Slow Burn (A Madaris Family Novel)

by Jackson, Brenda

  A huge smile touched Nedwyn’s lips as he leaned down to do exactly that. He whispered, “I love you,” moments before their mouths touched.

  When he finally released her mouth to gaze at her, her incredibly beautiful eyes sparkled with the same love he felt. “We’ll probably have to do this all over again for Felicia’s benefit,” he heard her whisper.

  “I’ll do this as many times as needed,” he whispered back to her. “You, Diana Madaris Lansing, are one woman worth kissing over and over.”

  She chuckled. “I’m talking about the ceremony, Ned.”

  He laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “Oh.”

  And then with Syntel behind them, they walked out into the dazzling sunlight, a promise that the rest of their days would be just as bright.

  It’s good to be home, Skye thought as she glanced around the living room of her condo. They had arrived back in Houston a couple of hours ago. With the threat removed, Justin had immediately left for Whispering Pines to get his son.

  “Alone at last.”

  Skye turned around and glanced over at Slade. He was leaning against the closed door. He was staring at her and the intensity of his gaze almost took her breath away.

  “Our little adventure is over, so I guess it’s going back to work for us tomorrow,” she said, watching him slowly walk over toward her.

  “Maybe,” he said huskily when he reached her and drew her into his arms. “And maybe not. Taking another day off work won’t hurt things. Besides, there’s something important I want to do tomorrow.”

  She tilted her head back to look up at him. “What?”

  “Take you to a jeweler to pick out your ring. Then you and I can decide on a date.”

  She shook her head, grinning. “Any day other than Christmas Day.”

  He smiled, understanding. “That’s no problem.” They had a chance to talk after finding Bigelow and Helen Stone together. Although Skye had told Slade she was all right, he knew both Wayne’s and the woman’s betrayal had to have hurt.

  “I want to get married a lot sooner anyway. Would you mind having a wedding during the time of the Madaris family reunion? That way the majority of the family will be in town.”

  Skye lifted her arched brow. “That’s next month.”

  He grinned. “Yes, I know, but I’m sure the women in the family will help in planning things. The sooner I make you mine, the better.”

  She moved her body closer to his and whispered against his lips, “I’m already yours, Slade.”

  And she meant every word. She could now admit she had become his the moment he opened the door at Justin and Lorren’s home to find her standing there. And in a way she believed they both knew it.

  “So what are our plans for tonight?” she asked, looking up at him.

  When his eyes darkened with profound passion at her question, “Besides that,” she quickly said.

  He laughed. “Sweetheart, I’m a Madaris and there’s little else besides that.”

  She smiled seductively. “Well, in that case,” she said, tipping her head back and lifting her mouth as an invitation to a kiss. It was a hot, seductive, lingering kiss that beckoned them to mate their mouths until breathing became a necessity.

  Slade then swooped her into his arms. She didn’t have to ask where he was taking her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest. This was the man she loved. The man who would give her plenty of babies and lots of love. A man she knew she could count on when the going got rough and tough. He would erase all the bad memories in her life and replace them with only good ones.

  Slade Madaris was her everything.

  EPILOGUE

  “So, how does it feel to be a married woman?”

  Skye smiled over at Slade’s great-grandmother, Laverne Madaris. “It feels simply wonderful.”

  “That’s good, child. Slade is one that I knew wouldn’t take long to know what he wanted. Now Lucas and Blade will be another story. See that young lady over there?” Great-Gramma Laverne said, looking across the yard of Whispering Pines where tables were loaded with plenty of food.

  Skye followed her gaze and saw the very beautiful woman she had been introduced to earlier. Her name was Mackenzie Stanfield and she was an attorney from Oklahoma and a cousin to Ashton Sinclair. “Yes, I see her,” Skye said, smiling.

  “She’s the one for Luke,” the old woman said with confidence in her voice.

  Skye lifted a brow, then glanced around for Luke. He was standing leaning against the corral taking to his aunt Diana and her new husband, retired senator Nedwyn Lansing. They had surprised everyone by returning from a trip to Savannah last month and announcing they had gotten married. Everyone was happy for the older couple.

  Skye then returned her attention back to Luke. If he and the woman whom Great-Gramma Laverne had pointed out to her were an item, Skye hadn’t noticed it. But she had noticed that most of the single men present couldn’t keep their eyes off of Mackenzie. She was utterly beautiful. Christy had whispered that she was African-American mixed with Cherokee Indian, just like Ashton.

  “Do you know why I say that?” Laverne Madaris then asked.

  Skye’s smile widened. “No, why do you say that?”

  “Because I can see things regarding my grands and great-grands that they can’t see themselves. Mark my word. She’s the woman for Luke.”

  “Who’s the woman for Luke?” Slade asked, coming up behind them and grabbing his wife of only thirty-two hours around the waist and bringing her closer into his arms.

  “None of your business. This is woman talk, Slade,” his great-grandmother quickly informed him.

  “Yes, ma’am, but I just wanted to borrow Skye for a second. I promise to bring her back.”

  “Okay, as long as you bring her back. She and I have a lot more talking to do.”

  Slade took his wife’s hand in his. “Come on, let’s go for a walk, sweetheart.”

  “All right.”

  Both yesterday and today had been beautiful days. Yesterday afternoon she and Slade had gotten married in his great-grandmother’s church. Skye’s biological grandfather, Congressman Baines, as well as her biological father, Senator Baines, had been there for her. And her aunt Karen had also come. Skye glanced to where her aunt was talking to an older, handsomely rugged-looking man by the name of Abram Hawk, who was a good friend of Sir Drake and his lovely wife, Tori.

  Skye couldn’t help but smile and cross her fingers. Her aunt was such a wonderful and beautiful person, and it was time she found love all over again. And from what Skye could see, Mr. Hawk was as fascinated with her aunt as she seemed to be with him. One thing Skye had discovered about some of the people attending the family reunion: If they weren’t a Madaris by blood, then they were connected to them by a special friendship, and to a Madaris, friendship spoke volumes.

  She had invited her parents to her and Slade’s wedding, but neither of them had responded to her invitation. Evidently they weren’t happy about not receiving the bonus they would have gotten had she married Wayne.

  She continued walking by Slade’s side. He didn’t say anything and neither did she. They were enjoying the quiet stillness of their surroundings. When they reached a huge stream, Slade turned to her and smiled. “Walking helps me to think.”

  She returned his smile. “I know. So what do you think?”

  He stopped walking and put his hands at her waist and pulled her closer to him. “I think I’m the happiest man on the face of the earth right now, because I have you as my wife. And just like I said in front of everyone yesterday, I promise to love you, protect you, cherish you, and respect you for always and forever. You, Skye Madaris, are my every woman.”

  “Oh, Slade.”

  And then he leaned toward her, captured her lips to seal the words he’d just spoken. And deep in her heart Skye knew so many doors were opening to her, doors she was not afraid to walk through as long as she had Slade by her side.

  She
was a very blessed woman.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  SLOW BURN

  Copyright © 2007 by Brenda Streater Jackson.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

  ISBN: 978-0-312-94049-2

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.