“Pure heaven,” he muttered. “Wait until you meet my family.”
And then they found themselves being hustled out to the patio where they were toasted with champagne and orange juice and fed vast quantities of salmon and sausage and steak.
Across the patio Bert turned to her husband with tear-dampened lashes and kissed his cheek.
He touched a finger to the spot. “What’s that for?”
“For yesterday. For tod. And for all our tomorrows. For starting this wonderful dynasty that brings us so much pleasure.”
“It’s been quite a ride, hasn’t it, love?” He followed the direction of her gaze and saw Courtney and Blair seated close together, their heads bent in quiet conversation. “Another love match.”
“I wasn’t expecting this one. I was afraid our girl had been too badly hurt.”
He merely smiled. “Hearts can be mended. But only by love.”
As they watched, the objects of their discussion laughed and held hands and knew that when this day ended, they would return to Blair’s little cottage, where they would put aside the past and plan their future together.
Together.
The very thought had them turning to each other and smiling at the wonder of it all. Who would ever have believed that a man determined never to marry and a woman equally determined never to trust her heart to another man could find so much happiness?
In the midst of all the chatter Blair drew her close to brush his mouth over hers. “I love you, Courtney Brennan.”
“And I love you, Blair Colby. For now. For ever.”
“Forever is an awfully long time.”
Courtney shook her head. “I’m thinking it’s not nearly long enough.”
He drew her close and whispered, “Let’s go for a walk along the shore. We’ll never be missed.”
As Courtney looped her arm through his, he leaned close to whisper, “Besides, we need to plan our dream house. Your grandfather mentioned a piece of land for sale just down the road.”
Courtney was laughing as she strode along by his side. “Leave it to Poppie to find a way to keep us all close.”
“I like the way he thinks. In fact, I like everything about your family. I’m going to love being part of this big, noisy bunch.”
“That’s good, because there’s no way out now, Colby.”
He stopped and drew her close for a long, lingering kiss. “Promise?”
“You bet.”
His grin was quick and dangerous. “I love you, Courtney Brennan. And I’m going to do everything in my power to prove it to you for the rest of our lives.”
Courtney looked out over the tranquil waters of Lake Michigan and wondered at the lightness around her heart. A year ago she’d thought her heart was broken beyond repair. Yet here she was ready to trust again. This time, she knew, there was no risk involved. This time, the love was real. And her poor, shattered heart was whole and healed, thanks to the love of this very special man.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7762-9
VENDETTA
Copyright © 2004 by Ruth Ryan Langan
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All 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 incidents are pure invention.
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§The Wildes of Wyoming
‡‡The Lassiter Law
ΔDevil’s Cove
**The Sullivan Sisters
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Vendetta Page 14
