“Thank you. Do you have the recipe?”
“Yes.” Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick packet containing all the information on how to make White Lace.
Without hesitation, Sloane tossed it into the center of the bonfire. She heard Father Ben say a prayer about good overcoming evil as the fire licked the papers, singeing the corners of the pages until they ignited. She waited until even the last black crisp was gone before grabbing Father Ben’s hand.
“Thank you. Someday you’ll have tell me who you were before becoming a priest.”
“We all have our secrets, don’t we?” Father Ben looked to see where Gabe was striding toward them grinning. “But right now, I have a wedding ceremony to plan.”
Father Ben strode off as Gabe put an arm around her. “My uncle and cousins will arrive in two weeks. The king has already blessed the marriage.”
“We’re really getting married?” Sloane asked as she grasped his arm.
“That’s what he said, wasn’t it?” Miss Lily shouted from the other side of the patio.
Gabe lowered his head, and to the delight of all, swept Sloane up in a kiss that left his mother placing another bet on a happy occurrence happening nine months later.
Epilogue
Sloane knew it was strange to insist on getting ready for her wedding in the small house they had stayed in on the farm, but it felt like home to her. In fact, the house would be renovated for them while they were on their honeymoon. They were going to make it two stories with a wraparound porch.
Sloane took a look around in the moment before her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and friends descended on her. She smiled at the happy memories made in the little house and the memories yet to come. Sloane walked into the bedroom to set down her things. The first thing she would be happy to see go was the very small bed. She had discovered she and Gabe spent an unusually large amount of time in bed, and the one from his home would be well used in the new house.
Sloane set down her bag but then stared at the floor. Something had caught her eye. She heard the door open and called to her friends as she got down on her hands and knees and reached under the bed.
“What are you doing?” Layne asked with a laugh as she walked into the bedroom. Sloane sat up with a pair of pink satin panties in her hand.
“Forget something when you packed for Lexington?” Layne asked.
“These aren’t mine.”
“What aren’t yours?” Piper asked, looking over Layne’s shoulder and gasping. “The panty-dropper strikes again!”
“You’re the panty-dropper?” Sydney asked, carrying in the large garment bag. She’d worked nonstop making the wedding dress of Sloane’s dreams.
“She couldn’t be the panty-dropper,” Abby said, rolling her eyes. “She hasn’t been here long enough.”
“Damn,” Sydney cursed as she sat down on the bed. “Well, they’re nice panties anyway.”
“We’ll never find out whose they are,” Piper complained.
“I bet they’re yours,” Layne smirked at her cousin.
“You’re just saying that because they’re yours,” Piper argued back.
“How about we table the panty-dropper questions. We have a bride to get ready,” Dani called out from the living room.
“Are you ready to get married?” Sydney asked, handing a white satin robe to Sloane.
“More than anything.”
* * *
Gabe stood in front of the arbor overlooking the gardens as the orchestra played. Zain and Nash stood beside him as Layne and Piper, dressed in light green bridesmaid dresses, walked down the stone path toward him.
His mother and father sat in the front row with Mila and Ari, awaiting the arrival of his bride. When Uncle Dirar discovered Sloane had no family, he’d insisted on walking her down the aisle. Unfortunately, Draven had already claimed the right. Gabe then negotiated his second Middle Eastern peace treaty with Sloane’s help.
Piper and Layne took their positions, Father Ben cleared his throat, and the music changed to a happy melody Sloane had picked out. And then she appeared—a waitress with two kings by her side.
Happiness and love radiated from her smile. Her green eyes sparkled as much as the emerald necklace she wore. Gabe was sure the dress was simple by others’ standards, but the strapless lace dress hugged her curves before falling loosely around her knees and flowing elegantly behind her. She wore a simple veil and her hair hung loose around her bare shoulders. She was the most beautiful vision Gabe had ever seen.
Finally, King Draven and King Dirar handed her off to him and Father Ben started the ceremony. Gemma’s piece had turned their story into an international fairy tale. But it wasn’t the story that made it a fairy tale, it was their love.
* * *
Her morning sickness was no longer confined to the morning. She held up the champagne for a toast, but the smell of the cigars King Draven and King Dirar were smoking in the back of the party was going to make her throw up.
“To Prince Gabe and Princess Sloane!”
She toasted the happy couple, pretended to take a sip and set down the drink. She would have to tell everyone that she was pregnant soon. And if she didn’t get away from the cigar smoke, they’d learn it as soon as she threw up.
“Excuse me,” she said to her table.
