The Rancher's Marriage Pact (14 page)

Austin stepped forward first. “I'd personally like to knock some sense into you. Do you have any idea what you've done to that little gal?”

“He's stomped on her heart,” Tyler replied for Dallas. “I saw her walking up the road, crying like a baby.”

“And now he's lost the ranch in the process,” Worth added.

Houston took a step forward. “Hell, Dallas, Fort is going to have a field day with this once he knows you're no longer married.”

Dallas had about had enough. “We weren't married in the first place, dammit, and that's not my fault.”

“It's not Paris's fault either, sugar,” Jenny chimed in. “She was victimized by a man and the fact that you dismissed her so easily means you've done the same thing to her.”

He hadn't done that. Or had he? “You all know how much I hate deception. She could've told me what happened with her former employer because I wouldn't have told a soul. I didn't have to hear it from that SOB ex-husband. Oh, yeah. Her current husband.”

“And you're so damned perfect, Dallas,” Austin added. “You tossed her out before you gave her a chance.”

His temper was close to reaching the boiling point. “And you're a damned hypocrite, Austin. You were married to Lilly, what, less than a year?”

Austin looked like he wanted to throw a left hook. “At least I made it to a year. Plus we both decided the marriage wasn't working.”

“That's what happens when you get drunk and get hitched.”

“Kiss my—”

Maria clapped her hands and pointed toward the door. “Everyone out. This kangaroo court is dismissed.”

“Yes, boys, you should all go because we need to talk to Dallas alone,” Jenny said.

Maria scowled. “When I said everyone, that means you, too, Jenny. I'm going to handle this.”

Jenny looked dejected. “But—”

“No buts. Go.”

After the crowd disappeared, Maria gestured toward the desk chair. “Sit down,
mijo
, and I'm going to tell you how the cow ate the cabbage.”

Great. Just great. “I'd rather go work off some steam in the barn.”

“I don't care what you want, Dallas Calloway. You're going to hear me out.
Comprendes?
”

He understood all too well. He was about to get a butt chewing. “Fine. But make it fast.”

Maria took a seat in front of the desk. “I will make it very fast because you're running out of time. If you don't get your head on straight, Paris is going to leave and she won't be coming back.”

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth even though it's what he wanted. Or what he thought he wanted. “The damage is done and it can't be repaired, Mom.”

“Love fixes anything.”

That nearly shocked him out of his boots. “I've never said I love her.”

“I'm sure you haven't, but that doesn't mean you don't. I've seen the way you look at her,
mijo
.”

“You're seeing lust.”

“Like hell I am. I've lived long enough to know the difference. She walks in the room and you hang on her every word. You open doors for her and you put your hand on her back when you're walking out together. You always let her speak without interrupting and you're always asking if she needs anything, and I don't mean sex. I've even heard you say hurry back if you're watching TV and she goes into the kitchen.”

“And your point?”

Maria muttered a few choice words in her native tongue. Words he'd learned from some of the hands. “Let me ask you something. Do you wake up every morning thinking about her and go to bed every night glad she's going to be by your side?”

As bad as he hated to admit it, all that was true. “Yeah.”

“Do you imagine growing old with her?”

Damn. “Maybe.”

“Do you wonder what it would be like if she had your babies?”

“I've always made it clear I don't want kids.”

“Answer me.”

He released a rough sigh. “Not at first, but lately, yeah.”

“Have you ever felt this way about any other woman?”

The answer was easy, and pretty damn telling. “Nope.”

Maria slapped her palms on the desk and stood. “You're in love, although you're too damn hardheaded to admit it to yourself. If you don't get to the house, get on your knees and beg Paris for forgiveness for being a
cobarde
, you're going to live the rest of your life with a belly full of regrets. She'll forever be known to you as the one who got away when she should be the one who saved you from one helluva lonely life.”

Deep down he recognized everything Maria had said made sense. He also realized he had one major problem. “What if she doesn't accept my apology?”

“She will if you offer her the ring.”

