by Judy Duarte
Yet he didn’t want to leave without getting a chance to talk to Juliana personally.
Maybe it would be in his best interest if Sheriff Hollister did come and sort all this out. He was just about to suggest it when Juliana entered the fracas.
“Mom? Grandma? What are you doing?” she asked.
“You told this good-for-nothing rascal to leave you and the baby alone, but he didn’t listen,” the bat-wielding grandmother shouted. “So I’m going to run him off for good.”
“Mother,” Mrs. Bailey said as she grabbed the older woman’s wrist, “don’t hit him with that baseball bat. You’ll get arrested for assault, and then look at the trouble you’ll be in. Just because you work at city hall doesn’t mean you have diplomatic immunity.”
“No, but I do have some pull.”
“Enough,” Juliana’s mother said, wrenching the bat from her mother’s hands. “I’m calling Sheriff Hollister. We’ll file a restraining order against Mr. Montgomery, and he won’t be able to bother Juliana again.”
Montgomery? So that’s why they’d called Jason a lying cheat and were so all-fired intent upon running him off. He couldn’t say that he blamed them, considering the mistaken identity. “You’ve got this all wrong. Let me explain.”
“No,” Juliana said. “Let me. He’s not the baby’s father.”
At that, Grandma’s scowl vanished, and she turned to Jason sheepishly. “Then who are you?”
“He’s Jason Rayburn,” Juliana answered. “My former boss.”
“Well, you should have said something sooner,” Grandma said. “I could have killed you. I have a batting average of three-ninety in the Hot Mamas League.”
Jason offered her a smile and tried to make light of the mistake. “If I’d known that and thought you would have swung, I would have hightailed it out of here.”
“Maybe you still should.” Juliana crossed her arms. “Sheriff Hollister knows he’d better hurry over here when Gram thinks she has a prowler.”
Apparently, he’d only eased the imminent threat of violence. “Juliana, if you don’t mind, I need to talk to you. I’d like to apologize.”
“Come on in,” Grandma said. “We’d like to hear what you have to say.”
We? Surely Juliana would ask for privacy. Wouldn’t she?
When all three women stepped aside, he realized he was going to have an audience.
All right then. If that’s the way she wanted it... “I’m sorry for offering you the job in Houston. I was wrong for beating around the bush. I should have been more direct, but I was afraid.”
“Of what?” Juliana asked. “Having to fire me when you grew tired of having me around?”
When Grandma eased toward Mrs. Bailey, who held the bat, Jason beat her to it, snatching the weapon from Juliana’s mother. “I’m sorry, ladies, but I’d feel a lot better if I could hold on to this for a while. Feel free to call the sheriff, though.”
He tossed Juliana a smile, but she didn’t return it. Okay, then. He’d better get back to the apology. “I was insensitive and selfish, and I’m sorry. I was afraid to admit how I was feeling about you. Over the past few weeks, I fell in love with you, but it scared the crap out of me. I’ve never felt this way before, and I’m not sure what to do with it. I haven’t seen an example of a successful marriage or even a long-lasting relationship before, and what if I suck at it? What if I fail you? I’d not only hurt you, but I’d risk hurting the baby, too.”
“You love me?” Juliana asked, her voice softening along with her stance.
“Doesn’t that scare you?” he asked.
“Actually, it makes me feel a whole lot better about loving you.”
She loved him, too?
“So I’m not alone in this?” he asked.
“No, you’re not. And just so you know, I’m not sure what to make of it all, either. It happened so fast. But I do love you, Jason Rayburn.”
“All right,” he said, “then I’d like to apply for a job. And I’m willing to give you my résumé, which is sadly lacking in experience and education. But I’m eager to learn.”
“What job is that?”
“I might not be your baby’s biological father,” Jason said, “but I’d like to apply for the daddy position—if it’s available.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and her lips quivered as they formed a smile. “The job is definitely open.”
“How about the position of husband? I’m afraid I’m lacking in that department, too.”
Her eyes widened, and her lips parted. “You want to marry me?”
“I didn’t buy a ring yet, which I think was probably my first mistake in Bridegroom 101. So you can see that I have a lot to learn.”
Juliana laughed while swiping at the tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t need a ring.”
“Oh, yes, she does,” Grandma said. “It doesn’t have to be a diamond, but a band of some kind is expected.”
Juliana kissed her grandmother. “I know you mean well, and I love you to pieces. But I think it’s time Jason and I discussed the rest of these details on our own.”
Jason handed the bat to Grandma, trusting she wouldn’t use it on him anymore. Then he took Juliana in his arms, burying his face in her hair, savoring her exotic scent and the feel of her in his arms. “I love you, Juliana. We’ll work it all out one way or another.”
Then he kissed her with all the love in his heart, a silent promise to do whatever it took to be the best husband and father he could, for now and for always.
When the kiss ended, the audience of two broke into smiles, clearly pleased by what had unfolded.
“I’d rather not have a long engagement,” he told Juliana. “Unless you want one.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“I’m more sure with every minute I stand here. So what do you say?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
At that, cheers broke out.
