That Carrington Magic

EPILOGUE



The Carrington/Rhodes wedding party gathered in a meadow nestled among gold-torched quaking aspen, scarlet-leafed bushes and towering blue spruce evergreens, all encircled by the autumn-splashing Rocky Mountains.

Grant stood by Grandmother Margaret, watching fondly as his mother, Shirley, pinned the gold antique brooch onto the bodice of Jami’s ivory satin-and-lace wedding dress.

“It’s appropriate that you wear Cupid for the ceremony,” Shirley decreed, pressing a perfumed kiss upon Jami’s cheek. “The heirloom belongs with you and Grant now, then one day it will be time to pass it down to Toby and his future Carrington cousins.” She paused, tapping her lips with a long tapered nail as her smile grew mysterious. “Or perhaps Cupid will visit another branch of the Carrington clan?”

“Then Cupid can weave his magical spell on the next victims, to bring them love and happiness, whether they’re ready or not,” Grant teased, poster gorgeous in his black tux, a blue carnation on his immaculate lapel.

“Grant told me the stories about Cupid’s magical powers,” Jami said to her mother-in-law-to-be.

“They aren’t mere stories, Red,” Grant corrected with a raised brow as he straightened his blue bow tie and leaned close to the women.

Jami’s fingers flew up to touch the warm golden charm, tiny tingles penetrating her fingertips. “Do you really believe it’s magic?”

“I know Cupid is magic.” Shirley laughed a deep throaty laugh, eyes shining and her silver-threaded strawberry blond hair caught up in a diamond sparkled twist. “That small piece of jewelry supplied the ideal love-match for myself and one of my most stubborn sons.”

Jami felt a tug on the flowing skirt of her wedding gown and glanced down to see Toby with a fistful of satin. He wore a miniature of Grant’s black tux, complete with blue tie and cummerbund. The child’s carrot red hair was neatly combed, except for a wayward rooster tail jutting off the crown of his head. His face was clean and his hands were...Jami sighed with a rueful smile as she noted the pale dirt marks tattooed onto her dress.

“Mom?” Toby gazed up at his mother through liquid brown eyes. “You really want to get married, ‘cause Grant is your Mr. Right?”

“Yes, honey,” she replied softly, stroking his rooster tail down. It flipped back up like a well-oiled spring. “You know I’ll still have time for you, don’t you, tiger?”

“Sure. We already talked about that. Grant wants to be my daddy, and he says that means I’ll get twice as much love, because both of you will love me.” The boy scraped the toe of his shiny dress shoes through the grass. “And Nana Shirley says the whole family loves me. Didn’t you?” His gaze swiveled to Shirley.

“I did, and we do.” Shirley tweaked Toby’s nose. “You and I are going with Grandmother Margaret to Disney World while your mom and Grant are on their honeymoon. I hear one adventure ride shoots right through the water. Sound fun to you, Toby?”

“All right!” he whooped. “Mom, the music is starting. Let’s hurry so I can go to Disney World.”

“Wait a minute, honey.” Jami bent to cup Toby’s face in her hands. “I want you to promise to be on your best behavior for Nana Shirley. Okay?”

“Okay. I’ll pretend she’s the leader of Zonar. I’ll follow orders, I promise.”

“Thank you, tiger.” Jami kissed his cheek and squeezed him tight. “I’ll miss you, baby.”

“I’m not a baby,” Toby reminded her, then grinned and hugged her back. “I’ll miss you, too, Mom.”

Tears gathering in her eyes, Jami turned in time to hear Grant admonishing his mother in the same manner she had Toby.

“Stop laughing, Mother. I’m serious.” Grant sternly gazed at his smiling, twinkling-eyed mother. “Promise you’ll be on your best behavior in Disney World with Toby?”

“Of course, darling,” Shirley replied, stroking her grown son’s stubborn jaw. “You act just like your father did when he lectured me. What trouble could I possibly get into with Jami’s precious little boy along to keep me in line?”

Grant groaned. Shirley Carrington made Auntie Mame pale in comparison. His mother patted his hand. “Take your place now, Grant. It’s time to make your lovely bride Mrs. Cary Grant Carrington.”

“Cary Grant?” Jami echoed, laughter bubbling forth. “That explains the mysterious C.”

“Yes. Isn’t it the perfect name for your leading man, Jami?” Shirley winked at Grant, who stood sputtering.

“Let’s get this wedding on the road,” Toby declared, hopping on one foot and then the other.

“I predicted this wedding,” Grandmother Margaret announced, patting her silver hair and looking quite regal, though her eyes twinkled impishly.

“You did,” Shirley replied with a conspiratorial grin.

“Smile everyone,” Sierra admonished, one hand on her blossoming belly as the green-eyed pixie joined them, dragging along her husband Ty. “Mike is photographing the wedding, and we want to use some of the shots for our CupidKey ad campaign.”

“Get Cupid in the shot,” Grandmother Margaret instructed, reaching out to adjust Jami’s position.

“Right. The more the merrier,” Mike the photographer replied with a wink.

“Doesn’t the music signal time to begin?” Ty asked, poking Grant in the ribs. “Cupid sure got you—didn’t he, big brother?”

“Thanks to my brother,” Grant replied, trying to sound gruff, but his broad smile and smoldering gaze at Jami revealed his true feelings.

“Talkin’ about me?” Errol drawled, stepping up to join the party, dressed in his best cowboy duds.

