Into the Wild (27 page)

River gawked. “You buried a once-in-a-lifetime story.”

He shrugged as if it was no big deal, although she knew it had cost him mightily.

“Old-fashioned sensibilities?” she croaked past the lump in her throat.

“Something like that.” He shoved off the desk and closed the space between them. “Henry's not coming back, hon.”

“I know.”

“Ever.”

She licked her lips, nodded. “I know. It's okay. I've thought about it, a lot. I'm okay with how things ended between us. I told him I was sorry and…he saved my life. In his own way, he loves me. I've moved on, too. You were right. I have the memory of him choosing me over his precious treasure.”

“I wanted you to have more.” He reached into his inner jacket pocket and handed her a DVD.

Her heart hammered. “What is it?”

“I filmed your dad…. I asked him to share some of his favorite memories of you.”

She blinked. This was so unexpected. So…unreal. “Did he have any?”

He stroked her cheek. “Several.”

She could scarcely breathe. “Were they good?”

“Yes. He also included a personal message for you.”

“Is
it
good?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Is it going to make me cry?”

“Definitely.”

She blew out an anxious breath and stood, marveling that her shaky legs withstood her weight. “Then maybe I should wait to watch it until later. In private.”

“Whatever you want.”

She wanted to savor the anticipation, even though she was dying of curiosity. Something good from Henry. Something nice about her! Heart full, she wrapped her arms around Spenser and hugged. “Thank you.”

He kissed the top of her head, smoothed a palm down her back. “I love you, River. I know you don't trust this, us. But we'll figure it out. We'll make it work. I can amend my lifestyle. I've already started.”

She eased back and stared up at him in awe. “What have you done?”

“Taken a hiatus from
Into the Wild.
I own stock in the Explorer Channel, so it's not like I'm throwing away my future. I'm exploring—”

“Infinite possibilities?”

He smiled.

“Me, too.”

“How so?”

“I researched and found out that the Explorer Channel owns a travel magazine. I want to apply as a staff photographer, only my portfolio is all wrong. If only I hadn't lost my camera in the mountains. I must've taken
four or five hundred pictures while in Ecuador. I'm not saying they're all good—”

“Mostly they're very good. Your camera's in that bag on the desk. All photos intact, except for the map.”

Her brow rose. “What about the nude shots of you?”

He grinned, a sexy grin that heated her naughty regions. “Anxious to revisit those photos?”

She quirked a shy, teasing smile. “Maybe.”

He laughed. “God, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too, Spenser. Terribly. And now…it's like we've never been apart. Like we've known each other forever. It's weird and wonderful and I…I think I fell for you the moment I saw you at the airport in Quito. We haven't known each other very long, but I know without a doubt I…I…
Dammit.
”

“It's okay, hon. You don't have to say it. I see it in your eyes.”

“I
want
to say it. I
feel
it. It's just that…I think I'm intimidated by it.”

“Then
it
must be damned impressive.” He brushed a kiss over her lips. “We need to head out or we'll be late for the wedding, but after…I'm going to kiss you for an hour or four.”

Her heart danced. “I think I can handle that.” River moved out of his arms and into her office. She put her dad's DVD in a safe place, lingered for a sentimental second, then rushed back to her
date.

Spenser caught her up and held her close. “One kiss to get me through the day.”

River gave over as he stole away her thoughts and breath with a passionate, achingly beautiful kiss. “On second thought,” she rasped as he broke away, “I'm not sure I'll survive an hour or four of that.”

“Me neither.”

“I love you, Spenser.”

“Looks like I finally discovered a precious treasure.” He gazed into her eyes like like a man besotted. “Eureka.”

Eighteen months later…
Quito, Ecuador, South America
Altitude 9,214 feet

“I
'M GLAD WE FLEW
in early,” Kylie said. “I felt like crap yesterday. Today I'm just slightly off. Morning sickness stinks.”

