Page 72 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
“Every word.With all my heart.”
“You want…forever?”
“I do,” he said firmly, choosing the words used under other circumstances purposefully.And for the first time he let hope rise.“I want you to marry me, Riley.”
She sucked in an audible breath, as if steeling herself.“There’s something you should know.When I told you…before the first time…that I wouldn’t get pregnant…” Another deep breath, which made him realize he was holding his own.“What I didn’t tell you is that I never will.I can’t have children.”Her mouth twisted.“Surgically guaranteed, when I had issues, years ago.”
“But you’re all right, otherwise?”he asked urgently, fearing whatever the cause had been was something that might come back and he’d lose her all over again.
“Yes.”
“All right, then.”
She looked up at him.“Just like that?All right, to never having kids?”
She looked as if she were in great pain, yet she was talking about never, and it’s corollary, forever.Something hot and fierce welled up in him, entwined with the hope he’d allowed, until he thought he’d burst under the pressure.He steadied himself.Because he’d realized there was something he could tell her to maybe ease that pain.
“Just as well,” he said.“My son…who died shortly after he was born…they told me it was genetic.I wouldn’t want to go through that again.”
“So…no kids?”
“If we get the urge, we’ll adopt.And we can hang out with some from Jackson’s operation in the meantime.”
“You’re sure?”
He gave her a crooked smile.“I think I’m the one who should be asking you that.”
She looked a little overwhelmed, and gave a slow, wondering shake of her head.“I made a decision long ago, that my life on the ranch was enough.That it was the one thing I could never give up.”
“I know.And you shouldn’t.Ever.”
She stared up at him, and what he saw in those eyes blasted away the last of his worry.
She meant it.
“So was that a yes?”he asked.
“Oh, yes.A definite yes.I just never thought it would be possible to have…everything,” she whispered.
“Get used to it,” he said, his voice rather gruff with emotion.And for the first time since he’d opened the door to a vision he’d never dared hope for, he pulled her into his arms.He kissed her, deeply, fiercely, realizing with a fiery sort of joy that she was just as fierce in kissing him back.
In the distance he heard the music start up again.A familiar, joyous carol of celebration.And when he finally broke the kiss to take a breath, he looked down at her and said, putting everything he could of what he was feeling into his voice, “Merry Christmas, Riley.”
She looked up at him and he saw so many things, an echo of his own happiness, the elation of mending what had been damaged, and above all the certainty of what they’d found together.
“Best Christmas ever,” she whispered.
And for a long time they simply stood there, holding each other, the music swelling their hearts, with the painting that had begun it all on the wall beside them.
Epilogue
“You’re going tohave to talk to my dad,” Riley said sleepily, happily, as she lay snuggled in the arms of the man she loved.The bedroom of his beach house seemed cozy with a fire going in the fireplace, although she was convinced anyplace would do as long as they were together.
“Yeah.Permission and all that.”
She laughed.“I was thinking more like working out living arrangements.At least until we get that expansion done.”
“Oh.”He grinned.“We’ll work it out.I like your dad.”
