Fortune's Secret Baby

by Christyne Butler

  She slowly shook her head, trying to ignore the stricken look that crossed his face. “I can’t heal you like you’re one of my rescue horses, Cooper. If you are going to be ‘saved,’ you need to save yourself.”

  “I know. And it’s up to me to make things different, better, for myself. I’m also smart enough to know I’m a work in progress.” He offered a halfhearted shrug. “Hell, a man can’t change a way of thinking, knee-jerk reactions, or brainless decision-making that easily, especially after living a certain way his entire life. I’ll screw up again somewhere down the line, but that’s not going to stop me from doing my damndest to be a better man. The kind of man who deserves a woman like you.”

  “Cooper, I—”

  “I love you, Kelsey Hunt.” He slowly walked toward her. “I’ve never said that to a woman before. In fact, the only other person I’ve ever said that to is lying right over there.”

  He looked at the hospital bed where Anthony had fallen back into a peaceful sleep. Kelsey saw steadfastness in his gaze, mixed with an easy contentment, and she couldn’t stop herself from taking his hand.

  He turned to look at her again, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “I love my son and I love you. My plan is to repeat those words to both of you. Often. Please believe me, Kelsey. I love you so much.”

  “I—I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say I’m not too late.” He cupped her cheek and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into his touch.

  “Tell me you forgive me,” he whispered against her temple. “Tell me that you love me, too.”

  She melted into him. “I do love you.”

  Her breathy rush of words caused his hand to tighten involuntarily in her hair. “Really?”

  Kelsey smiled and moved into his arms, loving how they encircled her with warmth and strength. “Yes, really.”

  His lips moved softly over hers in a kiss that held the promise of his love and a shared future. “Thank you, thank you.”

  A knock at the door had Kelsey stepping back out of his arms, but Cooper held her close to his side as the young doctor who’d met them at the ER entrance hours ago walked into the room.

  “Well, we have news about your son,” Dr. Stanhope said as he flipped open the chart in his hands. “Due to the symptoms Anthony exhibited when he arrived, and a blood test that showed him with a higher white blood cell count than normal, we initially thought he was suffering from respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. For most children, RSV isn’t much different from a standard cold with a cough, runny nose and a low-grade fever. However, some kids also suffer from an inflammation of the lung’s air tubes, which, in a child of Anthony’s age, are very small. That’s what happened in your son’s case.”

  Kelsey bit on her lower lip, trying to hold back her tears at the doctor’s diagnosis. Cooper stiffened, his arm tightening around her waist.

  “So he has bronchitis?” he asked.

  “Actually, it’s called bronchiolitis in infants and despite your son’s mild symptoms, the onset was fast. You’ll want to make sure his primary care doctor keeps an eye on his lung development once this infection has cleared up. We’re replenishing his fluids with the IV, and he’s still a bit raspy, but the good news is, he’s responding to treatment, and we expect a full recovery.”

  “He’s really going to be okay?” Kelsey asked.

  “Yes, he really is. We’re going to keep him for the day, just to make sure.” The doctor smiled as he closed the file, his focus on Cooper. “Then, Mrs. Fortune, you’ll be free to take your family home.”

  Kelsey’s face heated at the doctor’s assumption. “Oh, I’m not—”

  “Going anywhere, yes, dear, we know.” Cooper cut off her words with a quick kiss to her forehead. He then released her in order to hold out his hand. “We’re staying until Anthony is released. Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate all you’ve done.”

  The doctor shook Cooper’s hand and Kelsey’s when she offered it as well. “You’re both welcome, and don’t worry about bringing the little one to the hospital. My wife and I are new parents, too, and it can be a bit scary sometimes.”

  “And wonderful,” Kelsey said, happiness filling her. She now understood the meaning of Cooper’s assurance that they were both here for Anthony. “It’s wonderful, as well.”

  “I thought you said you had it.”

