Lost and Found Family

by Jennifer Ryan

  Jack perked up. “Yes. I like it here with Luke.”

  “Me, too.” Nick cupped Luke’s face and mushed his forehead into Luke’s chin.

  Luke smiled and hugged Nick close, but let her go on with this difficult talk.

  “We’re building a family, right? Me and Luke with you boys, plus Grandma and Aunt Bridget and Sophia. We’re all family now.”

  “And Grandpa and Grandma and Tyler,” Jack added.

  “That’s right. They’re a part of our family. And there’s someone new joining our family.”

  “Who?” Nick asked, from atop Luke’s shoulders now.

  “Her name is Jamie.” Sarah sucked in a breath and spilled the truth. “And she’s your sister.”

  Jack tilted his head. “We’re going to have a sister?”

  Sarah took another breath and dove in. “You have a sister. Your dad and Trish had a baby together. Trish gave birth to Jamie after your dad died. I didn’t know about her until just a few days ago.”

  “When you talked to Trish on the phone.” Jack put the pieces together, helping her out.

  “That’s right. And because you and Nick and Jamie all have the same daddy, that means you and Nick are Jamie’s big brothers.”

  “Where is she?” Nick asked, patting Luke on the top of the head.

  The man had the patience of a saint, not seeming to mind being Nick’s jungle gym.

  “Jamie lives with her mommy. In a few days, we’ll be back at our house for a little while, and I’m going to invite Jamie over to meet you.”

  “Will she live with us?” Jack’s eyes clouded with confusion and questions.

  “No. She’ll live with Trish, her mommy. But I hope that we will get to see her lots so you and Nick can get to know your sister.”

  “She’ll be part of the family,” Nick announced with a big smile.

  Sarah took out her phone and tapped the screen to get to her text messages. “Trish sent me some pictures of Jamie. Want to see?”

  Nick launched himself off Luke onto her lap. Luckily she caught him before he tipped off and landed on the floor.

  “Chill out, buddy,” Luke scolded. “You could hurt your mom.”

  “Sorry, Mama.” Nick kissed her.

  She nuzzled her nose in his cheek. “Sit nice.”

  He adjusted on her lap and Jack scooted closer. She held the phone in front of them and showed them the first picture of Jamie.

  “She has hair like mine,” Nick said.

  “I think she has your dad’s green eyes, too,” Sarah added, her throat tight with all the mixed emotions running through her.

  Luke leaned in. “She’s about a year and a half old. You guys will have to be careful playing with her because she’s much smaller than you.”

  Sarah tapped the next picture to enlarge it on her phone.

  Margaret had gotten up and stood at her shoulder. When she saw Jamie smiling big with several tiny baby teeth showing, she put her hand on Sarah’s shoulder and caught her breath. “Wow. She’s beautiful.”

  Sarah put her hand over Margaret’s. “She reminds me of Nick when he was that age.”

  “What about me, Mama?” Jack asked.

  “I think she has your nose,” she said to make him happy and because their noses were very similar. “And check out the soccer ball in this picture.”

  “I like soccer, too.” Jack beamed.

  “I bet you’ll find lots of things in common,” Margaret said.

  Sarah set her phone on the table and looked at both boys. “So, what do you think about having a new sister?”

  “It’s good,” Jack said.

  “When can we see her? I can show her my cars.” Nick pulled one out of his pocket.

  “Soon. Do you guys have any questions?”

  Both boys shook their heads.

  “Okay. Then Grandma is going to take you over to Aunt Bridget’s house for pizza and a movie.”

  “Yay!” Jack stood and leapt over the back of the couch.

  “Hey, bud, that’s not how we get down.” Luke snagged Nick off her lap and flew him through the air and set him on his feet on the other side of the coffee table.

  “Me next.” Jack jumped up and down, wanting his turn.

  While Luke distracted the boys, Sarah took a minute with Margaret. “Are you okay?”

  “It’s just been a lot to take in, but seeing her . . . She’s real. She’s another part of him.”

