Midnight Under the Mistletoe (18 page)

She laughed. “Zach, our house will be buried under baskets of
fruit.”

He grinned and hugged her. Emma held out her hand to look at
her ring. “This is the most gorgeous, giant ring I have ever seen.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He placed his arm around her. “Emma, I
read some of the family letters. I got a touching one that you’ll have to read.
I saw what you were talking about. Somehow with that one letter, I actually did
feel a tie to my great-great-grandfather.”

“I’m glad, Zach,” she said with another increase in her
happiness. “I was going to ask for any of the letters you decided to shred
because I’ll be the mother of a Delaney. And this little Delaney is going to
grow up with a love and appreciation of family.”

“The mother of a Delaney, my baby’s mother,” he said. “That
sounds wonderful to me. You’ve given me the best possible Christmas gift I’ve
ever received,” he whispered and pulled her close to kiss her. Pausing, he
framed her face with his hands. “Emma, you’ve made up for all those miserable
Christmases I had as kid. Will told me once to hang on, that our lives would get
better.”

“Zach, that makes me hurt for all three of you. But that’s all
in the past. You’ll have so much family stirring around you on holidays, you may
miss your solitude.”

“No, I won’t. Not as long as I have you,” he said and kissed
her again.

When the limo parked, Zach climbed out to help Emma. “You get
whatever you want in here. I’m buying it for you, so don’t even ask a
price.”

The second dress they brought out, a white raw silk with thin
straps and a short jacket, was the one. The skirt was slim and came to mid-calf.
She liked it immediately and in minutes she said that was the one she wanted.
She didn’t want Zach to see it until their wedding, so when she came out of the
dressing room once again in her Christmas dress, his eyebrows arched.

“What’s this?”

“I’ve picked the dress I want and you’re not to see it until
tomorrow.”

“You’ve set a record for the fastest woman shopper I’ve ever
seen. I’m falling in love all over again.”

She laughed, but she wondered how many women he had taken
shopping. In minutes they parked at her parents’ house.

“This has to be the most decorated block in all of the state of
Texas,” Zach said, stepping into bright lights from her parents’
decorations.

“Dad started this and then our neighbors began to get into the
spirit.”

“Thank heaven I’ll be able to afford to have someone do ours
for us,” he said, eyeing her roof. As they walked to the front door, she felt
butterflies in her stomach. “Zach, I feel jittery about tonight and having a
wedding so fast tomorrow.”

“Your family will accept what you want to do,” he said. “Would
you rather take your time, marry later and have a big wedding?”

She thought a moment. “No, this is exciting and I think
marrying tomorrow is a great idea. We’re rushing into this—something I never
thought I’d do.”

“We’re getting married tomorrow—something I never thought
I’d
do,” he said with a broad smile and she
laughed.

“Let’s break the news. Get ready for a hullabaloo,” she warned
and opened the front door.

“You’re right there.”

As they walked inside, her dad came forward to greet them. Emma
grasped her father’s arm. “Dad, get Mom to come here. It’s important.”

With a glance at Zach, Brody turned to send a granddaughter on
the errand and in seconds Emma’s mother walked up to greet them and welcome
Zach. Family members trailed after her, gathering around them.

“Mom, Dad, before someone notices and asks—Zach has asked me to
marry him and I’ve accepted,” she said, holding out her hand to show her
engagement ring.

Instantly her mother hugged her while her dad shook hands with
Zach and in seconds the whole family huddled around while Emma showed them her
engagement ring.

From that moment on she felt as if she were in a dream. She
spent an hour on phone calls, making arrangements that she couldn’t believe were
happening so quickly. She went through dinner in a daze and felt that way
afterwards. Constantly, she was aware of Zach, even if he stood across the room.
When they drove to church all the kids piled into the limo with them.

“Your life will change drastically,” Emma reminded him.

“It already has,” he remarked, eyeing the kids surrounding
him.

Through the midnight Christmas service Zach sat close beside
her. Finally they told everyone good-night and left.

“Emma, you’ve never even seen my home. Not any of them. Let’s
go back to my house tonight and I’ll take you home as early in the morning as
you want.”

“All right. Is this where I’m going to live?”

