The Cowboy's Christmas Proposition Page 16

  Quin handed the signs back to the girl and yelled above the noise, “Thanks anyway. It was worth a shot.”

  Turning her back, she merged into the crowd and worked her way toward the street. The song ended to applause, whistles and shouts of approval. The microphone squealed from feedback and Deke’s voice surrounded her.

  “Somebody stop that state trooper.”

  A solid wall of bodies formed between her and escape. She stopped. Quin could have bulled her way through but there was something in Deke’s voice that made her swivel around to face him instead.

  “Come here,” he ordered. Her heart skipped a beat as she moved purposely toward the stage. He gestured for her to come around to the side, then announced that Dillon was singing the next song—much to his little brother’s surprise.

  Deke pointed out some steps and waved for her to come up on stage. When she reached him, he pulled her out of sight of the crowd and asked, “Did you mean it?” She nodded. “I’ll have Noelle back tomorrow? For New Year’s Day?”

  “Yes. I talked to the juvenile judge. She’s rescinding her order, reinstating your custody order.” She scrubbed her face with the heels of her hands. “I was so wrong, Deke. About you, about everything. CPS had all this evidence. I believed it because... I don’t know why. I should have called you, let you tell me your side. Something inside me just...couldn’t believe that you truly loved me. I’m so sorry. About everything.”

  Deke didn’t say a word, simply stared at her as the music curtained them from the world. After too many stuttering heartbeats to count, he asked, “Do you love me?”

  Quin had to blink rapidly as her eyes filled with tears. “With all my heart. Noelle, too.”

  Once again, he remained silent and when he spoke, it wasn’t the words she wanted to hear. “I have to finish the show.”

  She nodded, mute, as she turned to the stairs and descended. She’d given it her best shot. Maybe someday, he’d forgive her.

  * * *

  Deke slipped his phone from his hip pocket and with frantic fingers, texted Chance. He asked about Noelle’s status, filling in his cousin on what Quin had said. His phone rang and he ducked behind the speakers, hoping he could hear Chance.

  “Stand by, Deke. I’m checking my messages. Tell me exactly what Quin said.”

  He repeated her words, his chest so tight with compressed emotion he could barely get them out.

  “I’m not that familiar with the juvie judges. I know Nelligan was about to get into a jurisdiction fight with her. I had one of my investigators looking into the situation so we’d have ammunition at the emergency hearing Nelligan set. All the evidence was generated through CPS. Quin was just a witness. Aha! Found it. The clerk emailed me. We can pick Noelle up at the foster home anytime after ten tomorrow. Congrats, Deke! You’re gonna be a dad after all.”

  Air whooshed out of his lungs and he realized the crowd was cheering. Dillon’s song was over. Without stopping to think things through, Deke walked over, removed his mic from its stand and walked to the front of the stage. He searched the crowd for Quin’s face, found her standing in shadows off to one side. He launched into the next song on the playlist but kept his eyes glued to Quin.

  She stood frozen, her eyes on him. Almost as if she was in a trance, she began to walk back toward the stage. People noticed he was staring, turned to look. A gaggle of female fans squealed and rushed to Quin, escorting her back toward the stage. People stepped aside so there was a clear path to where he was standing.

  * * *

  Quin told her feet to stop walking but they paid her no mind. She was six feet away from the stage when Deke finished his song to thunderous applause. As it died down, he spoke.

  “You know it’s not official until I get down on one knee, right?” And he did. He dropped down, right there on the stage in front of the whole crowd. “I love you, Quincy Kincaid. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she said. Or thought she did. No sound came out of her mouth. But Deke must have read her lips because he was off the stage and she was flying toward him. He caught her midleap and swung her around, his lips finding hers with unerring accuracy. She’d missed his kisses, missed the hot, hungry taking of her mouth. Missed the way her heart skipped beats until it was perfectly synchronized with his.

  He broke the kiss and murmured against her ear, “I love you, Quincy.” He continued saying the words as he peppered her face, neck and shoulders with kisses.

  Quin laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Here she was in full uniform in the middle of a New Year’s Eve concert, her arms and legs around the sexiest country music star in the whole world. “I love you, too,” she answered each time he said it.

  Then they were moving toward the stage. Deke loosened his hold on her long enough for Bryce and Xander to lift her up by her hands. Deke hopped up beside her. He swept her into his arms and kissed her again. While she was still lost in the kiss, the band started playing and the next thing she knew, Deke had her tucked up against his side. The mic was back in his hand and he was singing.

  “I’ve been on the road for all my life. Knocking around with the boys. Never thought I’d settle down, much less with a wife.”

  Kenji played a sting on the drums—the sound often accompanying a lame joke—and Quin laughed as Deke didn’t miss a beat.

