Oh, Baby!

by Patricia Kay

  He saw the surprise on her face, followed by something else, some emotion he couldn’t identify. Dillon’s heart beat faster as he took her in. She looked beautiful in her dark green coat and high-heeled leather boots, her bright hair a curly halo around her face.

  “Hello, Dillon,” she said quietly.

  He smiled at her. “Hello, Sophie.”

  “I didn’t think I’d see you again before I moved.” She eyed the bouquet of red roses he carried but didn’t comment on them.

  “I know, but I...there’s something I need to tell you. To ask you,” he corrected himself.

  “Oh?”

  “Um, Sophie, could we go inside? I, uh...” He didn’t want to hand her the flowers and get down on his knees out here where her neighbors and anyone else driving by could see him. If she rejected him, and he made a fool of himself, he’d rather do it inside, in private.

  She considered his request for a minute, then said, “Sure. Let’s go in.”

  Following her through her back door, he caught a whiff of the light scent she wore, and his gut twisted. What if she said no? What if she told him he’d blown any chance he ever had with her and to get lost? She wouldn’t do that. Would she?

  If she does, you deserve it.

  When they were inside, she removed her coat and slung it over the back of one of her kitchen chairs. She wore a russet outfit, a skirt and sweater that hugged her sexy curves. Just looking at her made him want to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

  “Sophie, I—”

  Cutting him off, she said, “Would you like something to drink? I’m parched. I just drove back from San Antonio.”

  “Oh? You went to see Joy?”

  “That and other things.” She smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I signed a lease on a garden apartment today. It’s only about fifteen minutes away from Hannah’s House, so I’ll be close to Joy.” Walking over to the refrigerator, she took out a pitcher of iced tea. “I’m going to have some. Do you want a glass?”

  “No. I just want to say what I have to say. I—I brought you these flowers.” Dillon had never felt so unsure of himself. All the years of dating supermodels and actresses didn’t come close to preparing him for this moment. Every bit of confidence he had seemed to have flown out the window. This woman had reduced him to a stammering mess.

  She didn’t reach for the flowers, just calmly poured herself a glass of tea. When she finally looked at him, she said, “They’re lovely, but what are they? Some kind of peace offering?”

  Dillon swallowed. It was time to quit messing around and go for broke. Because she wouldn’t take the flowers and he wanted his hands free, he put them on the table. Then he walked over to her, took the glass out of her hand, put it on the table, too, and took her hands in his. “They’re not a peace offering. Red roses stand for love. That’s what the florist told me. I’m trying to tell you that I love you, Sophie. I realized that yesterday, and it’s something I should have realized a long time ago. Maybe I did, but I was afraid to admit it. I love you and I don’t want to live without you.”

  Letting go of her hands, he reached into his pocket and drew out the velvet box containing the two-carat diamond ring he’d purchased earlier. Then he dropped to one knee and held out the box. “You would make me the happiest and proudest man in the world if you’d agree to be my wife.”

  She stared at him. Her gold-flecked eyes never moved from his. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally said, “Are you sure, Dillon?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” And at that moment, he knew it was true. “God, Sophie, I’ve been such a fool.” Getting up again, he pressed the velvet ring box into her hand. “I love you with all my heart.”

  “Oh, Dillon,” she said, and now tears sprang into her eyes. “I love you, too. I always have. And I—I would be honored to be your wife.”

  Because he couldn’t wait, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. They kissed again and again, and when they finally stopped, she opened the ring box. “Oh,” she said when she saw the ring. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “Let’s put it on,” he said. “I guessed at the size.”

  The ring was just a little too big, but he assured her they could go back to the jeweler’s the next day and have it sized. After admiring the way it looked on her hand for a while, she found a vase and filled it with water. “I love my roses,” she said, arranging them in the vase. “I was only pretending not to like them before.”

  He grinned. “Punishing me for being such a fool.”

  She laughed. “Yes.” Then she tilted her head and studied him. “What did make you finally realize you loved me?”

  “It wasn’t a what, it was a person.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, Beth. Ran into her at the store the other day and she told me I was a blind, stupid, clueless idiot.”

