Her Cowboy Daddy
Page 17
Suddenly, the burden Jeb had been carrying for the last ten years was too much to bear.
“That it wasn’t me who called off the wedding that day,” Jeb confessed wearily. “It was Avalynne.”
Everyone stared at him. In the silence he could have heard a pin drop.
Jeb figured he had revealed this much, so might as well continue. He sighed. “She asked me to take the blame, and I did.”
More shock reverberated throughout the room.
“It seemed like the gallant thing to do at the time,” he explained.
Emily gaped at him. “But her parents sued you!”
Jeb nodded. He explained how upset his ex had been about that, concluding, “Avalynne has been quietly paying me back, a little at a time, ever since—and Cady knows that, too.”
“Maybe so, but…she can’t be happy about it,” Shane ventured.
Why the hell not? Jeb wondered. “I would think that would raise her estimation of me, not lower it!” Especially since it made him less of a chump.
“Unless,” Greta theorized quietly, “Cady interprets those actions to mean you are still tied to Avalynne emotionally.”
Jeb rolled his eyes. “That’s definitely not true.”
“Then maybe she thinks you’re the kind of man who goes along to get along, and hence is lacking in character,” Shane said.
Jeb glared at his father. “It’s taken a lot of strength for me to endure the gossip all these years,” he countered.
His parents nodded. “And it would take a lot more for you to set the record straight—with everyone.”
There they went again. “I promised Avalynne I would never tell anyone what really happened that day,” Jeb confided glumly. “And now I’ve broken my promise twice.”
Oddly enough, no one in his family thought less of him for the breach of promise.
Hank clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Some vows shouldn’t be made.”
Holden added his brotherly support, “If Avalynne is really your friend, she will understand why you have to set the record straight and clear your name, and finally put an end to that chapter of your life.”
Emily nodded soberly, advising, “Because Cady will never take you seriously until you do.”
“VACATIONS—even little ones—are supposed to make people happy,” Suki observed from the padded table next to Cady.
Cady cast a glance at her confident older sister. “It’s not that. I’m grateful for the day at the spa…” which was Suki and Hermann’s post-trip gift to her “…and the gamut of skin, hair and body treatments.”
“Good, because when we’re done, we are both going to look incredibly beautiful.”
For the first time in her life, Cady felt as beautiful as her older sister…and it was all because of Jeb. The way he had made her feel when he looked at her and made love to her, had been an incredible boost to her self-esteem.
She grimaced, her skin resisting the tightness of the customized facial mask. “I’m upset because my friendship with Jeb is over.”
Suki removed the cooling gel disks from her eyes. “He didn’t mean to hurt you with his proposal.”
“I know that, Suki. I know Jeb thinks he was doing the right thing in asking me to marry him and have his baby.” She wrung her hands together. “But I also know that one of these days he’s going to realize we are just friends who shared a common goal of surviving the babysitting gig with the boys. Had we not been thrown together that way…” And happened to make hot, wild, love during the process…
Cady shrugged, her throat so congested she couldn’t go on. Finally she managed to say, “We were playing house.” The grown-up version.
Suki touched her arm, correcting gently, “You were getting a taste of what it is to have a family. And you both liked it. A lot. So did the boys.”
The lump in Cady’s throat grew. It was all she could do to hold back the tears. “The point is I know he feels sorry for me now because of my loss, and he wants to help because he is so generous of heart.”
Suki did not disagree. “I don’t know if you realize it, honey, but you sound like a woman in love.”
Exactly the point, Cady thought miserably. Unable to sit still a moment longer, she got up and began to pace, full body mask and all. “I adore him. I have for years. You know that…. If I thought it would work long term, I would marry him in an instant. But I can’t do that, because one of these days Jeb is going to wake up.”
Suki sat up, too. She swung her legs over the edge of the table. “Like he’s done with everything else he tried that ultimately didn’t feel right?”
Cady nodded, even more dejectedly. “He’s going to eventually realize he needs the kind of love that you and Hermann have. And he’ll want to be free to pursue other avenues, but will be too noble to hurt me or any kids we might have by that point.” She sighed. “The last thing I want is for him to feel trapped and bitter.”
Suki lifted a perfectly contoured eyebrow. “So you’re saving Jeb McCabe from himself, is that it?”
“Yes.”
“What a load of parsnips.”
“Excuse me?” she retorted.
Suki leaped off the table and marched over to her. “If anyone is protecting themselves from potential hurt, it’s you. I don’t know why, because you are so beautiful and smart and talented….”
Cady scowled right back and complained bitterly, “Maybe it’s because I always seem to lose out in the end, at least in my personal life.”
“So what?” Suki threw up her hands in frustration. “So you’ve had some losses! Does that mean you have to stop trying to get what you want out of life, which in this case is clearly a life with Jeb McCabe?”
The tears Cady had been fighting flooded her eyes.
Suki wrapped a sisterly arm about her. “Sweetie, I know you’ve been hurt and disappointed in the past, and I’m sorry about that.”
Cady nodded glumly.
“But if you want the kind of romantic, passionate, enduring love that provides a foundation for a lifelong marriage, you are going to have to go out there and risk your tender vulnerable heart to get it.”
