“Apologize is too tame a word,” she said. “She groveled like an Oscar was on the line. It took all we had not to stand and applaud. Tears were shed, forgiveness was begged for, and then she pulled out the big guns. A plea for mercy before Rosie left this earth for another place…a better place. At least, it would be better if Rosie sold me her restaurant for a dollar.”
“And it worked?”
“Plus her legal fees. I mean, the woman wants to go to heaven, but didn’t want to be a complete pushover. Plus, she hated old Frank more than his mistresses. Apparently, there were many.”
“And what about you?” Law asked.
“Me? I didn’t do anything to incur the wrath of Rosie except be born.”
“Did your mother apologize to you for all the lies over the years?”
She sighed and lifted her shoulders. “With much less flair. Look, she’s wretchedly ashamed of what she did and how hard she worked to cover the truth, including implicating Jake when he was clearly not a bad man at all. She said, looking back, he had shown a lot of interest, but she couldn’t reciprocate.”
“Why did she lie about him?”
“She was truly afraid of Rosie’s power if she named Frank as our father, so she put Jake on the birth certificates to protect herself. But she was also convinced that Rosie didn’t know about the Pelican being owned by Frank. Apparently, it was an investment he’d made under the table, buying it from the guy who originally built it as a shack to serve beer to the men building the causeway in the forties. My mother thought only she knew that Frank had purchased it, and in her eyes, Frank owed us a parting gift for not taking responsibility for his own children. She didn’t know if Frank had sold it or given it to Jake, but when he died, she hatched this plan.”
Law shook his head. “She’s wild, Lib.”
“She is, but she’s my mother. And we have a lifetime of stuff to work out, and we will, more or less. I’ve got Jasmine, who is far more of a blessing to me than a normal mother would have been. And now I know who my father was. Sanderson can get us medical records and a family history, so…” She gave a smile. “Law, I don’t want to wallow in it. I want to move on.”
He nodded, appreciating the maturity and wisdom of that decision. “So you got it. You got the Pelican.”
Her face fell. “We got it, Law. Don’t you see? That’s why I’m here. That and the fact that Jasmine would have come herself once I told her you were here.”
“How did you know?”
She tipped her head. “Because I know you.”
He let that wash over him. No one, except maybe Jake, ever cared about him enough to know his habits and weaknesses. If that wasn’t love, what was?
“Law, I don’t want to do this without you.” She gripped him tighter. “I don’t want to do anything without you. I screwed up so bad today when I questioned you, but I know, I mean, I know you love me. I trust that is true, and I believe in you and in us, and—”
He silenced her with a kiss, a deep, meaningful, all that he had in him kiss. Her words became a moan, and the moan became a whimper until she was quiet and kissing him back.
“Libby.” He took her face in his hands and looked right into her eyes. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. One, right here, in these waters.” Her eyes shuttered at the mention, but he didn’t stop. “But I will not make the mistake of letting you go. Not now, not ever. I love you. I really, really love you.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “And more than that, I trust you.”
He pulled her close, and they danced to the closing notes of their song, hanging on to each other and the moment when the rest of their lives started.
Epilogue
“It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Emma DeWitt—well, Solomon now, after the sunset ceremony on the beach a few hours earlier—looked into the mirror to meet the gazes of the two women behind her. The three of them had slipped out to the brides’ dressing room for a break from the festivities and lingered for just a moment in the peace and quiet.
Libby smiled back at Emma and then put a hand on Beth’s shoulder. “Not exactly déjà vu. You two may have gotten married on the same weekend at the same resort, but last night’s wedding was totally different from this one.”
“Right, Ken and I had all those hot firefighters and house builders,” Beth joked, her hand on her baby bump, as it had been all night during her own wedding just twenty-four hours earlier.
“There’s plenty of heat here tonight, too,” Libby said. “Not that I’m looking,” she added and then pointed to Emma. “And you certainly aren’t.”
“I only have eyes for my husband,” she said, a huge smile making her golden-brown eyes dance with joy. “Two hours and I already like saying that.”
Libby’s heart jumped a little, too. Husband. The word held such meaning for her, such weight. She was close to using it on a daily basis again. She and Law had spent almost two months building their business and planning their life. Making it official was all that was left.
But after back-to-back weddings full of joy, promise, and high hopes, something was still stopping Libby from jumping into those all-too-familiar waters. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t doubt. It certainly wasn’t Law—he’d have dragged Libby up next to Mark and Emma to take vows with them if she’d have agreed.
Was she still not ready to commit to him?
“Oh, there’s heat here.” Emma turned from the mirror, the silky cream-colored dress she wore swishing with the move. “If you mean the Legends Table.”
“The what?” Beth asked.
“When we were doing the table planning, Mark called it the Legends Table,” Emma explained. “I mean, when you put Jesse MacDonald, Ben Santiago, and Adam Slater at a table and invite the lead singer of the Lost Boys to sit there between sets, you’ve got a table full of timeless legends.”
“And gorgeous men,” Beth noted.
