“Yes.”
“All right then, are you willing to make a deal?”
Sterling raised a brow. “What kind of deal?”
“If I have a girl, I want a lifetime of special moments from you.”
“Baby, you’ll get those regardless of whether we have a son or a daughter.” He pulled her closer into his arms. “I want to thank you for giving me the most precious gift I’ve ever had.”
Colby looked up at him. “And what was that?”
He met the question in her eyes with a serious expression in his own. He reached out and took her hand and brought it to his lips. “That one special moment, the day you became my wife. God must have known I needed someone like you in my life and sent you to me. I will always believe that and cherish that.”
Threading his fingers through her hair, he caught a loose part with his fist and gently lifted her head to give him easy access to her mouth. He loved this woman and he would make sure that for the rest of her life she got all the special moments she deserved.
EPILOGUE
“Chandler is crying, Sterling,” Colby said sleepily. “It’s feeding time.”
Sterling came immediately awake. Unlike most people, he enjoyed these two o’clock feedings. It was a special time to bond with his child.
He padded in his bare feet across the hall to the nursery where Chandler Hamilton was crying. Reaching down he picked up his child.
Colby had refused to take a sonogram during her pregnancy to determine the sex of their child. “Some things should remain a surprise,” she had said. And Chandler’s entrance into the world had been totally that for him.
Up until the time the doctor had uncovered her in front of his eyes to prove that his wife had indeed given birth to a girl, he had been so sure she was having a boy.
It wasn’t that he had preferred a son over a daughter, it was just that he’d actually thought he couldn’t produce a female offspring. He and Colby had brought the era of all male Hamiltons to an end with the bundle of joy he held in his arms.
And she was indeed a bundle of joy to everyone, especially to her grandmother Angeline and her uncle Nicholas. Sterling smiled when he thought about the growing close relationship between himself, his mother and his brother. And now that Chandler was born, Angeline’s and Nicholas’s visits to North Carolina were rather frequent.
He gazed down at his daughter. She was simply beautiful. He would have to get his shotgun ready in sixteen years when she began dating. Unless, however, the young man was one of Kyle’s sons, since he seemed to have a lot of them to go around these days. Kimara had given Kyle two more sons—Keenan and Kellum.
Sterling’s smile widened. He and Colby would have to do a lot of overtime to catch up with the Garwood clan. “But we can do it if we try, can’t we, Chandler?” he cooed to his daughter.
“Do what?” Colby asked, coming into the room. Since she was still breast-feeding, the two o’clock feedings could not be done without her. Like Sterling, she also enjoyed this special time with their daughter.
She looked at her husband. He looked so good shirtless and wearing only his sexy, boxer-style, silk underwear. He was one very sexy man, and now that Wingate Cosmetics’ ads for Awesome were everywhere, everyone knew what she had always known…Sterling Hamilton was awesome.
The advertisement featuring him had taken the country by storm and Wingate’s sales for its newest cologne had skyrocketed beyond their wildest dream. It seemed that all women everywhere wanted their men to wear Awesome. But Colby knew she had the real awesome man.
“What can we do if we try?” Colby asked Sterling again.
He smiled at her. “Have just as many babies as the Garwoods.”
Colby frowned. “Don’t even think it, Sterling Hamilton. No one can have as many babies as Kyle and Kimara, and I don’t even plan on trying,” she said, taking their child from his arms. Chandler was barely four months old and already her husband was thinking about having others. And so was her brother. He was trying hard to convince Cynthia that James Jr. needed a sister.
“What about a Garwood-Hamilton wedding sometime in the future?” he asked his wife. “And then if we have another daughter, she can marry Jake and Diamond’s son. I like the idea of a Madaris-Hamilton match one day.”
Colby lifted a brow. Evidently Sterling thought he was pretty good at putting marriages together since he’d done a fairly good job of putting theirs together. “Jake and Diamond don’t have a son, Sterling.”
“Not yet they don’t. But hopefully, they’ll get their act together soon enough. Neither of them is getting any younger.”
Sterling watched as Colby breast-fed their child and a deep feeling of love and pride washed over him. He leaned down and kissed her lips. “Do you know what I think?” he asked, smiling.
“No, what do you think, Sterling?”
“I think you’re more valuable than the most precious gem, and that you satisfy all my needs.”
A smile formed on Colby’s lips with Sterling’s compliment. “And you, my darling husband, have surpassed Denzel in my book, and as a man I think you’re totally awesome.” Her eyes darkened from the heat she saw radiating in his gaze.
“I also think if we’re not careful and behave ourselves, we just might catch up with the Garwoods,” she whispered seductively.
He laughed. “At least we have plenty of room up here on our mountain.”
She grinned. Although they visited their home in California often, this place, here in the mountains of North Carolina, was what they truly considered home. “Yes, we do have plenty of room up here, don’t we?”