“That’s up to you. If you want a new place, I don’t care. I got
the Dallas place because it’s comfortable and a good investment. If you want
something else, fine.”

“I hope you’re always this agreeable.”

He smiled. “I’ll try. I want to call Ryan and Will. I should
call Garrett, too. I want you to meet Ryan and Garrett and Sophia when we get
back. I don’t expect any of them to come home tomorrow. When we get back from
our honeymoon, we can repeat our vows in a big church wedding if you want.”

She shook her head. “I’m happy. Let’s just have the reception
and invite everyone. That’ll be a party for all.”

His limo entered an exclusive gated suburban area with a
gatekeeper. As they wound through the neighborhood, through pines and oaks, she
glimpsed twinkling lights indicating homes. Finally they went through another
tall iron gate with a gatekeeper who waved.

“I guess I didn’t need to worry so much about security.”

“I have security. The family ranch is more open, but we had
security around the perimeter of the yard and motion lights outside, with
someone watching the grounds at night. You just didn’t notice.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” she said.

He shrugged. “I didn’t expect you to leave in the dead of night
without me knowing about it.”

In minutes she could see lights through trees on a mansion and
when it came into full view, her breath caught. “This is home?” she asked. “It’s
a resort hotel.”

“No, it’s not and we can move if you want. You’ll see. It’s
comfortable inside.”

“I can imagine,” she said, unable to grasp that after tomorrow
this would be her home. One of her homes.

“I feel like Cinderella,” she whispered.

“And I feel like the luckiest man on earth,” he said. “I called
ahead and told them we were coming.”

“Zach, I’m just now seeing your Dallas home. This reinforces
that we barely know each other.”

“I know what I want,” he replied solemnly. “It’s you, Emma,
with all my heart. This is a house, maybe big and fancy, but it’s just a house I
have because of those ancestors you’ve been reading about and feeling so close
to. You know my history, my family, my secrets, my work, me. We know each other.
I know your family, your very open book growing up in a happy, loving family.
Maybe you’re right and you’re the wealthier of the two of us,” he said with a
smile. “We know each other well enough. Our love will cover the rest and
discovery sounds wonderful.”

She hugged and kissed him briefly and then turned to look at
the house. “I’m overwhelmed.”

“You’ll get used to the place. Nigel will work here when we
return from our honeymoon. Rosie sort of goes from family to family.”

They stepped out of the limo at the side of the mansion. At the
door he unlocked it, picked her up and carried her inside. Setting her on her
feet, he turned off the alarm.

“Now the quick tour. When we return from our honeymoon, you can
have the full tour of the place.”

Dazzled, she felt in a dream once again. They walked through an
enormous kitchen with rich, dark wood hiding appliances, granite countertops, a
smooth stone floor that held small area rugs. The adjoining informal eating area
was as large as the kitchen.

Zach took her hand. “This way. You can look as we go and I’ll
show you around better later.”

They climbed winding stairs and walked down a wide hall that
held a strip of thick beige carpet down the center. Zach’s bedroom was an
enormous suite and the moment she stepped inside, she barely glimpsed polished
oak floors, elegant fruitwood furniture and a wide-screen built into a wall.

“Come here. I called this afternoon and told my staff to put
this up. Next year I’m sure we’ll be as decorated as Rockefeller Center.” He led
her to a doorway between the sitting room and his bedroom with a massive
four-poster king bed. Mistletoe hung in the doorway overhead and Zach stopped
beneath it.

“I love you and I can’t wait to marry you. In my heart we’re
already husband and wife,” he said.

Her heart thudded with happiness as she hugged him while she
kissed him beneath the mistletoe.

Epilogue

“Z
ach, I still feel like this isn’t really
happening to me,” she said, thinking that was the way she had felt most of the
time when they had been in Europe on their honeymoon. She looked at herself in
the mirror, her gaze going beyond her image to Zach’s. He looked incredibly
handsome in his navy suit.

“My love is real, Emma,” he said, brushing a kiss and his warm
breath on her nape.

“All those wonderful cities and the charming small towns in
France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. They were beautiful and the people were
welcoming. The places and buildings were breathtaking, so beautiful. Ah, Zach, I
saw them all because of you. I will treasure the memories we have of this trip
forever. It was wonderful to go and now it’s grand to be home.”

