Page 49 of Captured by the Billionaire Cowboy (The Secret Billionaires #7)

Yet through it all, he remained soothing, comforting, caring. “You did the best you could, Ciara. There was no reason to believe Jasmine had a serious problem. She would get better, then worse and then better again. None of the tests indicated a problem.”

Ciara turned away, stared out the window. Outside was dark, bleak, just like her heart. “She never was truly okay. I should have realized something was wrong,”

“You did realize.” He came behind her. “As did I. But we both thought it was emotional trauma from her ordeal. I know you’re upset, but this isn’t your fault. You talked over your decision with the vet, with me, with Frank. We all felt the same way.”

It was true. For a moment, she allowed herself to listen, to truly consider his logic. If the same situation arose with the same information, would she act differently? “I’m just so worried,” she whispered.

When he pulled her against him, she didn’t resist. “I know, sweetheart. No matter what, it’s going to be okay. I’m here for you… always.” He held her, stroking her back, bringing her the peace she so desperately needed.

Only the peace departed all too soon, as their earlier conversation resurfaced.

Years ago, he had broken his promises, and her heart.

Did their earlier discussion prove he was traveling the same path?

Almost any other issue could be addressed, discussed and hopefully fixed, yet if he didn’t want children…

He must’ve misinterpreted her mind’s wanderings when he stiffened. “Are you angry at me for holding you back from Jasmine? I can’t say I’m sorry, because you could’ve been seriously injured, but I’m sorry if you felt like I took control.”

Rowan had done so much for her, for Jasmine, for everyone, these past weeks.

She couldn’t be mad at him. “You were right. In her state, she could have seriously injured me. Plus, as much as she needed my comfort, it was more important to get her help.” She closed her eyes, marveling at the man who held her.

And suddenly it became apparent how very far gone she was.

She was utterly, completely, irreversibly in love.

Deep down she’d always known. She’d loved him far longer than she’d ever admit, probably from the moment he saved her from falling off that bale of hay when she was a child. What started as a childhood crush blossomed into something far more mature, far more meaningful.

Something that comes once in a lifetime.

She loved everything about him – his kindness, his compassion, his strength. She enjoyed the moments they were together, missed him when he was gone. He was the piece of her she didn’t know was missing, her perfect complement. She could no longer imagine life without him. She didn’t want to.

But she also couldn’t give up the children of her dreams.

What could she do? She’d always pursued what she wanted, risking anything and everything for her campaigns. But this was different, with a thousand unknowns. Still, she had to fight for this, to fight for them. Had to prove he deserved the children he so clearly wanted.

But now was not the time, and certainly not the place, not while Jasmine fought for her life. She would deal with this later, when Jasmine was better, because she had to get better. She couldn’t lose her now. So she let Rowan simply hold her.

And when he leaned down to whisper, “You’ll never be alone,” she believed him.

“How are you holding up?”

Clutching his fourth cup of coffee, Rowan looked up as Quinn and Spencer entered the waiting room.

They looked weary in wrinkled t-shirts, jeans and five o’clock shadows, as if they had been working straight for a week.

He put a finger to his lips, gesturing towards Ciara, who was cuddled between two chairs pushed together.

After hours of waiting with heavy-lidded eyes, she’d finally succumbed to slumber, but only after he promised he would stay up and wake her if news came.

He rose and stretched sore muscles, shaking out the aches from sitting in the small, hard-backed chair all night.

Nodding for his brothers to follow, he strode to the far end of the room and shared the doctor’s report.

The grandfather clock chimed five times.

“What are you doing here? Is there an issue at the ranch?”

“Everything is fine.” Spencer swept his hair back. “No one even knew there was a problem.”

Rowan exhaled. “Good. With all Ciara has to worry about, I don’t want her more stressed. Thank you by the way. Frank said you offered to help while we’re here.”

“For as long as you need,” Quinn extended. “That’s why we came so early. We wanted to check in with you before the ranch got up and running.”

“You got up at 5 a.m. just to check on me?”

“No, we got up at 4 a.m.” Spencer smiled wryly. “Had to get dressed and drive over.”

Wow. With all the work at the ranch, Rowan hadn’t expected his brothers to visit at all, much less during the early hours of the morning. “I appreciate that,” he said quietly. “More than you know.”