“Are you okay?” Jackson asked her. “You look kind of green.”
“Who looks green?” Miss Daisy asked, as she and her sisters slowly walked by.
Great, now she was going to have to get by them or throw up on them. She was not going to ruin Gabe and Sloane’s big day by taking any attention away from them.
“The champagne just didn’t sit well. Excuse me.”
“You didn’t drink any. You have a full glass,” Miss Violet pointed out.
“She does look green,” Miss Lily said, taking a step back. “She’s gonna blow!”
Crap. She grabbed the beautiful green vase, dumped the flowers, and hurled.
“Sienna!” Ryan rubbed her back gently. “Are you okay?”
The crowd around them grew and, in unison, the Rose sisters exclaimed, “You’re pregnant!”
* * *
Oh God, she was dying. The smoke from the kings was making her sick. She still hadn’t built up the courage to tell her husband she was pregnant. What would he think? They had plans for the future that didn’t include a baby, but right now all she could dream about and think about were baby booties, tiny onesies, and the smell of a newborn. She’s been surprised when she’d gotten pregnant, but the love she had for this baby currently making her want to puke was overwhelming. It was a true gift that was just meant to be.
However, she had to get out of there. She pushed her way past Sydney, Deacon, and the table full of young married couples. She wasn’t going to make it. The Rose sisters stood in between the table and her escape. Her stomach pitched. Oh God, she wouldn’t be able to hide it.
“You’re pregnant!” Miss Lily cried.
“How did you know I was pregnant?” she cried. It was only when the table of people turned toward her did she realize they were talking to Sienna Ashton Parker, who was currently throwing up in the table’s centerpiece.
“My heavenly days!” Miss Lily sputtered with shock.
“What’s going on?” Miles asked as he walked by the table with his brothers, Mo, Cole, and Will.
“They’re pregnant!” Miss Violet stuttered in disbelief.
“Who is?” Will asked, before seeing his daughter sick. “Honey, are you—? Oh my God. Sienna?”
“Sienna? What is it?” Kenna asked, hurrying over with Paige.
“They’re pregnant!” Miss Lily said, disbelief still evident in her voice.
“I’m going to be a grandmother?” Kenna asked slowly before spinning to her friend and screaming. “Sienna is pregnant. I win! I’m going to be a grandmother!”
“Wait, you said they’re pregnant. And why is everyone staring at my wife?”
&nb
sp; Tammy lost her battle with morning sickness and grabbed the nearest centerpiece to throw up.
“But, I don’t understand,” Pierce stammered as he looked slowly back and forth between a very green looking Sienna and Tammy.
“You know cigar smoke always made me sick when I was pregnant,” Tammy said slowly as she took a sip of water.
“Oh, so it’s the same for Sienna. But why are you—?”
“Because I’m pregnant,” Tammy said with a roll of her eyes.
“You can’t be pregnant,” Pierce laughed. “You’re too old.”
“Damn, bro,” Cy muttered before he and his brothers took a giant step away from their soon-to-be-deceased youngest brother.
Tammy reached for the slice of wedding cake her son, Jace, was holding. Jace’s mouth hung open as he stared at his mother and then his father. Tammy took the cake from his hands and turned to her husband.
“At your age, you probably shouldn’t be eating sugar when you’re pregnant. You’ll be at a higher risk for gestational diabetes,” Pierce rambled.
“Bro,” Marshall said, shaking his head as the brothers took another step back. Right then, Tammy slammed the cake into her husband’s face.
“For your information, I’m only fifty-two! And my doctor said I was in great shape and the baby is perfect!”
Kenna held up her hands. “Please don’t hit me for asking, but didn’t you say you were starting menopause?”
“See, I told you were too old to be pregnant,” Pierce muttered through the frosting. This time a shocked Cassidy simply handed another slice of cake to her mom who smashed it in Pierce’s face yet again.
“Apparently it takes a year of missed periods to have been considered through menopause. We only waited five months before Pierce planned that romantic vacation to the beach,” Tammy explained. “Now snap out of it, Pierce. We’re having a baby.”
“A baby,” he repeated over and over again as he fell into the chair Dylan pulled out for him.
“What’s going on?” Piper asked as she, Layne, Dani, Mo, and Zain walked up with happy smiles, having just seen the newlyweds off on their wedding night.
“Sienna’s pregnant,” Kenna said victoriously.
Dani groaned and handed her twenty bucks. “You’re so lucky. Fingers crossed that in nine months you’ll be holding your grandbaby and I’ll be welcoming mine.”
