Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 (18 page)

But she and Jackson would be alone. For the first time.

She stretched and smiled, watching his hot gaze scan her.

“So not fair, Vee.”

“Prince Daddy, are you awake?”

Jackson blew Veronica a kiss and waited for her to slip on the gown he’d stripped off her first thing last night once they’d finally gotten the girls to sleep. He opened the door. “Hey, Princess. Merry Christmas!”

Abby squealed. “Merry Christmas, Prince Daddy!” Veronica spotted Beth wriggling behind her while Abby bounced like a jumping jack.

Veronica heard Ben’s door open.

“Merry Christmas, son,” Jackson said.

Ben grunted and mumbled a response. He was not a morning person.

“Mommy, Mommy!” The girls raced past Jackson and threw themselves on her bed. “Merry Christmas, Mommy—Santa came!”

Veronica lifted her eyebrows. “I thought the rule was we don’t go downstairs to peek until everyone’s awake and ready.”

Abby grimaced. “Well, um…we were just worried because it’s Prince Daddy’s first Christmas and what if Santa forgot him and so we—”

“Abigail…?”

Beth covered a giggle.

“Beebee, don’t laugh at me.”

Beth’s brown eyes glittered with suppressed laughter.

Jackson returned with one arm slung around Ben’s shoulders.

“Hey, Mom. Merry Christmas.” In Ben’s eyes she could see their secret bursting to get out.

She understood completely. She wasn’t sure how she’d survive until tonight. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

“So…what did Santa bring me, Miss Beth?” Jackson asked.

“I didn’t—” Beth giggled.

Abby quivered with her own laughter.

“Let’s wait for your mom to get ready. Come on out here in the hall. Then we’ll all go down together.”

The girls scrambled from the bed and raced to catch up. Jackson closed the door, but not before he gave her an exaggerated eyebrow waggle that reminded her of delights in store for later.

If only he knew… He was such a good man. Another man would be sulking over not getting the one gift he’d asked for. Jackson took it in stride and moved on.

A secret shiver rippled through her. He looked so happy.

Just wait until tonight, my love
. Every fear she’d had about the wisdom of this surprise evaporated into mist.

He might or might not like the sweater she’d knitted in every stolen moment she could find. It matched his stunning eyes, this present he’d be unwrapping soon.

But he was going to love his real gift when he received it.

“Jackson,” she said later, stunned beyond words. Around them were piles of wrappings. He seemed to have bought out the entire West Coast in his quest to shower the children with presents.

They would be having a talk later about what constituted excess.

But right now, she held magic in her hands.

“Do you like it, Vee?” Had she ever heard him so anxious before? “It’s not intended to be pushy. I just wanted you to have an engagement ring. The rest will come…whenever. No rush.”

She glanced up, and Ben met her gaze, his eyes asking if she would reveal their surprise now.

She gave a faint shake of her head. She would keep Ben’s secret until it was time—however hard this ring made keeping her promise. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” She gazed up at Jackson with years of love in her heart. “Will you put it on me?”

“Nothing I’d like more. Let me do the honors first…even though there’s no candles or moonlight or a fancy dinner.”

Even Abby fell silent, as though she understood the import of the moment.

“I thought I would never have the chance to do this.” Jackson rose, then went to one knee. “Veronica Patton Butler, love of my life, would you do me the honor of marrying me one day?” His eyes were so blue and so beautiful, so beloved.

He might want candles and moonlight, but this was their life now, the dog chewing happily on a new bone, the children around them, the mounds of crumpled gift wrap…

It was perfect. She cradled his beloved face in her hands. “I’ve loved you so long, Jackson. Of course I will marry you. There’s nothing I want more.”

Solemnly he slid the stunning ring over her knuckle. An astonishing creation, the ring seemed nearly gossamer, spun from starlight and dreams, as delicate as a spiderweb and woven in a pattern that, with the wedding ring, formed an intricate pattern.

“The symbol means forever,” he said, and raised her hand to his mouth for a kiss.

She lifted her eyes to his. “Forever. I want that.”

She had to look at it again. Couldn’t get enough. “It fits perfectly.” She brushed trembling fingers over it. “I love that you made it so I wouldn’t catch it on things as I work.” She glanced up again, tears hazing her vision. “It’s stunning. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I had it made special for you.” He nodded down. “The colored stones on the interlocking wedding band are the kids’ birthstones and ours.”

Her lips parted. “Oh, Jackson…”

“Because it’s all of us. We’re together, and we’re never going to be apart again.” He paused. “And if you wanted to have more, the diamonds can be replaced.”

She gazed into his beautiful eyes. “Jackson…”

“It’s okay. You’ve been a mother for a long time. You might not want to do it again, and I’m okay with that. The children we have are plenty.”

“Can we think about that?” Though the notion of bearing his child, one they’d raise together from the beginning…

“Of course we can.” But longing flickered deep in those electric blue eyes.