“The next long trip will be in this country. I want to show you
special places in the U.S.”

She smiled. “I’m nervous about meeting Ryan tonight.”

Zach laughed. “Of all people on this earth, don’t be nervous
over Ryan. He’s as down to earth as any man can get. He would have flown in to
meet you earlier this week when we returned, but he had a bull-riding show in
Wyoming or Montana. I don’t remember where. Don’t be nervous about any of them.
Sophia is almost as new to the family as you are. I think you two will become
good friends.”

“Do you still want to tell my family the news about the baby
when we go for Sunday dinner tomorrow?” she asked.

“Yes, unless you want to tell them tonight. We’ll tell them and
my family and anyone else you want to let know.”

“Rosie, even though she guessed, and Nigel.”

“Sure. All my staff will be told. I want everyone watching out
for you.”

She laughed. “Don’t make it sound as if I’m an invalid. Let’s
tell them tomorrow.”

“I love you, sweet wife,” he whispered and kissed her.

She kissed him passionately, in seconds forgetting the evening
until he reached for the zipper of her dress.

“Zach, we have a wedding reception to attend,” she said,
wriggling away from him and smiling.

“So we do, but I’d rather make love.”

“Later,” she said.

“Can’t wait,” he replied. “I’m ready and I’ll wait downstairs.
You look absolutely gorgeous.”

“So do you, Zach,” she said, her heart beating with
happiness.

* * *

An hour later she stood in a country club ballroom
talking to Sophia and Ava when she saw Zach and his brother approach. Ryan was
tall, handsome, dressed in a black suit and wearing black Western boots.

“Finally you’ll meet my brother Ryan. Ryan, meet Emma, my
bride.”

Ryan hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Welcome to the Delaney
family,” he said.

“Thank you,” she answered. “All of you have made me feel
welcome.”

Zach clasped his brother on the shoulder. “Ladies, congratulate
a champion bull rider. He just won again.”

Ryan grinned as he received congratulations and Emma marveled
again that the Delaneys resembled each other except for Zach. She couldn’t see
any similarities in his looks and theirs.

She saw Will and Garrett approaching and their circle enlarged.
Will draped his arm around Ava’s shoulders. “Caroline is playing with your
nieces and nephews and your sister Mary Kate is with them,” he said. “I told her
to call my cell if I need to come get her.”

“Caroline will be fine and Mary Kate loves being with the
kids.”

The band commenced another song and Ryan turned to Emma. “May I
have this dance? If I want to get to know you, we have to get away from this
crowd.”

She laughed and went with him the short distance to join the
dancers.

“You’ve worked a miracle with my brother,” Ryan said. “Will and
I are delighted. Sophia hasn’t been in this family long enough to know how much
he’d changed.”

“I love Zach and I want him to be happy.”

“He is. You’re good for him. Will and I wouldn’t have thought
it was possible to get him to settle down even a little. You have a great
family. I’ve met most of them. I told all of them to bring their kids out to my
ranch and let them ride. We have gentle horses. I think Connor is going to take
me up first and bring his boys.”

“I’m sure they’ll love it. That’s nice.”

He spun her around and she glanced at Zach, already wanting the
reception to be over and to be alone with him again.

When the dance ended, the group had broken up and Zach waited.
“You’ve spent enough time with her, so goodbye, Ryan,” Zach said, taking her
hand.

“Thanks for the dance. I don’t know how he talked you into
marrying him,” he teased. “Try to put up with him.”

She laughed. “I think I can put up with him. It was nice to
meet you, Ryan.”

Zach led her to the dance floor to take her into his arms. “I’m
ready for this to be over now.”

“So am I,” she said, gazing into his blue eyes that were as
fascinating as the first day she met him. “I love you so,” she whispered.

He pulled her close to wrap his arms around her and she danced
slowly with him while her happiness bubbled. Her wonderful husband and their
baby on the way—joy overflowed and she squeezed him. “Zach, this is paradise,”
she whispered, and he smiled at her, his eyes filled with warmth and love.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
Up Close and
Personal
by Maureen Child!