Justin didn’t need another second to think about this. He loved Kat and Connor and wanted them with him for the rest of his life.
His knee hit the floor right there in Kat’s bedroom, beside the crib where his young son lay. His sweet baby breaths were the music that soothed Justin’s soul. Lifting his face to Kat, he saw love enter her eyes. He knew this was right. They had come down a very jagged path to find each other, but now he’d do everything in his power to keep them together.
“Beautiful Katherine, will you marry me? Will you become my wife? Will you and Connor be my family?”
“Oh, Justin. Yes. Yes. I’ll marry you. We already are your family.”
He rose to his feet and smiled. How lucky could he get? He kissed her deeply, soundly, and let his lips linger on hers for long moments after.
“I can’t wait to make it official,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “The sooner the better for me. Do you think you’d like a double wedding? Luke and Audrey wouldn’t mind if we tagged along. I’ve already hinted at it and Audrey was all over the idea.”
Her voice broke tenderly. “Really? You’ve discussed this with Audrey and your brother?”
“Yeah, late last night.”
“But their wedding is coming up fast.”
He gulped air. Was he pressing her? “Too soon?”
She braced both hands on his chest and nestled closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder. “Not at all. I’m a simple girl, remember? I don’t need a fancy wedding. I just need you and Connor.”
Soft whimpers rose up from the crib. His son had good timing. “He’s agreeing.”
Kat moved away and bent over the crib to lift the baby up. Cradling him in her arms, she whispered, “He’s smart as a whip.”
“Takes after his mommy.”
“I won’t argue with that.” Her lips pressed against Connor’s eyebrow and Justin kissed him on the other one. Then he wrapped his arms around the two people he loved most in the world, huddling them into his embrace.
“Family hug,” Kat said, laughing.
Connor’s lips formed a big smile and Justin’s heart zinged. “I don’t think I could be any happier.”
Connor shifted from Kat’s steady hold and leaned toward Justin with arms outstretched, waving for his attention. “Oh, look. He wants his daddy.”
Justin reached for him and Kat made the easy transfer. His son nestled into his chest, spreading warmth.
Standing back, a warm loving beam entered Kat’s eyes. “That just looks right. I don’t think I could be any happier, either.”
Justin grinned.
All the secrets were out.
The three of them were where they belonged.
And finally a family.
Epilogue
Kat’s engagement ring caught sunlight and sparkled, dazzling her almost as much as the man standing at the podium on the front steps of the Douglas County office. Dressed in a fitted dark suit and tie, his Congressional Medal of Honor pinned to his lapel, Justin addressed the thousands of townspeople who’d honored him with a parade through the main street of town. All five of the servicemen whose lives he’d saved stood behind him, a living, breathing testament to his bravery. Aunt Mattie, holding Connor in her arms, sat beside Kat in the front row. Luke and Audrey, Logan and Sophia were seated directly next to them.
“Thank you. Thank you.” Justin’s voice was filled with gratitude. “For all of you who have come here today, it’s an honor to serve you and my country. I have to say I’m humbled by the turnout. Your generosity and support mean a lot to me. Though I didn’t want all the hoopla—and certainly when I commanded my unit in Afghanistan, a parade in my honor wasn’t something I’d ever dreamed of—I do appreciate what you’ve done for me today.”
He sent Kat a nod. She rose from her seat and he waited while she picked up Connor. As soon as they reached the podium to take their place beside Justin, the baby, dressed in his little blue suit, opened and closed his hand, waving to the onlookers. Sighs and giggles rang out.
Justin’s prideful chuckle boomed over the loudspeaker. “And before I go on, I want to introduce you to a very special woman...someone who’s made a big difference in my life, someone who, by this time tomorrow, will be my wife. Katherine Grady.”
