The infant in her arms neared sleep. Her eyes fluttered shut. Tally smiled down at her charge, blinking back tears for fear the relatives might see them.
From the corner of her eye, a movement caught her attention. Not the normal traffic of nurses and doctors. Something else. Through the large window, she saw familiar broad shoulders approaching the nurses’ station.
Marshall.
What was he doing here? No matter, he stole her breath in his simple red plaid shirt and jeans, wide belt buckle gleaming. Then she noticed he carried a large box filled with ornately wrapped gifts.
The staff clustered around him, their tired expressions replaced with smiles as he pulled out presents for staff, parents and children. Did she dare hope he’d done this for her? And even if he hadn’t, the kind of man who would make this thoughtful gesture was a person of honor, integrity. A man worth fighting for. Her eyes filled with tears.
Rising from the rocker, Tally lowered the sleeping infant into the bassinet. Touching the infant’s little hand, her heart swelled. She thought of her own child preparing for Christmas, a life she honored by being here even knowing she would carry the ache of loss forever. Marshall carried burdens of his own, and rather than letting them break him, he tackled them head-on every day. She admired him for that.
She turned back to the window. Pace and pulse quickening as her eyes fell on Marshall. He stood, waiting. Their eyes met. Connected.
Hope churning inside her, she passed through the door.
“Hello, Tally, care to take a walk?” He extended an arm.
She noticed his cast was gone. She took his arm and walked beside him, the warmth of him familiar and welcome after their estrangement. She’d missed him, so very much.
Words failed her as they meandered, winding their way through the hospital until they came upon a small meditation garden. The enclosed structure allowed sunlight to stream through, lighting the rock path winding through flowering plants. Sprawling greenery filled the space with summer in winter, a fountain spewing in the center with a soothing shoosh of water. And as luck would have it, the space was empty, giving them privacy to talk.
He guided her to a bench and sat beside her. “I appreciate your talking to me.”
“I appreciate what you did for the children—for the families and staff, too.” The image of him passing out gifts still filled her mind and heart. “That was so thoughtful of you.”
Writing a check was easy. Showing up was harder.
He took her hand in his, his thumb stroking along the inside of her wrist. “It’s my Christmas gift to you—along with my apology.”
That he’d chosen something he knew would make her happy touched her all the more.
She flipped her hand in his, linking their fingers, taking hope from the warmth in his eyes. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me.”
“Thank you, but no.” He pressed a finger to her lips. “I should have never let things go this long without talking to you. I shut you out, and that was wrong.”
“I shouldn’t have lied to you,” she insisted.
“And I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
It was about more than that, and she couldn’t shy away from it. “I should have told you about my father. You had every right to be upset.”
“What happened with your father was an accident,” he said with unmistakable certainty, his gaze steady and strong. “He paid a high price for his feelings of guilt... So did you.”
“Your family paid a much higher price.”
His hold tightened on hers. “Life isn’t easy. Having you in my life has taught me I can’t isolate myself. That’s no way to honor my mother’s memory. And it certainly hasn’t taken away the pain of losing them. Having you here made me realize I should be opening my life, not closing it off.”
His words touched her with hope, for him as much as for her. She liked the idea of this amazing man rejoining the world with all he had to offer.
She slid her hands to cup his face. “You credit me with too much.”
“You don’t credit yourself with enough.” He covered her hands with his. “But I want to be around, in your life, to tell you every day just how damn special you are.”
Her heartbeat skittered faster, her breath catching with surprise and more of that heady sensation of hope.
“That easily, you forgive me?”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Yes, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
His scent, his nearness, soothed an ache in her that went far beyond the past few unhappy weeks. He eased her soul in a deeper way than that, filling her with a sense of rightness.
“Of course I do.”
His eyes filled with something that looked remarkably like love. “And what if I said I want us to continue seeing each other? Because the thought of letting you go is driving me insane.” He clasped her shoulders, his touch stirring her the way it always had, and more. “Tally, I’m falling head over heels in love with you.”
Joy filled her to overflowing, just like that garden fountain. It seemed to spill right out of her along with a few happy tears.
“I’m so very glad to hear that, because I’m right there with you.” Happiness curled deep inside her, like it was ready to stay for a long, long time. “I’ve never felt this way before, never expected to find someone like you.”
“I’m far from perfect. You know my history.” His eyes went somber.
“We’re all far from perfect. And as long as you’ll be open with me, we can face things together.” She angled closer, sealing her mouth to his, holding, relishing the privacy but wishing they had more.
