“Face it, Mags, it’s the only sensible thing to do.”
Epilogue
“Children, it was a lovely ceremony.” Elizabeth dabbed at her eyes and kissed Cody and Maggy on the cheek. They were standing in the vestibule of the church, waiting to greet their guests for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. William Cody. And family. “I cried through the whole thing.” Sniffling, Elizabeth looked lovingly at Maggy. “And you, dear, you made a beautiful bride.” Her eyes went over Maggy’s wedding dress. It was antique satin and lace with leg-o-mutton sleeves and a long, flowing train. “I’ve never seen you look lovelier.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Maggy whispered, kissing her mother’s cheek. “You look wonderful, too.” Maggy’s gaze traveled over her mother. For once in her life, her mother had surprised her. Her floor length silk dress in the palest shade of peach was intricately patterned with beading. A matching pillbox hat with plumes of the same shade of peach sat atop her head. In her ears she wore diamond earrings—that matched. She looked wonderful, too wonderful.
“Mother,” Maggy said worriedly. “What do you have on your feet?”
“My feet, dear?” Elizabeth inched backward a fraction.
“Yes, Mother.” Maggy said, trying not to smile. “Your feet. Let me see them.”
“Well, children, I’d better join Chester in the receiving line. Here, give me Bobby,” Elizabeth said, plucking the tuxedo-clad toddler from Cody’s arms. “See you later.” Elizabeth darted away.
“Mother!” Maggy hissed, craning her neck to see. “I’ll bet she’s wearing those neon-green glow-in-the-dark tennis shoes,” she muttered, turning to Cody.
“Come on now, Mags, stop scowling. Here comes the photographer. You want him to think you’re looking like that because you’re sorry you married me?” Cody gazed at her, a twinkle in his eye.
“Mr. and Mrs. Cody, look this way, please?”
Maggy and Cody turned, smiling brightly. “Mags?” Cody whispered. “How do you feel about Seattle?”
“Is this a trick question?” Maggy asked, wondering what her feelings about Seattle had to do with what was going on at the moment.
“No, no, no,” Cody assured her, placing his hand on her elbow and guiding her in the direction the photographer was indicating. “I was just wondering how you felt about Seattle.”
“Well, I’ve never been there.” She glanced suspiciously at her husband. “Why all this interest in Seattle all of a sudden? I thought we were going to Hawaii for our honeymoon.”
“Mrs. Cody, please?” The photographer sighed. “Could I have your attention for just a few moments?”
“Behave yourself,” Cody admonished, trying to hold back a grin.
“Cody?” she whispered out of the side of her mouth, mindful of the photographer who was watching her intently. “What’s going on?”
“Now promise you’re not going to get upset?”
Oh Lord! She recognized that tone of voice!
“I promise I’m not going to get upset,” Maggy assured him, trying not to smile at the devilish look on his face.
“Well, Mags, have you ever heard of a romance novel called Love’s Sweet Honor?”
“Heard of it?” Forgetting the photographer, Maggy whipped her head around. “Cody, that’s the book that caused so much trouble for Rebecca English. Remember I told you she got caught reading it in cla—” The mischievous look on Cody’s face made Maggy stop abruptly. “Why do you want to know if I’ve ever heard of—? Oh no!” Maggy’s eyes grew round with surprise. “Cody,” she moaned. “Tell me you didn’t!”
His grin widened.
“Oh Lord,” she said glumly. “You did, didn’t you? You wrote Love’s Sweet Honor.”
Cody nodded his head slowly. Here we go again, Maggy thought in amusement.
“So—what does Love’s Sweet Honor have to do with Seattle?” Why did she have the feeling she was going to be sorry she asked? Perhaps it was the devilish look on her husband’s face.
“Well,” he said slowly, his mouth curving upward. “Love’s Sweet Honor is a finalist in a contest for Best Romance Novel of the year. And the award ceremony is in—”
“Seattle,” she finished for him, suddenly putting all the pieces together. Maggy sighed. “When do we leave?”
