Montana Dreaming
Page 56
“What’re those?” Lisa called.
“More cakes,” Riley answered. “The baker at Super Saver Mart wanted to contribute something to the festivities, so she made these this morning.”
“Goodness,” Katie said. “We already had four cakes.”
“Don’t worry that they’ll go to waste,” Justin told his wife. “Riley invited all the store employees and their families to stop by this afternoon.”
Lisa laughed and gave her husband a hug, which was becoming more difficult with the size of her belly coming between them. Riley rested a hand atop her stomach and kissed her. “How’s little Frodo doing?”
“His name’s not Frodo,” Lisa replied. After they’d watched the entire Lord of the Rings series together, he’d become obsessed with naming their expected child after one of the characters. Last week it had been Aragorn.
“You can name our next pet Frodo, not our child. We could agree on Sam,” she told him for the hundredth time.
Excited barks sounded, and Riley stepped away from her to greet Joey, Piper and Derek. Derek had stayed with them a few months ago when Riley’s father had been in the hospital for bypass surgery, and now Adele brought the poodle at least once a week for a sleepover. She claimed he needed the exercise and companionship, and Lisa’s two retrievers were used to new canines sharing their space.
Riley knelt and gave each dog equal attention, scratching behind their ears and stroking their fur. He’d convinced his mother to let Derek’s fur grow out of the ridiculous pom-pom cut.
“I told you this canine has more dignity and self-respect now,” he said.
Lisa and Katie shared a look.
“What?” he said defensively. “Look at him. He’s one of the guys now.”
“He’s no different, Riley,” Katie told him. “Only his appearance has changed.”
“Improved appearance does bring confidence,” Lisa said.
“Are you people talking about the dog?” Justin asked.
Riley gave Derek a solid pat on the haunches and stood. “Lisa told me once that Derek only has so many years in him, so I’d better make the most of them.”
“I guess that’s true about anything,” Justin said. “Like you and I, Riley. We don’t have a past as family, but you’ve let me into your present and future.”
Riley looked at his half brother. “Your birth wasn’t your fault. I always understood that. I don’t know what I resented more—the fact that our father was deceptive or that you forgave him so easily.”
“I wanted a family,” Justin replied. “More than I wanted to hang on to the anger.”
The conversation had turned more serious, and the two couples glanced at each other.
“Riley’s letting the Derek philosophy spill over to Caleb,” Lisa said.
Riley nodded. “Seeing him in the hospital showed me we didn’t have a lifetime to work through this stuff, so we need to do it now.”
“Did he tell you he was sorry?” Katie asked. “It’s tough to forgive when someone isn’t sorry.”
“Not in so many words,” Riley answered with a shrug. “Right off I made it plain how things would be regarding my wife. He didn’t know Lisa and he was judging her unfairly. Everything has always been about money with him.”
Riley studied his beautiful wife, her eyes bright with the pleasure of life. Tiny ringlets of hair lay against her cheeks and temples. She bothered less and less to straighten it these days, but it didn’t matter. She was all the more beautiful carrying his child.
“Once, it was all about money with me, too.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Until I found out money really can’t buy love or happiness.”
“Sure helped with all the extras, though.” Lisa smiled and touched his cheek.
“I missed a lot by not looking outside my narrow, moneyed life,” he said. “Thank goodness I had another chance.”
“We have a second chance,” she corrected.
Justin wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulder and they strolled away from the couple who’d become absorbed in each other.
Piper barked at a squirrel and the three dogs bounded away.
“I have a surprise for you.” He took a red velvet ring box from his pocket and opened it before showing her what lay inside.
Lisa took the plain gold band between her thumb and forefinger. “It’s beautiful, Riley! But I already have a wedding ring.”
“It’s not a wedding ring. It’s made from some of the first gold mined from the Queen of Hearts. It’s just…a symbol.”
None of this would have happened if gold hadn’t been found or if Lisa hadn’t been proven the rightful owner. For once, losing had turned out to be the best thing that had ever happened to Riley Douglas.
Lisa slipped the ring on a finger and kissed him.
Her kisses were better than anything money could buy.
All the 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 the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
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First published in Great Britain 2010
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
MONTANA DREAMING © by Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l 2010
Their Unexpected Family, Cabin Fever and Million-Dollar Makeover were first published in Great Britain by Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited in separate, single volumes.
Theirm Unexpected Family © Harlequin Books S.A 2005
Cabin Fever © Harlequin Books S.A 2005
Million-Dollar Makeover © Harlequin Books S.A 2005
Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Judy Duarte, Karen Rose Smith and Cheryl St John for their contribution to the MONTANA series.
ISBN: 978-1-4089-0078-9
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Title Page
Their Unexpected Family
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Threeteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Cabin Fever
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Threeteen
C
hapter Fourteen
Million-Dollar Makeover
About the Author
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Threeteen
Epilogue
Copyright