And they would, a prospect that filled her with passion and promise.
Easing back, Marshall stroked her hair from her face with reverent hands. “Move in with me. Help me build the family ranch back to the place full of life it used to be.”
She sank into his arms, and into their future. “I can’t think of anything that would bring me more joy.”
Epilogue
Marshall couldn’t remember a better Christmas since he’d been a child, and it was all thanks to Tally. Having her at his side—in his life—as he’d spent the day with his family had made the day complete.
And he couldn’t think of a better way to finish off the holiday than lying together on the fur rug in front of the fireplace after making love. The peace in his heart and this amazing woman by his side were the best gifts of all. The future stretched ahead of him, and for the first time in too long, he allowed himself to live beyond the moment.
The tree they’d decorated together glowed with lights, the golden shimmer bathing her creamy body. He stroked along her spine, their legs tangled in the aftermath of their lovemaking. He fluffed the pillow under her head, making her smile.
Seeing her happy only multiplied his own pleasure.
She tipped her face toward his, her hair teasing along his arm. “Today was magical. Thank you.”
“It’s the first of many.” He could see himself beside her for the long haul. No more hugging the wall.
“I like the sound of that.”
The day after the fund-raiser, they’d celebrated by moving her things into his room and begun making plans for the future. She’d told him of her plans to apply for the scholarship to return to college to become a counselor. He’d offered to help her, but she’d been insistent about making her own way. He hadn’t argued. For now.
Nugget stretched and wandered over, making himself comfortable on the blanket between their feet.
Marshall combed his fingers through her silky red hair. “I have a gift for you.”
Sighing, she leaned into his touch. “But you already gave me a Christmas gift when you brought all those presents to the hospital, and the beautiful statue today.”
He’d given her a sculpted stone statue of a my
thical sea nymph in honor of her mermaid charm. The pleasure on her face, the gentle way she’d caressed it, had made it well worth the search.
Bringing her joy brought him joy.
“I wanted to save this for when we were alone.” He lifted his hat off the chair where he’d placed it to cover the small box, a piece of his past he wanted to share with her. Only her. He passed over the necklace box. “It was my mother’s.”
“Oh, Marshall...” Her voice quivered as her hand went to her mouth. “Are you sure you want to give this to me? Is your family okay with it?”
“Absolutely. I got it from my father today with his blessing.” He creaked the box open to reveal a delicate platinum chain with a diamond heart.
“It’s beautiful.” She looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “Are you sure you want to—”
He stopped her. “Yes, I’m sure I want you to have it, and I’m certain my mother would, too.”
“Thank you.” She cradled his face in her hand. “I’m honored to wear it.”
He pulled the chain from the box, unhooked the clasp, and placed the necklace on her, the heart nestling at the base of her neck. He could feel his mother smiling on this moment. She would have liked Tally and her gentle, take-charge way. She had already signed up for an Al-Anon group. She’d said she wanted to support him in every way possible. He didn’t know what he’d done to be lucky enough to have her in his life, but he wasn’t letting her go again.
She trailed her fingers down his arm, along where his cast had been removed just before Christmas Eve. “Now that you’re healed, will you take me riding tomorrow?”
He didn’t see the need to tell her he’d been riding with the cast on. “I would like that, very much.”
“And I like the way you look in that cowboy hat of yours.”
“Ah, so the ride is to fulfill a fantasy?” He dropped his Stetson on her head.
“You could say that,” she answered playfully, wriggling closer.
An invitation he fully intended to accept.
He looked forward to a lifetime of making all her dreams come true.
* * *
Passion and turmoil abound in the lives of the
Alaskan Oil Barons!
Nothing is as it seems.
Will they confront Milla Jones?
Is Uncle Lyle involved?
Why has Breanna stayed away from her family?
Find out the answers and so much more
in the final two stories
starring the Steeles and Mikkelsons!
The Billionaire Renegade
(available January 2019)
The Secret Twin
(available February 2019)
And don’t miss a single twist in the
first six books of the Alaskan Oil Barons from
USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann.
The Baby Claim
The Double Deal
The Love Child
The Twin Birthright
The Second Chance
The Rancher’s Seduction
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Christmas Proposition by Jessica Lemmon.
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A Christmas Proposition
by Jessica Lemmon
One
December 20
Source: thedallasduchess.com
EXCLUSIVE:
STEFANIE FERGUSON AND BLAKE EASTWOOD REUNION
Good morning, Dallas!
As maven of this fine city, the Dallas Duchess makes it her job to know the happenings of local royalty. In this town, no royalty is finer than the Fergusons.
