She unlocked her car and pulled open the back door. “It’s a scrapbook my mother made,” she said. “It has sayings that Gramma will like.”
He took the book from her and frowned. “I’ve seen this before. Where was it?”
“In Charlie’s night table, of all places.”
“Oh yeah!” He let out a bark of a laugh. “He hid condoms in here in high school.”
“In my mother’s scrapbook?” She choked the question. “What the heck was wrong with him?”
“Nothing. He was safe and smart. And didn’t want Aunt Sarah to find them. He said if he stuck them under the mattress, he might not be able to get to them in an urgent need.”
She rolled her eyes and flipped open the book. “Well, let’s make sure they’re gone before I give this to Gramma Finnie.”
The back cover had a flap, and Aidan reached right in, clearly knowing exactly where the condom stash had been kept.
“Nope. He probably used them all.”
She made a face.
“But he left this.” He slid out a piece of paper folded into a square, turning it over. “Charles John Spencer. Bucket list.”
They both blinked at it, inching back.
“Charlie left a bucket list?”
Aidan sighed. “My guess is he didn’t get to everything on it.” He unfolded one corner. “You want to read it?”
Did she? Today was perfect in every way. Glorious and right and good. Would Charlie’s list of things he’d wanted to accomplish in a life cut short wipe all that away?
“Yeah,” she said softly. “He should be here with us today.”
“He’s always here,” Aidan said, fully opening it. “Let’s see what the lug nut wanted to do in his life.”
Beck closed her eyes and pictured her brother, with his crooked smile and dancing eyes. His big hands and occasional bouts of bathroom humor. His steady love for his family, his country, and his friends. She said a silent prayer of gratitude for everything her brother had been and sent it to heaven, hoping he heard her.
“Fly a Black Hawk,” Aidan said.
“Well, he certainly did that.”
“See the Eiffel Tower.”
“He went to France on leave once,” she recalled. “I have a postcard.”
“Have sex with Dana DeWitt.” Aidan snorted. “He did not do that.”
“Ya never know, Kil,” she teased. “The condoms are missing.”
But Aidan didn’t laugh. His gaze was on the page, not moving. “And…and…” Aidan’s voice trailed off. “There’s one more thing, Beck.”
She searched his face, her throat tightening at the stunned expression on his face. “Tell me.”
Aidan tried to talk, but couldn’t. His eyes filled, and he closed them, his dark lashes damp. “All I can say is, now I know why he wrote one thing to you and another to me, two days apart.”
He turned the paper and showed it to her. She scanned the page of familiar handwriting, landing on the last thing on the list.
Dance at Beck and Aidan’s wedding.
Speechless, she stared at the words, unable to even breathe.
For a long time, neither one of them spoke, but then Aidan folded the paper, put it in his palm, and placed her hand on top.
“Rebecca Spencer, will you honor the wishes of my best friend? Marry me, and we’ll have a dance for Charlie.”
She squeezed his hand and lifted her face to his. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And there in the sunshine of the square, with Charlie’s deepest wishes pressed between their hands, Beck and Aidan sealed their promise and their love with a kiss.
Don’t miss
DOUBLE DOG DARE
book seven in the Dogfather series!
Daniel Kilcannon has one more child…but Darcy Kilcannon has no interest in her father’s matchmaking shenanigans. What she wants is her own small business where she can come and go as she pleases, surrendering to her wanderlust whenever the travel bug bites. But in order to achieve that dream, she’ll have to prove to her father that she’s mature enough to handle responsibility and rooted enough to live on her own. A condo in town? Sounds great to Darcy, as long as she can bring Kookie, her beloved Shih Tzu.
Joshua Ranier is out of town when the realtor leases one of the town houses he owns and has recently refurbished, but he’s assured that his new tenant is from a fine local family, is starting her own business, and has most certainly not broken his cardinal “no pets” rule. One glance at the gorgeous blonde sneaking a fuzzy white dog tucked in a designer bag in and out of his brownstone and he knows that someone hasn’t told him the truth. Darcy Kilcannon will have to go. And her little dog, too.
Except, Darcy defies every convention and expectation Josh has. And the big, sexy, tool-toting landlord makes Darcy suddenly want to…stay put. From the moment they meet, Darcy and Josh clash and spark and think about things neither one of them should be thinking about. And it isn’t when the rent’s due.
But when someone from his past shows up to wreck his present and saddle him with the last thing in the world he wants—his own dog—Joshua needs something only Darcy can offer. It’ll take one wild and crazy dare, two incredibly cute puppers, and, of course, a little help from the Dogfather, for this one to have a happy ending.
Find out the day Double Dog Dare releases! Sign up for my newsletter—you’ll get previews, prizes, and a personal note the day the next book is released!
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Fall in love with The Dogfather Series…
Sit…Stay…Beg (Book 1)
New Leash on Life (Book 2)
Leader of the Pack (Book 3)
Santa Paws Is Coming to Town (Book 4 – a Holiday Novella)
Bad to the Bone (Book 5)
Ruff Around the Edges (Book 6)
Double Dog Dare (Book 7)
Old Dog New Tricks (Book 8)
Find information and buy links for all the books in The Dogfather Series on Roxanne’s website here:
http://www.roxannestclaire.com/dogfather-series
About the Author
Published since 2003, Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty romance and suspense novels. She has written several popular series, including The Dogfather, Barefoot Bay, the Guardian Angelinos, and the Bullet Catchers.
In addition to being a ten-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA™ Award for the best in romance writing, Roxanne’s novels have won the National Readers’ Choice Award for best romantic suspense three times, as well as the Maggie, the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, the Award of Excellence, and many others.
She lives in Florida with her husband, and still attempts to run the lives of her young adult children. She loves dogs, books, chocolate, and wine, especially all at the same time.
www.roxannestclaire.com
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About the
Barefoot Bay Series
Have you kicked off your shoes in Barefoot Bay? Roxanne St. Claire writes the popular Barefoot Bay series, several connected mini-series all set on one gorgeous island off the Gulf coast of Florida. Every book stands alone, but why stop at one trip to paradise?
The Barefoot Bay Billionaires
(Fantasy men who fall for unlikely women)
Secrets on the Sand (ALWAYS FREE)
Scandal on the Sand
Seduction on the Sand
The Barefoot Bay Brides
; (Destination wedding planners who find love)
Barefoot in White
Barefoot in Lace
Barefoot in Pearls
Barefoot Bay Undercover
(Sizzling romantic suspense)
Barefoot Bound (prequel)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard
Barefoot with a Stranger
Barefoot with a Bad Boy
Barefoot Dreams
Barefoot Bay Timeless
(Second chance romance with silver fox heroes)
Barefoot at Sunset
Barefoot at Moonrise
Barefoot at Midnight
Find information and buy links for all the books set in Barefoot Bay on Roxanne’s website here:
http://www.roxannestclaire.com/barefoot-bay-series
Ruff Around the Edges Page 27
