Laird Hunter’s wise old eyes sparkled with amusement. “Never mind, lass. I knew you were meant to marry my grandson the moment I saw you in the newspaper picture bravely wedged between these two rascals,” he said waving disparagingly at Cameron and Spenser, “trying to stop their scuffle. Cameron looks at you the same way I used to look at my Maeve, God rest her soul.”
“Oh,” Evie said, relieved yet totally confused.
Aileen ran to Evie and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Welcome to our family, lass. We will get along famously.” She turned to Cameron and placed a tender hand on his face. “You’ve made me so verra happy! Congratulations!”
“You’ll make a fine mistress of Hunter Castle just like my dear Maeve,” Granddad said judiciously. “She was a wee hen, but strong like you.”
Divina gasped, her mouth gaping like a fish. “Spensi, do something!” She dug her nails in his arm. “I demand that you inherit this castle and everything!” she snapped, turning on him with a peevish look. “You promised it to me before I signed the papers.”
Spenser sprang to his feet, overturning the small antique table beside him. He ignored it and turned livid eyes on Laird Hunter. “I demand an explanation, sir,” he said through clenched teeth. “The inheritance is mine.” He thumped his chest. “You promised it to the first one who got married and that is me! I have given you proof.”
“That’s right,” Divina added smugly. She joined Spenser’s side and glared at Cameron. “Cameron hasn’t given any proof that he married that breadstick.”
“Silence!” Laird Hunter roared, his face turning a precarious shade of red.
Fists clenched at his sides, Spenser kept quiet though he shook with rage.
“If this was a race to see who got married first, I can confirm that we did. We flew to Las Vegas on Monday morning and got married there.” Evie’s statement drew everyone’s attention to her. “Cameron hasn’t lost his inheritance,” she said stiffly.
“Granpapa Hunter,” Divina said, sidling up to him. “Don’t listen to her! You promised Spensi—”
Laird Hunter gave Divina a severe scowl. “Stop calling my grandson Spensi! He is a grown man, even if he doesn’t act like one,” he bellowed wrathfully. “Now sit down and be silent.”
Divina bared her teeth in a ferocious snarl. “How dare you shout at me!” She yanked Spenser’s arm. “Let’s go, Spensi. I will not allow him to speak to us that way. You are a celebrity and I am famous too,” she said haughtily. “We will take him to court.”
Spenser seized her shoulders and shook her. “Shut up. We’re getting an annulment,” he sneered, brushing her off like a pesky fly.
Divina grabbed her teacup and tossed the tea in Spenser’s face. “Bastardo,” she shrieked. “You are not getting an annulment. You have more than consummated this marriage. You won’t get rid of me so easily. Get used to this beautiful body. It’s going to give you plenty of bambinos. In fact I may have one in the oven already.”
Spenser blanched. “Go to the car and wait for me there.”
“Si, caro, I will be waiting for you.” She raised her chin and sauntered from the room, her shapely backside swaying so suggestively that Laird Hunter’s eyebrows shot up.
He cleared his throat and said, “I wanted my grandsons married, Spenser, but I never thought you would choose the Italian. It saddens me, lad. In your case, I wish I hadn’t given the ultimatum.” He gave a profound sigh and looked every bit of his 94 years. “I think it best if you go after her.”
“You bloody old fool. This worthless pile of stones isn’t worth having to constantly kiss your bony arse. Drop dead,” Spenser shouted and stalked out of the room.
Shocked silence filled the room as everyone stared after him, horrified. Evie looked at Cameron’s beleaguered face and her heart shattered. Could it be true? Had he been lying to her, playing a self-serving game with his longtime adversary and using her as a pawn to keep his inheritance? She swallowed against the thick lump of betrayal lodged in her throat.
Blindly running from the room, she heard Cameron’s heavy footsteps following close behind.
“Evie, stop running from me. Let me explain,” Cameron said, catching up with her outside the castle. At the base of the stone steps, he put his arms around her rigid body. “I’m sorry. I never meant—”
She wrenched free. “Don’t touch me!” She couldn’t look into his eyes, let alone be touched by him. She stared at his car, wishing she could grab his keys and tear out of there, leaving the liar in the dust. “I’m going to ask your mother to take me to the hotel as soon as I can,” she said through clenched teeth.
