“It’s Shep,” he said with as friendly a smile as he could muster. He wasn’t sure what Raina had told her family, but he could see they were unprepared for the news they were about to receive.
On his part, Ryder gripped Shep’s hand hard, and the two men sized each other up quickly. Shep innately understood that Ryder Greystone would protect his sister at all costs.
After introductions and an uncomfortable moment, Ryder tossed out a conversational gambit. “I heard you turned the lumberyard around in a short amount of time and took on a few more men.”
“When business is good, I can keep a stronger workforce.”
“How can business be so good, with home construction down in this area?”
Shep could see Raina’s eyes were already shooting daggers at her brother. But he could hold his own. More than his own.
“True, but home repairs are up,” he replied to Ryder. “I have a couple of contractors who specialize in additions, and they like my products. Plus we’re even trucking to outlying Lubbock areas. My suppliers are faster than some others. I can go on with other ways we’ve revved up business, but I’d probably bore you.”
Raina motioned toward the kitchen. “Let’s sit down. I have coffee, iced tea and snacks.”
Shep’s hand naturally settled at the small of Raina’s back as they moved into the kitchen. He was aware that both Raina’s mother and brother seemed to take note of the gesture. He waited for Raina to be seated first, and then he took the chair across from her brother.
“Raina tells me you have three boys, Mr. McGraw,” Raina’s mother said.
“Please call me Shep,” he reminded her with a smile. “And yes, I do. Roy is six, Joey is eight and Manuel is two.”
“Yes, she mentioned you have a toddler. He must keep you stepping.”
“They all do.”
“Do you have family in the area to help you with the children?” Mrs. Greystone asked.
“I have a housekeeper. She’s good with them, as Raina can tell you.” Raina was being awfully quiet, and that concerned him a little.
“I see,” Sonya murmured. “You said you wanted me to meet Shep,” she said to her daughter. “Are the two of you dating?”
Raina sat up straighter and met her mother’s gaze. “We’re not just dating, Mom. We’re going to get married. That’s why I invited you here. We wanted to tell you together.”
Sonya pushed back her chair and stood, as if the words propelled her up. “Married? You aren’t serious?”
Ryder looked from one of them to the other. “I think they’re very serious, Mom.”
“But how can this be? You didn’t even tell me you’d met someone.”
“I’m telling you now,” Raina said calmly. “I also have something else to tell you. I’m pregnant.”
At that, her mother seemed absolutely thunderstruck. The silence in the room was suffocating.
Shep took Raina’s hand, not only to give her comfort, but to show her family they were a solid unit. “Mrs. Greystone, I know this news is surprising to you. But I want you to know I’ll take good care of Raina and our baby.”
“Have you ever been married?” Ryder asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Are you getting married because of the pregnancy?”
“Ryder, I don’t think that’s your concern,” Raina answered.
“He’s trying to make sure you’re going to be happy.” Shep could feel the tension in her hand, and he wished he could make this easier for her.
He addressed her brother. “I care about your sister and what happens to our child.”
“Will you sit down, Mom?” asked Raina. “Let’s talk.”
The older woman sank down into her chair. “All right. But I don’t think talking will change anything. You two have obviously made up your minds.” She looked directly at her daughter. “I thought you might not marry again…after the way Clark died. I couldn’t marry again after your father died.”
“I know you couldn’t. And I know you still love him. Just as a part of me will always love Clark.”
“Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you have to get married,” Ryder advised his sister.
Anger flared in Raina’s eyes. “Don’t question my decisions, Ryder. I don’t question yours.”
“Maybe that’s because mine are a little more well thought out.”
Shep squeezed Raina’s shoulder. “I think your family needs to let our news sink in.”
Sonya still looked a little stunned. “Have you started planning a wedding?”
“We’re going to get married in the gazebo at the courthouse,” Raina replied quickly. “Probably in about a week. I want you to be there. You will come, won’t you?”
“To the courthouse? Not a church?” Her mother seemed appalled by the idea.
Raina slipped away from Shep and went to her mother, crouching down beside her. “Mom, I’m pregnant and Shep’s involved in an adoption. Our marriage will probably delay his adoption of Manuel. I need to go through interviews, and we’ll have more home visits. We’d like to keep that process moving. Getting married quickly is the best way to do this.”
“If you and your mom and brother would like to talk,” Shep offered, “I can step outside.” He didn’t want to come between Raina and her family, yet he had his family to protect, too.
Raina shook her head. “No, you don’t have to leave.”
Raina’s brother looked stern as he stood. “I think we should go. As you said, we need to absorb your news. Mom, what do you think?”
Sonya Greystone’s gaze swung from Raina to Ryder. “Maybe that would be best. Raina, it’s not that I don’t wish you happiness. I do. But this is so sudden.”
“I know, Mom.”
Shep didn’t like Raina’s family leaving this way, but he couldn’t see what he could do to make things any better right now. Hopefully, in time, both her mother and brother would realize he was going to be good to her, and to the baby she was carrying.
“Could that have been any more uncomfortable?” Raina asked with exasperation as she and Shep stood in the foyer, hearing Ryder’s SUV pull away.
