Part 39 (1/2)

His cousins could do whatever they d.a.m.n well pleased-they always had-but Steven was through wasting time. He was through waiting and hoping, and being scared of getting things wrong. He knew what he wanted, and he meant to get it. Soon.

MELISSA TOOK S STEVEN'S HAND when he sat down beside her in the bleachers, his face still flushed with temper. ”Where's Conner?” she asked, whispering because even though Matt had moved up a few rows to sit with his buddy, Mac, she didn't want to take the smallest chance of his overhearing. when he sat down beside her in the bleachers, his face still flushed with temper. ”Where's Conner?” she asked, whispering because even though Matt had moved up a few rows to sit with his buddy, Mac, she didn't want to take the smallest chance of his overhearing.

”I don't know,” Steven said coldly, ”and I don't care.”

”I don't believe that,” Melissa said.

His shoulders, tense before, loosened a little as she reached up to rub Steven's back with her palm. He gave her a sideways glance and grinned, albeit wanly.

”I love you,” he said softly.

She smiled. ”Well, that's convenient, cowboy, because I love you right back.”

”I wish we could leave-right now.”

Her eyes sparkled. ”And miss the rodeo? Sacrilege! Besides, my sisters and Meg would know exactly exactly what we were up to.” what we were up to.”

”I'm thinking they know already,” Steven pointed out.

”Let me stay in denial as long as I can,” Melissa said.

Steven laughed, and she laid her head against his shoulder for a moment, and he forgot, at least for the time being, what it meant to be unhappy, or lonesome, or scared.

All he felt then was a quiet joy, the kind that weathers every kind of sorrow, the kind that lasts.

Forever.

”Will you marry me?” he asked quietly, his hand tightening around hers.

She smiled sweetly. ”Eventually,” she answered.

And Steven kissed her, right there in the stands at the Stone Creek Rodeo, in front of G.o.d and everybody.

Let 'em look, he thought. he thought.

EPILOGUE.

One year later...

MELISSA AWOKE TO S STEVEN'S KISS, and his hand moving gently over her pregnancy-distended belly. The birth was still two months away, and she could feel their twin sons moving within her, wondered if they were already at odds, like Conner and Brody. and his hand moving gently over her pregnancy-distended belly. The birth was still two months away, and she could feel their twin sons moving within her, wondered if they were already at odds, like Conner and Brody.

After the rodeo, Steven's hardheaded cousins had gone their separate ways-again.

Conner returned to the ranch up at Lonesome Bend, as did Davis and Kim.

n.o.body knew for sure where Brody had gone. He'd been conspicuously absent from the wedding, held in Ashley and Jack's s.p.a.cious front room at the B&B, barely three months after Steven and Melissa had first met. Even though it had been a wonderful, happy day, Melissa knew Steven missed having Brody there.

Now, Steven's hand was moving lower on her belly.

Melissa caught hold of it and stopped his progress, which would inevitably lead to serious delay. Also, alas, serious pleasure. pleasure. They didn't make love in the usual manner these days, since she was well along with the twins, but Steven had his ways. Oh, yes, he definitely had his ways. They didn't make love in the usual manner these days, since she was well along with the twins, but Steven had his ways. Oh, yes, he definitely had his ways.

”There's a wedding today, remember?” she said. ”And it starts starts at noon.” at noon.”

Tom Parker and Tessa Quinn were finally tying the knot, in the First Congregational Church, and the whole town was thrilled. Like her sisters and Meg, Melissa was involved in the preparations.

They still had crepe-paper streamers to hang in the reception hall, and folding chairs to set up, and programs to fold for the special service preceding the wedding itself. There was simply no time to waste.

Steven caressed her.

Melissa moaned. ”Steven Creed,” she murmured.

”What, Melissa Creed?” he asked.

”You know d.a.m.n well I can't resist you when you do that-”

He chuckled, the sound throaty and innately masculine, and kissed her neck. And he intensified his efforts.

”Think of it this way,” he murmured, against her flesh, already kissing his way down her body. ”You'll be glowing with-happiness-”

Melissa groaned. ”Steven-” ”Steven-”

He kissed her belly, one hand playing gently with her breast, the other parting her, preparing her for pleasure.

”Do you want me to stop?” he asked.