by Alexa Verde
James jumped to his feet. “I’m not afraid of commitment. If I could erase some of the years in my life…”
“You said yourself, live in the here and now.”
“If I asked you to marry me, would you say yes?” He held his breath. He meant it. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Soledad.
“Try and see.” The smile illuminated her beautiful face.
It seemed like a dream come true.
“Hold on,” Sergey interrupted.
“Oh, yes, of course. I need to ask for your blessing first.” James turned to Sergey hurriedly.
Sergey grimaced. “You had my blessing a long time ago. I meant this. I brought it just in case. This is my grandmother’s and mother’s wedding ring. I meant to give it to Soledad’s mother, but…” His voice trailed off.
James’s jaw dropped. “You knew I was going to propose?”
A knowing smile settled on Sergey’s lips. “I might not know my own daughter well yet. But I know you. Hurry up. Women change their minds quickly.”
“What?” Mari and Soledad said.
“You’re right.” James grabbed the box and dropped on one knee. “Soledad, you’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, and I love you with all my heart. Will you make me the happiest man alive—”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Soledad exclaimed. Then she stopped. “Well, just to clarify, I said yes to marrying you, right?”
Everybody laughed. Elation filled his entire being. He placed the ring on her finger…
Epilogue
The ceremony in the church had been beautiful.
Soledad looked around The Café, where the reception was being held at Mari’s insistence. Her heart expanded in her chest with joy. Just a year ago, she couldn’t even imagine that both her parents would walk her down the aisle and she’d marry the man of her dreams.
Her gaze moved to the great source of her joy, sitting by her side.
Thank You, Lord!
“Have I told you recently how happy I am and how much I love you?” James stroked her fingers, and butterflies fluttered their tender wings in her stomach.
“Only thirty times in the last five minutes, but who’s counting?” She smiled. “And ditto.”
She breathed in the delicious scents coming from the plates. Mari had relented to serve salads, salmon, and blinchiki with caviar in addition to lobster and grilled shrimp, as well as the old-fashioned Russian drink kvas. But she’d drawn the line on adding borscht, Russian beet soup, to the menu. The Ptichye Moloko chocolate cake, made by Evelyn’s Pastries, looked exquisite as their wedding cake.
In spite of the enticing aromas, she was too excited to eat. Was this really happening to her? The shy librarian? She touched the smooth surface of one of the matryoshkas that she’d used as centerpieces. Landscapes with birches and rye fields hung on the walls, her latest works. She wasn’t too shy to display them now.
“Can’t wait to go on our honeymoon.” James squeezed her hand, and her insides melted. “And if you’d prefer to go to Russia…”
“No,” she said quickly. “Ireland it is.” Besides being a romantic getaway, it was also the land of his ancestors. And after finding a part of her identity, she wanted to help him find a part of his.
Mari got up from her chair and cleared her throat. Usually wearing jeans and a T-shirt, she looked different in a long silk dress. “I’d like to say a toast. There are not many things I’m not good at, but public speaking is one of them. So I’ll be brief. Soledad, on behalf of all the Danger Girls, thank you for a lifetime of friendship. And for not making us wear sarafans and kokoshniks to your wedding.”
“Sarafans and kokoshniks?” James quirked an eyebrow.
“Russian peasant clothing from previous centuries.” Soledad pressed a finger to her lips.
“I never thought any man would be good enough for our Soledad,” Mari continued. “But James comes close. After all, he’s my husband’s friend. And nobody will argue when I say my husband has a great judgment of people. Well, especially considering he chose me as his wife.”
Laughter erupted, but Mari gave the crowd one of her stern gazes, and immediately it was quiet. “What I wanted to say… James and Soledad, I wish you all the happiness in the world. We love you so much and we’ll miss you terribly when you leave for Austin. Love God. Love each other. That’s it.”
“Well said, honey.” Luke kissed his wife’s cheek when she sat down.
For the first time in her life, Soledad saw Mari blush. Luke and Mari still behaved like newlyweds, and Soledad couldn’t be happier for her friend.
From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed her stepfather enter the room and tensed.
As if sensing her change in mood, James followed her gaze and moved closer, always a protector. “Who’s that?”
“My stepfather.”
James jumped to his feet. “I’ll ask him to leave.”
“No.” She snatched his hand. “I invited him.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You what?”
“We should forgive our enemies, or the people who hurt us. If Mari could forgive the parent, who beat her up, I can forgive the parent, who only emotionally abused me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I pray for him every day. And I’m thankful to him. I know now how far I’ve come from the person he tried to make me be. I said that much in the invitation.” She stood up to go to Sokolov. But after a quick glance at her, her stepfather turned around and left.
“You have the biggest heart ever,” James whispered with admiration in his voice.
“Well, maybe not. I added the invitation to my next art exhibition in Austin.” She smiled.
“You didn’t invite Ron, did you?”
“I thought about it. But I heard through the grapevine that he read about my upcoming nuptials in the newspaper and went on a drinking binge. Coincidentally, that newspaper also had the article about my exhibition and the exhibition of my students.”