“Jason,” Mrs. Bailey said, “let me be the first to welcome you to the family. Some of us might be a little wild and woolly, especially if we have a pistol or a baseball bat in hand, but we’re also very warm, loving and supportive.”
“That is,” Grandma said, “as long as you’re good to our girls—both of them.”
“I promise to do my best,” he said. And he meant that from the bottom of his heart.
He drew Juliana close. As Granny had said, life was about love and family. And on that, he was willing to lay his heart.
Chapter Twelve
Less than a week after Jason proposed, Juliana stood in front of a floor-length mirror in the choir room at the Brighton Valley Community Church, adjusting her bridal veil.
The past few days had passed in a happy blur, but everything seemed to fall right into place as if they’d planned their small wedding months in advance. Her dress was a simple white satin gown with an empire waist that she’d found in a shop in Wexler. It fit perfectly and hadn’t needed a single alteration.
Wanda at Valley Florists played softball with Gram and had given them a deal on the brightly colored flowers—pincushion proteas, peonies and garden roses.
Her mother stood beside her wearing a pale blue dress, her brown hair pulled up in a twist. “You look beautiful, honey. But then again, I always knew you would be a beautiful bride someday.”
Juliana felt beautiful, probably because she also felt loved and cherished. She glanced at her left hand, where Jason had placed a two-carat diamond just five days ago and where he would soon add a matching band.
She’d never been so happy.
“I’m going to make sure everyone is here and seated,” Mom said. “Then I’ll let Reverend Steuben know that we’re ready to begin.”
As her mother slipped out of the room, Juliana turned to her maid of honor and soon-to-be sister-in-law. Carly had driven in from San Antonio this morning and had just finished dressing in a light green sundress she’d purchased recently, but hadn’t worn. “Thanks for making the trip on such s
hort notice. I know it wasn’t easy for you to get the time off.”
Carly smiled, her eyes glimmering. “Actually, it wasn’t so tough to get away. They let me go yesterday.”
Juliana gasped. “I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“It’s that stupid flu bug. I can’t seem to kick it. One night I’m fine, then the next, I’m sick as a dog. There’s no rhyme or reason for it, but the director said that if he couldn’t count on me to be one hundred percent for every performance, he had to cut me loose. So here I am.”
“I feel guilty for being so happy when your whole world must be falling apart.”
Carly grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me today. There’ll be other singing gigs.”
“Are you feeling better now?” Juliana asked.
“I’m fine. Just tired. But I got up early and drove six hours. I just need to get some rest, which I intend to do tonight. But if that doesn’t help, I’ll see my doctor while I’m in town.”
“That might be a good idea. You don’t want to take any chances.”
“I won’t. By the way, do you think Jason would mind if I stayed at the ranch for a while? I let my apartment in town go when I moved to San Antonio.”
“Of course he won’t mind. We’ll be gone on our honeymoon for a week anyway.”
Carly glanced in the mirror and fussed with an errant blond curl. “Where are you going?”
“We’re spending the night in Houston, then flying to Guadalajara tomorrow morning.”
“Why Mexico...?” Carly straightened and turned away from the mirror. “Wait, don’t tell me. Jason plans to take over that search for Braden and look for Camilla’s kids.”
Juliana nodded. “He’s determined to check out some of the orphanages and see if he can find them. He wants to make sure they’re okay, and I can’t blame him.”
“What will you do if you find them?”
“He and Braden have been discussing options.”
Carly crossed her arms. “That’s interesting. And so is the fact that Jason asked Braden to be his best man today.”
Juliana laughed. “It’s not like they’ve become best friends yet.”
“Still, it’s a start.”
Yes, it was. And if Juliana had her way, the brothers would grow closer as time went by.
The door opened, and Juliana’s mother poked her head inside. “Everyone’s here, Julie. Are you girls ready?”
Juliana adjusted her veil one last time. “Yes, we are.”
And with that, she swept out of the choir room, ready to marry the man she loved.
* * *
While Jason waited with his brother in the church breezeway, ready to walk through the side door along the altar to stand with the minister who would perform the ceremony, his cell phone rang.
“Are you going to answer that now?” Braden asked.
Jason glanced at the display, noting that it was Doug at the home office. “This is the last call I’ll take. Then I’ll power down—or at least, silence it—for the next few days.” He swept his finger across the screen. “Hey, Doug. What’s up?”
“Stan Wainwright’s attorney called again. How do you want me to respond regarding their proposal?”
“Schedule a meeting for the end of next week. I’m getting married today and will be off the radar for the next four or five days.”
“That’s a surprise. Who’s the lucky woman? Have I met her?”
“No, not yet. It’s Juliana Bailey.”
“The woman you wanted to hire?”
Jason grinned. “Yep, that’s the one.”
“She turned down the offer I gave her. Did she change her mind about coming to work for us?”
“No, she’ll probably enroll at one of the universities instead. She’s still thinking about what she wants to do.”
Doug blew out a whistle. “Marriage, huh? I never saw that coming. It sure happened quickly. What’d you decide to do? Elope?”
“Pretty much. It’s a small guest list—just family and a few close friends.”
