Shameless, page 21
“Hah,” Marisa said. “Sounds like you and Luc would be perfect for each other, Lexi.”
Lexi held her hands up. “Oh no. That’s never gonna happen. Trust me.” She smiled when Marisa looked offended. “I didn’t say he wasn’t hot. Obviously he is, but that would be breaking girl code and that’s something I would never do.”
Marisa scowled. “It’s over between us. You’re welcome to him.”
Sierra and Lexi shared a knowing glance. “Whether it is or not, I’m still not interested.”
“Back to Josh,” Sierra said. “You and he want totally different things out of life, Lexi. You would make each other miserable.”
Lexi laughed. “Would you relax? I’ll let him know up front that I’m just looking for a little fun. He’s a big boy; he can decide for himself whether he’s interested.”
As far as Sierra was concerned, this was a disaster waiting to happen. If she could stop it, she felt obligated to protect her sister and her friend from potential heartbreak. “Are you telling me you intend to proposition Josh?”
Marisa giggled. “Don’t ask her what she’s wearing under that dress.”
Sierra eyed her sister’s strapless, floor-length black gown. She could only imagine what kind of racy lingerie she had hidden under the elegant sheaf. Despite her penchant for running marathons, Lexi had managed to maintain the lush curves that routinely brought grown men to their knees. Poor Josh didn’t stand a chance if her intent was to seduce him. Just as Sierra was about to lecture her sister about the perils of toying with a man like Josh, a knock on the door interrupted them.
“That’s our cue to leave,” Lexi said, grabbing Marisa by the hand. “We’ll be back soon.”
Sierra watched their retreating backs as Val slipped into the room. “You look beautiful,” Val whispered, her eyes tearing.
“So do you,” Sierra said, fighting back her own tears. “You don’t know how much it means that you and Terrence would offer to share your wedding day with us.”
She came forward and took Sierra in her arms. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you. You know that.”
“You’ve told me a thousand times, in a thousand different ways over the years, Val,” Sierra said, sniffling. “This house won’t be the same without you, but I’m glad you and Terrence have found each other. You deserve to be happy.”
“So do you, dear. You’ve brought Trey back to life and I’m so grateful for that.” She led her to the sitting room in the large bedroom. She waited until they were both seated before asking the question. “Trey tells me you plan to go on tour with him?”
Sierra nodded. “I don’t want us to be apart for months. Being on tour is a part of his life, and I want to support him and his career, just as I know he would for me.”
Val smiled and patted her hand. “I’m glad; I think you’re making the right decision. Have you started interviewing nannies to travel with you?”
Sierra sighed. “No, but I suppose I’ll have to when we get back from our honeymoon.”
Val grinned. “Not necessarily.”
“What do you mean? I need help while we’re on the road. I still have the foundation to run.”
Val laughed. “I know that, dear, but I know someone who may be able to help you.”
Sierra was willing to accept any recommendations Val had to offer. She knew she wouldn’t think of suggesting a caregiver unless they were highly qualified to care for their baby. “Who is it?”
“Me.”
“You? Omigod, are you serious, Val?”
Val laughed and squeezed her hands. “I’m very serious. Terrence and I have talked about it, and our plan was to travel when we retired. This would give us the chance to see the world with people we love. It would be perfect.”
Sierra hugged her tightly, thinking this day couldn’t get any better. She was about to marry the man she loved and she was going to have the support of Val while they were on the road and her sister while they were at home, which was more than she could have dared hope for.
“Thank you,” Sierra whispered. “You don’t know how much this means to me, to us.”
Val patted her back. “You and Trey are like the children I always wanted, sweetheart. Spending time with your beautiful baby will be like watching my own grandbaby grow up.”
“I love you,” Sierra said, smiling through her tears.
Trey took his bride in his arms for their first dance as husband and wife as cameras descended upon them in a crescendo of flashing lights. They had invited a few members of the press to witness their nuptials, though he suspected even with heightened security that it would be impossible to keep the circling paparazzi at bay. The invasion of his privacy would have infuriated him on any other day, but today was his wedding day and he wasn’t going to allow anything to rob them of this moment.
“I love you,” Sierra whispered, leaning her head against his chest. “I never dreamed we would be here again, but I’m so grateful we are.”
He smiled down at her, oblivious to the couples taking the dance floor around them. “This time it’s forever, sweetheart.”
“I know.” She looked around the dance floor and sighed. “I just wish everyone could be as happy as we are, Trey.”
He let his hand trail down her bare back, his thoughts drifting to their wedding night. “You’re thinking of Luc and my sister?”
She nodded. “Them as well as Josh and my sister.”
He looked at the couple in question, looking decidedly intimate in a close embrace. “I had no idea they were interested in each other.”
She bit her bottom lip. “That’s the problem. I’m afraid they’re interested, but in totally different things. She wants a good time without the commitment, and he’s looking for forever. That’s a disaster waiting to happen and I care about both of them too much to see them get hurt.”
He tipped her chin and kissed her lips gently. “Your sister and Josh are both adults, honey. They have to make their own decisions. Besides, maybe she’ll be too caught up with her business and her duties as auntie to get involved in a relationship, casual or otherwise.”
She tipped her head back to look at him and smiled. “About that, you’ve been keeping secrets from me.”
He grinned. “I prefer to think of it as a surprise rather than a secret.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Whatever you call it, thank you. I am so grateful, Trey. The thought of having Lexi and Val with us makes me so happy.”
He dipped his head to kiss her again. He would never tire of the sweet taste of her lips. “Making you happy is the most important thing in the world to me, baby. I don’t want to give you reason to doubt that ever again.”
“You’ve already made me happier than I ever thought I could be,” she whispered. “I can only hope our daughter will be lucky enough to find a man like you someday.”
He stared at her, trying to process her words. “Are you telling me we’re having a baby girl?”
She smiled through her tears. “I had a doctor’s appointment while you were in San Antonio last week. I didn’t want to say anything until I spoke with the doctor again. But I’ve finally passed the three month mark and the doctor said there’s no reason to expect any problems with the pregnancy. When she did the ultrasound, she asked if I wanted to know the sex of the baby. I couldn’t resist. I hope you don’t mind.”
He laughed as he picked her up and swung her in a low circle. “Mind? Are you kidding me? I couldn’t be happier. This is the best wedding present you could have given me, Sierra.”
She winked. “Just wait ‘til you see what I have in store for you later.”
He couldn’t wait. He scooped her up and crossed the dance floor to the cheering and laughter of their friends and family as he carried her towards the waiting limousine.
THE END
About the Author
To learn more about Cheryl Douglas please visit her online at
www.cheryldouglasbooks.com
Question and comments about this book may be directed to: info@cheryldouglasbooks.com
Coming Soon
Fearless – Book Two in the Nashville Nights Series
Lexi Brooks has overcome adversity to build a successful real estate business that will enable her live life on her terms. The life she envisions includes travel, fun, and excitement, not marriage, kids or commitment. But will Trey’s sexy bodyguard throw a wrench into her plans?
Being a cop taught Josh Cooper to take calculated risks, but he’s tired of living with the daily threat of danger. He’s ready to settle down with someone who wants to be a step-mother to his two teenage sons. Too bad Lexi isn’t that woman. She’s smart, sexy, and head-strong, and they’re totally in sync in the bedroom, but she isn’t willing to ‘settle’ for a life of domestic bliss. Or is she?
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
About the Author
Coming Soon
Cheryl Douglas, Shameless
