I really didn’t think I could love him more than I already did, but that did it.
I dropped, slowly, I mean I was nine months pregnant, to the ground on one knee.
Jaxon dropped with me. “Babe, what’s wrong?”
“Um, Jaxon, please stand up. I’m fine. Just give me a minute.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. I reached up and grabbed his hand. “Jaxon, I love you. I have a question to ask you. I was wondering...would you be interested in being my pierced, tattooed knight in shining armor for the rest of our lives?”
With those words, I pressed a shield charm into his hand. With the initials “J” and “L” engraved on it. “I thought that would be a good addition to my bracelet.”
Jaxon pulled me to my feet. “Babe, don’t you know by now. My answer to you is yes, it’s always yes.” He kissed me, a long, sweet, loving kiss that told me that everything was going to be okay. We were meant to be.
And that is how my destiny was changed forever.
Look for Cade’s Story Coming Summer 2013
Destined to Succeed
Prologue
Cade – Six months ago
That was that. I wasn’t the daddy. I was so damn sure that baby was mine. I was already picturing us on the ranch. Her ridin’ horses and me teaching her how to be a real little cowgirl. Lor had shattered that dream when she knocked on the door that day.
I could tell she had been cryin’. Her eyes were all red and her cheeks were tear stained. I opened the door, and I just knew. I knew what she was about to tell me.
“Hon, it’s okay. I can tell by the look on your face, what you’re about to tell me. I’ll be gettin’ outta your hair, now.” I started to turn and walk away. I couldn’t help the tear that was streaming down my cheek. Damn, I wanted that baby to be mine. More than anything in this world. I knew I had lost her momma, but I was hopin’…well, it didn’t matter what I was hopin’. It wasn’t gonna happen now.
“Cade, I’m so sorry. I know how much you wanted it to be yours.” Lor started to cry again.
“Hon, I know you’re happy that it ain’t mine, so quit your cryin’ and go on home to asshat.” I said with a chuckle. I was tryin’ to tease her. To make her smile. And she did. She gave me a very small, sad smile. Then she turned and walked away. That was that.
Present
Goddamn, I was tired. It had been a hell of a day on the ranch. It was birthing season and we had the vet out all day. That was gonna cost a small fortune, but it was worth it when you saw those new calves and foals bein’ brought into the world. I was sore. I was getting’ too old for this shit. All I had been able to think about all day, was getting’ home, takin’ a shower, and crawling into bed.
When I walked around the front of my house, I saw Clay’s truck parked out front. What the hell was he doin’ at my place. He was screwin’ up my plans.
I walked in the living room, hung my Stetson on the hat rack, and that’s when I heard it. That fuckin’ little bastard.
I flung the door to my room open. There he was. Screwing that little blonde hussy, Ana. What the fuck?
“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me, right now?” I hollered as I ran toward the bed.
“Get the fuck out man. Can’t you see I’m a little busy?” He didn’t even stop what he was doin’ to say that. I grabbed him by the hair of the head and pulled him off of her.
“You. Get the hell out.” Normally, I wouldn’t have talked to a woman like that. But this chick was a pain in my ass. She was only screwin’ Clay to get to me. She had tried everything in the world to hook up with me. It wasn’t gonna happen. So, now she had moved onto him. I’m sure she was thinkin’ about me the whole time. It was probably her idea to do it in my house, and my bed.
“Cade, baby.” Ana said, biting her lip seductively. Then she curled her finger at me. “Join us?”
“You have got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me…can you not take a hint. I will never screw you. You are not what I’m looking for.” I was looking for a wife. Not some cheep ass floozy that just wanted to screw me to get my ranch.
“Ya’ll have five minutes to get your shit and get the fuck out of my house. Tick-tock.” I started toward the kitchen. I needed a beer. I grabbed a cold one out of the fridge and took a seat at the table.
All of a sudden I heard the front door slam and said a little thank you that they were gone. They weren’t. I looked up and my cousin Cord was standing in the doorway.
“I need one of those too. Had a hell of a day,” he said as he grabbed a beer out of the fridge and took a seat across from me at the table.
“You and your damn brother seem to think this is your house.”
“Well, it kinda is, right? I mean you’re like our brother. Mi casa, su casa?” He grinned and continued to suck down my beer.
“Why was your day so hard? Have a hard time pickin’ out your tie?” I loved to give him a hard time. He was the only one in our family that had a job. Meaning, he didn’t work on the ranch. He was a lawyer. I always knew he would make somethin’ of himself. Now, that brother of
