by Sara Orwig
She threw herself over him, kissing him and ending the conversation for another hour. Later as they sat eating a midnight dinner of peanut butter sandwiches in her small kitchen, Jeff said, “I brought you something.” He left the room and returned to place a box in her hand.
When she opened the first of two boxes, she gasped as she stared at a huge emerald flanked by glittering diamonds. “Jeff, this is gorgeous.”
“With this ring, I thee wed, truly and deeply in love forever,” he said, slipping the ring on her finger.
She hugged him and then remembered the other box. She picked it up to open it, looking at a dazzling necklace of emeralds and diamonds that matched her ring.
“Jeff, this is spectacular. I’ll be scared to wear it without a bodyguard.”
“All right, I’ll get you a bodyguard,” he said, taking it and fastening it on her. He untied the sash to her robe and pushed it away. She grabbed at it.
“I’m not wearing anything….” she yelped.
“You’re wearing the necklace and ring I gave you. This is the way I like it.”
She kissed him and their conversation was gone again until much later.
“Jeff, we can live at the ranch.”
“I think I told you I’d live in Dallas.”
“Maybe you can work here two days a week and perhaps Noah will agree to me working one day a week at the ranch. We might have to separate part of the week, but if I know you love me, I can get through it.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. I just want you back in my life and back in my bed.” He pulled her closer against him. “This is best, sweetie. You right here in my arms. My world is right again.”
“I love you, Jeff. Everything about you. I’ll even go to a rodeo again, although I’m not sure I can look when you ride.”
He chuckled and held her tightly. “I’ll give up bulls. I’ll switch to calf roping. That’s enough of a challenge. Differences are what makes life interesting. Take a couple of days off when you can and let’s go off someplace where we can be to ourselves. I’ll take you back to New York.”
“That’s fine with me. We’re not going to leave the bedroom, anyway.”
He smiled and brushed her hair away from her face. “You’ve got a deal, Mrs. Brand,” he said.
Laughing, she hugged him, filled with joy.
Epilogue
One year later…
K nox Brand clinked a fork against a glass and raised his voice. “May I have your attention.” He stood near the bar in the large family room of the Brand mansion.
All the family and close friends stopped talking, turning to give Knox their attention.
Holly was aware of Jeff moving close by her side and sliding his arm around her waist. She looked up at him and met his gaze, seeing the warmth in his eyes and the love that reflected what she felt.
Joy had bubbled in her all day and had increased tonight. She turned to give her attention to Knox.
“We’re gathered here tonight to celebrate. Holly is retiring to await the arrival of our second grandchild—another little girl, I might add, and we want to congratulate her.” He raised his glass as everyone applauded. She laughed at the hoopla being made over her retirement.
“We’re delighted that Jeff and Holly are living in Dallas most of the time now. We want to thank her for all she did for Brand Enterprises, and wish her well in her new role as a mother.”
Another round of applause filled the room and Jeff leaned down to kiss her lightly. “I’ll second that,” he said, touching her glass of sparkling water with his glass of wine.
“Folks,” Noah said, causing another curtain of silence to fall over the guests. “I have to take the limelight from my dad and say a few words, too. Holly’s done a marvelous job. We’re lucky she fell in love with my brother and married into the Brand family. At work, we hate to lose her, but I understand and am just grateful for her talents and loyalty. We wish you and Jeff much happiness. Here’s to you both and to another precious granddaughter for Mom and Dad and a little cousin for our Erin to play with.” He raised his glass in a toast. People joined him and applauded.
In a minute Knox spoke up. “All right, everybody, enjoy yourselves. We have a spread outside and later there will be dancing. I think the kids are already in the pool or playing in the game room.”
Holly waved her hand. “Knox,” she said, stepping forward and linking her arms through Noah’s and Knox’s. “I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. Thank you for everything!”