Suki gave Cady’s shoulders an encouraging squeeze and continued even more softly, “Because until you let your guard down, Cady, until you allow yourself to let Jeb all the way past your defenses and excuses, you will never have the love you so richly deserve.”
LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Cady’s assistant carried the life-size hardboard poster of the Hanover Horseshoes spokesmodel into Cady’s office. The two of them stood there for a moment looking at it. Finally, Marissa grinned and said, “Well, the cowboy’s cute. No doubt about it.” She sighed dreamily and placed a fluttering hand over her heart. “But he doesn’t compare with Jeb McCabe.”
“You must have paid her to say that,” a hauntingly familiar voice teased from the open doorway behind them.
A shiver of awareness danced down her spine as Cady turned and saw Jeb. He wasn’t in his usual ranch garb, but a sport coat, shirt and tie that made the most of his broad shoulders and powerful arms and chest. His slacks were creased, his boots polished to a sheen. He had a welcoming smile on his lips and a serious glint in his blue-gray eyes. Cady’s heart rose and dipped, then rose again.
This was exactly where the trouble had started three weeks ago.
Yet there was no denying she was glad to see Jeb. The last week of silence had been excruciating.
Marissa caught the emotional sparks arcing between them. She picked up the life-size cardboard cutout once again. “I think I’ll just take this outside and give you two your privacy.” She exited, shutting the door behind her.
Cady had been practicing for days what she was going to say when the moment came. The only trouble was, now that Jeb was actually here, she didn’t know where to begin.
She only knew she didn’t want to speak rashly and mess things up between them again.
Jeb studied her expression. “Is this a good time?”
Anytime s
he was with him was a good time. She could only hope he felt the same way. Cady cleared her throat. “Perfect.” She had been about to leave for the day. The Houston traffic could wait.
His eyes never leaving her face, Jeb stepped close enough to take her hands in his. “I wanted to apologize for proposing to you the way I did.”
Cady swallowed as the warmth and tenderness of his grip engulfed her. Did that mean he also wanted to take everything else back, as well? The lovemaking, the confidences, the teamwork…not to mention the happiness she had felt when they were together?
Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to hear what he had to say, if he was going to tell her he wanted to go back to being casual friends, and break her heart all over again. She drew a deep, bolstering breath. “It’s not really necessary.”
His lips formed a sober downward curve. “Yes, Cady, it is.” He tightened his fingers tenderly on hers. “I was out of line. And I was especially wrong for thinking that I could move on with you, without ever really dealing with my past.”
Her heart sank yet again. “You’re talking about Avalynne.”
He nodded, released her and stepped back.
Jeb threaded a hand through his hair. His anguished tone reflected a combination of guilt and regret. “Avalynne wasn’t the only one who benefited from the lies about what happened that day. The bad reputation I garnered kept the seriously marriageable women away.”
It certainly had, Cady thought.
He swallowed. “As much as it shames me to admit it, I realize—in retrospect—that I liked it that way. My bad rep kept me from having to risk my heart, and served as a handy excuse for why I would never commit long term to anyone or anything again. Because—as legend went—I just wasn’t up to the challenge for that kind of commitment…in anything.”
His gaze drifted over her lazily as he stepped closer once again. He cupped her shoulders with his palms, and in that instant, all communication between them transformed into something deeper. He inhaled and looked deep into her eyes, admitting, “I would probably still think that way if it hadn’t been for you, and your insistence that I start confronting the real problems in my life, and stop living a lie.”
The unexpectedness of his admission mingled with her hope for a real future together. “You’re going to clear your name?”
“I already have,” Jeb told her in satisfaction. “I talked to my family first, and then Avalynne. When she refused to take action with me, I went to see her parents on my own and told them everything.”
Shock held Cady motionless. This was a big step in the right direction. “How did that go?” she finally managed to ask.
Jeb conceded with a grimace, “Well, at first it was a little ugly. But when Mr. and Mrs. Stone finally understood everything that had happened and why, they said they felt relieved. They were sorry for suing me, and angry with Avalynne for still not coming forward, but they know their daughter has always preferred to run away rather than stay and deal with any problems.”
Cady’s pulse picked up as she moved restlessly to the window. “So now what?”
Casually, Jeb moved to stand opposite her. “Well, I think it’s safe to say that between her parents and mine, everyone in Laramie County is now up to speed on what really happened. Including Suki and Hermann, whom I told in person last night.”
Cady’s jaw dropped in astonishment. “You did?”
Jeb nodded, his expression serious, intent. “I wanted them to hear it from me.”
“They didn’t say anything to me,” Cady said in confusion.
He braced a shoulder against the glass. “I asked them not to. I told them I was going to see you today, and I wanted to speak to you in person, too, since you are responsible for me moving forward.”
Was that all this was? A chance to say thank-you? Cady wondered in disappointment.
She forced herself to be gracious. “Well, I’m glad things have worked out for you.” And sorry they are apparently not going to work out for us, not the way I foolishly hoped, anyway.
Still, this was her chance to correct her mistakes, too.
