Follow Your Heart--A Novel

by Brenda Jackson

  Mama Laverne smiled. “Yes. Isabelle was alive then and she solicited my help for that brother of yours. Lordy, the boy was worse than my Clayton and my Blade put together. Thankfully, we found the perfect girl for him. Don’t you think?”

  It was obvious to anyone looking at Lyric that she honestly didn’t know what to think.

  “Susan and I promised your grandmother before she died that we would make sure her two granddaughters, namely you and Liza, would marry the perfect mates.”

  Tanner, who was still finding it hard to believe what the older woman had done, asked in an annoyed tone, “No disrespect, ma’am, but you actually thought it was okay to interfere in our lives?”

  “I don’t see why not. Do any of you have a problem with the results?”

  The two couples’ silence was proof they did not.

  Leaning on her cane, Felicia Laverne slowly came to her feet. “With that settled, if there aren’t any more questions, it’s nap time for me.” She called out to her son, “Jake, stop pretending to be asleep over there and come walk me to my room.”

  When Jake reached Mama Laverne’s side, Victoria said, “I do have a question, Mama Laverne.”

  She turned to face Victoria. “And what is your question, dear?”

  “Is Corbin next?”

  Felicia Laverne’s lips stretched into a broad smile. “That was the plan. However, I will admit those gray-eyed Bannister boys do concern me.”

  “Gray-eyed Bannister boys?” Roman asked, not even trying to hide his grin.

  “Yes, you know Marilyn’s nephews. Those sons of her brother Stuart Junior. Wyatt is a good friend of Blade’s. Camden is good friends with Luke. And the twins, Brenton and Branson, are good friends of Nolan’s. Those four boys need my help.”

  “This I got to see,” Tanner muttered under his breath.

  Jake Madaris shook his head as he walked his mother out of the room. She had pulled off yet another one, or two, of her matchmaking schemes. He wouldn’t want to be in Corbin’s, Wyatt’s, Camden’s, Branson’s or Brenton’s shoes about now. He had a feeling his mother thought she was on a roll and was about to really dig in.

  He chuckled softly. The next year would definitely be interesting.

  Three weeks later

  ALL HEADS TURNED when Senator Roman Malone Jr. walked into the Capital Ball with the beautiful woman on his arm. Every woman there thought he looked totally dashing and that Victoria Madaris was too radiant for words and her beauty astounding. And that gown she was wearing was simply exquisite.

  The couple had entered with Jake Madaris and his wife, the famous movie star, Diamond Swain-Madaris; and retired senator Nedwyn Lansing and his wife, Diana. All three couples were getting attention because they looked so good together.

  Roman leaned down and asked Victoria, “You all right?”

  She smiled at him. “I couldn’t be better.” She glanced around. “There are a lot of people here.” And she didn’t want to say it, but it appeared all eyes were on her and Roman.

  Surprisingly, The Tattler had done something it had never done before. They had publicly apologized as well as retracted the article and admitted they had used misinformation from an unreliable source.

  After Roman’s public declaration of love for her, all the romantics had come out in support of the couple. Twitter had gone crazy, trending that Senator Malone’s words of love had been utterly romantic. That in itself had been a backlash to the tabloid even without a retraction.

  Roman strolled Victoria around the room and introduced her to a number of his colleagues, then he asked if she wanted to dance. “Yes, Senator Malone, I would be honored to dance with you,” she said, smiling.

  Roman took her into his arms and they danced the night away, one song after another. She also danced with her uncle Jake and her uncle Nedwyn, while Roman danced with her aunts, Diamond and Diana.

  During the night, Victoria couldn’t help noticing a very attractive woman who would often stare at her. When she and Roman took a quick break from dancing and went to the buffet table to grab something to eat, she asked him if the woman was Audria Wayfare. He confirmed that it was. In a way, Victoria felt sorry for her. She was attractive on the outside, but was obviously mean-spirited on the inside.

  Roman and Victoria were enjoying what she knew would be their last dance of the night when suddenly she noticed they were the only couple on the dance floor. Then the bright lights came on at the exact moment the band stopped playing.

  She looked up at Roman. “What in the world is going on?”

  Instead of answering her, he smiled and, holding her hand, he lowered to one knee. Gazing up at her, he said, “You are everything I could ever want in a wife, Victoria, and I love you so much. Will you marry me and share my life with me?”

  Victoria fought back the tears in her eyes. Several weeks ago he had declared publicly that he loved her, and now tonight, he was proposing in front of everyone present. “Yes, I will marry you. I love you, too.”

  Everyone clapped and there were hearty cheers when Roman slid a gorgeous ring on her finger. Victoria held out her hand to look at her engagement ring, a beautiful three-carat French halo diamond on a white band. He then stood, gathered her into his arms and kissed her. Moments later, he pulled back and said, “One more dance before we leave.”

  As if on cue, the band began playing a slow number, and he pulled her close and they danced. They were the only couple on the dance floor. It was as if this song, this dance and this moment belonged only to them. Victoria felt totally happy and knew her great-grandmother had known all along that no matter what, she would follow her heart.

