Wild Hearts (The DiCarlo Brides)

by Heather Tullis

  Delphi looked around from face to face, thinking of how each of them had affected her life in the past twelve months. What a difference such a short span of time could make. She decided it might take time, but she wasn’t going to hide in the corner and hold back any more. She’d had her fill of that, and it hadn’t made her happy.

  The doorbell rang and she turned to see Jeremy in the doorway. Their eyes met and held and she thought again that she had no idea what moving here would do to her. She smiled, just glad to see him, to have him in her life, no matter what it brought, and opened the door.

  “Hey.” He leaned in and brushed a kiss on her lips.

  “Hey, yourself.” She shifted to welcome him in. Her dad had put her here, now it was her decision to make the most of it.

  He looked around the room. “There are always so many people at these things.”

  “Yes. That’s what makes it us. I guess. In another year there will be toddlers running around. It’ll just be more of the same noisy fun.”

  “It’s a good noise, though, isn’t it?” he asked, searching her face.

  She glanced at her sisters again. Really her sisters and not just the women who had kept her father from her for all of these years the way she used to think. “Yeah, it is.”

  “Jeremy, you’ve finally arrived,” Rosemary said, calling attention to them. “Everyone’s here. Come in, eat, be merry. We have cake—and wait until you see what I slaved over the past few nights. It’s spectacular, if I do say so myself.”

  Rosemary would never be humble when it came to her food, but that was part of what made her Rosemary

  “I brought you something,” Jeremy said, reaching into his back pocket.

  “Everyone did. It’s her birthday, remember?” Rosemary asked.

  “This isn’t a birthday gift, it’s just really great timing.” He handed over the file that had saved their lives. “I thought you should have this. Oh, and guess what? I had an expert authenticate it. Guess how old it is?”

  “Old enough to have belonged to Manuel?” Vince guessed.

  “You got it.” Jeremy looked back at Delphi. “It’s almost like he left it there for us.”

  “Do you really think it was his mine?” she asked, feeling a little bit of awe.

  “We’ll never know.”

  Delphi smiled, Jonquil had pulled Cleo over to assist with setting the table—a chore designed to make her feel helpful and part of the crowd. They giggled together about something. Lana cooed over her baby, so much love radiating from her face that it made Delphi’s throat ache while Sage sat beside her talking babies, no doubt. Joel hovered at her elbow, ever concerned for his wife. The rest of the men stood in the corner where they’d been talking sports or something and Cami—fellow kitchen pariah—brought in sodas from the fridge they kept in the garage for occasions like this. It made Delphi’s throat tighten. Jeremy slid his hand in to hers and squeezed it. A lump rose in her throat but she swallowed it back and smiled.

  They passed around the food and sat to eat.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Jonquil said when Delphi was halfway through her food.

  “It’s kind of weird.” She glanced at the picture of their father on the mantle. “This is a celebration, but it’s also the anniversary of his death. I guess I feel a little torn. Not sure what to say.”

  “He would love seeing this,” Sage said. “All of us sitting around the house together, getting along. Don’t you think?”

  “Yeah.” Lana cradled her baby close and leaned into Blake’s embrace. “Is it too weird for us to talk about him at your birthday party?” she asked Delphi.

  “No. Oddly enough, it feels kind of good. Sad, but okay.”

  They talked about things he’d done, places he’d taken one daughter or the next, reminiscing and spilling over into the rare memories of the times George had orchestrated their meetings. Delphi wondered when she had given up on the bitterness and anger, letting it go.

  When Jeremy turned and offered her a taste his chicken, she leaned in, savoring it.

  Presents came before cake, if only to give the food a moment to settle, but Jeremy didn’t pony anything up. The cake was a two-story confection—excessive even for a group this size—with a replica of her new bike on top and black tires surrounding the bottom layer. Written on the side of the top tier were the words Happy Birthday to our Wild Child with pixies on each side of the words. It made her laugh and feel oddly loved.