  “I texted with Trish.” It seemed easier for both of them to start out that way. “She’s going to bring Jamie to the house to see the boys. She’s also willing to bring Jamie to your house so that you and Bridget and Sophia can have some time with her, and Trish and you can talk.”

  Margaret nodded. “I’d like that. I know it’s awkward and strange without Sean here, but I really want to get to know my granddaughter. I don’t really care how she got here.” Margaret caught herself. “Oh Sarah. I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant at all.”

  Sarah put her hand on Margaret’s arm. “Stop. It’s okay to focus on Jamie and not put all your energy into how it happened, what happened, and all that.” Sarah was tired of being mired in the past.

  Margaret checked her watch. “Boys. It’s time to go,” she called out, then looked at Sarah again. “I’m really trying to be like you and put this behind me. It’s just really hard having all this turmoil inside of me.”

  “Maybe you should let it out.”

  Margaret eyed her. “How?”

  “Tell him. Say everything you’d say to him if he were here out loud. Let it out. Let him have it. Tell him you’re angry and upset.” She put her hand on Margaret’s shoulder. “Once you’ve got all that out, tell him everything else. That you saw the boys. That you’re going to meet his daughter. He may be gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to forget him or not make him a part of your life.”

  “Are you able to do that?”

  “Sometimes late at night I’ll go into the boys’ rooms and I’ll look at them and say, ‘Look what you’re missing, Sean. I hope you can see them.’” Maybe she still harbored a lot of pain and anger, but in those moments she wanted Sean to understand what had been most important. She hoped, wherever he was now, he knew. She hoped he watched over the boys with pride and love.

  He wasn’t here to show them that.

  They had her. And Luke. And family.

  But they should have had him and he should have been the man and father they deserved.

  And she would give them that kind of man, because she loved Luke, and he’d be the dad, not that the boys lost, but that they deserved.

  She’d bring love into their lives. She’d started with reconciling with Margaret and Bridget. She’d add their sister, Jamie.

  Margaret pushed her shoulders back. “I’ll try. And I am excited to meet Jamie.”

  “Something to look forward to. Focus on that,” Sarah advised.

  Margaret went to the boys. “Let’s get going.”

  The boys hugged her and Luke, then left with Margaret.

  Luke closed the front door and turned to her. “What you said to Margaret . . . That was really honest. You gave her a way to be angry and happy.”

  “It’s not easy to do both at the same time. I for one am done with Sean and what he left me with. I’m not going to keep carrying it around with me anymore. I’m moving on. I’m moving forward.”

  “With me?” Luke took a step closer.

  She closed the distance and put her hands at the back of his neck, drawing him close. “Definitely with you.” She kissed him softly.

  Luke took the kiss deeper.

  She broke the kiss and stared up at him. “We’re alone.”

  Luke gave her a wicked grin. “I can’t wait to find out what you’re wearing under that suit.” He took her hand, dipped his body, and pulled her toward him as he lifted her right off her feet and over his shoulder. He stood tall and carried her through the great room and up the stairs to their room.

  She laughed
and smacked him on the ass. “Put me down.”

  He did. Right next to the bed. She giggled and tried to catch her breath, but Luke kissed it right out of her again, then he stared down at her with a look of pure desire and they both gave in to the need to be close and started peeling off clothes, anxious to get their hands on the other.

  Luke had his shirt off, tempting her with a full display of his broad chest and chiseled muscles. His boots went flying, but when he undid the button on his jeans, he stilled and stared at her. She let her blouse float to the floor, revealing the pink lace bra pushing her breasts up into rounded mounds that ached for his touch. The skirt slid down her legs in a whoosh of material and she stood before him in nothing but the sexy bra and matching lace panties.

  “Uh . . .”

  “Use your words,” she teased.

  “Damn.”

  A warm blush rose from her breasts up to her cheeks.

  “Instead of words, I’d rather use my hands and mouth and tongue all over you.”

  She held her hands out. “Well, come and get me.”

