Playing for Keeps (Texas Scoundrels) (34 page)

She looked back at the man who’d stolen her heart. A sensation between a fever and a chill eddied down her spine at the intensity, at the hope, in his gaze. “Yes. I’ll marry you right now.”

Moments later, gathered in the privacy of the judge’s chambers with her family present, she listened as the judge first dictated an order reinstating Jed’s parental rights to Austin without vacating her rights as Austin’s adoptive mother. And with both her and Jed’s consent, an oral petition to change their son’s name to Austin Hart Maitland was also granted.
 

When she’d initially driven up to Possum Kingdom to tell Jed he had a son, she’d done so without any guarantees as to the outcome. But she also knew the only risks she’d ever regret in her life would be the ones she was too afraid to take. Life didn’t come with guarantees. She
could
worry about what might or might not happen in the future. Or she could live. And love.

And in that moment, she knew. She knew without a doubt she’d much rather build a life with the man she loved with all her heart.
 

The judge circled her desk to stand in front of them.
 

Jed took her hand and she looked up at him. The tenderness in his eyes melted her heart. “I love you,” he whispered to her.

She laced her fingers with his and planned to never let go again.

Judge Wentworth cleared her throat. “Dearly beloved...”

*

Three months later...

“How long did you say Mattie and Trenton were going to be in Europe?”
 

Griffen smiled up at her husband as he guided her in a two-step over the dance floor to a George Strait song. “Only for two weeks,” she said. “It won’t be that bad. I promise.”

Jed chuckled. “If you say so. I was only in charge of her for twenty minutes. I can only imagine what two weeks of keeping up with that little tyrant is going to feel like.”
 

Griffen laughed. “Stop complaining. Phoebe adores you.”

“She knows an easy mark when she sees one. Now I know why Mattie calls her Phoebzilla.” He frowned and looked around the perimeter of the ballroom. “Who is the little monster terrorizing now?”

“She’s over there,” Griffen said, indicating the long wall of windows overlooking the country club’s golf course. “With Dad waiting for the fireworks to start.” Phoebe, still dressed in a paler, miniature version of Griffen’s dress, sat quietly on Thomas’s lap, her head resting against his shoulder, looking nothing but precious and sweet cuddled up with her granddaddy.

“Don’t let that angelic expression fool you,” Jed warned playfully. “She’s only powered down to conserve energy for her next act of terror.”
 

Griffen laughed again at the hint of fear in Jed’s voice. She’d promised Mattie they’d keep Phoebe while she and Trenton were on their honeymoon. Lord knew they had plenty of room since moving into their new home last month. Instead of keeping the house in Hart, they’d bought a house out in the country about five miles outside of town. The ranchette had plenty of trees and enough land for horses, something she’d always wanted. Plus, since they were in the country, the property offered them much more privacy. If they were in the mood for water sports, there was still Jed’s monstrosity of a house out in Possum Kingdom.

She’d considered renting out the bungalow she’d purchased, but in the end, had decided to sell it instead, depositing the proceeds from the sale into a retirement account. Not that she didn’t trust Jed, but she needed to maintain some degree of independence, if for no other reason than her own peace of mind. Shortly after they’d moved, the head hunting firm where she’d interviewed back in March had contacted her about a position with a financial consulting firm. She’d been offered the position during the second interview with the managing partners and had been able to turn down the job at the credit union. The money was good, four times what she would’ve made as a loan officer, but the hours were choice and she could telecommute much of the time. Since she essentially picked the number of assignments she wanted to take, she’d been setting her own hours. Considering the news she’d been keeping to herself the past two days, she had a feeling she’d be taking even fewer consulting jobs six months from now.

Outside the bank of windows, dusk had passed into night. The fireworks would be starting soon. “I don’t know why you’re complaining,” she said to Jed as the music ended. “You’ll be in meetings all next week in New York, anyway.”

“Is that great planning or what?” he teased.

While Jed had turned down the ridiculous and insulting offer from the team reps in Buffalo, he had taken a job with one of the networks as a new co-host on one of the Sunday pre-game shows. The timing had been prime, as one of the regulars had announced his retirement. The new agent Jed had hired made the right phone calls and a series of interviews later, Jed was offered a contract with the network. He’d not only be working the pre-game show, but he’d also be co-anchoring a weekly football-based show for the network’s all-sports sister station. Unfortunately, the job meant he’d be doing quite a bit of traveling, particularly from August through February, which worked out perfectly, since she wasn’t due until the middle of March.

They joined her dad and Phoebe at the windows. Austin slid into a chair next to her father and handed Phoebe a plate with a piece of wedding cake. He was so good with his little cousin. Although she wasn’t too worried about his reaction, she did wonder what he’d think about having a baby in the house. She wondered what Jed would have to say about a baby, too...once she told him. Which she’d planned to do later that night.

Mattie and Trenton joined them near the window, each carrying two glasses of champagne. “Here,” Mattie said. “Drink.” She handed a champagne flute off to Griffen, while Trenton put one in Jed’s hand.

“Dad can take the kids home with him after the fireworks. We have a suite at the Anatole and a limo to take us there. Drink up, big sister,” Mattie said, clinking her glass against the one in Griffen’s hand. “It’s party time.”

“
You
have a suite. We’re going home.” Griffen held the glass to her lips but didn’t drink. Mattie downed half the glass as if it were a Jell-O shot. “Don’t you have a flight to catch first thing in the morning?” Griffen asked, handing her glass to Jed.

“Trust me,” Jed said as he set both of their champagne flutes on the table. “You really don’t want to fly with a hangover.”

Mattie frowned at them both. “Hush. It’s my wedding reception.” She grinned suddenly and wagged her finger at them. “No criticizing the bride on her wedding day.”

