The alligator was depressed; she couldn’t blame him. She missed Addie, too. Almost as much as she missed Evan.
By the time she gave Naomi instructions on caring for Fergus and Lightning, hitched a ride to Little Rock, then rented a car and drove to Illinois, three weeks had passed. She hoped she hadn’t waited too long.
Since that first day when she could have sworn Addie had spoken to her, Jilly hadn’t heard another word. She missed the old woman, but Addie had promised they’d meet again. Jilly figured on the other side.
Driving into Gainsville, Jilly stopped at the gas station for directions to the Luchetti farm. The old man behind the counter peered at her suspiciously. “You’re too old to be another long lost kid. Unless you’re John’s. If you are, I’d turn right around and head on home. Ellie isn’t anyone you want to mess with.”
Since Jilly had no idea what he was talking about she ignored the comment and repeated her request for directions.
“Down that county highway about five miles or so, then turn right and drive another mile. Stone farmhouse. Three silos. White outbuildings. Can’t miss it.”
“Thank you.”
He was right. The farm was the only one for miles, making it a bit hard to miss. She turned into the lane, wincing as the carriage of the Volkswagen Beetle dragged against the gravel.
Before she could turn off the car, she was surrounded by dogs. Mario was one of them. Jilly let out the breath she’d been holding.
Evan was here. Somewhere.
She stepped out of the car, ignoring the yapping and the jumping and the drooling.
“Shoo!” She flapped her skirt at the nearest animal, a full-grown dalmatian, but that only seemed to excite him more.
The screen door banged. “Get!”
All the dogs scattered. Jilly looked up and got her first sight of Evan’s mother.
Evan had her eyes, although Mrs. Luchetti’s weren’t half as warm and welcoming.
“You’re another one of Evan’s girls.”
Jilly frowned. How flattering. For an instant she hesitated, tempted to turn tail and run. But she’d decided to fight for what she wanted, and what she wanted was Evan. She’d do anything to have back what she’d lost.
“No, ma’am. I’m the girl. I’ve come to marry him.”
Mrs. Luchetti’s eyes narrowed. “And who might you be?”
“Jillian Hart. Jilly.”
“She’s the one Uncle Evan was supposed to nail.”
A little boy peeked around the older woman’s skirt.
“Did it hurt?” he asked. “Gettin’ nailed?”
“Tim, find your father.”
“But—”
“Now.”
The child ran. Jilly would have, too, if that tone had been aimed at her.
A tug on her skirt made her glance down to discover Zorro climbing upward. She snatched him off her clothes and cuddled him close. He patted her cheeks with his paws.
“Hey. I missed you, too.”
He chittered, then wiggled until she set him down so he could run after Tim. Peter waddled out from beneath the porch and followed.
“The animals are yours.” Mrs. Luchetti’s eyes were no longer so frosty.
“Yes.”
The older woman’s gaze lowered to Jilly’s stomach. “You pregnant?”
“No!”
“That’s a first. All my children seem to put that particular cart before the horse.”
Annoyance caused Jilly to speak more sharply than she should have. “Mrs. Luchetti—”
“Ellie.”
“Fine, Ellie. I’ve come to talk to Evan. I messed things up pretty badly.”
“How?”
“You’re awfully nosy, aren’t you?”
“Not when we’re talking about my son’s future, his happiness. He came home different. No more women, no more one-night stands. Which isn’t like him.”
“That’s not the Evan I know.”
“Glad to hear it. If he’s changed because of you then I thank you. He had me worried.”
“He’s a grown man. He can take care of himself.”
“True. But I’d rather he was taken care of by someone who loves him. He’s always been at loose ends. Aimless. Drives my husband to distraction. I knew once Evan found someone to love, he’d settle down and find his place. Since he came back from Arkansas he might be home, but this isn’t home for him anymore.”
“You think his home’s in Arkansas now?”
“No, I think his home’s with you.”
“Gramma!” The little boy erupted from the cornfield behind the house. “I couldn’t find Dad.”
“What now, Mom?”
Evan emerged from the field. The first thing Jilly noticed was that he’d cut his hair. Her eyes burned, and she wanted to cry. Had he done that because of her?
Evan saw her and stopped dead.
“Hi,” she managed to say, blinking back tears as her throat went tight with longing.
