Rico cleared his throat again. “Mariah Elizabeth Baker, will you marry me for love this time? For real?”
She brought her hand up to her mouth then she wiped away the tears that ran freely from her eyes down her cheeks. His words seemed to have rendered her completely speechless.
Rico looked hopefully at her. “Mariah.” he reminded her patiently but with a quiver in his voice.
Mariah woke from her daze. A smile crept across her face. “It depends.”
Rico looked dumbfounded. “Depends on what?” he gasped.
“The prenup.”
“Oh, man, Mariah, I’m so sorry about that. I’ll tear it up. I shouldn’t have done it. I trust you.”
“Not that prenup, silly. Do what you want with that. I don’t care about your money. I’m talking about my prenup.”
“Yours? Okay, fine, I’ll sign anything you want.”
“You don’t have to sign this one. I’ll take your promise and your heart as legally binding.”
Rico sensed a trap, but he might was well put his foot in it and let it spring. Better to be bound to Mariah than to be in this lonely prison called freedom. “Whatever you want.” He winced as a sharp rock jabbed his knee.
“I want a lot.”
Rico shifted his weight to a more comfortable position. He might be kneeling for while. What the hell did she find so amusing? Watching him squirm? Putting him in his place? Making him beg? Or was she just relishing the pained expression on his face?
“Are you okay? Do you have indigestion?”
“Mariah, just get on with it. My knee is killing me.”
“Oh, sorry.” She cast a sly glance at his knee.
She didn’t look sorry. She looked wickedly elated—at his expense. She wasn’t getting even, she was getting ahead. “Rye, please.”
“Here are my stipulations.” She paused. “I’ll marry you if: Number one—I get a real wedding, a big one without the fat Elvis and cross-dressing pianist.”
“No problem.” His knee throbbed like the bass on a cranked stereo system. “What else?”
“Number Two—I want a wedding gown designed by Versace, or Armani, or Christian Dior, or....”
“Okay, fine. I get the point. A designer wedding gown.”
“Number Three—I want Ramon to be your best man.”
“Sure.” He almost laughed. The expression on her face was priceless. His quick agreement had thrown her for a loop. “I would’ve picked him anyway.”
“You would have?” Her confusion amused him.
“Of course, he’s my brother. Is that it?”
“Uh, no.” Flustered, she seemed at a loss for words. “Number...uh...uh....”
“Four. You’re on Number Four,” Rico said helpfully. Now he couldn’t feel his knee.
“Right, four. Number Four—You can’t work weekends and no more than forty hours a week.”
“A couple hours on weekends and sixty hours a week,” he countered.
“No weekends and fifty hours a week.”
Rico studied her thoughtfully. “That doesn’t include parties on weekends if I’m hustling talent, does it?”
“As long as you take me with you.”
“So if I take you with me on weekends, I can work.”
“You can try,” she said slyly.
“Deal.” He grinned. The way he figured it, he won either way. Either he was working or she was working at keeping him from working.
“Number Five—I want an official job in your import business, and I want my own office.”
“You can have my office. I don’t think I’ll need it. How about Vice President for a title?”
“Madam Vice President. I like the sound of that.”
“I figured you would. Are you done yet?” The numbness crept up his leg and settled in his thigh.
“One more thing. Number Six—no kids. At least not for a few years. I want to enjoy being with you, just the two of us. We’ll have a lot of time to have a family later.”
“You’re a tough negotiator, baby, but I’ll concede to your demands.”
“Promise?”
“I promise with all my heart, Mariah.” Rico put the hand still holding hers over his heart and smiled. Her eyes glittered brighter than a disco ball. “Now it’s your turn.” They’d have to amputate his leg. It’d never carry his weight again, and it was worth it.
She sobered immediately. “Yes?”
“Will you marry me?”
Mariah swallowed purposefully then said in a calm, clear voice, “I guess so.”
That was it? I guess so? He felt sick. Heartsick. Then he noticed the little twinkle in her eyes. The brat. Giddy as a teenager, she bent down and threw her arms around his neck, pressing his face into her crotch.
“Oh, yes. Yes! YES! YES! YES! YES!” She screamed. Sniffling, she stepped back to look down at him. Her eyes glazed with tears.
Rico fumbled in his pocket. She swiped at her tears again, eyeing what he held in his hand. The large diamond sparkled in a platinum setting with smaller diamonds set in a channel around the band. It was exquisite, one of a kind, and designed just for her. He slipped it on her finger and sealed it with a kiss. It fit perfectly. He couldn’t stand, so she sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I love you, sweetheart,” he said as he held her to him and caressed her cheek with his mouth.
Together they melted into the sand.
* * *
Rico led her to the large shed next to the Delgado house. “Are your eyes shut?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Don’t open them yet.” He opened the shed door and paused to switch on a light. She’d made him the happiest man in the world tonight, now it was his turn.
A horse nickered nearby. Mariah froze. “Rico?”
A smile broke across Rico’s face. “You can open your eyes now, Rye.”
