“Calm down. Who would have guessed you’d be such an old lady riding with me,” she teased him. She glanced at her left ring finger and was mesmerized by the sparkle of the diamond.
“I should have waited ’til we got back to give you the ring. If you don’t stop looking at it, you’re gonna kill us,” he told her.
She turned left into a driveway. She had called her mother, Rose, a half hour ago, asking if they could stop by. Her mom was excited to meet Remy, and she’d told them that they would be staying for dinner.
She glanced at Remy as she parked her car along the side of the circular drive just past the front entrance. His mouth was slightly open. She knew the huge house with elaborate landscaping was a lot to take in. “Just wait until you see the back. Rose has amazing gardens set up. She’ll gladly take you on a tour, but it will be a long tour,” she warned him.
“You grew up here?” he said, sounding shocked.
“Well, when my dad was alive, we lived over the main garage around to the side, and then after the explosion, I moved in here.” She opened her door and waited for him to meet her at the back of her car.
“You grew up really rich.” He was still looking at the house.
“Does it make a difference?” She’d always worked, earned her allowance by washing cars and helping the staff, and then at The Red Rose. This house and everything—well that belonged to Jimmy and Rose. She didn’t think of herself as rich.
“No, it’s just a shock to see it.” He took her hand.
“So, you still love me even though my folks are rich?” she teased.
“Yeah, I do.” He kissed her.
“Are you ever going to come in, or are you going to stand in the driveway kissing all day?” Jimmy’s voice broke them apart.
“I’m not sixteen, and I don’t have a curfew,” she told Jimmy as she climbed the three steps to the ornate doorway.
As she passed him, she kissed his cheek and Remy shook his hand.
Rose was walking toward them with a warm smile. “This is wonderful.”
Francesca kissed her mother’s cheek, and then pulled Remy closer. “Mom, this is Remington Cooper. Remy this is my mother, Rose.”
Rose looked Remy up and down, and then turned to Francesca and laughed. “I like him. He’s a cutie, and he has kind eyes.” She then pulled Remy into her arms for a hug.
“You don’t even know him, yet.” Francesca laughed as Rose finally released Remy.
“I have a good feeling, and your father likes him, so he must be good.” Rose winked at Remy.
“Are we going to stand here all day, or can a working man get a drink and a soft chair?” Jimmy groused, but he was smiling.
“Let’s sit in the sunroom. It’s cool today, so we won’t get too warm.” Rose turned and led them to the plant-filled room.
As they were choosing their seats, Francesca asked, “Can we get something to drink? I think my fiancé might be thirsty.”
“What?” Jimmy boomed.
“I did it, sir.” Remy placed his arm around her waist. “When we spoke, I told you my intentions. I asked and she accepted.” He was smiling proudly.
“Oh my Lord, Jimmy, you didn’t tell me.” Rose’s smile was huge. “I’m so happy, so very happy for you both.” She moved to her daughter and pulled her into her arms. “Baby, you are beaming. I know this time you’ve found real love.” She kissed Francesca’s cheek.
“I guess, you know a good woman when you see one.” Jimmy slapped Remy on his back, and then hugged him. “Make her happy—that’s all I ask.”
“I will do everything in my power to do that,” Remy promised.
Jimmy moved onto Francesca. “You want this?” He had pulled her into his arms but was staring into her eyes.
“Yes, Daddy, more than anything.” She felt a tear fall down her cheek.
“I love you.” Jimmy kissed her good cheek, and then hugged her tightly.
Rose was hugging Remy, and he was smiling at her over her mother’s shoulder.
“We need to celebrate,” Rose said. “Jimmy, call her friends, and I’ll order champagne. Tell them to come for dinner.”
“Mom, you don’t need to do that,” Francesca knew her words would hold no weight. Once her mother made a decision there was no turning back.
“I want to celebrate my daughter’s engagement. Any of you going to have a problem if I do that?” She glared at the group.
“No, Rosie,” her father said in a mild tone no one at the casino would recognize. “You figure out what you want us to do, and we’ll have one hell of a party.” Jimmy winked at Remy.