“The one where all the proceeds went to charity?” her father chimed in.
“Yes.”
Her father held her mother’s hand, and Soledad’s heart warmed. He was in remission, and the doctors couldn’t have been more shocked. Soledad had never seen her mother so happy. Was it too much to hope for another wedding?
She glanced at Lydia, who, together with the rest of the Danger Girls, was one of her bridesmaids.
“I’m so happy for you,” Lydia mouthed. She’d chosen to sit as far from Aidan as possible, and her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Soledad sighed inwardly. Aidan and Lydia had strong feelings for each other, but there was no hope for another wedding there. At least Aidan had fully recovered.
And other good news… She glanced in the direction of Alvin with his wife and Kyle with his girlfriend. Alvin smiled at her, and she smiled back.
“Can you believe that Alvin didn’t want to disclose to the police that he’d won money in a casino? Apparently, he promised her he’d never gamble again and broke that promise,” she whispered to James. There was nothing sinister about the “unknown sources” of his sudden windfall, after all.
“He’s afraid of his wife much more than of the police,” her newlywed husband muttered under his breath.
“But we’re not going to keep secrets from each other like that, right?” She knew firsthand that lies could destroy families and lives. Due to her mother’s lie, she’d almost missed a chance at getting to know her father and her heritage.
“Of course not, my love.” James’s grin made her heart soar.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing my father back into my life. And please forgive my mother for lying to me. Amen.
Kyle raised his glass with kvas to her in a silent toast, and she responded in a similar gesture.
“I told you they’d love you once they got to know you.” James winked at her.
“Well, the fact that they got part of the inheritance probably helped.”
In a family meeti
ng, she’d suggested selling the Fabergé egg to one of the New York museums that had repeatedly contacted Sergey in that regard. To her surprise, her suggestion had been accepted, even though Alvin had preferred to sell it to a private collector for a higher price. However, Alvin had been outvoted three to one, and Soledad was grateful to Kyle for his unexpected support.
“Do you regret losing the Fabergé egg?” James was shockingly attuned to her thoughts again.
“Not at all. I want many people to be able to see and admire it. And I don’t want to trigger any more kidnappings and murders. The museum will be able to protect it much better than I ever could. Besides, it gave me the chance to pay for my student’s surgery and help out several other families, as well.”
“But you’re not going to sell the fairy tale book, are you?” James asked.
“No. I’ll continue the family traditions of reading and scavenger hunts.” She waved at Logan, who’d found the book at Brian’s home. “Please thank your friend for recovering it for me.”
“I will.”
She nodded to a group of men in glasses and suits at the end of the table. Her father’s friends from the university had become her friends, with the exception of Carmichael. From what she’d heard, he’d been found hiding out at his cousin’s lake cabin. Her father had forgiven him and hadn’t pressed charges for trying to break into his apartment. Carmichael had resigned from his position and nobody had heard from him afterwards.
James rose to his feet. “I’d like to say a toast, too.” He glanced around, and everybody quieted down. “I’m so grateful to God for giving me Soledad. She’s the most amazing woman in the entire world. She helped me to renew my faith, an incredible gift that I’ll cherish forever. While searching for the Russian treasure, I found much more important treasures. I found faith, hope, and love.”
“Ditto.” Happy tears sprung to her eyes.
His voice was thick with emotion. “My gorgeous, talented, courageous wife, I’ve never met anyone with a soul as beautiful as yours. You helped me realize and pursue what matters most in life. I finally discovered the true me. Every moment spent with you is precious. I never understood the expression She took my breath away until I met you. You took my breath away when you rushed out of the house and started shooting at criminals so I could survive. You keep taking my breath away, and you will until I die. I can’t live without you.” He paused. “See, I can’t even breathe without you. To you, Soledad. I love you so much.”
Soledad felt dizzy with happiness. “I love you. Te amo.”
“Gor’ko!” her father shouted, and soon the crowd joined him.
“What’s that?” Confusion clouded James’s eyes.
“That’s a Russian word for bitter. Well, I’ll explain later. In short, it’s a sign for us to kiss.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” A twinkle appeared in his eyes.
She used to be cautious of that twinkle, but now she adored it. Her heart fluttered as she looked into the eyes of the man she loved, ready to cherish every moment and every kiss ahead.
Thank You for Reading
Thank you for reading Taste of Danger. If you write even several words on Amazon or Goodreads, it will mean a lot to me. I’m grateful to every person who reads my books, and every review matters to me. Authors depend so much on reviews and recommendations, and it is a great joy for us when our books find new homes.
If you liked James’s and Soledad’s story, I hope that you might enjoy River of Danger, Color of Danger, and Scent of Danger. Scent of Danger started out as a part of the Amazon bestseller Smoke and Mirrors, eight brand new, "hidden identity" romantic suspense novellas from well-loved Christian authors. I was very honored to be in this amazing collection. While most of the books in the Secrets of Rios Azules series feature one of the childhood friends in the group nicknamed the Danger Girls, Scent of Danger and the upcoming Winter of Danger are about twin sisters who also grew up in Rios Azules and find love amid peril. Of course, Lydia and Julia from the Danger Girls will have their own stories, and I look forward to each of them getting a happily-ever-after.
