Cinderella and the Playboy / The Texan's Happily-Ever-After (40 page)

It was easy for Raina to see that rebellious little boy who just wanted to be loved, but didn't know how to go about getting the love he wanted.

Shep continued, “When I was thirteen, I landed at the Willets' in Sandy Cove. But this time I lucked out. They already had taken in another foster child named Cruz, who was two years younger than me. It was as if no age difference even existed. We became brothers, in part because we knew the Willets didn't care about us. So we had to care about each other. They just wanted the money we brought in. They just wanted kids to do
chores so they didn't have to. They liked to party, and they often went away and left us there alone. There wasn't anything unusual about it.”

“But you were just kids. Didn't anybody check up on them?”

“They knew how to put on a good front. They knew caseworkers were overburdened. They knew we wouldn't say anything, because we had been kicked around often enough.”

“Tell me the rest,” she requested.

Shep stared across the room at a sepia-tinted painting of an old homestead. Finally, he shifted on the love seat and looked directly into her eyes. “They left us alone one weekend. I was fourteen and Cruz was twelve. He got sick. He had a fever before they left, but the day after they were gone, it spiked up to one hundred and four. I didn't know what to do. There was no one I could call, no hospital nearby. It was ten miles down the road in the next town. So I did what I knew how to do. I hot-wired the old truck they'd left behind and drove Cruz to the emergency room. I took him inside and told him to wait his turn and I'd be back for him later. He was scared, but he knew I couldn't stay or we'd both be in big trouble. The thing was, we never counted on one of the nurses getting the license plate number as I drove away. The authorities picked me up, waited for the Willets to get home, then all hell broke loose. The Willets claimed I was a troublemaker and it wasn't the first time I'd hot-wired the truck, so the chief of police put me in jail for the night.”

“You were only fourteen! How could he do such a thing?”

“For all these years I wondered the same thing. I also didn't know how a rancher named Matt Forester came to find out about me and Cruz. He came to the jail and already had Cruz with him. He picked me up and drove us to his place, a huge ranch where he ran cattle and bred horses. That's where Cruz and I grew up, learning what was really right and wrong, what was work and what was play.” He smiled a little, remembering.

“Is Mr. Forester still in California?”

“No. Matt died when I was in my early twenties. I had gotten my real-estate license and was trying to make a name for myself. Cruz had gone to college with every intention of becoming a veterinarian. But then Matt died and everything changed. Cruz decided he wanted to run the ranch. Since Matt left it to both of us, he sold off part of it to give me my stake. With that money, I bought real estate of my own, and a few years later turned it over for a nice profit.” He blew out a breath. “Earlier today, Cruz called me to warn me someone was asking questions about me. Then tonight the chief of police, retired now, also called me to ask me who Ryder Greystone was. Apparently, he wanted a return call, but the chief didn't know if he should. That's when I learned that Matt Forester was one of his good friends. The chief had called him and told him two boys needed a home. All these years, I held a grudge against the chief and had a problem with authority figures. But he just threw me in jail that night to prevent the Willets from pressing charges and giving me a record. He thought it would also teach me to stay on the right side of the law.”

Raina felt tears come to her eyes as she thought of
Shep as that little boy who'd lost his dad and then his mom, who'd been a teenager with no one to turn to except another boy whom he'd befriended and protected.

“Shep, I love you,” she said, unable to hold in her feelings any longer. “And not because of what you told me tonight. That just confirms what I already knew. You're a noble man. You'd do anything for the people you love. It's obvious how much love you have to give—to your sons…to
our
sons. I do love you, if it's not too late to tell you that. I believe in you. I believe in
us.
Ryder just surprised me and rattled me this afternoon and threw me off balance. I'm so sorry I doubted you. If you can forgive me, I promise it will never happen again. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Shep didn't respond right away, and that made her nervous. But then a slow smile started at the corners of his lips and spread.

He took a small box from his pocket. “I just made it to the store before it closed. I know we didn't have a real engagement. You didn't have a real courtship.”

When he opened the little black box, she gasped. It was a ring—a circle of diamonds.

“This is one of those eternity rings,” he explained. “I'd like to put this on your finger as a sign that no matter what happens, we'll handle whatever it is together. It's also a promise that I'll court you for the rest of our lives. We're going to tear up that prenuptial agreement, too. What's mine is yours. I love you, Raina. My pride stood in the way of my admitting it. I couldn't see the best because I often thought about the worst—you leaving. Now I want to leave the worst behind and hold on to the future with you.”

She gave him her hand. Gently, he slid the ring on her finger above her wedding band. “Perfect,” he said.

“Perfect,” she agreed, looking up into his eyes, letting him see everything that was in her heart.