Counting the bridal party of four, Braden’s mom and Juliana’s mother and grandmother, the family members only numbered seven. But even with the few friends Karen Bailey and Gram had invited, the church was going to be nearly empty.
Of course, Jason had brought the portrait of Granny and placed it in the front row. It only seemed right that she be there in spirit, although he sensed she would be looking down on them anyway.
“Well, boss,” Doug said, “I wish you and your new wife all the best. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. We’ll stop by the office when we get back from our honeymoon.”
After disconnecting the line and shutting off the power, Jason turned to Braden. “I won’t turn it back on until I call you from Guadalajara.”
“What’s your first step going to be after you find the kids?” Braden asked.
“I’ll look for Camilla’s next of kin—or someone who’ll provide them with a good home.”
“And what if there isn’t anyone? Dad wouldn’t have left them in an orphanage.”
“You’re right. So if that’s the case, then you and I will have to put our heads together and come up with a solution. Maybe someone in Brighton Valley will want to adopt them. Can you ask around? You might talk to the minister. He’d probably be a good resource.”
“That’s an idea. I’ll see what I can do.”
As the organist began to play, Jason nudged Braden’s arm. “That’s our cue. Come on, let’s go.”
They walked into the church along the altar and stopped where the Reverend Steuben had instructed them to stand. Then they faced the wedding guests.
Jason’s new family sat in the front row. Karen Bailey, who’d soon be his mother-in-law, had told him to call her Mom. He hadn’t done so yet, but something told him it wouldn’t be long before the good-hearted woman made it seem like the most natural thing in the world for him to do. Next to her sat Jolene Crenshaw, otherwise known as Gram. The spunky old gal was proving to be a real hoot, with stories he might never tire of hearing. Then there was Braden’s mom, Shannon Miller. The sweet lady had reached out to Jason years ago, but he hadn’t accepted her friendship when he’d been a boy. Things were different now.
He’d grown up—especially these past few weeks. He had a sister and brother he hadn’t appreciated until now. And if they were willing, he’d like to get to know them better.
As the organist changed the tune to the bridal march, Carly started down the aisle. His sister had grown into a beautiful young woman. He hoped that she hadn’t been as damaged by her parents as he’d been by his. But if so, Jason hoped she found someone special someday, a loving man who touched her heart and soul like Juliana had touched his.
While Carly took her place along the altar, Juliana proceeded down the aisle. His beautiful bride, dressed in a gown of white, nearly stole his breath away. She held a bouquet in front of her belly, where their daughter grew. But she wasn’t hiding her secret. Not any longer. They were going to be parents, and his name would join hers on the baby’s birth certificate.
As Juliana approached the altar, Jason reached out to her, and she placed her hand in his.
This was it. The day his life would change.
No—the day his life would truly begin.
“Dearly beloved,” Reverend Steuben said as he started the ceremony.
Jason could scarcely hear the words. All he could think of was how lucky he was, how glad he was to make Juliana his wife—forever, from this day forward—until death parted them.
* * *
Jason hadn’t spared any expense when he’d booked the honeymoon suite at The St. Regis in Houston and lined up their catering staff. From the time the valet opened the passenger door until the newlyweds had been escorted to their room, Juliana and Jason were treated like royalty.
Soft music welcomed them into their elegantly decorated suite, where sever
al bouquets of long-stemmed red roses adorned the living area. Platters of chocolate truffles, fresh fruit and a variety of cheeses, as well as a silver champagne bucket and two crystal flutes, sat on the glass-topped table.
“This is amazing,” Juliana said.
Jason brushed a kiss on her cheek, then tipped the bellman.
“Why, thank you, sir.” After placing their luggage in the dressing room, the bellman stood at the door. “If there’s anything you need, Mr. Rayburn, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Juliet couldn’t imagine what that might be, unless he planned to order their dinner from room service.
When they were finally alone, she looked at the ice bucket, which held two bottles rather than one. She placed her hand on her baby bump. “I’m not able to have champagne. Are you going to drink both of those?”
Jason gripped the neck of one bottle and lifted out sparkling apple cider. “I thought we should both toast our marriage tonight.”
She placed her hands on her hips and smiled. “Why, Mr. Rayburn. You’ve turned out to be far more romantic than I realized.”
He tossed her a crooked grin. “Should I apologize?”
She moved toward him and slipped her arms around his neck. “Don’t you dare. I love romance—and I especially love you.” Then she kissed him, long and deep.
As their bodies pressed together, Jason’s hands slid along the curve of her back and down the slope of her derriere. He pulled her hips forward, against his erection, showing her how badly he wanted her.
She whimpered, then arched forward, revealing her own need, her own arousal.
When she thought she was going to die from desire, she ended the kiss, then slowly turned and lifted her hair, silently asking him to unzip her gown.
As Jason slid Juliana’s zipper down in a slow and deliberate fashion, he slipped the fabric over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Then he kissed the back of her neck.
Moments later, she turned and stood before him in a white lace bra and matching panties. Her body, petite yet lithe, was everything he’d imagined it to be and more. Even the rounded slope of her belly, where their daughter grew, made her more feminine, more lovely. More alluring.