  When Rosemary started to slice it up, Jeremy took Delphi’s elbow and tugged her toward the back deck. “Give us a minute, will you?” he said to no one in particular.

  Speculative looks followed them out, but no one objected.

  “What’s going on?” Delphi asked when he shut the sliding glass door behind them for privacy, nerves showing on his face.

  “I have a present for you, but I didn’t want to give it to you in front of everyone else.”

  “Oh?” She felt anxious and curious and strangely hopeful.

  He sucked in a deep breath. “You’ve accused me of having too many smooth words, but when I tried to figure out what to say this time, all of my smoothness deserted me. Just try to wait until I finish, okay?” He rubbed his hands together. “You know I’ve never dated anyone seriously, not since high school, and it turned out that wasn’t nearly as serious as I thought it was at the time, so I told myself that I couldn’t do serious. That it didn’t matter because you weren’t any more serious about this than I was.

  “Then recently somewhere in the middle of running from someone trying to force us off the road, and watching you work around brainless salesmen and face pain and danger I had never thought you could deal with, never mind come out on top of, I realized that I love you.” He paused as if gathering his thoughts again. “I’m babbling. Sorry. I know I haven’t been very good at showing you and that you might not want to stay here when your year is up, but I don’t think I can live without you. If I have to follow you to New York, I will.” He paused and looked in in the eyes. “Don’t leave me here alone.”

  Delphi squeezed her hands together, barely able to breathe as he spoke so fast the words practically tumbled over each other. She didn’t know if she dared speak yet, or if she would just cry all over him if she tried.

  “I know I’m saying this badly, but I never thought I would love anyone as much as I love you. And as long as it’s you, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than settle down and raise a family.” His hand delved into his jacket pocket and came out with a black velvet box. “I really hope when you’ve had some time to think about it that you’ll agree to marry me.” He popped the box open with shaking fingers to expose a ridiculously large asscher-shaped diamond with pale pink tear-shaped sapphires on each side, pointing at the center stone. “It made me think of pixie wings. I knew it was meant to be yours the moment I saw it.”

  Delphi stared at the ring, then reached out and ran her finger lightly over the jewels, which were set in platinum. She was stunned.

  “Um, are you going to say something?” Jeremy asked when the moment dragged on in silence.

  “Yes.” Her eyes lifted to his face and she smiled, relief and joy pouring through her. She threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, I’ll stay here, settle down and let you goad me into bike rides when I get uptight and cranky—not that I ever get cranky.”

  “Never.”

  “Yes, I love you and I can’t imagine living without you, either.” She pulled back to look into his eyes. “I figured I would never love anyone else as much as I did Fallon and I was right. I love you more. I want a family and the quiet little house with noisy kids running through it and nieces and nephews over all of the time and family barbecues and—”

  He kissed her and she thought she heard the heavens give a benediction. And then the rain started to fall in sheets. Delphi simply turned up her face to the drops, feeling her worries wash away.

  The sliding glass door opened and Jo
nquil’s voice called to them, “Don’t you want to come inside?”

  “Not yet.” Delphi reveled in the wild ferocity of the storm as she kissed Jeremy on the porch and he slid the ring onto her finger. When she saw her family looking at them through the door, their noses all but pressing to the glass, she laughed.

  She was right where she belonged.

  Coming this winter: The Last Bride

  The Final(?) Entry in the DiCarlo Brides series

  When Gage learned that George DiCarlo thought he would make a great match for his youngest daughter, Gage was not interested. Not even if she was beautiful, talented, kicked butt on hiking trails and could challenge even his love of skiing.

  When Jonquil’s learns about it a year later, her reaction is exactly the opposite. After watching the rest of her sisters fall in love with the men her father hoped they would fall in love with, she is curious about the one he had planned for her. But Gage is not making it easy and plenty of problems stand between them—her half-sister, Angela, from her family back in Philadelphia seems determined to keep her on her toes and troubles at Gage’s resort keep them guessing all the way.