For Holly, the evening was perfect. On the patio, a band played and couples danced. Kids were in the swimming pool and Noah held Erin in his arms. Holly looked at Noah’s child, who had her mother’s blond hair and her father’s gray eyes and was beautiful. She wondered whether their baby would have red hair or black hair, green eyes or gray. Two more months and she would know.
“If you ever want to return, just let me know. And I don’t know how you got Jeff to agree to stay on six more months,” Noah said to Holly.
She smiled and looked at Jeff, who grinned and kept his arm around her waist, holding her close. “We’ll be living in Dallas most of the time now because of the baby. Holly gave me all the logical reasons and said I owed it to you to give you at least six more months.”
“Thank you again, Holly. I’m really going to miss you.”
“Well, your loss is my gain,” Jeff remarked. “I hope to see a lot more of my wife because you’ve heaped the work on her this past year.”
“I didn’t mind, Noah,” she protested.
“Emilio,” Jeff said to Faith’s grandfather. “Come join us.”
“All you young people? I will put a damper.”
“Of course you won’t,” Faith said, taking his arm and smiling at him.
“Well, I’d like to hold my little great granddaughter,” he said, holding out his arms, and Erin immediately reached for him. “I think someone is sleepy. Maybe we will go find a rocking chair,” he said. “If all of you will excuse us.”
He left and Noah draped his arm across Faith’s shoulders. “These women, Jeff, how they’ve changed our lives…I must say, Holly has made you far more civilized.”
Jeff laughed. “Look who’s talking, Noah. Faith has softened that competitive nature of yours. You no longer have to win at all costs.”
“I’ll remind you of that the next contest we get into,” Noah remarked dryly.
Holly was filled with happiness and love as she listened to the two brothers talk and knew there was some truth to what they said. They didn’t seem as competitive and sharp with each other as they had before she married Jeff. And she knew for certain they had grown closer. She suspected when she and Jeff had their little girl, the two families would grow even closer.
Already, she counted Faith as one of her best friends. She still was amazed that Faith had married Noah, whose businesslike manner was a contrast to Faith’s warm and fun-loving nature. Holly knew that people probably thought the same of her marriage to Jeff. They were total opposites, far more than Noah and Faith, yet she found Jeff more exciting every day she was with him. Her love knew no bounds and right now, she couldn’t wait to be home alone with him tonight.
They mingled with the guests, talking to the Brands and Shelby, stopping to talk to Alexa and other friends. By the time the last guest left and Shelby had headed off to catch a plane, Holly was beginning to tire.
“I think we should call it a night. Holly’s had a big day with her retirement party at work today, plus this party tonight. It’s been a great evening,” Jeff said.
She turned to Jeff’s mother to thank her for the party. “What a wonderful party. I feel so welcome in this family. This is the first grandchild in my family and I have a feeling I may see more of my parents after our baby arrives.”
“I know you will. Your mother asked me all sorts of questions about Erin,” Monica Brand said, smiling at Holly. “I can’t wait to have two little granddaughters. Erin is an absolute delight. So mu
ch fun to buy clothes for and I won’t have to referee fights.”
Holly laughed. “Thanks again.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Jeff said, kissing his mother’s cheek and hugging her. “It’s been a great party and was nice for us.”
Holly felt as if it were hours instead of a mere thirty minutes before they finally were alone in their Dallas home and in their bedroom where Jeff pulled her gently into his arms.
“I love you, Jeff Brand,” she said happily.
“I love you, darlin’. And I’m glad you’ll be home all the time now. I love you, Holly. You’ll never know how much,” he added, holding her gently as he kissed her.
“When she’s three months old, we can move back to the ranch,” Holly said.
“Shh. We’ll figure that out when the time comes.”
Holly wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling their baby between them. Joy flooded her. She knew she was the most fortunate woman in the world to have the love of a man like Jeff and soon she would have his baby. She kissed him, wanting to spend a lifetime showing him how much she loved him.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4807-0
MARRYING THE LONE STAR MAVERICK
Copyright © 2010 by Sara Orwig
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