Harlequin American Romance November 2014 Box Set: The SEAL's Holiday Babies\The Texan's Christmas\Cowboy for Hire\The Cowboy's Christmas Gift (14 page)

The Christmas tree alone was worthy of a Hollywood fairy tale. In fact, he couldn't remember how many years it had been since a tree had been in this house, and certainly never decked out like that. It was lovely, with silver and gold balls shining from every branch, reflecting the colors of the lights and the red velvet bows in every ornament. He didn't know much about decorating, but he could tell a lot of love had gone into the gift in their home.

“Changes our humble abode significantly, doesn't it?” Ty said.

“Humble? You call this house humble?” Jade laughed, and he put his arms around her, taking in the joy of sharing his first real Christmas tree with his brand-spanking-new wife.

“Oh, look!” Jade crossed to the fireplace mantel, admiring the handmade stockings. “We all have a stocking, including the girls.”

He grinned hugely. “I probably have my old childhood stocking upstairs someplace, but I have no idea where to find it.”

“I'll find it eventually. I'd like to see that.” Jade smiled at him. “I remember when you were just a kid who got in lots of trouble. The sheriff had his hands full with you,” she teased.

Ty felt slightly remorseful about the fact that he'd been a bit of a handful. “Yeah, I'd do a lot of things differently.”

“I'm sorry, Ty. I shouldn't have said that.” Jade hugged him. “Your father loved you so much.”

“I know. He was a good man. If I'm half the dad he was—”

“You will be. Now come help me tear up this step.”

“But we haven't finished the Christmas tour. And I'm not pulling up that stair. You did an awesome job repairing it.” He had to remember he was the one who'd left his family secrets in her hands. Okay, he hadn't foreseen those secrets being spilled all over Bridesmaids Creek, but actually, it was better to get everything out in the open.

“Get your tool belt. We
are
tearing this stair apart. I'm not starting this marriage with any more skeletons waiting to jump out.”

He did as she asked. “You're going to freak when you see the kitchen. By the holiday handiwork around here, I'm beginning to suspect your mother, Mackenzie, Suz, Cosette and Jane, at the minimum. They really went all out.”

“That's what happens when you're the town's favorite son.” Jade took the tool she wanted from his belt, then gazed at him thoughtfully. “You look really hot in that belt. Just so you know.”

He grinned. “Just so you know, I'll be happy to put it on anytime for you. Let me do this. I'm the SEAL, remember? I'm supposed to be manly and tough.”

“Go for it.” Jade got down next to him, watching as he pried the stair apart. “I hope you're okay with this.”

“I'm okay with it. I should have manned up in the first place.” He pulled the board off the step, revealing the metal box, just where it had been before.

“It's not a matter of manning up. You were leaving for BUD/S. Wasn't your mind nice and clear when you left?”

“Not exactly.” He stole a fast kiss from her. “I had a certain redhead on my mind all the time.” Pulling the box free, he sat down with it. “You think this is necessary?”

“Absolutely.” Jade nodded emphatically. “The more you know, the less Donovan can get to you.”

“Yeah, about Donovan,” Ty said. He looked at Jade. “He's decided he wants on Team Ty.”

“Good. It's a step in the right direction. Of course, he's only doing it because of his granddaughters, but I'm okay with that. As long as you don't quit the SEALs, I'm good with learning to be a little nicer to Mr. Donovan. A
little
. And to not cut my sister-in-law's hair off anymore.”

Ty looked at her, wondering if she knew exactly how much he loved her. Could it even be put into words? “I don't feel right about leaving you here holding the bag. It's not entirely fair if I leave you while I chase my dreams. You've got two new babies—”

“And that was
my
dream, if you recall.” She touched his face. “Remember those days? Me worrying about my poor, underappreciated, untried ovary? You let me live my dream. I've got two darling babies to prove it.”

“I told you that ovary was going to like my stuff.”

