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Eva had kept Beth in the backstage dressing room with various little things for her to do until everyone had left. When she finally heard a knock at the door, Eva gave Beth some sheet music to put away and went to answer it.
“That’s all I’m doing, Eva. Can we please go to the reception now?”
Beth turned around to see Bryce standing in front of her with a beautiful bouquet of white and pink roses… Eva was gone, as was everyone else. She sputtered and came to a dead stop. Bryce’s eyes were sparkling at her and then he stepped a little closer. His dark hair was recently trimmed and combed smartly to one side. She glanced at his gray pinstripe suit, her favorite, that he was wearing. Roses were her favorite and the aftershave he was wearing was her favorite… He was leaving nothing to chance.
Without speaking, Bryce handed her a thick envelope. Opening it, Beth found two first class tickets to Washington, D.C. in the names of Bryce and Beth Barron. She looked up at him with wide, surprised eyes. He laid the flowers on a nearby table, stepped closer to her and took her hand. Then he dropped to one knee in front of her while her heart stopped.
“I’ve loved you all my life, Beth Lane. Please marry me so we can finally start our lives together. And the first thing we have to do is get on an airplane. My testimony is scheduled for the day after tomorrow and I want you with me when I go.” He looked up into her teary eyes. “Please marry me, Beth. I told Nick to forget it and I put my place in Vegas up for sale. I’ll do anything to make you happy, but first you have to speak to me…”
Beth cleared her throat and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“You broke my heart again…”
“I promise to fix it.” He reached into a pocket in his jacket and brought out a diamond ring between his fingers. “Will this help to fix your broken heart?”
She looked from the shining ring to his shining eyes…
“… Are you sure this is what you really want?”
“Without a single doubt… Is it what you really want?”
Beth nodded. “I’ve loved you all my life too, Bryce Barron. Yes, I’ll marry you… Maybe then you’ll stop breaking my heart.”
Bryce stood and slipped the diamond ring on her wedding finger. They looked at each other for a minute and slowly, big smiles came to both their faces.
“I thought you were supposed to be this big player…” she teased.
“I’ve been played out. The only woman I want to play with now is you,” he whispered.
When she nodded, he happily pulled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry for all my stupidity, Beth…” he began.
She shook her head against his chest. “Nope. Don’t do that… None of it matters now. Leave it all behind us…”
“Okay, honey,” he sighed, kissing the top of her head.
She raised her face to gaze at him happily. “I guess you’re unemployed now, huh?”
He laughed. “Yes, you might have to support me until I get back on my feet.”
“I’d prefer to keep you off your feet for a while and in my bed…”
“What a sexy devil you are, Mrs. Barron.” And then they were kissing… deep angels-weeping, pull-no-punches kisses that left them breathless and desiring more. He lifted his lips off hers reluctantly, but remained an inch away.
“… Don’t you have to put in an appearance at the reception?”
She pulled his face back to hers for another sexy kiss.
“Yes,” she murmured.
Finally, they were ready to walk out to the reception. Bryce took her hand and brought it up to his lips for a kiss as they walked along.
“I loved your playing tonight, sweetheart. It was incredible… You had everyone weeping.”
She smiled. “Good. I was weeping too… It was appropriate…”
* * *
They were married at City Hall early the next morning and were on an airplane to Washington, D.C. by ten o’clock. By the same time the next day, Bryce was sworn in by a bailiff for the Senate Committee for Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in the grand Senate Chambers at the U.S. Capitol, and was seated at a long table in front. Beth sat in the row behind him glancing often at her new wedding ring set and then over at her handsome new husband. He glanced back at her once and smiled… Her heart about took flight.
He was asked question, after question by members of the Committee -- She was proud of his honest, direct answers. The Committee members seemed to be appreciative of his honesty and that he hadn’t pleaded the Fifth Amendment. One time he raised his left hand to gesture and she caught sight of his new wedding band. She blushed and was so thrilled… Everything a new wife might feel.
At the hotel later, he received several congratulatory telegrams from people in the financial world wanting to clean up corporate raiding. Bryce received telegrams from the company manager in Mesquite, Nevada as well as the owner of the Gardnerville plant. He smiled at Beth when he read them to her and was proud to be testifying, making a difference.
