His Convenient Virgin Bride (13 page)

“I do love you,” he admitted, and a heavy weight lifted from Stephanie’s chest. “But there’ll be no shooting involved.”

“Okay by me. Hey, I have an idea.”

“Shoot.”

She rolled her eyes. “What if we live happily ever after? We pull that off, you can be sure that I love you.”

Alec smiled as he leaned in. “Deal.” Then his lips came down on hers, and he drew her tightly into the circle of his strong arms.

She pressed her body against him, clinging to him, loving him with ever fiber of her being.

A
fter considering nearly every wedding location on the planet, Amber had finally decided on a casual wedding at the ranch. She and Royce were married in the meadow overlooking Evergreen Falls.

She’d confided in Stephanie that it was as far removed as she could get from a cathedral and a ballroom in Chicago—the plan she’d had in place with her former fiancé, the one who was now married to Katie, her best friend and maid of honor.

It was full on summer, a year since Stephanie had met Alec. Their baby girl was now three months old, and little Heidi had slept the ceremony away in her father’s arms. Now she was resting her head on his shoulder, staring wide-eyed at the lively country band that had taken over the deck of the ranch house.

The patio had turned into a dance floor, with the overflow spilling onto the lawn.

“You going to start riding again?” Royce asked Stephanie as he twirled her in his arms to the sweeping strains of a breakup song.

“I just got the okay from the doctor.”

“But did you get the okay from Alec?”

Stephanie laughed. “Did you get the okay from Amber to keep flying?”

Her brother frowned.

“Same thing,” she pointed out.

“Not exactly.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“How many times have you fallen off a horse?”

“Dozens,” she responded. “Hundreds.”

“I rest my case. I’ve never once fallen out of my airplane.”

Stephanie caught the warm gaze of her husband, and he playfully waved Heidi’s hand in her direction.

“Alec wants me to ride,” she informed her brother.

“Alec wants you to smile. Trust me, he doesn’t want you to ride.”

“He can’t stop me.”

“He can get you pregnant again.”

“He would nev—” Stephanie frowned. Wait a minute. Was that why he was being so cavalier about birth control?

Royce started to laugh.

Stephanie stopped dancing and drew back from his arms. She turned, eyes narrowing in Alec’s direction.

Alec shot back a look of confusion.

“Melissa,” Royce sang, drawing his six months pregnant sister-in-law into his arms.

“What did you say to her?” Melissa’s laughing voice followed Stephanie to the edge of the patio.

Alec’s brows narrowed in confusion, while Heidi gurgled and waved her arms toward Stephanie.

“How many kids do you want?” she asked Alec, retrieving her daughter and settling Heidi against her shoulder.

“As many as I can get,” he answered with a grin.

“I’m not giving up riding.”

“Huh?”

“You can’t keep me pregnant all the time.”

“Who says I’m trying to keep you pregnant?”

“Royce.”

Alec’s gaze shot past her. “Well, what the hell does Royce know?”

She leaned in. “You didn’t want to use a condom last night.”

Alec lowered his voice. “You’re still breast-feeding.”

“It’s not foolproof.”

“Nothing’s foolproof.”

“I’m jumping Rosie-Jo tomorrow,” she warned.

“Go for it. I’ll baby-sit.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. And stop listening to your brother. He’s trying to stir up trouble.”

Stephanie glanced to where her brother had switched dance partners once more. He now held his bride, Amber, in his arms, her gauzy white dress flowing around the satin slippers on her feet. He whispered something in her ear, and she smacked him in the shoulder. He just grinned and winked.

That was her brother Royce, all right, stirring up trouble.

“I think our princess is tuckered out,” said Alec,
smoothing his hand over Heidi’s silky hair as her mouth stretched in a wide yawn.

Stephanie smiled. “Home?”

“Home.” He nodded.

She turned and caught Amber’s gaze, giving her a little wave.

Amber mouthed, “thank you,” keeping her head tucked against Royce’s shoulder. They’d see each other for a proper goodbye in the morning before the couple left on their honeymoon.

“Want me to take her?” asked Alec as they made their way toward the stairs to the deck. Through the house was the fastest way to the driveway and their truck.

“I’m fine,” Stephanie answered, starting up the short staircase while Alec kept close behind.

Heidi’s warm little body relaxed into sleep, even as they passed the drummer.

“Keys in the truck?” asked Alec as they crossed the living room.

“Should be.” Stephanie snagged a final cheese puff from the buffet on the dining room table. “You’re
still
hungry?” Alec teased.

“You try feeding a baby.” She took two steps back and washed the cheese puff down with a strawberry.

Alec pulled open the front door and stood aside to let her pass.

“Thank you, sir,” she mocked as she sashayed through.

“I just like the view from—” Alec nearly barreled into the back of her where she’d frozen still on the top step.

“Hello, Alec.” Damien gave him a nod.