She shook her head at his bragging, but he noted her lips were curved in a smile. “Read, Ty.”

She sat next to him on the stair, putting her chin on his shoulder. God, that felt good. She felt good. He'd waited a long time for this. Ty hesitated before opening the envelope, just so he could enjoy the feeling of Jade supporting him a little longer.

“I can read it to you if you want,” she said softly.

“I'm okay. I was just sitting here admiring your legs.”

She kissed his cheek. “And I was admiring your hands. We can get on with a whole lot more than admiring if you do your book report, student.”

“Yes, teacher.” He pulled out the letter, reading fast, his heart hanging like a wild bird on the wind as he read his father's words to him. It was as if Ty could hear his voice, speaking his thoughts aloud. “Jeez,” he said finally, his throat tight with emotion.

“Yeah. You weren't such a bad kid, after all.” She kissed his cheek again, and Ty shook his head.

“Oh, I had my moments. But Dad was my best friend. He really was. I never felt like I'd let him down.”

Ty picked up the box Robert Donovan's wife had left—he couldn't think of Honoria as his mother—and opened it. The Saint Michael medal gleamed, and he turned it over, seeing that she'd had his name engraved.

“Saint Michael is a strong protector, an archangel,” Jade murmured against his shoulder. “You could think of Honoria's gift as a blessing that manifested in your life. You are strong, you are a protector.” She kissed him. “I think she loved you a lot, Ty. From afar. And maybe she did the thing she knew was best by keeping you from Robert. Not to be mean, but you're certainly a good man. And he's not.”

“Robert said something along the same lines.” Not that he was anywhere near forgiving Robert for being a cretin, but Ty certainly didn't regret that his real family, the couple he would always remember when he thought of family, were the Spurlocks.

“Thank you for allowing me to share this moment with you,” Jade said. “I was worried you'd never forgive me for the way everything got sprung on you.”

He put everything back in the box, put the box in its hiding place again. “It wouldn't be Bridesmaids Creek if everything wasn't sprung. Secrets don't come out gently and quietly around here. We do everything with dramatic intent. But what else would we expect from a town of carnies?”

She put her hand in his. “I think the box can go in our closet now, don't you?”

“You're right.” He picked it up. “I'll fix the stair later. Right now, I have a wife to kiss.”

“You'll note the mistletoe hanging from the arch,” Jade said.

Ty shook his head, his whole world better with her in it. “It's sort of anticlimactic, don't you think? Kissing because of a pagan weed or whatever it is?”

“I think it's actually a fungus of sorts,” Jade said.

“Which begs the question, what type of fungus would we hang to give us permission to make love?” He kissed her, then scooped her into his arms as she smiled at him. “I don't need a piece of mistletoe to kiss my Christmas bride.”

“Good, because I plan on you kissing me every day,” Jade said, “and frequently.”

And those words were exactly what he wanted to hear. Ty Spurlock, U.S. Navy SEAL, husband, father and son, had finally come home for good. And nothing was going to ruin the best homecoming and Christmas ever, one he couldn't have dreamed up in his wildest delusional imaginings.

Wherever he was stationed, his heart would always be here. And there was nothing the Donovans or anyone else could do to ruin it.

He wasn't going to blow his second chance.

Chapter Sixteen

Daisy ripped up the main drag of Bridesmaids Creek, her gang of stooges following behind on their motorcycles. Since she'd discovered she wasn't an only child, she'd had very little to say to Ty.

Today, it seemed, she'd changed her game plan.

She stopped in front of Ty and Jade, her motorcycle roaring. “If it isn't my happily married big brother.”

Ty winced. “Let's go easy on the family connections thing.”

Jade glanced down at their daughters in the large-wheeled pram, making sure the blankets were covering them securely as they walked through Bridesmaids Creek, taking in the lovely holiday decorations.

“Here's the thing, Daze,” Ty said, “you should start thinking about toning down your gig.”

