by Drea Riley
Frowning, Letty stepped back and folded her arms across her chest. “Yes, I am.”
Jeramy chuckled. “Good, because I’ve got something to say.”
Letty waved a hand. “Be my guest.” Then she watched through narrowed eyes as he dropped to one knee. “Jer?”
“Shush, my turn now, sugar.” He pulled that hand from behind his back, one small velvet box resting in his palm. Her breath left her in one whoosh. “You’re right, baby. So far I have really sucked at keeping my promise. I’ve been irresponsible, inconsiderate, unresponsive, and dishonest to boot.”
Her gaze jerked up to his from the ring box. “What?”
He gave her that signature crooked grin. “Sweetheart, I haven’t just been working on the ranch.”
“Jeramy, start talking.”
His gaze went completely sheepish as he opened the ring box. Nestled inside was a matching band to her ring, intricate diamond designs circling it. His head cocked to the side. “I’ve been hauling in bone-weary and tired everyday from scouting locations, dealing with finicky caterers, listening to the worst bands known to man, and subjecting myself to having my ass pinched every five minutes in bridal shops because I want you to have the wedding I cheated you out of. The one that includes our family and friends; the one that shows them how much I love you, the one that shows you how much I love you. I get that every little girl dreams about the fairytale wedding and Prince Charming. I let circumstance and my dream keep you from experiencing yours. It wasn’t fair and it was selfish. I wanted to be your husband so bad that I forgot what it meant to really be a husband and, irony of all ironies, without the paper, technically I’m not.”
“You are in all the ways that matter,” she whispered, running a hand down the side of his face.
He kissed her palm. “Yes, but this time I want it to be real.”
“It is real.”
“No.” Jeramy shook his head. “Not to you, and I need you to know how much you mean to me, how much this day means to me. I know it’s not the dress or the cake, but the fact that you get to stand up in front of God and all the people who matter in our lives, that you found the one person you wanna take your last breath with. So,” he took the ring out and slid it on her finger, “I’m asking you, Leticia Cloudwalker, to do this fool the honor of becoming his wife in every sense, again.”
Her smile was shaky. “You mean to tell me that I did all of this just to find out that you’ve been planning a real wedding all this time?”
“Yup.” Jeramy chuckled.
She closed her eyes. “I should put my foot in your ass, dude.”
“Or, you can say yes instead.”
Letty opened her eyes again. “No Elvis impersonators?”
“Nope.”
“No weird, eccentric, crazy relatives showing up to ruin it all?”
“Nope.” Jeramy stood again, pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
“And no more leaving me to wonder if I should suffocate you in your sleep?”
His expression turned thoughtful. “Well, if it involves your thighs on the side of my head then maybe I can die a happy man.”
Letty grinned and slapped him on the chest. “Pervert.”
“Yes. I’m your lecherous, freaky, husband-to-be. That is, if you say so.”
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pulled him down for a kiss and stopped midway. “Wait. What was the great news about the ranch?”
“It can wait.”
“I wanna hear it now.”
Jeramy rolled his eyes. “Tanner found a letter from my uncle explaining all the bullshit he decided to put me through. Apparently, the old codger had a heart after all. So, not only do I have the funds to buy Regina’s share of the ranch so she and Tyce can move onto his spread, I also have the freedom to spend more of my time keeping tabs on a certain wife that likes to make me chase her.”
“Wife? You mean to tell me you have a wife and you’re shacked up with me?” Letty teased with a feigned air of horror while she traced her hand over the growing bulge of his desire.
“Yes, I have a wife. That is, if she will agree.”
“Maybe. I need some convincing...”
“Letty...” His growl sent a shiver down her spine.
“I am just saying you did leave my praline bites out in the truck. A wild bear probably ate them all by now.”
“I’ll get you a tab at Sweet Seductions...you can order all the ridiculous chocolates and caramels that you want. Just say yes,” Jeramy bargained while slowly thrusting against where her palm was wrapped snugly around him.
Giggling, she kissed him and whispered one word, “Yes.”
There was still plenty they had to discuss. She really wanted to hear the details of what Jeramy and his cousin Tanner had dug up about their uncle. But, all that could wait until later...much, much later.
The cabin was cozy and warm and Letty was reluctant to move. Good thing she didn’t have to. Sitting across from Jeramy and listening as he explained all the things he’d learned before coming to find her was exactly where she wanted to be. Even if she was completely confused by the soap opera of a tale Jeramy was recounting.
Letty stared at him long and hard. “Basically what you’re saying is that the old man had a change of heart long before we went to him last year and told him we’d gotten married, but he didn’t say anything because he thought you were in love with me and hoped it would work out?”
“In a weird way, yes. I mean, he was afraid I’d be like my dad and waste my life on a ranch and never find love. In his own way, he was hoping I’d settle down and have a family. Really enjoy life.”
“What was up with him insisting you marry Sophia?”
“Well, Sophia’s parents owed a lot of money to a lot of people. They are good people, but they weren’t really responsible when it came to financial matters. Uncle Reymundo figured if Sophia and I married, we’d both be taken care of. He knew I wouldn’t let her parents work her to death to pay off their debts. I guess he thought we’d be a good fit. That maybe our love would grow. Other than my sister and my cousin Tanner, I’ve never been close to anyone—no friends, to speak of. When my mom finally left the states and went back to Sweden taking my sister with her, I only had Sophia and Tanner.”
“So, when exactly did he change his mind about this crazy contract?”
“When I gave Sophia the money to go away and study with your friend T’Zara.”
“That was five years ago. Why didn’t he say anything?”
“I guess he thought he had time. He wasn’t planning on dying before he got the chance to talk to me again. Either that, or he thought it was funny to watch you put me through my paces.”
“Basically the old man took a gamble?”
“Yes, but it paid off. Now, I only have to give him some grand-nieces and nephews to watch over from heaven.”
“We’re really doing this? We are getting married and turning the ranch into a world-class horse farm?”
“And having babies.”
“You should slow down there, vaquero. Babies come later.”
“I’ve waited a year to watch your belly grow and ripen. If I had it my way this would be a shotgun wedding and you’d be big and round here…” He placed his hand on her tummy, feeling the butterflies kick at his words. “As you say the words to make me an honest man.”
“Honest man? Boy, you’re nothing but a slick-talking, silver-tongued—”
“Man in love with a woman who is as wild as the wind.” Jeramy cut off her rant by sealing her lips with his.
He might never catch the wind in his lasso, but as long as he’d roped Letty into sixty or seventy years of being his wife, he’d be a happy man.
Drea
Dréa Riley
To read more about the characters connected to this book, check out the following stories:
Slow Bucking (Regina and Tyce)
Taming Tanner (Sophia and Tanner)
Drea Riley
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br /> Dréa Riley can always be found one of two favorite places; the kitchen or the computer. A relaxing time for her would be concocting a delicious dish while connecting with her coterie online. Whenever something off the wall happens, Dréa will most likely be found in the middle of it, trying to look innocent and usually failing. With a heart bigger than the Grand Canyon and a mouth more lethal than an injection, this diva might save the world and cuss it out at the same time. This steak-loving sister always finds a way to juggle work, reading, and sleep. She channels the support from her family, friends, and fans into her sitcom lifestyle and stories.
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Table of Contents
Title page
What happens in Vegas…
Here Comes the Bride
The Love We Make
Love on the Run
The Queen’s Ransom
