Brady bent, kissed her head and inhaled her sweet aroma. “God, Sam, please tell me…”
“Shh, it’s all right,” she assured him. “I’m sorry my father scared you. The baby is fine and so am I.”
“May I sit here?” he asked as his hip rested on the edge of the bed.
“Please.”
Brady waited for her to say something. He couldn’t imagine why she told her father she was fine when clearly she wasn’t. What had caused her to cry so much the tip of her little nose was red?
He couldn’t take the silence. “Your father said you got upset when he told you he called me.”
She glanced down to her hands as they toyed with the hem of the bleached-white blanket. “Yes.”
“Do you want me to go?”
“No.” She continued to work her shaky hands. “I just…I don’t know how to tell you this. Not with the tension between us and the harsh words.”
Brady’s chest tightened as he lifted her chin with his index finger. “Forget about that for now. I’m going crazy here. What’s wrong?”
“Twins,” she blurted out before shielding her face with her hands and bursting into tears.
Twins? The word registered in Brady’s head. Two babies.
A grin split across his face as a chuckle bubbled its way up. “Sam,” he said, easing her hands down. “Why are you so upset?”
She looked up, sniffed. “Are you laughing?”
Squeezing her delicate, wet hands between his own, he kissed her loudly on the mouth. “God, you have no idea what had been going through my mind. But, two babies? How could I not be happy?”
Brady covered her mouth with his hand, then slid his fingers around to caress her cheek. “Sam, I love you.”
“I know. I saw your face when you came in.” She smiled through teary eyes. “You were frightened and I know you wouldn’t have been if you didn’t care. I guess I should’ve listened to my heart days ago.”
Relief swept through him. “I’m glad your heart knew the right answer.”
“I spoke with Miles today,” she told him. “He told me the two of you are considering joining forces with the resort.”
Brady shrugged. “I wanted to do something to ease your pain, to make sure you didn’t have to choose sides and you could have control over the dealings with Lani Kaimana.”
“That’s another reason I knew you loved me,” she confessed.
Brady squeezed her hands. “So why did you have pain? Did the doctors say?”
“Because with two babies, my uterus is stretching faster, so I was cramping a lot.”
“I still can’t believe it,” he muttered. “Why didn’t you tell your father?”
“We’re just getting back to a father-daughter relationship, so I haven’t filled him in on too much of my personal life.”
“I noticed the tension that normally surrounded the two of you wasn’t there.” Brady moved his hand from her cheek back to her hand. “I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I want to be a part of my babies’ lives.”
“Are you saying you only want to be in their lives?”
His heart nearly leaped through his chest. “No. I’d love to be in your life again, Sam. I want so much from you, it scares me. I want you to be my wife. Say yes.”
Sam sat up straighter, reached to touch his cheek. “Brady, I love you. Yes, I’ll be your wife.”
Epilogue
One month later, subtle waves rippled onto the beach as the vibrant orange sun set beyond the water.
Sam couldn’t believe she was marrying Brady on the beach in front of their resort. He looked so handsome barefoot in his khaki linen pants and white button-up shirt. She’d wanted a simple wedding and when he’d suggested the location, she knew they couldn’t begin their life together at a better spot.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest said. “You may kiss your bride, Mr. Stone.”
Brady’s eyes focused on her lips as his mouth spread into a grin. “My pleasure.”
He kissed her slowly, passionately. Their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Stone.
Brady eased back, then whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful.”
Sam had chosen a pale pink strapless chiffon dress that stopped just below her knees. She wore her mother’s diamond earrings and necklace, a present from her father.
Rising on her tiptoes, she whispered, “Let’s break the news.”
“Okay.”
The priest announced the new couple and Cade and Sam’s father applauded. Sam hugged her dad and kissed him on the cheek.
“I have an announcement to make,” she said, clasping her husband’s hand. All eyes were on her as the quivering in her belly took control. “You know how we Donovans and Stones don’t do anything halfway.”
She smiled at their nods. “Well, there will be two babies in the spring, not just one.”
Stanley slapped Brady on the back, hugged Samantha. “A new legacy with two of the strongest families. I’d say that’s a great way to start a life together.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Brady announced as he looked into the eyes of his bride.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4999-2
SEDUCING THE ENEMY’S DAUGHTER
Copyright © 2010 by Jules Bennett
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