A Cowboy's Christmas Promise (27 page)
Read A Cowboy's Christmas Promise Online
Authors: Maggie McGinnis
“I can't believe you asked the deejay to play the entire
Nashville's Next Idol
soundtrack tonight.” Hayley leaned against the gazebo railing, smiling up at Daniel.
“Well, can you think of better music for your birthday party? If we hadn't bet on that show, you might never have come back out here for Christmas last year.”
“Does this mean you're actually starting to like country music?”
“Nope.” He gathered her into his arms. “But I happen to like
you
an awful lot, and
you
like country music.”
She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I happen to like you an awful lot as well, doc.”
His eyes grew serious again as he slid his hands up her arms and stroked her jaw with his thumbs. “I'm really glad you decided to give up the pampered pets of Boston and come out here to live in Big Sky.”
She brushed off a snowflake that had landed on his cheek. “If I'd known my aunt was so desperate to send my uncle back to work, I might have done it sooner.”
Daniel paused for a long, long moment, just looking into her eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, smooth, oh-so-intimate.
“Do you remember those eighteen voice mails you left me a year ago?”
Hayley ducked her head. “Please don't remind me.”
“I saved them.”
“You did not.”
“Yeah. I did.” He smiled as he stroked her cheeks, which were probably flushing with embarrassment right now. “I figured I could haul them out and play them for you if you got skittish and tried to leave again.”
“Hasn't happened yet.” Hayley sighed and closed her eyes, drinking in the sensation of his fingertips playing against her skin.
“I'm really hoping it never will.” Her eyes popped open as his voice changed from teasing to serious. “Hayley? I know you really love your Whisper Creek cabin and all, but I'd really love it if you'd think more about coming to live with me and the girls.”
“But my claw-foot tubâ” Hayley smiled.
His eyes grew smoky. “I will make you a bubble bath every nightâone good enough to make you forget you ever had a claw-foot tub.”
“Wow. That'd beâwow.” She pretended to ponder, like she hadn't been hoping for this question for months now. Of course she'd love to live with him. But they also needed to consider the girls, and what message it would send.
“So I asked the girls what they thought about this.”
Oh. Eek.
“Before you asked
me
?” He nodded, rolling his eyes. “And what did they say?”
“Theyâ¦well, they actually didn't think it was a great idea.”
Hayley's stomach clenched.
Really? After all this time? It didn't make sense.
Daniel lifted her chin. “They didn't want me to ask you to live with us. They want me to ask you to marry me.”
“Oh.” She gulped.
“Oh.”
Before she could get in another breath, Daniel went down on one knee and reached into his jacket pocket. “They also made me promise to do it like a prince.”
Hayley laughed, her head buzzing, her fingers shaking.
He took her hand in his and looked up at her with those impossibly deep green eyes.
“Hayley, will you marry me? Will you be my princess?”
She paused, drinking in the sound of the burbling creek, the glow of the tiny lights, the smell of newly fallen snow mixed with Daniel's spicy aftershave. Then she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
“Yes. I will definitely be your princess.”
She watched as he slid a sparkling diamond onto her finger, then squeaked as he stood up and lifted her off her feet, kissing her as he walked over to one of the gazebo benches. He sat down, keeping her on his lap, burying his hands in her hair as their tongues tangled and their bodies heated with now-familiar passion.
Finally, he pulled back, cradling her jaw in his hands.
“I need to show you something.”
“Right now?”
He pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of his jacket, unfolding it and smoothing out the creases nervously. “I've been trying to find the right time to give you this all night, but it never happened.”
“Okay?” Hayley's stomach fluttered nervously.
“IâI took the liberty of doing something without your knowledge, but I'm really hoping you'll be okay with it.”
She crossed her arms over her stomach. What in the world?
He took a deep breath, then handed it to her, his fingers unsteady.
“What is it?”
“Just look.”
Hayley looked down at the paper, which had two grainy pictures that looked like yearbook photos. Beside the photos were names that made her inhale sharply, then cover her mouth with her hand.
She looked up in disbelief, and he nodded.
“You found them?” She traced her fingers over the names, the faces. “You
found
them?”
“Well, in actuality, I found someone who found them.”
“Omigod, Daniel. Oh. My. God.” She felt tears running down her face as she pulled the piece of paper closer, trying to make out Celia's and Izzy's features from the grainy photos. “Oh, God. They're beautiful. They're so old! They'reâoh, Lordâthey're them.”
“They look just like you.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do.”
She hugged him tightly. “I can't believe this. Where are they?”
“Believe it or not, they're in Denver.”
“Do theyâdo you think they even know I exist?”
He nodded, smiling slowly as he pointed at the paper. “Read what Celia put in her yearbook.”
Hayley looked at the paper again, first reading through Celia's entry. Field hockey, alpine ski team, National Honor Society, drama, thanks to Mr. Bertram and Ms. Gillespie, and shout-outs to the Can-Can Crew, whatever that was. The last sentence, though, made her fingers fly to her mouth again.
Special love to big sis Hayleyâwherever you are.
“Do they know you found them?”
“No. I only got news of this yesterday. I wanted you to decide what to do now.”
Hayley stood up, pacing quickly across the gazebo. “We have to go to Denver.”
“I figured you'd say that.” Daniel reached into his inside pocket and extracted another piece of paper, which he handed over as she came back toward him.
Hayley laughed as she opened it. “You bought me a ticket. Again.”
“It worked the first time. But this time I bought
us
tickets. We leave in the morning.”
She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, making him laugh.
“See, Scampini? I can still surprise you.”
“I love you so much I can barely believe it right now.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked playfully into her eyes. “How much do you love me?”
“This much?” She put her arms out wide, but he tickled her ribs.
“How much? Come on. Let's practice this for the wedding.”
Hayley rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the grin from overtaking her face.
He raised his eyebrows, squeezing her ribs until she giggled. “How much do you love me, Hayley Scampini?”
“Okay, okay. Uncle.” She linked her fingers with his, placing a soft kiss on his lips. “I love youâforeverâand happily ever after.”
For Fave and Schmo, whose beautiful, precious love will inspire every hero and heroine I'll ever write.
Huge thanks go first to my amazing agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan. I love you more with every book.
To Sue Grimshaw and the entire Loveswept teamâthank you so much for making Whisper Creek a reality! I am a lucky, lucky author to call Loveswept home.
To my critique partner and dear friend, Jennifer Brodieâyou continue to inspire and amaze me with your strength and optimism. We will be popping many corks.
To the Bartlett Bunniesâbecause, quite simply, you are the stuff awesome is made of.
And lastly, but most importantly, to my family. You are why I am.
Y
M
AGGIE
M
C
G
INNIS
The Whisper Creek Series
Accidental Cowgirl
A Cowboy's Christmas Promise
PHOTO: © GEOFFREY MCLOUGHLIN
M
AGGIE
M
C
G
INNIS
started writing when her twins were infants and she was desperately seeking sanity. The fact that she found it only with imaginary people makes her a bit concerned, but at least they do what she tells them toâ¦usually.
She lives in New England, but spends an inordinate amount of time on Arizona real estate sites in mid-January. While snow piles up to her windowsills, she cyber-stalks the blue skies and pink houses of the Southwest. It's cheaper than therapyâ¦
She used to be an English teacher, a certified black belt, and a cool-car driver. Thenâ¦twins. Now she swills caffeine while driving the one vehicle she swore she'd never own: a minivan. It sort of hurts even to admit it.
Her debut novel, a cozy mystery, was a Golden Heart® finalist, and her debut romance,
Accidental Cowgirl,
is a
USA Today
bestseller!
Maggie-McGinnis