“I’m an idiot.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“And a coward.” She took a deep breath. “I love you.”
For a minute, the world went quiet, and he stared at her, as though she had spoken a strange language. She held up the container of homemade strawberry ice cream. “You never got to eat yours. I brought you more. I thought you might want to start over. You know—tell me about your plans.”
Maybe her arguments had been too good earlier. Maybe he’d realized he didn’t really love her, after all. She took a step away.
“Oh, no, you don’t. You don’t get to walk away after you say you love me.” He pulled her into his arms.
This time, instead of fighting it, she gave in.
“And you brought ice cream.”
He took it from her and set it on the bench.
Leaning into his warmth, she sighed. His hand came up to cup the back of her head and his lips covered hers.
His love washed over her in a way that made her feel new.
This man loved her, and she loved him.
His lips went to her temple. “I’m afraid to let you out of my arms in case you slip into the night.”
“No more fear. We both let fear rule our choices for too long. I’m stepping into a bold new future, full of love and hope. If you want to join me?” With a little space between them, she looked up to the most beautiful eyes. The love she saw there made her knees weak.
His large hand slipped into hers. “Every step of the way. You aren’t going to leave here and change your mind?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I’m yours forever if you want me. Are you sure you want to stay in Port Del Mar?”
“My favorite chair is here.”
She laughed.
The door creaked open. Gina slid her arm out and grabbed the frozen container. “Carry on. I didn’t want this to melt.” And then she slipped into the house, the ice cream rescued from the Texas heat.
He laughed. “She approves.”
“I’m not sure your family really understands they’re going to be stuck in this small corner of the world.”
His fingers tightened around hers, and he pressed his forehead to hers. “There are no rules that say we can’t travel. Port Del Mar, the ranch, will be our home. But I want to show you the world, too.”
She nodded. “I want to see it. With you by my side.”
“The world just got brighter. I love you so much. Are you ready to hear that every day?”
“From you? Yes.” She cupped his face and pressed her lips to his. He was hers and she was his.
Epilogue
It was a perfect April day in Xavier and Selena’s backyard. The children stood in line as Buelita explained why they would be flowering the Easter Cross. It was a beautiful Easter tradition Quinn had never seen before.
Buelita stood before the four-foot wooden cross in front of a flower bed. She held up her flowers. “You each helped make flowers for the cross, and now you each have a real flower you picked from the garden. Christ died for us so we might have everlasting life with Him. The cross is a symbol of that sacrifice. Sometimes in our lives there’s hopelessness, darkness and pain, but we celebrate the resurrection of Christ by covering the cross with colorful flowers that remind us of the new life He has given us. And the promise of hope.”
The children all stared at her as she continued. “Flowering the cross is our way of giving thanks and reminding us of the love we have every day because of Him.”
Everyone had a mix of roses, lilies and daisies, along with the small tissue flowers they had made. Each child in turn stood before the cross and placed their flowers with the others. Then, one by one, the adults did the same. The reverence of the ceremony was not lost on anyone, even the smallest member of the De La Rosa family.
Quinn was surprised how moved he was by the simple action of placing his three flowers next to his children’s. Once done, they all made a circle around the cross, now full of blooms, and Xavier led them in prayer.
Riff, Selena’s father, held up three buckets. “Who’s ready to hunt eggs?”
All the children yelled and cheered.
“This year, the moms are going to join in the fun,” Xavier said as he lowered one of his triplets. More clapping.
Belle looked confused.
Jazz, playing along, held up her basket. “I’m ready.”
“Belle, here’s one for you.” Selena winked at Quinn as she passed her cousin-in-law a wicker basket covered in blue and green ribbons.
Despite the cool breeze, sweat slipped down Quinn’s spine. What if this was a mistake? She didn’t like surprises. He knew he wanted to marry her. His girls had wanted him to make a grand gesture.
Everyone laughed as the kids ran around looking for the hidden treats. Cassie, the twins, Jazz and Selena were all trying to guide Belle to the large bright blue egg Quinn had placed high in a tree so the little ones wouldn’t accidentally find it. But she was not cooperating.
So many things could go wrong. Cassie now stood under the tree that Belle had walked past several times. Belle had only one egg in her basket and it wasn’t the right one. She wasn’t even searching.
“Mom!” Cassie called her, then took off her shoe. Belle joined her, and together they looked at her foot. Leaning on the tree, Cassie kept talking. She said something that made Belle look up.
She pointed, but Cassie shook her head.
Quinn moved closer. He wanted to get this over with. Was she not going to get the egg? He was going to grab it and give it to her.
“I can’t reach it, Mom.”
With a sigh, Belle stretched and plucked the egg from the fork in the tree. She handed it to Cassie.
Quinn was about to intervene when Jazz yelled from across the yard, “You saw it, you keep it. No giving your eggs away.”
