She's Mine (10 page)

“Not a whole lot. Meet a nice man, settle down, maybe have a couple of kids. What about you? What do you have planned?”

“I want you in my life, Raven, always.”

“That’s already happening.”

“I want six kids,” he said.

She snorted. “Six?”

“Yeah. My folks struggled to have kids, and then late in their age they had me. I knew they loved me, but they just wanted a few more kids.”

“Six kids it is, then. My mom had complications after me, and Dad didn’t want to risk it. He loved her more than an army full of brats. He was happy with me.” She smiled at him. “I’m lovely.”

He chuckled at her teasing.

“You
are
lovely, and all mine.”

“What else would you like?”

“I’d like a couple of dogs, and cats. I’m not fond of cats, but I’ll have a couple because they help keep the mice away. I love my house, and I wouldn’t want to move.”

“Don’t worry, Drew, I love your house as well. It needs a woman’s touch, of course it does, but I can work with that.”

She liked this.

They were planning their future together, or at least it felt like they were.

“So, six kids, dogs, cats, and the two of us together.”

“How does that sound?” he asked.

“Perfect to me. It sounds absolutely perfect.”

Chapter Ten

All of his carefully ordered plans had been completely messed up. Drew paced up and the long hallway of his house as he waited for the delivery of what he hoped was the damn ring he was going to propose to Raven with. Last week, when the ring was supposed to arrive it was delayed because the jeweler was taken sick. Then he missed the delivery early Monday because he had to finish work, and so he had to lie about taking a delivery for Brice so Raven wouldn’t suspect.

It was now Friday, and he wanted to propose to Raven in an elaborate, really romantic scene at her bakery, but it wasn’t looking like it was going to happen because the damn man who was supposed to be delivering the blasted thing was late. Totally late.

Brice coughed.

“What?”

“I’ve never known you to be this crazy.”

“I organized everything, and now that could all get screwed over. I even have plans for us to go to a rescue center to get a dog and a cat.” Running fingers through his hair, Drew was pissed, more than pissed.

“It will turn up. You’ll laugh about this one day, and say you were stressing about nothing.” Brice waved his hand in the air as if it was nothing. As if the love of his life wasn’t at a bakery in town thinking her life was going to be tied to a man who was so unromantic.

God, this was killing him. “You’re an asshole!”

“That’s all you’ve got to say?
I’m
the asshole? You’re the one that decided to get the ring down, move your woman in, and tell her you were getting married after sex.”

“How do you know about that?” Drew asked.

“Cathy talks. We talk about you guys. We’re both in agreement, you’re cute as hell. I never thought I’d see the day that Drew Reynolds got snagged by Raven Howard, one of the sweetest girls around.”

Pacing up and down, Drew didn’t have time to argue with Brice. There were times, late at night when Raven was asleep in his arms, that he had to wonder how the hell he got her to be with him.

The doorbell rang, and he charged toward it, desperate to get that ring back in his hands.

“I’ve got a delivery for Drew Reynolds,” the man said.

Signing for it, Drew forgot about all the hateful words he was going to spill out, and simply grabbed the little package. Slamming the door closed, he unwrapped it and checked to make sure everything was perfect. “Thank fuck, it’s good. We’re all good.”

“Are we ready to get this show on the road?”

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

Climbing into Brice’s truck, they headed toward town, and Drew’s heart was racing. He’d never known anything like it in his life. His hands were sweaty, and the fear was so strong, and yet at the same time, it all felt right. When it came to Raven he would run to the ends of the earth to do anything for her. She was his heart, his reason for living, and he loved her more and more every single day.

“Are you sure about this? Her father has a shotgun. You do anything to hurt her, and you’re on your own.”

“I’m not going to hurt her. I love her. This is not something I just decided to do. I want to be with Raven for the rest of my life. The sooner you realize that Cathy is a keeper, the sooner you’ll be happy.”

“She doesn’t want me.”

“You ever thought that the reason she doesn’t want you is because you’ve never showed her that you want more than sex? Give her a chance, and she might surprise you.”

