welled and as best as she could, she waddled that way for a round of hugs.

  Then came the baby cooing...

  “Look at Johnny!”

  “He’s so big!”

  “How cute!”

  Then complaining...

  “I didn’t think we’d ever get here,” Gigi said.

  “Tell me about it.” Patsy blew her nose from a tissue she’d taken from her purse. “Pearl and I have been on a plane since Bismarck. You two only had to fly from Dallas.”

  “True.” Gigi smiled. “Maybe next time you’ll listen when I invite you to stay with us for a few days before your Norfolk flight?”

  On the walk out to the car, Tiffany’s dad held her back. “Before we’re all settled in for baby watch, I wanted to tell you how proud I am of the woman you’ve become. You’re an amazing mother and wife and real estate agent—the total package. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Dad.” She stopped for a hug. “When you went away and then Crawford left me, there was a time when I never thought I’d love again. But then Rowdy came along, and...” she grinned “...now I’ve never been happier.”

  * * *

  TWO MONTHS LATER, on a Saturday afternoon, Tiffany was breast-feeding Mariah in the ugly yet criminally comfy plaid recliner Rowdy had talked her into buying, when her cell rang. As was usually the case when she was busy with one of the kids, her phone was across the room.

  “Rowdy!” she called.

  “Got it!” He’d been changing Johnny’s diaper but scooped up her cell on his way back into the living room and handed it to her.

  “Hello?” she answered without looking at the caller.

  “Tiffany?”

  The woman sounded all too familiar.

  “Susie?” Tiffany straightened with surprise. “H-how are you?”

  “Actually, I’m the proud new mother of Cambodian twins. They’re only eleven months old, but I can already tell they’ll be geniuses.”

  “Of course they will.” Residual pregnancy hormones brought on tears. “I’m so happy for you and Jeb.” And she really, truly was. She’d felt awful about the way she’d ended her arrangement with the couple, but it couldn’t have been helped. From the moment she’d laid eyes on him, she’d loved her son. Oh, who was she kidding? From the first beat of his heart, she’d been a goner.

  Rowdy waved to get her attention. He whispered, “Everything okay?”

  Perfect. Seriously, dazzlingly perfect.

  While Susie chattered about her precious miracles, Tiffany blew Rowdy a kiss. After all of her years spent living in Dallas, she’d always assumed she’d end up with a Texas cowboy. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought she’d get hitched to a navy SEAL cowboy from North Dakota.

  But she wasn’t complaining...

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE RANCHER AND THE BABY by Marie Ferrarella.

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  The Rancher and the Baby

  by Marie Ferrarella

  Prologue

  “Mind if I cut in?”

  Instantly pulled out of her mental wanderings—a defense mechanism she employed when whoever she was with was boring her out of her mind—Cassidy McCullough looked up, focusing on the man who had just tapped her dance partner’s shoulder.

  Not that she really needed to.

  Despite the fact that he had been absent from Forever for the better part of four years, she would have recognized that voice anywhere.

  It popped up in her nightmares.

  Will Laredo.

  Will had been her brothers’ friend for as far back as she could remember—until his estrangement with his father had taken him to parts unknown, simultaneously bringing peace to her own corner of the world.

  As she looked back, it felt as if her peace had been far too short-lived. Especially since, for reasons that were beyond her understanding, all three of her brothers liked this six-foot-one-inch, dirty-blond-haired irritant on two legs—which was why Cody had not only invited him to his wedding, he’d made Will one of his groomsmen.

  To her surprise, Ron Jenkins, her fawning partner on the dance floor, seemed all too ready to acquiesce to Laredo’s casual query. Under normal circumstances, she would have celebrated getting a different partner—but not this time.

  Ron might be willing, Cassidy thought, but she damn well wasn’t.

  “He might not mind,” Cassidy retorted defiantly, “but I do.”

  Rather than taking his cue and backing away, Will remained exactly where he was. Not only that, but his mouth curved in that annoying, smug way of his that she had always hated.

  “Your brothers seemed to think I should dance with you.”

  “Maybe you should dance with one of them since they all seem to be so keen on the subject of dancing,” Cassidy informed him.

  Looking increasingly more uncomfortable, Ron seemed ready to fade into the shadows. “No, really, it’s all right,” he assured both her and Will nervou
sly. A slight man, he appeared more than ready to surrender his claim to her.

  Cassidy’s eyes narrowed as she froze her partner in place. “You stop dancing with me, Ron Jenkins,” she warned the man, “and it’ll be the last thing you’ll ever remember doing.”

  Rather than slow down, Cassidy sped up her tempo.

  Instead of being annoyed or embarrassed at this obvious rejection, Will laughed. “You’d better do as she says, Ron. Most men around here would sooner cross an angry rattlesnake than Cassidy. I hear that her bite is a lot more deadly.”

  Struggling to hold on to her temper, Cassidy tossed her head. Several blond strands came loose and cascaded to her shoulders. She ignored them.

  “If I were you, Laredo, I’d keep that in mind the next time you think about cutting in,” she informed him, her eyes blazing.

  Will inclined his head, the same amused smile slowly curving his lips. “There’s not going to be a next time,” he assured her.

  Cassidy turned her face up to her partner’s and said in a voice intentionally loud enough for Will to overhear, “Dance me by the champagne table, Ron. Now I’ve got something else to celebrate besides my brother Cody’s wedding.”

  “I would,” Ron told her dryly, “if you’d let me lead for a change.”

  Cassidy could have sworn she heard Will laughing in the background.

  She wasn’t going to cause a scene, she promised herself. Not here. This was the first wedding in the family, and it was Cody’s day. But the moment it was over, she was going to find out which of her three brothers had put Will Laredo up to this, and they were going to pay dearly for it. They knew how she felt about him.

  She’d been incensed when she found out that Cody had gotten in contact with Will and asked if he would come and be in his wedding party. When he’d told her about it, she’d almost withdrawn herself, but Connor had talked her out of it, appealing to her sense of family.

  “Cassidy,” Ron said, raising his voice.

  She realized by the look on the man’s face that this was not the first time that Ron had tried to get her attention.