"This is your first wedding?" Sharon asked. "That's so exciting. Do you want to come with me? I'm going to see the bride before she comes down the aisle."
Ashlyn gave a happy nod. Mia was beginning to realize that Ashlyn's true nature was outgoing and friendly. Now that she'd moved past her grief, she was blossoming like a flower opening up to the sun. Right now her mother was that sun, and why not? Sharon Callaway had raised six kids of her own. She knew how to deal with one small eight-year-old.
"We'll see you in the church," Sharon said, taking Ashlyn's hand. "Tim, are you coming?"
"Not to see the bride, but I do see my brother over there, so I'll catch up with you."
"All right."
"You know ever since you told your mother the two of you were together, she's started thinking of Ashlyn as her granddaughter," her father said with a twinkle in his eyes. "So do I, to tell the truth. Maybe we'll be at your wedding one of these days."
"Dad," she protested. "Don't push."
"Just saying." He grinned and took off to meet her Uncle Jack.
She turned to Jeremy as her father left. "That was pointed."
"I want to marry you, Mia. I hope you know that. I haven't formally asked, because I didn't want to rush you into anything."
"I know. I didn't want you to ask yet. I wanted us to figure some things out first before we planned a wedding. Now that I've decided to take the job at the Eckhart Gallery, and you've decided to give being a police officer in Angel's Bay a try, I'm feeling more ready to move forward."
"Really? Should I get down on my knees right now?"
"No," she said with a laugh, grabbing his hand to stop him from making that move. "Today is Burke and Maddie's day. We'll have our own day."
"It's going to be soon. And I think we should talk to your parents about buying your aunt's house."
"Do you really want to do that?"
"I do. It's a great house, and you can keep the studio going in whatever way you want. It's perfect."
"It's not perfect, but it's perfect for us. If I've learned anything in the past several weeks it's that I don't need perfect; I just need what's right for me, and that's you. We're going to have a great life together, Jeremy. You, me, Ashlyn, and hopefully a few more kids—if you're up for it."
"As many as you want. I think I'm getting better at this dad thing."
He'd barely finished speaking when she heard a feminine squeal. She turned to see her two sisters walking across the parking lot.
Annie and Kate arrived with breathless greetings and hugs.
When that was done, they both gave Jeremy a speculative glance.
"So you're the man who's stolen my sister's heart," Kate said.
"That would be me."
"I'm Kate."
"And I'm Annie."
"It's nice to meet both of you," Jeremy said. "I've heard a lot about you."
"All good, I'm sure," Annie said with a grin.
"You do know if you don't treat Mia right, you'll have to deal with us," Kate told him.
"I do know that," he said solemnly.
"Or them," Annie said, tipping her head to three men getting out of another car. "Our brothers have been known to beat the crap out of a few of our dates."
"I can take care of myself," Jeremy said.
"You don't have to worry," Mia said with a laugh. "You're a war hero. My brothers are going to love you."
"We should go inside," Annie said. "It's almost three o'clock."
On their way into the church, Mia introduced Jeremy to her brothers and her cousins Emma and Shayla as well as Nicole and Ryan, and their brand new baby. By the time they found a seat, the church was filled with Callaways and friends.
"You weren't kidding about your big family," Jeremy said, as she slid closer to him to make room for more people in the pew.
"We're quite a crowd when we're all together." She looked around the church, and her heart swelled with love. "When I was little, I used to feel like I was insignificant in this big group of people. I wasn't the loudest or the tallest or the most athletic or the best at anything, but now I realize that I was always surrounded by unconditional love and acceptance. That's something I want to pass on to our kids."
"You will," he said, taking her hand.
"And I'm really thrilled for Burke and Maddie. Burke lost his first fiancée in a tragic accident. I didn't know if he would ever find love again, but then Maddie came along, and she turned his world upside down."
"I know that feeling," Jeremy said. "That first day, when I helped you off the roof, and I looked into your amazing blue eyes, I knew I was in big trouble. I told myself to stay away from you, but that didn't work out too well."
"And I told myself not to sleep with you, because I knew better than to jump into bed with a man who could easily break my heart, but that plan didn't work out too well, either."
His fingers tightened around hers. "I'm going to make you happy, Mia—every day of the rest of our lives."
"I know. I promise to do the same."
The music began to play and as the crowd rose for the bride's entrance, she leaned over and kissed Jeremy's mouth. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
* * *
Kate looked over at her twin sister making out with her hunky boyfriend and felt a twinge of jealousy. She was super happy for Mia, of course, but her own heart was a little empty.
The last year had been a whirlwind of activity: getting accepted into the FBI, training at Quantico, and now handling actual assignments. Her career was going great, but she had to admit the love in this church was making her want more than a career.