“You’ve got to get one woman to fall in love with you. Stop trying to deal with my love life.”

“What love life? You don’t have one. You fuck, that’s it.”

“Well, I haven’t fucked another woman in over a year, I’ll have you know.”

“Does Cathy know that?” Drew asked.

“No, I didn’t tell her. To be honest, I don’t know how to get her to move from this thing we’re having into something more. It kind of sucks. Most women think us men should take the reins, and do shit like that. Me? I’m always so fucking scared. What if I do something wrong?”

Drew laughed. “You’ve got to learn to speak up for what you want. If Cathy doesn’t want you, then she doesn’t want you, and you can’t do anything about that. What’s wrong with taking that leap of faith though?”

Brice sighed. “I hate you. Why don’t you concentrate on making your own woman, and anyone within hearing distance fall in love with you?”

Seymor was already waiting for them, and so were several of the ranchers.

He couldn’t mess this up.

Brice parked up outside, and Drew stepped out, knowing that he wanted this to be something Raven remembered.

Licking his dry lips, he stepped toward the door, and several people inside turned to look at him.

“Cathy, I’d like to see my woman please,” he said. His voice was clear, not giving away to his nerves.

Damn, Raven could turn him down in public, and everyone would be laughing at him.

Think, focus, and don’t panic.

Think, focus, don’t panic.

Don’t panic.

“Raven, someone is here to see you,” Cathy said.

Don’t panic.

“Who would want to … Drew, hey,” Raven said. She gave him that smile, and all of his doubts faded away. “What are you doing here?”

“Raven Howard, for as long as I can remember you have held a special place in my heart. Seven years ago, you saw me in a less than flattering, um, state, and before I got a chance to talk to you, you were gone. For seven years I’ve been going through life without really living. There’s no enjoyment. There was no love. I had sex, but I didn’t have a connection. No one even came close to being the woman that I needed, that I wanted, that I yearned for.”

“Drew?”

“Seeing you standing with Cathy that day, in that instant I felt like I’d been woken up again. That with you gone, I’d only been sleeping, waiting for the day to wake up. Just one look at you, and my world tipped on its axis, spun out of control, and I knew I couldn’t let you go, not now, not ever.” Slowly, he got down on one knee.

Tears were in her eyes, and he hated that he was making her cry. He hated any kind of tears, whether they were happy or sad.

“Drew?”

“I love you. Before you now, I’m half a man, but being with you, I’m a full man. I love you. I love you more than anything in the world. I’m not good with romance, and I’m not good at always saying the right things. I know ranching, I know hard work. I promise you, to always love you, to always take care of you, to be the best lover you’ll ever have, the only lover you’ll ever have. I will provide, be the most caring husband, and the best father to our kids. I’ll also take out the trash and do the dishes.”

“Because they help a marriage,” she said.

“Yeah, that’s right. Raven Howard, heart of my life, will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?” He presented her the ring and waited with bated breath.

“You were wrong about something, Drew Reynolds,” Raven said.

“What was that?”

“You are very romantic.”

“Is that a yes?” he asked. He’d never been so nervous than in the five seconds it took her to respond.

“Yes, you doofus. I accepted your proposal weeks ago.”

He got to his feet, pulling her in his arms, and slamming his lips down on hers. Cheers erupted around them, but he didn’t care. She had said yes, and as far as he was concerned, that was the best damn thing that had ever happened to him.

She pulled away, smiling up at him. “I didn’t know you could be romantic.”

“Well, do me a favor,” he said.

“What?”

“Whenever I do something to piss you off, remember how good I was today, and don’t hold my assholey words against me.”

She chuckled. “I won’t. I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.”

Leaving her at the bakery was the hardest thing he’d done. All he wanted to do was lift her up in his arms, and carry her back to their place, make love to her until the sun went down.

He would have to wait until tonight, and he already had plans to finish off their romantic evening.

****

Six months later

“Are you okay, honey?” Clark asked.

