“And on that note,” he continued, gesturing toward a screen that immediately illuminated. “The art speaks so much better than I ever could. So I’ll turn over the stage now for our presentation of Diamonds in the Rough’s most popular brands—as well as unveiling an exclusive first look at a new line in development by our top designer, Amie McNair. It is our hope that this new direction will add a division to the company that will bring new jobs into our community.” His gaze found hers in the audience. Warmth radiated from his eyes. “And now, if you’ll all turn your eyes to the screen, I give you...the heart and lifeblood of Diamonds in the Rough.”
Fingers sliding into her grandmother’s hand, Amie’s heart leaped into her throat at his words.
The film presentation held so many of her designs, even Amie hadn’t realized until then just how large her stylistic imprint had been on the company. Guests oohed and aahed as audibly as they had over the fireworks at Stone and Johanna’s wedding, the jewelry brought to life with cinematic flair.
And then the screen scrolled an announcement for the future, images from her sketchbook fading in and out, the snake-themed coils she’d designed, the patterns of their markings inspiring interlocking pieces for multicolored chains in precious metal. They were more urban and sophisticated than the rustic-luxury items that were the company cornerstone, potential crossover items for a younger, more international market, while staying true to her roots.
This was the new program he’d spoken of. The new division that could create jobs and bring some of their former employees back. Realizing how well this man knew her—how well he had listened—made her heart swell. Truly listened to her wishes, her choices, even her style. He let her be—herself. Something she didn’t take for granted after the way she’d grown up. He didn’t stuff her into a category.
He accepted her. Flaws and all. And she owed him the same acceptance. She needed to take her grandmother’s advice and be brave, take the future waiting for her.
Shining right before her eyes.
* * *
Preston sat on a bale of hay on the stage, the barn quiet in the aftermath of the final stop on their gala tour. A success in attendance, and the feedback on his presentation had been unanimously positive from the board of directors.
But there was still one person left to hear from, the opinion that mattered most.
Amie’s.
As if conjured from his thoughts, she walked into the empty barn, weaving around the tables and chairs that would be cleared away in the morning. She was a vision, wearing her version of a “little black dress.” So very Amie. She was one of a kind and he wouldn’t have her any other way. He needed to tell her that, in no uncertain terms, to let her know he loved her. No more running. No more cop-outs. No more ghosts. She was worth every risk. Had always been worth the risks.
Her dress swished as she walked. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
She stopped in front of him, her gown brushing his knees, blue eyes shining. “For the presentation. For your faith in my work. For loving me.”
Her pronouncement stunned him. How did she...? Hell, he wasn’t sure what to think. He slid off the stage and stood in front of her. “You know that? I was about to tell you and you’ve preempted my speech. But you trust that I do love you, right? I have since the first time I saw you. I can’t explain it, but I do.” He gathered her into his arms and held her close, something he’d feared he might never get to do again.
She tucked closer against his chest. “It would have helped if you’d told me sooner.”
“My ex-wife said something a lot like that,” he muttered under his breath.
She angled back to look up at him. “You talked to your ex about me?” She waved and shook her head. “Never mind. That doesn’t matter. Why didn’t you listen to her?”
“I guess I’m thickheaded.”
“But not unteachable. The McNairs are strong-willed people, too. We can be difficult, but we are so worth the effort.” Her smile was brighter than diamonds.
He cupped her waist and lifted her to sit on one of the saddles that had been used to display studded reins.
“Amie, I want you to marry me. This is about you. Nothing and no one else. You’ve turned my life upside down from the moment we met. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and yes, wanting you. But for so many more reasons than the fact that you’re hot as hell. You’re smart and strong. You’re loyal and loving. I need that—I need you—in my life. Please make me the happiest man alive and say we can spend the rest of our lives together.”
She tugged him close until they were face-to-face, close enough to kiss. “I want nothing more than to marry you. I’ve fallen crazy, impulsively, in love with you. No matter how hard I’ve tried to fight it, I can’t help myself.”
He listened to her, hardly daring to believe how fortunate he’d been to find her. To win her.
“I can’t help myself, either.” He traced the line of her jaw. The soft fullness of her lips. “I’ve built a reputation on being the most controlled person in the room, the CEO with the cool head, and yet you took one look at me and undid all that without saying a word.”
Angling his lips over hers, he brushed a kiss along her mouth. A tender, forever kind of kiss.
He gathered her in his arms, trailing hands across her silky bare shoulders. Through the soft fall of dark hair that blanketed one arm. He breathed her in, her scent imprinted on his brain the way the feel of her had imprinted itself on his body.
