“She’s been almost as excited as we have,” Meredith said. “She’ll love not being an only child. And it will give her some security. She still doesn’t quite believe that she’s safe and loved.”
“It will take time,” he said. “But she’s coming around nicely.”
“Yes.” She smoothed her fingers lovingly over the baby’s downy soft hair. “Isn’t he just perfect, Blake?”
“Just perfect,” he said, smiling. “Like his mother.”
She searched his eyes. “No regrets?”
He shook his head. “Nobody ever loved me until you and Sarah Jane came along,” he said quietly. “I can’t quite get over it. I’m like Sarah—happiness takes some adjusting to. You’ve given me the world, Meredith.”
“Only my heart, darling,” she said softly. “But maybe it was enough.”
He bent to kiss her again. “It was more than enough,” he replied. The light in his eyes was so full of love for Meredith and his child that it was almost blinding. He smiled suddenly. “I meant to tell you—I met Elissa and Danielle in town just before I came here. They’re bringing over a surprise for you.” His eyes twinkled. “The store was a little crowded, full of people. I walked in, and do you know what Danielle said?”
Meredith smiled lazily. “No, what?”
“She pointed to me and said, ‘Look, Mama, there’s Sarah Jane’s daddy!’” He grinned. “And do you know what, Merry? I think I’d rather be Daddy than president.”
Meredith reached up and touched his mouth lovingly. “I’m sure Sarah Jane and little Carson will agree with that.” She took his hand in hers and held it. “And so do I.”
He looked down at his son, and foresaw long days ahead of playing baseball in the backyard and board games at the kitchen table. Of drying Sarah’s tears and helping Meredith patch up Carson’s cuts and bruises. Together, he and Meredith would raise their children and make memories to share in the autumn days. He brought Meredith’s hand to his mouth and lifted his gaze to her quiet face. There, in her gray eyes, was the beginning and end of his whole world.
* * * * *
Read on for an excerpt from
UNTAMED
by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Diana Palmer
New York Times Bestselling Author
Stanton Rourke lives life on the edge—and his ruthless mercenary ways make him the most dangerous kind of man—and the only one Clarisse Carrington wants…
Purchase UNTAMED now!
“Palmer knows how to make the sparks fly.”
— Publishers Weekly
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New York Times bestselling author
brings you to the rugged wilderness of Montana for her gripping new Montana Hamiltons series.
Wild Horses
Lone Rider
Lucky Shot
“Daniels has succeeded in joining the ranks of mystery masters.”
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UNTAMED by Diana Palmer
Excerpt
Copyright © 2015 by Diana Palmer
Clarisse walked into the building where the awards were being held, and several pair of male eyes went immediately to her slender, beautiful figure in the clinging white dress she wore. Her blond hair curled toward her face like feathers, emphasizing her exquisite bone structure, her perfect skin and teeth, her wide blue eyes. She was a beauty. In the gown, she looked like some Grecian goddess come down to earth to taunt mortals.
She didn’t even notice the attention she was getting. Her eyes were on the podium where the General would speak. There was an orchestra. It was playing soft, easy-listening sort of music while people gathered in small groups to converse. Most of the conversation was in Spanish here, not Portuguese, because Spanish was Barrera’s official language.
She smiled sadly at the little cliques. To Clarisse, who was always alone, it seemed like just one more gathering where she’d stand by herself while men tried to entice her. Sometimes she hated the way she looked. She didn’t want male attention.
She paused by a table where drinks were being served when her arm was taken by a tall man she recognized as one of General Machado’s advisers. He smiled at her. “We were hoping that you would come, Miss Carrington,” he said in softly accented English. “We have the other honorees backstage. The awards ceremony will be first, followed by dancing and drinking and utter pandemonium,” he chuckled.
She smiled up at him. “The pandemonium sounds nice. They shouldn’t have done this for me,” she added. “I didn’t really do anything except get shot and captured.”
He turned and smiled down at her. “You did a great deal more than that. All of us who live here are grateful to you and the others, for giving us back our country.”
“Are Peg and Winslow here?” she asked hopefully.
“Alas, no,” he replied solemnly. “Her father had to have surgery, just a minor thing, but they were both uncomfortable with the idea of not going to sit with him.”
“That’s like Peg,” she said softly, and smiled. “She’s such a sweet person.”
“She thinks quite highly of you, as well, as does her husband. And El General, of course,” he added with a chuckle.
“Where is the general?” she wondered.
He nodded his head toward where a tall, distinguished Latin man in a dinner jacket towered over a tall brunette in a striking blue gown.
“It’s Maddie!” she exclaimed. “She treated Eduardo Boas, who was shot before I was kidnapped.”
“Yes. She and the general are, I believe, getting married soon,” he whispered, laughing at her delighted smile. “But you must not mention this. I am not supposed to know.”
She smiled up at him. “I know absolutely nothing. I swear,” she added facetiously.
“Not true, Tat. You’re plenty smart enough,” came a deep, husky voice from behind her.
Her blood froze. Her heart started doing the tango. She didn’t want to turn around. She hadn’t dreamed that he’d show up.
“Señor Rourke will escort you to where the others are gathered backstage,” he said, nodding and bowing. Then he deserted her.
“Aren’t you going to turn around, Tat?” he asked very softly.
She took a deep breath and faced him. He looked different. She couldn’t understand why at first. Then she realized it was because his hair was short. He’d cut his hair. She wondered why. It had been in that long ponytail for years.
“Hello, Stanton,” she said quietly. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”