“Hi, Blaze.” Skye waved to the hunk as she pulled out her cell phone and joined them. “This is my good friend, Miss Mitzy.”
“It’s good to meet you, Miss Mitzy,” the six-foot-six muscled action star said with a grin.
“Can I get a picture of you two?” Skye asked.
Blaze nodded and Mitzy flushed pink. “Do you have a heart condition?” Blaze asked.
“No, why?” Mitzy answered.
“Good.” Blaze grabbed Mitzy, bent her over his arm, and kissed her smack on the lips. Skye videoed it but by the explosion of flashes that went off, it hadn’t been necessary. That photo would be everywhere in minutes.
“Oh my,” Mitzy said, patting her hair once she was upright again. “Well, young man, I’ll knit you something for being so nice and have Skye send it to you.”
“Nice.” Blaze grinned and then looked over at the young actor who played a vampire in last year’s blockbuster and had been voted as having the sexiest eyes by the media. “Miss Mitzy’s knitting me something. Suck it up, vamp.”
Mr. Sexy Eyes, whose real name was Patrick and who would be her co-star in Gemma’s adaptation, joined them to say hello to everyone. Of course, he played it up when he turned to Miss Mitzy. Video cameras closed in on them as they quickly became the red carpet centerpiece. “Miss Mitzy, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Can you help Blaze and me with something?”
“Of course, young man,” Miss Mitzy said seriously.
Patrick pulled Mitzy close and she actually giggled right before he planted a kiss on her lips.
“So, tell the world who the better kisser is,” Patrick said with a wink after pulling back.
Mitzy smacked him playfully on the arm, but the smile on her face was something Skye would never forget. “I’d say it’s too close to call so we better try it again.”
Skye leaned over to Trent and whispered in his ear. “And just like that, America has a new Sweetheart.”
Epilogue
Spring, Shadows Landing . . .
Trent stood in front of the riverbank behind his house. An arch of pastel flowers was directly behind him as he watched Skye walk down the aisle between the rows of white chairs filled with friends and family. The assembly was a mix of Hollywood, Shadows Landing, and Keeneston. Trent couldn’t imagine anything better.
Skye met him by the arch. He didn’t even notice when her father put Skye’s hand in his. Trent’s eyes were only on his bride. Reverend Winston began the service, and before he knew it, Trent was kissing his bride. A camera flashed, but there were no paparazzi here tonight. They all thought Skye and Trent were off in Italy to get married, thanks to a body double seen boarding a private jet in Charleston and the reservation they’d made under a not-so-fake name at an Italian vineyard.
However, he and Skye had agreed to publish one photo. They put it up for auction. The site that bought the rights to the exclusive photo made the check out to the Daughters of Elizabeth charity and agreed to write about the charity Sydney Davies McKnight chaired in the column about the wedding when it ran.
Trent linked his hand with his wife’s as Reverend Winston announced them. People stood and cheered as they walked by all their friends and family. Trent had never been prouder nor had he ever been happier than he was in that moment.
Tinsley watched as the couples filled the dance floor behind Skye and Trent’s house. Karri and Peter took to the floor followed by Gavin and a very pregnant, due-at-any-moment Ellery. Then Wade and Darcy, Harper and Dare, and Ridge and Savannah. Kord and Maggie Bell were followed by Gage Bell and Cassidy Davies, one of Tinsley’s cousins from Kentucky, then they made their way to the dance floor.
“And then there were two.” Tinsley nodded as Ryker joined her. “Here.”
“Thank you,” Tinsley said as she took the glass of champagne. “Looks like Mitzy’s having a blast.”
“So, she and the butler?” Ryker silently saluted her and then took a drink.
“They look happy. They all look happy.”
“You’ll be happy too, Tins.”
“Aw, Ryker. You’re nothing but a big sweetie pie.”
Ryker growled at her.
“Goodness, is that you or the cake?” her cousin Greer Parker from Keeneston asked.
Tinsley laughed as they all looked at the groomsmen’s cake in the shape of a large alligator.
After talking with Greer for a bit, Ryker headed for the group of men. Tinsley had always liked Greer. She was the complete opposite of Tinsley, but she had a good heart and that was what mattered most.
“I hear there’s going to be a new FBI agent in Charleston and his transfer is controversial,” Greer told her after Ryker left.
“I think I’m the wrong person to tell,” Tinsley said. “I know your whole family is FBI, but I don’t think painting has anything to do with the them.”
“Oh, but it does. Peter told me all about it. Agent Kendry was big in the violent gang task force down in Atlanta. He was shot three times and managed to survive. He wanted to take over the task force, but politics came into play and he was transferred to Charleston under Peter to run the new art crimes division.”
Tinsley did a double take. “He went from violent gangs to art crimes? Do they understand the complexity of art crimes?”
“That’s why it’s controversial. See, he’s the most experienced to take over the task force, but the higher ups claim he’s injured and on desk duty until he’s cleared. They moved him here because I guess art crime is on the rise with the tourists and such. He happens to have an art degree along with a criminal justice degree. Don’t think it’s a big team or anything, apparently Agent Kendry is the entire art crimes division.”
“Poor guy. I guess he won’t be around long.”
Greer shrugged. “I don’t know, but I know he’s not happy here and Peter doesn’t know what to do with him. He was hoping to foist him off on Ellery to show him around the art world here, but much to my Grandma Marcy’s delight, Ellery looks like she could deliver any second.”
Tinsley looked as Great Aunt Marcy plied Ellery with pie. “She’ll be a great-great-aunt. Right?”
