Wyoming Born & Bred
Page 16
“You sure know how to take the wind out of a fellow’s sail, don’t you?” he asked in chagrin. “Here I was all set to be your hero and you’re not even in the market for one.”
“Aw,” Patricia countered in a soft voice that brought out the animal in him. “That’s where you’re wrong, cowboy. I need a hero just as much as my boys do. More, if the truth were known. Just because I proved my independence to myself doesn’t necessarily mean that I want to be alone for the rest of my life.”
“It doesn’t?” Cameron asked, taking a step toward her. The light in his eyes burned the distance between them with the flame of desire.
“No, it doesn’t,” she repeated in a breathless whisper.
“Then I’d suggest you take a look into that bouquet and see if there’s anything in there you might consider wearing for the rest of your life.”
The world did a crazy loop to loop as Patricia reached for the flowers. Nestled between red blossoms the size of her fist was a tiny jewelry box. Inside was a diamond solitaire, glittering against a blue velvet background.
At the sound of their mother’s gasp, the children raced into the room. There they found Cameron on one knee asking, “Will you marry me?”
They nodded encouragingly. “Go for it, Mom!” urged Johnny.
As glad as Cameron was for their support, Patricia smiled at her children. After all, it was a decision that affected them all. Still it was she who had the final word, not they. There was far more to be considered than her children’s approval. Once she had married as a means of escaping her father’s stranglehold. Older now and wiser, Patricia knew better than to use marriage as a flight from her troubles. And all the money in the world was not enough for her to ever again endure the kind of marriage she’d had with Hadley—a one-sided affair in which she felt solely responsible for making it work. She was looking for neither a father figure nor a big, overgrown child.
If she were to marry Cameron, it had to be for love. It had to be because she couldn’t bear the thought of living without him. It had to be without any thought to changing his wonderful, stubborn hide.
“Yes,” Patricia said, slipping the ring on her finger, knowing that it was never coming off. Cameron would sell his very soul before he would pawn this exquisite token of his love for her.
The children burst into cheers as Patricia threw her arms around Cameron and kissed him with such abandon that she felt him harden behind the worn fly of his jeans.
“Let’s set the date for next weekend,” he whispered into her ear. “I don’t think I can wait any longer than that.”
Her eyes shining with anticipation, Patricia nodded in agreement. “All right, but there’s something we should get straight before we make any more plans,” she said. “Is there some reason that emus and quarter horses can’t coexist?”
Cameron rubbed his chin and considered her question thoughtfully. Such an alliance had never occurred to him, but suddenly it didn’t seem as ludicrous as he once might have thought.
“No more reason I guess than why some bullheaded cowboy and a crazy Californian transplant can’t populate the West with the best of both worlds.” He wriggled his eyebrows meaningfully. “Did I mention I’d like to get a start on that populating part right away?” he murmured in a deep, meaningful purr that set every cell in Patricia’s body to tingling.
The children giggled uncontrollably and exchanged playful punches as Cameron gathered Patricia in his arms and kissed her. Long and hard. Hungry and desperate. Such a kiss foretold of a lifetime of tender lovemaking, and promised there was nothing that they could not conquer.
Together.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-5960-7
WYOMING BORN & BRED
Copyright © 1999 by Cathleen Galitz
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