“My gig?” Daisy stared at him, her eyes piercing despite her helmet. She pulled it off, the chocolate locks flowing free. “My future husband is fine with my gig, thanks.”

Ty stilled. “Future husband?”

“Yeah. Didn't you hear? I've got my sights set on Frog.”

Jade glanced at him, startled. “Why Frog?” she asked Daisy.

“Suz didn't really have a chance, although secretly I think she's been setting her cap for him. And I think he'd be open to marriage. He protests a lot, but you know men. They change their minds pretty quickly when a baby comes on the scene, don't they, Jade?”

Ty shifted, knowing full well what was on Jade's mind. Her best friend was Mackenzie, and Mackenzie's little sister was Suz, and Suz had long had her eye on Frog.

Things always had to be complicated in BC.

“We should set up a Bridesmaids Creek swim for you,” Ty said, feeling a bolt of inspiration hit him. “Or a Best Man's Fork run. That way, let the best man win.” And he'd make sure Frog was pretty well out of commission before participating. Daisy winning Frog away from Suz would set up bad blood for years in BC.

“I'm not doing any of those silly things. It's just a bunch of fairy tales.” Daisy shrugged, looking wildly beautiful in her skintight and somehow body-baring black catsuit. “You didn't. Why should I, brother?”

He hesitated. “I already had my lady.” He hugged Jade close to him. “There was no reason to do any of the normal activities.”

Daisy smiled. “If you don't, I don't. You can't say that your hurry-up wedding is a precursor to forever happiness. Jade just wanted a baby. Everyone knew it. The man was totally secondary. And you don't need a swim in the creek to know that.”

Jade gasped. “That's a terrible thing to say, Daisy Donovan! Why are you bent on making trouble?” She hurried to pull the babies' tiny red knit caps down more fully over their ears, as if to protect them from the vile things their aunt was saying.

Ty took a deep breath. “Look. Life just happened for us. Let me set up a run or a swim for my little sister, okay?” He smiled winningly, figuring either one she chose, he could think up a way to have Squint win. Squint, at least, had half an eye for this completely wild woman who was now Ty's sister. Half an eye, he thought, that's just great.
He'd be better off blindfolded if he winds up married to Daisy
.

“I don't believe in the superstitions of BC,” she said, not falling for his con. “Why are superstitions the mother's milk around here?”

“I don't know, but it's worked for every single person in Bridesmaids Creek,” Jade said. “Except for Mackenzie's first marriage. She didn't do a swim, either. Maybe it was bad luck. Let Ty set something up for you.”

“As I recall, Ty fixed her up with that first deadbeat.” Daisy smirked. “My brother doesn't have the first clue about what makes a successful match. Or marriage.”

Ty could tell they were in dangerous territory. Beside him, Jade had stiffened up, tense and unmoving. Any moment now, things could get ugly. More ugly than they were already. “You want the BC ways, Daze, you know you do.”

“I just want a baby, Ty. Preferably a son. I don't need a big day of glory for that.” She looked at the pram with a huge dose of loathing. “They really are cute little things. And if Jade can do it, so can I.”

She tore off on her motorcycle, then looped back around to stop in front of them again. “I tell you what, brother. I'm pretty sure I see through your plan. You don't want me with Frog because of dear Suz.”

He didn't say anything. Just watched his new sister carefully.

“I don't believe the creek is magical. I don't believe Best Man's Fork is, either. Frankly, I think Dad was better off when he wanted to mow this town down to the ground and bring in government offices. Make this the Washington, D.C., of Texas.” Daisy looked at him speculatively. “But if you have such strong faith in the powers of our superstitions here, I'll let you set up a swim for me, or a run. I don't care which.”

He nodded. “Good. I'll get right on it. Maybe just before Christmas.”

“Oh, absolutely, just before Christmas.” She grinned at him. “But I'll only agree to a run if Jade does, too.”