  When the song ended, she whispered to Roman, “I’m ready to leave. I just need to tell my family good-night.”

  Both of her aunts loved her engagement ring and as they headed for the exit, she and Roman received many words of congratulations and well wishes. “Just so you know,” Roman said casually, “I want a Christmas wedding.”

  Victoria’s head snapped up to look at him. “A Christmas wedding? That’s barely two months away, Roman. Not enough time to plan.”

  He grinned. “I want to start off the New Year with you as my wife. And as for there not being enough time to plan, I know the women in your family will make it happen.”

  Victoria threw her head back and laughed because she knew it, too.

  * * *

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING Victoria woke up in Roman’s bed. She sat up and saw she was in bed alone, then glanced at the ring on her finger to make sure she hadn’t dreamed it.

  “Good morning, sweetheart.”

  She looked up to see Roman, dressed only in pajama bottoms, lounging against the bedroom door. He held a newspaper in his hand.

  She smiled over at him. “Good morning, Roman.”

  He crossed the room to the bed, leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. “I love you,” he whispered.

  “And I love you,” she said.

  He pulled back, straightened and said, “I thought you’d like to see this.” He dropped the newspaper in bed with her. She picked it up. It was a copy of the Washington Post. A front-page photo showed him on his knee proposing. The article had the caption, She Said Yes!

  “We look good together, don’t we?” she asked him.

  “Yes, and we always will.”

  She read the article, and they were referred to as the “Darlings of Washington.” Tilting her head, she looked up at him. “Were you serious when you said you want a Christmas wedding?”

  “Yes. Very serious.”

  She watched as he removed his pajama bottoms and slid back in bed with her. Victoria thought a Christmas wedding would be perfect, just like the man she would marry.

  EPILOGUE

  ROMAN WANTED A Christmas wedding and, just like he’d told Victoria, all the women in the Madaris family were more t
han happy to make it happen. Diamond flew in a well-known bridal gown designer from LA, and her cousins-in-law, Syneda, Caitlin and Lorren, were put in charge of finding the perfect location to accommodate all the guests. Close to seven hundred people would be invited. That’s what happened when you married a man destined to become president one day.

  More cousins, Christy, Skye and Kenna, as well as her sister Lindsay, were in charge of the reception. And family members and family friends—Traci, Kattie, Mac, Sam and Peyton—were in charge of coordinating all the bridal showers. Ivy, Marilyn and Roman’s mother, Traci, would work with Diamond to make sure the guests staying at Whispering Pines would be comfortable.

  This wedding was a team effort, a family affair, and everyone was eager to pitch in to do whatever needed to be done. Everyone was happy...well, almost everyone. News had soon spread about Mama Laverne’s matchmaking double whammy. To hear she had not only orchestrated a romance between Victoria and Roman, but also one with Tanner, had Corbin and the Bannister brothers shaking in their boots. They were refusing to be a part of a possible quintuple whammy and rumor had it that they were trying to come up with their own plans. Everyone was wishing them good luck with that, and suggested they might as well face the fact their bachelor days were numbered.

  Christmas Day had finally arrived and Victoria looked out the church’s window. People were still arriving. It would be huge with all of their Texas friends, families and a number of Roman’s DC colleagues and college fraternity brothers. She had invited her friends from Catalina Cove and her boss and coworkers from the television station.

  And speaking of Catalina Cove, Roman had presented her with her wedding gift last night. He had surprised her with a deed to a waterfront property in Catalina Cove. They would be building a summer home next year. He’d said he couldn’t resist since the cove would always have special memories for them.

  Washington, DC, would be their home for now, but she looked forward to spending time on his ranch in Austin, as well. Things were moving fast. Already she had resigned from her job in New Orleans with plans to make DC her home.

  Two weeks ago, she had received a job offer as a talk show host at DC’s CNN bureau and she had accepted, but wouldn’t start work until sometime in January. She was excited about fulfilling her role as a senator’s wife. Right now, more than anything she looked forward to spending their two-week honeymoon in Venice.

  At the knock on the door, Victoria turned. “Come in.”

  She smiled when her great-grandmother walked in with her cane.

  “Mama Laverne,” she said, hurrying to get a chair for her to sit down.

  “No need, dear. I don’t intend to stay that long. Just wanted to check to make sure all was well with you.”

  Victoria’s smile widened. “Yes, all is well with me.”

  Felicia Laverne nodded. “Glad to hear it. I just saw Tanner and Lyric. She’s wearing a gorgeous engagement ring and they are planning a June wedding.”

  Victoria grinned. “I am so happy for them.” She had also heard from Blade that all the renovations had been done and the club would be opened for business as scheduled on New Year’s Eve.

  Less than two hours later, Victoria walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, Nolan Madaris Junior. The look in Roman’s eyes as he watched her come to him filled her with even more love. Today was the day they would remember for the rest of their lives. She was glad she had done the right thing and followed her heart.

  She was exceedingly glad.

  * * *

  FELICIA LAVERNE MADARIS couldn’t help but smile at the way things had turned out today. She loved weddings, especially when it was one of her own kin getting hitched. She glanced across the room at the groom’s aunt, Nora Parker, caught her eye and winked. A Malone had married a Madaris.