“I’m a little nervous. Do I look okay?” She ran her hands down her dress and turned in a circle for her father to see. The dress had been made by her mother, and it was the most perfect wedding dress she’d ever seen. Six months it had taken for her mother to complete the dress. The dress was the only reason they had waited so long to get married.

Raven couldn’t complain. It had been six months of pure bliss, non-wedded bliss.

“You’re a picture, honey. Drew is going to be knocked dead when he sees you.”

“The church is packed out,” Cathy said, coming into the room. “The locals are here to see Drew Reynolds fall. I’ve never known it to be so crazy before.”

“Just the way to make me more nervous. What if I fall down?” Raven asked.

“I won’t let you.” Her father came up, placing the veil on her head. “You are going to go out there, and marry the man you love.”

“Do you like him, Dad?” she asked.

“Do you love him, Raven?”

“More than anything.”

“It’s a father’s place to hate the son-in-law. It’s our place to put them through hell just to make sure they know what they’re doing. Drew had a bad reputation. I held him to that reputation, and he has done nothing but prove to me that not only is he a good man, he’s a man madly in love with my daughter, and will do anything to protect her.” Clark cupped her cheek. “I like him, sweetheart, and I’ll still give him hell. It’s my total right.”

She groaned. “I hope you don’t. I really don’t want to have to deal with that.”

“Not today. Today is your day.”

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, turning to Cathy. Her best friend was swollen with Brice’s child. It had been a shock to her to see Brice and Cathy actually getting together. She didn’t know what happened, but the two were happy, and so in love for anyone to see.

“How is our little girl?” she asked, bending down to kiss Cathy’s stomach. She and Drew were going to be godparents to the little girl she had growing.

“She’s happy. She’s settling so I can do this whole wedding properly.”

“I can’t believe you and Brice went to Vegas to get married.”

“I know. We just wanted to tie the knot. We should have done it months ago.” Cathy hugged her close, and there was a knock at the door, giving them the signal they were ready.

Everyone gave her a final hug and made their way out of the room, leaving her alone with her father.

“Last chance, you want me to shove you out of the window so you can escape?” he asked.

She giggled. “Not a chance.”

Moving toward her father, she held his arm, and together they made their way out, ready to face her man. The moment she saw him standing by the altar, all fear left her. This was what Drew did to her.

He smiled at her, and she watched as he let out a breath.

Her father moved the veil and offered her hand out to Drew.

“You take good care of her now.”

“I will, sir, I will.” Drew smiled at her. “I thought you’d run.”

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

Silence fell on the church, and the priest started to speak. Staring into Drew’s beautiful blue eyes, she knew without a doubt that she wasn’t making a mistake. This man was the love of her life. Like his proposal speech, she had only been half living without him. She couldn’t imagine a life without him in, nor did she want to.

They said their vows, promising to love, honor, and cherish each other. When it was time to announce them as husband and wife, no one stepped forward to ruin their special day. William’s threat had kept Francine in line. The spiteful woman preferred her money and reputation over nothing.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Drew pulled her to him, sinking his fingers in her hair and taking her lips. The whole church erupted in cheers, and she smiled against his lips.

“I’ve got you now for the rest of my life,” he said.

“I’m not running away, and I’m not scared.”

“Mrs. Raven Reynolds.”

“That’s my name.”

“It certainly is.”

They didn’t stop holding hands as they made their way out for photographs. They took some with her parents, and with Doreen, his mother who had been able to come out with one of the nurses from the homes. She got to see her son get married. Their picture was taken with Brice and Cathy, then several of them both together, kissing.

The reception was being held at O’Donald’s ranch.

Raven had been shocked when she heard Seymor wanted Drew to take over. Her man had been nervous about taking over something so large and vast, but she had faith in him. It was scary, and like she said, dating him had been scary. She had done it though, and now she was married to him.

Listening to the speeches, she heard many people express their doubts over their love, and also their happiness to see them together. They had defied the odds, and it was all down to Drew declaring that she belonged to him. She was never going to forget that, not ever.