"We have stars, remember? Right over our heads, and after we make love, we can watch them shimmer together." She smiled. "Do you think Harriet will sell us the bed, too?"
His horrified expression had her grinning.
"I'll ask her," he said, "on one condition."
"What's that?"
"If I have me a heart attack while you're wearing me out, you'll drag me into the living room before the medics arrive."
She laughed. "It's a deal."
He kissed her again, a long lingering kiss. Nestled between them the baby made a little mewling sound, then opened his mouth and let out a lusty wail. Drawing back, Luke took his son in his arms and kissed the angry little face while she opened her gown.
He took a ragged breath, then brought his gaze to hers. There was sorrow there and pain. And so much love. "Every time I held a newborn in my hands I thought about you and our baby, Maddy. Every time I witnessed that … that special moment when the mom sees her child for the first time, I wished with all my heart I could put our child into your arms."
Her lips trembled as he settled Oliver against her breast. "I love you, cowboy," she said as the baby began to suckle. "My hero."
* * *
Epilogue
« ^
It was a perfect day for a wedding.
The sun was shining. Emily and her husband, Lomax, had been in town for two days, touring Portland and spoiling Oliver shamelessly. Two of a kind, Luke and Lomax had grumbled and groused about dressing up for the special dinner Emily had planned, then behaved like courtly gentlemen, charming the awestruck waitress and darn near every other woman in the Mallory Hotel dining room. Doc Morrow and his wife, Mary Lynette, had arrived right on time last night and were happily playing grandparents. Because her parents had refused to attend, Doc was going to give her away. Luke's family was there, too, his daddy talking bloodlines with Morgan, who was thinking of buying a quarter horse.
The minister had arrived. The caterer had produced a glorious spread. Madelyn had been fussed over and praised by the moms and now stood before the mirror in the bedroom that had become officially theirs yesterday.
Harriet had grumbled a little about giving up the bed, but Luke had managed to talk her into it. She'd refused to budge on the cat, though, and they'd shipped Precious to Spain last week. Madelyn had grieved a little, but Luke had promised to get her a kitten after they returned from their honeymoon in Hawaii.
Oliver, who'd just celebrated his two-month birthday, was going with them. It had been Luke's idea. Part of the bonding thing, he'd told her with a crooked grin. Every chance he got, he held her while she nursed.
Now, as the clock edged toward two on the first Saturday in September, both branches of her extended family were gathered in her backyard. Waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Madelyn was waiting for Luke. He was late for his own wedding.
Fighting nerves and a sinking feeling in her stomach, she glanced toward the street. Cars lined the curb. There was no sign of the Jeep.
"Maybe he parked in the back."
Stacy and Raine exchanged looks. "I'll check," Raine said before hurrying out.
"You look lovely," Prudy said, her eyes glowing. "Like Grace Kelly when she married her prince."
"It's going to be terribly embarrassing if I have to go out there and tell everyone it was all a mistake." She gave a laugh. "I should have married him while he was flat on his back after surgery."
"He'll be here," Stacy assured her.
"But…" Her voice stuttered to a stop when he appeared suddenly, standing in the doorway, looking breathtakingly handsome in a charcoal suit.
"You're not supposed to see me before the ceremony," she protested, her voice shaky with nerves and relief.
His grin was crooked. "I, uh, have this present I want to give you before we do the happily-ever-after stuff."
Prudy and Stacy exchanged grins, then headed for the door. "We'll be outside when you're ready," Stacy said.
"Don't you dare mess up her hair, cowboy," Prudy ordered before disappearing.
"What kind of present?" Madelyn asked suspiciously when they were alone.
His face tightened. "Stay put. I'll be right back."
"But…" She stopped when she realized she was talking to an empty doorway.
Heart racing, she picked up her bouquet and buried her face in the spicy carnations. She was trying to settle her nerves when he was back. Her jaw dropped at the sight of their daughter standing next to him. In his arms he held a little boy with tumbled black curls who stared at her with bright blue eyes. She dissolved for an instant before pulling herself back.
"Tricia?" Her eyes filled with tears.
Her daughter's smile was tentative, her blue eyes guarded. "You said you wanted to know your … grandson." She turned to sign something to the toddler, who cast a shy glance at Madelyn. "That means grandma," Tricia explained, repeating the signs.
Madelyn felt tears welling. "Will you teach me to sign 'I love you very much'?"
Tricia repeated the words aloud as she formed them slowly with her hands. Maddy did her best to copy the movements, then laughed when the little boy frowned. "What did I do wrong?" she asked anxiously.
"You left out the 'love' part." Tricia demonstrated the difference. "It just takes practice."
Madelyn took a breath. "You could teach us," she said softly. "If you stayed."
Tricia took a nervous little breath. Deep in her blue eyes a glimmer of light appeared, like the first faint flicker of a candle in a night that's been bleak and cold. "I'd like that," she said, her voice tremulous.
Madelyn smiled at her daughter before shifting her gaze to the little boy held so securely in his grandfather's strong arms. "Hi, Mason, I'm your grandma." She smiled and won a shy smile in return. And then she looked into the face of the man who had given her all this. And more.
So much more.
"How did you find her?"
His mouth slanted. "I already had this investigator looking. He'd traced her to Dripping Spring, but she was up here while he was down there." He glanced at their daughter. "She's stubborn like her mama, so it took me a while to convince her to give us a shot at this parent thing."
Tricia's smile was tentative, but Madelyn had seen that same smile before, right before Luke had told her he loved her the first time. Her heart welled. "You are so very special," she said, her gaze fast on his.
His mouth turned vulnerable, but only for a moment. "Darlin', I think we'd best get ourselves married before this old boy breaks down and bawls like a baby."
She heard the gruff humor and she heard the love. Her own control was shaky as she shifted her gaze to her daughter. "It's a man thing," she said on a little laugh. "The tougher the outside, the softer the inside."
Tricia's smile broke free, changing her face. And her life, Madelyn thought. It would take time, but together they would make a family. "He swore you'd kill him if we were late, so I didn't get a chance to buy a dress." Embarrassed, she glanced down at her denim skirt and plain cotton shirt.
"You look beautiful," Madelyn told her. Because she had to touch them all, she crossed the room. "I'd be honored if you'd stand up with me."
Tricia bit her lip and nodded.
Luke watched his wife and daughter fall in love. In his arms was a little boy he already adored. Heart thudding like thunder, he cleared his throat. "If you two will excuse me, my best man and I are supposed to wait at the altar."
Madelyn laughed. "Give us a few minutes and we'll meet you there."
Luke took a breath, hitched Mace a little higher and tucked the emotions that threatened to take him to his knees behind a bad-boy grin.
"Darlin', I'll give you anything you want."
Her eyes sparkled and her smile was a gift from heaven. "I'll remember that, cowboy."
His vision blurred, and for one shining moment he saw an adorable sexy baton twirler in a short skirt looking at him with stars in her eyes. He blinked, clearing his
vision. She was still there, his Maddy girl.
His wife and his love. His life.
* * * * *
DADDY BY CHOICE Page 20