Accidental Heiress
Page 24
Casey’s pulse stepped up its pace. “Can you say what?”
“That I love you and I never want to be without you again. That I want you to be my wife.”
“What if I’m not pregnant?”
Jess wrapped her tightly in his arms, chuckling softly. “Then we’ll just have to work a little harder on that. Now is that a yes?”
“Yes!” she yelled to the treetops. Then, in a more dignified, more bride-to-be voice, she murmured, “I have the perfect wedding gift for you.”
“What’s that?”
“The loan agreement. We’ll burn it together.”
“Uh-uh. That money has to be repaid, and our marrying isn’t going to change that.”
“Jess, that’s—”
“A matter of honor,” he said firmly. “I need to do this. Besides,” he said, and Casey heard a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “If you want some pretty things...you’ll have the money to buy them.”
Casey snuggled closer, warm water swirling around them as she burrowed into his embrace and reassured him that his life with Lydia would not be repeated. “I don’t want anything in this world except your love and your babies... except maybe to see Broken straw thrive.”
“You’re sure?”
“Very sure,” she murmured. And though she wouldn’t argue about it right now, that was where every penny he repaid would go—into making Broken straw a viable, productive ranch, and a home where their children could grow up and, if they chose, carry on the Dalton tradition of raising cattle and tending the land.
As for the career she’d be leaving behind, maybe someday she’d want to return to nursing in some capacity. She just didn’t think so. It hadn’t been nursing that brought her such joy; the children she’d cared for had done that. Now she would have her own.
Looking up at him, Casey drank in Jess’s rugged face...his firm, clean jaw...the sun-creased character lines beside his dark eyes...and wondered how a heart could feel so full. So blessed.
“I love you, Jess Dalton,” she whispered.
“And I love you,” Jess murmured. Then, as their lips came together beneath the starry Montana sky, the bubbling of the creek and the complaints of the crickets all faded away. There was no room in this night for nature’s distractions. There was only room for the breathy sighs and throaty whispers of lovers...and the joyful contentment of finally coming home.
Epilogue
“She’s got the hiccups again. Are you sure that’s normal?”
“Absolutely. You worry too much.” Casey smiled at Jess, loving the scene he and Alexis Nicole Dalton made, cuddling in the nursery’s rocking chair. Lexi was wrapped in a soft pastel baby afghan, and her dark eyes and toothless smile said she loved her daddy. And her daddy certainly loved her.
Outside, spring was making a tentative appearance, and once again, Casey was amazed at how radically a life could change in one short year. Last spring, she’d been in turmoil. This spring, all she felt was peace. Even Ross was trying to get his life on track.
Casey saw their little angel’s eyes go droopy as she rocked in her daddy’s arms, and she lowered her voice as she expressed a mild concern. “Do you think Ross’s leaving is a good move? Jess, I don’t want him to feel like we’re putting him out.”
“We aren’t, and he doesn’t,” he replied, softening his voice, too. Rising cautiously, Jess kissed the tip of Lexi’s tiny nose and eased her down into her crib. Then he covered her with the afghan and drew Casey through the adjoining door that had once been such a temptation to them both. “He won’t be leaving that soon anyway. It’s going to take some time for him to build this log home he’s been talking about. He hasn’t even decided on a site yet.”
“I know, but—”
“No buts. He’s trying his best to get past the gossip and bring something solid to his life—and we have to let him do that.”
Jess grinned and flopped onto the bed, pulling her down on top of him. “He’s going to be fine.” His dark eyes bathed her face, then he slid a hand along the nape of her neck and brought her close for a soft kiss. “Besides, there are definitely some advantages to his moving out.”
“Like what?” she teased, already knowing what he would say.
“Like a little more privacy for us.” Chuckling, Jess rolled her onto her back, reversing their positions. He smiled down at her. “Now how long do you think the baby will sleep?”
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6544-8
ACCIDENTAL HEIRESS
Copyright © 1998 by Edie Hanes
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.
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.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Drawing a shaky breath, she turned the knob slowly and eased her head inside.
Letter to Reader
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Copyright