He didn't have to ask which ring. The one meant for his true love. And damned if he hadn't found her. But... “You think it's a good idea I propose?”

“Do you still want to marry her?”

Did horses like hay? “Yeah.”

“Then I'll go get the ring, and you go get the girl.”

Ten

“S
ugar, are you sure you can't wait until the morning before you go?”

Paris kept right on packing. And sniffling. And occasionally sobbing. “He doesn't want me here, Jenny, so the faster I leave, the better it will be for all concerned, myself included.”

“Not as far as we're all concerned,” Jenny said. “You should have seen the boys take him on for his cruelty. I thought Austin and Dallas were going to actually fight.”

Wherever she went, clearly trouble followed. “I'm sorry this has caused a divide in the family. I never meant for that to happen.”

Jenny handed her a tissue. “Honey, none of this is your fault. If Dallas wasn't so darned pigheaded, he'd realize you had no choice but to lie. He would also realize what the two of you have together is worth fighting for.”

“You can't fight for something you don't care to win. Dallas has already decided what he wants, and it's not me. I need to be with someone who's willing to accept me for who I am, an imperfect woman.”

“Sugar, he believes in you. He just doesn't believe in himself.”

After dabbing at her eyes, Paris zipped the last suitcase and set it next to the other two at the foot of the bed. “Dallas hates deception, justified or not. And he doesn't feel he's capable of a long-term commitment. He has his father to thank for that. No offense.”

“Oh, sugar, we all know J.D. was a lying philanderer, but we loved him all the same.”

“That's because you know how to forgive. Dallas hasn't learned that lesson yet.”

“Dallas hasn't figured out everyone lies now and then. Why, my mother passed herself off for years as the consummate Southern lady when in fact she grew up in the Bronx. She got away with it because she mastered the accent perfectly. And she learned how to make those luscious mint juleps. Would you like me to make you one before you go?”

It would only delay her departure if she passed out. “No, thank you, but if you could call a cab I would definitely appreciate it.”

“Dallas bought you a perfectly good car.”

“I don't want it.” She didn't want anything more from him aside from some good memories to override the bad.

“Honey, there aren't any cabs that come out here. But I would be glad to drive you anywhere you want to go, although I don't see why you won't take the Mercedes since it was a gift from Dallas.”

A gift that came with conditions—marry me, make love with me but don't get too close. “He can give it to the next faux bride. I'm sure he'll get to work on that first thing in the morning, before Fort finds out we aren't married.”

Jenny drew her into a hug. “I promise you, he won't go looking for someone else. Besides, the birthday deadline has passed, not to mention he doesn't want anyone but you.”

If only that were true. “He doesn't want me, Jenny. I'm no longer of any use to him.”

“I guess we'll see, won't we?” She sounded as if she knew a secret.

Paris pulled the handles from the rolling bags and slid the duffel's strap over her shoulder. “I won't see anything since I'm ready to go. If you could just drop me off in the nearest town, I'll find a room and rent a car tomorrow.” At least she had enough money to get her to Idaho to stay with her parents and explain once again how she'd been duped by another man. Oh, joy.

Jenny gave her a pretend pout. “Are you sure you won't change your mind about that drink? Or how about some dinner? I could make you a nice vegetable frittata.”

Her stomach roiled over the thought of choking down any food. “You've done enough already. And by the way, Dallas has enough money to hire a private chef, so why doesn't he?”

“Because he knows I like to make sure all the boys are fed. It makes me feel useful.”

Unbelievable. “You make dinner for the other four?”

“Almost every night unless they're out of town or engaged in activities with women that no mother should be exposed to. Which is sometimes quite often with Worth. That little apple didn't fall far from the family tree.”

They shared a laugh and another hug before heading out of the bedroom...and running right into none other than her erstwhile pretend husband. Her heart sank a little over the sight of him, and the regrets tugged at her soul.

When Paris muttered an apology and tried to push past him, he clasped her arm, halting her progress. “We need to talk.”

“I think we've said all we have to say. No need to belabor the point and my shortcomings.”