  Luke closed the short distance and took her mouth in a scorching kiss as both his hands clamped onto her ass and pulled her up and snug against his warm skin. His hard length pressed to her belly and she rubbed her body against his.

  Luke laid a trail of soft, open-mouthed kisses down her neck and chest. His finger slipped inside the lace cup and pulled it down and her breast popped out. His warm mouth covered her hard nipple and he sucked the peak, sending a wave of heat down low, making her clench her thighs to try to ease the ache only Luke could make better.

  He released her hard nipple and licked it with his tongue, his breath making the pink tip even tighter, before he moved to her other breast and kissed the swell of it above the lace trim. His hands swept up her back and he unhooked the bra and sent the barrier flying. His hands cupped both her breasts, her nipples squeezed between his fingers as he kneaded the soft flesh and kissed her neck again.

  Lost in the feel of him, and heat, her fingers slid into his hair and she held him to her.

  “I love it when you let go, sweetheart.”

  “I want to hold on.” She slid her hand down his chest and rock-hard abs and dipped it inside his jeans. She clamped her hand around his throbbing length and rubbed him up and down.

  Luke hissed in a breath, leaned back, and stared down at her hand working his hard cock.

  He made quick work of pushing his jeans and boxers down his hips and kicking them off his feet so she could take his silky flesh in her palm.

  “That’s so good.” He held her hips and let her have her way with him for another few seconds before he hissed again, pushed her hand away, backed her up to the bed, and followed her onto it, covering her body with his warm one and kissing her senseless.

  Somehow in the midst of hands caressing and mouths moving over each other, her panties seemed to melt away seconds before Luke joined their bodies and they were moving together in a much more intimate and primal way.

  She loved the feel and weight of him on her and the taste of him on her tongue.

  Luke moved, and she moved with him, meeting his thrusts and the demands of his body and hers for the release they both knew was coming but held off just a little longer so they could enjoy the closeness and tantalizing sensations coursing through their bodies until it overtook them.

  They both panted with exertion and wallowed in the euphoric aftermath in each other’s arms.

  Sarah hugged Luke close as his body pressed her into the bed. “Now, that’s what I call a homecoming.”

  Luke pressed a kiss to her neck, then rose up on his forearms and stared down at her. “I missed you. This. Us.”

  Sarah covered a yawn with the back of her hand. “Me, too. I couldn’t wait to get back here to you.”

  Luke shifted to her side, hooked his arm and hand over her middle, and drew her back to his chest and held her close. “Close your eyes. Take a nap. I’ll wake you when it’s time for dinner.”

  Luke held her, listening to her breathe, savoring the feel of her in his arms, the way she fit just perfectly in them, his life, and his heart.

  He was so damn lucky to have found someone like her. She loved him. He’d discovered he had the capacity to love just as deeply as his father loved his mom and Jason loved Michelle. It had seemed so easy for them and he’d struggled with one ruined relationship after the next. Until Sarah came into his life and stole his horse and his heart.

  Now all he had to do was bring their two worlds together permanently.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  “Sarah, you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress. The press is going nuts over you. Can you believe all of this? . . . Sarah, I’m talking to you.”

  Abby’s voice finally penetrated Sarah’s daydream.

  “I’m sorry. I was thinking about Luke. And last night. And this morning.”

  Abby beamed. “Tell me everything. I want details.”

  “I don’t mean that. Well, I do, but I was thinking about how happy he was when I got home and how sweet. I took a short nap before dinner. When I woke up he’d brought up one of the bouquets of flowers and put them on the nightstand. I went downstairs to find him and saw one of the bouquets on the dining room table and another on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. It was so lovely how he’d put them throughout the house, so that no matter where I went, I could enjoy them. The last bouquet was on the kitchen table. He was at the stove making me pancakes, eggs, and bacon. We ate in front of a roaring fire.”

  Abby’s eyes turned all dreamy. “He made you breakfast for dinner.”