  “Really? What else did she tell you?”

  “Nothing else. Trust me, that was enough.”

  Sophie grinned. “A blind, stupid, clueless idiot. I like that.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure you do.” Because he could hardly stand being separate from her, he put his arms around her again. After more kissing, he murmured, “Let’s go make up for some lost time.”

  She laughed softly. “Maybe in a little bit. Right now I have something to tell you.”

  “You haven’t changed your mind already?”

  “Don’t worry. It’s nothing like that. It’s very good news. At least, I hope you’ll think so.”

  And then she told him.

  Epilogue

  One year later...

  Sophie looked around her kitchen with satisfaction. She loved the house she and Dillon had bought near the medical center in Houston. It was convenient to the university where he now worked and had wonderful green areas and schools. Sophie wasn’t sure when she would go back to work; right now she was happy being home with the twins, but she knew one day she’d want to counsel again.

  She looked over at the babies, who were both sound asleep in the double pram that had been a gift from Beth and Mark. While she watched, David Marshall Burke stirred and smiled in his sleep. She grinned. At six months, he was a handful and the spitting image of his father, down to the almost-black hair and vibrant blue eyes. His sister, Riley Ann Burke, who took after Sophie with her red hair and smaller frame, was much more easygoing. If Sophie had any regrets, it was that her mother was not around to spoil the twins. Riley had been her mother’s maiden name, and since Joy had chosen her mother’s first name for their daughter Jennifer, Sophie was happy to settle on Riley.

  Sophie smiled again, thinking of Aidan and Joy. So far, all was well with them. They were living in Houston, too, because Joy had wanted to be close to Sophie and Dillon, and Aidan had no problem getting accepted at the University of Houston. Joy had put Jennifer in day care and was going to school full-time now.

  Sophie’s life wasn’t perfect. When had it ever been? There were days when Sophie felt overwhelmed and tired, but she knew that was normal. After all, she had two babies! And some nights she didn’t get a good night’s sleep. But she was happier than she’d ever been and thanked God every day for her blessings.

  Just then, her tallest and most demanding blessing walked in the back door. “Hey,” he said, dropping a kiss on her upturned mouth.

  “Hey,” she said. “You’re home early.”

  “Yeah, we let the guys go after drills.” He put his arms around her, his hands sliding down to cup her bottom. Affecting an Irish accent, he nuzzled her ear. “Thought maybe I’d have the luck of the Irish today and would find you taking a nap.”

  Her heart quickened as the heat of his hands reminded her how much she loved him, and how much she loved making love with him. She hoped that never changed. “If we hu
rry, you could still get lucky,” she murmured, pulling him closer.

  “Then quit talking, woman, and let’s go before they wake up.”

  So they did.

  And although they couldn’t know it then, nine months later Sophie would give birth to their second son, and they would name him Braden after Dillon’s father.

  And they would all live happily-ever-after.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE TAMING OF DELANEY FORTUNE by Michelle Major.

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  Prologue

  Delaney Fortune Jones was a romantic at heart. She loved Valentine’s Day as much as she loved weddings. But it took a bit of work to convince herself that the tears she’d shed today, watching four of her siblings get married, were only the joyful kind.

  Of course she was happy for Jude, Liam, Christopher and Stacey. They’d each found the love of their lives, and Delaney had been thrilled and honored to stand up as a bridesmaid while they said their vows. The ceremony had taken place earlier on the beautiful Parthenon-inspired stage that had been built next to the barn on her parents’ ranch. Each couple’s vows had been personal to their relationship, but when the ball of emotion wedged in Delaney’s throat as she listened, there was a wistful edge to it.

  Only she and her brother Galen were single now. Delaney would be the last of Deke and Jeanne Marie’s children still living on the ranch after today. Her world had shifted, and she knew it would never be the same.

  But Delaney was a romantic and an optimist. She believed she’d find true love someday. It was only a matter of time until the right cowboy came along to share the small-town life she treasured. Horseback Hollow, Texas, wasn’t big or fancy, but it was the only home she’d ever need.

