“Would you like some ice cream?” Gloria asked.
“No,” Daisy answered. “I don’t want anything that would dilute the taste of this.”
“I’ve researched your charity. I can’t believe all the things it has accomplished. I’ve already made a donation.”
Daisy sputtered and grabbed her napkin.
“You didn’t have to do that, Mrs. Perez.”
“I told you to call me Gloria. And yes, I did. I think this is my new favorite charity, after St. Jude’s of course. Those girls you saved in Africa. It made me cry. All the good work you do. My Leo told me what you’re trying to accomplish for all of those women in Yemen. I understand. My husband died many years ago. It is difficult for a woman to raise her family on her own even here in the United States. I can’t imagine what it would be like under those circumstances in Yemen. You are to be commended.”
Daisy ducked her head and took another bite of the dessert.
“She doesn’t take compliments well, does she, mijo?”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“How is your father?” Gloria asked.
Daisy didn’t know what to say, she had only talked to him once since she’d been back in the states. “Fine.”
“That’s another thing that impressed me, that you went to Afghanistan to help your father. That was wonderful.”
“Gloria, you’re getting the wrong impression of me. I’m not that great. It was my brothers who did all the work. I just was over there to talk to the embassy because I knew how to do that. My brothers were the real heroes.”
“And she’s modest.” Gloria beamed at Leo.
“What was it like raising so many children?” Daisy asked Gloria. “Especially Leo. He must have been a handful.”
“He was. Out of all my children, Leo was always getting into the most mischief. I was so sad when he decided to join the military. Sad and scared. I wanted him to stay close by me, like the others. But he wanted to see the world and fly those planes. I thought that was as bad as it could get. Then he changed from being a Navy pilot to special forces, and he gave me all of my white hair.”
Daisy looked at the four strands of gray in Gloria’s fabulous black hair that was so like her son’s.
“His job is scary, but he does it well.” The fact that her father was alive was a testament to that.
“I still wish he could become a local police officer like his big brother Martin, or a firefighter like his brother Felipe.”
“It sounds like all of your sons believe in serving others.”
“Just like their father. He was a Marine.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Gloria nodded solemnly. “They are all good men like their father. I am blessed.” She looked down at Daisy’s chest. “Do you like your necklace?”
“Yes. I was missing my medal. A nun had given it to me years ago when I was in Guatemala. I felt lost without it.”
“My son, he thinks of everything.”
“Okay, time to go,” Leo interjected.
“He does not like it when I say nice things about him,” Gloria laughed.
“Some time we’ll have to get together, just the two of us,” Daisy whispered.
“That is a very good idea. Maybe next time, you can come over for our Sunday family dinner.”
“I would love to.”
Leo hustled Daisy out of the house and got her into the truck. “My mother loves you,” he grinned.
“She probably loves all the women you bring home.”
He gave her a confused look. “What are you talking about? You’re the only woman I’ve ever had my mom meet.”
It was as if the ground fell out beneath her. “Ever?”
He pulled her close, his hand wrapped around her nape so that their foreheads touched.
“Daisy, you’re it. Forever. Always.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Forever. Always.”
Epilogue
Four Months Later, St. Regis Hotel
Daisy left the podium to thunderous applause. Daisy took one last look at the screen behind her. The final picture still up was of Abia wrapped in her mother’s arms, a stunning smile on her face as she held up one of her drawings. Hardly noticeable was the St. Christopher’s medal around her neck.
When the lights weren’t shining in her eyes anymore Daisy noticed that people were still standing up and clapping. Her cheeks burned. It was ridiculous. She walked down the steps and headed back to the large round table that held people she would never have expected to be dining together.
Leo held out her chair for her, and the applause didn’t stop until she sat down.
“You knocked them dead,” he whispered in her ear.
“If I had done that, they wouldn’t be standing,” she griped. “Make them stop.”
Alistair, who was on the other side of her, laughed. “No can do, Daisy, you’re the woman of the night.”
She took a moment to look around the ballroom and saw that people were finally sitting back down. Thank the Lord.
“You did good, Sis.” Jim was seated across from her, his pregnant wife next to him.
“Darling, I’m so proud of you,” her mother said.
“You have raised an amazing daughter.” Gloria Perez smiled at Alice Barrett.
“She ended up raising herself.”
“Heck of a speech.” Martin Perez grinned at her.
“Hear, hear.” His wife gave her a warm smile.
“I didn’t do anything, it was the people of W.A.N.T. I just got some donations and moved chess pieces around the board.”
“And she really believes that,” Leo said with a laugh. “It’s crazy.”
“Daisy is the most impressive woman I’ve ever known. She is the Maker of Miracles,” Ethan Squires said from the other side of Leo.
“I’ll second that.” Alistair stood up and raised his glass of champagne.