***
The impromptu party was in full swing. Remy couldn’t begin to guess at how many bottles of champagne had been emptied. Rose and Jimmy had invited friends and neighbors, and Team 2 had arrived along with Blade’s wife and Lorraine with her husband.
Remy’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much. He and Francesca had Face Timed his mother, and she was ecstatic. She made plans to visit in two weeks’ time. He could already see both their mothers becoming good friends.
“If you have a moment, I’d like for you to take a walk with me.” Rose linked her arm through his as he allowed her to lead him away.
“What can I do for you, Mrs. O’Haire?” He had already witnessed that Rose ran her household with a firm hand.
They headed down a pea gravel path, deeper into the back yard. When they were away from the house, Rose pointed to a bench, and they sat.
“First, please call me Rose,” She crossed her legs.
“All Right, Rose.” Remy gave her a warm smile. He liked the woman very much.
“You love my daughter?” She wasted no time asking.
“I do.”
“It’s not always going to be easy. You know that right?” she eyed him warily.
“Frankie is many things, complicated being one of them. I know that her first marriage left scars. I know that her career means everything to her. I get that, and I won’t ask her to choose.”
Rose nodded as she considered his answer. “I wish I had intervened when she was younger. She and Jimmy were inseparable, and even then, she put in a lot of hours working. I thought it would wear off over time. They have this bond. I don’t know if it’s because of the car bomb. She had misplaced her book bag, and that delayed Jimmy getting in the car. That delay saved their lives. We both adored her; however, she and Jimmy always had a bond. She used to call him Mr. Jimmy, and she would come into the house and wander from room to room looking for him. I’d find her sound asleep in his study while he worked. There was never a doubt we wanted her to be a part of our family, but in her mind, there is no difference between the business and Jimmy. You need to understand that. Her first husband didn’t, and he ultimately asked her to choose between their marriage and Jimmy. She calls it her job, but really, her obsession with The Red Rose, is about Jimmy.”
“I know they’re deeply connected. I’ve seen them in a business setting, and today as family. I hope they can always have that level of love for one another, but she can’t keep up this pace at work.” He watched Rose circle her wedding set around her finger.
“How are you going to fix that?” Her voice was low.
“We’re going to figure out a plan. One that is structured, so Francesca can do what she does best and also let her people do their part. We’re going to meet with your husband and present the plan. She can’t keep this pace up. It’s killing her.”
Rose nodded. “I like that you’ve thought this through. It won’t be easy. I can pledge to you that I’ll do my part with Jimmy. He’s so used to her being there to take care of whatever he needs done, it’s going to take some time. I’ll talk to Lorraine, too. We can all help.”
She nodded again, and he knew that Rose would keep her word. “Thank you, for that, and well, for everything. Francesca’s an amazing woman.”
Rose’s smile was huge. “Well, Jimmy had a big hand in that.”
“To be sure, but I think sh
e gets her strong sense of loyalty from you. Plus, you’ve shown her how to love.” He watched Rose’s eyes turn shiny with unshed tears.
“Remy, I know you’re going to make her so happy. You two are going to live a life filled with love.” Rose took his face into her hands and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I’m so lucky to get a good son.”
“No, I’m the lucky one to have found Francesca. There’s no doubt that I’m all in.”
***
Jimmy joined Francesca and Hadley by the bar. Each of the ladies was holding champagne flutes. “Hadley, can I borrow my daughter for a moment?”
Hadley stood straighter, “Certainly, sir.”
Jimmy shook his head and grinned, “Hadley, how long have we known each other? I remember the day Francesca introduced us. You were rushing to the library to work on some paper, and you had six bags of crap hanging from your shoulders. Don’t you think it’s time you called me by my name?”
“Well all right, Jimmy.” Hadley flashed her killer cheerleader smile.
Francesca placed her nearly empty glass on the bar. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
Hadley reached out and gave her hand one hard squeeze.
