“His heart wasn’t in it this week,” Rhett cut in. “I think he realized he wanted something else. His dream lay elsewhere.”
“I’m standing right here,” Aidan said dryly. “I can talk for myself.”
Rhett laughed. “So says the guy who butted into my love life. I make it a habit to help my friends out when they’re too blind to see a good thing.”
“What he said was right, Casey,” Aidan told her. “The golf may have been a boy’s rebellious dream. Not something I needed. But you, I needed. No, need you. A life with you. What do you say?”
She flew into his arms and kissed him until he let go the breath he’d been holding, and his heart started up again. Kissed him until applause erupted on the putting green.
When he and Casey separated, Aidan saw their little drama had attracted quite a crowd—golfers, caddies, clubhouse folks, some reporters—but he didn’t care. This may be his one and only chance to settle things today. To win her once and for all. No more waiting or wondering.
He ignored the crowd, finally handed Rhett the dang putter, took her hand, and went down on one knee. “Casey Jolene Stuart, will you do me the honor, privilege, and probably chaos of being my wife?”
“Oh, Aidan. Yes!” she cried.
He swooped her back into his arms where she belonged, placed a chaste kiss on her lips, now that the crowd had grown and cheered wildly.
“Uncle Frank said you came here to get a few pars for Cinderella,” she said.
“Yeah?” he said, suddenly wary.
“Me? I’d prefer you go for a home run over a par any day!”
Aidan definitely heard Frank’s groan.
Also by Petie McCarty and Soul Mate Publishing:
CINDERELLA BUSTED
Cinderella's fairy tale moves to Jupiter Island, Florida where Lily Foster, owner of an eclectic landscape nursery, is mistaken for a wealthy socialite by billionaire resort developer Rhett Buchanan. Overdue for a little romance in her life, Lily is anxious for one fabulous date with her handsome prince, so she cultivates her inadvertent masquerade.
Rhett Buchanan has become jaded with the Palm Beach social scene, dominated by scheming women desperate for more money—his money. Rhett falls hard when he meets Lily Foster. She is a breath of fresh air after the smog of gold diggers constantly surrounding him.
For Rhett and Lily, it's love at first sight until her deception comes to light and pitches their relationship into a disastrous tailspin. Well-meaning friends are determined to intercede and resort to inept high jinks to reunite the estranged couple while a wicked ex-girlfriend plays dirty to keep the couple apart.
Available now on Amazon: CINDERELLA BUSTED
BETTING ON CINDERELLA
Garrett Tucker inherits his grandfather's casino empire and steps into the reclusive billionaire's shoes as the "Prince of Vegas." His first act is to buy a bankrupt casino in Biloxi. When he discovers embezzling in his new operation, Garrett goes undercover. His prime suspect is the new finance supervisor—the spitfire brunette who stole his heart at first sight.
Andi Ryan moves to Biloxi to care for her godmother and takes a job as finance supervisor for the renovated Bayou Princess casino. She discovers someone is skimming from the till and starts her own investigation, worried she will be blamed for the theft when the new owner discovers her godmother has a gambling addiction.
A rival Vegas competitor has sent a spy in to ruin the Bayou Princess, and Garrett and Andi are forced to work together to prove her innocence and discover the identity of their casino spy.
Available now on Amazon: BETTING ON CINDERELLA
PAR FOR CINDERELLA Page 38