“I know who Ben Santiago is, of course, since he’s been synonymous with baseball for as long as I can remember,” Libby said.
“And I don’t follow NASCAR, but I know Jesse MacDonald is racing royalty, but who’s the other guy, Adam Slater? Besides a dead ringer for that Gibbs guy on NCIS?” Beth asked.
“Adam Slater is the astronaut who spent almost two years on the space station,” Emma told her.
“Oh, that’s where I saw him, on the Today show!” Beth exclaimed. “He wrote a book about raising a kid from space. Hilarious and handsome.”
“How does Mark know all these superstars?” Libby asked.
Emma rose and smoothed her dress to head back out to the beachfront reception. “Single superstars,” she corrected with emphasis. “Sexy, single, silver superstars.”
They laughed at the former ad copywriter’s penchant for alliteration, but certainly couldn’t disagree.
“Mark’s been skydiving with Adam the Astronaut, as I call him, and was on a fundraising board with Jesse,” Emma continued. “But we met Ben at one of Lacey’s parties a few months ago, and the guys became friends. He’s moving to Barefoot Bay to manage the Bucks next season.”
“Ben Santiago is still single?” Libby asked. “I don’t know why I remember him being married.”
“He was, but not anymore,” Emma said. “And probably single not for long.”
“Oh…I hear the band starting,” Beth said, gesturing for them to get back. “Are you going to throw your bouquet?”
Emma squished her features. “It seems a tad silly at this age, don’t you think? I mean, my friends are all married.”
“Libby’s not,” Beth teased, leaning into her with the familiarity of a friendship that had blossomed quickly. “Yet.”
Both women looked at her, and she felt the pressure to squeal and give a date. But there was none. No squeal, no date. And no desire for either one.
Why not?
“Everything’s okay, isn’t it?” Emma asked, obviously reading Beth’s expression.
“Better than okay,” Libby
assured them. “I’m insanely in love with Law. We’re both like…” She shook her head. “It’s perfect. He’s moved into my house, and Jasmine’s moved in with Noah. That’s the wedding I want to go to next.”
“Are you going to be happy living together?” Beth asked softly. “Is that what you want? Because Law has told Ken in no uncertain terms that he wants to marry you, like yesterday.”
She laughed. “Things were a little busy around here yesterday.”
“You know what I mean. That man is ready to roll.”
Libby sighed. “I know, and I want the ceremony, the vows, the officialness of it all, but…”
Emma took her hand. “You don’t want another divorce.”
“I won’t divorce Law,” she said, knowing the statement went beyond hope and into fact. They were solid, connected, and better with each other.
“Then what’s stopping you?” Beth asked.
She looked from one to the other, searching her own heart. “I honestly don’t know.”
Emma slipped her arm around Libby’s waist. “Take your time,” she said. “You’ll know when it’s right.”
She smiled at both of them, every trace of wistful envy she’d felt when they’d found forever happiness all gone. She had hers…she just didn’t have the ring.
Which she suspected Law had already bought.
“Okay, Mrs. Solomon and Mrs. Cavanaugh.” Libby linked arms with her two friends as they left the resort to walk back to the party on the beach. “Enough about me. This is your weekend, and it’s time to dance. And please don’t throw that bouquet.”
Emma put her head on Libby’s shoulder. “You don’t need to catch it. You just need to jump in and take the plunge.”
“And there’s the gulf,” Beth teased.
“In this dress?” Libby fluttered the red silk sheath that skimmed her knees with a flirty hem. “Not a chance.” She nudged them along the tree-lined path, the three of them walking to the beat of the next song.
“Listen to that Eddie James sing. He’s still fantastic,” Emma mused.
“And still has women wanting to throw their panties at him onstage,” Libby said.
“Then he better get ready to be buried in them,” Emma said, “because Willow’s dad said that the Lost Boys are considering doing a reunion concert series at the new stadium now that baseball season has ended. If they can find a permanent bass player, that is, because Keith Harte will not come back.”
When they reached the canopy-covered party area, they spotted their three men in a group, talking to the very “legends” they’d been discussing.
“Now, that is a feast for the eyes right there. All of them.”
“Especially ours,” Beth said, smiling at Ken as he talked to one of the men.
“Oh, come meet these men,” Emma said, steering them that way, but Libby’s gaze went straight to Law, who looked downright sinful in a suit, his tie loosened, his laugh so easy and genuine with his friends.
He immediately caught sight of her and held her gaze long enough to make her delightfully unsteady.
He left his group and approached hers, sliding his hands around her waist to extricate her. “Here’s my lady in red.” She let him pull her to the side. “She’ll be with you shortly, ladies. Go drool over the famous hunks.”
“We’re too married to drool,” Emma joked as they left.
Immediately, Law blocked Libby’s view with his sizable shoulders, still holding her waist. “They’re going to play our song any minute,” he whispered. “I talked to Eddie.”
She smiled up at him. “So I can’t talk to the legends?”