  Curious about Kyle, the other photographer in town? Here’s an excerpt:

  “Whoever made up the rhyme about April showers didn’t live in the Rockies.” As she emerged from her car, Alanna Jenkins yanked up the hood of her coat to protect her hair from the swirling white flakes. A cold breeze blew down her neck and made her shiver.

  Others were returning from lunch breaks and Alanna grimaced at her tardiness. Her editor, Doug Casell, would want to know where she’d been all morning. If she hadn’t left her cell phone charger at work the previous evening, she would have been able to check in with him.

  She greeted the editorial department’s office manager, waved to the ladies in classifieds, and avoided making eye-contact with Bob in advertising.

  Alanna slid into her desk and plugged in her cell. With any luck, Doug would remember her morning’s appointment. That was probably too much to hope though.

  The phone on her desk rang. “Chronicle, this is Alanna, how can I help you?”

  “So you decided to come in?” It was Doug’s voice on the line.

  “I’ve been in interviews. I told you where I’d be.”

  “Yes,” he agreed, “but you didn’t mention you were going to be incommunicado.”

  “Sorry. My cell died. It’s charging and I’m writing the story now.” She made clicking noises with her keyboard to solidify the excuse.

  “Good, I’ll expect it by day’s end. I have the new head photographer in here.” Doug switched gears. “He’s going to shoot your appointment this afternoon. Would you join us?”

  Alana was relieved. The newspaper’s head photographer had quit without notice several weeks earlier and the other two had been spread pretty thin. Alanna had learned a thing or two about taking pictures when she was in college, but she was no expert. “Terrific, I’ll be right there.” Alanna adjusted the lapels on her lavender suit jacket, finger-combed her hair to make sure it wasn’t sticking out in odd directions, and tried to look confident as she walked around the cubicles to Doug’s office.

  “Alanna, how are you doing today?” Bob greeted her as she rushed around a corner and nearly knocked into him. He wore an expectant smile.

  She rushed past before he could try to ask her out. “Great, busy, busy. Doug’s waiting on me.” Alanna waved over her shoulder at the advertising manager and shot toward the glass doors enclosing Doug’s office. Two steps into the room her expression froze and her last step faltered.

  Kyle.

  What is he doing here?

  Kyle was completely at ease, however, and smiled. “Hey, Ahnna. Long time, no see.”

  The jerk. His British accent and smooth baritone still did funny things to her stomach.

  Doug stepped into the breach and clapped a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “I understand you know Kyle.” A massive understatement, though he couldn’t possibly know the whole truth. “We’re very lucky he wanted to settle down for a while and was willing to come here. He said he can start this afternoon. Do me a favor and show him around.”

  Alanna’s tongue started working again. “What do you mean?” Her gaze shifted from Kyle, where it had been glued, to her boss. “You can’t honestly be saying he’s the new head photog?” Panic rushed through her. He couldn’t be staying; how was she supposed to keep her secret if he stayed?

  “Surprise.” Kyle’s voice was dry, but he looked amused.

  It didn’t make sense. Kyle had been out snapping photos in Tanzania or something last time she’d heard—which had been a while, admittedly, as she didn’t make a habit of asking about him. His pictures were sought after by the biggest magazines and he’d even been a major contributor to a couple coffee table books. Why would he choose to move to middle-of-nowhere Juniper Ridge, Colorado? “Why?”

  Doug answered for him, “He says he wants to spend more time with family—but you probably know all about that.”

  Alanna thought Doug was an amazingly unobservant man for a newspaper editor if he’d missed the tension in the air. “Right. Of course.” She stared Kyle down. He hadn’t said a word about relocating—not one word—and if his father had known he was coming to town, surely he would have told her.

  “Great, now, skedaddle. I have some calls to make.” Doug circled behind his desk, “Oh, and Alanna, try to keep your phone charged.”