  Cooper spoke in a hushed whisper as he and Flint stood in the hallway off the kitchen of the main house at the Double Crown Ranch. Everyone—and he did mean everyone—had come to the ranch today at Lily’s request for a party to officially welcome Anthony to the Fortune family.

  The last time there’d been this many Fortunes and Mendozas together in one place had been at what was supposed to have been Lily and William’s wedding, back on New Year’s Eve.

  He wondered if Lily thought of that as she moved around the expansive back patio, making sure everyone had enough to eat and drink. She kept returning to check on William, too, who’d chosen to sit on the outskirts of the party at an umbrella-covered table.

  “Didn’t I give it to you already?” Flint patted his hands over his pockets, first his shirt, then his jeans, a wide grin on his face.

  “Don’t play games with me, little brother. Not today.”

  “Geez, you become a father and fall in love and suddenly you’re no fun anymore.” Flint yanked out a small velvet box from his back pocket and tossed it to his brother. “It’s a beauty. When did you find the time to shop?”

  “I spotted it when I took Anthony to the clinic on Saturday for a follow-up visit.” Cooper popped open the lid and looked down at the square-cut diamond flanked by two blue topazes, Anthony and Kelsey’s birthstones, as both were born in December. “It’s perfect. Thanks for picking it up.”

  “You plan on doing this here? Today?”

  Cooper smiled. “Yep.”

  “You sure Kelsey is going to give you the right answer? The answer you want?”

  He was a hundred percent sure and even spoke with Kelsey’s father a few minutes ago about his intentions.

  He’d found Jack Hunt to be a soft-spoken man with a humorous gleam in his eye, but he was also serious when it came to his family. Jack had asked some pointed questions that Cooper answered honestly, then he shook Cooper’s hand and welcomed him to the family. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  Flint just shook his head and walked toward the outside patio where the party was taking place.

  Cooper fell into step behind him, but ended up walking right into him when Flint stopped suddenly. “Whoa, what’d you run into?”

  Flint pointed at his leg. “This.”

  Cooper looked down and grinned when he saw the little kid who’d latched himself tightly to Flint’s pant leg.

  The boy looked up at the two brothers. “Hi.”

  “Hi, yourself,” Flint replied, then glanced at Cooper. “Who does this rug rat belong to?”

  “Hard to say.” Cooper grinned. “I think the majority of the people here today are under four feet tall.”

  “Adam, there you are!”

  Jessica hurried across the family room toward them. She reached for the boy who in turn only clung tighter to Flint’s pants.

  Dropping to her knees, she worked to peel the tiny fingers from the starched khaki material. “Adam, you’re supposed to be with your sister. Now, let go of this gentleman.”

  “No!”

  “I’m really sorry about this.” She looked upward, a heated blush on her cheeks that deepened when her gaze landed on Flint’s face. She then looked at Cooper and her eyes grew wide. “Cooper.”

  “Hey, Jess.”

  Flint bracketed his hands on his hips. “I take it you two know each other?”

  “Jess, this is my brother, Flint Fortune.” Cooper gestured with a wave of his hand. “Flint, this is Jessica Hunt-Myers… Kelsey’s sister.”

  It took a moment, but Cooper saw his brother make the connection. Having driven directly to the hospital when his plan
e had landed in San Antonio last Wednesday, Flint had walked into Anthony’s hospital room with a furry teddy bear under one arm, and found Kelsey napping on the couch, her head on Cooper’s lap. Cooper managed not to wake her as he slid free, knowing the surprised look on his brother’s face would be followed by questions. A lot of questions. They’d gone for coffee and Cooper filled him in on everything—from Anthony’s diagnosis to falling in love with Kelsey—including his early-morning run-in with her sister.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Flint,” Jessica huffed as she worked on her son’s hands. Finally freeing them from Flint’s pants, she stood with the boy in her arms. “And this is my son, Adam.”

  Flint grinned at the kid. “Hey, Adam.”

  The little boy smiled in return and then turned to his mother. “I like him, Mama. I choose him.”

