Inheriting His Secret Christmas Baby

by Heidi Betts

  “I love you. I love you, Haylie,” he blurted out just before the rigidity in his perfectly squared shoulders eased a little.

  “I’ve been with a lot of women,” he admitted, “but I’ve never been in love. I guess that explains why I didn’t recognize it when it finally happened to me. Why it took the sucker punch of you taking off in the middle of the night for me to wise up.” His mouth curved up in one of her favorite wry, self-deprecating smiles.

  “But here’s what I do know. I know I’ve been happier and more content in the brief month I’ve known you than in all the rest of my adult life. I know the house is empty and lonely as hell without you and Bradley there to fill the space with warmth and laughter. And I know that when I think about never seeing you again, it feels as though someone is reaching into my chest cavity and ripping out not only my heart, but my soul.”

  Of their own volition, tears flooded her eyes. She didn’t think she’d ever heard anything so beautiful, except maybe in her own head when she thought about him.

  But did he mean it? Did he really and truly feel this way about her, or would he change his mind the minute some cute little twenty-four-year-old with a short skirt and surgically enhanced bosom crossed his path?

  “So I’m here to propose again.” He soldiered on. “This time, though, I’m going to ask instead of tell. And if you say yes, it won’t be a marriage of convenience. I’ll love you with every fiber of my being, and expect the same from you. I’ll expect you to live with me, till death do us part, whether that means you relocating to Aspen or me moving here—I honestly don’t care which.”

  Taking a deep breath, his voice softened only a fraction when he said, “And if you say no… Well, that’s okay, too. I mean, I don’t want you to say no, of course, but I’d understand. Understanding doesn’t mean giving up, though. It just means I’ll have to start from scratch and work twice as hard at convincing you that my feelings are genuine.”

  His eyes glittered with conviction as he added, “And no matter what, I won’t try to take Bradley away from you. Ever. I don’t want you to worry about that. I want him, don’t get me wrong, but we’ll work out a visitation schedule that we can both live with, I promise.”

  Popping the lid of the velvet box, he held it out to her, revealing a bright gold band and stunning, marquise-cut diamond that had to be three or four carats, at least. Every facet winked and sparkled, making her almost dizzy.

  “Will you marry me, Haylie? Be my wife, my lover, the mother of my children—Bradley, as well as any more we decide to have together?”

  Her chest was so tight, her lungs refused to function. Her heart, which had been racing at full speed only seconds before, seemed to screech to a halt.

  She wanted so much to believe him, to throw herself into his arms and shout yes, yes, yes! Nothing would make her happier than to be with him. Forever. Even if it meant moving to Aspen, starting over in a whole new city, a whole new element. Or maybe not starting over, but branching out.

  Could she? Should she?

  Taking a shuddering breath, she looked deep into Trevor’s eyes, and what she saw there warmed her more than any amount of flowers or candy or pretty words could. Love. And longing. And determination.

  He loved her, he wanted her, and if she turned him down, he really would dig in his heels and fight for her.

  For a moment, she considered saying no, just to see what he would do. Would there be more flowers, actual dates, attempts at wining and dining her in ways that only a millionaire Jarrod heir could?

  But she didn’t care about Trevor’s money, did she? Or about being wooed. She only cared about him.

  Letting go of the flowers and chocolates she’d been clutching to her chest, she fell to her knees in front of him and gave the only answer she could. The only one that made sense both in her head and in her heart.

  “Yes,” she whispered, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tight. His arms circled her waist, squeezing her just as tightly, and then his mouth covered hers, kissing away any further response.

  For long minutes, they knelt there, simply kissing, holding, loving. When they finally came up for air, Trevor was grinning, and she could feel a damp smile of her own spreading across her face.

  Wiping the tears from her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs, he kissed her one last time before producing the ring box and cocking his head to one side. “May I?”

  “Please,” she said, extending her left hand. Her shaking left hand.