  “He said it was the fastest thing he could make that would stick to my ribs and give me enough energy.”

  Abby perked up and her eyes lit with interest. “Energy for what? Come on, give.”

  “Let’s just say I woke up in his arms in front of the fireplace this morning.”

  He’d given her another perfect night, with the roaring fire she’d included in her dream day.

  Abby sighed. “I am so jealous. I can’t wait to meet him.”

  “How many more meetings do we have to get through?” She and Luke agreed it didn’t make sense for him to trail her from one meeting to the next before the benefit, so he was meeting her right before the actual event started.

  “Two more to go. Luke, his family, and yours will meet us after that and you’ll all go to the ballroom together. You have your speech, right?”

  “I do. I’ve kept it short and sweet. I’ll make a few comments about the Spencer Foundation and what we’re doing, and then accept the award. Sound good?”

  “Perfect. Let’s get these meetings out of the way. I can’t wait to meet your Luke.”

  “My Luke. I like that. Who are we meeting with next?”

  “TriStar, Inc.”

  “Right. A security project like the Knox Project.”

  “Exactly. Then . . .” Abby stalled and held up her hand. “Promise you won’t freak out?”

  “Why?”

  “Because the second meeting is actually a press conference with about a hundred reporters who all want to ask you about Spencer Software and Andy’s Antics and how you, as a woman, built the companies into what they are today.” Abby winced and waited for Sarah’s reaction. “I’ve been fending off requests for months,” she went on. “As soon as it was announced you were actually going to make a public appearance, the organizers set it up without asking me first. You can answer all their questions at once, then go hide out on Luke’s ranch.”

  There was no stopping it now. And Abby had warned her they’d do a lot of press today. Meeting them all at once and getting it over with suited her. “Sounds like a plan.” And after, Luke would be here, and that made her really happy.

  * * *

  Luke arrived with his entire family. The press snapped pictures of their arrival. Once inside the lobby, he and Jason got caught up with some old friends.

  “We missed you guys at the Gov
ernor’s Ball last month,” Tom said.

  “Jason has an excuse. He’s married with a kid, but where have you been hiding, Luke?” Brandon asked.

  Luke shrugged. “It’s a long drive in from the ranch.” He didn’t go into any more detail about how his life had changed recently. He wasn’t the same man who’d meet these guys at the bar after work or on the weekend and pick up women just to pass the time and fill the void that never seemed to disappear.

  “You never come out with us anymore,” Paul complained. “It’s no fun without you.”

  “You mean without him picking up the tab,” Jason teased.

  “Whatever happened to that waitress you were seeing?” Tom asked.

  Paul shook his head. “No, she was a landscape architect.”

  Brandon narrowed his gaze. “I thought you were seeing some Google girl.”

  Jason grinned at him. “Wasn’t the last one the designer you hired to do your house?”

  “She wanted to do me.” He got the laugh he expected from his friends, but Jason frowned at him. “And I wasn’t seeing her. I hired her to do a job.”

  Luke caught sight of his parents and Michelle across the lobby seconds before they got swept up in the crowd of reporters and photographers coming out of one of the conference rooms. Hundreds of flashes went off as the photographers swarmed whoever was in the middle of the melee.

  “If you turn into Farmer John, you’re going to lose your most-eligible-bachelor status,” Paul teased.

  Luke didn’t respond. He stood transfixed as the sea of reporters and photogs split and his mom, dad, and Michelle greeted the woman in the middle. She had her back to him when she hugged his mom. Her red velvet dress had short cap sleeves and left her back completely exposed to her waist. She didn’t wear a long gown like most of the women here at the benefit. Her gown had a full skirt that ended at her knees and showed off a pair of gorgeous legs that ended in red satin ribbons tied around her ankles, her feet encased in red heels. Her hair was piled on top of her head and secured with a ruby and diamond clip. Long tendrils escaped in waves of mahogany. A pearl necklace circled her throat and one long strand hung down her back and ended with a large ruby that sparkled from all the flashbulbs going off.