“No. You can’t leave until you hear me out,” he said urgently. “I didn’t marry you to save my inheritance. I—”
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vehemently. “I don’t believe you. If that was the case, then why didn’t you tell me that you were in danger of losing it?”
“I didn’t tell you about Granddad’s ultimatum because he’s been bluffing with ultimatums since I was a bairn. He’s a softie underneath all that gruffness.”
“Then why were you in such a rush to get married that you had to fly us all the way to Las Vegas?” she demanded scornfully.
“Look at me.” Cameron gently tipped her face up, and against her will, she met his fervent gaze. His face was ashen and his eyes tortured. “I couldn’t lose you.” He drew in a ragged breath. “There was no way I was going to let you leave without marrying you and the only place I knew where we could do it right away was in Vegas.”
“Oh.”
Cameron took her in his arms and said gruffly, “I married you for no other reason than that I love you, Angel. I don’t know when it happened or how it happened, but all I know is I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Evie’s eyes filled with scalding tears and she couldn’t stop the flow. Cameron gently rubbed her back as she wept into his shirt. “Don’t cry. I never thought it could happen this quickly, but I am in love with you. You must believe me.”
Gazing into his earnest eyes, she felt his fierce love envelop her. She drew in several hiccupping sighs and smiled through her tears. “I do believe you. I fell in love with you just as quickly and believe me, I never imagined I’d get married so suddenly. It’s madness.”
Cameron sighed with relief and smiled. “Aye, it is. Now do I need to carry you back inside to show you how much I love you? Or can it wait till tonight?”
“Tonight will suffice,” she mumbled, flushing to the roots of her hair.
“Good. We can’t have Granddad and Mum wondering why you’re yelling my name,” he said, eyes twinkling. He took a small envelope from his jeans pocket and handed it to her. “This is for you.”
Evie’s hands shook as she tore it open. Inside she found a tiny box and a yellowed piece of paper folded many times. She opened the box and gasped when she saw the pearl ring surrounded by rubies. “Wow,” she said reverently as she lifted it out of the box.
“It dates back to the 1800s. It belonged to Grannie Maeve and to all the Hunter brides before her since 1835 when the Hunter Whisky distillery opened. It was a gift from Laird Angus Hunter to his bride and has been handed down from generation to generation.”
“Thank you. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve seen and the most precious gift I’ve ever gotten,” Evie said, overwhelmed with emotion. “I love you so much my heart hurts.”
“Mine too.” He smiled. “Open the letter.”
She carefully unfolded the crackling paper and saw a beautifully handwritten message in a language she couldn’t read. She handed it to Cameron. “What does it say?”
“It’s in Gaelic.” He read it aloud and then translated, “To the keeper of my heart.” He put the ring on her finger and raised her hand to his chest, placing it over his heart. “Yours forever.”
“And into eternity,” Evie completed. She gazed into his beautiful eyes with all the love in her heart before he drew her into a passionate kiss.
THE END
About the Author
Sophia Knightly
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sophia Knightly, loves to cook up hot romance and delicious humor in her feel-good stories. Whether it’s romantic suspense, romantic comedy or chick lit, her books are fun and sexy contemporary romances that feature hot alpha heroes and strong, smart women.
She is traditionally published by St. Martin’s Press, Kensington and Samhain Publishing. Her popular Tropical Heat Series books and Heartthrob Series books have consistently been on multiple bestselling lists.
When not writing or reading, she loves walking the beach, exploring museums, going to the theatre, enjoying good food, and watching movies. One of her favorite pastimes remains simply watching people, especially those in love!
