The Navy SEAL's E-Mail Order Bride (Heroes of Chance Creek) Read online

  Regan blushed at the memory of her naked romp through the obstacle course, while Mason laughed out loud. “Should we keep that one a secret, honey?” he nudged her foot with his.

  “You’d better.” But for one moment she wished all their guests would leave so they could do it all over again.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‡

  “One down, three to go,” Aunt Heloise announced when she arrived the morning of the wedding, driven by Allen James. Mason was glad his new in-laws weren’t in earshot. Regan might understand the circumstances of the Wife Wanted ad, but he doubted her parents—a friendly down-to-earth couple who’d taken to Mason at first sight—would.

  “We’re working on it,” Austin assured her. “We’ll get ’er done.”

  “Even you?” Heloise jabbed a finger in Colt’s bicep. “I seem to remember you were always the ornery one.”

  “I guess I’ll have to find an ornery way to get married then.” He flashed her a wolfish grin.

  “See that you do. I love all my grand-nephews equally, but I’m not happy about the idea of leaving the Hall to Darren. He’d probably just undo all the progress you made. Are you working on that heir?” she added, pinning Mason with a sharp gaze.

  “It’s got my full attention, believe me.”

  “Humph. Better get a move on. When does this shindig get started?”

  “Soon.” He guided her to a seat near a table in the kitchen where Emma Larson was touching up the wedding cake she’d made.

  “Oh, that’s beautiful, dear,” Heloise was saying when Mason returned to his brothers.

  “Nervous?” Zane asked.

  “A little.” A lot, actually. He hadn’t felt this shaky since he’d been caught in a firefight back in Afghanistan.

  “You’ll do fine. I can’t believe how much you and Regan managed to do with the ranch already.” Austin nudged him. “Dad would be proud.”

  Mason straightened his shoulders. He did think his father would be proud of him—not for fixing the ranch up so much as for finding a woman to share his life with and dedicating himself to being the best husband he could to her. His dad had always put his family ahead of everything else.

  “Think Regan’s got a friend?” Colt asked.

  “I’m sure she does. Want me to ask her to find you a wife?”

  “Who’s finding who a wife?” Mason’s mom swooped down upon them and gave them each a kiss on the cheek. “Look at my boys. All of you are so handsome. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”

  “You’re a little biased, don’t you think?” But Austin was grinning as widely as any of them.

  “I’m allowed to be biased. I’m your mother. And you’ve picked out a lovely wife, Mason. I just had a good long chat with Regan. The two of you will make a fine couple.”

  “As good as you and dad?”

  Her smile trembled as tears shone in her eyes. “I’d say better, but I don’t think that’s possible.”

  Mason spotted Regan consulting with Emma over the cake and his heartbeat sped up. Would she ever stop having that effect on him? He doubted it.

  His mother followed his gaze. “You’ll do just fine.”

  * * *

  As Regan’s father walked her down the aisle, the man at the end of it held her attention—and her heart—like no one else had ever done. She loved everything about Mason, from his strength and confidence, to his deeply caring soul. She’d seen him angry and she’d seen him loving and she knew he was the man she wanted always by her side.

  She said her vows with her heart pounding and listened to his careful replies, hardly believing she was the one this handsome man had picked for his bride. But when the minister pronounced them man and wife and Mason bent to kiss her, his mouth on hers was so familiar, and so right, that she knew without a doubt that it was all true.

  The rest of the day passed in a blur of family, friends, toasts, a first dance and cutting the cake. When darkness fell, they climbed into a classic limousine and were whisked away to a beautiful lodge in the mountains not too far away. With the Hall and ranch needing so much work, they’d decided time together was what they wanted more than an exotic vacation. That would have to wait for another year. For now a bed—and privacy—was what they wanted most.

  As Mason undressed her, inch by inch, Regan gloried in the knowledge they would never be apart again. It didn’t matter how they’d come together. It was being together that counted, and they were experts at that.

  Still, when she stepped out of her dress, Mason reached for her with a hunger that was all too evident in his eyes. She knew her bustier and garters excited him. Knew too he’d have them off her in no time. As the first strap snapped between his fingers she shut her eyes and laughed.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” She smiled at him, knowing the depth of her love for him must be obvious in her expression.

  “This?” He snapped another strap, then ripped the two sides of the bustier apart. “No matter what you wear you can’t hide from me,” he mock-growled.

  “I guess not.” She allowed him to lay her back on the bed, sighed as he peeled the garment off of her. “But you haven’t even let me give you your wedding present yet.”

  “I thought you were my wedding present.”

  “No. This is.” She reached into the bag she’d placed near the bed for just this moment and pulled out a plastic test wand. “We’re pregnant.”

  Mason stilled beside her. “Are you sure?”

  “Here’s the proof.” She waved it at him.

  He took it from her. Read the result. Tossed it over his shoulder and scooped her into his arms. “That’s the best gift you could ever give me.”

  “Because it means you get to keep the ranch?”

  He cupped her face between his hands. “Because it means you love me enough to share something so precious with me.” He kissed her soundly. “You won’t regret this, you know. Being my wife. Letting me love you for the rest of your life.”

  No, she knew she wouldn’t regret it. Naked in Mason’s bed, filled by him, loved by him.

  That’s where she belonged.

  The End

  The Heroes of Chance Creek series continues with The Soldier’s E-Mail Order Bride.

  Visit Cora Seton’s website and sign up for her Newsletter here. Find her on Facebook here.

  Other Titles by Cora Seton:

  The Heroes of Chance Creek:

  The Soldier’s E-Mail Order Bride (Volume 2)

  The Marine’s E-Mail Order Bride (Volume 3)

  The Airman’s E-Mail Order Bride (Volume 4)

  The Cowboys of Chance Creek:

  The Cowboy’s E-mail Order Bride (Volume 1)

  The Cowboy Wins a Bride (Volume 2)

  The Cowboy Imports a Bride (Volume 3)

  The Cowgirl Ropes a Billionaire (Volume 4)

  The Sheriff Catches a Bride (Volume 5)

  The Cowboy Lassos a Bride (Volume 6)

  The Cowboy Rescues a Bride (Volume 7)

  The Cowboy Earns a Bride (Volume 8)

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Other Titles by Cora Seton

 

 

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