Justin set his hand on her waist and drew her close. Their hips bumped, and she smiled at the crowd. She didn’t want the attention—this was Justin’s time to shine—but he’d insisted she stand up here with him. He wanted to put to rest once and for all the rumors and innuendo from those scandalous articles. He wanted a fresh start and to show the world he was behind her one hundred percent. He wanted to introduce his family. “And this little tyke, who’s got his wave down pretty darn good, is our son, Connor Brett Slade.”
Applause broke out. “I know,” Justin said over the noise, “he is pretty darn cute, isn’t he?”
Justin waited for the noise to settle down, his big smile warming her heart. Oh, how she loved him. She could hardly believe tomorrow she’d be Mrs. Justin Slade, wife, mother and Babylicious clothes designer.
Justin went on. “We gave our boy the middle name of Brett, because it means something real important to all of us.” Justin’s gaze flowed over to Mattie. “Brett Applegate was a buddy of mine, a damn good marine and a great person. Brett lost his life in a firefight in Afghanistan. To honor him and his uncle Ralph Applegate, who was also a veteran, along with all of the great men and women who’ve served our country in the military, I’m happy to announce that come next spring, a project I’m very proud of will be opening its doors in Silver Springs. On the spot of Brett’s family farm, we’re building an equine retreat for veterans called the Gateway Equine Retreat. Soldiers helping horses, horses helping soldiers. Can’t think of anything better. The construction is already in the works thanks to the cooperation and help of Brett’s aunt, Matilda Applegate. It’s going to be something remarkable and I hope you’ll join us at the grand opening.”
After concluding his speech, Justin pulled Kat aside, grabbing her hand and taking her back behind the county building. He trapped her against a wall, his hands braced on the building bricks behind her. “Thanks for standing by my side.” His lips tenderly touched hers.
“Always.”
He smiled. “You’re beautiful.”
She lifted a hand to a wayward lock of his hair and set it in place. “So are you.”
“I can’t wait to get you alone tonight.”
“Mmm, sounds good. But you’re not getting me alone.”
His eyes opened a little wider. “I’m not?”
“Nope. Sophia has invited me and Audrey over for a good old-fashioned night-before-the-double-wedding girls’ party. After tomorrow, we’ll all be Slades. That’s something to celebrate. I’ll be staying at Sophia’s cottage tonight.”
“And what will I be doing?”
“Well, you, Connor, Logan and Luke can have a boys’ night.”
“You mean I’m babysitting?”
She tilted her head to one side. “I thought you’d like that.”
A smile broadened his lips. “I love it. But I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too.” Her fingers walked up his chest to his collarbone and she massaged the hollow spot there. “What if I make it up to you?”
“Keep talking.”
“I think I’ll leave it to your very vivid imagination.”
His eyes burned hot and hungry. “Man, oh, man, I love you, Kat.”
She’d never imagined this much happiness could fill her life. It beamed inside of her. She�
��d never forget her past, but now she had the promise of a wonderful future ahead with no detours or roadblocks in her path.
It was smooth sailing from here on out.
Kat smiled.
“I love you, too, Justin.”
He covered her hand with his and led her toward a life as brilliant and beautiful as a Nevada sunset.
* * * * *
If you loved Justin’s story, don’t miss a single novel in
THE SLADES OF SUNSET RANCH,
a Nevada-set series from USA TODAY bestselling author Charlene Sands:
SUNSET SURRENDER
SUNSET SEDUCTION
THE SECRET HEIR OF SUNSET RANCH
All available now from Harlequin Desire!
Keep reading for an excerpt from TO TAME A COWBOY by Jules Bennett.
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Desire story.
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Prologue
Twenty Years Ago
Piper Kindred was so sick of being snubbed by the girls who thought the only things worth talking about were their lip gloss shades and where they got their new outfit. She was also sick of being disrespected by the boys who didn’t quite know how to handle her so they just ignored her.