Sign up for her “new release” newsletter at: http://sophiaknightly.net/newsletter-sign-up.html
Write to her at: [email protected]
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WILD FOR YOU Book Trailer
SOLD ON YOU Book Trailer
GRILL ME, BABY Book Trailer
Additional Books by Sophia Knightly
HEART MELTER (Heartthrob Series, Book Two)
HEART TAMER (A Heartthrob Novella, Book Three) – precedes Heart Hunter, but can be read as standalone
HEART TEMPTER (Heartthrob Series Book Five) – follows Heart Hunter, but can be read as standalone
A SEAL’s Sacrifice
Tawny Weber
A SEAL’s Sacrifice: Chapter One
Glitter, gloss and glam combined with champagne, music and revelry. Add in dancing and laughter and a rooftop venue lit bright against the San Francisco night sky and it was guaranteed to be a night to remember.
A ballroom filled with movers and shakers, booze flowing like water and unobtrusive waiters circling the room with trays of hors d’oeuvres.
This was the type of party that had become Gwen Kirkpatrick’s norm thanks to Russell Spencer, commodities broker extraordinaire. Three years ago she’d been a junior financial analyst for a bank when Russell had lured her to his investment firm with the promise of excitement, challenges and, yes, enough events like this one to guarantee she’d put her collection of evening shoes to good use.
Teetering on the edge of the ballroom entrance, Gwen took a deep breath.
She loved parties like this one.
If it were held on any night but New Year’s Eve.
The one night of the year she’d rather be curled up in her flannel jammies with a gallon of Chunky Monkey and a Friends marathon.
She couldn’t blame the newly engaged couple for wanting to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. After all, it was a great time to celebrate beginnings. But to Gwen it meant endings.
As if reading her mind, her date brushed his hand over the small of her back. Leaning into him for a moment, Gwen offered a smile as bright as the glittering lights overhead.
“Are you up for this?” Russell asked, his handsome face set in considerate lines. “I know you prefer to stay home on New Year’s Eve.”
Gwen’s smile softened. He was such a great friend. Understanding and supportive without being pushy or pressuring her to get over the past.
“Don’t be silly,” she said, rubbing her hand over his forearm. The move sent a shimmer of light sparkling off the sequins of her halter dress, the silver vivid against her long black hair. “I’m thrilled for Bryanna and Sam. Your sister is a sweetheart and New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to celebrate her engagement.”
Just because it’d marked the end of hers once upon a time didn’t mean she couldn’t be happy for someone else. Sure, Russell’s younger sister had just gotten engaged to a Navy SEAL, and Gwen had been dumped by the love of her life because he’d he swore that SEAL duty and relationships didn’t mix. Or as Eli—
Noah’s best friend and Russell’s brother—had put it, the two could only succeed if they were mutually exclusive.
The idiots.
And yes, Bryanna’s fiancé was the younger brother of Gwen’s ex and had always mouthed the same beliefs about relationships and Navy service as his big, bad heroes, Noah and Eli. But unlike some people, Sam had gotten over thinking like a narrow-minded, commitment-phobic weenie. So Bryanna would get her happy ever after.
It was great. Just great.
Gwen pressed her lips together to keep the tears at bay. Okay, so she might need to work on that genuine enthusiasm a little bit. But somewhere underneath her miserable envy and the reminder of her own loss, she really was happy for the couple.
“Russell, you’re here!”
Gwen’s stomach clenched as she watched the bubbly blonde in a glittering red dress head their way with a smile bright enough to light the city. Gwen figured she had about three seconds to kick that enthusiasm into gear.
It took Bryanna twice that to hug her brother. One arm wrapped tight around his waist, she turned to give Gwen a warm smile.
“Gwen,” the younger woman greeted, slightly out of breath from her little happy dance. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Congratulations on your engagement,” Gwen said, not having to dig for sincerity when she saw the joy in the younger woman’s eyes. “I’m so happy for you and Sam.”
“Thank you,” Bryanna said softly, her smile taking on a worshipful glow as she looked past Russell’s shoulder.
Unable to help herself, Gwen followed her gaze.
Thanks to hours of practice her smile didn’t dim when she saw the groom-to-be across the room. But practice couldn’t stop the shaft of pain in her chest at the sight of him.
Because from his dark hair, slashing brow and hazel eyes to his crooked grin, Sam Morelli was a younger, huskier version of his brother Noah.