Jade shook her head. “What will that prove?”

“It will prove that my brother married the right woman,” Daisy said, her voice silky. “I mean, after all, it was such a hurry-up wedding, who can possibly know? Poor guy is home on leave, finds out his nighttime love had his children—what's he supposed to do?”

“That's disgusting, Daisy, even for you.” Jade pushed the pram forward, moving off.

“She's scared to know the truth. When you've been born and raised in BC, these fairy tales mean everything. Me, I'm a transplant, as everyone always likes to remind me. But even I know when a marriage has started off on the wrong foot,” Daisy told Ty.

He had started to deny it when his darling, hotheaded wife whirled around.

“A swim,” Jade said. “All the guys will swim. And you'll eat your words, Daisy Donovan. I married the only man for me. I just hope Ty can talk one man into showing up for you. It's twenty-five degrees outside. It would take a really strong man to want to prove that he's the right man for you.”

Daisy smiled at Ty. “Do not try to keep Frog from the competition. He's going to want in.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Daddy's putting up a hundred thousand dollars for the winner. Every bachelor in town will want to swim.” She laughed, gunned her bike and roared away, and Ty realized he'd been caught in a neatly set snare.

Crap-a-monkey. He didn't believe in superstitions, either. But he did believe in BC.

He certainly believed in his marriage.

So he'd swim. Like a SEAL that wanted everything to be just as magical as possible for the only woman he'd ever loved.

* * *

J
ADE
WAS
NERVOUS
. She couldn't relax. Two days before Christmas, on Christmas Eve eve, the whole town was gathered on the banks of Bridesmaids Creek. She'd left the babies at home with Betty, because snow was falling and the forecast said it would snow all day.

“If you swim,” she told Ty, “you're probably going to catch something besides me. Pneumonia.”

“Not me. I've swum this creek many a time in the freezing cold.” He zipped up a black wetsuit that fitted him quite nicely, Jade noticed.

Too nicely.

“I don't want any other women looking at you.”

He laughed. “I'm going to be swimming so fast I'm going to be merely a shadow in the water. No worries.”

She was worrying.

Ty came over to her, cradled her face between his palms. “I've got this. Everything's been taken care of.”

“Meaning?” Jade wanted more reassurance than just confident words. Suz had been on the warpath for days, knowing exactly what Daisy was up to. Suz wasn't happy, either, that Frog had readily agreed to the swim.

She hadn't wanted to hear that any sane man would swim for a hundred thousand dollars. It had nothing to do with Frog having feelings for Daisy, because he didn't.

A knock at the front door caught their attention.

“Expecting someone?”

“No.” Jade walked behind Ty to the front door of the house she was coming to love, where she felt very much at home with her husband.

Sheriff Dennis McAdams stood on the front porch.

“Hello, Sheriff. Come in,” Ty said. “It's good to see you.”

Dennis stepped inside. “You've really fixed the place up.” He looked around, admiring the decorations.

“We didn't do this, actually. A team of elves decorated the place.” Ty glanced at Jade, winking at her, which warmed her heart. “We think the ladies of the town sneaked in here, since Betty has access to Jade's key, but no one will admit to being our Secret Santas.”

Dennis laughed. “Some secrets will stay secret, I guess.”

“Let me get you a cup of tea, Sheriff.” Jade turned toward the kitchen. “It's cold outside, and these guys are determined to swim.”

“Believe me, I know. Daisy's gang started a bonfire in town. They're pretty liquored up, standing around, trying to stay warm.” Dennis shook his head. “Somebody's going to drown if they keep drinking like college kids. Anyway, I can't stay, Jade, so I'll have to skip the tea. Thanks, though.”

“What's on your mind, Sheriff?” Ty asked.

“Well, as you know, Robert Donovan is doing his best to turn over a new leaf. Just happens to be that leaves aren't that easy to turn.” The lawman sighed, glanced around the cheery room as Jade leaned against Ty for support. She had the strangest feeling Dennis's mission today wasn't good news for them.