She wanted to throw herself into his arms and beg him to love her, but the stiffness of his manner, the way he wouldn’t look at her, made Jilly nervous.
“I, uh…” She glanced at Ellie, then at Tim.
“Come on, sweets. Let’s go feed the animals.” Ellie shook her head. “Raccoons, opossums and doodles, oh my.”
The two joined hands and disappeared behind the barn.
“You…you cut your hair,” Jilly blurted, then wanted to rip out her tongue. Of all the stupid things to say when she had so many other important ones.
He shrugged and reached up to tug at the strands, which now brushed his jaw instead of his shoulders. “Only a little. Compromise for my father.”
“Your father?”
Evan made an impatient sound. “I cut my hair, he lets me live here without driving me insane about cutting my hair. Was there something you wanted, Jilly?”
“You.”
There. It was out in the open. That hadn’t been so hard.
“I know you want me. Story of my life. I’m your Jethro boy-toy. The stud who made you come. It’s natural you’d want to keep me around. As long as your husband doesn’t mind, why not?”
She winced. “You heard my mother.”
“It was a little hard not to.”
“You should have stuck around to hear the rest.”
“I heard enough.”
“You missed the part where I told her I loved you. That she could take Rupert back wherever she got him, and she could keep her fortune, too.”
His head lifted; his forehead creased with a frown. “What are you saying?”
Jilly walked toward him. She took a deep breath, then took his hand and knelt right there in the dirt. “I love you, Evan Luchetti. Will you marry me?”
“Huh?”
“That wasn’t exactly the answer I had in mind.”
He reached down and lifted her to her feet. “You want to get married?”
“Please.”
“To me?”
“Who else?”
“I’m broke.”
“Me, too.” She laughed. “Isn’t it great?”
“Not really.” He turned away. “I can’t let you do this. You’re used to luxury. You deserve a life I can never give you.”
“I’ve lived that life. Money over love. Companionship instead of lust. It’s not worth it. You told me the universe likes to prove us wrong, and you were right. Everything I came to Arkansas not believing in—ghosts, magic, lust, love…I believe in every one of them now.”
“I don’t know, Jilly—”
“If you want to think about it, fine. You can find me at the inn.” She started to leave, then turned around. “But I want my cat, my dog, my raccoon and my damn opossum back.”
He faced her. “I thought you were selling the inn.”
She shook her head. “I’m going to run it as a bed-and-breakfast.”
“Have you ever run a hotel or restaurant before?”
“Nope, but I’ve been in quite a
few.”
“That’s a little different.”
“I never lived on my own, had a pet, delivered a baby or fell in love before, either.”
Jilly waited for him to say something. When he didn’t, she sighed. “I owe you money.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Seventy-thirty was the agreement. But I’m not going to sell the place so…why don’t you send me a bill?”
She headed for her car, but stopped at the sound of his voice.
“How about fifty-fifty?”
Her breath caught as hope filled her heart. Slowly she turned, to discover Evan was close enough to touch.
“When you say fifty-fifty,” she began, “you mean—?”
“For the rest of our lives.”
Jilly threw herself into his arms and kissed him. Her knees went weak, her insides all fluttery—just like the first time.
Evan lifted his head and touched her cheek. “Deal?” he whispered.
She couldn’t think of anything else to say except…
“Deal.”
EPILOGUE
“HERE SHE COMES,” Dean whispered. “Ready?”
“I was born ready.”
“So I hear.”
Evan gave his brother a dirty look, then shifted so he could watch Jilly walk down the aisle on the arm of his father.
Actually, it wasn’t an aisle, because they weren’t in a church. They were at the inn, and everyone they loved was there. Almost.
Addie was gone. Evan had felt terrible upon hearing that she’d passed away, and he’d left without ever knowing about it. But she’d forgive him. Especially if she was watching today, and he kind of thought she was.
Jilly’s mom had kept her word, writing Jilly out of her will and out of her life. Evan hoped she might relent and visit once there were grandchildren involved, but having met Genevieve, he doubted “relent” was in her vocabulary. He planned to love Jilly enough to make up for any sadness the loss of her mother might bring.
The Wilder sisters shared the duties of attendants. They’d worn their best dresses, which soon wouldn’t fit them. Both were expecting, within days of each other. Barry appeared to have taken to married life pretty well.