I do love hearing from readers, and if you email me at [email protected], or visit me on Goodreads, Facebook, or Twitter, you’ll make my day. For giveaways, news, and recipes, please sign up for my newsletter. Here’s one of the most recent giveaways, a collection of Russian souvenirs.
Thank you very much for sharing your time with me and my books, and I hope we’ll meet again.
Blessings,
Alexa Verde
About the Author
Alexa Verde writes sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and murder. She has had 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. She has bachelor's degrees in English and Spanish, a master's in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters with diverse cultures. She can claim her 15 seconds of Amazon fame with her books climbing to the #1 spot in Hispanic American and #3 in Christian Mystery & Suspense. She's worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, model (even one day counts!), caretaker, and secretary, but thinks that the writer's hat suits her the best.
After traveling the world and living in both hemispheres, she calls a small town in south Texas home. The latter is an inspiration for the fictional setting of her popular series Secrets of Rios Azules. Please visit her online, on Facebook and Twitter. For giveaways, contests, and news, please sign up for her newsletter.
Please turn the page for the information about other titles by Alexa, as well as a sneak peak of the next book in the Secrets of Rios Azules series, Scent of Danger.
Other Books by Alexa Verde
Secrets of Rios Azules Series
Christian Multicultural Romantic Suspense
Sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and murder
Welcome to Rios Azules, a small south Texas town, where rivers and emotions run deep, and the secrets are deadly
Prequel River of Danger (Jacob and River)
Dallas reporter River Montenegro returns to her small town to aid her father, a recovering alcoholic. After a series of scary events, River knows the infamous Smiling Killer wants to make her his next victim. She grudgingly accepts help from her childhood friend and first crush, Jacob Forrester. Will Jacob and River solve the mystery of the killer's identity in time to have a second chance at love?
Book 1 Color of Danger (Luke and Mari)
Life as the sister of a serial killer is never easy, especially when former runaway Mari Del Lobo becomes a target herself. A recent crime has her late brother's signature and MO, which Mari finds highly unusual, as she still blames herself for her only sibling's death. Soon Mari encounters an unexpected — and a very attractive — ally in Dr. Luke Goodman. Luke couldn't save his fiancée from the Smiling Killer, but he'll do anything to prevent more murders, even ask for help from the serial killer's sister. Finding a kindred tortured soul in Mari, Luke is determined to keep her alive, but it's not easy to protect the stubborn ex-rebel. To solve the mystery, renew her faith, and find love and redemption, Mari has to face her most dangerous enemy — herself.
Book 3 Scent of Danger (Connor and Maya)
To find her missing sister, small-town cop Maya Hutchinson risks her life by posing as her glamorous twin. Under escalating attacks, Maya accepts help from dashing senator's son Connor McNamara. Cop turned PI, Connor McNamara has his own secret mission and is forced to choose between family loyalty and love. When the scent of danger draws near, will Connor and Maya survive long enough to forgive and accept each other?
Excerpt from Scent of Danger
Chapter One
Stilettos were murder.
Maya Hutchinson breathed a sigh of relief as she kicked off her painful shoes and snatched them from the floor. The marble surface felt smooth and cold underneath her bare feet. She plodded along the empty hall where she’d sneaked to get away from the crowd.
Hurried footsteps behind her made her wince. But before she had a chance to turn a
round, she was pushed into the nearest room. The door was immediately shut in her face. The click of the lock turning was followed by footfalls disappearing in the distance.
It took her a moment to get over the initial astonishment. Then she tried the handle, but of course it was useless. What was she going to do? Unlike her sister, she’d never mastered the art of lock picking. She should’ve taken lessons from her twin when she had a chance.
Maya pushed down a wave of helplessness and knocked on the door with her stilettos. Finally, those things were good for something besides killing her feet.
“Help! Somebody! Anybody?” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Nobody answered.
Of course.
She’d chosen this part of the senator’s mansion because it was deserted. The annual charity event given by the Texas senator was a success, but Maya hadn’t been able to stand the crowd any longer. Besides, she’d needed privacy to sprinkle some wine on herself. She didn’t drink alcohol but had to appear drunk.
Who’d pushed her inside and why?
Cold ran down her back.
Dear Lord, please help me. Amen.
Distant noise filtered from downstairs. After the event ended in several hours, the building might become empty. Would whoever had pushed her inside wait until then or come after her earlier?
Fear coiled in her gut. Maya dropped her shoes on the floor and glanced around the room, looking for something to use to defend herself.
The room boasted a mahogany dresser with intricate carving and a matching bed, a sparkling chandelier, and mirrors in gilded frames. It was impeccably clean but lacked character and seemed unused. So most likely it was a guest room. She rushed to the dresser and inspected the drawers. Empty.
Maya swallowed a lump of disappointment and dashed inside a luxurious bathroom with travertine tile and a claw-foot tub. She checked the medicine cabinet and drawers. Empty as well.