Falling for the Texas Tycoon
Page 19
As Alan guided her toward the bar, Sherri approached them.
“Uh-oh,” he whispered in Lisa’s ear. “I know that look. She has something on her mind.”
Sherri gave them both a forced smile, then asked Lisa, “Can we talk for a few minutes?”
Protectively, Alan stepped closer to Lisa. “Why don’t you say what you have to say to both of us?”
Lisa patted his arm. “It’s okay.” She motioned Sherri to an alcove in the back of the room where no one was standing. Then she kissed Alan’s cheek. “I won’t be long.”
Still, Alan looked worried as Lisa followed his ex-wife to the corner of the room.
Once there, Sherri appeared to be…nervous. “I know I haven’t been very gracious about you and Alan. After all, everything happened so fast.”
“Yes, it did,” Lisa agreed, not knowing what to expect. Truth be told, she wanted Alan’s family and friends to like her. Yet if they didn’t, she was going to love him and make a life with him, anyway.
“Then this afternoon, when you told us about the baby you gave up…”
Lisa tensed.
“I can only imagine how hard it was for you to give up your child. I saw you with Timothy earlier and it’s obvious you still care a lot. I just wanted to tell you how I admire the way you stay in his life, yet allow the Summers to be his parents. That’s got to tear you up sometimes.”
“It does,” she admitted, hoping she wouldn’t be sorry she had.
To Lisa’s surprise, Sherri extended her hand. “I know Christina likes you a lot. And I’m going to warn you, I probably won’t be the best ex-wife you’ll ever find. Nevertheless, I want to welcome you to the family. Maybe we can learn to be…friends.”
In Sherri’s eyes, Lisa saw sincerity. She shook her hand. “Thank you.”
“Neal will come around. Just give him some time. I think he can already see how happy you make Alan. I know I can.”
Apparently unable to restrain himself from watching over Lisa, Alan joined them. “Everything okay?” he asked, looking from one woman to the other.
“We’re ‘cool’ as our daughter would say,” Sherri joked. Then she moved away, leaving them alone.
As soon as his ex-wife was out of earshot, Lisa beamed at him. “Everything’s wonderful! Sherri welcomed me to the family.”
“Only Sherri would have that much nerve,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“I’m glad she did. Who knows? We might even become friends.”
“That’s a disturbing thought,” he said dryly. “If you compare notes on me, you’ll discover all my flaws.”
“Flaws? You mean you have flaws?” she teased.
“You know I do,” he said, seriously now.
Sliding her arms around him, she responded, “What I know is that I love you. I love everything about you and I always will.”
Alan enfolded her in his embrace. “And I love you. For now until…”
“Forever,” she breathed.
“Forever,” he agreed.
Then he kissed her, and they both forgot they were in the middle of their engagement party.
They were the only two people in the world—a man and a woman who would be in love…who would love each other…for a lifetime.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-1764-8
FALLING FOR THE TEXAS TYCOON
Copyright © 2007 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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