One Night with the Texan

by Lauren Canan

  “You are the first and only woman I’ve ever been this drawn to. And you will be the last. I don’t want anyone but you.” He wanted to scream it to the whole world but gritted his teeth to maintain control. “Marry me, Tallie. Marry me because you love me and because you believe I love you. Marry me with no regrets.”

  “I love you, Cole. And if you’re sure, yes.”

  “Yes? You will marry me?”

  “I’m an easy sell when it comes to you.” She smiled and the twinkle was back in those emerald green eyes.

  He bent over the bed and touched his lips to hers. It felt so right. He placed a hand on her head and followed with more kisses, loving this woman with everything he had inside. “You are so beautiful,” he told her and knew she could see the honesty in his face.

  A little while later, a team of nurses came into the recovery room, and rolled Tallie’s bed down the hall to a private room.

  “Mr....Finley?” one of the nurses said to him. “While we get her settled in, if you would like to feed the babies with your wife, stop by the nursing station. They will provide a mask and gown.”

  Feeling excited and numb at the same time, Cole did as the woman suggested. When Tallie was settled in her new room, two nurses placed one newborn infant wrapped in a little blue blanket in his arms and gave one to Tallie.

  Cole could only stare at the tiny new life he held. He was perfect. His cry sounded more like a kitten’s than a baby’s but it was the most beautiful sound Cole had ever heard. He caught Tallie’s attention and mouthed “I love you.” She smiled and said it right back. There was no expressing the love that grew in his chest at seeing his soon-to-be wife feed one newborn son then the other. Two sons. She had given him two incredible miracles.

  * * *

  The babies fed and back in the nursery, Cole left Tallie alone to rest. He’d kissed her goodbye with a promise that he would be back.

  Had she agreed to marry Cole Masters? Still full of emotion, she felt tears of happiness welling up in her eyes. For the first time in her life, she was loved, truly loved, by an incredible man. She never thought she would trust another, yet there was no doubt in her mind that Cole loved her. With that in mind, she closed her eyes.

  An hour later she awoke to a soft knock. “Come in.”

  It was Cole. He was grinning ear to ear while he held the largest bouquet of red roses she’d ever seen. Setting them on a table, he moved to Tallie and gave her a deep, meaningful kiss. “How are you feeling?”

  “Pretty good, considering.” She pushed herself up against the pillows. It was time to ask him a difficult question that had been bothering her.

  “Cole, the day I left the ranch I overheard you on the phone talking to someone named Matt. You spelled it out pretty clearly that I had gotten pregnant on purpose and only wanted your money.” Tears filled her eyes and she snatched a tissue from the bedside table. “If you feel that way, why did you come here? Why would you want to marry me?”

  Cole sat on the edge of the bed and took the tissue from her, gently wiping her eyes. “I wasn’t talking about you, sweetheart. I was talking about Gina, my ex-wife. She and her boyfriend set up this elaborate plan to get me to marry her so she could extract money, tens of millions of dollars, from a few of my bank accounts. The night I kicked her out, she drove too fast around a curve on the edge of a cliff and lost control of the car. She died immediately. So did the baby she was carrying. I never found out if it was mine or the other guy’s.”

  “Oh, Cole, I’m so sorry.”

  “It made me bitter and hard and unforgiving. When I lashed out at you it was really Gina in my mind’s eye. I will regret that until the day I die.”

  Tallie raised their joined hands to her face and kissed his palm. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  “God, I love you, Tallie. I actually thought I was in love with her. You showed me what real love is.”

  Suddenly there was a knock on the door and an entourage of people walked into the room. She recognized Wade Masters, Cole’s older brother. And next to Cole were Chance and his wife Holly. Before she could say hello to anyone, another man stepped forward.

  “Hello, Dr. Finley,” he said. “Congratulations. You and Cole have two beautiful sons.”

  “Thank you.” What was Reverend Blackhawk from her hometown doing here? And what was the formal-looking paper he held in his hand?

  “You said you would marry me,” Cole told her softly. “I intend to hold you to your word.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked him. “Now? Here?”

  Cole leaned over her and whispered in her ear. “Yes. And when you heal, I intend to show you exactly how sure I am.”

  Tallie signed her name and handed the form to the reverend, who passed it on to Wade, Holly and Chance to sign as official witnesses. Some twenty minutes later, after Holly did her hair and added some lipstick and a hint of blush, they said their vows and Tallie became Mrs. Cole Masters. His lips had never felt better on hers. When the clapping began, Cole lifted his head and winked at her.

  It was, indeed, a beautiful day.

  Epilogue

  All the people at the museum were gathered around, wanting to have the opportunity to get closer to Tallie’s babies.