“Princess” Stefanie Ferguson, socialite, heiress and party girl, has been spotted once again on the arm of cunning and charming Blake Eastwood, who just so happens to be the mayor’s biggest opponent. (Naughty, naughty!) And, my savvy duchess dolls, you’re all aware that the mayor=Stefanie’s gorgeous and recently betrothed brother. Yes, ladies, another of Dallas’s eligible bachelors is about to bite the dust.
(As an aside, you longtimers may recall my breaking story about the mayor shacking up in Montana during a snowstorm with his old flame. Hotcha! You always hear it here first.)
But back to Princess Stef and her dashing bad boy... By now you’ve no doubt seen the photo circulating on social media of Blake and Stefanie dancing cheek to cheek at a Toys for Tots fund-raiser. And if you’re an astute observer like moi, you felt the sparks flying from that photo. As of right this very minute, I can confirm what my pitter-pattering heart was hoping for the most:
Stefanie and Blake are together!
Recently, I spoke with Blake and while I couldn’t get him to commit to a timeline, I did learn a verrrry juicy bit of intel.
Dallas Duchess: I have to ask for the sake of my readers. Are you and Stefanie Ferguson seeing each other again?
Blake Eastwood: [emits a sexy chuckle] Um. Yes. We are.
DD: [squeals of delight] Can you tell me more?
BE: I can tell you that it’s new, but serious.
DD: Put-a-ring-on-it serious?
BE: Come on, Duchess, I can’t let every cat out of
the bag.
DD: But it’s almost Christmas! Surely you can give us one teeny-tiny hint?
BE: Christmastime is Stef’s favorite time of the year. She whispered in my ear just yesterday that it’s the perfect time to shop at Tiffany & Co. I’m a man who knows how to take a hint.
Ladies, gentlemen. If that’s not a confirmation that Blake is popping the question Stefanie is begging him to ask, I don’t know what is!
Go forth and share across social media with the links below. Looks like a Christmas engagement could be forthcoming!
* * *
Stefanie Ferguson paced the shining white floor of her sister-in-law’s home office in a pair of knee-high, spike-heel Christian Louboutin boots. Unlike the last public relations hiccup she’d gotten into with Blake, this one couldn’t be handled over a cup of coffee at Hip Stir.
Late last night, she’d been sipping on hot cocoa with Sambuca when she received a text from Blake.
Dallas Duchess has some news to share tomorrow. Me and you, gorgeous.
She’d pecked in an angry “Go to hell” followed by “Leave me alone” and then erased both lines in favor of ignoring him.
Lord only knew what he would’ve done with the screenshots if she’d tex
ted him. It had taken everything in her not to respond to his baiting. Blake was Bad News with a capital B and N.
Last year, he’d gone to the Dallas Duchess via one of her brother’s staff members to break the story about Miriam Andrix returning to Chase’s life. The write-up was in defense of Chase and almost lecturing Miriam for ruining the city’s chaste mayor. Ridiculous. It was clear to anyone who saw them together that Miriam and Chase were gaga over each other—even Stefanie could see that, and she was Chase’s sister.
Blake’s original motivation for his nefarious smear campaign was building a new civic center, which he wanted to erect very close to Ferguson Oil property. Chase had been saying no for years. Blake had promised to “ruin him” if it was the last thing he did, as if he were some sort of mustache-twisting bandit.
Stef reminded herself, again, that she hadn’t known the dirty details when Blake charmed her into his hotel bed one lonely night a few years back. She certainly had never expected him to release pictures of them leaving the hotel together.
Penelope Ferguson had summoned a PR magic spell to bail Stef out of her Blake-related problem then, and she’d had a hand in smoothing over Chase and Miriam’s relationship last year. With Chase’s imminent reelection looming—Stef refused to consider the possibility of him losing—she had zero worries that Pen would be able to work her magic again and smooth this one over, as well.
“You should’ve called me the second Blake the Snake sent you that text,” Penelope scolded from where she sat in front of her computer screen. Her full mouth was a firm line of displeasure, her eyes narrowed in frustration.
Stef stopped pacing and wrapped herself protectively in her own arms. “It was late. I didn’t want to bother you.”
And she hadn’t wanted her sister-in-law to hear the raw vulnerability in her voice. Stef might have refused to respond with the intent of letting Blake know how little he’d affected her, but in truth he had. Like the first time those hotel photos saw the light of day, she felt cheap and used.
The Rancher's Seduction Page 16