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  “I was thinking,” he replied enthusiastically, “maybe Sam or Frog, or Squint. You picked them, after all. You wouldn’t have brought anyone to this town who wasn’t honorable.”

  “You’re asking me to hang one of my buddies out to dry.”

  Robert smiled. “There’s gold at the end of the rainbow. Maybe one of your friends would think that’s a plus.”

  “I thought you just said you didn’t want anyone in the family who was after your dough.”

  “Those boys aren’t from here. They know nothing about me, to speak of. And besides which, I’m not above trying to sweeten the pot. I just don’t want anyone marrying my daughter who loves my money more than he loves her.”

  “You want the moon. What you’re asking for is going to take matchmaking into a whole new gear.” Ty edged to the door. “It would need skilled manipulation, with maybe even a little miracle or magic on the side.”

  “And you’re the man who came up with the idea to bring a bunch of high-quality bachelors to town to marry off the local population of women, and improve the gene pool. All in an effort to save this town, namely from me.” Robert grinned hugely. “I think I’ve come to the right place for what I need.”

  “This sucks,” Ty said. “I’m not saying I’m helping you.”

  “If you quit the navy, it’ll look like you’re scared of me.”

  “Where did that come from?” Ty stared at the old man. “Does your mind never quit working?”

  “Nope.” He laughed, pleased. “I’m just saying, you need to remember that you’re a hero for this town. Stay a hero. And find my daughter someone just like you. Maybe a little less stubborn, but otherwise the same.”

  “Stubborn comes with the brand. You don’t get a SEAL without a heavy dose of stubborn, old man. Know what you’re getting into.”

  Robert closed his eyes with a smile, and waved a hand majestically to dismiss him.

  Ty rolled his eyes, still stunned that this ornery man could be his father, and departed, disgruntled beyond words.

  All he wanted right now was Jade. It was his wedding day, for crying out loud, and he still hadn’t had the kiss he’d been waiting for.

  * * *

  JADE GASPED WHEN the back door blew open and her husband walked in. “Ty! You scared me!”

  “That is not what a man wants to hear when he returns to his bride’s arms.” He pulled her close, kissing her thoroughly, melting into her. “Oh, God, I missed this.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  She sounded breathless, and that was exactly how he wanted her. “Let’s go have our honeymoon,” Ty said.

  “I think we should talk first, not that I want to talk on my wedding day.” Jade sneaked her arms up his back, pressing him against her. “But in the spirit of the Christmas season, and in the spirit of being a totally honest, up-front bride, we probably should.”

  “And then we kiss. And other things.”

  She laughed. “Lots of other things. Betty’s going to keep the babies, I’ve pumped some milk, and you and I are going away for the night.”

  “Where?” He didn’t care, he just wanted to hold her.

  “Your house for tonight. We’ll stay close in case something comes up with the girls. Not that Mom isn’t totally competent, but just in case. Then—” Jade kissed him more deeply, in a way that started his body sizzling “—Mom’s wedding gift to us is a honeymoon in Paris.”

  “Paris?” He leaned back. “That’s awesome. Expensive, but awesome.”

  Jade smiled, and he wanted to see that smile on her face always. “Apparently, Mom has saved up over the years for my wedding day. She wasn’t counting on me having a home wedding in a post-maternity dress. She said the amount of money she’d put back for a wedding dress alone will cover the airfare.”

  “I love your mom.” Ty was the luckiest man on the planet. “So what are we talking about?”

  “Right now, we’re taking our slices of wedding cake and going to your house. I’m all packed. Mom’s fretting that I don’t have a trousseau or a going-away outfit, and that no one threw birdseed or paper hearts at us, and I didn’t toss a bouquet. Most of all, she’s worried that I don’t have a wedding negligee.”

  “It wouldn’t be on you five seconds. Tell her it was good money saved.”

  “That’s what I told her. But she’s a mom. She’s going to worry. Just like we’re going to worry about our girls.”