With a laugh that bordered on brittle, Mattie spun away in a flurry of champagne-colored lace and tulle. She looped her arm through Trenton’s and kissed her groom soundly on the mouth. Seconds later, the first of the fireworks started, the fury of colorful sparks lighting the Texas sky.

“Look, Mommy,” Phoebe said, her voice loud and excited. “They’re making stars.”

Someone had dimmed the already lowered lights and the crowd shifted toward the windows to watch the fireworks spectacular. Jed bent forward slightly, his warm breath fanning her neck. “Just because I’m not having anything to drink doesn’t mean you shouldn’t,” he said, his voice low. Not that he’d stopped drinking completely, but he knew when to stop and only occasionally had a drink or two.

“I know,” she said and turned to look at him.

“What are you grinning about?”
 

She shivered slightly as his warm breath fanned her ear. “I’ll tell you later,” she laced her fingers with his. Although she was anxious to tell him her news, she really wanted to wait until they were alone. This was Mattie’s wedding, and it was supposed to be about the bride, not her pregnant sister.

Gently, he nipped her ear. “Tell me now.”

She pressed against him, could feel the hard ridge of his erection wedged against her bottom. Her body instantly responded. Her breasts grew heavy, her nipples pilling into tight buds. “This isn’t the time.” Whether for revealing her news or the way their bodies were igniting with anticipation, she couldn’t state with any degree of certainty.

“Is something wrong?”

She shook her head, then reached up to cup his cheek in her palm. “Everything is perfect,” she said, then tipped her head back to brush her mouth against his.

“Then tell me,” he said, his voice no longer an intimate whisper.

Her father turned and gave them a warning look, but she merely smiled at her dad, then waited for him to turn his attention back to the fireworks display. “Later,” she said.

“Griffen.” Jed’s deep, velvety voice held a note of warning she couldn’t ignore. “Tell me.”

She sighed and turned in his arms so she could see his face clearly. So much for waiting until they were alone. “I’m pregnant.”

Jed’s mouth fell open, then he snapped it shut. “Are you sure?” he asked after a moment. The note of caution in his voice was unmistakable. They had discussed having more children, so it wasn’t like this should’ve been that much of a surprise. While he hadn’t been specific about the number, she really hoped they could have at least three more. Granted, she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. They really hadn’t been trying, but then they hadn’t done anything to prevent a pregnancy, either.

“What’s all the racket about over there?” Trenton asked, moving closer and bringing Mattie with him.

“Nothing,” Griffen told her new brother-in-law, but gave Jed an affirming nod. As much as she wanted to keep the news between them, she couldn’t stop the smile from tugging her lips if her life depended on it. “I confirmed it two days ago.”

“Confirmed what?” Mattie asked in a bad stage whisper.

“Griff’s pregnant,” Jed said, a wide grin on his face. He looked so proud and happy, yet completely awestruck all at the same time.

“You’re pregnant?” Mattie’s voice went from a loud whisper to a near shout.

Her father turned around, his smile matching the magnitude of Jed’s. Austin stared at them, and she held her breath until he grinned and shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind a little brother,” he said.

“It could be a girl, you know,” Mattie said as she reached over and ruffled his hair.

From the horrified expression on Austin’s face, he looked as if his aunt had kissed him in public instead of affectionately mussing his hair. “No way,” he countered, finger-combing his dark hair back in place.

“Fifty-fifty chance, Slick,” Griffen said as Jed pulled her closer.

Austin looked to Jed. “Dad, you can’t do that to me.” A look of pure terror crossed his face. “What if she’s like...you know who?”

Everyone’s eyes zeroed in on Phoebe. As if realizing she was the center of attention, she scooted off her granddaddy’s lap and ran to her mom. “I didn’t do it, Mommy.”

Mattie smiled down at her daughter. “No, Phoebe. You didn’t do it—this time.”

*

Hours later, after the bride and groom had disappeared for the night and the last of the guests had gone, Jed and Griffen had driven home. Both kids were sound asleep, Austin in his room and Phoebe in the guest room. The wedding gifts were all safely packed in the back of the Escalade, which they’d deliver to Mattie’s place when they went to her father’s for Sunday supper the next day.

She finished up in the bathroom, then walked into the bedroom where Jed sat in bed waiting for her. He had the pillows propped behind his back and wore nothing but that killer Maitland grin and a sheet slung low over his hips.
 

She slipped off her robe and slid under the sheet next to him. He turned off the light and pulled her against him. Moonlight streamed into the room through the sheers covering the windows, casting the room in bluish shadows. “Tired?” he asked.

“Not that tired.”

He chuckled as he placed a finger beneath her chin and titled her head back for a sweet, gentle kiss that made her heart swell with tenderness. God, she loved him so much. She knew she’d taken a huge risk marrying him that day at the courthouse. They’d never once discussed the future, and they really hadn’t known each other very long. What association they did have, had been somewhat contentious. But three months in, and she knew she’d made the right choice, even if they did still disagree on occasion.

“Are you happy?” she asked him when he ended the kiss.

“About the baby?” he asked, running his hands over her curves. His hand rested on her belly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“A few months ago you were more than a little reluctant about being a father.” Reluctant hardly described his initial reaction when she’d driven up to Possum Kingdom. “Plus, you weren’t there when Austin was born. I just wondered...”

“If it brought up memories of Dani.” He splayed his fingers over her abdomen and planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips. “I hadn’t really thought about it. What matters is now. Us. The past is the past, sweetheart.”

He started nibbling her neck and she nearly lost her train of thought.
 

“Yeah,” she said. “About that.” She pushed on his good shoulder until he was looking at her again. “There’s something else I should probably tell you.”

More than a trace of apprehension filled his gaze. “What?”

“My mom was a twin. She didn’t have any multiple births,” she said, “but the twin thing sometimes skips a generation.”