“You were not.” I remembered him like something out of a movie, the classic cowboy against that setting sun, long legs in worn jeans, hat tipped just right.
“I was, trust me. I was.”
“You’re defending him?”
“I’m just saying, someday if I’m ever lucky enough to have a daughter, if I see some joker like me messing with her, I’m going to run him straight off my property.”
The thought of Declan as a father made me giddy. I couldn’t believe he was talking like that. I’d never heard that sort of thing from him before. I’d let myself acknowledge my feelings for him, sure, but never fully let myself dream. I knew he’d never seen himself as the settling-down sort of family man.
He cleared his throat as if sensing where the train of my thoughts was taking me. “I’m just saying. If someday.”
I smiled at him. What was this, Declan feeling awkward? I freaking loved it. This powerful, wealthy man, more gorgeous than literally any guy I’d ever seen before, was maybe feeling self-conscious? My heart swelled in my chest.
He had more inner strength than anyone I knew, rising from impossibly hard circumstances to make so much of himself. Hard-working and smart, he’d found a way to sustain the ranching life out here in Montana while also moving it forward. And he’d started a foundation to help foster kids! Now, I felt self-conscious. What had I done to deserve this man?
We drove the rest of the way in silence, each of us rapt in our thoughts. He parked us in a sunlit clearing by a weeping willow. Suddenly shy, I fussed with the picnic things, setting out the blanket and arranging Tupperware containers as if it was of utmost importance.
“Kara,” Declan choked out by my side. He looked distraught and I almost wondered if he’d hurt himself.
“I used to worry that I wasn’t a good enough man for you,” he continued. “Now I know I’m not. I don’t deserve you, but I need you. I know I’m not the perfect man for you. But I want to try.”
Wait, what was happening? Declan dropped down on one knee. In his hand he held out a diamond ring.
“I know things are crazy. And I can’t promise you what the future will bring. But I can promise you I’ll love you the rest of my life.”
Tears sprang to my eyes and I brought my hands up to my face. What was he saying?
“Kara,” he asked, his voice gruff with emotion. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Declan!”
“Will you marry me, Kara?” he asked, offering me the ring. It glittered in the sunlight, the diamond casting sparkles in every direction.
“Yes!” I flung my arms around his shoulders and even though he had to have at least 80 pounds on me he nearly lost his balance. I gave him everything I had. We tumbled together onto the soft flannel of the picnic blanket. He kissed the tears from my cheeks even as more flowed from my eyes, happy tears, and we kissed and laughed. Thankfully, he still managed to keep the ring between his fingers even as we fell together to the ground. He wiped another tear of joy from my cheek and took my ring finger in his hand.
The ring fit. I didn’t know how I’d manage to get used to wearing something that spectacular on my hand every day for the rest of my life. But it was a challenge I was willing to face.
I kissed him again. I’d never get enough of his lips, so soft and so masculine all at once.
“Kara,” he murmured into me, kissing me as if his life depended on it.
“Declan.” I never wanted to let go. And now I never had to. We belonged to each other. Always had. Always would.
EPILOGUE
Declan
Six Months Later
The warm, gentle breeze caressed our limbs as we lay in our private, beachfront cabana. On what resembled a raised canopy bed surrounded by white sand and pale, aqua-blue ocean, we lounged in privacy and decadence. Here in the South Pacific it was hard to believe it was December. Of course it was technically their summer, and boy did it feel like it with the full sun shining down and the lapping of the ocean waves.
Kara looked over and smiled at me. “I think everything went so well.”
“I know it did.” I took her hand in mine and stroked her palm with my thumb. Only a few days after the wedding, most brides would still be talking about the ceremony and reception. Not Kara, though. I knew how her mind worked. She was thinking about the holiday party she’d helped host a week ago for foster children.
“Do you think the remaining gifts have been delivered yet?”
I chuckled. So concerned about others, even as we lay there in paradise. “Yes, I’m sure my instructions have been followed. We have a great team.” She smiled and relaxed.
She’d helped give a huge holiday party for the Montana chapter of the charitable organization I funded. Kara had thrown herself into all of the details, planning the Santa visit, finding out every child’s wish list, coordinating all of the gift purchases and wrapping. She’d seen to it that every child had a stocking, too, stuffed with things I never would have considered. You wouldn’t think a slinky or a cheap paddle ball, the kind with the string attached, would make kids so happy, but I saw it happen all around me, the room exploding with whoops and hollers of glee. I’d seen an 11-year-old boy who looked as tough as nails sitting and building an elaborate helicopter out of Legos. In the middle of the chaotic party, he’d had the concentration of a surgeon. I’d have to remember his name and help him get an internship somewhere. That kid had drive.
“You brought them Christmas.” I took her hand to my mouth and kissed her.
“No, you did, Declan,” she insisted.
My wife. I couldn’t believe it. I’d only been able to use the term for three days now.
We’d had a simple ceremony back in Montana. Compared to the foster kids’ holiday party, it had been a small affair. I would have rented out Buckingham Palace, secured a guest list of thousands if she’d wanted a spectacle. I’m sure I could have gotten us press, had a couple of magazines do features on us.
But she didn’t want any of that. Like she’d told me back in the cabin in Bozeman, all she wanted was me. Seemed like she was missing out, but I certainly was happier that way. I didn’t go in for all that pomp and circumstance myself, just tolerated a certain amount that brought in business.
I would have done it for her, though, released the doves and all that, but she wanted simple and small so that’s what she got. She looked so lovely that day. I thought I’d been prepared for it. I was used to Kara taking my breath away, but she outdid herself. She looked like an angel nearly floating down the aisle as old Bill held her arm, wiping a tear from his eye. Bill still couldn’t get over it, the two of us. He was a good man, had helped Kara get through the rough times. I’d made sure he had enough help now on the ranch so he’d never have to work again a day in his life, even though I knew a tough old bird like him would probably want to anyway.
We didn’t have much family at the ceremony. I had a former foster mother on my side. She’d fallen ill and been unable to care for me for very long, but she’d stayed in touch and I knew she meant well. I had her in a nice house now, with a home health care attendant whom she said made all the difference. Angie, my PA, and her kids were there, looking uncomfortable in their starched Sunday best.
I never would have believed it, but Shelly came, too, the tiny girl I’d known for only a few, brief months during my last stay in a foster home. I’d looked out for her until I’d gotten hauled into juvie. The world had always seemed too much for Shelly, like it would eat her up and spit her out. She’d spent hours sitting in the corner with her Beauty and the Beast CD, playing it over and over and singing along.
I’d mentioned her to Kara and, Kara being Kara, she didn’t let it go. She’d gotten people involved, and they’d gotten other people involved, and before I knew it we were meeting Shelly for coffee at a shop downtown. Shelly was 19 now, and still way too skinny for her own good with shadows under her eyes. So, of course, Kara had set right to helping her out, invol
ving her in all the planning for the Christmas party for the foster kids. She’d even seen to it that Shelly got hired on as staff, seeing to event planning. I more than loved Kara. I was in awe of her. She healed bones I’d long given up on ever setting right.