  Cooper didn’t have any idea what the little boy was talking about, but the blush on Jessica’s face deepened.

  “Sweetie, I told you it doesn’t work that way.” She addressed her son in a low whisper. “Mr. Fortune isn’t a piece of candy.”

  Cooper barked out a laugh, but choked it off when his brother shot him a dark look.

  “Excuse me?” Flint asked.

  “No, I didn’t mean—it’s just that Adam is on this kick about picking out a—um, well…”

  “Candy?”

  “No,” Adam spouted with a wide grin, “I want a new da—”

  Jessica clapped her fingers over her son’s mouth, cutting off his words. “I really should get back to the rest of my brood. Cooper, I think Kelsey was looking for you. Flint, it was nice to meet you.”

  Jessica hurried away, weaving her way around the leather couch and coffee table, Adam waving at the two of them over her shoulder. Cooper waved back, then noticed his brother’s gaze glued to his future sister-in-law’s swaying hips.

  “Flint?” He waited until his brother turned to look at him, not buying the innocent, boyish look he’d seen many times over the years. “No.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t even think about it. She’s a mother.”

  “I sort of figured that out, Coop.”

  “You’re a player and she’s not even in the game.” He took a step closer, keeping his voice low. “She’s a widow with four kids, all under the age of eight.”

  Flint’s eyebrows rose. “Four?”

  Cooper held up four fingers as he followed Jessica’s path outside.

  He spotted Kelsey across the patio, talking with Jeremy, Kirsten and her brother, Max. Kirsten was holding Anthony in her arms and Cooper was glad to see that both of them had recovered from their colds in time for the party.

  It still caused his heart to miss a beat every time he thought about that horrible night in the hospital with his son.

  He headed for Kelsey, but stopped to shake hands with Marcos Mendoza and Wendy Fortune, who had catered the party today, and to give Lily a quick kiss of thanks for opening her home to everyone.

  “You are an amazing lady,” he said after he returned her hug. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

  Her gaze flicked off to one side, and Cooper realized she was looking at William before she turned to him again with a serene smile on her face. “Yes, a few someones, a time or two.”

  “Is all of this too much for him?”

  Lily shook her head, knowing exactly who he was asking about. “William’s quiet and a bit withdrawn, but he’s also relaxed and just…observing. If that’s all he can give today, that’s enough. Now, let me go check on the children.”

  Cooper wasn’t sure which generation of children she was referring to, William’s sons or the young ones running around. He continued toward Kelsey, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “Hey, you,” he whispered in her ear before brushing her long hair off one bare shoulder to drop a quick kiss there. He loved the red dress she wore that left her shoulders, arms and legs bare.

  “Where have you been?” Kelsey whispered back, turning her head to look at him as she leaned onto his chest. “You took off after your brother as soon as Flint arrived.”

  “Oh, just guy talk.” He gave her another kiss, then nodded a hello to his cousin. “You keeping an eye on my kid, doc?”

  “He’s doing just fine,” Jeremy said with a smile. “Hard to believe after the way he looked five days ago.”

  “Thank goodness,” Kirsten added as she gave Anthony a quick squeeze. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if something— Well, if something had happened…”

  Cooper nodded, knowing exactly what she was saying as Kelsey moved to stand at his side. “We all feel the same.”

  “You’re a good father,” Max added. “I’m glad Anthony found his way home to you.”

  It meant a lot to Cooper that these three people felt that way, as they’d been the first ones to take Anthony into their home, and their hearts, and care for him. “Thank you for saying that, and thank you for all you did for Anthony.”

  Anthony held out his arms and Cooper took him, holding him close to his chest. When his son reached out and laid a tiny palm against his cheek, he knew he wasn’t going to repeat the mistakes his own parents had made. He had the opportunity right now to have the life he’d so envied when he was growing up—a stable, loving one, surrounded by family.

  A family that included everyone here this afternoon. Most important, a family that included Kelsey and Anthony.

  And now was the perfect time to make that happen.