He laughed at the term. “You’ll have plenty of chances. Ben’s moved here, Adam has decided this is the place to raise a kid alone now that he’s retired from the astronaut corps, and Eddie’s signed up for a fall concert series. Jesse Mac says he’s enamored with the resort and will be coming back, too.” He eased her closer. “But this legend has plans for our song.”
“Plans…” Her voice faded. She knew what his plan was.
“Yeah.” He touched her chin and lifted her face to his. “Might be cliché, but I want to do it right.”
“To our song. On the dance floor.”
He puffed out a breath, a little disappointment darkening his eyes. “Gonna be kind of anticlimactic now, yoga bear.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You’re not ready yet, are you?”
“I am,” she said quickly. “I’m so ready. I love you, Law, and I want to be with you forever. But two men have gotten on one knee and, can I just say, I thought the whole position was kind of demeaning.”
He croaked a laugh. “How about I do a down dog? Would that work for you?”
Smiling, she looked to the right, taking in the panorama of a beautifully orchestrated wedding. “It’s so much white and lace and champagne and cake,” she whispered. “All those flowers and tulle feel…wrong to me. What matters are the vows, the promises, and the two people saying them.”
He drew back, his eyes clear with understanding. “Libby, it’s not marriage you don’t want. It’s the wedding.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “You’re right, Law.” The realization hit hard. “I don’t want a wedding. But I want to be married to you. How can we do that?”
He looked at her, thinking hard for a moment. And then a slow, sexy smile curved his lips. “I know how.” He slipped his arm around her and turned, walking in the other direction.
“Where are we going?”
“Vegas.”
“What?”
“Vegas. Tonight. Let’s go pack, find a flight, and go.”
She choked softly, but walked with him. “Now? Tonight?”
“Why not? We’ll drive up to Tampa and catch a red-eye.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she looked back at her friends enjoying a conversation, Law’s idea so preposterous that…that it wasn’t.
Vegas was exactly what she wanted. No fuss, no muss, no wait, no planning, no stress. Just Libby and Law making promises to each other that they would both keep until death parted them.
It was perfect. “Do you think Emma will understand?”
“I think all four of them will understand. They’ve just been through two of these things.”
“I love the idea, Law.” His name caught in her throat as she slipped her arm around him. “And I love you.”
He tucked her closer. “Then you better marry me.”
“Is that the proposal, Law?”
“Not yet. Reach into my right pants pocket.”
“Oooh. I know what’s in there, and I like it.”
“Humor me, Lib.”
“All right.” She dipped her hand into his pocket, her fingers curling around a small box. Her heart kicked up. “Is that it?”
“That’s it.” He slowed their steps. “You want it?”
“Yeah. I want it and I want you.” She pulled the box out slowly. “Don’t do the knee.”
“No knee. No big deal. And…”
She flipped it open, instantly in love with the tiny emerald ring that was the precise color of Law’s eyes.
“No diamond.”
She could barely speak. “It’s beautiful.”
“I wanted it to be different than anything you’ve ever had before.”
She looked up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. “It is. You are. This marriage will be.”
He took the ring and slipped it on silently. “There,” he said softly. “This ring is staying right here, forever.” Then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “And so am I.”
Dear Reader,
I have been astounded by the response to the Barefoot Bay Timeless series. Readers from around the globe have thanked me for creating stories of love and second chances with “mature” heroes who are seasoned to perfection. Great news! It doesn’t end here. More “silver fox” novels are on their way soon! Stay tuned for the Barefoot Bay Timeless (Legends).
You will meet…Eddie James, a on
ce-world-famous rock star now searching for the one thing he’s certain he’ll never find; Adam Slater, a recently retired astronaut who has his hands full as a single father; Jesse MacDonald, a racing bad boy who’s cheated death, but it cost him the only person he ever loved; and Ben Santiago, a former baseball player struggling with the loss of his glory days.
These heroes are men who’ve lived large, thrived in their fields, and now, in their forties and early fifties, are looking for the one thing missing from their lives…forever love. And you can bet they’ll find it on the shores of Barefoot Bay, in the arms of four equally sexy, smart, and sassy women who are the perfect matches for these legendary men.
Want to know the day the next Barefoot Bay book is released? Sign up for the newsletter! You’ll get brief monthly e-mails about new releases and book sales. Also, follow me on www.facebook.com/roxannestclaire and www.twitter.com/roxannestclaire.
Books Set in Barefoot Bay
The Barefoot Bay Billionaires
Secrets on the Sand
Seduction on the Sand
Scandal on the Sand
The Barefoot Bay Brides
Barefoot in White
Barefoot in Lace
Barefoot in Pearls
Barefoot Bay Undercover
Barefoot Bound (prequel)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard
Barefoot with a Stranger
Barefoot with a Bad Boy
Barefoot Bay Timeless
Barefoot at Sunset
Barefoot at Moonrise
Barefoot at Midnight
Barefoot at Midnight (Barefoot Bay Timeless Book 3) Page 27