Colby reached out and let her fingers lightly trace the masculine lines of Sterling’s face. “I love you.”
He inhaled her fragrance. Her scent was unmistakably…Colby. “And I love you, sweetheart. Always.”
* * * * *
If you like sexy and steamy stories with strong heroines
and irresistible heroes, you’ll love
BEST LAID PLANS
by New York Times bestselling author
Brenda Jackson.
Read on for a sneak peek…
PROLOGUE
Christmas Day
NOLAN MADARIS III took a sip of his beer while standing on the balcony of his condo. Leaning against the rail, he had a breathtaking view of the exclusive fifteen-story Madaris Building that was surrounded by a cluster of upscale shops, restaurants and a beautiful jogging park with a huge man-made pond. The condos where he lived were right across from the water.
The entire complex, including the condos, had been architecturally designed, engineered and constructed by the Madaris Construction Company that was owned by his cousins Blade and Slade. For the holidays the Madaris Building, surrounding shops, restaurants and jogging park were beautifully decorated with colorful, bright lights. It was hard to believe a new year was just a week away.
When Nolan had arrived home from his cousin Lee’s wedding, he hadn’t bothered to remove his tuxedo. Instead he’d headed straight for the refrigerator, grabbed a beer and proceeded to the balcony for a bit of mental relaxation. But all his mind could do was recall the moment his ninety-something-year-old great-grandmother, Felicia Laverne Madaris, had finally cornered him at the reception that evening. She was a notorious matchmaker, and he’d been avoiding her all night. Her success rate was too astounding to suit him—and she had calmly warned him that he was next.
He was just as determined not to be.
Nolan, his brother Corbin, and his cousins Reese and Lee had all been born within a fifteen-month period. They were as close as brothers and had been thick as thieves while growing up. Mama Laverne swore her goal was to marry them all off before she took her last breath. They all told her that wouldn’t happen, but then the next thing they knew, Reese had married Kenna and today Lee married Carly.
What bothered Nolan more than anything about his great-grandmother setting her schemes on him was that she of all people knew what he’d
gone through with Andrea Dunmire. Specifically, the hurt, pain and humiliation she had caused him. Not to mention her cunning, scheming and underhanded manipulations. Yes, it had been years ago and he had gotten over it, but there were some things you didn’t forget. A woman ripping your heart out of your chest was one of them.
Andrea had meticulously plotted and carried out her plan while conspiring with her cousin to do so. He had learned a hard lesson he would never forget. As a result, he would not allow anyone—not even his great-grandmother—to manipulate him into doing anything he didn’t want to do. If he wasn’t on board then the hell with it.
Nolan knew in his heart his great-grandmother’s intentions were good. He could even believe that she might have a golden thumb where matchmaking was concerned. But his feelings about being manipulated and controlled by anyone, including Felicia Laverne Madaris, wouldn’t change. He intended to resist, defy and oppose whatever trick, tactic or scheme her pretty little mind conjured up with every fiber of his being.
His cell phone rang. Recognizing the ringtone, he pulled it out of his pocket and answered, “Yes, Corbin?”
“Hey, man, I just wanted to check on you. We saw you tear out of here like the devil himself was after you. It’s Christmas and we thought you would stay the night at Whispering Pines and continue to party like the rest of us.”
Whispering Pines was their uncle Jake’s ranch. Nolan took another sip of his beer before saying, “I couldn’t stay knowing Mama Laverne is already plotting my downfall. You wouldn’t believe what she told me.”
“We weren’t standing far away and heard.”
Nolan shook his head in frustration. “So now all of you know that Mama Laverne’s friend’s granddaughter is the woman she’s picked out for me.”
“Yes, and we got a name. Reese and I overheard Mama Laverne tell Aunt Marilyn that your future wife’s name is Ivy Chapman.”
“Like hell the woman is my future wife.” Nolan had never met her and didn’t intend to. “All this time I thought Mama Laverne was plotting to marry the woman’s granddaughter off to Lee. She set me up real good.”
Corbin didn’t say anything and Nolan was glad because for the moment he needed the silence. It didn’t matter to him one iota that so far, every one of his cousins whose wives had been selected by his great-grandmother were madly in love with their spouses and saw her actions as a blessing and not a curse. What mattered was that she should not have interfered in the process. And what bothered him more than anything was knowing that he was next on her list. He didn’t want her to find him a wife. When and if he was ready for marriage, he was certainly capable of finding one on his own.
“You’ve come up with a plan?” Corbin interrupted Nolan’s thoughts to ask.
Nolan thought of the diabolical plan his cousin Lee had put in place to counteract their great-grandmother’s shenanigans and guaranteed to outsmart Mama Laverne for sure. However, in the end, Lee’s plan had backfired.
“No, why waste my time planning anything? I simply refuse to play the games Mama Laverne is intent on playing. What I’m going to do is ignore her foolishness and enjoy my life as the newest eligible Madaris bachelor.”
