by Day Leclaire
“Count on it,” the lawyer snapped.
“What’s going on?” RJ demanded.
“Harold is about to pass out documents that reapportion the shares of TKG.”
RJ shot to his feet. “You can’t do that.”
“Yes, I can. And yes, I have.” Jack lifted an eyebrow. “Unless you don’t want a fifteen percent share in the business to replace the nine percent you currently own?”
RJ started to reply, then broke off with a look of utter confusion. “Come again?”
“As I started to say, I’m reapportioning the shares of TKG so each of us owns an equal amount, which comes to fifteen percent apiece. Nikki, of course, will continue to control the ten percent share left to her by her grandfather. Once you sign, we’ll vote on my next motion which is for RJ to take over as CEO and President, while I head up the shipping end of the organization, which includes Carolina Shipping. I will remain in full control of this particular TKG asset. I assume Matt will continue as Director of New Business. And I’m hoping that Nikki will stay on as our corporate investigator.” He paused. “Any objections? No, I didn’t think so. In that case, the motion passes. Next order of business…”
Before any of his brothers or sisters had time to recover from their shock, he swung his bride-to-be into his arms. “Nikki and I are leaving for the rest of the day. Don’t bother calling. Neither of us will be answering our cell phones.” And with that, he left the room.
Behind him, voices exploded in excitement. He simply smiled. Okay, Dad, I opened the door. Let’s see who decides to walk through.
* * *
As it turned out, the entire Kincaid family walked through the door Jack opened. At Elizabeth’s insistence, they broke with tradition and every last one of them showed up on his doorstep midday Sunday, loaded down with an endless stream of hot dishes. Fragrant scents wafted from the various containers. And every last one of his guests greeted him with a hug and kiss, or a manly handshake and a slap on the back. He didn’t know quite what to make of it all.
They all oohed and aahed over the house…and then made themselves right at home, filling it to overflowing with family.
Nikki spotted Jack’s confusion and laughed. “Just go with it,” she advised. “You opened the door and here they all are.”
“Well, hell. I was thinking one at a time, not everyone at once.”
“Deal with it.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “All or nothing is often how it works with family, Jack. It’s one of the fun parts.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He snatched a quick kiss then sank in for another deeper one. “I’m hungry.”
“Good thing there’s lots of food.”
Jack shook his head. “I’m not hungry for food.”
She grinned, wagging her finger at him. “That’s all you’re getting until we’re alone again. Come on.” She caught his hand in hers and tugged him toward the dining room. “Let’s go join your family.”
Angela showed up in the middle of the mass confusion surrounding the organization of dinner. Startled to find the Kincaids there, she started to make her excuses. Elizabeth stopped her, drawing her off to one side. Jack stiffened, seeing the unmistakable lines of tension that invaded the two women. This had all the makings of two trains on the same track, headed for a collision. He hesitated, not certain whether he should let them talk through their differences or if he should intercede. He wasn’t the only one watching with bated breath. So were Elizabeth’s daughters.
“Trust my mom,” RJ advised, coming up behind Jack and clapping him on the shoulder. “She knows Angela is in a bad place and that in order to have you as part of our family, it means finding a way to work out her differences with your mother. I promise, she won’t make the situation any worse. And maybe, just maybe, getting to know each other will help them come to terms with old history, not to mention their grief over Dad’s death.”
Even as Jack watched, he saw the two women shed tears, then embrace. “Your mother is an unusual lady,” he said slowly. “Not many women would show such kindness and generosity toward their husband’s mistress.”
“She’s one of a kind.” Pride filled RJ’s voice.
Once Angela had been welcomed into the fold, the organization of the meal was like watching a coordinated assault. Plates and silver appeared on his dining room table, followed by food and drinks. Someone found his stereo system and turned on background music. Then they all took their seats, somehow forming a pattern of brothers and sisters, in-laws and parents, until they’d jumbled together in a companionable mix.
Jack had expected some awkwardness over their first meal together. Instead, he found it—well, maybe not one-hundred-percent comfortable—but certainly lighthearted and fun. “Comfortable” would occur over time, he suspected. The thought brought with it a rush of unexpected pleasure. He had that time now, had the opportunity to build a relationship with these people, to create what he’d never truly had…a family.