He rested his hand on her shoulder, wondering if her family had stirred up a hornet’s nest of doubts. “You can still change your mind.”
She was quiet for what seemed to be an exceptionally long moment. Finally, she replied, “I don’t want to change my mind. Do you?”
After a look into her vibrant, dark eyes, he shook his head. “No, I don’t. But if you need more time so your family’s with you on this, I’ll understand.”
“I can’t base my decisions on my family.”
“Your circumstances are a little different than most. I can understand your mother’s concerns.”
“Oh, Shep. I’ve been alone for nine years! I want a family. My mother can’t expect me to live my life like hers.”
“And your brother?”
“My brother will just have to get over himself. Where he’s concerned, no one will ever be good enough for me after Clark.”
With a gentle nudge, Shep tipped up her chin. “And what about the wedding? Are you sure you don’t want to have it in your church? Your mother seems to think that’s important.”
Raina shook her head. “A judge will be fine.”
He couldn’t wait to bring Raina into his life. Yet something about her impatience to get married bothered him. Did she not want to get married in a church because she and Clark had been married in a church?
He remembered what her friend Angie had advised. Just leave whatever you don’t move here, then if things don’t work out, you’ll have a place to come home to.
He knew he had to trust Raina if he wanted this marriage to work. He knew he had to forget Belinda and the fact that she hadn’t wanted to share his life…just his bank account.
Bending to Raina, he kissed her. Chemistry took over, quickly arousing him. Raina’s response was satisfyingly fervent. A low fire always burned between them,
ready to burst into flames.
They had that. But would it be enough?
Chapter Eight
The day of their wedding, Shep straightened his bolo tie and couldn’t keep a grin from his face. Alone in his bedroom—he heard Eva corralling the boys downstairs—he thought about tonight. Raina would be his wife, under his roof, and if he was lucky…in his bed. This morning he felt like the luckiest man in the world.
He had to call Cruz. He had to tell his best friend on the planet he was getting married today. Picking up his phone, he hit a speed-dial number.
“What’s going on?” Cruz asked. He and Cruz didn’t talk often. That wasn’t their nature. But when one called the other, something important was happening.
“I’m getting married today.”
He heard Cruz’s sharp intake of breath. “Who?”
“Raina Gibson.”
“Manuel’s doctor?”
They had spoken the night before Manuel’s surgery when Shep’s nerves had been jangling. “So you were listening and caught her name?” Shep joked.
He knew they always listened to each other. When they’d been kids under the Willets’ “care,” they’d only had each other. The Willets had invited them in when Cruz was eleven and Shep was thirteen. Shep had already had enough of foster homes and folks who didn’t want to adopt an “older” child. He’d admit he’d become rebellious at the Willets’, uncommunicative and defiant of authority, just waiting for the day he could be on his own.
He’d stood up to Bob Willet more than once when the man was drunk and angry in order to protect himself and Cruz. They’d made a pact to bide their time until Shep was eighteen and could try to spring Cruz from the system. They’d been naive. But they’d been like brothers then and still were now.
“I more than listen,” Cruz assured him. “I heard something in your voice whenever you mentioned her name. What’s the story?”
“She’s pregnant.”
This time Cruz remained silent.
“I know. It was stupid on both our parts. But that day—Hell, neither of us were thinking.”
“Obviously,” Cruz remarked drily. Then he asked, “Do you want to get married?”
“I do.” He realized those were the words he’d be using later this morning. “She’s great with the boys. And…she’s different, Cruz. This isn’t about money or what I can give her. It’s about family and making one of our own.”
“Why didn’t you call sooner so I could fly out?”
“We made the arrangements quickly. And I know this is a bad time for you to get away from the ranch.” After the night Shep had spent in jail, he’d been angrier than he’d ever been at authority in the form of the chief of police of Sandy Cove. So in the morning when a big man with a deep voice had shown up and invited Shep to come to his ranch—he’d be taking Cruz there, too—Shep had agreed. Anything was better than the Willets’ or jail. That day had changed both his and Cruz’s lives.
Matt Forester lived a couple of hours north of Sandy Cove. Shep had never known exactly how Matt had heard about his situation and Cruz’s. But it hadn’t mattered. After months of testing Matt, seeing if he was like all the others, Shep and Cruz had realized he was a kind man who wanted the best for them both. Matt had saved their young lives and given them a real home.
“I could get away if you wanted me to,” Cruz offered.
“Maybe later this year when things are more settled.”
Cruz wised up to that excuse right away. “You haven’t told your wife-to-be about the foster homes and jail and Matt taking us in, have you?”
“No. Her husband was a hero, Cruz, a fireman who died on September eleventh. How would she feel if she knew I almost had a record?”
“She’d understand if she cares about you.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Women want their knights to be spotless. I’m not.”
“You don’t trust her, do you? You still don’t trust that a woman will stay. Every woman isn’t your mom. Every woman isn’t Belinda.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know. But if you’re making the leap into marriage, something must have changed.”
“Raina is different,” he repeated, maybe to reassure himself. “We just haven’t known each other for long.”
