Authors: Sandra S. Kerns

A Daring Proposal (26 page)

“Really,” he said, placing a quick kiss on her lips for emphasis. “We live here, but you run your ranch and I’ll help Dale with his.”

He had thought that compromise would make her happy. The look in her eyes said she had a different idea. He really didn’t want her to feel she had to give up her father’s ranch after all they had been through to keep it. Not to mention the fact that now she knew her father had believed in her ability to run it. Then he noticed the impish twist to her lips. Something was definitely up, but he relaxed knowing that grin was positive, not negative.

“How about we combine them and then we won’t have to worry about competing against each other?”

God, he loved this woman. “I think that can be arranged.”

All right, the business part was settled. He even believed she loved him, especially since she was willing to give up the ranch. However, having survived a bad marriage once, he had to
be certain she understood him.

“You do understand that means we will be working together as well as living together and raising the children, right?”

“It would be kind of strange if we weren’t living together,” she said with a laugh.

Jed smiled but then gazed determinedly into her eyes. “I mean it, Chaney. It won’t be easy. Living together is hard enough. Granted, loving each other helps, but it’s still not a Sunday picnic; and kids, well, to say we were brought up in different ways is putting it mildly. There will be times when we disagree about how we should ha
ndle things with the girls.

“Then when we add working together on top of all that,” he finally stopped. He took a deep breath and released it. In silence, Chaney held his gaze through it all. She didn’t interrupt, just focused on him, and waited. “I need to know you’re sure about it. Because this time I want it all. The good and bad, now and forever, it’s all or nothing. I can’t accept anything else.”

Chaney smiled up at him. When his eyes changed from happy and passionate to serious, all her fears came rushing back. As he spoke, she saw another glimpse of the lonely Jed she had met so many years ago. The sad but determined Jed who would fight for anyone he cared about, but never ask anything in return. He had finally learned to ask. That fact had her feeling honored as well as loved. God, she loved this man.

Standing on tiptoe, she snaked her arm around his neck, pulling his head down so her lips were against his ear. She smiled then whispered, “I dare you to try and get rid of me.
”

He turned his head and took her mouth in a toe-curling kiss. Hmmm, she loved his kisses.

When they broke apart, she held his gaze.

Jed grinned. “That’s one dare I don’t plan on taking. In fact, I think I’ll do everything
I can to keep you right here.”

The End

Author’s Note

***

Dear Reader,

***

I hope you enjoyed the ride with Jed Sampson and Chaney McBride through
A Daring Proposal.
I truly enjoyed writing their adventure under the Colorado sky. The next story in the Colorado Dreams and Desires series will be out in January of 2014. Although
A Daring Proposal
took place in the wide open spaces of Colorado,
Gathering Clouds
will be in the city. Claire James will show you the constant struggle to keep her restaurant open, while Theo DeLeon tries to adjust to life outside of prison.

In
Gathering Clouds
, Theo
wants nothing more than to find a job and live quietly. For him, unfortunately, Claire’s head chef walked out and she needs a new one fast. Keeping the restaurant that has been in her family for more than fifty years depends on it.
Gathering Clouds
is a delicious tale with a lot more action than just chopping onions. I hope you will enjoy it.

Until
Gathering Clouds
is available, you could check out the
Masters Men
series and follow the exploits of the Masters’ family in a small Colorado town.
If you like a little more suspense, you could look into the
Colorado Skies
series and follow Janine Chase as she looks for her
Dream Stalker
; visit the Wild Rose Bar and Grill in
Rose of Steele
; or hike through
Callaghan’s Conundrum
in search of the secrets Rina Stok
es is keeping.

As always, I wish you happy reading.

Sandra

Wait
- did you miss
Dream Stalker
,
the start of the other Colorado series? Turn the page for an excerpt.

