Shoulda Been A Cowboy (30 page)

“
Yes! But I don't want him temporarily. I
want him permanently.”

“
I know. You can have him if you marry me.”

She gaped at him. “Us? Married? But…I
thought we'd break things off now that everything in my life
has changed.”

Don't bite her head off for thinking so lowly
of you.
“Domini. I'm not the kind
of man who bails when things get tough. You should know that.”

“
But married? Us? Really?”

“
Do you have a better solution?”

“
Umm. No.”

Was that hope or panic glazing her eyes?

“
You'd do that for me, Cam?”

I'd do anything for you.
“Look, I know you've sworn to never get married. Neither
of us envisioned this kind of scenario. So this solution makes
perfect sense for a situation that was thrust on you. If you marry
me, you get to keep Anton.”

“
Would this be temporary?”

Fuck no. It's for good, it's for real,
it's forever and ever amen.
“Is
the thought of marrying me, even for a little while, so awful?”
he asked softly.

Domini shook her head.

“
Then marry me.”

She stared at him, a million questions in her eyes.
“Will anyone know the real reason we're getting married?”

“
No. We'll keep it strictly between us.”

“
Why are you doing this?”

Because I love you. Because you'll think I'm
being selfless. Because by giving you the one thing you want so
badly, Anton, I get the only thing I want: you.

“
Cam?”

He cleared the emotion from his throat and told a
bald-faced lie. “Because it's the right thing to do.”

Domini didn't smile. She didn't fling
herself into his arms. She didn't happily shriek the word…
yes
.

Sweat broke out under his collar. Cam figured the lie
was about to bite him in the ass. If he confessed the truth, shouting
his love for her to the rafters, would that sway her to say yes? Or
scare her into saying no?

“
So what's your answer, princess?”

“
Yes, I'll marry you.”

Cam could've floated out of the room.

When Ginger returned, Cam announced, “We're
getting married as soon as possible.”

“
Congratulations!” Ginger beamed at both of
them. “However, the courthouse is closed today.”

“
Tomorrow then,” Cam insisted.

Domini's face went pasty white.

“
After I receive confirmation of the marriage,
I'll file a rebuttal with the Department of Social Services,
requesting Anton DeMarco immediately be placed in the foster care of
Cameron and Domini McKay.” Ginger grinned again. “I do so
love a happy ending.”

Cam wondered if Ginger's happiness stemmed from
figuring out a way to buck the legal system. Lawyers got off on shit
like that all the time.

“
Stick around Wyoming the next couple of weeks
until we're through the preliminary foster care assignment
process. Then you can jet off for a romantic honeymoon.”

“
Understood. Thanks.”

Cam helped Domini to her feet. She seemed to be having a
hard time functioning.

Not Cam. Cam felt like doing a jig.

 

Domini wobbled to Cam's truck on jelly-like legs.

Domini and I will get married. Today.

She'd almost passed out hearing Cam's
matter-of-fact tone. Like it was no big deal. Like it was already a
done deal.

By this time tomorrow Cam McKay would be her husband.

Unreal.

She sagged against the front bumper of his truck,
twisting the necklace chain around her finger. As soon as they'd
walked out the door, Cam's cell phone rang with police business
and he instructed her to wait for him. So, they'd had no chance
to discuss this bizarre development.

What was she supposed to say to him anyway? Ask him why
he was suddenly willing to take on the responsibility of a wife and a
child? A child he didn't know?

It made zero sense. Why was he volunteering to turn his
life upside down? Cam loved his privacy. He loved living by himself
to the point his own family was rarely welcomed into his sanctuary.
Why would Cam offer to open his home and his life not only her, but
to a rambunctious boy with emotional scars?

Sex. Pure and simple.

It might've been different if Cam had confessed
his undying love for her. But he hadn't. He'd merely
resigned himself to doing the right thing.

When Domini asked him if the marriage was temporary,
he'd hedged. So maybe Cam wasn't treating this as a
lifetime vow. Maybe the spectacular sex was enough incentive to keep
up the appearance of a real marriage for a while. But once she
started the adoption process, his “do the right thing”
mission would be successful and he'd be free to move on.

If that was the case, then there was no reason to tell
Cam anything about her medical issues because it wouldn't
matter. She'd be his wife for as long as it took her to adopt
Anton.

Now that made perfect sense. She'd consider this a
business arrangement. She'd keep her finances separate. Keep
her job. Keep everything simple.

Domini just had to keep herself from falling in love
with him.

A Cam-sized shadow fell over her. “Sorry about
that. I traded with Sayzers to get the next two days off.” He
touched her face and offered a dazzling smile. “The ceremony is
one o'clock tomorrow afternoon.”

Ask him why he's doing this. Force him to give
you a real reason.

But Domini couldn't get her tongue unstuck from
the roof of her mouth.

“
Talk to me, princess. The look on your face is
scaring the holy hell outta me.”

“
I-I can't…” White specks
wavered in front of her eyes. She couldn't suck enough air into
her lungs. Blood whooshed in her ears. Her heart threatened to beat
out of her chest.

Oh God. Please, not now.

“
Domini? Baby, what's wrong?”

“
I can't breathe.” She flapped her
hand in front of her face as if that would help.

“
Shit.” Cam hauled her to her feet. He put
his palms over her ears and tipped her head to look directly into her
eyes. “Breathe with me. Nice and slow, okay?”

