Lexie didn’t think it was possible, but her love for Mac just leaped into a whole new plane. “I didn’t want you to think… it’s just that what we have is so different from what I had with Rico.”
“I feel what you feel, Lexie. I’m not threatened by him. I miss the guy like crazy and loved him like a brother. It’s okay that you loved him.”
She laid her head on his chest. “Part of me will always love Rico, but I’m so in love with you, Mac, I have no words.”
“Those are beautiful words.” He studied her for a moment as a smile crossed his lips. “I have your birthday present. Do you want it now or later… much later?”
“You gave me my present.” She lifted her beautiful gold locket around her neck. Mac had even placed a picture of him and Gabriel inside.
“That was from Gabriel and me. This present is just from me.”
His eyes glistened. Lexie turned in his lap and faced him on the chaise lounge. “Is it something that your family can see, or is it going to turn my cheeks a deep shade of pink?”
“It’s decent, but personal.”
She scanned the yard. Gabriel was happily engaged. The bubbly excitement for another one of Mac’s little surprises spread through her. “Now would be nice.”
“Close your eyes first.”
He took her left hand in his and slipped a ring on her fourth finger. Her heart skipped a beat. He brought her hand to his lips, raining soft kisses over her fingers.
“Mac?”
“Open your eyes.”
She glanced down at her left hand as tears clouded her eyes. He brushed her cheeks with his thumb. The ring wasn’t a traditional engagement ring, but an everlasting knot ring with an emerald tourmaline stone in the center. She had never seen anything quite like it.
“Well?”
His gift was so much more than a promise. It was a sign of a kind of love she never experienced, and until he forced himself into her life, she would have never believed something so pure could exist between two people. What could she possibly say to his well?
“You don’t like it… or too soon?”
“I just don’t know what to say.”
He wove his fingers into her hair as he took her mouth for another one of her favorite scorching kisses. Need slammed into her as a moan escaped from deep in her throat. Maybe words were overrated. She cradled him and let every part of her express her heart. When he finally broke away, it took both of them a few moments to catch their breath.
“I just need one word.”
“What?”
Mac tapped his finger over the ring. “Your answer.”
“You never asked her the question, moron,” Jason said, holding Gabriel in his arms. He gave the chaise lounge a nudge with his foot. “Go on, say the words.”
“And make sure you speak a little louder so I get it all,” Sarah said from the doorway. She held her phone out, recording the whole thing.
“If you two don’t get out…”
Lexie placed two fingers over his mouth. “Please just ask me, Mac,” she whispered as her heart danced the rumba.
Mac’s expression softened, and he took both of her hands in his. “Lexie, you’re not the only one having a hard time with words. I have always known what to say except when it came to you. What’s in my heart isn’t always what comes out of my mouth.” He moved in close so their foreheads barely touched. “It’s taken us some time to get to this point, but it finally seems right. I love you so damn much, Lexie. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife? I’ll be true to you for the rest of my life and then some. One lifetime with you will not be enough for me.”
She didn’t have to think about it. “Yes, yes, and yes.”
Mac signaled to his brother. “You, Sarah, and my little man, get lost.”
He didn’t wait to see if they listened before he caressed his lips over hers. “I’ll make you happy, sweetheart.”
“I have no doubt, Special Agent-In-Charge, Lucas Mac McNeil. And, I will work every moment we have together to keep us together.”
“Good plan,” he said, and covered her lips with his, shifting her so they fit perfectly together.
She had no idea how long they lay intertwined in each other’s arms. When Mac finally broke the kiss, she opened her eyes slowly, and his expression jarred her out of the moment.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
Lexie turned and found Sarah and Jason standing in the doorway. This time they weren’t smiling.
“There is someone at the door for Lexie.” He looked past her at Mac. “You need to go with her.”
It took a moment for Lexie to move away from Mac’s hold and stand. “Who is here?”
“You need to see for yourself.” Still holding Gabriel, he stepped away from the doorway. Sarah followed him.
Mac reached for her hand and they headed into the cool interior, crossed the great room, and approached the half-open front door. A well-dressed older woman Lexie had never seen before stood in the foyer, her purse clutched to her chest as if she needed the protection.
“Hi, I’m Lexie Trevena. How can I help you?”
The woman studied her before she spoke. “I’m Olivia Ramirez, your grandmother.”
The last two words came out in a choked sob.
“You’re Daniel Ramirez’s mother?”
“Yes. My son, your father, he never told me about you. Had I known, you would have grown up my family surrounding you. This is so hard.”
Her words trailed away and she swayed. Lexie wasn’t ready for this, but she couldn’t ignore the pain in the woman’s expression either. She tightened her hold on Mac’s hand as he drew her against him. She never had Mac’s kind of strength grounding her before. It gave her a foundation to stand on like none other.
“Mrs. Ramirez, would you come in and sit?”