Dream Stalker

Eddie stood silently absorbing the hushed sounds of the darkness around him. To some, if anyone were up at this early hour, it might appear as if he were giving thanks to the heavens. He felt a grin pull at his mouth because they wouldn’t be that far from the truth. Other than being a little chilly for him, he favored this time of day. In these early hours of the morning there were no noisy people in his way and no damned glaring Colorado sunshine blinding him. Nothing interrupted him as he prepared for the task ahead. Even the old brick building in downtown Pinecrest seemed to pause with him, as if gearing up for the attention it would soon draw.

The early morning air whispered around him, tossing the tails of his trench coat. The flapping of them around his knees changed the grin to an uncharacteristic smile. He hadn’t felt this positive in two years. Even the recent missions hadn’t held such an optimistic feel. He tipped his head back and stared up at the dark, star-strewn sky. Pinecrest, Colorado didn’t have as many street lights as other cities, which made it easier, even downtown, to appreciate the number of stars above. Eddie closed his eyes and drew all the positive power of the night’s quiet comfort deep inside. Pulling his gloved hand from his pocket, he pushed the button on the panel next to the old building’s door. A woman’s wary voice came over the speaker.

“Who is it?”

“Eddie Craven, Ms. Tibbets. I called earlier. I have the information you wanted,” he spoke into the intercom, jumping when the obnoxious buzzer released the door’s lock. All the calming effects of the previous moments disappeared. He hated the sign of weakness. In his frustration, he yanked open the door with more force than necessary.

Once inside the dark stairwell, Eddie flexed his hands several times to cool the rush of anger. It wouldn’t do to hurry this through and miss all the satisfaction because of a stupid buzzer. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Yes, there, that was better. He took hold of the railing and paused to let the coolness of the metal penetrate the thin leather covering his hand before he started up the steps.

Eddie looked up at the landing. An apartment door stood ajar, light spilling out. He squinted. He hated bright light and the pain it brought to his sensitive eyes. The constant sunshine, especially in the summer months, was one of the reasons he had enjoyed missions outside of Colorado. The other . . . memories. Pinecrest was much too close to the worst of them. His abandonment, the group home, the pain, the . . .

He needed to stop the negative direction of his thoughts. He reminded himself how easy this particular mission had been. He would have to use this ruse again. Posing as a PI who specialized in finding children given up for adoption had worked like a charm. He shook his head remembering how Ms. Tibbets had pleaded with him for his help. It worked as well as when he’d worn the cleric’s collar. The memory of wearing it while he sat across the table from the cop in Philadelphia washed over Eddie. People always trusted a man of religion. The desperate were always so gullible, and Detective Dawson had definitely been desperate.

The door at the landing opened further, sending more light flooding downward. The added glare forced him to put on his tinted glasses. Another weakness he had to accept, but getting a headache would ruin the satisfaction of completing his task.

“Did you find her?” Ms. Tibbets called down from above in a voice full of hope.

“That’s what you paid me for, isn’t it?” he asked and smiled the innocent, generous smile he’d mastered over the years. Yes, he would definitely have to use this ploy again. Payment for his mission was a bonus he hadn’t experienced.

“I can’t believe it,” she said waving her arm toward him. “Come in, come in.”

He stepped onto the landing and felt the first wave of triumph. It was followed by another feeling, one Eddie couldn’t identify, but knew he’d felt before. He tried to classify it, but it evaporated before he could. Shaking it off, he focused on the task at hand.

“I know you’re anxious, but could I ask a favor?” He smiled and tilted his head in an apologetic manner.

“Of course, what can I do for you?”

“I’ve been up most of the night verifying information. Could I trouble you for a cup of tea, and maybe a little less light? My eyes are tired from staring at the computer for so long.”

“Yes, yes.” She twisted the button on the wall and the light dimmed considerably. After she filled the kettle and set it on the burner, she turned back to Eddie. “It won’t take but a minute for the water to heat. Can I get you a cookie or something to go with it? It’d be no trouble. I’m so grateful for all you’ve done.”

Eddie smiled again, but shook his head no. “May I sit?” He motioned toward the kitchen table and chairs.

“Of course, yes, I’m sorry. I’m just so excited I’m not thinking straight.”