He also learned a lot about the Kincaids that he’d never known before. He discovered that the baby Lily and Daniel were expecting any day now was a son, and since they’d married quietly at the courthouse so they wouldn’t steal Kara’s thunder by having a wedding right before hers, the soon-to-be parents intended to renew their vows in a huge celebration in October. He also learned that Kara’s husband, Eli, had first been engaged to Laurel. Of course, Jack could tell just by looking at Eli and Laurel that they didn’t share any sort of chemistry. Fortunately, nature had taken its course and the appropriate sister had discovered her perfect partner. Laurel glowed with unmistakable love and her husband, Rakin, announced that the Kincaids could expect an influx of new business thanks to his Middle Eastern business connections.
Most intriguing of all was when RJ and Brooke admitted they were also expecting a baby, the mother-to-be blushing prettily. The instant the news came out, Elizabeth returned her fork to her plate and eyed her children one by one. “Clearly, I didn’t explain how this is supposed to work,” she informed them in true matriarch fashion. “So, listen up. First we marry then we get pregnant. Are we clear on the order from this point forward?”
Lily and Brooke exchanged quick grins. “Yes, Mom,” they said in unison.
“Just practicing,” Brooke added, “for when we’re married and I get to call you Mom for real.”
Tears welled up in Elizabeth’s eyes and she cleared her throat before speaking. “No need for you to wait. It’s lovely having another daughter to call me Mom, as well as having another grandchild on the way.” Elizabeth picked up her fork again. “I will add there are the occasional exceptions to premarital pregnancies which serve to prove the rule.” She glanced at Jack and smiled with sincere warmth. “And for which I, personally, am very grateful.”
“I propose a toast,” RJ said, holding up his glass. “Here’s to all of us.”
“To new beginnings,” Lily called out.
“To creating a home,” Nikki added.
Matt shot Jack a shrewd look. “To unlocking doors and opening windows.”
Jack was the last to lift his glass. He could feel the final protective barriers give way and reached for Nikki’s hand, gripping it hard. It felt good to be free of those barriers, better than he could have believed possible. He allowed the last of his resistance to be swept away, allowed himself to embrace and accept what he’d secretly longed for ever since he was a teenager who’d been told he’d never be accepted by his father.
His gaze swept the table before settling on Nikki. “Most of all…here’s to family,” he said.
* * *
Much later that evening, Jack and Nikki wandered onto the deck, and wrapped each other in a warm embrace. “It all turned out well, didn’t it?” he asked.
She leaned her head against his shoulder and released a sigh of blatant satisfaction. “It did, yes.”
He kissed her, a slow, lingering kiss. “Thank you, Nikki.”
“For what?”
“For
giving me a family.”
She smiled, a secretive little curve of lips that tempted him to kiss her again. “A family that’s about to grow larger.”
He chuckled at the memory of Elizabeth’s motherly reprimand. “Thanks to Lily and Daniel, and Brooke and RJ. And despite Elizabeth’s disapproval.”
“Mmm. I’m afraid she has even more reason to disapprove.”
He stilled. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly what you suspect I mean.” She snuggled in close. “I think you’ll make a wonderful father. Don’t you?”
He struggled to reply, the words catching in his throat. “I’m going to be a father?”
A hint of concern slid into Nikki’s sapphire gaze. “Will that be a problem for you?”
“No,” he said slowly. “In fact, I think I’m going to be a great father.”
Nikki smiled in satisfaction. “So do I.”
Jack gazed out over the ocean waves toward the horizon, realizing he’d finally achieved everything he’d ever wanted. By letting down his defenses, he’d won his heart’s desire—a home and family, filled with the sort of love and happiness he and Nikki would bring to it. And a child. Their child. A product of enduring love and the first step toward their future together.
If he listened carefully enough, he could practically hear that future. Could hear his home ring with youthful footsteps, the sound of their voices echoing off walls that would eventually know generations of love and laughter. To be a father to them, there day after day, participating in each and every phase of their lives. To grow old with the woman he loved, with the relatives he’d so recently claimed and the children they were busily creating. Oh, he could hear that future, all right.
Hear it filling his home to overflowing.
Hear it filling his life with love.
Hear it gifting him with the most precious of all commodities…
A family.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459230323
Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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