She gave him her hand. Gently, he slid the ring on her finger above her wedding band. “Perfect,” he said.
“Perfect,” she agreed, looking up into his eyes, letting him see everything that was in her heart.
Enfolding her in his arms, he kissed her. It was one of those shining kisses that lit their passion and seared their souls. The kiss was a coming together, a recommitment, a chance to start over the right way.
When he ended it, she clung to him, so in love she couldn’t speak.
Shep pulled her onto his lap and held her in his arms. “When do you want to take a real honeymoon?”
“But the boys—”
“The boys will be fine for a couple of days without us.” He settled his big hand on her tummy, “Once this baby’s born, we’ll hardly have time to breathe. How about three days’ seclusion in Santa Fe or Taos?”
“As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we go.” She could feel the chuckle in his chest as he kissed her temple.
“I’m so glad you feel that way.”
“I’ll feel that way for the rest of our lives.”
When Shep kissed her again, she knew nothing could come between them. They were one, now and forever.
Epilogue
Raina crouched down next to the sofa, one arm around Joey, one arm around Roy.
“It’s dark in here,” Roy whispered in her ear.
“Only for a few more minutes.”
Beside her on the sofa, Angie held Manuel. The toddler reached for Raina’s hair and held on to it. “Mommy,” he said quite clearly.
The light over the stove in the kitchen glowed softly, some of its illumination splaying into the living room. Raina reached over Roy’s shoulder and patted Manuel’s face. “Hey, sweet one. I know you’re there.”
For the past month, she’d truly become the happiest woman to walk the planet. She felt like a mom. She knew being a mother to three kids, and soon an infant, wouldn’t be easy. Yet she also knew her husband loved her as much as she loved him. That gave her all the confidence in the world that she could handle anything…with a little help.
Lily, who was standing on the other side of Joey, said in a low voice, “I think he’s coming. Get ready, everyone.”
Lily had been a real trouper. Raina knew how difficult the past few months had been for her, how raw her grief was, yet how unbreakable her spirit seemed to be.
The kitchen door opened and shut. Shep’s strong, deep voice called, “Raina?”
When he stepped into the living room, someone switched on the overhead light and everyone popped out of their hiding places.
“Surprise!” Roy and Joey called the loudest, running toward their father.
Grinning, Shep gave both of them a big hug. “What are you surprising me with?”
“A party,” Roy answered gleefully.
Raina went to her cowboy, who looked a bit overwhelmed. “Happy birthday!”
Shep looked around at everyone, obviously speechless. His gaze fell on their friends—Logan, Gina and their son Daniel, Angie and Lily, Raina’s mother and Ryder. When his gaze fell on Ryder, his eyebrows arched up. Ryder approached him and held out his hand for a shake. Shep firmly shook it.
With Raina standing right there, Ryder admitted, “I’ve never seen my sister happier, so I brought a present you might appreciate.” He handed Shep a dark blue gift bag.
“Go ahead,” Raina encouraged him. “Then we’ll feed everyone ice cream and cake.”
Shep dipped his hand into the bag and pulled out a branch.
“It’s an olive branch,” Ryder said. “I thought maybe we could start over.”
“I’d like that,” Shep told him sincerely, then caught Raina around the waist and gave her a hug. “Did you plan this?”
“No! Honestly, Ryder thought about it all on his own.”
Joey pointed to a table that had been set up in the corner. “There’s more presents over there.”
“I see, but I think I have the best present I’ll ever get right here.”
“What’s that?” Roy asked.
“Your mom, your new brother or sister and the three of you. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“I have a special present for you,” Raina said, her hand caressing his jaw.
“But I have to wait until everyone’s gone, right?” Shep asked wickedly.
She could feel a flush stain her cheeks. Their time in the bedroom was precious and passionate with the love and commitment and promise they shared every day. “If you blow out all the candles on your cake, you might get that wish,” she said, teasing. “But no, I have another surprise. Come on out,” she called toward the playroom.
Cruz Martinez emerged from the playroom and Shep’s mouth dropped open. He was a striking man who wore a smile that practically spread from ear to ear. He was as tall as Shep and just as lean. As he embraced her husband, the affection and caring that the two of them shared was obvious.
Finally, Shep stepped back. “So I guess the two of you have met,” he said, joking.
“We’re already friends,” Cruz told him. “I like your new wife. She knows how to throw a party.”
Shep laughed out loud and Raina could hear the true happiness in that laughter.
“I’ll be right back,” he said to everyone, taking Raina’s hand and pulling her through the doorway into the kitchen.
“They’re going to kiss,” Joey announced to everyone.
“What are you doing?” Raina asked Shep. “This is your party. We have guests.”
“Thank you for going to so much trouble, for giving me a gift that means so much more than you can ever know.”
“I know,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Her cowboy bent his head and kissed her.
The round of applause from the living room just made them both hold on tighter. They’d be spending a lifetime holding on tightly to each other, keeping promises and giving each other gifts they’d cherish always.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5518-4
THE TEXAN’S HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
Copyright © 2010 by Karen Rose Smith
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*Baby Bonds
*Baby Bonds
*Baby Bonds
**Dads in Progress
°The Wilder Family
**Dads in Progress
**Dads in Progress
§The Baby Experts
§The Baby Experts
¤The Foleys and the McCords
§The Baby Experts
§The Baby Experts
*Baby Bonds
†Darling Daddies
†Darling Daddies
†Darling Daddies
††The Best Men
††The Best Men
††The Best Men
‡Do You Take This Stranger?
‡Do You Take This Stranger?
‡Do You Take This Str
anger?
‡Do You Take This Stranger?
The Texan’s Happily-Ever-After Page 18