  He actually had a lot of worries going on at the moment. “Let’s get you on my white horse, then, and hit the honeymoon trail.”

  “But we talk first. We really, really have to talk, Ty.”

  He knew what this was all about. He would set her mind at ease, and then he was going to make love to her for the entire length of their honeymoon night. He picked up the honeymoon hamper Betty had thoughtfully packed.

  “Let’s go, bride. Talking isn’t exactly my idea of foreplay.”

  She suddenly looked a little sad. “I know. But we really have to talk, because I promised you I wouldn’t keep things from you anymore. And that’s a promise I intend to keep.”

  * * *

  IT WAS THAT last bit that had Ty apprehensive. He didn’t like his wife sounding so worried. He knew they needed to talk. But talking was something they should have done before, and she was right—she’d held things back from him. And he’d held things back from her.

  He couldn’t get a man-pass for that. He was just as guilty. So he took her to his house, opened the door and bent down to scoop her into his arms. “I’m a traditional guy,” he said, and she kissed him.

  “I like being in your arms. You can carry me over this or any other threshold.”

  That sounded better. More like she wasn’t about to tell him to hit the road. He should be grateful if she wanted him to hit the road, because he was going to need a push to leave her behind.

  “Wow,” he said, and she got down from his arms, stunned by the transformation of his house.

  “Yes, wow. Did you let the Christmas elves in?”

  The Christmas tree alone was worthy of a Hollywood fairy tale. In fact, he couldn’t remember how many years it had been since a tree had been in this house, and certainly never decked out like that. It was lovely, with silver and gold balls shining from every branch, reflecting the colors of the lights and the red velvet bows in every ornament. He didn’t know much about decorating, but he could tell a lot of love had gone into the gift in their home.

  “Changes our humble abode significantly, doesn’t it?” Ty said.

  “Humble? You call this house humble?” Jade laughed, and he put his arms around her, taking in the joy of sharing his first real Christmas tree with his brand-spanking-new wife.

  “Oh, look!” Jade crossed to the fireplace mantel, admiring the handmade stockings. “We all have a stocking, including the girls.”

  He grinned hugely. “I probably have my old childhood stocking upstairs someplace, but I have no idea where to find it.”

  “I’ll find it eventually. I’d like to see that.” Jade smiled at him. “I remember when you were just a kid who got in lots of trouble. The sheriff had his hands full with you,” she teased.

  Ty felt slightly remorseful about the fact that he’d been a bit of a handful. “Yeah, I’d do a lot of things differently.”

  “I’m sorry, Ty. I shouldn’t have said that.” Jade hugged him. “Your father loved you so much.”

  “I know. He was a good man. If I’m half the dad he was—”

  “You will be. Now come help me tear up this step.”

  “But we haven’t finished the Christmas tour. And I’m not pulling up that stair. You did an awesome job repairing it.” He had to remember he was the one who’d left his family secrets in her hands. Okay, he hadn’t foreseen those secrets being spill
ed all over Bridesmaids Creek, but actually, it was better to get everything out in the open.

  “Get your tool belt. We are tearing this stair apart. I’m not starting this marriage with any more skeletons waiting to jump out.”

  He did as she asked. “You’re going to freak when you see the kitchen. By the holiday handiwork around here, I’m beginning to suspect your mother, Mackenzie, Suz, Cosette and Jane, at the minimum. They really went all out.”

  “That’s what happens when you’re the town’s favorite son.” Jade took the tool she wanted from his belt, then gazed at him thoughtfully. “You look really hot in that belt. Just so you know.”

  He grinned. “Just so you know, I’ll be happy to put it on anytime for you. Let me do this. I’m the SEAL, remember? I’m supposed to be manly and tough.”

  “Go for it.” Jade got down next to him, watching as he pried the stair apart. “I hope you’re okay with this.”

  “I’m okay with it. I should have manned up in the first place.” He pulled the board off the step, revealing the metal box, just where it had been before.

  “It’s not a matter of manning up. You were leaving for BUD/S. Wasn’t your mind nice and clear when you left?”