Cody glanced at his watch. “In about forty minutes, and if we don’t hurry, we’re going to miss our plane.”
“Forty minutes!” Maggy cried in alarm. “Cody, I can’t get on a plane in a wedding dress! And what about Bobby?”
“Mrs. Cody, please?” The photographer stood up and sighed heavily. “If you’ll just give me your attention for a few more moments, please? I promise I’ll try to hurry.”
“Now, Mags,” Cody said gently. “You promised you weren’t going to get upset. Now don’t worry about your clothes. Your mother brought your suitcases and a change; they’re already waiting in the limo. And Bobby and your mother are meeting us in Seattle next week. So—what do you think?” He grinned down at her, and Maggy smiled.
“I think you had this all planned.”
“I did,” Cody confirmed, bending to brush his lips across hers. “After all, everyone knows I’m a very reasonable, rational, sensible person.”
“I wouldn’t bet the farm on that,” she cautioned with a laugh.
“We don’t own a farm,” Cody pointed out. “I love you, Mags,” he said softly, bending down to scoop Maggy up into his arms.
“I love you, too,” Maggy whispered, as Cody’s lips found hers.
“Hold that pose!” the photographer cried, snapping away.
“Cody,” Maggy murmured, laying her head on her husband’s shoulder as he started toward the door. “Now I know how you got your nickname.”
“That’s not why, honey.” Laughing softly, Cody pushed open the church door, then came to a halt as he bent to kiss her lips again. “Mags, honey,” he whispered, his eyes shining with love. “As soon as we get to Seattle, I promise to show you just how I got my nickname.” He wiggled his brows suggestively, and Maggy laughed softly.
“Is this the fun part?” she whispered and Cody threw back his head and laughed again as he started down the steps.
“Mags, honey, this is definitely the fun part.”
About the Author
Sharon DeVita is a former Adjunct Prof. of Lit/Comm. where she taught all levels of fiction and non-fiction writing. Sharon is also the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of 34 books of fiction and non-fiction, including one that’s been optioned as a Movie of the Week. A frequent guest speaker and lecturer at writing conferences all over the world, Sharon and her husband, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, reside in the Southwest where snow has become just another 4 letter word.
Look for these titles by Sharon DeVita
Now Available:
Heavenly Match
Kane and Mabel
Coming Soon:
Italian Knights
Sherlock’s Home
When a new business partner appears in Kati’s diner, it’s not just the broccoli that’s steamed.
Kane and Mabel
© 2012 Sharon DeVita
Kati Rose Ryan lives in the small town of Libertyville, Missouri, taking care of the diner her irresponsible brother left her to run. When a “friend” of her brother shows up at the diner, Kati is immediately suspicious. Her brother Patrick’s friends are nothing but thieves and freeloaders and she’s had her fill of them.
She fully intends to throw no-good Lucas Kane out on his ear. Until Lucas tells her that her brother lost his half of the diner to him in a poker game, and Lucas is her new partner.
Furious that her brother could be so reckless and irresponsible to gamble his half of the diner away, Kati does everything in her power to get rid of Lucas. But, Lucas isn’t budging. In fact, he intends to stay in Libertyville until he can prove to Kati that he doesn’t just want to be her partner in the diner, but in life, as well.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Kane and Ma
bel:
“Can I help you?”
He lifted his head and Kati found herself staring into the most glorious blue eyes she had ever seen. He was more attractive up close than she’d anticipated. Her mouth grew dry as his gaze slowly swept over her, from the top of her unruly auburn curls, across the white blouse and past the faded jeans to linger on her tattered sneakers.
A smile twitched at his mouth. “A little more coffee would be nice.” He lifted his cup to her and Kati glared at him. Another freeloader, she knew it! If she started waiting on him and serving him free food, she’d never get rid of him.
Yanking the cup out of his hand, Kati stormed behind the counter and grabbed the pot left over from breakfast. Sloshing some cold coffee into his cup, she returned to the booth and banged the cup down in front of him. Tapping her foot impatiently and trying not to stare at him, she waited while he took a sip.