Laughing, Belle placed the egg in her basket with the other one. A few minutes later, Xavier sneaked up behind her and crushed a confetti egg on top of her head. Colorful dots rained over her, making her dark hair look festive.
From there, chaos broke out as people ran to either attack or to hide. Most of the time, they were doing both at the same time. Confetti was everywhere.
He pretended to see something on the ground, so that Jonah could sneak up on him and crack his cascarones over Quinn’s head. He grabbed his son and tickled him.
Selena called everyone together to open their plastic eggs. As the family gathered at the long tables that had been pushed together, Belle was maneuvered to the end.
The triplets protested, wanting to crack more cascarones over people. They were each given one more and the adults leaned over so the toddlers could attack.
All smiles, and covered with flakes of yellow, blue, purple and pink, Belle took out her blue egg and shook it. Everyone stopped but pretended not to watch her. She looked at the table and frowned. Then she opened her egg.
She gasped at the little black velvet box.
Finally.
Quinn dropped to one knee at the edge of the table and took the box from her.
“Belle De La Rosa. In the past month, you have changed my life for the better. You’ve offered me a home and a family and a future. I love you and I want us to spend the rest of our lives loving each other and putting that love into action.”
His throat went dry and all the words he had practiced caught in his lungs.
She covered her mouth and blinked at him.
“I love you more than there is water in the ocean and trees in the hills. Will you be my wife and join your family with mine?”
He held her gaze as he waited for permission to put his ring on her finger.
Tears moistened her lashes. “You’re making me cry. I hate crying.” She punched him in the shoulder.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” With his thu
mb, he wiped away the tears on her cheeks. “I promise I’ll do better if you say yes.” He laughed. “I promise to fill your days with joy and to dance in the storms of life with you. I promise to love you with everything that is inside me. I promise to be the man that fills your life with laughter and to make your dreams become reality.”
She covered her mouth. “Quinn.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes. Yes. Oh, Quinn. Yes.” She held her hand out and he slipped his diamond onto her finger. He picked her up and kissed her. Their families cheered and hollered. Soon they’d be one family.
“There’s something else in the egg!” Cassie yelled.
Hannah handed her the egg. “You’re not finished.”
Belle took out the folded brochure. The gasp might have been deeper than the one for the ring as she stared at the travel destination. She looked up at him.
“Santorini, Greece?” She blinked as tears filled her beautiful eyes.
“Tell me when and it’s our honeymoon. It was a backup to make sure you said yes.”
She threw her arms around him and pressed her lips to his. He swung her up in his arms and pulled her close, never wanting to let her go.
“I’m so grateful you’re strong enough to move orcas,” she whispered in his ear.
He groaned. “I’m never going to live that one down, am I?”
She kissed his ear. “Nope.”
“They mate for life, you know.”
“That’s good. Because once I give my heart, there are no takebacks. I’m yours forever.” The promise in the words was solid and true.
“I’m good with forever.” He bent closer until his lips hovered above hers. His Belle. “You’re a gift I’ll treasure every day. I promise.” He sealed it with a kiss.
* * *
If you enjoyed this story,
look for the other books in the
Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch series:
The Texan’s Secret Daughter
The Texan’s Surprise Return
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Cowboy’s Unexpected Baby by Stephanie Dees.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for visiting and hanging out with the De La Rosa family. This is the third in the series and it has been a pleasure to learn their stories.
The coast of Texas is a very special place. One of the inspirations behind this story is Sea Turtle, Inc., in South Padre Island and their work to protect the natural habitats along the coastline.
In the 1980s, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles had almost disappeared, but with joint efforts between Mexico and the US, the turtles are a success story and their numbers are on the rise. They are still endangered, but with the help they are receiving, there is hope.
I encourage you to find an organization that helps clean our oceans and beaches or a project that educates people about the animals that call the ocean and coastal lands home. We are stewards of this beautiful world.
I hope you enjoyed spending time in Port Del Mar with Belle and Quinn and their little family. Hope to see you soon.
You can follow me on Facebook at Jolene Navarro Author, on Instagram at jolenenavarro or on my website, JoleneNavarroWriter.com.
Jolene Navarro
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The Cowboy’s Unexpected Baby
by Stephanie Dees
Chapter One
Garrett Cole stumbled into the kitchen where he’d set the coffee to brew exactly seven minutes before his alarm went off. The last of the water sputtered through the filter as he pulled the coffeepot out and reached for a mug that wasn’t there.
He heard a mewling sound and froze. It sounded like a cat. Or a kitten. He thought about investigating, but no—coffee first, then strange sounds. Opening the cabinet, he pulled out a mug and, still half-asleep, went through the coffee ritual. One spoonful of sugar, a splash of vanilla almond milk, stir. Drink. Yes.
