Chapter Ten #4
Bella finished wrapping Sienna’s final Christmas present and hid it in her bedroom closet.
Her daughter understood that Santa would be arriving first thing tomorrow morning, with his special gifts to her, as much as a twenty-three-month-old child could understand.
Yet she delighted in the spirit of the holiday, the decorations, the holly and a Christmas tree with lights that changed colors with the click of a remote control.
Bella and Yvonne baked cookies and fudge with Sienna’s help.
Her daughter mostly licked the spoons and grinned like a monkey afterward.
Seeing Sienna enjoy herself so much, a tiny bit of holiday cheer seeped into Bella.
Things weren’t perfect, but her father had really come around and, for now, she would take it as a small miracle.
Bella descended the stairs and found her father in the parlor, playing blocks on the floor with Sienna. Yvonne had just come in holding a wrapped Christmas box. “This was just delivered. It’s something for you, Francesca.” She handed her the box.
“Thanks.”
She sat on the sofa and turned the box around on all sides, shaking it a bit, curious who had sent it.
She lifted the lid carefully and moved the wrapping paper aside.
A copy of the Dallas Tribune was inside.
She shook her head and lifted it out. “See Page Three” was written diagonally across the front page in big, bold letters.
“What is this?” she muttered, turning the pages. And then she found the headline: Dallas Tycoon Jared Stone’s Charity Auction.
She blinked, her hands trembling. She continued to read on.
“What is it?” Yvonne asked after a few impatient moments.
“It’s an article about how Jared is auctioning off all his cars and motorcycles and will be developing a new foundation to benefit children’s causes. All of the proceeds of the auction will go to the foundation.”
Bella continued reading and then she gasped. “Oh!”
“What is it?” Yvonne asked. Her father’s eyes were on her, too.
“Jared’s naming the new f-foundation...” Bella choked up, unable to speak for a second. She held back tears. “He’s naming it...Sienna’s Hope.”
“Sounds like the man’s got some smarts after all,” her father said.
“That’s...amazing, Francesca.” Yvonne smiled. Then she glanced at Marco and the two seemed to have some secret communication.
“What?” Bella asked, still shaking.
“There’s another gift waiting for you and Sienna outside.”
Emotions roiled in the pit of her stomach. “There is?”
“Yes, and it’s pretty cold out there, so put on your coats and hurry.”
“What’s going on?” Obviously it was something Yvonne and Marco were privy to.
“Christmas comes early sometimes,” Yvonne said, ushering her into her coat while her father put on Sienna’s quilted jacket.
They nearly shoved her out the front door. She glanced back and Yvonne grinned and shut the door in her face. Bella took Sienna’s hand. “Apparently, little one, there’s a surprise waiting for us out here.”
She climbed down the steps and walked along the path leading to the front gate.
Outside her father’s house stood a living, breathing Jared Stone next to a pearl-white SUV.
Her heart pounding in her ears, she absorbed the sight of him. Oh, how she’d missed him. Before she could utter a word, Sienna let go of her hand. “Tared!” She raced toward him and lifted her arms. “Up.”
“Hello, little angel.” He picked her up and kissed her cheek. It was a solid sight, the two of them together. It seemed so right.
Bella walked up to him. “Jared?”
He set Sienna down and immediately came closer to graze her cheek with the palm of his hand. It was cold outside, yet the contact sizzled, warming her up inside. Was she silly to hope?
“God, you’re beautiful. I’ve missed you like crazy, Bella.”
“I’ve missed you, too. But what are you doing here?”
“I came for you,” he said as naturally as breathing. “I realized once you left, nothing much mattered to me. I don’t need to catch up to life. Or race toward it. I need a life. With you.”
“So...you’ve forgiven me for lying to you?” This was all so unbelievable. More than she could’ve ever imagined, but she had to ask.
“Let’s say I understand why you did it now, Bella. I can’t fault you for wanting to protect little Sienna. I just wish you’d trusted me.”
“Oh, Jared. If I could do it all over again, I would. I know the kind of man you are. You would’ve protected us. And what you did, naming your foundation after Sienna, just about destroyed me. It was incredible and thoughtful. It means so much to me.”
He took her hand and held it tight. “I’m glad it made you happy. That’s all I want to do. I love you, Bella. You are my angel. No matter what, I don’t want to live without you. I’ve given up my race cars for this. There’s a car seat already installed.”
Tears rimmed her eyes as she gazed at the SUV. “There is?”
He nodded.
“And you won’t be sorry later?” she asked.
“No, never. I’ve realized how that part of my life is over, Bella.
I’m gonna live my life in the present and not try to outrace the future.
I swear to you. I only want you and Sienna in my life.
The two of you are all I need. I called and explained that to your father and his wife.
I think they know I only want your happiness. ”
Jared and her father had spoken? She was a little stunned. “And Father...agreed?”
“He wasn’t thrilled, but yes, in the end, he wants what’s best for you.”
“I love you, Jared. And you’re all I need, too.”
“You do? You love me?” He grinned, a daring, blue-eyed pirate’s grin. How could she have ever thought of living without this man?
“Will you come home to the ranch with me, Bella? Be my wife?”
“You’re asking me to marry you?”
He nodded. “Will you, Bella?”
Joy consumed her. She had no doubts anymore. “Jared, yes. Yes. I’ll be your wife.”
His mouth came down on hers in a fiery all-consuming kiss and she moaned from the sheer pleasure. Oh, how she’d missed him. How she couldn’t wait to marry him.
“Best Christmas present ever,” he whispered and then lifted Sienna up again, the three of them huddling together.
“For me, too,” she said, squeezing him tight.
He pulled away slightly to look into her eyes. “Bella, I don’t want you to give up on your dreams. If you want to write a cookbook or open a restaurant, I’ll support your decision.”
“You will?” She beamed inside. Jared would always be by her side. And she wanted to do both, but not right now. Now she just wanted to go home to Stone Ridge. “You mean you’ll still let me experiment on you with my new recipes?”
“Are you kidding? Secretly meeting up with the Midnight Contessa is the favorite part of my day. I look forward to it.”
She laughed. “Me, too.”
Those late-night encounters with Jared were scorching hot. She couldn’t wait until they could be together that way again, meshing their bodies, melding their minds, making incredible love.
“Promise me one thing, Bella. You’ll always be my own personal chef.”
“Always, my love.”
It would be an easy promise to keep.