As for Marga, she had blossomed further over the winter and was now quite an impressive young lady. Although we’d been concerned about her in the past, she’d done admirably and made us proud. Her grades had improved, and it was feasible that Worth may not have to bribe a college in France to take her in.
At their commencement, we all cheered as Marga, then Mark walked across the stage. He still limped and his speech would most likely always have a stutter, but he stood tall and looked graceful to me.
Brandon declared his candidacy to become state senator and Worth, under my raised brow, wrote out a very healthy contribution check. Lily had the best news. She was pregnant and would be welcoming their baby in the summer.
When Hawk and Liane moved into their new house, we all helped them get settled. It was breathtaking. Ultra-modern and very spacious, I knew they would be entertaining regularly. Hawk had taken over management of the farm after Lily’s wedding. He had plans to add additional outbuildings and eco-areas. Liane was planning to create a zoo for exotic and endangered species. I applauded this whole-heartedly and thought what a magical place it would be for Ben as he grew up.
It appeared as though our lives had finally stabilized. Everyone had made their peace and had something to look forward to. Even the vicar and Lettie. I’d caught them kissing in the kitchen.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Hawk
Standing in the stirrups of my beloved Diablo, I gained a few precious inches to look down upon the rolling hillside of Carlos Acres.
Home.
My real home this time.
I still couldn’t believe it.
Nearly five years had passed since I stood on this same ridge, looking down upon the lush hillside, filled with the toxic venom of hate.
“Look, Daddy! Bird!”
I followed the little finger pointing to the sky and love pounded through my heart. Ben looked up at me with his bright green eyes, a huge smile splitting open his face.
“See, Daddy?”
I ruffled the hair of the little boy sitting in the saddle in front of me. “Yeah, Daddy sees it. It’s a hawk, looking for his dinner.”
Ben looked up at me. “Hawk? Like you?”
I laughed and leaned down to kiss each one of his fingers, ignoring the sticky ice cream that had melted on them long ago. “Yes, like me.”
As we watched the predator sweep across the skies, searching for his prey, I wondered if I’d one day tell my son how my name came to be. Maybe. Maybe not. None of that was important anymore.
At the sound of laughter, I turned in my saddle.
That. What I saw there. That was important now.
As if she knew I was watching her, Liane turned and looked our way, her hands cupping her swollen belly. There, she nestled our daughter who would be saying hello to the world in only a few weeks.
Behind Liane was my family. Mom and Dad, Grampa Ben and Lettie, Mark and Marga. They all sat on blankets, enjoying a picnic lunch. Ben and Lettie had gotten married almost a year ago and were now settled in a cabin nearby. He’d retired from the church, but volunteered often. Mom and Dad never replaced Lettie. For some reason, Mom now enjoyed cooking, and she’d hired a pair of sisters to clean once a week.
When Mark and Margo had turned eighteen, I deeded them both a third of the property that had been given to me. It seemed only right. It was our equal inheritance, after all. Marga could have cared less, she was too busy enjoying France. But Mark… Mark had turned into not only my brother, but my best friend. It had meant a great deal to him to be included.
Loving my mother had been easy. My dad took a little longer, but I’ve not regretted letting him back into my heart. Finally, after so many years of damage, it looked as if the LaViere curse had been broken.
“Mommy!” Ben yelled and waved madly at his mother. “Look. Hawk. Like Daddy!”
Liane shielded her eyes and looked up, spotting the bird. My heart squeezed in my chest as she headed our way, her beautiful hair trailing behind her in waves.
When she was close, I swung down from the saddle, keeping one hand on our son. “Have I told you how incredibly beautiful you are today?”
Her smile grew wider. “Only a couple hundred times.”
I kissed her nose, then her eyelids, then her mouth. “Well, I’m slacking. I’ll have to do better than that.”
Between us, our daughter stirred, and I dropped my hand to her belly, feeling the movements, unsure if it was a little foot or hand. Liane groaned as she was kicked again, harder this time. “She’s been very active today. Sometimes I think she’s trying to climb out.”
I smiled and turned us all to face the people sitting on the blankets, and it became hard to breathe for a second. “I don’t blame her,” I told my wife. “I bet she can’t wait to meet her family.”
THE END
Continue on to read a hot sneak peek of Alice Ward’s latest and hottest release!
A SNEAK PEEK
WINNING STREAK
Alice Ward
CHAPTER ONE
Kane
“Hey, Kane, you made the front page… again.”
A magazine was slammed into my chest before I even registered the words, halting me from a semi-jog. I didn’t want to look because I didn’t want to know what lies the gossip mill would be spitting out about me today. I glanced over to Joey Something-or-other, the newspaper stand dude outside my building.
“Is it bad?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
Joey just smirked.
Yeah, it’s bad.
Against my better judgment, I looked down at the vile rag. There was a full-color picture of me on the front, a gorgeous woman on my lap. “Beasts’ First Baseman Kane Steele Hits Homerun with Porn Star.”
What the hell?
Chelsie was — is? — in porn?
I was so screwed.
Not only by the New York Beasts owner and my boss, Rhett Hamilton, but by my…
My phone vibrated, and I looked at the screen.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Speak of the Chanel-wearing devil.
I stared at the name, debating on whether to answer or not. If I didn’t, she’d just call back… again and again… and again. Or jump on her personal jet…
Fuck me standing.
Well, that was what got me into this mess. I’d fucked the icy blonde with the full lips and huge rack while standing, sitting, practically upside down. Chelsie was a total Tasmanian devil in bed. Now I knew why.
Tossing the magazine in the trash, I tapped the damn green button, praying to whatever god whose job it was to look over drunks and idiots to intercede.
“Hi, Nana,” I said in my most cheerful voice, “how is the most gorgeous and remarkable grandmother who ever lived?”
“Kane Bartholomew Steele!”
I stifled a groan. This was going to be worse than I thought. When Nana brought out the “B” word, I was toast.
“A porn star? Of all the beautiful and sophisticated ladies in New York City, you have to go… lay with a woman who has relations for a living?”
A flood of love ran through me, even as I listened to her scathing tone. Lay? Relations? Those words perfectly reflected my grandmother. A rich California socialite dripping diamonds and Chanel No. 5. God, I missed her. Even now when she was about to verbally spank me.
“Nana—”