“This coffee is terrible,” he announced, and Kati reached out and snatched the cup out of his hand.
“Since you don’t want any more of my coffee, perhaps you’ll tell me what you do want?”
One black brow rose and his eyes danced merrily. “Do you treat all your customers so courteously?” he asked casually, pausing to roll up the sleeves of his shirt.
“Listen, Mr.—”
“Kane. Lucas Kane.” He held out his hand and Kati stared at it as if it were a snake ready to strike. Her eyes caught a flash of something on his arm. A tattoo, that much she knew for sure. She tried not to stare, but her curiosity got the best of her and she squinted, trying to make out the words.
“Born to Raise Kane,” he drawled slowly, and Kati’s startled gaze flew to his. Her breath caught unexpectedly and she felt annoyance streak through her.
“Mr. Kane,” she said sharply. “I have work to do, so if you don’t mind, would you please state what your business with my brother is, so that I can get on with my business?”
“Ahhh, my business. Well, Mabel…” Leaning back against the booth, he inclined his head to study her from a different angle.
“My name’s not Mabel,” she snapped, a little off balance at the way he was looking at her.
He frowned in obvious confusion. “Who’s Mabel?” he inquired, and Kati ground her teeth. Just because the diner was called Mabel’s didn’t mean there had to be a Mabel. That was the name of the diner when she purchased it. She bought the place from a man named Bruno, and he’d never seen hide nor hair of anyone named Mabel, either. Everyone in town knew who really owned the place, so there didn’t seem much point in changing the name. Besides, new signs cost money, money better spent elsewhere, not that she intended to explain all of that to him.
“Would you please state your business?” Kati demanded, her patience sorely strained.
He smiled pleasantly. “I guess you could say my business is your business.” Kati narrowed her eyes to stare at him suspiciously.
“What the devil are you talking about, Mr. Kane? I don’t have time to play guessing games with you.”
“Call me Luke.”
“I’ll call you a lot more than that if you don’t hurry up and tell me what you want!” Kati threatened, trying to ignore Bessie who was waving frantically from the kitchen.
He lifted his finger and beckoned Kati closer. Puzzled, but anxious to learn what he wanted, she leaned down so he could whisper in her ear. “You know,” he said softly, his warm breath fanning her hair, “you are mighty testy. Perhaps you should try meditating. Maybe your karma is out of whack!”
Jerking upright, Kati glared at him, not at all amused by the mischief in his eyes. “What do you want?”
“Food,” he said simply. “But after that coffee, I don’t know if I should risk it. I’m not too fond of food poisoning.”
“Food poisoning!” Kati bellowed, glaring at the man. How dare he insult her diner. “I’ll have you know the food in here is excellent. Not that you’re going to get any of it!”
Baby Makes Three
Sharon De Vita
If he’s such a man’s man, then why did he just win a Mother of the Year award?
“Wild Bill” Cody has a problem. The author of a popular series of action-adventure novels, he has also been penning an anonymous column of motherhood articles based on his experience raising his two-year-old nephew. When his handiwork lands him the magazine’s coveted Motherhood of the Year award, he knows that if he accepts the award as himself, his book-writing career will be over. He needs a mommy stand-in. Stat!
Maggie Magee is perfect for the role. The assistant headmistress of a prestigious girls’ academy, Maggie will make a perfect imaginary mom for Bobby. Too bad she is adamantly against the idea. In fear for her own job should she go along with this harebrained scheme, Maggie finds herself reluctantly agreeing to participate. But as the awards draw nearer, both Maggie and Cody start to see fiction become fact as their partnership becomes something more…and baby makes three.
This book was previously published by Silhouette Romance in April, 1988.
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They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Baby Makes Three
Copyright © 2012 by Sharon DeVita
ISBN: 978-1-60928-998-0
Edited by Heather Osborn
Cover by Kim Killion
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Original Publication by Silhouette Romance: April 1988
First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: April 2012
www.samhainpublishing.com
Baby Makes Three: Heartwarming Love and Laughter Page 15