  Tallie left the dual stroller just outside her office as her friends oohed and aahed. Stepping into her office she proceeded to power up her computer. She needed to check the dates of certain meetings and what digs were scheduled for the next month. She glanced at her watch and wondered where Cole was. He’d said he would meet her here.

  Outside, she heard the small crowd of people greeting Cole, who had apparently just arrived. Pulling up her email software, she began to scan the nearly three months of messages. It was going to take a lot longer to catch up than she’d thought.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” Cole walked around her desk and planted a deep kiss on her lips. “Happy six-week anniversary.” He grinned that adorable grin. Tallie saw the sparks in his eyes and knew today marked the end of the safe period. Romantic evenings and spontaneous sex were back on. They had come close a number of times but Cole had held firm, a trait she’d told him she didn’t especially hold in high regard.

  “I have a wedding present for you.”

  She laughed. “Husbands don’t give wedding presents. But what do you have?”

  A huge smile covered his face as he held up an item about the size of a football. It was wrapped in a blanket and she watched as Cole began to carefully remove it. Gasps from all the people who were crowded in the doorway made her realize they were not alone.

  “Presenting one certified pot—well, most of a pot, from your dig. Dr. Sterling has put his stamp of approval on it. It’s what you were looking for, Tallie.”

  “But how...?”

  Cole held it out for her to take. “You had been edging ever closer to the cliffs. I took a couple of men and we climbed up the face of the cliff and found the cave you suspected was there. Inside, it’s full of pottery, spear-type weapons, jewelry...a whole bunch of things. We didn’t enter the cave more than a couple of feet. I wasn’t about to incur your wrath by stepping on something priceless. So, the rest is there for you to discover. Now you have proof positive of the origins of your family’s people, Tallie. Your grandmother was right.”

  Woots and laughter filled the air until Dr. Sterling shooed everyone out saying they were going to frighten the babies. Her colleagues took the piece of pottery with them, continuing to gush as it was carefully passed around.

  “Cole, if that is, in fact, proof of my people’s origins, it might cause problems with building your retreat.”

  “So, what are you saying? Find another place for my project—which I am willing to do. Or cover the cave back up and forget what’s there?” he asked, sitting on the edge of her desk. “That’s not happening. I
spoke with Dr. Sterling about the possibility of incorporating your discovery in what I’m building. What better way to showcase our American beginnings than including a museum presenting remnants and information from the earliest people who ever lived on the land?”

  “You would do that, Cole?”

  “You were right, sweetheart. This is so much more important than my project.”

  Tallie was out of her chair and hugging her husband with the speed of a lightning flash. “Thank you. Thank you, Cole.”

  “I’ll tell you what. You finish up here and let’s get you and our two spoiled brats home. I think I know of a way you can thank me.”

  “Well, what do you know? It just so happens I’m finished.” Tallie reached over and closed the lid of her laptop. “What are we waiting for?”

  “Not a single thing.”

  Cole grabbed the handle of the stroller and escorted Tallie to the big doors of the museum, waving goodbye to all of Tallie’s associates. Then he draped his arm around her shoulders and pushed his sons’ stroller with the other hand as they headed to the car.

  Tallie thought of her grandmother, who had set this all in motion. As her ipokini had told her, all things happen for a reason. Tallie believed her. One small map had changed her path forever. Had changed her life and brought her the man of her dreams.

  Life just didn’t get any better than this.

  * * * * *

  Pick up these other sexy Western romances from Golden Heart® Award-winning author Lauren Canan!

  TERMS OF A TEXAS MARRIAGE

  LONE STAR BABY BOMBSHELL

  REDEEMING THE BILLIONAIRE SEAL

  Available now from Harlequin Desire!

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  Forged in Desire

  by Brenda Jackson

  PROLOGUE

  “FINALLY, WE GET to go home.”

  Margo Connelly was certain the man’s words echoed the sentiment they all felt. The last thing she’d expected when reporting for jury duty was to be sequestered during the entire trial...especially with twelve strangers, more than a few of whom had taken the art of bitching to a whole new level.

  She was convinced this had been the longest, if not the most miserable, six weeks of her life, as well as a lousy way to start off the new year. They hadn’t been allowed to have any inbound or outbound calls, read the newspapers, check any emails, watch television or listen to the radio. The only good thing was, with the vote just taken, a unanimous decision had been reached and justice would be served. The federal case against Murphy Erickson would finally be over and they would be allowed to go home.

  “It’s time to let the bailiff know we’ve reached a decision,” Nancy Snyder spoke up, interrupting Margo’s thoughts. “I have a man waiting at home, who I haven’t seen in six weeks, and I can’t wait to get to him.”

