She pulled the horse to a stop in front of him, and he rushed to help her slide off. “You are a goddess,” he told her.
“Just keep telling me that,” she said and glanced over her shoulder at Cash, who led Rowdy several steps away. The minister began the ceremony, and Geoffrey treasured this moment in time, when he felt himself become more complete, stronger, and so grateful his wicked stepmother had sent him to Maria.
After they said their vows, all he could do was stare at her.
“You’re supposed to kiss me,” Maria said.
“Oh,” he said, giving himself a shake. “Sorry. You’re just so beautiful. And I’m so bloody lucky.”
She smiled and pulled him to her, pressing her mouth against his. He wrapped his arm around her, savoring every sensation. He heard a new melody playing in his head.
She broke away far too soon and motioned to Cash, who brought Rowdy toward them. “We’re riding the horse?” Geoffrey asked.
Maria gave a luscious, naughty giggle. “It will get you started on the honeymoon faster.”
Geoffrey would have vaulted a skyscraper for the look in her eyes. “Then by all means,” he said and helped her onto the horse.
Epilogue
“It’s never too late to live your very own happily-ever-after.”
– SUNNY COLLINS
Lori completely wrecked Jackson ’s nerves when she gave birth to a baby girl via cesarean section. White with fear, he squeezed Lori’s hand as the doctor lifted their baby for them to see. The nurse cleaned up the baby and handed her to Jackson while the doctor stitched up Lori.
Exhausted but euphoric, Lori stared up at both of them. “Is she beautiful?”
“She’s amazing,” he said. “So pink. So perfect.” He bent down so she could see and touch her baby, fresh into the world.
Lori’s eyes filled with tears as she touched the head of her child and studied the face she’d waited nine months to see. “Oh, Jackson, she’s beautiful. Look, I think she has your chin.”
“I hope not. She’ll be stubborn as hell,” he muttered and shook his head. “Look what you did.”
“What we did. Welcome to the world, Jacqueline Sunny James.”
A nurse entered the room. “The group outside is getting a little rowdy. Would you like me to give them the news?”
Lori looked up at Jackson and smiled. “Take her out there and show them.”
“But you-” He gestured toward the doctor.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “Go on. If you don’t, then Delilah, Katie, and Maria will beat down the door. And your mother and brother will be right behind them.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back,” he said and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
Lori closed her eyes and thought about everything that had happened since she and Jackson had gotten married. His mother and brother had come to live with them in Dallas, and his mother had become Lori’s assistant. Lori had learned so much about discerning whom she could really help. Jackson ’s development was selling like gangbusters, and surprise, surprise, Geoffrey had been hired to write the music for two movies.
She couldn’t help thinking about her mother and father. Both of them would love Jackson. Her mother would have loved Jackson ’s devotion to her and the way he challenged her to grow. Her father would have loved Jackson ’s levelheaded approach and his determination to protect her. She could almost feel them smiling down at her.
The door opened and Jackson returned with Jacqueline. “They all think she’s perfect.”
Lori beamed and lifted her hand to the baby, then to his face. “She came from good stock. But mostly good love.”
Leanne Banks
Leanne Banks is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who is surprised every time she realizes how many books she has written. Leanne loves chocolate, the beach and new adventures. To name a few, Leanne has ridden on an elephant, stood on an ostrich egg (no, it didn’t break), gone parasailing and indoor skydiving. Leanne loves writing romance because she believes in the power and magic of love. She lives in Virginia with her family and her four-and-a-half-pound Pomeranian named Bijou. Visit her Web site at www.leannebanks.com.