“But you’re getting married anyway. For the boys.”
“And for our baby. He or she will have two parents, brothers and a good home.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do.”
“Then congratulations.”
After Shep closed his phone, he thought about everything Cruz had said. He thought about his troubled teenage years and the people who’d turned their backs on him.
He’d always be there for his kids. Today Raina would promise to be there, too.
His gut told him she really did know how to keep a promise. He hoped to heaven his gut was right.
Raina stepped into the white gazebo on the front lawn of the Lubbock courthouse, her hands clammy in spite of the warm, early October day. Handsome in his dark suit, Shep held out his hand to her, looking sober, but the boyish gleam in his eyes chased away some of her nerves. She took his hand, holding on to her bouquet with the other, and together they stepped forward and stood before the judge.
The enormity of what they were doing solemnly overtook her. Yet, as she felt the presence of her mother and brother, of Lily, Gina and Logan Barnes and Angie, of Shep’s boys and Eva holding little Manuel behind them, she decided once more she was doing the right thing.
Roy suddenly called out, “Hey, Dad, are you gonna say ‘I do’?”
Raina laughed as she looked over her shoulder at the brothers.
Joey jabbed Roy in the ribs, giving him a scowl, but Shep answered, “You bet I am.”
A second later, Shep’s gaze collided with hers, and there was something in his blue eyes that made her insides twitter with an excitement that had nothing to do with the pregnancy. She didn’t know exactly what she was getting into, but this was going to be an adventure of a lifetime.
The judge cleared his throat, ready to begin. Then he welcomed friends and family and began a ceremony that seemed to be over in the blink of an eye.
Afterward Raina remembered keeping her gaze on Shep’s and saying vows. He’d done the same. She twisted the gold band on her finger and knew she’d put one on his finger, too. Yet the ceremony was somehow a foggy blur. Because she remembered much too well her wedding to Clark? Because his voice sometimes still whispered in her ears? Because so long ago sometimes seemed like yesterday?
Yet, when Shep held her in his arms, bent his head and kissed her, she was nowhere but here—in this gazebo, in front of the courthouse, kissing him. Shep’s kiss was all about the two of them, and not the past. Maybe she was as important to him as their child. She became totally involved, totally responsive, awesomely excited, even here, even now…with a world of people watching.
Applause rang out as the kiss ended. Everyone was clapping—except for her mother and brother. What was she going to do about that? How could she convince them to support her decision?
Her mother might be easier to win over than her brother, especially if she spent any time around Shep’s children. She’d have that chance in a little while. Gina had offered to host their reception on the Barnes estate. At first, Shep had refused, saying they could throw the party at the ranch. But Gina had come to both of them, convinced Shep that she and Raina were good friends and she and Logan wanted to do this for them. He’d reluctantly given in. Raina understood he didn’t want to be beholden to anyone, something else she’d learned about her new husband.
Before Shep let her go, he murmured close to her ear, “You look beautiful today.”
She’d chosen a Western-cut, cream lace dress with a fringed neckline and hem, and cream leather platform sandals. Along with that, she wore a Western-style hat with off-white tulle tied around it.
“Thank you,” she whispered to S
hep. “You look pretty good yourself.” In spite of the early-afternoon heat, he wore a Western-cut suit, white shirt and bolo tie, and looked exceptionally handsome, exceptionally like a dressed-up cowboy.
“Did you bring your bathing suit like Gina suggested?” he asked. Lately the temperature had been in the eighties.
“I did, but I don’t know if I’ll put it on. Going swimming at a wedding reception seems a little peculiar.”
“Not peculiar, just out of the ordinary. Everything we do might be a little out of the ordinary. Did you ever think of that?”
“I don’t know if that makes me more afraid or more excited!”
Shep’s hand slid under her hair. “I don’t want you to be afraid.”
She moved her cheek against his thumb. “I’ll try not to be.”
The judge, who seemed in a hurry to return to his chambers, shook both their hands and congratulated them. He said a few words to Ryder and then made his way back to the courthouse.
Roy asked them, “Are you married now?”
Raina dropped her arm around his shoulders. “Yes, we’re married now. Are you ready for a celebration?”
“That’s a party, right?” Joey asked, apparently wanting to make sure.
“Yep, it’s a party with a big cake.”
Raina’s mother came over to her and gave her a hug. “I wish you nothing but happiness,” she murmured. But when Raina pulled back, she saw her mother looked worried.
“Thank you, Mom. I think I will be happy, once I get used to the idea of being married again.”
“It won’t be the same,” her mother said with a shake of her head.
“No, it won’t. I don’t expect it to be. Maybe that’s the secret.”
Shep, standing beside Raina, obviously overheard. Her mother hesitated a moment, then patted Shep’s arm. “Congratulations.” She smiled at Manuel and held out her hands to him. “Will you come to me?”
The two-year-old gave a wide grin, babbled and then leaned into her.
“You’re a friendly one,” Sonya remarked.
Roy tugged on Manuel’s foot, just to tease him, then he asked Raina’s mother, “Are you going to be our grandma?”
Cinderella and the Playboy / The Texan's Happily-Ever-After Page 24