Her nervous laughter sent another wave of triumphant adrenaline through his bloodstream. So hopeful, so pitiful, so repulsive. Why the Lord had put her on this earth, Eddie couldn’t imagine. It also didn’t matter. All that mattered was He wanted Eddie to get rid of her.

“You’re doing fine,” he told her in his practiced, patronizing tone.

“Tell me, where is she?”

“Let’s wait for the tea. I want your full attention when I give you the news.”

He watched as she turned back to face the stove. The nervous energy vibrating through her body was apparent by her weight shifting from one foot to the other and the way she kept wringing her hands. She glanced back at him, as steam escaping the kettle’s spout flushed her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Her ever increasing anxiety fueled his enthusiasm for the moments ahead. His recent missions hadn’t held this kind of excitement. Not in years. Not since – no, he couldn’t think about Mary. He had to stay centered. Reaching in his breast pocket again, he poked the tip of one of the hatpins there into his palm. Eddie closed his eyes as he increased the pressure. Finally, the pain disappeared and focus returned. When he opened his eyes, Ms. Tibbets carried two cups from the stove to the table.

She sat across from him and blew across the hot water before dumping two heaping spoonfuls of sugar in her cup. Because her hands were shaking some of the sugar ended up on the table. Eddie grinned as she brushed the spilled sugar into her hand with a sheepish glance at him. He shook his head when she pushed the sugar bowl across the table.

“No, thank you, but maybe I will take you up on a little something to nibble on.”

“Certainly,” she said, and quickly stood to do as he requested.

Eddie had slipped a small vial from his pocket after re-focusing himself with the hatpin. When she turned to get the snack, he reached across the table and poured the contents of the vial into her cup. There was no need to stir; it wouldn’t matter if she tasted it. He had been careful to make it potent enough to take effect almost immediately. As Ms. Tibbets returned to the table with an open package of cookies, he took off his glasses and put them in his pocket along with the empty vial.

“Thank you,” he said, taking a cookie but not biting into it. The number of chemicals in processed food turned his stomach. And Eddie knew chemicals. He spent hours perfecting the formulas he used for his missions. He may not have gone to college, but he was smarter than most PhD’s and a genius when it came to chemistry.

“Now, about your daughter,” he said. Tea spilled over the edge of her cup onto the table as he spoke. The irritation that he would have to clean it up before leaving was a mere blip in his thoughts as he enjoyed toying with her.

She glanced at him over the top of the cup and took another sip before setting it on the table. Her brow wrinkled, and she glanced down at the cup before wrapping her hands around it and looking back at him.

Eddie smiled when her eyes met his. Not the soft, so sorry smile he’d used earlier. He knew this one revealed every ounce of superiority he had over her. Renewed energy zinged through his bloodstream as her gaze turned to a panicked stare.

“Is something wrong?” He knew she wouldn’t answer, it was already too late. The poison had taken effect.

Fear widened her eyes and replaced the earlier hope. The tears would come later when she realized the truth. These low lifes were so pathetic. Desperate to right the wrongs they had committed, and too dumb to know they couldn’t.

No, that was his job, meting out justice for the forgotten. The rush he got from each mission was a bonus.

“You know, Ms. Tibbets, you should have been more careful who you shared your life story with. Who you trusted with your most intimate secrets.” He shook his head and cast a pity filled frown.

Terror now showed bright in her eyes. For a moment, Eddie stared back, and then closed his eyes. The warmth of success flowed through him like a transfusion, renewing his soul. When he opened his eyes, he tilted his head and grinned. “Before we deal with your sins, though, let me help you clean up this mess you’ve made.”

He felt her eyes follow his movements as far as they could. She probably wondered when he was going to sneak up behind her and slice her throat with a knife. But that kind of drama was beneath him. It was also messy, and Eddie hated messes.

Eddie prided himself on his ability to follow his plan without getting caught up in the excitement.

***

The first three books
in the

Colorado Skies series are
available.

***

Dream Stalker

Rose
of Steele

Callaghan’s Conundrum

Coming soon -
The Butterfly Connection

More titles by Sandra S. Kerns

The Masters Men Series

Her Master Defender