Jenny took the duffel from Paris. “Hear him out, sugar.”

Maria appeared in the hall to give her two cents worth. “It's important,
mija
. Let's go to the kitchen, Jenny.”

“No, stay,” Dallas said. “I don't care if the whole damn county hears this, as long as the two of you don't interrupt. Besides, you're going to eavesdrop anyway.”

Paris wasn't at all certain how to take any of this. “Then make it quick so I can get out of here.”

“I don't want you to go. It's going to kill me if you go.”

A stunning development. “I can't stay with a man who can't trust me, Dallas.”

“I trust you, darlin'. I don't always trust me. But I'm going to learn if it's the last thing I do. And you were right, I got cold feet and blamed you for it.”

Oh, how she wanted to believe him. “If that's the case, why the sudden change of heart?”

He looked somewhat sheepish. “I had a little help with that.”

“From me,” Maria stated without regard for the non-interruption directive. “I verbally beat him over the head.”

“She just said things that made sense,” he countered. “She made me take inventory of my feelings for you, and it led to a fairly obvious conclusion.”

“Which is?”

“I love you, sweetheart.”

She lost her grip on the bags' handles, sending the upright suitcases onto the floor. “Could you repeat that, please?”

He circled his arms around her. “I love you more than this ranch. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. We'll find our own place and build a house, along with a future together.”

“And we'll all go with you if we have to,” Jenny said.

“Don't give her any reason not to stay with him,” Maria scolded.

She let that proposition soak in for a moment. “I love you, too, but is that enough?”

“It's a start. And we won't know unless you stay.”

“You do realize we're not married anymore and it's bound to get out.”

“We can fix that real quick.” He pulled a blue velvet box from his shirt pocket, opened it to reveal a gorgeous marquise diamond that had to be at least two carats and lowered to one knee. “Paris, this belonged to my mom and it was given to me to give to the woman I want to spend my life with. That woman is you. So will you marry me again and have our babies and make this miserable cowboy a better man?”

Paris stood there, mouth agape, basking in the emotion in his eyes, the sincerity in his words, until reality jumped into the euphoria. “I'm not divorced yet.”

“We don't have to be in a hurry. We're going to need time to plan a proper wedding anyway.”

“I can't wait,” Jenny practically shouted.

A proper wedding would be wonderful. However, another issue still remained. “But you'll lose the D Bar C if Fort finds out we're not married anymore. Maybe we should hurry up and do it.”

“I don't care about Fort or the will. I only want to be with you. This isn't about keeping the ranch—it's about keeping you close, always.”

As much as she wanted to accept his heartfelt proposal, she still had one more question. “You're serious about wanting babies?”

“Yep. I actually like them. I help with the rodeo club at the local high school and I plan to have a summer riding camp for the younger ones. If I can ride a bull, I can take on a baby. Or babies.”

Paris managed a smile around the mist forming in her eyes. “As long as you don't expect us to keep them in the barn.”

“I promise. And by the way, I have a bum knee, thanks to a rank horse that bucked me off two years ago, so if you could give me an answer, my joints would appreciate it.”

She laughed through the tears. “Yes, I will marry you, bad knees and all, so you can get up now.”

After sliding the ring on her finger, Dallas rose and drew her into a soft kiss. “We're going to have a lot of adventures. And when we find our own place, you can design the house to your liking.”

“Actually, you probably won't have to move after all, sugar.”

Dallas let her go long enough to stare at Jenny. “Fort will probably say otherwise.”

She shook her head. “No, he won't. I told him if he wouldn't pursue the terms of the will, I'd give him my half of the horse farm in Louisiana.”

“I thought you'd already done that,” Dallas said.

Jenny grinned. “I conveniently forgot to do it, just in case I need some leverage, even though he didn't know that. Sometimes you just have to tell a little white lie.”

“When did this happen?” Paris asked.

Jenny stared at her pink peep-toe pumps. “The day you arrived here after the wedding. I had a feeling you two would be a good fit if given the chance. Also, around these parts, available women are few and far between.”