  “Not exactly.” He stole a fast kiss from her. “I had a certain redhead on my mind all the time.” Pulling the box free, he sat down with it. “You think this is necessary?”

  “Absolutely.” Jade nodded emphatically. “The more you know, the less Donovan can get to you.”

  “Yeah, about Donovan,” Ty said. He looked at Jade. “He’s decided he wants on Team Ty.”

  “Good. It’s a step in the right direction. Of course, he’s only doing it because of his granddaughters, but I’m okay with that. As long as you don’t quit the SEALs, I’m good with learning to be a little nicer to Mr. Donovan. A little. And to not cut my sister-in-law’s hair off anymore.”

  Ty looked at her, wondering if she knew exactly how much he loved her. Could it even be put into words? “I don’t feel right about leaving you here holding the bag. It’s not entirely fair if I leave you while I chase my dreams. You’ve got two new babies—”

  “And that was my dream, if you recall.” She touched his face. “Remember those days? Me worrying about my poor, underappreciated, untried ovary? You let me live my dream. I’ve got two darling babies to prove it.”

  “I told you that ovary was going to like my stuff.”

  She shook her head at his bragging, but he noted her lips were curved in a smile. “Read, Ty.”

  She sat next to him on the stair, putting her chin on his shoulder. God, that felt good. She felt good. He’d waited a long time for this. Ty hesitated before opening the envelope, just so he could enjoy the feeling of Jade supporting him a little longer.

  “I can read it to you if you want,” she said softly.

  “I’m okay. I was just sitting here admiring your legs.”

  She kissed his cheek. “And I was admiring your hands. We can get on with a whole lot more than admiring if you do your book report, student.”

  “Yes, teacher.” He pulled out the letter, reading fast, his heart hanging like a wild bird on the wind as he read his father’s words to him. It was as if Ty could hear his voice, speaking his thoughts aloud. “Jeez,” he said finally, his throat tight with emotion.

  “Yeah. You weren’t such a bad kid, after all.” She kissed his cheek again, and Ty shook his head.

  “Oh, I had my moments. But Dad was my best friend. He really was. I never felt like I’d let him down.”

  Ty picked up the box Robert Donovan’s wife had left—he couldn’t think of Honoria as his mother—and opened it. The Saint Michael medal gleamed, and he turned it over, seeing that she’d had his name engraved.

  “Saint Michael is a strong protector, an archangel,” Jade murmured against his shoulder. “You could think of Honoria’s gift as a blessing that manifested in your life. You are strong, you are a protector.” She kissed him. “I think she loved you a lot, Ty. From afar. And maybe she did the thing she knew was best by keeping you from Robert. Not to be mean, but you’re certainly a good man. And he’s not.”

  “Robert said something along the same lines.” Not that he was anywhere near forgiving Robert for being a cretin, but Ty certainly didn’t regret that his real family, the couple he would always remember when he thought of family, were the Spurlocks.

  “Thank you for allowing me to share this moment with you,” Jade said. “I was worried you’d never forgive me for the way everything got sprung on you.”

  He put everything back in the box, put the box in its hiding place again. “It wouldn’t be Bridesmaids Creek if everything wasn’t sprung. Secrets don’t come out gently and quietly around here. We do everything with dramatic intent. But what else would we expect from a town of carnies?”

  She put her hand in his. “I think the box can go in our closet now, don’t you?”

  “You’re right.” He picked it up. “I’ll fix the stair later. Right now, I have a wife to kiss.”

  “You’ll note the mistletoe hanging from the arch,” Jade said.

  Ty shook his head, his whole world better with her in it. “It’s sort of anticlimactic, don’t you think? Kissing because of a pagan weed or whatever it is?”

  “I think it’s actually a fungus of sorts,” Jade said.

  “Which begs the question, what type of fungus would we hang to give us permission to make love?” He kissed her, then scooped her into his arms as she smiled at him. “I don’t need a piece of mistletoe to kiss my Christmas bride.”