As Maddie made her way down the aisle, Kate's gaze moved to her cousin Burke. He'd always been handsome and strong, the kind of man who could handle any challenge, but today he looked softer, his gaze almost needy as it focused on the woman making her way to his side.
That was the problem with love; it made a person vulnerable and sometimes weak.
It was a complication that would not serve her well in her job.
Not that she was in love with anyone, but she couldn't help thinking she might want to be one day.
Burke took Maddie's hand and they walked up to the altar while the crowd sat down.
She glanced at Mia.
Her sister gave her a happy nod. She definitely didn't have to worry about Mia anymore.
Her phone vibrated and she glanced down at the text coming in.
She'd wanted something to get her heart pumping, and now she had it—her next assignment. She had no idea where it would take her, but she was ready to go.
"Everything okay?" Mia whispered.
She looked into her twin's eyes and nodded. "Yes, but I have to leave right after the ceremony."
"To go where?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I know it will be exciting."
Mia smiled. "You love your job, don't you?"
"I do. I think I might even be good at it."
"I know you will be. Just make sure you come back for my wedding."
"What?" Kate said a little too loudly, drawing the attention of her brother Ian, who gave them an irritated look. "What?" she asked more softly. "You're engaged?"
"Not officially, but we will be, and you'll be my maid of honor, of course."
"When?"
"I don’t know yet, but promise you'll make it back, no matter where you are, no matter what you're doing."
"I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world."
"Good. You know something, Kate?"
"What's that?"
"Love is the greatest adventure of them all," Mia said.
"You might be right, but I'm going to try some other adventures first."
For her, love would have to wait...but maybe not too long.
THE END
Don't miss Kate's adventure in TENDER IS THE NIGHT
Coming in 2016
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Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Mia and Jeremy's story. If you'd like to leave a review, please click here! I'll be continuing the Callaway series in the future, bringing you more stories of romance, mystery and adventure as we have fun with the Callaway Cousins. Kate Callaway's story will be coming in 2016.
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I've included an excerpt from one of my most popular standalone novels, GOLDEN LIES, just in case you haven't read that book yet!
Until next time, happy reading!
Barbara
Excerpt - GOLDEN LIES
© Copyright 2012 Barbara Freethy
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Prologue
San Francisco-1952
The fire started easily, a small spark, a whisper of breath, and the tiny flame leaped and crackled. It slid quickly down the length of rope, growing in size and beauty with each inch it consumed. It wasn't too late to stop it, to have second thoughts. A fire extinguisher was nearby. It would take just a second to grab it and douse the small flames. But the fire was so beautiful, mesmerizing—gold, red, orange, black—the colors of the dragons that had promised so much: prosperity, love, good health, a second chance, a new start.
The fire began to pop, the small sounds lost in the constant boom of firecrackers going off in the streets of San Francisco in celebration of the Chinese New Year. No one would notice another noise, another spark of light, until it was too late. In the confusion of the smoke and the crowds, the dragons and the box they guarded would disappear. No one would ever know what had really happened.
The flame reached the end of the gasoline-soaked rope and suddenly burst forth in a flash of intense, deadly heat. More explosions followed as the fire caught the cardboard boxes holding precious inventory and jumped toward the basement ceiling. A questioning cry came from somewhere, followed by the sound of footsteps running down the halls of the building that had once been their sanctuary, their dream for the future, where the treasures of the past were turned into cold, hard cash.
The cost of betrayal would be high. They would be brothers no more. But then, their ties had never been of blood, only of friendship—a friendship that some would think had died this night of fire, but in truth had died much earlier.
There was only one thing left to do, grab the dragons and their box of secrets. The back door offered an escape route. The wall of fire would prevent anyone from seeing the truth. No one would ever know who was responsible.
The crate where the dragons were stored beckoned like the welcoming wave of an old friend. It took but a moment to pry off the lid. Eye-watering smoke and intense heat made it difficult to see what was inside, but it was impossible not to realize that something was missing.
Only one dragon was inside! The other dragon was gone, as was the box. How could it be? Where were they? The three pieces were never to be separated. They all knew the importance of keeping them together.
There was no time to search further. A door on the opposite side of the basement was flung open. A man holding a red fire extinguisher shot a small, helpless stream of chemicals at what was now a raging inferno.
The fire could not be stopped, nor the future. It was done. For better or worse, the dragons would never dance together again.
Chapter One
San Francisco -- Today
"They say that dragons bring good luck to their owners," Nan Delaney said.
Riley McAllister studied the dark bronze statue in his grandmother's hands. Ten inches tall, it appeared to be a dragon, although the figure looked more like a monster with its serpent body and dirty scales. Its brilliant green eyes blazed like real stones, but those eyes couldn't possibly be jade. Nor could the golden stripe that ran around its neck really be gold. As for luck, Riley had never believed in it before, and he didn't intend to start now. "If that dragon were lucky, we'd be at the front of this line," he grumbled.