But Stephanie’s gaze was fixed on the man standing next
to Damien. He was older, clean shaven, his jawline softer, face wrinkled and shoulders stooped.

The front door banged open to Royce’s jovial voice. “You trying to sneak—” Royce stopped, too. Then a lighter set of footsteps came to a halt on the porch.

“Stanton,” Royce growled.

Alec stepped around Stephanie and Heidi, putting his body between her and Norman Stanton.

“We’d hoped the party would be over,” Damien apologized.

“What the hell are you doing?” Alec demanded of his friend.

Royce took a step forward, coming parallel with Alec, while Jared appeared out of nowhere.

Norman Stanton cleared his throat. “I’m sorry—”

“You’re
sorry?
” Royce roared.

Norman swallowed convulsively, and Stephanie found herself pitying the man.

“I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“This is my
wedding.
”

“I knew you were leaving tomorrow,” said Damien, stepping forward to hand Royce an envelope.

Alec stepped up to Damien, voice low. “Start talking.”

Norman spoke up. “I never meant to hurt any of you.”

Jared stepped forward. “If you’re not hightailing it off Ryder land in about thirty seconds, you’re the one who’s getting hurt.”

“It was Clifton,” said Norman.

“Don’t you
dare
speak my father’s name.”

“Damien?” Alec warned in another undertone.

“I thought he murdered Frank!” Norman all but wailed.

Everyone stilled, and Stephanie found herself mesmerized by the pain in the older man’s eyes.

“He was my brother. And he was murdered. And I went after revenge.”

Stephanie glanced at her brothers to see them exchange a look.

“I told him the truth,” said Damien.

“I know now that it was self-defense,” Norman clarified. He peered between Alec and Royce, seeking out Stephanie’s gaze. “He loved your mother.”

Alec stepped sideways, blocking Norman’s view.

“And he loved you.”

“Don’t you speak to my wife,” said Alec.

Stephanie touched Alec’s arm. “It’s okay.”

Alec didn’t move. “No, it’s not.”

Royce’s incredulous voice rang out. “This is
ten million dollars
.”

Stephanie turned to see the envelope flutter to the ground.

“I wanted to pay you back,” said Norman.

“I helped him liquidate,” Damien put in.

“I’m sorry,” Norman repeated. “I wanted to make him pay. But I never meant to hurt any of you.”

His gaze once again sought out Stephanie. “Frank was my brother, and you were my niece. He talked about you all the time. I couldn’t wait to meet you. He said he was bringing you home.” The man’s voice caught. “Instead I claimed his body.”

Tears gleamed in Norman’s eyes, and something tugged at Stephanie’s heart.

The man looked old and broken, nothing like his picture, nothing like the villain she’d expected.

“I’ll get you the rest of the money,” Norman told Royce and Jared.

“How?” Royce demanded.

“I gave him a job,” said Damien. “You
what?
” asked Alec.

“I was wrong.” Damien shrugged. “He didn’t blow the money on women and ponies.”

Stephanie moved her attention to her husband.

“No?” Alec asked, watching Damien closely.

Damien gave him a meaningful smile and shook his head. “Let’s just say my organization can use his talents.”

“Did you steal it from someone else?” Jared demanded.

“It’s your money,” said Stanton. “I’ve been holding it for you.”

“We’ll be looking for interest,” Royce put in.

Alec transmitted a silent question to Damien, and Damien’s smiled broadened.

Norman’s hungry gaze was glued to Stephanie.

She could feel his loneliness and sorrow pierce straight to her soul.

He was her uncle, the brother of a father she didn’t remember. She found herself wondering what Royce would do if he thought someone had killed Jared, or the other way around, or what both of them would do if they thought someone had harmed her.

She shifted around Alec, gazing into Norman’s lined face in the pool of lamplight.

His eyes went wide, darting to Heidi as she drew closer.

Royce shot forward, but Alec’s arm reached out to block him.

Stephanie smiled gently at Norman. “Would you like to meet your grandniece?”

Twin tears slipped out of his blue eyes, trailing swiftly down his pale, sagging cheeks.

Stephanie eased Heidi away from her body, exposing her little pink face. “This is Heidi Rae Creighton. Heidi, this is your uncle Norman.”

She felt Alec’s gentle hands close around her shoulders.

Norman stood frozen for a full minute.

Then he lifted a shaking finger, gently stroking the back of Heidi’s tiny hand. “Heidi Rae.” His voice was strangled with emotion.

Stephanie’s chest tightened, and tears stung the backs of her eyes.

Royce appeared in Stephanie’s peripheral vision. She braced herself, but Royce’s body language was no longer hostile.

“This check good?” he asked gruffly.

Norman didn’t take his eyes off Heidi. “It’s good,” he affirmed.

Royce gave a sharp nod as Jared joined them.

Alec’s hands squeezed Stephanie’s shoulders, and he leaned down to whisper. “You are an amazing woman. And I love you
so
much.”