Shoulda Been a Cowboy (Rough Riders #7)(64)

“Does this happen often, princess?”


“Not as much as it used to.” Her eyes searched his. “I’m not exactly a prize, Cam. I have issues and baggage and…damage that I don’t know if I’ll ever get over.”


“I have plenty of my own issues, most of which you’ve already seen and dealt with, so I think that makes us pretty evenly matched.” He wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “So are you feeling calmer now?”


“No! I am getting married tomorrow! I don’t have a wedding dress. My best friend is dead and I don’t have anyone else to talk to. I don’t have a clue if I’m supposed to pack everything tonight. Are we moving in with you right away? Do you want me to tell Anton we’re getting married, or should we do it together? And who all is coming to the wedding? What about the other legal stuff? We hardly discussed that with Ginger—”


Cam placed his finger over her mouth, stopping her tirade. “You can really work up a head of steam, can’t you?” He traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “One thing at a time. You and Anton will be living with me as soon as we exchange I do’s. You can tell him the happy news because I’ll be wrapping up a few things at my place tonight to get ready for you to move in.


“As far as the ceremony? You and me are the only ones who matter. We’ll need witnesses and I’d like Colt to stand up for me. I can talk to Keely and see if she’ll help you figure out some of the girly stuff since she’s been through a dozen weddings.”


“But—”


“Ah-ah. I ain’t done. Now, what haven’t we addressed as far as legal issues?”


“I think we should have a prenuptial agreement.”


Cam’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Why?”


“Because I don’t want your money if this doesn’t work out. I will want sole custody of Anton and I won’t expect you to pay child support for him. And Skylar mentioned legal issues Jessie’s dealing with, as far as Luke’s stake in the McKay Ranch—”


“Forget it. None of that shit matters. We’ll figure it out as we go along.” Cam leaned in so they were nose to nose. “You are changing your name.”



Not a question.


“You think I want to keep Katzinski?”


Cam granted her the slow, sexy smile that turned her knees weak. “Now that we’ve got that settled…” He kissed her. Lord did he ever kiss her.


After he released her mouth, he nuzzled her cheek, her hair, her neck. “Domini, I…”


“What?” she whispered, feeling the urgency in his tone.


“I-I’ve gotta go.” His breath drifted across her ear. “I’ll call you later and I’ll see you at the courthouse tomorrow.”


Cam smooched her forehead and climbed in his truck.


Evidently what he’d meant to say hadn’t been so urgent after all.


Cam had chickened out telling Domini he loved her and none of the legal stuff mattered because their marriage would be real in every sense of the word.


It’d been hard seeing her caught off balance, seeing her struggle. She wasn’t sure of anything.


But Cam had never been more sure of anything in his life.


His first call was to his sister. “Hey Keely, I need your help.”


“Big surprise.”


“Seriously. This is important. Can you keep a secret?”


A beat passed. “I’ll keep your secret if you forget what you saw at Colt and Indy’s wedding reception and we never ever ever bring it up again.”


He frowned. “You haven’t talked to him about it?”


“No! I hate him! Hate him, understand? And if I ever see that smug, self-serving, self-righteous prick again, I’ll cut off his limp—”


“Okay, okay, I get it. So, if you help me, I will erase my memory of the incident in question.”


“Deal. What’s up?”


“Domini and I are getting married tomorrow.” Cam grinned like a loon. He couldn’t help it. By this time tomorrow that Ukrainian princess would be his. His wife. In his bed every night. Forever.


Keely squealed. “Get out! That is so awesome.” She went quiet. “Dammit, Cam, you’re not telling anyone else in the family, are you?”


“Nope. Well, I’m gonna ask Colt to stand up for me at the courthouse. Which means Indy will know.”


“Why the big secret?”


“The McKay family can be overwhelming. With Luke’s death, and what Domini is going through after Nadia’s death, and dealing with Anton…we decided to keep it simple.”


“Who’s standing up for Domini?”


“Umm. I don’t know. I don’t think she knows.”


“Oh, pick me, pick me! I couldn’t stand it if I didn’t get to be in your wedding, Cam. Please?”


“That’s Domini’s choice. If you get over to her place right away and help her, she’ll probably pick you. She was kinda freaked out, to be honest. She doesn’t have a dress or flowers, and the rest of that girly crap I don’t know nothin’ about.”