Francesca returned the squeeze. “Love you, Hads.”
Jimmy’s warm palm rested against her elbow, gently guiding her along the garden path. “I saw your mom steal Remy away. So, I’m doing the same.”
She matched her steps with his. “Thanks for all of this.” She circled her hand in the air. “I didn’t intend to have a party.”
“I wanted to. It’s not every day my daughter gets engaged.” Jimmy stopped their walk by a wrought iron bench. “Take a seat.”
She did as he asked, she then looked up at him. “It’s the second time I’ve been engaged.”
“But this time it’s to the right man.” Jimmy’s expression had turned serious; his smile had disappeared. His voice was now gruff.
She waited. Jimmy obviously had something to say, and she wanted—no needed—to hear it. As silence continued, she couldn’t hold onto her curiosity any longer. “Why do you think that?”
He grinned. “There’s my smart girl, always asking the right question.”
She felt the warmth of his praise flow through her system.
“I say that because Cooper is a man who knows who he is. He’s not looking for you to complete him. He wants you to complement the person he is. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and accepts them.” He paused.
Francesca bit her lip to make sure that she didn’t speak.
“He also knows yours, and that’s good. He doesn’t want a princess; he wants a partner. That’s why this marriage will work.”
“You know all of this from one meeting with him?” She couldn’t keep the sarcastic tone out of her voice.
“Yeah, I do. Plus, I know I’m going to do my best not to get in the way of your marriage. I’m going to try to use all of my people and not burden you with all of the extra work.”
“It has never been a burden,” she rushed to correct him.
He held up his hand in a stop motion. “Honey, I’ve taken advantage of you. I see that now. I’m spoiled. I’m so used to having you available whenever, that I’ve overused you, and I didn’t even notice. For that, I’m sorry, damn sorry.” He dropped to the space next to her.
“I love my job and working with you, don’t ever doubt that.” Francesca leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. “But now, I want more from life. I want to be able to go home to Remy, and maybe, someday, our child.”
“Then it’ll happen. I’ll make sure it happens.” He kissed the top of her head.
They sat like that for a few minutes.
Rose and Remy rounded a corner, nearing them.
Rose let go of Remy’s arm and held out her hand, “Let’s go check on our guests, Jimmy, and give these two a quiet moment.” She smiled at Francesca as Jimmy stood and took her outstretched hand.
Remy sat beside her and took her hand. “Everything all right?”
She studied their entwined hands. His was so big compared to hers. “Yeah, I think so.” She moved closer to his body. “They like you.”
“That’s good news, because I love you.” He kissed her cheek.
“Excellent news, because we’re getting married.” She still felt a little dazed at the thought. However there was no panic. Instead, a sense of well-being settled over her.
“It’s beautiful out here.”
“I was thinking maybe we could say our vows here?” Her heart rate picked up.
His smile was huge. “I think that’d be perfect. Well, as long as it doesn’t put too much work on your mother’s plate.”
“Are you kidding? She will be in heaven. I’m thinking something small.” She glanced at him, not sure how much he would want to be involved.
“And soon,” he added, his voice was firm.
She rolled her eyes.
“Why don’t we practice right now?” He pulled her to her feet. Once she was standing in front of him, he held their hands between their bodies. “I love you, Francesca. I promise to love you forever.”
She stared at him. He made her speechless. Recovering, she said, “I, too, love you, Mr. Cooper. I can’t wait to be married to you.”
“Now, I’m going to kiss you.” His voice had deepened.
“I should hope so,” she giggled. She felt so light and happy. “What are you waiting for? We need to practice this part, a lot.”
“Do we now?”
He pulled her close and their lips met.
The End.
I appreciate the services of the following vendors, who helped me with this book
(Melanie Jayne, May 2016)
Professional Services Used:
Publicist: http://rockstarlit.com/
Cover Art: http://pandngraphics.com
Editor: http://www.delilahdevlin.com/editorial-services/
Proofreaders: Fedora Chen and David Panak
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
All In (Casino Nights #2) Page 19