  “I’m headin’ home. I’m comin’ back to you. Back where I belong. Been on the road way beyond too long, an’ I’ve been dreamin’ ’bout you.”

  Deke cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand and gazed into her eyes as he continued singing. “My heart knew things would never be the same, the moment you walked through the door. My roamin’ days are over, since you’re gonna take my name.

  “I’m headin’ home.” He launched into the chorus and the crowd sang along. Then they all got quiet—even the music went soft as Deke sang, “I need to get back to you, to the place I belong. ’Cause you hold my heart right there in your hand. I’m gonna love you for all my life, ’cause you make me a better man. Hang on girl, I’ll be there soon. ’Cause I’m headin’ home, I’m comin’ back to you.”

  In that moment, standing there in Deke’s arms in front of a huge crowd, she realized what she’d been missing her whole life. That sense of belonging, of home, and with this man, this wild, wonderful, sexy man with a voice that charmed the panties off his fans, she’d found what she’d been missing.

  The crowd started counting down as the giant lighted ball rose beside the stage. “Ten. Nine. Eight...” they chanted, quickly getting to “Three. Two. One!”

  The Sons of Nashville launched into a country-twang version of “Auld Lang Syne.” She had the vague notion that Deke was supposed to be leading the singing but he was too busy kissing her and that was all right by her.

  “Happy New Year,” he murmured against her lips.

  Yes. It truly was. “I love you.”

  And that’s when fireworks lit up the sky—and her heart.

  Epilogue

  Quin faced the mirror, shocked at the reflection of the woman staring back at her. In the background, the Bee Dubyas buzzed like their namesake insect. The Barron Wives and her soon-to-be mother-in-law were...they were a force of nature. There was no other description. In just a few minutes, she would enter the ballroom at the Barron Hotel and say her vows, then she and Deke would formally adopt Noelle.

  Katherine stepped up behind her. Before Quin could turn, the older woman draped a familiar pearl necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp. Pressing her cheek against Quin’s, she whispered, “Welcome to the family, sweetie. Thank you for making my son so happy.”

  Quin had to blink hard to keep tears at bay as she reached up to touch the pearls. “They’re beautiful.”

  “So are you, Quincy. So are you. When the time comes, I hope you’ll share them with other Tate brides when my boys finally find their forevers.”

  “Of course I will!”

  Smiling, Katherine turned her. “And then the necklace will come
back to you and Deacon will place it around the throat of y’all’s little girl when she goes to meet her own true love at the altar.”

  Ten minutes later, Quin joined the love of her life and the baby soon to be theirs, legally in addition to emotionally, in front of a bent willow arbor. Laced with peonies and lilies and Oklahoma blue ribbon, the arch was the perfect backdrop for their nuptials. Hunter, Deacon’s oldest brother, stood as his best man. When the Bee Dubyas discovered she had no close female friends, they drew straws to see who would be her matron of honor. Quin thought it fitting when Cassidy, the first Barron bride, won.

  Judge Nelligan read the rites, and Quin said, “I do” to the rest of her life.

  * * *

  “Are you trying to take advantage of me?” Quin’s words were slightly slurred. Deke had finally managed their escape from the party downstairs and retreated to their suite. He’d gotten them both naked and in bed and now his tough trooper was being too cute for words.

  His lips curved against her cheek. “Of course I am.”

  “Oh. Okay. Just checking.” She giggled and hiccupped. “I knew that last glass of champagne was a mistake. I should have had cake instead.”

  He settled beside her, propped on one elbow. “The cake was awesome. Want me to go get you some?”

  Quin laughed and his insides did that funny tightening, like a balloon expanding in his chest.

  “You traipsing around naked might just break some poor woman’s brain.”

  That made him laugh as he lowered his head to kiss her. After the kiss, he smoothed out her hair and just looked at her. He’d never thought he could love another so much. Yet here he was on his wedding night, in love with this woman. And their daughter. Their daughter. Noelle Katherine Tate.

  She ran her fingers over his lips. “Why the big smile?”

  Deke hadn’t realized he’d been smiling, but the answer was easy. “Just happy, darlin’. And thinkin’ about how much I love my wife and child.” He waggled his brows. “Want to try makin’ a brother or sister for Noelle?”

  She waggled hers in reply. “Think you’re up to the task?”

  “Oh, heck, yeah.”

  “You know what they say, right?”

  “About what?”

  “Pride. Because...” Quin brushed her fingertips down his bare chest and they dipped below the sheet. She curled her hand around him. “Just as I suspected. You are definitely full of pride.”

  He covered a groan with a deep chuckle. Quin knew exactly how to get his attention and he loved her touch. Deke leaned over and savored her skin as he nipped and licked his way down her neck. She tasted delicious and looked so sexy lying beneath him. He kissed her, deeply, not so much taking as sharing this time. As much as he wanted her, he wanted things slow and sweet tonight even as their bare flesh rubbed together, creating its own heat.