She shook her head. “No, as much as I want a chance to get to know my only granddaughter, this visit isn’t about me.”
Lexie didn’t know what to say to that, so she said nothing.
“There is someone else who wants to talk to you.”
“I’m not ready yet to see my father. I’m sorry, but I…”
“No, of course not. I don’t blame you either. Daniel has caused a world of hurt, and I will not be the bridge that brings you two together.”
“Then who?”
The woman held the door open and nodded to the car in the driveway. Four young boys peered at her from the backseat. Lexie’s legs almost gave out, and she actually stumbled into Mac. He held out his arms and steadied her.
“We tried to keep the news away from their young ears, but they heard about you and have been bugging me for the last week to meet you. I was trying to give you your space, but today, they set off on their own. Had I not found the bus schedule under their bed, I wouldn’t have had a clue where to look for them. They got off the bus about three miles from here.”
“Oh, Mrs. Ramirez, I’m so sorry. I have a son and know what that must’ve done to you.”
A smile graced the woman’s face. “As much as I want to take each of them by the ear and send them to their room for scaring me like that,” she paused and took a breath, “they just want to meet their sister. They don’t understand what’s going on except that they have a sister they never met who took a bullet for their father.”
“The bullet just grazed my shoulder.”
Stupid thing to say, but it was what came out. Lexie peered again at the car. One of the boys opened the door, and they all filed out. Unable to stop herself, she waved at them.
“I want to meet them, too.” She eased from Mac’s hold and met them on the sidewalk. She didn’t hear Mac follow, but when she placed her hand behind her, he was there.
The oldest boy approached her and held out a hand. “I’m Daniel,” he said, turning toward his brothers. “This is Julian, David, and Ramon.”
“I’m Lexie.”
The next instant, the youngest
boy wrapped his arms around her waist, saying, “Thanks for saving our dad.” The other boys followed suit and they all stood on the sidewalk holding each other as tears streamed openly down Lexie’s face. My brothers.
She turned to her grandmother. “I would love it if you and the boys could stay.”
Her grandmother pressed her hand. “You get to know your brothers. I’ll come back in an hour.” She slipped a calling card into Lexie’s hand. “I would love to get to know you, too, but will wait until you are ready.”
As they watched her drive away, Mac wrapped his arm around Lexie. “My brother is putting hamburgers on the grill. If you want one, you better go place your order.”
The boys raced into the house as if it were their second home. She watched them until they were out of sight.
“Eventful evening.” She took a moment to collect her thoughts. “You have such a quiet, peaceful life here.” She scanned the home in front of her. “I come with a lot of baggage.”
“Family isn’t baggage, Lexie.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for what I bring with me? Gabriel’s birth mother wants to meet me, too. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of nightmare that’s going to bring into our lives. Then there’s my mother…”
“You’re in love with me, right?”
“Very much.”
“And you want to become my wife, my family?”
“Yes,” she replied in a breathless whisper.
He interlocked their fingers. “You haven’t even met half the McNeils yet. I come with all kinds of weird crap. By marrying me, you become part of it.”
“Are you trying to scare me away?”
“Not at all.” He caressed the ring. “We’re family, and together we’re strong enough to deal with anything our future holds, which includes Gabriel’s birth mother. If she files to get him back, she’ll be going up against the McNeils.”
“Family. I love the sound of that.”
She gave him a quick kiss, but when she eased away, he deepened it. That was how it was always going to be between them, something Lexie would fight hard to protect.
Mac broke the kiss, pulling her close, her head against his heart. It was fast becoming her favorite spot.
“We need to go in and get to know my brothers. When everyone leaves, and after Gabriel is asleep, you’re going to explain the weird crap.”
“Ahh, no. When I finally have you to myself, we’re going to finish what we started a few minutes ago on that chaise lounge. After you have screamed my name a few times, if you’re still up to hearing about that weird crap, I’ll start with my oldest brother’s story and make my way down to Jason and Sarah.”
Lexie couldn’t keep the laugh in. “God, how I love a man who has his priorities straight.”
Note from the Author
To my dear Readers,
Thank you for taking time to read In the Shadow of Pride, book 4 of the Shadows and Light series. I just loved writing Mac and Lexie’s story, and as always, I hope these two amazing characters gave you a brief escape from the stresses of your daily life.
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I would really appreciate an honest review of what you thought of In the Shadow of Pride on KOBO, Goodreads, and BookBub. Reviews can help new readers find my books.
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What’s coming up next: In the Shadow of Vengeance, Book 5 and the final book of the Shadows and Light series. I know I’m not supposed to have favorites, but I wanted to write Noah McNeil’s story the instant I finished In the Shadow of Evil. Noah got under my skin, and haunted me until I found him his happily-ever-after as I had found Jennie for his identical twin brother, Jared.