“We know things have been difficult for you.” Quinn grasped his shoulders. “You take far more than your share of responsibility, including for us.”

A sliver of apprehension traced Rowan’s spine. “I appreciate it, but I don’t do anything special.”

“That’s not true. We know how much you do behind our backs.” For once, Spencer did not allow Rowan to detract him. “You never hint at the expanse of your charitable work, the thousands you give in donations and personal causes. Like when you saved Dalton’s horses.”

Rowan looked up sharply.

“You didn’t fool us.” Quinn waved his hand.

“You’re far too smart to be taken in by that criminal.

When we heard he no longer dealt in horseflesh, we figured you had something to do with it.

And you didn’t just randomly think of a place to send them.

You’d been planning to donate them to the children’s charity all along. ”

What was happening? Had they always been able to see beyond his carefully constructed image?

“You’ve been helping people for years.” Quinn pushed up his sleeves. “Remember that time my portfolio tanked after I invested in a bad stock? I should have lost a ton, yet somehow the account actually gained value.”

“We couldn’t figure it out,” Spencer said, “until we realized you added a few stocks.”

“Listen, guys–”

“Please don’t deny it,” Quinn said quietly.

“You’re the only other person who had access to the account.

And it’s not just financial help. Remember when you had that big trip planned to Houston to meet with a breeder?

Just before you were supposed to go, I got the flu.

You cancelled the trip so you could care for me. ”

How did they know about that? He may have concealed the truth from them, but he would not outright lie. When his little brother got sick, nothing else mattered. “I was worried,” he admitted.

“You stayed by my side and made me eat that disgusting medicine four times a day.” Quinn made a face. “And in case you’re wondering, I fed it to the potted plant when you weren’t looking.”

Naturally. “I wondered why the fern grew so much that month.”

Quinn grinned, but he soon sobered. “You lost that contract. It cost you thousands of dollars.”

Yes, it had. He’d brooded about it for weeks, but he never regretted staying to care for his brother. Their mother was gone, and their father couldn’t be bothered by his sons. Rowan couldn’t let Quinn be alone.

He opened his mouth to downplay what he had done, and why he had done it, but stopped. Quinn and Spencer were simply being honest with him.

Maybe it was time he did the same.

“I made the only decision I could.” He looked out the window, to where the totality of darkness lightened with the promise of a new dawn.

He didn’t even think about his next words or what they revealed.

“I am grateful for the life I’ve been given.

I’ve never had to worry about money, a place to live or finding a job. I automatically had all that.”

“So did we.” Quinn came up behind him. “But with all that Father gave us, he didn’t give us what we needed most of all.” The word remained unspoken, but each felt its silent echo.

Love.

It was worth a thousand times the thousands of dollars they possessed, infinitely more than the money, the business, everything.

Yet what their father hadn’t bestowed, they had for each other. He loved them, just as they loved him. For once, he allowed himself to feel the emotions, to bring down the walls he’d constructed around his heart, to face his truths. And there were so many:

Fury at the man who raised him.

Love for the brothers who’d always been there for him.

Affection for Frank, the horses, his friends and family.

And Ciara?

Pure Love.

Rowan cleared his throat, preparing for panic at the realization of his vulnerability. Only instead of fear, freedom beckoned, stronger than ever before. He breathed out slowly, as a massive weight lifted from his soul. He knew what he wanted.

Marriage. Family. Children .

And he could see all of it in Ciara’s eyes.

“You aren’t alone.” Spencer’s words brought him back to the present, back to the brothers who’d never given up on him. “We’re not children anymore, and we’re here for you.”

“We may joke around, or give you a rough time, but we’re brothers first, and that stands for something.” Quinn squeezed his shoulder. “We love you, man.”

Rowan stood frozen, as relationships were redefined, as a new reality rose. His brothers were strong and independent men, yet they weren’t afraid to share their emotions.

Could he do the same?

“Father wasn’t there for you guys…” He looked down, forced his eyes back up. They deserved his full regard. “For any of us. I tried to make up for it by taking care of you.”

“You did take care of us,” Spencer contended. “And we always appreciated it. It’s just we’d rather you spend time with us instead of working eighty-hour weeks to make us richer.”