  He took it by the wrist and slid the diamond on her finger. As large as it was, she was surprised to find it didn’t weigh more. But still, she couldn’t resist lifting it up to the light, turning it this way and that, admiring the symbol of her love for Trevor, and his for her.

  That he had picked it out just for her and come here to declare his feelings for her on bended knee… She would never forget this day, as long as she lived.

  Climbing to his feet, Trevor pulled her up with him, still holding her close to his chest.

  “I know we have a lot to discuss,” he murmured, “and you look like you were on your way out, but there are only two things I want right now—to say hello to my son, and then to put him down for a nap so I can make love to my beautiful fiancée.”

  His wolfish grin as he walked her backward into her apartment and kicked the door closed behind him made her chuckle.

  “It’s a little early for his nap, but he was up half the night, so you might get lucky.” Kissing his ear, she whispered, “And just in case you do, I’d be happy to call in sick to work so you can get lucky with me, too.”

  Leaning back, he met her gaze, his expression serious. “I already have,” he told her in a low voice. “I already have.”

  Epilogue

  It was Christmas Eve.

  Snow was falling softly outside the windows of one of the Manor’s gorgeous ballrooms. Strands of tiny lights were strung along the walls and ceiling like a starry sky, and a humongous Douglas fir decorated with gold ribbons and ivory bulbs stood at the far end of the room.

  Round tables draped in white linens spread out all around, leaving only the center dance floor bare, and guests mingled at both, dancing to a mix of romantic and holiday music played by a string quartet, or enjoying the last bites of wedding cake.

  The guests of honor, the newly united Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hanford, were seated at a long, rectangular table reserved for the wedding party, but they had eyes only for each other. In fact, the longer the reception went on, the more they looked as though they couldn’t wait to thank everyone for sharing in their special day, then take off for more enjoyable honeymoon pursuits.

  Not that Haylie could blame them. She imagined that when her turn came to tie the knot, she would be just as eager to shed the formalities of the official event and get Trevor alone and out of his tuxedo.

  A ripple of excitement ran beneath her skin, letting her know just how much she was anticipating her own wedding day. They’d barely discussed plans of any sort since he’d shown up at her door and proposed to her on bended knee, mostly because there were just too many other things going on at the moment.

  She’d still needed to see to last-minute preparations for Erica and Christian’s wedding. Then there was Melissa and Shane’s New Year’s Eve wedding, which she would be attending only as a guest, thank goodness. And immediately after, Avery and Guy’s nuptials to contend with.

  She still didn’t know exactly when that would be taking place, but Avery had assured Haylie that she wanted her help with everything from setting a date to deciding on centerpieces.

  Which was fine. Better than fine, actually, since one of the things she and Trevor had discussed was her carrying on her work here at the Ridge. Rather than closing down or relocating It’s Your Party, they’d agreed that it would probably be smarter to leave the Denver business open and put one of her senior employees in charge.

  Trevor had suggested that she then branch out and turn the company into a bit of a fran
chise, opening a second location—at the Ridge itself, if she preferred. He’d promised to help her find the perfect site on the premises to set up shop, but also wanted her to take over as the resort’s event coordinator. It would mean getting involved in more than just weddings—it would mean anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, bachelorette parties, and she would certainly be available for any family celebrations.

  She liked that idea. She liked the idea of working at the Ridge, being able to keep Bradley with her much of the time or leave him with very reliable day care when she couldn’t, and of being able to walk down the hall or across the street whenever she felt compelled to see her soon-to-be husband. Maybe distract him from his computer screen or latest marketing plans.

  When a pair of strong male hands slid around her waist and pulled her back against an equally strong male chest, she grinned, thinking that someone else’s thoughts must have been running along the same lines as her own.

  “You know,” Trevor whispered in her ear, “I may have to change my mind about you becoming the event coordinator for Jarrod Ridge.”

  She jerked her head back, shocked and hurt.

  “You’re a little too good at this, and I’m afraid you’ll be in such high demand once people figure that out that I’ll never get to have you all to myself.”