  Lucky you, Margo thought, leaning back in her chair. She and Scott Dylan had split over a year ago, and the parting hadn’t been pretty.

  Fortunately, as a wedding-dress designer, she could work from anywhere and had decided to move back home to Charlottesville. She could be near her uncle Frazier, her father’s brother and the man who’d become her guardian when her parents had died in a house fire when she was ten. He was her only living relative and, although they often butted heads, she had missed him while living in New York.

  A knock on the door got everyone’s attention. The bailiff had arrived. Hopefully, in a few hours it would all be over and the judge would release them. She couldn’t wait to get back to running her business. Six weeks had been a long time away. Lucky for her she had finished her last order in time for the bride’s Christmas wedding. But she couldn’t help wondering how many new orders she might have missed while on jury duty.

  The bailiff entered and said, “The judge has called the court back in session for the reading of the verdict. We’re ready to escort you there.”

  Like everyone else in the room, Margo stood. She was ready for the verdict to be read. It was only after this that she could get her life back.

  * * *

  “FOREMAN, HAS THE JURY reached a verdict?” the judge asked.

  “Yes, we have, Your Honor.”

  The courtroom was quiet as the verdict was read. “We, the jury, find Murphy Erickson guilty of murder.”

  Suddenly Erickson bowled over and laughed. It made the hairs on the necks of everyone in attendance stand up. The outburst prompted the judge to hit his gavel several times. “Order in the courtroom. Counselor, quiet the defendant or he will be found in contempt of court.”

  “I don’t give a damn about any contempt,” Erickson snarled loudly. “You!” he said, pointing a finger at the judge. “Along with everyone else in this courtroom, you have just signed your own death warrant. As long as I remain locked up, someone in here will die every seventy-two hours.” His gaze didn’t miss a single individual.

  Pandemonium broke out. The judge pounded his gavel, trying to restore order. Police officers rushed forward to subdue Erickson and haul him away. But the sound of his threats echoed loudly in Margo’s ears.

  CHAPTER ONE

  LAMAR “STRIKER” JENNINGS walked into the hospital room, stopped and then frowned. “What the hell is he doing working from bed?”

  “I asked myself the same thing when I got his call for us to come here,” Striker’s friend Quasar Patterson said, sitting lazily in a chair with his long legs stretched out in front of him.

  “And you might as well take a seat like he told us to do,” another friend, Stonewall Courson, suggested, while pointing to an empty chair. “Evidently it will take more than a bullet to slow down Roland.”

  Roland Summers, CEO of Summers Security Firm, lay in the hospital bed, staring at them. Had it been just last week that the man had been fighting for his life after foiling an attem
pted carjacking?

  “You still look like shit, Roland. Shouldn’t you be trying to get some rest instead of calling a meeting?” Striker asked, sliding his tall frame into the chair. He didn’t like seeing Roland this way. They’d been friends a long time, and he couldn’t ever recall the man being sick. Not even with a cold. Well, at least he was alive. That damn bullet could have taken him out and Striker didn’t want to think about that.

  “You guys have been keeping up with the news?” Roland asked in a strained voice, interrupting Striker’s thoughts.

  “We’re aware of what’s going on, if that’s what you want to know,” Stonewall answered. “Nobody took Murphy Erickson’s threat seriously.”

  Roland made an attempt to nod his head. “And now?”

  “And now people are panicking. Phones at the office have been ringing off the hook. I’m sure every protective security service in town is booked solid. Everyone in the courtroom that day is either in hiding or seeking protection, and with good reason,” Quasar piped in to say. “The judge, clerk reporter and bailiff are all dead. All three were gunned down within seventy-two hours of each other.”

  “The FBI is working closely with local law enforcement, and they figure it’s the work of the same assassin,” Striker added. “I heard they anticipate he’ll go after someone on the jury next.”

  “Which is why I called the three of you here. There was a woman on the jury who I want protected. It’s personal.”

  “Personal?” Striker asked, lifting a brow. He knew Roland dated off and on, but he’d never been serious with anyone. He was always quick to say that his wife, Becca, had been his one and only love.

  “Yes, personal. She’s a family member.”

  The room got quiet. That statement was even more baffling since, as far as the three of them knew, Roland didn’t have any family...at least not anymore. They were all aware of his history. He’d been a cop, who’d discovered some of his fellow officers on the take. Before he could blow the whistle he’d been framed and sent to prison for fifteen years. Becca had refused to accept his fate and worked hard to get him a new trial. He served three years before finally leaving prison but not before the dirty cops murdered Roland’s wife. All the cops involved had eventually been brought to justice and charged with the death of Becca Summers, in addition to other crimes.