Piper, Layne, and Zain congratulated Sienna and Ryan, who stood with his arm protectively around his wife and unborn child.
“There’s more,” Jace said to Piper, stepping out of the way to show their father covered in cake.
“A baby,” Pierce said in awe for at least the tenth time before falling out of the chair and at Tammy’s feet. “Really?”
“Why is Dad asking Mom about a baby?” Piper asked.
“Mom’s pregnant,” Dylan told her.
“Shut up, Dylan. That’s not funny.”
Pierce rested his hands on Tammy’s slightly swollen stomach and kissed it. “I love you so much already.”
Tammy burst out in tears as Pierce stood up and kissed his wife, cake covered face and all.
“Oh my God.” Piper couldn’t even blink.
Dani and the rest of the women were fighting back tears as Miles handed his youngest brother a napkin.
“What’s all this blubbering about?” Marcy Davies asked as her husband, Jake, escorted her.
“I’m pregnant, Mom,” Pierce said with tears in his eyes.
“Son, do I need to explain the birds and bees to you again?” Jake asked. “I thought after four kids you’d know you can’t get pregnant.”
Tammy laughed as she placed her hand on her bump. “You’ll have another grandchild in six months.”
“Bless my stars! Did you hear that, Jake?” Marcy cried as she shoved her son out of the way and hugged Tammy. “What a special little gift this one will be!”
“I guess it kind of makes my pregnancy boring, doesn’t it?” Sienna teased.
“Your—?” Marcy clasped her hands to her chest. “A great-grandchild?”
Sienna and Ryan nodded. “He or she will arrive in seven months,” Ryan told his grandparents.
“Oh, Jake! A great-grandchild. I can die happy now!” Marcy cried, pulling them into an embrace.
“Well, not yet anyway. I foresee many more great-grandchildren in your future,” Jake whispered to his wife as he placed a kiss on her cheek.
* * *
Keeneston was blooming with life and love. Gabe and his princess were enjoying their happily-ever-after. Tammy and Pierce were celebrating a new life when they had thought it wouldn’t be possible anymore. Sienna and Ryan snuggled with their hands interlocked and resting lovingly over their unborn child as the people of Keeneston danced around them.
And Morgan looked carefully at her daughter as she sat with her sisters-in-law and friends. “Layne is lonely.”
Dani looked up from the notebook with all their matches in it. “I would say Piper should be next, but it might prove distracting with her mother knocked up.”
Paige looked thoughtfully as Layne swayed side-to-side on the dance floor as she watched the couples dancing. “She has that conference in Charleston next week, doesn’t she?”
Morgan nodded.
“I think we need to start planting the idea in her head that a nice Southern gentleman from Charleston could be just the thing,” Paige suggested.
Morgan’s heart lifted as Dani wrote Layne’s name in the book. Morgan raised her glass. “To Layne’s happily-ever-after.”
* * *
THE END
Bluegrass Series
Bluegrass State of Mind
Risky Shot
Dead Heat
* * *
Bluegrass Brothers
Bluegrass Undercover
Rising Storm
Secret Santa: A Bluegrass Series Novella
Acquiring Trouble
Relentless Pursuit
Secrets Collide
Final Vow
* * *
Bluegrass Singles
All Hung Up
Bluegrass Dawn
The Perfect Gift
The Keeneston Roses
* * *
Forever Bluegrass Series
Forever Entangled
Forever Hidden
Forever Betrayed
Forever Driven
Forever Secret
Forever Surprised
Forever Concealed
Forever Devoted - coming January 2018
* * *
Women of Power Series
Chosen for Power
Built for Power
Fashioned for Power
Destined for Power
* * *
Web of Lies Series
Whispered Lies
Rogue Lies
Shattered Lies - coming October 19, 2017
About the Author
Kathleen Brooks is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author. Kathleen’s stories are romantic suspense featuring strong female heroines, humor, and happily-ever-afters. Her Bluegrass Series and follow-up Bluegrass Brothers Series feature small town charm with quirky characters that have captured the hearts of readers around the world.
* * *
Kathleen is an animal lover who supports rescue organizations and other non-profit organizations such as Friends and Vets Helping Pets whose goals are to protect and save our four-legged family members.
* * *
Email Notice of New Releases
kathleen-brooks.com/new-release-notifications
Kathleen’s Website
www.kathleen-brooks.com
Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/KathleenBrooksAuthor
Twitter
www.twitter.com/BluegrassBrooks
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www.goodreads.com
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