She stroked his beloved face and wanted to promise him everything, but she was terrified of spilling the surprise.

Telling him about tonight was tempting, but Jackson deserved to be claimed in front of the whole town. He’d been a pariah once, and he’d suffered alone for years.

They would marry him, all of them, and they’d make him a home.

“I love you so much,” she said and went into his arms.

Jackson held her close and kissed her.

Then opened his arms and gathered in the family they would make official tonight.

Penny awoke to the soft warmth of lips tracing a tattoo over her skin.

She gasped as Bridger touched a particularly sensitive spot. “Good morning,” she said, eyes still closed.

“Merry Christmas, Penelope.” She heard the smile in his voice as he kissed his way down her body.

Then back up, halting at spots that made her sigh. And moan.

And gasp.

She couldn’t stand any more, and she grabbed for him. “Come here. Now, now, now,” she demanded.

He lunged over her, his big, muscular body a feast, a delight. She let her hands cruise over him, her lips brushing every part of him she could reach, but he stayed maddeningly in control and wouldn’t be rushed—

Until he thrust inside her, and her eyes flew open on a gasp.

She smiled. “Merry Christmas to me,” she sang, in the tune of Happy Birthday.

Bridger laughed and continued to love her, sweetly at first, then with fire and fury.

She took everything he offered, greedily devoured as much of him as he would allow. Wrapped herself around him like a vine, wanting to stay right here forever, to make love with this magnificent man until neither of them could walk.

Then he fastened his mouth on a spot that made her scream and sent her soaring.

He leaped into the fire after her with a husky chuckle, then a deep, drawn-out, heartfelt groan.

And as they lay there breathing hard, she wondered what on earth she was waiting for. She’d marry him this second.

But tonight was Jackson’s night. She couldn’t horn in on a dream her brother had cherished for more than half his life.

But soon
, she promised Bridger silently. Soon. She wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Best Christmas present ever.”

He levered himself up. “I can do better.” He stretched across the bed and grabbed something from the nightstand. Returned to her, an uncertain smile on his features.

“What?”

Then she saw the box in his big hands.

The small box.

Her eyes flew wide. “Bridger?”

“Now don’t get all worked up, Legs. I’m not making you set any date, all right? I just—” He looked away, then back. “I just want my ring on your finger. I want people to know.” He popped open the lid of the box.

She gasped. “That’s—”

“Your mother’s ring.” He nodded. “Your dad offered it to me. I wanted to get you something all your own, but he and Rissa and Jackson thought—”

When she didn’t speak, he hastened on. “But I got two bands made that lock together on either side so this is in the middle, see, and they make it all one. Something old and something new and—” His voice faltered. “You don’t like it.”

“I—” She had to place a hand over her mouth. Tears spilled. “I love it.” Her gaze flew to his. “You don’t mind that it’s Mama’s?”

“You don’t want to pick out your own? You’re not all that traditional, Penelope, and—”

She reared up. Kissed him hard. “Put it on me.” Then she glanced at him. “Bridger, we’re naked.”

A laugh burst from him. “We have to get dressed first?” He shook his head. “You are the damnedest woman. What, you think your mama is looking?”

She couldn’t help the squeak that erupted. She grabbed for the sheet. Tried to cover herself, but Bridger was perched over her legs.

He threw back his head and laughed like a loon. “The same woman who seduced me out of my socks from the first moment we met. My Shark Girl who fears no one, who will make out with me anytime, anywhere—” He laughed again. “Give me your hand. You think your mama never got naked with the man she loved?”

Another squeak. “Bridger!”

His grin was wide as the Mississippi.

“Gimme.” She leaned closer. “But no one hears this story.”

He took her fingers and paused. Leaned into her and laid a slow, sweet kiss on her mouth. “Deal.”

“Now.”

“So rude. No sense of occasion,” he tsked. Then, with his amber eyes smiling as brightly as his mouth, he put the ring over her first knuckle. “Penelope Gallagher, will you marry me at some time and date to be determined by the parties heretofore mentioned in the aforesaid contract of marriage dated—”

“Shut up.” She shoved her finger into the ring and grabbed for him.

Caught him off-guard enough to roll him over and straddle the ridged belly that was bouncing with his laughter.

She held out her hand and admired the ring.

“Do you really like it?” he asked, surprisingly vulnerable.

She stopped admiring and caught his gaze with her own. “I love it. Almost as much as I love you.” She bent and kissed him slowly, with all the love bursting from her heart. “And I would love to marry you, Bridger Calhoun.”

“Merry Christmas to me,” he sang.

She buried her face in his neck and breathed him in. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

“Bless Texas wintertime temperatures,” Maddie said, standing in the open front door of the diner looking at the courthouse lawn several hours later.

“Hear, hear,” Rissa agreed, joining her. “They couldn’t do that if it was freezing outside.”

“What are you two talking a—whoa,” Penny chimed in.

“Scarlett, where is—” Lacey Marlowe fell silent. “Wow.”