  Mission accomplished.

  She looked around the reception’s ballroom and chuckled when she saw her great-grands and their friends huddled together in a pack. The single ones had tried avoiding her today but discovered they couldn’t. Out of respect they had spoken and had given her the kiss on the cheek and asked about her well-being. Then they had high-tailed it away once they’d done so.

  This was the first wedding she’d ever attended where the single men refused to participate in the garter toss. How crazy was that? After taking a sip of her punch, she noticed three single ladies and several pairs of male eyes who were checking them out. Hmm...

  Whether they knew it or not, three of those men were making things easy for her since the interest was already there. All of her great-grands thought they weren’t ready for love and marriage in the beginning, but soon discovered how wrong they were.

  She leaned back in her chair, thinking she loved helping them discover love in its purest form and with the perfect partner.

  Now, on to the next.

  * * *

  Return to Jackson Falls for the next sexy and irresistible book in Synithia Williams’s reader-favorite series featuring the Robidoux family!

  When everything is working to keep them apart, can these two former enemies learn to trust one another for a chance at forever?

  Read on for a sneak peek of Careless Whispers

  Careless Whispers

  by Synithia Williams

  ELAINA TURNED TO face him, her heart pounding again and a dozen warning bells going off in her head. She should shut down the flirting, but the look in Alex’s eyes said he was willing to go with her down this path. “I’ve got some experience with wanting the wrong man.”

  “But that’s all in your past now.” He took a half step closer.

  She shook her head. She’d never been good at not going for what she wanted. Her ego needed stroking, and Alex with his quiet understanding and empathy had shown her more care than anyone had in a long time. She’d be smarter this time. This was just to quell her curiosity. People said there was a thin line between love and hate. Maybe all their bickering had just been leading to this.

  “Not quite,” she said, choosing her next words carefully. She pretended to check the list in her box. “I find myself thinking about someone who I once despised. I miss clashing with him daily. I enjoy the verbal sparring. Not to mention he recently wrapped his arms around me and for some reason I can’t get that out of my head.” She glanced at him. “He’s stronger than I imagined. His embrace comforting in a way I didn’t realize I’d like. It makes me want more even though I know I shouldn’t.”

  Alex stilled next to her. “What are you going to do about this ill-advised craving?”

  “It kind of depends on him,” she said. “I think he’s interested, but I can’t be sure. And you know I can never offer myself to a man who didn’t want me.” She said the last part with a slight shrug. Though her heart imitated a hummingbird against her ribs, and a mixture of excitement and adrenaline flowed with each beat.

  Alex slid closer, closing the distance between them, and filling her senses with him. He pulled the paper out of her hands. “What if he wants you, too?”

  His deep voice slid over her like warm satin. She faced him and met his dark eyes. “Then I’m in trouble, because I’m no good at saying no to the things I want but shouldn’t have.”

  Alex watched her for several heartbeats. The pulse beat quickly at the base of his neck. A question hovered in his eye. Was she being genuine, or was she playing with him? She wasn’t about to back down now. Not after she’d worked up the courage to acknowledge the attraction humming between them.

  Before he could let common sense kill the moment she lifted on her toes and brushed her lips across his. “Tell me, Alex, am I in trouble?”

  Alex’s strong arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her carefully against his body as if she were precious. Emotion squeezed her chest while a jolt of desire rushed through her. She never could resist a man willing to accept her challenge.

  Don’t miss
what happens next in...Careless Whispers by Synithia Williams

  Available April 2021 wherever HQN books and ebooks are sold.

  www.Harlequin.com

  Copyright © 2021 by Synithia R. Williams

  Welcome to Rose Bend for the first book in USA TODAY bestselling author Naima Simone’s irresistible new series.

  If it was only about her, she might never have come back to Rose Bend. But it’s not only about her anymore.

  Read on for a sneak peek of The Road to Rose Bend

  The Road to Rose Bend

  by Naima Simone

  “STOP.” COLE GENTLY tugged on her hand, drawing her to a halt. “Look around you. What do you see?”

  Sydney tossed him a look that he clearly interpreted as what the hell, but she still glanced around the busy downtown area, packed a little more than usual with shoppers, tourists and traffic because of summer and the upcoming motorcycle rally. But the places that marked Rose Bend as a small, close-knit community still stood, impressive in age yet humble in simplicity.

  “What am I supposed to see?” she retorted. “I feel like this is a trick question.”

  “Do they teach suspicion in the South along with genteel manners?” He surrendered to his desire and allowed himself a gentle tug on a brown curl.

  “Yes. It’s free, along with the master class on the War of Northern Aggression.”

  “Smart-ass,” he growled.

  “Not the worst thing that I’ve been called.”

  Delicious. Perfect. Worship-worthy. All things he would—and had—said himself. Goddamn, stop. “Not touching your ass,” he said, then pinched the bridge of his nose, inwardly groaning at his words.

  Sydney grinned. “You don’t sound at all happy about that fact,” she drawled.

  “Focus,” he grunted.