Below her line of vision, she could see his chest expand
as he inhaled. She followed his lead.
In. Out.
In. Out.

“
Good. Three more. Come on, you're doin'
great.”

Finally, she felt calmer, but she was still embarrassed.
She focused on the placket of his uniform shirt and tried to blink
the tears back. “Sorry.”

“
Don't apologize.” Cam kept stroking
the side of her face. “Should I be worried you had a panic
attack at the thought of marrying me?”

Domini's gaze flew to his. “No! It's
not you! It's me. This happens when I'm stressed and I
can't remember ever being more stressed in my life. I want
Anton, but what do I know about raising him? Babysitting isn't
the same as living with him every day for the next eleven years. What
if I'm not the best choice? And then you offer to marry me,
which you've got to admit—”

“
Hey now. Relax.” His hands tightened on her
scalp. “No reason to get worked up again. Breathe.”

She concentrated on breathing slowly.

“
Does this happen often, princess?”

“
Not as much as it used to.” Her eyes
searched his. “I'm not exactly a prize, Cam. I have
issues and baggage and…damage that I don't know if I'll
ever get over.”

“
I have plenty of my own issues, most of which
you've already seen and dealt with, so I think that makes us
pretty evenly matched.” He wiped a tear from the corner of her
eye. “So are you feeling calmer now?”

“
No! I am getting married tomorrow! I don't
have a wedding dress. My best friend is dead and I don't have
anyone else to talk to. I don't have a clue if I'm
supposed to pack everything tonight. Are we moving in with you right
away? Do you want me to tell Anton we're getting married, or
should we do it together? And who all is coming to the wedding? What
about the other legal stuff? We hardly discussed that with Ginger—”

Cam placed his finger over her mouth, stopping her
tirade. “You can really work up a head of steam, can't
you?” He traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “One
thing at a time. You and Anton will be living with me as soon as we
exchange I do's. You can tell him the happy news because I'll
be wrapping up a few things at my place tonight to get ready for you
to move in.

“
As far as the ceremony? You and me are the only
ones who matter. We'll need witnesses and I'd like Colt
to stand up for me. I can talk to Keely and see if she'll help
you figure out some of the girly stuff since she's been through
a dozen weddings.”

“
But—”

“
Ah-ah. I ain't done. Now, what haven't
we addressed as far as legal issues?”

“
I think we should have a prenuptial agreement.”

Cam's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Why?”

“
Because I don't want your money if this
doesn't work out. I will want sole custody of Anton and I won't
expect you to pay child support for him. And Skylar mentioned legal
issues Jessie's dealing with, as far as Luke's stake in
the McKay Ranch—”

“
Forget it. None of that shit matters. We'll
figure it out as we go along.” Cam leaned in so they were nose
to nose. “You are changing your name.”

Not a question.

“
You think I want to keep Katzinski?”

Cam granted her the slow, sexy smile that turned her
knees weak. “Now that we've got that settled…”
He kissed her. Lord did he ever kiss her.

After he released her mouth, he nuzzled her cheek, her
hair, her neck. “Domini, I…”

“
What?” she whispered, feeling the urgency
in his tone.

“
I-I've gotta go.” His breath drifted
across her ear. “I'll call you later and I'll see
you at the courthouse tomorrow.”

Cam smooched her forehead and climbed in his truck.

Evidently what he'd meant to say hadn't been
so urgent after all.

 

Cam had chickened out telling Domini he loved her and
none of the legal stuff mattered because their marriage would be real
in every sense of the word.

It'd been hard seeing her caught off balance,
seeing her struggle. She wasn't sure of anything.

But Cam had never been more sure of anything in his
life.

His first call was to his sister. “Hey Keely, I
need your help.”

“
Big surprise.”

“
Seriously. This is important. Can you keep a
secret?”

A beat passed. “I'll keep your secret if you
forget what you saw at Colt and Indy's wedding reception and we
never ever
ever
bring
it up again.”

He frowned. “You haven't talked to him about
it?”

“
No! I hate him!
Hate him
,
understand? And if I ever see that smug, self-serving, self-righteous
prick again, I'll cut off his limp—”

“
Okay, okay, I get it. So, if you help me, I will
erase my memory of the incident in question.”

“
Deal. What's up?”

“
Domini and I are getting married tomorrow.”
Cam grinned like a loon. He couldn't help it. By this time
tomorrow that Ukrainian princess would be his. His wife. In his bed
every night. Forever.

Keely squealed. “Get out! That is so awesome.”
She went quiet. “Dammit, Cam, you're not telling anyone
else in the family, are you?”

“
Nope. Well, I'm gonna ask Colt to stand up
for me at the courthouse. Which means Indy will know.”

“
Why the big secret?”

“
The McKay family can be overwhelming. With Luke's
death, and what Domini is going through after Nadia's death,
and dealing with Anton…we decided to keep it simple.”

“
Who's standing up for Domini?”

“
Umm. I don't know. I don't think she
knows.”

“
Oh, pick me, pick me! I couldn't stand it
if I didn't get to be in your wedding, Cam. Please?”

“
That's Domini's choice. If you get
over to her place right away and help her, she'll probably pick
you. She was kinda freaked out, to be honest. She doesn't have
a dress or flowers, and the rest of that girly crap I don't
know nothin' about.”