  “Hey, could I have everyone’s attention, please?” Cooper called out as he walked backward to the center of the patio, pulling a bewildered Kelsey along with him.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, tugging on his hand.

  He just smiled and shook his head as everyone quieted down. The Fortunes, Mendozas and Hunts gathered in a wide circle on the patio and the grassy area beyond.

  “First, I’d like to thank all of you for coming this afternoon,” Cooper said, facing the crowd, “and I’d especially like to thank Lily for having this crazy, noisy mob in her home.”

  Cheers erupted and glasses were raised in salute for several minutes, before everyone grew silent again.

  “I’m not one for making big speeches,” he continued, “but I’ve come to recognize over the last few weeks, and especially the last few days, that life is such a blessing, and that my long, rocky path has led me to this wonderful child and a bright future.”

  He looked over at his brothers and sister, standing close by with their families. “It feels good to be home again, with my family, with all of you, but it wasn’t until I met this very special lady here…”

  He turned to face Kelsey, loving the brilliant joy shining from her eyes as she gazed at him. “It wasn’t until I met Kelsey that I realized something very important was missing.”

  Letting go of her hand, he pulled out the small jewelry box from his pocket and opened it. A collective gasp from the crowd turned into more cheers, applause and whistles as he took out the ring and dropped to one knee in front of her. Balancing Anthony’s weight with his own, he looked up and found Kelsey, eyes filled with tears, staring at him.

  “I love you with all my heart, Kels, and I’d be honored—we, Anthony and I—would be honored if you agreed to share your life with us.”

  He held out the ring to her. “Marry me, Kelsey.”

  She quickly nodded her head. “Yes.”

  The cheering increased as Cooper rose and slid the diamond onto her finger. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close, and their lips met in a light, teasing kiss that held the promise of a wonderful future.

  “I love you, Cooper Fortune,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too.”

  Moments later they were inundated with hugs and well-wishes from everyone around them. They accepted congratulations and the party continued as the families celebrated together.

  Cooper felt a tug on his arm and he turned to find his fiancée had returned to his si
de.

  “Do you realize my sister is taking all the credit for us ending up together?” Kelsey asked with a smile.

  He grinned and gave her a quick wink. “That’s fine with me. Did she tell you that little Adam has taken quite a liking to my brother, Flint?”

  “No, she didn’t. I’ll have to talk to her about that in a minute, but first I’ve noticed your uncle William looking over here at you and Anthony,” she continued as she took his hand. “Why don’t we go over and see him? I don’t think he’s been introduced to your son yet.”

  “Our son.”

  She smiled. “Our son.”

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Cooper said.

  Tears of joy threatened to spill over from Lily’s eyes as Kelsey and Cooper headed their way. They joined her and William where they sat with JR, Isabella, Ross and Julie at one of the outdoor dining tables.

  She was so happy for the couple, and even happier that Cooper felt comfortable enough with his family to share such a special moment with all of them.

  There would be another Fortune wedding soon, and despite the sharp pang to her heart with the knowledge it wouldn’t be her own, it truly was a wonderful thing.

  She brushed away any evidence of her emotions and smiled. “Congratulations, you two.”

  “Thanks, Lily,” Cooper said.

  Kelsey sat in the empty chair next to her and took Lily’s outstretched hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go.

  Cooper stood in front of William and shifted Anthony from one arm to the other. “Hey, Uncle William, I’m sorry for not getting over here sooner to say hello and for not introducing you to this little guy.”

  William remained silent, but stared at Anthony with an intense gaze. Lily glanced around, noticing the others were picking up on William’s reaction to the baby, as well.

  “Anthony, this is my uncle William.”

  William started to raise his hands, then he dropped them back to his lap. What did that mean? Did he want to…?

  “Would you like to hold him?”

  William nodded, so Cooper knelt and placed the baby in his uncle’s lap, staying close in case he needed to reach for Anthony.

  A crowd formed around them as William’s other sons, Nick and Darr and their wives, moved closer to the table, watching their father intently.