Enfolding her in his arms, he kissed her. It was one of those shining kisses that lit their passion and seared their souls. The kiss was a coming together, a recommitment, a chance to start over the right way.

When he ended it, she clung to him, so in love she couldn't speak.

Shep pulled her onto his lap and held her in his arms. “When do you want to take a real honeymoon?”

“But the boys—”

“The boys will be fine for a couple of days without us.” He settled his big hand on her tummy, “Once this baby's born, we'll hardly have time to breathe. How about three days' seclusion in Santa Fe or Taos?”

“As long as I'm with you, I don't care where we go.” She could feel the chuckle in his chest as he kissed her temple.

“I'm so glad you feel that way.”

“I'll feel that way for the rest of our lives.”

When Shep kissed her again, she knew nothing could come between them. They were one, now and forever.

R
aina crouched down next to the sofa, one arm around Joey, one arm around Roy.

“It's dark in here,” Roy whispered in her ear.

“Only for a few more minutes.”

Beside her on the sofa, Angie held Manuel. The toddler reached for Raina's hair and held on to it. “Mommy,” he said quite clearly.

The light over the stove in the kitchen glowed softly, some of its illumination splaying into the living room. Raina reached over Roy's shoulder and patted Manuel's face. “Hey, sweet one. I know you're there.”

For the past month, she'd truly become the happiest woman to walk the planet. She felt like a mom. She knew being a mother to three kids, and soon an infant, wouldn't be easy. Yet she also knew her husband loved
her as much as she loved him. That gave her all the confidence in the world that she could handle anything…with a little help.

Lily, who was standing on the other side of Joey, said in a low voice, “I think he's coming. Get ready, everyone.”

Lily had been a real trouper. Raina knew how difficult the past few months had been for her, how raw her grief was, yet how unbreakable her spirit seemed to be.

The kitchen door opened and shut. Shep's strong, deep voice called, “Raina?”

When he stepped into the living room, someone switched on the overhead light and everyone popped out of their hiding places.

“Surprise!” Roy and Joey called the loudest, running toward their father.

Grinning, Shep gave both of them a big hug. “What are you surprising me with?”

“A party,” Roy answered gleefully.

Raina went to her cowboy, who looked a bit overwhelmed. “Happy birthday!”

Shep looked around at everyone, obviously speechless. His gaze fell on their friends—Logan, Gina and their son Daniel, Angie and Lily, Raina's mother and Ryder. When his gaze fell on Ryder, his eyebrows arched up. Ryder approached him and held out his hand for a shake. Shep firmly shook it.

With Raina standing right there, Ryder admitted, “I've never seen my sister happier, so I brought a present you might appreciate.” He handed Shep a dark blue gift bag.

“Go ahead,” Raina encouraged him. “Then we'll feed everyone ice cream and cake.”

Shep dipped his hand into the bag and pulled out a branch.

“It's an olive branch,” Ryder said. “I thought maybe we could start over.”

“I'd like that,” Shep told him sincerely, then caught Raina around the waist and gave her a hug. “Did you plan this?”

“No! Honestly, Ryder thought about it all on his own.”

Joey pointed to a table that had been set up in the corner. “There's more presents over there.”

“I see, but I think I have the best present I'll ever get right here.”

“What's that?” Roy asked.

“Your mom, your new brother or sister and the three of you. I couldn't ask for anything more.”

“I have a special present for you,” Raina said, her hand caressing his jaw.

“But I have to wait until everyone's gone, right?” Shep asked wickedly.

She could feel a flush stain her cheeks. Their time in the bedroom was precious and passionate with the love and commitment and promise they shared every day. “If you blow out all the candles on your cake, you might get that wish,” she said, teasing. “But no, I have another surprise. Come on out,” she called toward the playroom.

Cruz Martinez emerged from the playroom and Shep's mouth dropped open. He was a striking man who wore a smile that practically spread from ear to ear. He was as tall as Shep and just as lean. As he embraced her husband, the affection and caring that the two of them shared was obvious.

Finally, Shep stepped back. “So I guess the two of you have met,” he said, joking.

“We're already friends,” Cruz told him. “I like your new wife. She knows how to throw a party.”

Shep laughed out loud and Raina could hear the true happiness in that laughter.

“I'll be right back,” he said to everyone, taking Raina's hand and pulling her through the doorway into the kitchen.

“They're going to kiss,” Joey announced to everyone.

“What are you doing?” Raina asked Shep. “This is your party. We have guests.”

“Thank you for going to so much trouble, for giving me a gift that means so much more than you can ever know.”

“I know,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Her cowboy bent his head and kissed her.

The round of applause from the living room just made them both hold on tighter. They'd be spending a lifetime holding on tightly to each other, keeping promises and giving each other gifts they'd cherish always.

Adoption procedures may vary according to state, individual circumstances and agencies.