“And you just let the marriage plans go on without telling me?” Both his tone and expression revealed Dallas's displeasure.

Jenny propped her hands on her hips. “Yes, sugar, and you should thank your lucky stars I didn't tell you. Otherwise, you wouldn't be engaged to the woman of your dreams.”

Dallas turned his attention to Maria. “Did you know, too?”

“Yep. I figured it was the only way to get you hitched so you can have me some grandbabies.”

He pointed to the hall behind him. “Both of you can leave now.”

Ignoring the order, Maria gave Paris a hug. “Welcome to the family,
mija
. Get ready for one wild ride.”

After Jenny and Maria departed, Dallas pulled Paris back into his arms. “Looks like everything is going to work out after all. I keep the ranch and the girl. Who would've guessed that would happen?”

Not Paris. Not in a million years. “Did you know I almost decided to settle in New York? If I had, we would never have met.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Actually, I'd picked out an apartment to rent and the landlord decided to sell it right before I left Vegas. Then I turned on my computer to search for another one, and I saw an ad for San Antonio. Something told me I needed to be in Texas, and here I am with my very own cowboy whom I love with all my heart.”

He kissed her again, a little longer and deeper this time. “Care to take that cowboy and show him how much you love him?”

“I'll race you to the bedroom.”

“Who said anything about the bedroom?”

“We're not going to do it here in the hall, Dallas. Not with the probability that Jenny and Maria are somewhere nearby.”

“True, and we're going to set some ground rules about that. But I'm actually thinking I want to make love to you in a place we haven't tried yet.”

Paris tapped her chin with a fingertip and pretended to think. “I can't recall a place where we haven't done it.”

“It's the place where we won't be keeping the kids.”

They exchanged a smile and simultaneously said, “The barn.”

* * *

Most women wouldn't agree to get hitched in front of a barn. But Paris Reynolds Calloway wasn't most women, Dallas decided. She'd turned out to be one in a million, and now she belonged to him. And he definitely belonged to her.

He stood next to Maria, choking down one of Jenny's gut-burning brews so he wouldn't hurt her feelings, even if he preferred beer. As he watched Paris visiting with her parents beneath the tent's canopy, he noticed she'd only been drinking punch.

“She looks beautiful,
mijo
. And very happy.”

“Yeah, she does.” When he'd seen Paris coming down the makeshift aisle an hour ago, wearing that form-fitting, long, sleeveless silk gown, sparkling tiny flowers sprinkled through her hair, he couldn't believe he'd gotten so lucky. “Her folks seem fairly nice, too.”

“Her dad's a piece of work,” she said. “He told me he brought a shotgun in case you bowed out. I told him I had one handy, too.”

Dallas couldn't help but laugh over the image of his stepmom wielding a weapon while wearing a dress. “In-laws and outlaws. Works for me.”

At that moment, Paris caught his eye, smiled and started toward him. Once she arrived, he leaned over and kissed her. “Do you think we can have a few minutes alone before dinner is served?”

“I'm going now,” Maria said. “I've got to make sure Jen isn't putting too much tequila in those drinks.”

After his mom disappeared into the tent, Dallas wrapped his arms around his wife. “How are you holding up?”

“Pretty well for a woman who planned a wedding in less than two months.”

“Any regrets so far?”

“No, other than we have to wait another four hours or so before we can start the honeymoon. Actually, second honeymoon. And speaking of that, are you going to tell me where you're taking me?”

“I'll give you a hint. It involves a boat.”

“The cabin?”

“No. It involves a big boat. Worth offered his yacht with a full crew and captain. I figure we can mosey on down to the Mexican Caribbean for two weeks where I've rented a private villa.”

She hugged him hard and kissed him soundly. “That sounds wonderful, honey.”

“And since I'm not getting any younger, I also figure we can get on with the baby-making.”

She glanced at the ground before raising her gaze to his. “Now that you mention it, I probably should tell you it's too late for that.”