He cast a frustrated look at the people around them, at least a hundred he estimated. When he'd agreed to help his grandmother clear out her attic, he'd never imagined he'd be standing in the parking lot at the Cow Palace Arena in San Francisco early Monday morning with a bunch of people who wanted to have their trash appraised by a traveling antiques show.
"Patience, Riley." Nan's voice still held a touch of her native Irish brogue even though she'd lived in California for sixty years.
He frowned at his grandmother's perky smile, wondering where she got her energy. She was seventy-three years old, for God's sake. But then, she'd always been a pint-sized dynamo. Pretty, too, with her stark white hair that had been the same shade for as long as he could remember, and her pale blue eyes that always seemed to see straight into his soul.
"Good things come to those who wait," she reminded him.
Not in his experience. Good things came to those who sweated blood, pulled out all the stops, sacrificed everything, and never let sentiment cloud reason. "Why don't you let me sell this stuff on the Internet?" he suggested for the twentieth time.
"And let someone take advantage of me? I don't think so."
"What makes you think these people won't take advantage of you?"
"Because Antiques on the Road is on television," she said with simple logic. "They can't lie in front of millions of people. Besides, this will be fun, a new experience. And you're a peach to come with me. The perfect grandson."
"Yeah, I'm a peach, and you can stop the buttering up, because I'm already here."
His grandmother smiled and set the dragon gently on top of the other treasures in the red Radio Flyer wagon she'd also found in the attic. She was convinced that somewhere in her pile of pottery, dolls, baseball cards and old books was a rare find. He thought she'd be lucky to get five dollars for everything in the wagon.
A loud clattering noise drew his head around. "What the hell is that?" he asked in amazement as a tall man dressed in full armor lumbered toward the front of the line.
"He looks like a knight in shining armor."
"More like the tin man in need of a brain."
"He probably thinks he has a better chance of getting on the show if he wears the armor. I wonder if we have anything interesting we could wear." She squatted next to the wagon and began digging through the pile.
"Forget about it. I'm not wearing anything but what I have on." Riley pulled up the zipper on his black leather jacket, feeling like the only sane person in the middle of a freak show.
"What about this?" she asked, handing him a baseball cap.
"Why did you bring that? It's not an antique."
"It was signed by Willie Mays. It says so right there."
Riley checked out the signature scrawled across the bill of the cap. He hadn't seen the cap in a very long time, but he distinctly remembered writing on it. "Uh, Grandma, I hate to tell you this, but I'm Willie Mays. I was planning to sell that hat to Jimmy O'Hurley, but somebody tipped him off."
She frowned. "You were a very bad boy, Riley."
"I tried."
The busty redhead standing in front of them turned her head at his comment, giving him a long, sexy look. "I like bad boys," she said with a purr that matched her cat's eyes.
The old man standing next to her tapped his cane impatiently on the ground. "What did you say, Lucy?" he asked, adjusting his hearing aid.
The redhead cast Riley a wistful look, then turned back to the stooped, old buzzard who had probably put the two-carat ring on her third finger. "I said, I love you, honey."
"That's just sick," Nan whispered to Riley. "She's young enough to be his granddaughter. It goes to show that men can always get younger women."
"I hate that you're so cynical."
"Realistic, Grandma. And I don't think you'd be happy if I was walking around San Francisco in armor, pretending to be a knight. So be glad I have a job. The line is moving," he added with relief, as the crowd began to shift toward the front doors of the arena.
The Cow Palace, once known for its livestock shows, had been divided into several sections, the first an initial screening area where experts scoured the items brought in. When it was their turn, the first screener riffled quickly through Nan's stash, pausing when she came to the statue. She told them to continue to the next screening area with the dragon only. The second screener had the same reaction and called over another appraiser to confer.
"I think we might get on the show," his grandmother whispered. "Now I wish I'd had my hair done." Nan patted her head self-consciously. "How do I look?"
"Perfect."
"And you're lying, but I love you for it." Nan stiffened as the two experts broke apart. "Here they come."
"This is a very interesting piece," one of the men said. "We'd like to put it on the show."
"You mean it's worth something?" Nan asked.
"Definitely," the man replied with a gleam in his eyes. "Our Asian art expert will be able to tell you much more, but we feel this piece may date back to an ancient dynasty."
"A dynasty?" Nan murmured in wonder. "Imagine that. Riley, did you hear him? Our dragon came from a dynasty."
"Yeah, I heard him, but I don't believe it. Where did you get that statue, anyway?"
"I have no idea. Your grandpa must have picked it up somewhere," she said as they made their way across the arena. "This is exciting. I'm so glad you came with me."
"Just don't get your heart broken," he cautioned in the face of her growing enthusiasm. "It could still be worth nothing."
"Or maybe it's worth a million dollars. Maybe they'll want to put it in a museum."
If I Didn't Know Better Page 25