“You weren't sick at home, tiger.” Jack poured his wife another glass of water from the chilled bottle their server had left behind. He sounded calm, but River could see the concern in his eyes. “I'm thinking it's jet lag,” he said. “Long flight. Time change.”

“It's the altitude,” River said. “Some bear it better than others.” Spenser had said the same thing to her when they'd first met. Here in Quito. Over a year and a half ago. She got all weepy just thinking about it. Then again, these days she cried at the drop of a hat. Wacky hormones and all that. Like her soon-to-be sister-in-law, River was pregnant. Only she was twice as far along.

“I'd suggest coca tea,” Lana said to Kylie. “But since you're carrying…”

River winked at Kylie, who was four months along
and barely showing. “Unless you want to zip-line over a jungle, forgo the coca tea.”

Kylie laughed. “I'll never tire of that story.”

“My wife gets into enough trouble on her own,” Jack said, giving Kylie's hand an affectionate squeeze. “She'll pass on the coca.”

Duke smiled. “Good call.”

River looked at the people sitting around the dining table and beamed. She loved this restaurant—a favorite of hers and Spenser's—and she loved these people. Kylie and Jack had flown in from Indiana. Lana and Duke had driven over from the Jungle Lodge. They were all here to witness River's marriage to Spenser. She'd put him off for over a year. She'd taken marriage too lightly before and refused to do so with Spenser. He was her world.

They'd spent several months traveling to exotic locals, places he'd been before, looking for treasures that continued to elude him. Two major projects had been in the works. A non-fiction book and an Explorer Channel spotlight miniseries. River had been the photographer, Gordo the videographer and Spenser the writer. The three of them had worked side-by-side by day, exploring, creating. The nights had belonged to River and Spenser.

Those months had been the most exciting times of her life and, even after they'd settled for a spell, setting up house just outside of Quito, she knew she'd travel again. Photographing wild regions and exotic people was in her blood—like Spenser. She loved him fiercely,
even though he gave her crap for dodging his multiple marriage proposals.

Although she'd conquered most of her fears and quirky, obsessive habits, somewhere along the way River had become a tad superstitious and was afraid to rock the boat where their relationship was concerned. They were deliriously happy as they were—just
being
together, traveling and living together. They were a couple in every sense of the word. Why did they need to make it “official”? Worried a ceremony would somehow curse their relationship, she kept hedging—even after she'd become pregnant. Maybe it was her insecurities. Maybe it was because of her background. She didn't want Spenser, of all people, to feel trapped.

Eight months pregnant, she'd finally caved. All of a sudden it was supremely important to her that she was
Mrs.
McGraw when their baby was born. Eager to make it so, Spenser had rushed things along, pulled a lot of strings. The ceremony was tomorrow—exactly four days after she'd said yes.

Tonight they were having dinner with the few people they'd invited to share in the moment. The only ones missing were Spenser and Gordo, who'd be along any minute, and Spenser's mom and grandma.

“Did you check in with your mom today?” River asked Kylie. “How's your grandma feeling?”

Kylie snorted. “Cantankerous. She's driving Mom crazy.”

“Not that that's unusual,” Jack said, thanking the waiter when he served their appetizers.

“Kylie's grandma broke her ankle a few days ago,” River told Lana and Duke.

“Square-dancing in stilettos,” Kylie said. “What was she thinking?”

“She wanted to impress her boyfriend,” Jack told the gang with an amused grin.

“She's crazy,” Kyle said. “If you've ever wondered where Spenser got his wild streak…”

“Speaking of Spenser,” Lana said, glancing at the plentiful appetizers. “It feels weird to eat before the guest of honor arrives.”

“He texted me a couple of minutes ago,” River said. “Said we should start without him. Still tied up in traffic.” She dug into a dish of tapas so that their guests would follow suit. “He was all the way on the other side of town, greasing palms or something. Some sort of legal snafu. Since we're not citizens—” She glanced over at Jack. “You probably didn't want to hear that,
Chief
Reynolds.”