He watched as Mariah walked through the shed door as if in a trance. For a moment, she just stared then she ran a few steps and threw her arms around Sueño, hugging him tightly. Her tears left wet spots on his neck. Sueño nuzzled her affectionately. He looked a little worse for wear, thin with some scars. Thank God, he’d heal. They all would.
Still clinging to Sueño, Mariah looked at Rico. “Oh, Rico. Thank you so much. How did you ever get him back?”
“I had Ramon buy him from Warren’s sister. He made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. You know what a charming hustler my brother can be.” Rico grinned then sobered. “I’m sorry, Rye. I couldn’t get the farm back. Warren isn’t selling, no matter what the price. I’m not beat yet, but I can’t promise anything.”
Mariah moved away from Sueño and hugged Rico tightly to her. “It’s all right. I know you’re trying. No matter what, I love you, Rico. I love you so much.”
* * *
He followed behind her up the stairs of the Delgados’ house. His hands circled her hips, holding her against him so that they had to take the stairs in step with each other. She giggled and lost her balance, falling backwards against his body. They’d never make it to the bedroom at this rate. Her clothes were in disarray and so were his.
Mariah pushed Rico away from her in the doorway. “I need to use the bathroom, baby. I’ll just be a minute.” She glanced at him over her shoulder and winked. “I have a little something from Victoria’s Secret I need to put on.” She sauntered away from him. Her hips swayed seductively back and forth.
“Dios.” Rico groaned. He tried to follow her, but she shut the bathroom door in his face and locked it. She wasn’t taking any chances.
Mariah stood at the bathroom counter, staring into her makeup bag. She took out her deepest red lipstick and applied it liberally. She brushed her hair, making sure it was glossy and soft. She sighed happily as she replayed the night’s events in her mind. That man was such a lovable rascal. His diamond ring glittered on her finger.
She stripped off her clothes and put on the little outfit she’d purchased at Victori
a’s Secret over a month ago. The laces up the back caused her some trouble, but she managed after several aborted attempts.
She opened the door with a fresh resolve. This was the beginning of a new direction for her life and his. She looked forward to their future. Somehow, someway, the two of them would deal with the challenges that life threw their way. They could do anything with love on their side.
She paused in the doorway. Dozens of candles lit the dark room. Their flickering light cast warm shadows on the walls and ceiling. She glanced around but couldn’t find Rico in the candlelight. “Rico?” she called softly, but there wasn’t an answer. For a moment she almost panicked, afraid something had happened to him. A sheer curtain billowing in the breeze caught her eye. The French doors were open onto the balcony. Smiling, she pulled a sheer little robe around her body and walked to the doorway. Candles lined the balcony railing and disappeared around the corner of the house. She followed the trail of light to her destiny.
* * *
Rico left Mariah sleeping soundly in the bedroom. He ventured out to the balcony, enjoying the sunrise. His eyes didn’t miss a thing as he gazed at his breathtaking surroundings. A ferry crossed the inlet, lit up like a Christmas tree. The dawn light reflected on the water turning it to crystal. Islands dotted the horizon like diamonds on a bracelet. The San Juans called to him, inviting him to relax, enjoy their magic, and rest his soul.
An object on the dock below caught his attention. Slipping into his shoes, he walked down the steps and picked it up, studying it in wonder. A shiver ran through his body. The 1953 Gibson guitar was in mint condition. He turned it over, finding familiar scratches and marks on its otherwise perfect surface.
Mariah came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. “That’s beautiful. Is it yours?” she asked, looking at the guitar.
“Sí it is mine. I lost it last time I was here.”
“Someone must have found it for you.”
“Yes, someone must have.” He turned, holding her to him. Over her shoulder, a movement in the inlet caught his attention.
The black and white fin of an Orca whale disappeared beneath the surface of the water. He waited for it to resurface, but it never did. He shook his head in wonder and a small smile spread across his face.
Mariah was right. There was magic in these islands.
~ THE END ~
Thank you for spending time in my world. I hope you enjoyed reading this book. If you did, please help other readers discover this book by leaving a review.
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COMPLETE BOOKLIST
The following Jami Davenport titles are available in electronic and some are available in trade paperback format.
Madrona Island Series
Madrona Sunset
Evergreen Dynasty Series
Save the Last Dance
Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?
The Gift Horse
Game On in Seattle Sports Romance Series
Skating on Thin Ice (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Crashing the Boards (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Crashing the Net (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Love at First Snow (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Melting Ice (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Blindsided (Seattle Steelheads Football)
Seattle Lumberjacks Football Series
Fourth and Goal
Forward Passes
Down by Contact
Backfield in Motion
Time of Possession
Roughing the Passer
Standalone Books
Christmas Break
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport is an advocate of happy endings and writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami's new releases consistently rank in the top fifty on the sports romance and sports genre lists on Amazon, and she has hit the Amazon top hundred authors list in both contemporary romance and genre fiction multiple times.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare.
Jami works in IT for her day job and is a former high school business teacher. She's a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan and is waiting for the day professional hockey comes to Seattle. An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it's the most beautiful place on earth.
Website: http://www.jamidavenport.com
Events Blog: http://jamidavenport.blogspot.com
Romancing the Jock Blog: http://www.romancingthejock.com
Twitter Address: @jamidavenport
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