It was a whirlwind, unique honeymoon for them – Testifying for several days and seeing the sights of the Capitol. Then later on, Bryce and Beth snuggled in bed together, making love and just holding on tightly to each other. Every night they went to sleep amazed, exhausted and in love… And what a great way to start a marriage…
By the time they flew home to San Francisco, the Congressional Committee had all the information it needed to initiate the writing of a new bill to halt the practice of corporate raiding. Bryce and Beth also had all the love they needed to start their marriage on the best foot possible. When they arrived home, Bryce lovingly carried Beth over the threshold… into a new and wonderful life.
* * *
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Bryce was glancing briefly at the San Francisco Chronicle while trying to feed the baby. Since he was only three months old, it shouldn’t have been that hard, but the baby turned his head this way and that, ensuring that Bryce would have a tough time. Finally, he got him to take his bottle.
“Beth, honey? Got everything you need?” Beth dashed down the stairs grabbing her sheet music from somewhere along the way.
“Yes, I think so. Why, oh why was a rehearsal called today? It’s our anniversary and I thought I’d have the day off.” She plopped down on a chair in the kitchen by Bryce and the baby. She cooed at the pretty baby lying in his seat on the table, and he laughed at her, spitting milk back at Bryce.
Bryce put the bottle down, blew out an exasperated breath, as he picked up a towel to dry his face. Beth held it in as long as she could, and then the smile she was stifling broke out big time…
“Thanks, sweetie. I just got him to take the bottle.”
“And after the bottle,” she grinned, “you get to burp him.” By this time, Beth had almost doubled over laughing while Bryce rolled his eyes.
“Don’t you have to go somewhere?”
She caught a whiff of something and scrunched her nose. “Oooo… I think it’s diaper change time too…” She smiled big as she grabbed her music portfolio and headed towards the door. “Gotta go, honey…”
Bryce stood quickly and grabbed her hand before she could get too far, pulling Beth into his arms. He gazed into her laughing brown eyes and took his sweet time kissing her long and slowly. When he finally lifted his lips from hers, her knees were wobbling.
“Remember Mom will be here to babysit tonight.” He nuzzled her ear.
“Mmm… Okay… I can be home by three.”
“Do you want any more of this?” he teased as he nipped her lip.
“Bryce… Stop. I’ll be home by two… Okay?” She smiled at him. “Aren’t you going into the store today?”
“Yes.” He kissed her lips again. “Apparently, most of the orchestra is coming in to get strings and other ordered equipment. Having a music store is not for the faint of heart.”
“Can you handle the baby at the store with everyone coming in?”
“Sure. Eva and William said they�
��d help out. Since they got married, Eva has been awfully interested in babies,” he laughed.
“Oh, I just remembered – Your mom said that Sheriff Dan was elected state senator in Nevada. Did you hear that?”
“I did, but the crazy news is that Sylvia and Nick eloped to Europe.”
“What?”
Bryce laughed. “That’s an easy one to explain. Congress passed that legislation to stop corporate raiding, so they beat it out of here with his millions…”
The baby blew a few bubbles and they leaned over to check on him. Beth kissed the top of his little head… Bryce raised one eyebrow at her.
“You know this condo is getting too small, right?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Honey, what if we have another baby?” Beth’s face broke out into a huge grin.
“Do you want another one?”
Bryce smiled his sexy smile and raised an eyebrow…
“I want a couple more, sweetheart.”
Beth went back into Bryce’s arms, leaned up and touched his sweet face.
“It’s a wonder I make it to rehearsal at all.”
“Yes, it is,” he grinned. “Let’s work on our second tonight. All right?”
“I love you, Bryce…”
“And I love you, sweetie.” He kissed her again and then lightly pushed her towards the door. “Now go to work. The baby and I have a few things to do…”
The End.
* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeanne Harrell lives in Nevada with her husband. They are both long time Nevadans mired in the Old West spirit. Traveling to different places in the country, especially the western states, gives Jeanne ideas for her books.
From Jeanne
Thank you very much for taking the time and having the interest to read one of my stories. I appreciate it more than you know. There’s not enough love out in the world, so these are my attempts at adding a little more. If you have any comments you’d like to share with me, please write on the blog page of my website – www.jeanneharrell.com. I would love to hear from you.
Jeanne’s next book will be the Avila Beach Winery series.
The family vineyard and winery are on the verge of collapse. It all could be rescued by son Scott Granger’s new drought tolerant grape that his father, Walt, is dead set against. Scott meets pretty party planner, Melissa Meyers, who gets involved in trying to save the winery. But they fall for each other too hard, too fast… With a winery to save and a vineyard to plant, maybe their steamy relationship will dry up like the drought that threatens their grapes…
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