Where did she fit in? God, she hated school. Even the third grade sucked. She’d switched schools so she didn’t have friends yet, but seriously, if this was how the rest of the year would go, she’d rather be home riding her horse or learning to rope. School was overrated anyway.
Especially considering that at recess for the past two days all she’d heard were brats mocking her. Today was no different.
“Look at her belt buckle.”
“What kind of name is Piper, anyway?”
“Dude, did you see that clown hair?”
Piper rolled her eyes at the annoying kids trying to get on her nerves. It was working, but she’d never let them know it.
She’d heard enough crap from other kids about her name and her wardrobe. So she liked plaid flannel and cowgirl boots; she was Walker Kindred’s daughter. Didn’t they know he was a legend? Morons. Didn’t even know her father was pretty much a celebrity.
And the hair comments they kept tossing her way? Yeah, there was hardly a day that went by she didn’t have to hear something about “carrot top” or “finger in a light socket” or “Bozo the Clown.” So it was red and curly. To be honest, she liked being different from all these other stupid kids.
“Don’t let them get to you.”
Piper spun around on the playground. A boy at least a head taller than her stood with his thumbs hanging in his belt loops. He had a head full of messy dark brown hair and the brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen. And he was wearing a flannel shirt. Obviously they were the only two cool kids.
“I’m not letting them get to me,” she told him, lifting her chin in defiance. “I don’t care about those smelly boys or this dumb school.”
He laughed. “My name is Ryan Grant. Thought you could use a friend if you were tired of playing alone.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not. Those losers have no idea how awesome this belt buckle is,” she told the boy. “My dad got it for me when he won the PRCA title last year.”
The boy stepped forward, his brows raised. “Your dad won the PRCA title?”
“Yeah.”
He shook his head. “You don’t have to lie to make friends.”
Piper shoved her hands onto her hips and glared at the annoying kid. “I don’t have to lie at all because my father is the coolest man ever. There’s not a bronc he can’t ride.”
Okay, probably there was, but still. Her dad was the coolest and he got paid for riding and being a cowboy. Could any of those other loser kids say that?
“What’s your dad’s name?” Ryan asked, obviously still skeptical.
“Walker Kindred.”
Ryan laughed. “You’re lying.”
“I don’t care what you think. My name is Piper Kindred and Walker is my father. Like you know anything about the rodeo anyway. You probably don’t even know what PRCA stands for.”
“Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,” he shot back. “And I know who Walker Kindred is.”
“Then why do you say I’m lying?”
“Because, well...you’re a girl. I’ve never seen a girl who knows about the rodeo.”
Why were boys so dumb? For real?
Piper sighed, so ready to be done with recess and get back inside where she could just concentrate on her schoolwork and get another miserable day behind her.
“Whatever,” she told him, rolling her eyes. “I don’t care what you think if you’re going to be just as stupid as the others.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. “Okay, since you got to ask me a rodeo question, I get to ask you one. I bet you can’t answer it.”
Piper had had enough. She clenched her fist and plowed it into his nose. When he landed on his butt on the blacktop, she loomed over him.
“I don’t have time for jerks who think I’m lying,” she told him. “I’ve grown up around the circuit. Walker is my father and if you have any more stupid things to say, I have another fist waiting on you.”
Ryan shook his head and came back to his feet. Surprisingly, he was grinning.
“You pack a mean punch, even if you are a girl.”
Piper eyed him. Apparently that was a compliment.
“You wanna hang after school?” he asked, holding his hand to his nose then looking at it to see if he was bleeding.
Piper figured they’d just made some sort of bond so she nodded. “Sure, but don’t think just because I’m a girl that I don’t know everything about the rodeo.”
Ryan laughed. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Red.”
She sighed and headed toward the double doors as the bell rang for them to go back inside.
If the worst he called her was Red, he might just become her one and only friend.
Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Books S.A.
ISBN-13: 9781460321249
THE SECRET HEIR OF SUNSET RANCH
Copyright © 2013 by Charlene Swink
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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