The wedding guests stood.
Holding her bouquet of orchids before her, Lizzy quickly made her way down the aisle.
Vanilla threw her flowers down and dashed toward Lizzy. When the baby reached the bride, she threw her chubby hands up and made gurgles to be picked up and held. Everybody laughed, including Lizzy, who lifted her and carried her the rest of the way down the aisle, not caring if the baby mussed her veil and her satin gown.
Cole’s blue eyes stared straight into Lizzy’s. Her breath caught. Sensing that she was no longer the center of Lizzy’s attention, Vanilla turned and threw out her arms to her daddy. When he took her, she began to clap. Slowly her fat little hands quit moving, and she reached up and touched his face with wonder.
Joanne let out a choking sob, and a stillness descended upon Lizzy as she turned toward the minister. Glancing toward Cole, who was so darkly male and virile and gorgeous that she felt a thrill in her belly, she sighed a deep sigh of utter contentment and infinite longing. Even before she said her vows, she felt truly committed to this man she loved and his precious daughter, and to the land that would be their home.
She felt strong and sure in herself and yet proud of him, too.
“Forever,” she whispered. “I’ll love you forever.”
* * * * *
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
MIRA is a registered trademark of Harlequin Enterprises Limited,
used under licence.
First published in Great Britain 2008.
MIRA Books, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SR
© Ann Major 2004
ISBN:9781408906699
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Prologue
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
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
Copyright