“Our other brother.” Grant motioned toward Ty and Sierra.

Jami looked around at her new family and felt a lump form in her throat. She was the luckiest woman in the world. Her gaze lingered on Grant, definitely the most handsome groom to ever exist. She was marrying the most wonderful man, and he was giving her not one new family, but two.

Nell touched her arm. The tittering, elderly lady’s pink face crinkled in a smile. “Homer’s waiting to give you away, dear. This September sunshine is melting Shirley’s Cupid ice sculpture.”

Jami glanced over at the banquet table where water pooled on the silver tray holding a three-foot Cupid ice craving. At that moment, Professor Tolaski, seated at a keyboard hauled to the meadow, pounded out the beginning notes of the wedding march with a loud flourish. Seated in the cluster of folding chairs, Dottie and Doris, in matching green dresses, dabbed their eyes with green lace hankies. Ralph Ballingham with his wife and youngsters sat just behind the retired teachers.

Becca hovered on the other side by the tiered wedding cake, swishing away flies with a blue silk scarf.

“Ready, girl?” Homer Ballingham asked.

Jami swallowed and nodded as Homer shakily took Jami’s arm, and they began the rhythmic progression up the ribbon-strung aisle toward Grant and the minister.

Music played, birds sang, and Toby the ring-bearer grinned proudly. Minister Watkins performed the ceremony to forever unite Grant Carrington and Jami Rhodes. The wedding whirled by with the bride in a daze as she and her groom exchanged vows. When Grant kissed Jami, firing every nerve in her body, the guests roared their approval.

Under a shower of flower petals and birdseed, Jami grabbed Grant’s hand, and they escaped their reception in a mad dash. She finally caught her breath while they drove the short distance to Grant’s cabin for a Rocky Mountain honeymoon.

“Ready, Mrs. Carrington?” he whispered in her ear, sweeping her into his arms to carry her over the threshold. “Home away from home, my bride.”

“This is wonderful!” She kissed him as he let her slide to her feet, still encircled within his embrace. “I’ve wanted to see your cabin since I heard you discuss it with Homer.” Jami twirled in his arms to note the feminine touches obviously added for her benefit. Candles, fresh flowers, and silk toss pillows.

“I’ve wanted to see a few things myself,” Grant growled with a wicked grin.

“Me, too,” Jami countered, returning his heat-filled stare.

With surprising ease, they dispatched Grant’s clothing. Her dress slithered off her into a pool of satin and lace. Suddenly shy, she peeked at him through her lashes. Though she had seen him nearly naked before, nude Grant was so magnificently male that he took her breath away.

“Red, my darling,” he groaned, gazing at her, his eyes nearly black with emotion. “You’re as beautiful as I imagined.” His voice husky with adoration, he stepped forward, reaching out to her. “I’ve waited so long to make you mine.”

Feeling a surge of womanly power, Jami stood still, letting Grant come to her. How she loved this fantastic man and how she delighted in him wanting her!

“Ouch!” he hollered, hopping on one foot, then bouncing onto the edge of the bed.

“What is it?”

“Cupid!” Grant picked up the unfastened brooch from the floor and dropped it onto the nightstand. “That charm doesn’t know when to retire.”

“Talking to jewelry on our wedding night?” she teased, gazing seductively at him. “Oh, how romantic.”

“You minx.”

Jami giggled. Grant lunged at her, tackling her. Laughing, bride and groom toppled onto the bed together, her curves pressed against his long hard length. The laughter died, and her breath caught at the exquisite delight of her body molding to his. She felt his rising passion, igniting a flame deep within her. Knowing the love in her heart blazed in her eyes, she gazed down into Grant’s mesmerizing midnight blue eyes, his pupils flaring with answering devotion. His mouth captured hers in a slow, deep kiss of honeyed wine, leaving her dizzy and breathless.

“Jami, I adore you.” The words escaped Grant’s lips, a sound somewhere between a cry and a prayer. “You’re my one and only—forever.”

“Oh, Grant,” she said, burying her face in his neck, nuzzling closer, inhaling him, savoring him. “You drive me crazy.”

“Sweet talker,” he replied, stealing her breath with another kiss.

Tilting her head, she gazed at him, “Mmm, you want sweet—I’ll show you sweet.”

“Ouch!” Suddenly he jerked away, hand flying to his shoulder. “Something bit me.”

“Cupid?” Jami laughed, drawing the golden brooch from under Grant’s shoulder. “How did that get on the bed?”

“Guess it’s time to retire our love charm. Think we can make it on our own from here out?” Grant slipped a miniature jewel box from the nightstand drawer, handing it to Jami. “I had this specially made for Cupid.”

Cool to her touch, Jami held the exquisite jewelry box and lifted up the hinged crystal lid, revealing blue velvet lining embossed with silver and gold stars. “A bed of midnight magic,” she said, gently placing Cupid inside on the velvet.

“You got it, Red.” Grant pulled Jami back against him when she slid the jewel box into the nightstand drawer, shutting it away for the night.

“There.” She threw her arms around her husband’s neck, drawing his head down to hers, murmuring, “Now we need to keep a promise to Toby.”

“What promise?”

“He wants a baby brother or sister, and I promised we’d work on it.”

Grant teased her lips with his own. “Then let’s get to work.”

Nestled upon the starry midnight velvet beneath the crystal lid, Cupid winked.