Daisy felt heat flooding her cheeks. Her dad mouthed the words ‘I love you.’
‘I love you, too,’ she mouthed back.
Everybody around the table stood up and raised their glasses.
“To the Maker of Miracles,” they toasted.
She reached out and grabbed Leo’s hand and he squeezed it tight.
“You’re my miracle,” he whispered in her ear.
Something was tickling her neck. Her necklace felt funny. Daisy brushed at it with her fingers. The bed was sublime here in the hotel, but nothing felt better than waking up curled next to Leo. She tugged at her necklace again as she looked over her shoulder and saw Leo staring at her.
“What?” she asked sleepily.
“Nothing, just enjoying the view.”
She knew damn well she must look a fright with her dolled-up hair a mess and some of her make-up still on from the night before.
“Don’t go second-guessing yourself, young lady, you look gorgeous.”
Daisy smiled. The only reason she felt beautiful was because of this man. She tugged at her necklace again; it felt wrong.
“Dammit. I think I broke my necklace.”
She sat up in bed, trying to get a look at her medal in the dawn light of the hotel room. Then she realized two things were hanging from the necklace.
“Leo, turn on the light.”
He obliged.
Daisy held up the necklace and her heart stopped. A diamond ring, set in platinum, with emeralds on either side was hanging off her necklace. She stared at it, stunned. She couldn’t look away. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
“Say something,” Leo coaxed.
She continued to stare. This was it. This was her forever. All of a sudden the ring blurred.
“Ah, Honey, you’re crying.”
“I want to marry you so bad. I want to have babies with you. Seven, just like your Mama. I want to live with you all the time, no more telecommuting. Can we have that?” She didn’t look away from the ring. As she waited for his answer, she couldn’t breathe.
&nb
sp; “I want that too, Daisy. I don’t know about seven.”
She jerked her head to glare at him. “Seven,” she said vehemently.
“Okay, seven,” he gave her a lopsided grin.
“You’re my forever,” she breathed.
He cupped her face, his lips scant inches from hers. “And you’re my always.”
I hope you enjoyed Her Sensual Protector. To stay up to date, get the latest Caitlyn Factor or to discuss the book click here to join my reader group.
About the Author
Caitlyn O’Leary is a USA Bestselling Author, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and a Golden Quill Recipient from Book Viral in 2015. Hampered with a mild form of dyslexia she began memorizing books at an early age until her grandmother, the English teacher, took the time to teach her to read -- then she never stopped. She began re-writing alternate endings for her Trixie Belden books into happily-ever-afters with Trixie's platonic friend Jim. When she was home with pneumonia at twelve, she read the entire set of World Book Encyclopedias -- a little more challenging to end those happily.
Caitlyn loves writing about Alpha males with strong heroines who keep the men on their toes. There is plenty of action, suspense and humor in her books. She is never shy about tackling some of today’s tough and relevant issues.
In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic suspense novels, she is a devoted aunt, an avid reader, a former corporate executive for a Fortune 100 company, and totally in love with her husband of soon-to-be twenty years.
She recently moved back home to the Pacific Northwest from Southern California. She is so happy to see the seasons again; rain, rain and more rain. She has a large fan group on Facebook and through her e-mail list. Caitlyn is known for telling her “Caitlyn Factors”, where she relates her little and big life’s screw-ups. The list is long. She loves hearing and connecting with her fans on a daily basis.
Keep up with Caitlyn O’Leary:
Website: www.caitlynoleary.com
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Also by Caitlyn O’Leary
Night Storm Series
Her Ruthless Protector (Book #1)
Her Tempting Protector (Book #2)
Her Chosen Protector (Book #3)
Her Intense Protector (Book #4)
Her Sensual Protector (Book #5)
Night Storm Legacy Series
Lawson & Jill (Book 1)
The Midnight Delta Series
Her Vigilant Seal (Book #1)
Her Loyal Seal (Book #2)
Her Adoring Seal (Book #3)
Sealed with a Kiss (Book #4)
Her Daring Seal (Book #5)
Her Fierce Seal (Book #6)
A Seals Vigilant Heart (Book #7)
Her Dominant Seal (Book #8)
Her Relentless Seal (Book #9)
Her Treasured Seal (Book #10)
Her Unbroken Seal (Book #11)
Black Dawn Series
Her Steadfast Hero (Book #1)
Her Devoted Hero (Book #2)
Her Passionate Hero (Book #3)
Her Wicked Hero (Book #4)
Her Guarded Hero (Book #5)
Her Captivated Hero (Book #6)
Her Honorable Hero (Book #7)
Her Loving Hero (Book #8)
The Found Series
Revealed (Book #1)
Forsaken (Book #2)
Healed (Book #3)
Shadows Alliance Series
Declan
Her Sensual Protector: A Navy SEAL Romance (Night Storm Book 5) Page 19