  Shaking her head, she took a breath and then a deeper breath. Her parents had transformed the barn for the reception, but underneath the flowers and candles, Delaney could still smell the comforting scent of hay and horses. The barn was her happy place, and looking around at all of the people she loved gathered together tonight chased away her brooding thoughts.

  She tapped her cowboy boot along with the rhythm to a popular song, watching her family and friends on the dance floor. She’d changed from heels after the ceremony, but the pink shell inlay of the boots still matched her silk bridesmaid’s gown. Her young nieces and nephews ran around the edge of the dance floor, stopping to wiggle their hips as the tempo increased. Delaney laughed out loud but didn’t move to join them. She was good at a lot of things. Dancing wasn’t one of them.

  However, the bar was set up on the far side of the barn, so she made her way through the crowd as the music ended. A woman turned as Delaney went to slide past her, and Delaney blinked several times. Shannon Singleton, who Delaney had known since they were girls, looked stunning in her black lace dress. The light in her eyes made her even more gorgeous.

  “Delaney,” Shannon said as she gave her a quick hug, “Wasn’t it a beautiful ceremony?”

  “The most beautiful,” Delaney agreed, but Shannon had already turned away, pulling a man forward.

  “Delaney, have you met Cisco Mendoza?” Shannon asked. “He’s one of Gabi’s handsome brothers.”

  “The most handsome,” the man murmured with a deep chuckle.

  “Absolutely,” Shannon agreed with a bright laugh. “But don’t tell the rest of them I said so. Cisco, this is Delaney Fortune, the baby of the family.”

  “Not quite a baby,” Delaney muttered, feeling her cheeks flame.

  Handsome was an understatement for Cisco Mendoza. He was several inches taller than Delaney, with broad shoulders under his dark jacket and crisp white shirt that tapered to a lean waist. His eyes were the richest brown she’d ever seen, and his thick dark hair looked like it had been styled for a photo shoot. She tugged at her bouncy blond curls, which had taken an hour in hot rollers to create but suddenly felt too girlish.

  “You two get to know each other.” Shannon looked over Delaney’s shoulder. “I owe Galen the next dance.”

  Before Delaney could argue, Shannon had disappeared toward the center of the dance floor.

  “It’s lovely to meet you,” Cisco said, his voice smooth like the finest whiskey. Delaney didn’t actually drink whiskey, but that’s how she imagined it. Smooth with the subtlest hint of sin.

  She realized he was staring at her, waiting for her to answer. One side of his mouth quirked, as if he could see how flustered she felt standing in front of him.

  Delaney wasn’t thrown off balance very often, and it made her skin itch. The bodice of her strapless gown suddenly felt too tight and she struggled to draw in a normal breath.

  “You, too,” she said, surprised that her voice was steady. “It means a lot to Gabi to have her family here. Do you like Horseback Hollow? How long are you in town?” She clapped a hand over her mouth to stop the babbling.

  Cisco’s grin widened, and for a moment Delaney forgot her own name, the fact she was in the barn that felt like a second home, surrounded by people she’d known her whole life. All she could see was this man and his wicked smile.

  “It means a great deal to us to be with her on this day,” he said slowly, as if speaking to a child. “I do like Horseback Hollow, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be in town.” He cocked his head as the music started again, a slow ballad this time.

  Delaney tilted her head, mimicking his movement before snapping out of her lust-induced haze. A man like Cisco was not for her, but something about him...

  “Would you care to dance?” he asked softly.

  She stared at his outstretched hand, wanting nothing in the world as much as she wanted to step into his arms. She thought about her hand on that broad shoulder, her nose pressed into his throat. He would smell wonderful—she had no doubt. She practically burned with the need to touch him.

  “Delaney,” he said, a little louder now. “Dance with me?”

  She almost slid her hand into his, allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. Her fingers trembled in anticipation as she lifted them. But at the last minute she pulled her hand tight to her middle.

  “Nope, sorry,” she said on a ragged breath. “Gotta go.” And with that, she turned and ran for the door.

  Copyright © 2015 by Harlequin Books S.A.

  ISBN-13: 9781460379554

  Oh, Baby!

  Copyright © 2015 by Patricia A. Kay

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