Deepening the kiss, he stroked along her lower lip, demanding entrance she was only too willing to give, her whole body sighing into his as the tension left muscles at last. He kissed and kissed her, not caring about anything else but this moment with her. They might have forever, but he wanted to savor every moment with her, not taking any of this for granted.
He pulled her hips to his, knowing his whole world was in his arms. In her. He was a lucky, lucky man.
Ending the kiss with a final nip on her bottom lip. “Mind telling me why you fought something this amazing?”
“You know why,” she said, her blue eyes swimming with emotion. “The fear of losing love is scary.”
Of course. The answer was so simple and so complex at the same time. He’d fought against those same fears. “I can’t promise a perfect, trouble-free future. But I can promise you’ll never have to doubt me or my love for you.”
“You’re a man of your word.”
“That I am. And I look forward to proving that every day.”
Epilogue
Nine months later
Amie smiled with pride as her husband thanked the family for attending the outdoor baptism held at their private new spread on the Hidden Gem Ranch property. Their home—having built a house of their own on five acres, away from the resort activity.
Preston stood with her in the landscaped gardens full of multicolored flowers, their own private jewel box of petals. He spoke to their guests as they stood together under a bower of roses holding their twins. “Amie and I can’t thank you enough for joining us in celebrating the joy of our two precious—vocal—bundles of joy, Mariah Armstrong and McNair Armstrong.”
He paused for the laughter before continuing the speech he’d spent more time preparing for than any boardroom presentation. He was excited—and so proud. She’d never known she could be so exhausted and happy all at once. She took her squawking son from Preston, while her husband held their daughter and kept speaking to their families—hers and his. His parents were regulars now, flying up for visits.
Amie inhaled the sweet scent of baby shampoo, McNair’s unbelievably soft cheek pressed to hers. Perfection.
She should have considered she might be pregnant with twins, given she was a twin herself, but she’d still been stunned when the doctor picked up two heartbeats
and then the ultrasound showed two babies. Her pregnancy had been blessedly uneventful. She’d even made it to thirty-eight weeks pregnant, giving birth to a seven-pound daughter and six-pound son.
Alex had joked she’d always been an over-the-top kind of person. Preston had just smiled, declaring her and the babies perfect.
As much as she’d missed her grandmother that day, she could feel her spirit smiling down in happiness. She felt that feeling even now, all around them, celebrating the family. With the sun shining on their happy haven, their family and closest friends beside them to help them celebrate, Amie had never felt more blessed. Family truly was everything.
She smiled up at Preston as he talked about the joys of second chances, expressing his gratitude for being a part of their family. She snuggled McNair closer, her heart overflowing with love for her babies. Their babies.
Johanna and Stone had adopted a toddler daughter six months ago and since seeing the babies, their little girl was already asking for a sibling. Alex and Nina had married last month, and Cody was already calling her Aunt Amie. He was a McNair in all the ways that counted. He had taken his job of watching over Roscoe the cat very seriously today, and Amie was pretty sure Roscoe the cat took his job watching over Cody darn seriously, too.
The cat twined around the boy’s feet where they played together in the rock garden between the lilies of the valley and the gardenias.
And what a treat to have their house complete in time for the baptism. The three-story stucco home had airy porches and large rooms with plenty of space for the children to play while she and Preston watched in awe. She couldn’t imagine the awe would ever go away.
She worked on designs from home three days a week, and Preston had installed an office for himself in their house to spend more time with his family. They were making it work, being with their children and keeping the McNair legacy alive. She wasn’t sure she was ready to call herself a matriarch any time too soon, the way Gran had mentioned, but then again, it felt right to host all of her and his family here, under her roof. She had large shoes to fill, but she would enjoy trying.
Her parents might not have given her the upbringing she’d hoped for, but they seemed to be embracing the grandparent role with Alex’s stepson and now with little Mariah and McNair. They’d come today and so far had been pleasant—maybe they’d all learned the importance of family and acceptance after losing Gran.
Preston wrapped up his speech and waved for everyone to help themselves to the brunch buffet by the pool. The beautiful chaos commenced. Preston kissed her cheek before stepping away to speak with his parents.
Alex stepped beside her, sliding a brotherly arm around her shoulder. “Gran would love all these kids playing on the lawn.”
Amie could swear she smelled her grandmother’s gardenia cologne on the breeze. “A familiar sight, that’s for sure.”
Their cousin Stone joined them, the three as close as siblings, having grown up under Mariah’s care. “Our parents all seem to be better at grandparenting than taking care of their own children. I can live with that.”
“True,” Amie agreed. “Gran would be happy about that, too.”