“Just so long as he decides to stay a changed man, that's fine by me,” Ty said.

“The two deaths at the Haunted H—the one when your father was still...sheriff,” Dennis said, carefully not using the word
alive,
“and the one earlier this year—Robert claims were accidental. But he did bring those men here for mischief. Both of them were meant to cause trouble. He's confessed to that.”

“Awfully coincidental, don't you think? That both of his henchmen would die?” Ty asked.

“Donovan claims he just wants to start over. Wants a clean slate with everyone. Hence his confession.” The sheriff zipped up his sheepskin jacket. “He's real worried that Daisy's gone over the edge. She liked being an only child. Hard to give up her kingdom, or princessdom, I guess you'd say.”

“Tough luck on that,” Jade said, feeling a little guilt wash over her. Daisy still wouldn't know, and the town wouldn't be splitting apart, if she hadn't ever opened the Pandora's box under the stairs. And if she'd kept her mouth shut.

But it was too late for that.

“Confession's good for the soul, I guess. It wasn't Robert's fault that the men died,” the sheriff continued. “There's nothing I can charge him with.”

“Criminal mischief?” Ty asked. “There has to be something.”

“One charge is beyond the statute of limitations, and the other—hell, what would we prove?” The sheriff gazed at him. “Look, this might be a case where we realize Robert's trying to change, and we support him. For the sake of BC. Because honestly, I think Daisy's got more potential for mercilessness than her old man ever had.”

“How do two men just randomly die at our haunted house?” Jade asked. “Something doesn't make sense. I know he was trying to destroy our dreams, and BC, but he's not telling you everything.”

“Well, the first man had a serious heart condition, which Robert knew about. He chose him deliberately because of it. The man also needed money and was open to causing trouble—but it was just too much good fortune that he died on your father's watch. My guess is that both of these men were ill, and stress may have triggered their deaths. Unfortunate? Yes. Coincidental? Maybe. Partly. Robert chose men who would do his dirty deeds, and who had nothing to lose. The thing is, we'll never know for certain. The only thing you can do is not let it rule your life going forward.” Dennis looked at Ty sympathetically.

“So two men die, and he blames it on Betty's toxic cocoa.” Ty shook his head. “The man is a monster. He should be run out of town on a rail.”

“He's admitted that he was behind the rumors that your father didn't look into the case seriously, and that his policies were flawed.”

“Jackass,” Ty said, and Jade could feel her husband breathing hard. “He destroyed my dad. His admission does my father little good now. Terence Spurlock died knowing this town had lost their trust in him.”

“Yes.” Dennis nodded. “I'm not saying you have to forgive Donovan for that. But forgiveness is just as meaningful for Bridesmaids Creek as it is for your life, Ty. You don't want to be imprisoned by the past forever.” The sheriff sighed. “Donovan seems to be shedding his snakeskin and wants to make amends, ask forgiveness. He's started with his confession. He's also offered to set back half a million dollars for your girls, either for their education or their wedding, or—”

“We don't want a penny of Robert Donovan's money,” Jade snapped. “In fact, I'm sick of hearing about it. And if you've come here on a mission of mercy from him, you're going back empty-handed.”

Ty shrugged, proud of his wife's fire. “I'm afraid Jade's right.”

“I totally understand. Think about it.”

“So what did the second man really die of?” Jade demanded, unwilling to give much thought to the state of Robert Donovan's soul. “Since Robert's being so honest? Because I think he's lying through his teeth.”

“According to him, and I've verified this through the autopsy results, that man had only a few months to live. Hence he was very open to the financial remuneration Robert offered him to come to the Hanging H that night. He, too, was supposed to cause a ruckus. Robert claims his goal was to set a small fire, maybe near the bunkhouse. To spook the customers and families, give the Haunted H a reputation for being an untrustworthy event.”