“I was blinded too. She fooled us all. We can start again,” she suggested. “California is the old us. Come with us to Florida. Let the past die here.” She leaned back and looked into her dad’s eyes. “Let’s start over together.”
He nodded. “I haven’t been able to go back to the house.” He closed his eyes as more tears slid down his face. “I haven’t even gotten any clothes. Henry had to send Terry over there to pack a bag for me. I’m staying just down the hallway.” She smiled and motioned for him to sit down again. “Then let’s order you some room service so you can eat with the family. Your new family.” She glanced over at Reagan. “Since we’re going to be married.”
“We are?” Reagan asked, reaching for his pasta again.
“As soon as you sober up and get around to asking me.” She said with a laugh.
Reagan stood in the soft sugar sands of the Gulf of Mexico and held onto Clara. His family and her dad were all enjoying the warm water just a few feet away from them. It had been two months since they returned to Florida.
Two long months of healing both physically and mentally.
The beach was filled with laughter and love. He knew this was the right moment and pulled the small box from his back pocket.
“Is it time?” she asked, smiling up at him.
“You knew this was coming.” He laughed. “From the moment I walked into Rico’s, we both did.” He opened the box. “So, are you going to take this? Or do I have to take another bullet first?”
She reached over and slipped the ring out of the black box, then slid it onto her finger. “Let me hear you say it one more time.” She looked up at him with her dark eyes.
“Marry me,” he said easily.
“No, the other thing.” She shook her head.
“I love you.” He pulled her closer.
“When are we going to make it official?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
“Soon, today, tomorrow, whenever you want. As long as it’s soon.”
“Good, because I’d hate to have to buy a maternity wedding dress,” she said, frowning down as she covered her flat belly.
“A…” He frowned. “You’re…” He didn’t wait for her to answer. Instead he picked her up and spun her around the beach. Then he carted her into the waters and told their family that there was going to be one more Grayton.
“Make that two,” he added after she showed off the ring that he’d picked out for her. When her hands went to her belly, everyone cheered and hugged them both again.
That evening, sitting in front of the bonfire, he held onto Clara and whispered in her ear, “I’ve never been so happy in my life.” He kissed the spot.
“Neither have I.” She sighed. “You know, I think your aunt likes my father.” She motioned to where her dad was flirting with his aunt Julie.
“I’ve never seen aunt Julie act like that before.” He chuckled. “There has to be at least twenty years between them.” He frowned over as her father moved a strand of his aunt’s hair out of her eyes.
“Relax,” Clara laughed. “I think it’s sweet. Besides, my father is closer to her age then he was with Rebecca.”
“I’m not worried about him. After all, Julie is the one who’s older.”
Clara chuckled and turned in his arms. “Love has no boundaries.” She kissed him. “For the first time in his life, I don’t think he’s worrying if she’s after him for his money.”
“No,” he agreed. “Julie isn’t that kind of person.” He relaxed a little. “Besides, all my life she’s never been with anyone before.” He frowned. “Actually, I don’t think she’s ever been with anyone. She’s always been just… Aunt Julie.” He shrugged.
“Then she deserves to be happy. Let’s not spoil it. If it’s meant to be…” She relaxed back in his arms. “Now, talk to me about weddings and babies.” She stilled and glanced over her shoulder. “Where are we going to live?”
He pulled her close. “I’ve been house hunting, but my uncle Marcus has promised me that if I find a lot of land, he’ll build us our dream home.”
She sighed. “I like that idea. Making something of our own.” She rested her hand over her belly, and he covered her hand with his good one, since his right hand was still in a sling.
“I hope it’s a girl,” he said out of the blue. “We can call her Gina, after the aunt that brought us together.” He kissed the top of her head, but she flung herself around and held onto him.
“I love you,” she said against his lips. “So much.”
“I’m never going to let you go. I promise every day from here on out is going to be better than this one.”
She laughed. “Then I’m never going to let you go, either.”
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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DIGITAL ISBN: 978-1-945100-04-8
PRINT ISBN: 978-1-098688-65-3
Copyright © 2019 Grayton Press
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No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Also by Jill Sanders
The Pride Series
Finding Pride
Discovering Pride
Returning Pride
Lasting Pride
Serving Pride
Red Hot Christmas
My Sweet Valentine
Return To Me
Rescue Me
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The Secret Series
Secret Seduction
Secret Pleasure
Secret Guardian
Secret Passions
Secret Identity
Secret Sauce
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The West Series
Loving Lauren
Taming Alex
Holding Haley
Breaking Travis
Roping Ryan
Wild Bride
Corey’s Catch
Tessa’s Turn
* * *
The Grayton Series
Last Resort
Someday Beach
Rip Current
In Too Deep
Swept Away
High Tide
* * *
Lucky Series
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resolve
Best of Luck
A Little Luck
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Silver Cove Series
Silver Lining
French Kiss
Happy Accident
Hidden Charm
A Silver Cove Christmas
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Entangled Series – Paranormal Romance
The Awakening
The Beckoning
The Ascension
Haven, Montana Series
Closer to You
Never Let Go
Holding On
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Pride Oregon Series
A Dash of Love
My Kind of Love
Season of Love
Tis the Season
Dare to Love
Where I Belong
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Wildflowers Series
Summer Nights
Summer Heat
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Stand Alone Books
Twisted Rock
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For a complete list of books:
http://JillSanders.com
About the Author
Jill Sanders is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Sweet Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspe
nse, Western Romance, and Paranormal Romance novels. With over 55 books in eleven series, translations into several different languages, and audiobooks there’s plenty to choose from. Look for Jill’s bestselling stories wherever romance books are sold or visit her at jillsanders.com
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Jill comes from a large family with six siblings, including an identical twin. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent for writing sweet and sexy page-turners. After Colorado, she decided to move south, living in Texas and now making her home along the Emerald Coast of Florida. You will find that the settings of several of her series are inspired by her time spent living in these areas. She has two sons and off-set the testosterone in her house by adopting three furry little ladies that provide her company while she’s locked in her writing cave. She enjoys heading to the beach, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting, and pickleball with her husband, and of course writing. If you have read any of her books, you may also notice that there is a love of food, especially sweets! She has been blamed for a few added pounds by her assistant, editor, and fans… donuts or pie anyone?