“You didn’t abandon anyone,” Marta said gently. “Besides, look how well it’s all worked out. I’ve never seen Graham so happy. Dawn’s perfect for him. She’s a lovely young woman.”
“She is that. I’m proud to have her join our family.”
“Her little boy is a sweetheart.”
“He’s a charmer, all right. A hell-raiser, too.” Jonas grinned. “Fits right in with our own grandkids.”
Marta peered into the mirror and smoothed down a stray curl. “Isn’t it lovely that they’ve decided to make their home in Brazos Springs?” She smiled. “The party chairwoman says Graham’s a wonderful candidate for district attorney.”
“That he is.”
“And I’m so pleased he and Leighton are getting on well.”
“Well, Gray’s goin’ out of his way to deal nicely with his old man. I expect that might be Dawn’s doin’.” Jonas lifted his wife’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “A good woman can be a powerful influence on a man, like you’ve been on me, Mrs. Baron. I don’t think I tell you that often enough.”
Marta squeezed her husband’s arm. “I’m kind of fond of you, too,” she said, and blinked back tears that came not of sorrow but of joy.
Twenty minutes later, in the gardens behind Espada, Gray stood at an altar bedecked with white and pink roses, watching as his bride took Dan Coyle’s arm and waited for the pianist to begin playing the music they’d chosen for her walk up the aisle. Dawn wore a slender column of ivory lace; her hair was drawn back from her face and when she looked up from her bouquet of palest pink roses and smiled directly at him, Gray felt his heart lift into his throat.
“Beautiful,” he murmured to his best man, Keir, who stood beside him.
“Yes,” Keir said solemnly, “she certainly is.”
“Hush,” the maid of honor said, scolding them both.
Keir looked at her. Actually he’d been looking at her for the past half hour, ever since the wedding party assembled on the deck. He’d never seen Cassie look so, well, so beautiful. So softly feminine. So—so…
Something seemed to lift the hair on the nape of his neck. A breeze, he thought, though his sister, Meghan, would have said it was the breath of the little people teasing his senses. A good thing she wasn’t here, then, Keir thought wryly, and turned his attention to the groom, who was whispering to the little boy standing on his other side.
“Tommy?” Gray said, out of the side of his mouth. “Have you got the rings?”
A small hand snaked into his. “I got ‘em,” Tommy whispered back.
Gray squeezed the boy’s fingers. Four months had gone by since Dawn had introduced them and he already felt as if the child was his own flesh and blood.
“You know what, Gray?”
“What?”
“My mom was crying last night. Happy tears, she said, an’ it was true ‘cause she kept laughin’ and huggin’ me while she cried. She says it’s because she loves you so much. Isn’t that weird?”
“Weird.” Gray cleared his throat. “But that’s the way it goes, pal.”
“That’s what she said, too. Gray?”
“Uh-huh?”
“I’m glad we’re marrying you.”
Gray looked at the earnest little face. It wasn’t part of the ceremony and he figured he was probably going to upset the wedding planner but he’d already done that by insisting on having two best men.
“Me, too.” He bent and gave the kid a quick hug. Then he straightened up, watched his bride come toward him on Dan’s arm. “Hello, sweetheart,” he said.
Dawn smiled. “Hello, my love.” Her voice trembled with emotion. Who could have imagined so much happiness? She rose on her toes and pressed a kiss to Dan’s cheek. “I adore him,” she whispered.
Dan grinned. “I’d never have guessed,” he whispered back. He shook Gray’s hand, then eased into one of the little white chairs in the front row, directly next to Mary Elizabeth O’Connell, who was quietly weeping. Dan rolled his eyes and dug into his pocket for a snowy-white handkerchief.
“I don’t know why women cry at weddings,” he mumbled, handing it to her.
“Because we’re happy, you idiot,” Mary mumbled in return.
Dan took a deep breath. “And would you cry at your own wedding, Mrs. O’Connell?”
Mary looked at him. “Is that a proposal, Mr. Coyle?”
“It is. Will you marry me, Mary?”
She smiled. “Yes, Dan,” she said simply, “I will.”
Dan took her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Then, fingers clasped, they turned their attention to the altar, where Cassie was weeping joyfully into her bouquet of roses. She’d been weeping all morning, except for the moment Dawn had hugged her, smiled, and tucked a crisp new dollar bill into her hand.
“I lost that bet,” she’d said, “remember? The one we made when I said I’d never see Gray again.”
“Oh,” Cassie had replied, “of course you did.” She’d laughed, then gone right back to crying, but they were happy tears. Her best friend had found happiness and deserved every bit of it. Not everyone was that lucky. She shot a quick look at Keir, who flashed her his usual polite smile. No, she thought, not everyone.
And then the guests rose to their feet, applauding, even laughing, because Mr. and Mrs. Graham Baron were in each other’s arms, sharing a kiss that surely marked the start of a long and wonderful life, while a little boy locked his arms around their legs and beamed.
* * * * *
If you loved this Sandra Marton title, you will love the newest 8 book series from Harlequin Presents®…
The Billionaire’s Legacy
A search for truth and the promise of passion!
For nearly sixty years, Italian billionaire, Giovanni Di Sione has a kept a shocking secret. Now, nearing the end of his days, he wants his grandchildren to know their true heritage.
He sends them each on a journey to find his“Lost Mistresses”, a collection of love tokens–the only remaining evidence of his lost identity, his lost history…his lost love.
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The Billionaire’s Legacy
Di Sione’s Innocent Conquest by Carol Marinelli
The Di Sione Secret Baby by Maya Blake
To Blackmail a Di Sione by Rachel Thomas
The Return of the Di Sione Wife by Caitlin Crews
Di Sione’s Virgin Mistress by Sharon Kendrick
A Di Sione for the Greek’s Pleasure by Kate Hewitt
A Deal for the Di Sione Ring by Jennifer Hayward
The Last Di Sione Claims His Prize by Maisey Yates
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ISBN: 9781460398555
Raising the Stakes
Copyright © 2002 by Sandra Marton
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