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My current project I’m working on, contests and giveaways – just about everything about me can be found on my newsletter here, Nancy’s Newsletter. It will only hit your inbox once a month unless something exciting comes up that I have to share.
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For a closer relationship, become a member of my private Facebook group, Nancy’s Corner. You can also find me blogging on my Website where you’ll meet fascinating people, both real and fictional. You can also find my #FreeRead Friday Blog post where you can check out my books before you buy them.
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Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks
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Email Address
[email protected]
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Where else you can find me:
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Excerpt from In the Shadow of Vengeance
This can’t be happening again. It’s too soon.
Elizabeth Williams caressed her lower abdomen. It was a simple fact of life. Women could get pregnant within weeks of giving birth.
On the upside, at least she didn’t have to worry about stomach crunches for another nine months. But even that positive thought didn’t erase the anxiety churning through her. The demands of the coveted nursing program would not ease because she juggled the care of two infants. And then there was her dream to travel the globe with Spencer, providing medical aid to areas that need it most. They could have managed with one child, but two would place that opportunity on the back burner for years.
She shifted her position in the driver's seat and glanced at the entrance to the hospital as she dug the plastic pregnancy stick from her back pocket. All she had to do was get out of the car, walk across the parking lot, and find her husband. They would talk it out together and enjoy their growing family while keeping their dreams alive. At this hour, he was most likely in his office. He didn’t have surgeries scheduled on Saturday, but he went in to make his rounds. That afternoon, they planned to drive to her parents’ farm three hours east of Omaha for her father’s birthday. Once Spencer learned about the baby, and they both had time to process, the heaviness in her stomach will convert to pure joy.
Erin wasn’t planned, but she brought such joy into their lives. And although Elizabeth and Spencer’s relationship seemed a little strained lately, that was probably just stress. Every couple went through trying periods.
Elizabeth’s sister called him selfish, but she didn’t understand him. Spencer dedicated himself completely to his patients, and they loved him for the time he gave to them. There wasn’t a more compassionate surgeon than her husband.
Easing her grip on the steering wheel, she smiled at her beautiful daughter in the infant mirror above her dashboard. Erin was so tiny, only fourteen pounds, but right at her target weight for a four-month-old. “Your daddy loves you, sweet girl, and he’s going to love your brother or sister, too. This is going to be a good thing.”
Opening the door, she released her seatbelt and got out. The warmth of the midday sun brushed over her face, and a sense of calm settled her nerves. It would all work out because it had to. They were a family. Her parents must have had rough patches in their thirty years of marriage. That was all this was, a rough patch.
Lifting the sleeping infant out of the car carrier, she cradled her against her heart. The soft baby scent drove away any apprehension. “Well, Erin, my girl,” Elizabeth whispered, glancing at her wrist watch, “Let’s find your father and tell him the good news together. Seeing your sweet face will make it all okay.”
At that moment, the automatic doors to the hospital entrance whooshed open and her husband raced out. She called out to him, but he must not have heard her. He didn’t even pause at the crosswalk between the entrance and the parking lot. A stunning, dark-skinned woman Elizabeth had never seen before met him at his car only two rows away. He unlocked the passenger door of his Jaguar and moved aside so she could drop into the seat. He then ran around and got in the driver’s seat. The familiar sound of the engine roared to life, and he drove out of the lot, never once looking back.
Numbness settled deep into Elizabeth’s bones as her heart
struggled to catch up with her mind. A huge part of her wanted to ignore what she had seen and take her daughter home.
As she secured Erin in the infant carrier, she kept an eye on Spencer’s red Jaguar. Instead of turning right toward home or the clinic at the stop sign, he took a left. Elizabeth dropped behind the wheel of her Chevy SS and followed him, keeping several cars back. Midday traffic was heavy, making it easier to keep up with him.
As her mind came up with one excuse after another for why he left the hospital in such a rush, one stood out, taking on a life of its own.
Who was she?
The question repeated itself over again as her heart pounded against her ribcage. That was the reason he was so distant with her. Except for a brief moment of passion when they’d conceived the baby, it had been weeks since they made love.
When she caught up to him, it would not be a pleasant reunion. She believed every person had a nasty side, and hers was in high gear. Was Spencer cheating on her? If he wasn’t, she would owe him a hell of an apology. At minimum, it would open communication between them.
A quick glance at Erin, and Elizabeth said a silent prayer that her daughter slept through what was slowly turning from a moment of madness into full-blown bat-crazy. As much as she wanted to turn around and leave, she was propelled onward.
Of course, this was sheer madness. They had been in love for three years, almost inseparable—until she got pregnant with Erin. They’d met during her first week of nursing school at the University of Nebraska. After a whirlwind romance that lasted half the year, he asked her to move in with him. Since her parents would have had a conniption fit at the thought of their daughter living with a boyfriend, they married. And for the most part, they were happy together. What made her jump down this rabbit hole?
In the Shadow of Pride Book 4 Page 19