Stone nodded to her husband. “Preston’s working out well on a lot of levels.” High praise from the former CEO of Diamonds in the Rough. “You look happy. And the company’s in capable hands.”
Alex shook his head wryly. “Funny how that all worked out. Hell, I even like the guy.”
Amie grinned up at her brother and cousin. “Love you guys.”
They both tugged her ponytail at the same time.
Alex said, “Love you, diva.”
Stone said, “Love you, brat.”
And the teasing didn’t bother her in the least. She heard the affection. They both rejoined their wives as Preston brought Mariah over, one tiny foot peeking out of a pink lightweight blanket.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Absolutely perfect.” She leaned back against his shoulder and kissed her daughter’s foot before tucking it back under the blanket. She felt the studious weight of his gaze and looked up to find his eyes serious. “What?”
“You’ve made me happier than I ever thought I could be. I hope you know that.”
“I do,” she promised. And meant it. “That’s a very reciprocal feeling. Do we still have a date later tonight after the babies are asleep and the nanny can watch over them?”
“Yes, ma’am, we do.” He skimmed a kiss over her lips. “I have a surprise cooked up for you, something to do with a nighttime picnic in the backyard, complete with a private showing of a Wild West film on an outdoor screen. I might have even arranged for someone’s favorite pizza in all the world to be specially flown in for the occasion.”
Amie laughed, remembering their perfect date in Central Park. “You wouldn’t be so extravagant.”
“Possibly just this once.” He brushed a kiss along her lips. “I’m still in the honeymoon phase of this marriage, Amie. You’re going to have to excuse my indulgent side.”
Her heart warmed that he took so much time to think about what she liked.
The rest of the party fell away—even with family and babies and a senior cat at their feet.
“I think I can make special accommodations for you,” she whispered, gazing up into the hazel eyes that captivated her. Fascinated her. Loved her. “I wonder how long this honeymoon phase lasts.”
“I have it on good authority it can last a lifetime if we’re careful.” He brushed a kiss on her cheek. Her nose.
“Is that so?” Happiness curled her toes as she looked out over their party. Their family. “I wonder who told you such a thing.”
“Those words of wisdom came from Mariah McNair herself. She was one of the two smartest women I’ve ever met.”
Amie’s heart squeezed tight. Happy tears threatened. So she laid another kiss on McNair’s head and then kissed Preston, too.
Sometimes, no words were needed.
* * * * *
If you loved Amie’s romance, pick up the other books in the DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH series from USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann.
ONE GOOD COWBOY
PURSUED BY THE RICH RANCHER
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SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM
Brady Finn’s mission is to take his company to the next level. Aine Donovan plans to stop him. But when searing attraction leads to a pregnancy shocker, they’ll both need to reevaluate just what it is they want from each other...
Read on for a sneak peek at
HAVING HER BOSS’S BABY
the first in Maureen Child’s Pregnant by the Boss trilogy!
The door opened and there she was. He’d been prepared for a spinsterish female, a librarian type.
This woman was a surprise.
She wore black slacks and a crimson blouse with a short black jacket over it. Her thick, dark-red hair fell in heavy waves around her shoulders. Her green eyes, not hidden behind the glasses she’d worn in her photo, were artfully enhanced and shone like sunlight in a forest. She was tall and curvy enough to make a man’s mouth water, and the steady, even stare she sent him told Brady that she also had strength. Nothing hotter than a gorgeous woman with a strong sense of self. Unexpectedly, he felt a punch of desire that hit him harder than anything he’d ever experienced before.
“Brady Finn?”
“That’s right. Ms. Donovan?” He stood up and waited as she crossed the room to him, her right hand outstretched. She moved with a slow, easy grace that made him think of silk sheets, moonlit nights and the soft slide of skin against skin. Damn.
“It’s Aine, please.”
“How was your flight?” He wanted to steer the conversation into the banal so his mind would have nothing else to torment him with.
“Lovely, thanks,” she said shortly and lifted her chin a notch. “Is that what we’re to talk about, then? My flight? My hotel? I wonder that you care what I think. Perhaps we could speak, instead, about the fact that twice now you’ve not showed the slightest interest in keeping your appointments with me.”
Brady sat back, surprised at her nerve. Not many employees would risk making their new boss angry. “Twice?”
“You sent a car for me at the airport and again at the hotel. I wonder why a man who takes the trouble to fly his hotel manager halfway around the world can’t be bothered to cross the street to meet her in person.”
When Brady had seen her photo, he’d thought efficient, cool, dispassionate. Now he had to revise those thoughts entirely. There was fire here, sparking in her eyes and practically humming in the air around her.
Pregnant by the Cowboy CEO Page 15