As the first jolt of caffeine hit his system, he started running the day’s schedule in his mind. Juvenile court at ten o’clock. Mrs. Bledsoe at three o’clock to finalize her latest will. The new social worker Wynn hired was dropping by today or tomor—he stopped, tilted his head and listened.
Was it a cat?
At least one single cat would be easier to deal with than the dog who’d had nine puppies under his porch a few months ago. Puppies everywhere. Puppies galore. He and his brothers and new sister-in-law had chased those little rascals all over the ranch and called in every last favor they were owed to find those pups a home.
He took another swig of coffee and listened. Silence.
In Garrett’s mind, he had three things going for him: his passion for his work, his dedication to family and his willingness to risk everything for a lost cause. And, boy, did those lost causes find him. Puppies under the house. Parents on their last chance to prove their sobriety. And now, apparently, kittens.
Garrett pulled open the door and stepped outside, stopping short when he heard the small cry again.
He spun slowly to the left.
It wasn’t a cat.
Garrett blinked, his mind refusing to process what he saw. There was an actual baby on his front porch. He took a step closer and closed his eyes. It had been a rough week—lots of late hours prepping for the last court case. Maybe he wasn’t as awake as he thought he was. But when he opened his eyes, it was still there—a very tiny baby in a pink outfit, rocking gently on the porch swing in its car seat.
He spun around, peering into the woods, sure his brothers were about to jump out laughing at how good they’d gotten him. But he saw nothing, heard nothing—only the sound of the wind rustling through the dried stalks of the cornfield yet to be cut and the rooster crowing in the distance.
In the car seat, the baby was starting to squirm.
Garrett stabbed his fingers through hair that was forever in need of a cut, the same two questions on repeat in his mind. Who left a baby on his porch? And what was he supposed to do with her?
The tiny face was getting redder, the grunts and whimpers coming more often. Garrett had almost no experience with babies, but he was pretty sure that wasn’t a good sign.
Picking up the seat and the diaper bag sitting next to it, he carried her—pink clothes, so it had to be a girl, right?—into the house. By the time he set her down again on the coffee table, the fussing had turned to full-out wailing, her color going from red to blotchy purple.
Garrett stared at her for a second, indecision paralyzing him. He had no idea what to do. Fingers shaking, he opened the diaper bag and tried to remember what he knew about babies, the sum total of knowledge coming from the few hours he’d spent with his brother Devin’s four-month-old twins.
“If they’re crying, there are three reasons,” Devin had said, ticking them off on his fingers. “Diaper. Dairy. Daddy.”
Garrett had rolled his eyes at his brother’s alliterative description. Now he wished he’d paid more attention. What did that even mean? He grabbed his phone from the coffee table and shot a text to Devin. Need you. Now.
Okay, three Ds. Diaper, that one was easy. The baby could be wet or need a change. And yes, there were diapers in the bag!
But dairy? He chewed his lip as he dug through the bag. That had to be milk.
“Oh, you’re hungry!” He grinned at her like he’d made a breakthrough scientific discovery. She was unimpressed, the crying ratcheting up to a decibel he had no idea a child could reach.
Frantic now, he went back to the bag, searching the pockets in desperation. Nothing. He looked inside. There were a couple of little outfits
, but he didn’t see a bottle. With a frustrated grumble, he picked up the bag and shook the contents onto the couch cushion.
Finally, he found two small prefilled bottles, the kind Devin’s twins had when they first left the hospital. He picked up another small package with the nipple, screwed it on to the top of the bottle and set it on the coffee table.
He unlatched the buckles, freed her arms from the straps of the car seat and gingerly lifted her out. One hand under her backside and the other behind her head, he held her like a bomb that could explode any second. Come to think of it, he was pretty sure he’d be less freaked out holding a bomb than he was holding this screaming baby. A baby he’d just found on his front porch.
Going on pure instinct and vague memory, he moved her into the crook of his elbow and picked up the bottle. As soon as he touched her mouth with the nipple, she latched on and began to drink, her distraught cries subsiding except for a few lingering shuddery breaths.
She looked up at him with bottomless blue eyes, tears still pooling in the corners.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. He eased into a chair and stared, shell-shocked, at the wall across from him.
Whose baby was this? He ran through his list of clients in his mind. Would one of them be so desperate that they would leave a baby on his doorstep?
His head jerked up as the front door swung open.
“I need coffee. What’s so important that...” His brother Devin limped into the room, his voice trailing off as he spotted the bundle in Garrett’s arms. “Uh, that’s a baby.”
“Brilliant deduction.”
Devin shot him a look and continued to the kitchen. He took a mug out of the cabinet and filled it with coffee before he came back to the living room and sat down in the chair across from Garrett. “Yours?”
“What? No! I walked outside and she was there, on the porch.” His voice sounded panicky, even to his own ears, but that was probably because he was panicking.
“Why’s all that stuff on the couch?”
The Texan's Promise Page 18