by Karina Bliss
“That’s easy.” Softly, Pip quoted her favorite Maori proverb, “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.”’
There was a moment’s silence, then he said, “You’re my sun.”
She nearly started crying again, but the kids had swarmed offstage and were surging around them. Releasing Joe, Pip bent to hug Kaitlin.
But the girl skipped around her. “Can we give Pip her Christmas present now, Dad?”
“Oh, no,” Pip exclaimed, only half joking. “We have to wait until Christmas Day.”
Kaitlin looked dismayed. “But where will we hide them?”
Joe started to laugh. “Pip, this present won’t wait.” Putting his hands on her shoulders, he spun her around and steered her forward, where she could see the audience.
Most people had stood up to leave, filing toward the double doors at the rear of the auditorium. Only a group near the back remained seated….
Pip’s stunned gaze traveled from her brothers, their wives and a baby, to her dad and…
Her knees gave way and Joe supported her against him.
“I figured your family had to be at our wedding. I’m thinking Christmas Eve.”
Rooted to the spot, Pip stared at her mother, unable to believe her eyes.
“You can still change your mind about marrying me,” Joe said quietly, and turning her head, she saw he meant it. I was wrong, she thought. This is the moment I’ll love him most.
Pip cupped his face and kissed him fiercely. “You’re never getting rid of me.” Grabbing Joe’s hand, she hauled him down the stairs at the front of the stage and toward her family. “Besides, I can’t interfere with your destiny.”
He laughed. “Oh, yeah, Miss Browne, what’s that?”
They were going to be so happy. “Why, Mr. Fraser, you’re a family man.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4330-3
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Copyright © 2009 by Karina Bliss.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com