Evan’s entire family was in attendance—except for Bobby. Those words were becoming a refrain in the Luchetti family. But as long as he hadn’t been reported dead, they continued to believe he was alive.
Aaron had come from Las Vegas with his pregnant wife, Nicole, and their daughter, Rayne. It was the first time Evan had met the new additions, and he was impressed. Nicole obviously adored Aaron. His brother was the happiest Evan had ever seen him, and Rayne was a very mature, well-behaved young lady, although he had heard stories of certain misbehavior in the past.
Colin drove in from Minnesota with his wife, Marlie, and their son, Robbie. Evan’s brother now wrote a syndicated newspaper column out of his home office so he could take care of the baby, and Marlie’s slightly crazy mother, while Marlie ran her day care. Times sure had changed.
Colin’s latest column had detailed haunted hotels in America, listing the Inn at South Fork as one of the finest. Evan was amazed at how many people wanted to stay in a haunted house. Even without the new highway, they would have been booked months in advance.
“She’s beautiful, bro.” Dean, who’d agreed to be Evan’s best man, clapped him on the shoulder.
Tim, who had been given the job of holding the rings, bounced on his toes. “Pretty, pretty, pretty.”
Zsa Zsa, the flower girl, ran down the aisle ahead of Jilly and John, whipping rose petals over her head and chanting, “Me, me, me.”
Kim tried to shush her, but Zsa Zsa was too wound up. She reached the front of the room and twirled around in a circle so the skirt of her long white dress belled out. She whirled so fast she fell down.
“Splat on my butt,” she announced.
Everyone laughed.
Evan couldn’t take his eyes from the bride. Jilly wore Addie’s wedding gown, which she’d found preserved in a trunk. She’d solved the problem of the garment ending at her ankles by going barefoot. Instead of a veil she wore a circlet of flowers on her head.
His father paused a few feet away. “Knock, knock,” John said.
All the Luchetti siblings groaned. Their father’s love of knock-knock jokes was an embarrassment to most of them. Nevertheless he always tested new family members to see if they shared his affection for silly riddles. Thus far, he hadn’t tested Jilly. Evan should have known he’d been saving one for the most opportune time.
“Who’s there?” Jilly replied.
“Demon.”
“Demon who?”
“Demon are a ghoul’s best friend.”
When Jilly giggled, John kissed her on the cheek, then glanced at Evan. “She’s one of us.”
“One of you,” Evan muttered.
“Someone has to be.”
John handed Jilly over to his son and joined his wife in the front row.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”
WHEN ALL THE GUESTS were gone and they were alone at last, except for the kids, Jilly went to their room and peered out the window. Lightning stood at the top of the hill, staring down at Addie’s deserted cabin. The old horse missed Addie even more than Jilly did.
There were times when she could swear Addie was with her—when she was confused about a patient, or uncertain of a treatment; when she was tired, sad or afraid. Her shoulders would slump and suddenly she’d feel a pat on the back; her hair would stir in a nonexistent breeze and the answer to her problem would become as clear as if Addie had whispered it in her ear.
There were still cold spots, the scent of cinnamon in the front bedroom and shadows where shadows shouldn’t be. Some folks swore the inn was haunted, and others swore with equal fervency that it was not.
A figure was reflected in the window, and Jilly caught her breath. She hadn’t seen a ghost yet, but she wanted to.
“Took me longer than I thought to corral all the kids.” Evan crossed the room and tugged her into his arms. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“Only five times.”
“Make it six.”
Jilly leaned against his chest and thought of all that had happened since she’d come to South Fork. Had everything been leading to this?
“When I set out on the husband quest,” she murmured, “you weren’t exactly what I had in mind.”
“Disappointed?”
“Never. You’re everything I could ever dream of, and I love you.”
She’d never get tired of saying those words. Which only showed how far she’d come from the woman she’d been.
Evan pressed his lips to her hair. “Maybe we should start a quest of our own.”
“Really? What kind?”
“How do you feel about a baby quest?”
Jilly turned and wrapped her arms around Evan’s neck. “I think that one just might take all night.”
ISBN: 978-1-4592-2882-5
THE HUSBAND QUEST
Copyright © 2004 by Lori Handeland.
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.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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
* The Luchetti Brothers
The Husband Quest Page 21