She knew most people—including her friends and family—didn’t remember that she and Noah had been a thing three years ago. She wasn’t even sure Russell realized the reason behind her annual trek into New Year’s Eve hell. After all, Gwen might have crushed on Noah all through high school, but they’d only dated for a few months her summer after college. They’d been the most overwhelmingly incredible, sexually intense, emotionally charged months of her life. But she and Noah had spent most of them in private, huddled together exploring every delicious realm of pleasure they could find in each other’s bodies. Then he’d dumped her to ship out to live his dream as a Navy SEAL.
Her head spinning from the overload of memories, Gwen tore her gaze off of Sam to look for the handiest exit. Before she could find one, Russell ran a friendly hand over the small of her back again.
“We’ll have to toast Briarwood Court,” he said. “Who’d have thought when we moved there fifteen years ago that I’d bring the girl next door with me to celebrate my sister marrying the guy across the street.”
Who, indeed.
“Well, I guess our mothers thought about it if their endless schemes to marry us all off is any indication,” he added with a hardy laugh. “And now they’re a third of the way there thanks to Bryanna and Sam. We’ll have to come up with something to keep your mom from feeling left out, right Gwen?”
Her only response was a pained smile.
“Why don’t I get you ladies a drink so we can have that toast?” Russell offered. “I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks,” Gwen said faintly, hoping he’d make it a double.
“We’ll meet you at the buffet,” Bryanna said. “I want to show Gwen the cake.”
“Yum, cake,” Gwen murmured as Bryanna started across the room.
“I just said that to get you alone,” Bryanna said with a laugh as she tucked her arm into Gwen’s to pull her across the room. “After all, I hear tonight could be extra special.”
“What could be more special than your engagement?” Gwen countered absently, nodding to acquaintances as they moved
through the crowd, wishing someone would jump in demand her attention so she could escape the bridal joy emanating from the younger woman long enough to catch her breath.
“Oh, I’d say another engagement would make tonight perfect,” Bryanna told her, all but singing the words. She stopped at the dessert table to offer Gwen a chocolate covered strawberry before flashing a huge smile and rubbing her hands together with barely controlled glee. “Rumor has it that Russell’s thinking about popping the question.”
“Russell is getting engaged?” Gwen frowned. How had she missed that? “I didn’t even realize he was serious about anyone.”
“Um, helloo,” Bryanna drawled, gesturing to Gwen with her second strawberry before nibbling at the dark chocolate shell.
“Me?” Gwen laughed and shook her head. “We aren’t even dating. I mean, we go to a number of parties and social events together, but that’s business. You know what a workaholic your brother is.”
“Sure, but he’s a workaholic who goes to parties and social events now,” Bryanna said with an arch look. “He didn’t do that before you came on board.”
“I’ve been on board for almost three years,” she said, her smile sliding into a frown. She wanted to laugh off the comments as the sweet imaginings from a woman so wrapped up in her own love story that she saw sequels everywhere. But the laugh got caught on the knot in her throat.
“Big brother’s a little slow sometimes.” Bryanna shrugged. “You know how he is, always thinking and rethinking things. Heck, it took him a year to pick the carpet for his office.”
Gwen blinked. Had Bryanna just compared her to a Berber carpet? It didn’t matter. She was sure the younger woman was wrong. She cast a desperate look around the room, searching for Russell so he could set his sister straight.
“Sam thinks it’s cool, too.” Bryanna’s words snagged Gwen’s attention again. “He even promised to try to get leave for your wedding. You’ll let me know when it is soon, right?”
Gwen pressed her fingers over her temple, hoping she could rub away the confusion.
“You told Sam about this?” she repeated faintly.
“Well, yeah. I mean, helloo, we’re getting married. That means we tell each other everything.” When Gwen raised her brows, Bryanna shrugged and wrinkled her nose. “Okay, so I tell him everything. I know he’s got all that top secret SEAL stuff going on now. I’m just glad he didn’t listen to Eli and buy into the whole SEALs go it alone stuff they used to spout.”
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