  “I’ll do better.” Alanna’s mind swam as she turned into the hallway. Her head was bursting with images of the last time she’d seen Kyle, of the sadness on his father’s face when Kyle’s name came up—an event which happened with less frequency as time passed. This despite the fruit of his labors always being in prominent display on the coffee table. She blinked and mentally wiped at the memories, pushing them away for now. Focus. “We’ll do a brief tour and I’ll let you get to work. Things have been a bit out of sorts since Lance quit.” She kept in the half laugh that wanted to escape when she realized Lance quit this job to freelance while Kyle gave up a successful freelancing career to take the position at the newspaper.

  “I’d appreciate it.” Kyle followed without pushing her for conversation as she pointed out the different departments. His easy grace and British accent charmed everyone he met.

  Alanna didn’t meet his eye, didn’t even look his way if she could help it as she made introductions to Carla, editor of the sports department, and Vaughn in composing. She ended at his desk. “Here’s your computer. If you’ve already had your papers processed for the job, you can probably pop over to George’s office to have him set up your account.” She gestured to the IT office two doors down.

  “Thanks. I will.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and studied her with a familiar warmth in his eyes.

  “Good.” She picked up a paperclip from his desk and fiddled with it so she’d have something to look at besides him. “My appointment with the city councilwoman and the hotelier is at three. Meet me at a quarter till.” She turned and strode to her desk.

  “Ahnna.” Kyle’s voice was a soft protest.

  She ignored him and continued on, swinging by the bathroom first so she could have a private moment. Alanna barricaded herself in the closest stall and squeezed her eyes shut, releasing the hot tears which had been burning to get out for the past twenty minutes. How could Kyle do this—now of all times? How could he show up as if nothing had changed? Did he expect all would be forgiven?

  She couldn’t pretend her worry was for his father and how he would feel to have his wandering son return without notice—Mark would be thrilled, as he should be. All of her concern was for herself—her and Danyella.

  Last time Kyle had stayed for more than a week he had ripped Alanna’s heart to shreds. Though he was her stepbrother, they hadn’t been raised together, and since before she was old enough to know what hero worship was, he’d been her idol. Then they’d become friends and her admiration had gro
wn. And finally, after years of loving him and dreaming of an improbable future, they’d become much more than friends.

  In the end he’d left and never looked back.

  When she felt more in control, she dabbed at her face, took a deep breath, and pushed out of the stall. Thankfully, most of the employees at the newspaper were male so the women’s bathroom was empty. Alanna cleaned herself up and put on a confident, unruffled smile before returning to her desk. She still had a story to write before her interview.

  When she arrived at her desk, she turned on her cell phone and found she had several voicemail messages—two from Doug, one from a story contact, and one from her mother. She handled the first three, then sat back to listen to her mom’s message. “Hey, honey. Just letting you know we’re having a family dinner at our place tomorrow, don’t miss it. We…” Her mother seemed to change her mind about what she was going to say because there was a short pause. “We don’t get the whole family together very often. Please come. I hope your day is going smoothly. We’ll eat at six-thirty.”

  Alanna jabbed at the delete button and closed the phone. Her mom hadn’t mentioned Kyle in the message, which must have been deliberate as she’d mentioned the ‘whole family.’ Resentment surfaced, but Alanna pushed it away—it wasn’t a productive emotion and she had too much going on to waste time with it.

  Time passed too quickly as Alanna wrote her story for the next day’s paper and then revised it repeatedly. She looked up when someone stopped at her desk and found Kyle picking up her hideous frog candy dish. His lips quirked as he turned it over and studied it. “So you still collect frogs?”

  Feeling ridiculously self-conscious, Alanna took it from him. “Please, keep your hands off my things. I’m sorry if its emptiness offends you. I’ll try to remember to buy some more candy this week.”

  His face flashed surprise. “You stock it? And would I get a scolding if I cadged a piece while stopping to discuss a shoot with you?” Kyle adjusted the straps to his camera bag and threw her a charming smile, not appearing in the least offended.