  As the rest of his words sank in, she released a relieved breath, the cold chill of his perceived criticism replaced by a pleasurable warmth.

  Of all the weddings she’d taken part in, she thought she was probably most proud of this one. Not only because she’d pulled it all together in such a short amount of time—and no matter how “simple” Erica had assured her she wanted her special day to be, there wasn’t really anything simple about a wedding unless the couple eloped to Las Vegas. And even that involved booking airline tickets and finding a chapel.

  But in addition to the food and decor, and keeping everything and everyone on schedule, the entire immediate Jarrod family was in attendance this evening. All the brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. And most surprising of all, Erica’s father and stepmother were not only there to help celebrate their daughter’s big day, but seemed to be getting along well with all of the Jarrods.

  During their time together, Erica had told her about the shock and hurt of discovering that Walter Prentice, the man who’d raised her from birth, wasn’t her biological father and that Donald Jarrod was. A fact she hadn’t become aware of until after Donald’s death. Given that the Prentices and Jarrods apparently hadn’t gotten along all that well to begin with, it had taken all these months for the two families to overcome their differences.

  Haylie was glad. Erica deserved to enjoy her wedding day without the stress of worrying about how the people she loved most in the world were going to act once they were in the same room together.

  Turning her attention back to the man who was holding her snuggly against his chest, swaying back and forth to the airy notes of Chopin, Haylie said, “I was just thinking about that myself. Mostly about how convenient it would be to work here, knowing we could drop in on each other throughout the day.”

  “And why would we want to do that?” he murmured, feigning puzzlement even as his tone rang with amusement.

  “Oh, I don’t know. In case we need to discuss some pressing matter where Bradley is concerned. Or for the occasional office quickie. I’ve always had a fantasy about making love on a desk in the middle of the workday.”

  Her head spun as he whipped her around to face him. The tea-length skirt of her emerald-green gown swirled around her legs before rustling to a stop.

  “You never told me that,” Trevor ground out, his coffee-brown eyes narrowed and intense, one brow raised in keen interest.

  She cocked her head to the side. “It’s never come up before now. And you never asked,” she replied primly.

  His other brow went up in what she could only perceive as a challenging expression. “I’ve got a desk. Downstairs. And that’s one fantasy I’d be happy to realize right now.”

  “But how would that look,” she began, reaching up to straighten his already perfectly straight black tie, “for the wedding planner to go missing in the middle of the wedding reception? And you’re the bride’s brother. Your disappearance would look even worse.”

  Sliding a hand to the small of her back, he tugged her close, letting her feel the proof of his interest.

  “You’re assuming I care what anyone thinks. Let me assure you, I don’t.”

  “I know you don’t,” she murmured softly.

  That poise and self-confidence was one of the reasons she loved him. And it was going to come in handy once the media found out he was marrying her, the aunt of his nearly five-month-old illegitimate son. She couldn’t wait until that hit the fan. But as Trevor said and had assured her numerous times before, it didn’t matter what others thought or how many crazy headlines the national tabloids invented. Only the truth mattered, and the truth was that she loved him to distraction, just as he loved her.

  They had each other and Bradley, and maybe one day more children to add to their happy family. As far as Haylie was concerned, that made her life just about perfect.

  “An hour,” she told him, leaning her face into his. “One more hour, and whether the bride and groom have left or not, I’ll let you whisk me down to your office and seduce me on top of your desk.”

  To her delight, Trevor responded with a low growl. The sound made her shiver, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Sixty minutes,” he agreed, synchronizing his watch, “and not a second more.”

  She nodded.

  “In the meantime, how about a dance?”

  Taking slow steps backward, he pulled her with him, and she went willingly, following him onto the dance floor and into the rest of her wonderful, happy-ever-after life.

  Special thanks and acknowledgment to Heidi Betts for her contribution to the Dynasties: The Jarrods miniseries.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7598-4

  INHERITING HIS SECRET CHRISTMAS BABY

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