She drew a breath and turned away from the rush hour traffic visible on the freeway below. “I’m glad you came to see me today. I wasn’t sure you’d ever want to speak to me again, after the harsh way I turned down your proposal.”
Jeb’s glance narrowed. “You were right to do so,” he said, catching her hand before she could slip away. “Ending old gossip by giving people something new to talk about, and hooking up just to have a baby, are both very poor reasons for saying ‘I do.’”
Cady thought about how close they had been, during the last couple of weeks, and couldn’t resist arguing her point. “It was a little more than that,” she found herself saying defensively. “You were there when I needed you, Jeb.”
Unable to help herself, she came closer, too, and took his other hand in hers. With both hope and fear welling in her heart, she gazed at him, knowing it was now or never. “You made me realize that I want what I’ve never really hoped I could have. A deep romantic love, a marriage that will last forever. And,” Cady continued in a low trembling voice, “I want to have babies the old-fashioned way, by making love with the man I adore.”
Understanding lit his eyes. “Then why haven’t you gone after that?” he inquired softly.
Tightening her fingers on his, Cady looked deep into Jeb’s eyes and forced herself to be even more forthright. “Because I was afraid to risk my heart, too,” she whispered emotionally.
She shrugged and held his penetrating gaze. “I didn’t think I would ever be lucky enough to get what I wanted in my personal life the way I had at work, so I figured, instead of being disappointed, I would just settle for less, too. And I think I knew all along—even when I was far too stubborn to admit it to myself—that there was only one man in this world who could give me all those things.”
Here was her chance. The moment she had to take that giant leap of faith…
“And that man,” Cady continued, with every ounce of feeling and courage in her heart, “is you.”
JEB HAD COME TO HOUSTON, hoping to be lucky enough to get a second chance with Cady. Now all his dreams were coming true, too.
She stood on tiptoe and draped her arms about his neck, happiness and hope glittering in her eyes. “I love you, Jeb,” she whispered softly.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, burying his face in the fragrant softness of her hair. “I love you, too, Cady, more than I ever thought was possible.”
Their breaths soughed out in relief. Their glances met. Jeb lowered his head and delivered a resounding kiss that left no doubt about the depth of his feelings for her. Finally, he drew back. “For the record,” he teased, between soft, sweet kisses, “You’ve just blown the rest of my big speech to smithereens.”
Happiness sparkled in Cady’s amber eyes. She cuddled close to him. “You can give me the gist of it.”
Jeb kissed the back of her hand and gazed down at her, knowing he had found love at long last. “I came here to ask your permission to court you,” he confessed. “The old-fashioned way, the way you deserve.”
She wrinkled her pretty nose at the notion, her natural impatience coming to the fore once again. “You don’t have to do that, Jeb. We’ve been friends a long time. I wouldn’t mind going from zero to sixty again.”
“I wouldn’t mind that, either,” he admitted, kissing her temple, the sensitive place behind her ear, the smooth slope of her collarbone.
He sat on the edge of her desk and pulled her onto his lap, threading one hand through her hair and wrapping the other about her waist. “But we’re also going to do some serious courting, and make sure that you have the engagement—and the wedding—of your dreams.” He sealed the vow with another long, leisurely kiss. “And the babies you have always wanted, after that.”
Epilogue
“Aunt Cady, how are we going to see what the babies look like if they don’t open their eyes?�
� Dalton asked in frustration.
“And how come there had to be two of them?” Finn added.
“Two girls,” Micah added emphatically, as if it were the worst thing on earth.
“Yeah, why couldn’t they have been boys?” Dalton pouted.
“I don’t get why their names have to be Lily and Rose,” Finn harrumphed. “Everybody knows those are flowers.”
Cady and Jeb grinned at their three nephews, who had come to the hospital to meet the newest members of the family.
Smiling fondly, Cady handed the twins to their daddy and held out her arms. All three boys climbed up on her hospital bed and settled in the curve of her embrace.
With great reverence, Cady addressed all their concerns. “The babies’ eyes are closed because they are sleeping. When the twins wake up, they’ll open their eyes. I think the reason we were blessed with girls is that we already have three adorable little boys in our family.”
The brothers beamed in delight.
“And girls are allowed to be named after flowers,” Cady explained.
The two older boys snuggled next to her, listening intently, still a little unsure. Micah hung on tight to Cady, and cuddled on her lap.
“I think I know what the problem is, though,” Jeb said, handing off the twins to Suki and Hermann.
His expression as serious as the situation warranted, he sat on the bed next to Cady and the boys. “I think you fellas might be worried that Aunt Cady and I won’t have time for you now that we have the babies.”
The looks on their faces said Jeb had diagnosed the problem accurately.
“But that’s absolutely not true,” Cady exclaimed, agreeing with her husband and looking each child in the eye. “Uncle Jeb and I will always have plenty of time for you all. You can come to our ranch and see us whenever you want, and we’ll come to your house, too. In fact, your mommy and daddy and Jeb and I have already talked about trading babysitting duties from time to time, so you boys will be able to get Uncle Jeb and I all to yourselves.”
“Promise?” Dalton asked, his voice sounding a little rusty.