  Breaking the kiss, he eased back. “Hello, wife.”

  Her smile wreathed her face. “Hello, husband.”

  “I do like the sound of that.”

  “Me, too.”

  The need for her zinged through Deke, like a new song, the words and melody teasing him until he was compelled to write them down. In this case, he was going to record them with his body on hers. In hers.

  Quin shifted, her arms urging him back over her. She stretched, arched and pressed her lips against his heart. “This is mine,” she murmured.

  “Always,” Deke promised. “Just like you’ll always be mine.”

  He stroked his hand over her, arousing and teasing even as she continued to stroke him in the most intimate way. His eyes closed of their own accord as he absorbed the pleasure of what she did. He’d found where he belonged, found what he wanted in life.

  “Are you ready, darlin’?”

  Her eyes sparkled with desire as she opened her thighs for him. He shifted between them and gazed down at the woman who completed his life. “I never thought I’d ever say this, but damn if you aren’t sexy in those pearls.”

  Her peal of laughter was cut short as he slid deep inside her. Here was comfort. Here was love. This country boy had finally come home.

  Wrapped around each other, they made slow, sweet love that quickly turned hard and fast, their need and desire swamping them both. When Quin fell over the edge, Deke was there to catch her. The same way she held him through his own climax a few moments later. Panting, she rested her temple against his scruffy jaw.

  “Wow,” she sighed. “That was so much better than cake.”

  Deke laughed and Quin laughed with him. Life with his tough Christmas cop would never be a piece of cake. And he’d have it no other way.

  * * * * *

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  COWGIRLS DON’T CRY

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  One Night Stand Bride

  by Kat Cantrell

  One

  The Las Vegas tourism department needed to change their slogan because what happened in Vegas did not stay there. In fact, what had happened in Vegas followed Hendrix Harris home to North Carolina and landed above the fold on every media outlet known to man.

  He wanted his money refunded, a spell to wipe the memories of an entire city and an aspirin.

  Though even he had to admit the photographer had perfectly captured the faces of Hendrix and Rosalind Carpenter. The picture was erotic without being pornographic—a trick and a half since it was abundantly clear they were both buck naked, yet somehow, all the naughty bits were strategically covered. A miracle that had allowed the picture to be print-worthy. It was a one-in-a-million shot. You could even see the steam rising from the hot tub.

  And thanks to that photographer being in the right place at the wrong time, Hendrix’s luck had run out.

  He’d fully expected his mother to have a heart attack when she saw her son naked with the daughter of the wealthiest man in North Carolina. Especially since Hendrix’s mother had warned him to keep his clothes on once she launched her gubernatorial campaign.

  Joke was on Hendrix. No heart attacks. Instead, his mother was thrilled. Thrilled that he’d gotten chumm
y with Paul Carpenter’s daughter. So thrilled that somehow she’d gotten Hendrix to agree that marrying Rosalind would fix everything.

  Really, this whole scandal was his fault, and it was on him to make amends, or so he’d been told. The Carpenter family had old money and lots of influence, which provided a nice balance to the Harris new money.

  Grumbling in his head because he loved and respected his mother too much to do it out loud, Hendrix threw himself into the task of figuring out how to contact Roz. Their naked Vegas romp had been most definitely of the one-night stand variety. Now he would have to convince her that she loved his mother’s plan.

  Hendrix didn’t hate the idea of marriage, per se, not when it solved more than one problem. So it was now his goal to make sure a big fat yes was Roz’s response to the question Will you marry me?

  The only problem being that he hadn’t actually spoken to her since that night and they’d expressly agreed they wouldn’t see each other again. Minor detail. When he put his mind to something, rare was the obstacle that didn’t get the hell out of his way.

  Luck crept back onto his side. Roz hadn’t blocked all the web crawlers that posted her address to one of those seamy “find anyone for a price” sites. Hendrix had no qualms about throwing money at this problem.

  Hendrix drove himself to the building Rosalind Carpenter lived in on Fayetteville Street instead of taking a car. Arriving with fanfare before he’d gotten this done didn’t fit his idea of a good plan. After she said yes, of course there’d be lots of sanctioned pictures of the happy couple. And they’d be dressed.

  His mother hadn’t properly appreciated just how hard her son had worked to get his abs to look so centerfold-worthy. It was a shame that such a great shot of what had been a truly spectacular night with the hottest woman he’d ever met had done so much damage to Ms. Harris’s family values campaign.

  He charmed his way past the security desk because everyone liked him instantly, a fact of life he traded on frequently. Then he waited patiently until someone with the right access to Roz’s floor who was also willing to listen to his tale of woe got on the elevator. Within fifteen minutes, he knocked on Ms. Carpenter’s door.