Page 31 of The Texas Cowboy's Proposal

“Well, Lacy has been along on most things with you and Sammi Jo, hasn’t she? None of that stopped you from falling for the woman, did it?”

“Of course not, but it—”

Jaxson’s gotcha grin was huge on his face. “I am so good at this, I should write a column in the newspaper myself. Got you to confess as easy as water slides off a duck’s back in a spring rain.”

“I’ve got work to do.” Beaudry turned on his heel and strode off toward his truck. Jaxson’s gleeful laughter followed him until the slamming door cut it off. The truck churned up the dust along the drive as he punctuated the aggravation he felt with his brother. If that was the latest gossip, had Sammi Jo heard it? He needed to find her and have a chance to get things out in the open. He had the need to explain and hope she could understand his feelings.

He was never one to do that sort of thing in his life, but he hadn’t found himself in that state called love before. It was new territory, and it scared the daylights out of him. He could clearly see that what he had with Sandy Lou had been nothing more than lust, and when she had come up pregnant after their first visit to the swimming hole for some hot afternoon skinny-dipping, well, their futures had more or less been sealed.

But he was wiser now, and he knew what he felt for Sammi Jo was a whole other matter. She infuriated him, intrigued him, wouldn’t stay out of his thoughts no matter how hard he tried to keep her out, and her smile had become a beacon that made something inside him respond with an urge to be at her side and never allow that smile to disappear. His heart felt lighter when she was around. He enjoyed watching how Lacy bloomed under that same inner light of Sammi Jo’s. How would she ever think that she wasn’t good enough around kids? She was all of that and more, and she needed to realize that. She would be a wonderful mother-figure for Lacy to grow up with. And if there were other brothers and sisters to come along... if Sammi Jo would ever speak to him again...then that was an amazing thought too.

What if she might not feel the same way? Beaudry had to remind himself that he knew a thing or two about kissing and male and female attraction, which led him to believe she might be having some of the same inclinations. But she needed to trust him first. And then maybe she’d see that there was every possibility they could make this whole thing work out.

Maybe.

That was a big maybe. After all, he had been the one to specify that they use only their brains and never the heart in their agreement. And they had shook on it. But to his way of thinking, a kiss bested a handshake any day of the week.

But he had to find her first. Once again, he dialed her phone from the button on his steering wheel. After leaving yet another message asking her to call him back, he hit the off button. Where was she? Was she all right? Why didn’t she answer? All questions he would put on hold while he ran into Matt Mateo’s office to tell him he wanted to speed things up.

“Sorry to drop in like this. Your receptionist said you were in court today, but would be breaking for lunch about now,” Beaudry explained as Matt motioned him into his office.

“I have time for a few bites of that salad Tallie sent over from the coffee shop, then sign my name on some documents on the front desk that need to go out this afternoon and then get back to winning my case in front of Judge Kinney. You speak and I will listen as I eat.” They both took seats in unison.

“I want you to get those papers from the Burkitt agreement ready for me to sign as soon as we can. I want to get moving on this, not waste any more time. I don’t need to wait until the end of the month to make my decision. I’ve made it. I agree to the terms. How soon do we need to get the marriage license?”

The fork with the next bite of chef’s salad halted in midair. Matt slowly closed his mouth, a blink of an eye, then the fork went back slowly to rest on the plate. He took his time unfolding his napkin, then wiping his mouth. All the while, his gaze remained on Beaudry, but it was clear his mind was in full throttle.

“You have decided to go ahead and marry Sammi Jonow. No waiting to think more on it, see how things go with Lacy. You are well and truly for going ahead with the agreement.”

“That’s exactly what I mean. Is there a problem with jumping on this and not waiting? In the beginning, Sammi Jo was wanting to get this done the day after she told me about the will. But I said I wanted the thirty days. Well, now I am done thinking it over. Is something wrong?”

“I suppose you’ve spoken to Sammi Jo about this change? She’s on board?”

Beaudry shook his head. “I would if I could find her. I’ve tried to call her, and she’s not answering for some reason. Jaxson said she mentioned having to go into the city. But I’m sure she’ll be relieved to get this behind us too. And Lacy and she have hit it off from the get-go. Lacy is crazy about her. I was worried for no reason on that score. I know Sammi Jo will be good for her.”

“And what about you? I take it you realized that the payoff and extra land in the deal was just too good to pass up. Anyone can stand almost anything for that sweet of a deal, right?”

Beaudry sat forward in his chair. “I’m considering that you’ve had a busy morning so far and you might have been really surprised by my change of attitude, but don’t go thinking that it’s the money and land that makes this a go for me now. It’s not. We were doing just fine before this came along. We managed with a lot of hard work and determination, and we would do the same if it hadn’t.”

“So, are you saying you might have changed your opinion, your feelings even about Sammi Jo? Marrying a Burkitt—that used to be an anathema to a Hawkes. What changed?”

Beaudry looked at the hands clasped in front of him and took a few moments. He wanted to find the right words.

“I’ve been wrong about a few things in my life. One of which was ever letting Sandy Lou Bettancourt into my life. But then again, there was a hidden blessing in it too. If I hadn’t made that mistake, I wouldn’t have my Lacy. So I have to be grateful for that. I just never planned to fall into the marriage trap again. I wanted to raise my daughter and be the best father I could. But I knew one day she would want to know what it’s like to have a mother. Or, at least, I figured that time would come. But she never wanted to meet her biological mother.

“Then one day, Sammi Jo stepped into our lives, and it was as if Lacy bloomed overnight, like a butterfly out of the cocoon. Still, I projected my previous associations with Sammi Jo and her family over the years as something to steer clear of. Sarah Burkitt and her high-handed ways soured me on rich people. And I let that cloud my better judgment and taint what I thought of Sammi Jo—initially. And by so doing, I almost threw away the chance for the best possible thing for Lacy and for myself. I know better now. And I am going after the woman for my daughter and myself. I think that the three of us can make one heck of a family. For the first time in my life, I can say one hundred percent, without any doubt, I have found the woman I am in love with now and the rest of my days. Is that enough of a confession for you?”

Matt sat back against the leather of his chair, an almost sad look in his eyes. Maybe a bit of envy, also? Beaudry felt that niggle in the pit of his stomach when something unpleasant might be headed his way. The hairs on the back of his neck began to raise.

Matt’s gaze was steady.

“Something’s wrong. What is it?”

“I’m in one of those places between the rock and that really hard place, as they say. I am bound by legalities of confidentiality when I least need them to be so rigid. But what you just said that you’re going after the woman... not a word about the financial part involved. That is what is pushing me right now. And that sappy part about love might also have done me in.” He stood, clearing his throat. “I do have those papers out on the front desk I must sign, so I’ll leave you to sit here while I go do that. Make yourself at home.” His hand struck the file lying on the edge of the desk. He didn’t pause to pick up the papers from the floor but shut the door behind him.

Beaudry guessed the man was in too much of a rush and hadn’t noticed the mishap. He bent over to retrieve the file and the few papers that had scattered. His gaze caught the name Burkitt right away. As he slowly put the errant papers back into the file, one caught his eye and he gave up trying to be discreet. The first paragraph was all he needed. He tossed the file back on the desk and stood to leave.

The door opened, and Matt moved to his desk, his gaze meeting Beaudry’s.

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