Jack's lip quirked. “Spenser ever tell you about the time he arranged Kylie's and my
first
wedding ceremony?”

River chuckled. “Oh, right.”

Duke sipped his beer while Lana helped herself to char-grilled artichokes. “I'd like to hear that story,” she said.

Duke agreed.

River chowed down on her spicy food, feeling all warm and fuzzy as Jack and Kylie relayed their impromptu wedding at Mount Fuji. She reveled in the
laughter, the tender moments, in the affectionate looks passed between each couple. She thought about how Spenser had used his sister and Jack's and Lana and Duke's happy marriages as examples while trying to assure her it would be the same for them.

She placed a hand over her huge belly and smiled.
Mommy and Daddy are going to live happily ever after as man and wife. We'll be together,
she mentally assured her unborn child.
All of us. Forever.

Her peace of mind shattered two seconds later when she felt a sharp pain. The another, sharper pain. Then
whoosh!
“Oh, no!”

 

“F
UCK
!” S
PENSER
disconnected, tossed his cell on the dash and slammed his hand on the steering wheel.

“I only got one half of that very brief conversation,” Gordo said, tightening his seat belt as Spenser swerved into the opposite lane. “River's in labor?”

“Yes.”

“But it's too early.”

“I know.” Spenser spun the jeep in the direction of Metropolitano, the private hospital they'd planned to visit for the delivery of the baby
next
fucking month. Heart pounding, he swerved in and out of traffic in his panicked haste. His sister's shaky voice still rang in his ears.

“It'll be okay, Spenser. Duke's driving. He said he knows a shortcut to the Metropolitano. Lana already phoned River's doctor and Jack, well, he's trained in
these sorts of things. If it comes to that, which I'm sure it won't.”

He'd heard River cry out his name. An anguished cry that tore at his heart.

“She's okay,”
Kylie had assured him.
“Just a little scared and… I have to go. Meet us at the hospital, Spenser. Hurry.”

“Calm down, Spense,” Gordo said. “You can't help River if you're dead. You're driving like a freaking lunatic.”

“If anything happens to her…or the baby…” He couldn't go there. Christ. Over the past year and a half, River had risked treacherous landscapes, extreme weather and heights. She'd survived journeys to Egypt, China and Australia with minimal scrapes and dicey moments. When they'd discussed settling in one place for a while, she'd insisted on Ecuador. She wanted to be close to her dad. It was where she and Spenser had fallen in love. She'd listed a dozen reasons and he'd given in. “I knew we should've settled in the States.”

“Get a grip, for fuck's sake,” Gordo ordered as Spenser jumped a sidewalk and cut through an alley. “Metropolitano's a fine hospital and Dr. Perez is top-notch.”

“I know. But what if she doesn't make it that far?”

“Jack's with her. He's a cop, remember? If he has to—”

“I know, dammit.” His best friend had delivered more than one baby in the course of his law enforcement career. He trusted Jack, but if there were complications…
In spite of Gordo's warnings, Spenser punched the accelerator.

Ten minutes later, he stalked into Metropolitano with a frazzled Gordo on his heels. Duke had his arm around Lana. Jack was lecturing Kylie to calm down. Heart in throat, Spenser looked to his childhood friend. Jack was a freaking rock. “Where is she?”

Jack pointed down a hall just as a nurse came around the corner. “Mr. McGraw?” she said in heavily accented English. “Come with me.”

Gordo slumped in a chair beside Duke. Spenser followed the nurse. He heard River's pained cry as they entered the delivery room. Mouth dry, he followed the nurse's orders—sterilized his hands, put on a surgical mask.

“She's in good care,” the nurse told him. “But you've got to calm her.”

Spenser nodded. He acknowledged Dr. Perez, who gave him a reassuring look, before returning to business. Spenser moved to the head of the table, his heart aching at the sight of River's anguished expression. Eyes squeezed shut, she cried out his name.