  “Good, because I plan on you kissing me every day,” Jade said, “and frequently.”

  And those words were exactly what he wanted to hear. Ty Spurlock, U.S. Navy SEAL, husband, father and son, had finally come home for good. And nothing was going to ruin the best homecoming and Christmas ever, one he couldn’t have dreamed up in his wildest delusional imaginings.

  Wherever he was stationed, his heart would always be here. And there was nothing the Donovans or anyone else could do to ruin it.

  He wasn’t going to blow his second chance.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Daisy ripped up the main drag of Bridesmaids Creek, her gang of stooges following behind on their motorcycles. Since she’d discovered she wasn’t an only child, she’d had very little to say to Ty.

  Today, it seemed, she’d changed her game plan.

  She stopped in front of Ty and Jade, her motorcycle roaring. “If it isn’t my happily married big brother.”

  Ty winced. “Let’s go easy on the family connections thing.”

  Jade glanced down at their daughters in the large-wheeled pram, making sure the blankets were covering them securely as they walked through Bridesmaids Creek, taking in the lovely holiday decorations.

  “Here’s the thing, Daze,” Ty said, “you should start thinking about toning down your gig.”

  “My gig?” Daisy stared at him, her eyes piercing despite her helmet. She pulled it off, the chocolate locks flowing free. “My future husband is fine with my gig, thanks.”

  Ty stilled. “Future husband?”

  “Yeah. Didn’t you hear? I’ve got my sights set on Frog.”

  Jade glanced at him, startled. “Why Frog?” she asked Daisy.

  “Suz didn’t really have a chance, although secretly I think she’s been setting her cap for him. And I think he’d be open to marriage. He protests a lot, but you know men. They change their minds pretty quickly when a baby comes on the scene, don’t they, Jade?”

  Ty shifted, knowing full well what was on Jade’s mind. Her best friend was Mackenzie, and Mackenzie’s little sister was Suz, and Suz had long had her eye on Frog.

  Things always had to be complicated in BC.

  “We should set up a Bridesmaids Creek swim for y
ou,” Ty said, feeling a bolt of inspiration hit him. “Or a Best Man’s Fork run. That way, let the best man win.” And he’d make sure Frog was pretty well out of commission before participating. Daisy winning Frog away from Suz would set up bad blood for years in BC.

  “I’m not doing any of those silly things. It’s just a bunch of fairy tales.” Daisy shrugged, looking wildly beautiful in her skintight and somehow body-baring black catsuit. “You didn’t. Why should I, brother?”

  He hesitated. “I already had my lady.” He hugged Jade close to him. “There was no reason to do any of the normal activities.”

  Daisy smiled. “If you don’t, I don’t. You can’t say that your hurry-up wedding is a precursor to forever happiness. Jade just wanted a baby. Everyone knew it. The man was totally secondary. And you don’t need a swim in the creek to know that.”

  Jade gasped. “That’s a terrible thing to say, Daisy Donovan! Why are you bent on making trouble?” She hurried to pull the babies’ tiny red knit caps down more fully over their ears, as if to protect them from the vile things their aunt was saying.

  Ty took a deep breath. “Look. Life just happened for us. Let me set up a run or a swim for my little sister, okay?” He smiled winningly, figuring either one she chose, he could think up a way to have Squint win. Squint, at least, had half an eye for this completely wild woman who was now Ty’s sister. Half an eye, he thought, that’s just great. He’d be better off blindfolded if he winds up married to Daisy.

  “I don’t believe in the superstitions of BC,” she said, not falling for his con. “Why are superstitions the mother’s milk around here?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s worked for every single person in Bridesmaids Creek,” Jade said. “Except for Mackenzie’s first marriage. She didn’t do a swim, either. Maybe it was bad luck. Let Ty set something up for you.”

  “As I recall, Ty fixed her up with that first deadbeat.” Daisy smirked. “My brother doesn’t have the first clue about what makes a successful match. Or marriage.”