by Helen Lacey
“Firstly, I’m bringing Red with me,” she said and flashed a mischievous grin as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed them both back into the recliner. “Secondly—the whole sex on the table thing—I’m thinking we need to renegotiate that particular condition.”
Nate laughed and kissed her long and deep. And with so much love, Joley let the tears fall. “That’s one condition I’d be more than happy to renegotiate.”
Epilogue
Eighteen months later…
Connor Nathanial Garrigan had a great set of lungs and made good use of them. Nate carried his six-week old son from the nursery and went looking for his wife.
Joley wasn’t difficult to find. Every sense he had was perfectly attuned to her. She stood by one of the long tables that had been set up on a grassy patch near the front of the house, holding onto his one-year old niece Amelie with one hand and a small plate covered with crumbled birthday cake in the other. Nate watched as his mother approached, took her adored granddaughter’s hand and led her towards the small group of children happily playing a game with Gabby and Patrick in charge. His chest tightened in the familiar way that always happened when Joley was within a twenty-foot radius. In a long flowing skirt and cotton blouse, she looked lush and beautiful. Making babies agreed with her. Her skin, her hair, her mouth…everything about her was so lovely and vibrant.
She looked as he walked across the yard and met him halfway. “He’s hungry,” he said. “And Daddy just won’t do.”
Joley smiled and gently took Connor from his arms. “I’ll take him inside,” she said. “And later, I mean much later when this party is over and we are finally alone… you and I have a date to keep.”
Nate’s stomach crunched. He knew what she meant. It had been a long six weeks since Connor’s birth. Two weeks overdue and a hefty ten pounds, their son came into the world after an arduous twenty-one hour labor. Joley, of course, was magnificent. Her calm under pressure amazed him. Nate wasn’t about to admit he’d been scared out of his mind as the hours ticked by and Connor kept them waiting. But when their son had finally decided to join the family, pink, screaming and more beautiful than a baby had a right to be, the fear quickly disappeared. And all he felt was love—for the woman who had given him her heart and a beautiful son. Loving Joley had transformed his life.
“Oh no,” she said and chuckled. “I know that look. You’re getting more sentimental every day.”
“Can’t help it,” Nate admitted and touched her face. “And I’m definitely looking forward to our date. If only our visitors would leave.”
She laughed again. “Hah—you haven’t a chance of separating Ella and her grandson before tomorrow. My parents and your mother are here for the weekend remember?”
Nate raised both brows. “How can I forget? I think Ella would move into Gwendonna if we let her.”
“Heaven forbid! So, I’d better get this young man fed.” She looked over her shoulder. “And you might consider rescuing Marshall from the Talbot sisters—they’re convinced one of them will nail him today.”
Nate looked across at his friend standing by the drinks table, a Talbot twin on either side. The sisters were notorious for rattling the cage of any eligible man within a thirty-foot radius. The fact that Marshall wasn’t interested in them made little difference to the duo. Since Lynette’s passing twelve months earlier, his friend had retreated into a world that included work and little else. Certainly not women in multiples.
“Okay,” Nate promised and kissed Joley before he walked away.
Joley held her son and watched her husband saunter off in that confident swagger she loved so much. Even now, after over a year of marriage she never tired of admiring Nate. The baby in her arms was a carbon copy of his father. More children would come too, she hoped. Perhaps another baby in a year or so. For now, Joley enjoyed every moment she shared with her new family.
Even Ella. Her mother had mellowed significantly since becoming a doting grandmother. Joley no longer needed approval. And Beverly’s usual reserve had melted once Gabby had her daughter Amelie—who was celebrating her first birthday—and Connor had come along.
Joley turned and took the front steps, holding Connor close, feeling his soft breath against her chest. When she reached the top she looked back. Nate was watching her, smiling, and a surge of love rose within her. And Joley knew, without a doubt, that she finally had everything she’d ever wanted.
***
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Coming Soon…
The Men Of Mulhany Crossing
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Reclusive widower Marshall Harris has tried to ignore the always smiling, Holly Berrigan for twelve months, even though she has a way of getting his attention. But he has no intention of replacing the wife he'd loved and lost. Until everything changes—Holly is having his baby! Now Marshall is facing fatherhood and a second chance at love. But only if he has the courage to take it.
Her One And Only
Sam Beckett is definitely over Jessie Redmond. Five years ago she left Mulhany Crossing and the life they’d planned together to pursue her equestrian career. But now she is back after a near fatal accident, recuperating and needing Sam’s help. The last thing he wants to do is to help the woman who left him at the altar and broke his heart. But fate, it seems, has other ideas.
The Taming Of Levi Miller
Ex-rodeo champion Levi Miller has a reputation for fast women, fast cars and more than his share of bar fights. When forced to do community service after a brush with the law, Levi ends up at Serenity Farm, a camp for troubled kids. Easy time, he thinks. Until he meets counselor and former nun Julie Ward. The no nonsense, charm-proof blond sees right through him…and soon becomes his undoing.
The Cattleman’s Proposal
Copyright © 2013 by Helen Lacey
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
Discover more books by Helen Lacey:
Date With Destiny
His-And-Hers Family
Marriage Under The Mistletoe
Made For Marriage
Let's visit Crystal Point for this unique series by Australian author Helen Lacey for Harlequin Special Edition. Full of warmth, tenderness and emotions.
The Crystal Point Series