He smoothed her curls from her sweaty face. “I'm here, angel.”

She nailed him with her lovely green eyes. “You made it.”

“Wouldn't miss this for the world.”

“Too early,” she rasped.

He listened to the nurses and doctor converse in Spanish, while corralling his own emotions. “Dr. Perez
said you're fine. The baby's fine. But you have to calm down, River. Remember your breathing techniques.”

“It hurts.”

“I know, honey.” If he could take on the pain, he would. “Maybe you should reconsider an epidural.”

“No! No drugs!” she shouted. “I can bear it. I can bear anything now that you're here.”

He smiled and stroked her forehead, and even though she'd been studying Spanish, he translated Dr. Perez's instructions.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“River, you have to push. Listen to Dr. Perez—”

“But it's too soon. He or she won't be big enough and you and I aren't married. I shouldn't have put you off. I wanted…I wanted…” She lapsed into a delirious tirade, something about their baby being illegitimate. Well, hell.

Spenser flashed back to a few years ago, broached a solution with Perez. The man nodded and Spenser flew out of the room, down the hall. “You,” he said pointing to Gordo, “come with me.” His friends and family blinked in confusion. Gordo turned white. Spenser hauled him up by his jacket and practically dragged him toward the delivery room. “You're going to marry River and me.”

“What?”

“Wash up. Put this mask on.”

“But, Spense—”

Spenser dragged his friend into the room, held him steady when he swayed.

River caught sight of the cameraman, blanched. “You're going to
film
this?”

“What?” Gordo said, glancing at the doctor, the sheet. “Hell, no.”

“Then why are you here?”

He swayed. “Good question.”

“Gordo's going to marry us, angel,” Spenser said. “He went through this spiritual phase a few years back, indulged in a mail-order ministry.”

She screamed when another contraction hit, then stared at Gordo. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” he rasped, looking greener by the minute. “But—”

“You're certified?”

“A long time ago…”

Dr. Perez spoke calmly but firmly. It was time.

“Do it,” River told Gordo, then she did as Dr. Perez ordered.

“I think I'm going to pass out,” Gordo said.

“Stop being such a girl!” River snapped, which made Spenser laugh.

“The sooner you do this,” he said to Gordo, “the sooner you can leave.”

Gordo launched into a stilted, streamlined marriage ceremony.

One of the nurses turned up the Latin music, a powerful, moving ballad that had been playing in the room. From now on, Spenser thought,
Imaginame Sin Ti
would be “their” song.

River squeezed the hell out of Spenser's hand. He
stroked her cheek. They listened and responded to both Dr. Perez and Gordo.

To have and to hold.

To honor and cherish.

“Almost there,” Dr. Perez said.

“You've got no ring!” Gordo said.

`Spenser calmly took the gold Inca chakana from around his neck and looped it back around River's. “Full circle,” he said close to her ear. “Tree of life.” He brushed a kiss over her lips.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Gordo said, then crumpled to the floor in a dead faint.

“It's a girl,” Dr. Perez announced. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. McGraw.”

River burst into happy tears when the baby voiced her first, bawdy cry.

Spenser swallowed an emotional lump as he watched the nurses clean and fuss over his tiny daughter.

“She's small, but strong,” Dr. Perez said. “She'll be fine. You'll be fine,” he said to River.

She thanked him on a hiccupping sob, then looked up at Spenser as the doctor left to conduct preliminary tests. “Poor Gordo,” she said as a nurse worked to revive him.

“He'll be okay. Although he'll never let us live this one down.”

“I don't care. We're married. And our daughter has a proper mom and dad.”

“I don't know about
proper,
” Spenser said with a
wink, then focused on her mouth. “I could kiss you for a lifetime.”

“Hold that thought,” she said with a shy smile. “About our daughter—”

“I'm going to spoil her rotten, you know.”

Her smile widened. “I know we tossed around a few names,” River said, gasping his shirt. “But I'd like to name her after my dad.”