“Wow, Mom, you were super sweaty,” the twelve-year-old Wave said gleefully.
They had just watched the final round of the Olympic team jumping competition. It had been one year since Amanda’s victorious ride, and Grady insisted they watch it on the anniversary date.
“Here’s the victory gallop!” Solstice said. The American riders led the other medalists around the giant outdoor ring. Someone gave Amanda an American flag and she and Edelweiss galloped in front, the gray mare’s tail flying.
Amanda’s throat closed as she watched the horse that had carried her to her biggest dream. Grady saw the tears and tightened his arm around her. She looked up at him and he returned her gaze for a full minute. They did that a lot, enough to thoroughly annoy their daughters.
Harris, on one of the couches, said, “Whew, Amanda, Grady, special delivery for one of you. My no-diaper-changing policy is still in effect.” He held the gurgling baby in front of him so he could look into her somber, dark blue eyes. “We were having such a nice time, Courtney; then you had to go and do that.”
“I’ll be sure to give her a stern talking-to,” Amanda said.
“I’ll get her,” Grady said.
“Are you sure?” Harris said. “Isn’t this beneath you now that you’re a Broadway star and Tony Award nominee? By the way, did you ever get your pecs insured?”
Grady grinned at his friend. “Come here, pumpkin,” he said as he scooped his infant daughter from Harris’s arms. “Don’t listen to Uncle Harris. He’s delusional.”
Later that night Grady made love to Amanda. As they lay in each other’s arms, Grady said, “So let’s see, I have three years before you could possibly be in another Olympics, right?”
“Unless I take up curling, then there’s only one year until the Winter Games.”
“Don’t even joke about that.”
“I wouldn’t worry if I were you. I’m staying put for a while. Be a mom. I’m just getting to know our daughters again. Equinox, Wilma, and Candy.”
“That’s Solstice, Wave, and Courtney.”
“Right. And you, too, Brady.”
“Excuse me?” He pinned her and tickled her. Amanda squirmed, bucked, and laughed until he took pity on her and stopped. He propped himself on his elbow and looked down at her, moonlight cascading over his smiling face.
Out of breath, she reached up and stroked his cheek with her fingertips, loving the feel of the light stubble. “Oh, Grady,” she whispered. “How I love you.”
“I know.” His voice was gruff. “I know.”
She saw his boundless love for her in his eyes. He kissed her, soft and deep. “You’re not curling.”
“Probably not. But no promises.”
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Colette Auclair
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First Pocket Star Books ebook edition December 2013
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Interior design by Leydiana Rodríguez-Ovalles
Cover design by Janet Perr
Cover photo by Henrik Sorensen/Getty Images
ISBN 978-1-4767-4580-0
Table of Contents
Cover
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Copyright
Thrown Page 32