Greer shrugged her shoulders. “I lose count. Heck, I lose count of my own cousins. Hey, is Gator here? I was hoping he’d take me out gator wrestling tomorrow. I think I’m getting the hang of it. I tried on a pig, but it’s not the same.”
“You’re an adrenaline junkie. No wonder you’re in the FBI, Miss Sharpshooter.” Greer smiled at that but it wasn’t a full smile, and Tinsley began to wonder if something was going on with her cousin. “There’s Gator. And you know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Greer smiled at her. “Of course I know that. That’s what cousins are for.”
Greer walked off to join Gator and Tinsley knew she wouldn’t be asking for help any time soon. It wasn’t her style.
“Come on, cuz! Let’s show them how to do this dance.”
Tinsley laughed as her cousin Porter took her hand as the music turned into one of the trendy pop songs that had its own dance. One she couldn’t imagine her rough rodeo cousin Porter knowing.
Tinsley was proven wrong moments later when he put his hands on his hips and made a slow circle with them before doing a version of hip gyrations that had Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie fanning themselves.
Tinsley laughed out loud and soon found herself in a dance-off with Porter and his twin, Parker, and several A-list celebrities.
“So, what exactly is your involvement with Sebastian Abel?” Uncle Miles asked Ryker. Ryker tossed back his drink and motioned for the bartender to pour him another. Skye had just leap-frogged her way up to his favorite cousin-in-law by stocking his obscenely expensive but favorite cognac for the reception.
“Why does it matter?” Ryker asked instead of answering. Most of the time he could get away with it, but not with his family from Keeneston.
“The arrogant jerk was involved with my daughter-in-law at one point,” Uncle Pierce, the nicest and only non-mi
litary uncle said. Sebastian had dated Abby? That was news to Ryker.
“Dad, he wasn’t a jerk to Abby and we’re actually friends now.” Pierce’s son, Dylan, said as if he’d said it a million times before. Although Ryker would need to learn more about Sebastian and Abby. Ryker looked for any weakness a business adversary had and he would exploit it mercilessly.
“Whatever. He’s cold and arrogant. I don’t like him,” Uncle Pierce said.
Uncle Cole agreed, but then everyone turned to stare at Uncle Miles as if he fit that bill too.
“I’m not cold anymore. Morgan changed that,” Miles said, a bit defensively.
“And what happened to Mason’s bodyguard who went after Aunt Morgan?” Dylan asked his uncle.
Miles took a deep sip of bourbon before answering. “Old habits and all. He showed up when and where he needed to with no visible bruising.”
Ryker felt his lips twitch. He liked his family from Kentucky. They were entertaining and they teased each other the way he and his Shadows Landing cousins did.
Wade walked over with his happy-go-lucky smile and slapped Ryker on the shoulder. “Cuz, Great Aunt Marcy has it in her head it’s time for you to settle down. I’d start running now. She looks old and frail, but she’ll take you down with that cane without missing a beat.”
Ryker looked over to where Marcy was now holding court with Ellery, Miss Winnie, Miss Ruby, and Savannah. They all stared at him. Ellery looked as if she were envious of his drink. Savannah looked as if she were trying not to laugh, but the other three . . . well they were trouble and he knew better than to walk into trouble. Ryker turned around and slipped into the shadows.
Trent spun his wife under the soft glow of the lights they’d hung across the backyard. He’d never been happier as he was in that moment. He had his bride in his arms, and all his friends and family were celebrating with him.
“How does it feel to be out of the spotlight?” he asked Skye.
“I’ve never been happier. The bright lights hid the best parts of the world in shadows. Now I’m free to experience it all—the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the friendship of Shadows Landing, and the love of my life. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
Trent bent down and kissed his bride in the middle of the dance floor. People cheered around them. Gator danced by with Gina Toussaint on his arm. Blaze was leading Miss Winnie out onto the dance floor as they joked about what the media would make of their dance. Patrick had Miss Ruby on his arm and was already challenging Blaze and Miss Winnie to a dance-off. Blythe and her girlfriend, Veronica, danced by next, followed by Olivia and Henry Rooney and all their friends and family.
Trent took a deep breath and it was like the air filled him with warmth as his heart expanded. People were people. They wanted to be treated nicely and loved. It was the same if you were a gator-removal expert, a Hollywood action hero, a dark, mysterious businessman, an attorney with a weakness for bad pick-up lines, a sheriff, or a furniture maker.
“What do you think of doing this every year or two?” Trent asked, looking around.
“What? Getting married?” Skye asked as she looked around. As she did, her smiled widened. “Oh, this.”
“All our friends and family in one place and having fun.”
“I love that idea. It’s almost magical here out of the glare of the spotlight where we can all be who we are.”
“No matter what, you’ll always be in the center of my spotlight. I love you, Skye.”
“I love you more than words can ever describe. Now let’s go show your cousins Porter and Parker how to really dance to those 90s boy bands.”
Trent loved the way Skye laughed as she spun around and then held out her hand for him. He tossed his tuxedo jacket onto the back of a chair, rolled up his sleeves, took hold of his wife’s hand, and jumped into his future with Skye by his side.
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
Forever Hunted
Forever Guarded
Forever Notorious
Forever Ventured
Forever Freed
Forever Saved
Forever Bold (coming Jan/Feb 2021)
Shadows Landing Series
Saving Shadows
Sunken Shadows
Lasting Shadows
Fierce Shadows
Broken Shadows
Framed Shadows (coming Apr/May 2021)
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
Moonshine Hollow Series
Moonshine & Murder
Moonshine & Malice
Moonshine & Mayhem
Moonshine & Mischief
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.
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Broken Shadows: Shadows Landing #5 Page 24