Then he lifted the box lid and enjoyed her openmouthed gasp of delight when she saw the solitaire. “Connor! It’s gorgeous!”
He grinned at the heartfelt reaction, watching her face tell the story he loved to read. Awe, surprise, delight, trust, and love. That was how they got from there to here.
He cleared his throat and looked into her eyes. “Sadie Hartman, you are the most beautiful, independent, brilliant, loving, sexy, funny, wonderful woman I’ve ever known. You changed my life and my family and my town and my outlook. I do not want to spend a single day of the rest of my life without you. And when one of us dies, it still won’t be over.”
“We’ll be like Clara Dee and Henry?” she asked, her voice strangled by tears.
“Exactly. Waiting for the other one in heaven. I love you with my whole heart and soul. Will you marry me?”
She reached down and put her hands on his cheeks, gently guiding him back to a stand. “Connor Mahoney, you are the most amazing, caring, hilarious, sexy man I’ve ever known, and I will love you until the day I die and beyond.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Oh my, yes. Yes. Yes.” She held out her hand, and he slipped on the diamond that was as real as their love. She threw her arms around him, and he twirled her so her pretty blue dress fluttered in the breeze.
When her feet touched the ground, they kissed and hugged and turned to show old Thad. But at the base of the statue, Frank was stretched out in the sun, and Demi had her head on his paw, both of them staring at Connor and Sadie.
Frank swooshed his tail, and Demi sat up a little, as if showing off her glorious collar that had its own diamond solitaire, one that had truly come from the dog she loved. They’d decided it was okay to keep one of them, after all.
“So we do have an audience,” Connor mused as they looked at their spoiled and beloved animals.
“Our kids,” she joked.
“Let’s have more,” he said. “The kind that spit and drool and steal your sleep and make you crazy with happiness.”
“Oh, Connor.” She smiled up at him with nothing but love in her eyes. “Why do you think I bought that lingerie?”
“We should honor her somehow. Yvette Mahoney for the first child. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
She laughed and held her hand out, letting Mother Nature’s finest work glint in the sunshine. “Speaking of nice rings. This is…spectacular, Lieutenant.”
“So are you, Ear Girl. So are you.”
The Dogmothers are hard at work on their next match! Watch my newsletter or reader group for updates on John Santorini’s love story…book five in The Dogmothers series.
Want to know the release date, see the cover, and find out the title? Sign up for the newsletter at www.roxannestclaire.com.
Or get daily updates, sneak peeks, and insider information at the Dogfather Reader Facebook Group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/roxannestclairereaders/
The Dogfather!
Sit…Stay…Beg – book one
New Leash on Life – book two
Leader of the Pack – book three
Santa Paws is Coming to Town – book four (a holiday novella)
Bad to the Bone – book five
Ruff Around the Edges – book six
Double Dog Dare – book seven
Bark! The Herald Angels Sing – book eight (a holiday novella)
Old Dog New Tricks – book nine
The Dogmothers Series
Hot Under the Collar – book one
Three Dog Night – book two
Dachshund Through the Snow – book three
Chasing Tail – book four
And many more to come!
For a complete list, buy links, and reading order of all my books, visit www.roxannestclaire.com. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to find out when the next book is released! And join the private Dogfather Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/roxannestclairereaders/ for inside info on all the books and characters, sneak peeks, and a place to share the love of tails and tales!
A Dogfather/Dogmothers Family Reference Guide
THE KILCANNON FAMILY
Daniel Kilcannon aka The Dogfather
Son of Finola (Gramma Finnie) and Seamus Kilcannon. Married to Annie Harper for 36 years until her death. Veterinarian, father, and grandfather. Widowed at opening of series. Married to Katie Santorini (Old Dog New Tricks) with dogs Rusty and Goldie.
The Kilcannons (from oldest to youngest):
• Liam Kilcannon and Andi Rivers (Leader of the Pack) with Christian and Fiona and dog, Jag
• Shane Kilcannon and Chloe Somerset (New Leash on Life) with daughter Annabelle and dogs, Daisy and Ruby
• Garrett Kilcannon and Jessie Curtis (Sit…Stay…Beg) with son Patrick and dog, Lola
• Molly Kilcannon and Trace Bancroft (Bad to the Bone) with daughter Pru and son Danny and dog, Meatball
• Aidan Kilcannon and Beck Spencer (Ruff Around the Edges) with dog, Ruff
• Darcy Kilcannon and Josh Ranier (Double Dog Dare) with dogs, Kookie and Stella
THE MAHONEY FAMILY
Colleen Mahoney
Daughter of Finola (Gramma Finnie) and Seamus Kilcannon and younger sister of Daniel. Married to Joe Mahoney for a little over 10 years until his death. Owner of Bone Appetit (canine treat bakery) and mother.
The Mahoneys (from oldest to youngest):
• Declan Mahoney and…
• Connor Mahoney Mahoney and Sadie Hartman (Chasing Tail) with dog, Frank, and cat, Demi
• Braden Mahoney and Cassie Santorini (Hot Under the Collar) with dogs, Jelly Bean and Jasmine
• Ella Mahoney and…
THE SANTORINI FAMILY
Katie Rogers Santorini
Dated Daniel Kilcannon in college and introduced him to Annie. Married to Nico Santorini for forty years until his death two years after Annie’s. Interior Designer and mother. Recently married to Daniel Kilcannon (Old Dogs New Tricks).
The Santorinis
• Nick Santorini and…
• John Santorini (identical twin to Alex) and…
• Alex Santorini (identical twin to John) and Grace Donovan (Three Dog Night) with dogs, Bitsy, Gertie and Jack
• Theo Santorini and…
• Cassie Santorini and Braden Mahoney (Hot Under the Collar) with dogs, Jelly Bean and Jasmine
Katie’s mother-in-law from her first marriage, Agnes “Yiayia” Santorini, now lives in Bitter Bark with Gramma Finnie and their dachshunds, Pygmalion (Pyggie) and Galatea (Gala). These two women are known as “The Dogmothers.”
About the Author
Published since 2003, Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty romance and suspense novels. She has written several popular series, including The Dogfather, The Dogmothers, Barefoot Bay, the Guardian Angelinos, and the Bullet Catchers.
In addition to being a ten-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA™ Award for the best in romance writing, Roxanne has won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense four times. Her books have been published in dozens of languages and optioned for film.
A mother of two but recent empty-nester, Roxanne lives in Florida with her husband and her two dogs, Ginger and Rosie.
www.roxannestclaire.com
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