He could say that since at thirty-four, he was ten months older than Corbin, who would be next on their great-grandmother’s hit list. “By the time I make my rounds, there won’t be a single woman living in Houston who won’t know I’m not marriage material. Especially one Miss Ivy Chapman,” Nolan added.
Corbin chuckled. “That sounds like a plan to me.”
“Not a plan just stating my intentions. I refuse to let Mama Laverne shove a wife that I don’t want down my throat just because she thinks she can and that she should.”
After ending the call with his brother, Nolan swallowed the last of his beer. Like he’d told Corbin, he didn’t have a plan and wouldn’t waste time coming up with one. What he intended to do was to have fun; as much fun as any single man could possibly have.
A huge smile touched his lips as he left the balcony. Walking into his condo he headed for his bedroom. Quickly removing the tux, he changed into a pair of slacks and a pullover sweater. The night was still young and there was no reason for him not to go out and celebrate the holiday.
As he moved toward his front door, he started humming “Jingle Bells”. Let the fun begin.
CHAPTER ONE
FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER…
NOLAN CLICKED OFF his mobile phone, satisfied with the call he’d just ended with Lee about his cousin’s newest hotel, the Grand MD Paris. Construction of the huge mega-structure had begun three weeks ago. Already it was being touted by the media as the hotel of the future and Nolan would have to agree.
This would be the third hotel Lee and his business partner DeAngelo Di Meglio had built. And knowing Lee and DeAngelo like he did, Nolan expected the Grand MD Paris to open its doors on time in two years with a fanfare the likes of a presidential inauguration.
Nolan’s company, Madaris Innovations, would provide all the electronic and technology work for the Grand MD Paris; some would be the first of its kind anywhere. All high tech and trend changing. It would be Nolan’s first project of this caliber and he appreciated Lee and DeAngelo for giving him the opportunity.
After getting a master’s graduate degree at MIT, Nolan had begun working for Chenault Electronics at their Chicago office. Chenault Electronics was considered one of the top ten electronics companies in the world. The owner, Nicholas Chenault, was a family friend and had taken Nolan under his wing and had not only been his boss but his mentor as well. After working eight years for Chenault, Nolan had returned to Houston to start his own company.
Nolan leaned back in his chair. He had returned from spending two weeks in Paris just yesterday. In a way, he regretted being back in Houston. Before leaving he had done everything in his power to become the life of every party, and his reputation as Houston’s number one playboy had been cemented. In some circles, he’d been pegged as Houston’s One Night-Stander since most of his dates were one-night stands. Now that he was back, that role had to be revived.
It hadn’t taken him long to discover the life of a Casanova was pretty damn taxing and way too demanding. The nights of mindless, emotionless sex with women whose names he barely remembered wasn’t all that it was cracked up to me. He only hoped that Ivy Chapman’s grandmother and his great-grandmother were getting the message—he had no intentions of settling down anytime soon. At least not in the next twenty-five years or so.
Unfortunately, it seemed nothing was deterring Ivy Chapman.
Nolan picked up the envelope on top of the stack on his desk. He knew what it was and who it had come from. He recalled getting the first one three months ago and had received several more since then. He wondered why Ivy Chapman was still sending him these little personal notes when he refused to acknowledge them. All of the notes said the same thing… Nolan, I would love to meet you. Call me so it can be arranged. Here is my number…
Nolan didn’t give a royal flip what her phone number was since he had no intentions of calling her. He would continue to ignore Miss Chapman and any correspondence she sent him. No matter what, he refused to give in to his great-grandmother’s matchmaking shenanigans. He refused to be manipulated.
Tossing the envelope aside he picked up his cell phone to call his family and let them know he was back. He had slept off jet lag most of yesterday and hadn’t talked to anyone other than his cousin Reese and his brother Corbin. Reese and his wife, Kenna, were expecting their first baby in June and everyone was excited.
Nolan ended the call with his parents, stood and walked over to the window to look out. Like most of his relatives, he leased space in the Madaris Building. His electronics company was across the hall from Madaris Explorations, owned by his older cousin Dex.
He loved Houston in March but it always brought out dicey weather. You had some warm days but there were days when winter refused to fade in the background while spring tried emerging. He was rea
dy for warmer days and couldn’t wait to spend time at the cottage he’d purchased last year on Tiki Island that was on the Galveston Bay. He’d hired Ron Seamore as property manager to handle the leasing of the cottage whenever he wasn’t using it. So far it had turned out to be not only a great investment, but also a splendid getaway place whenever he needed a break from the demands of his job, life itself and yes, of course, the women who tried demanding his time.
The buzzer sounded and he walked back over to his desk. “Yes, Marlene?” Marlene was an older woman in her fifties who’d worked as his administrative assistant since he started the company three years ago.
“There’s a woman here to see you, Mr. Madaris. She doesn’t have an appointment and says it’s important.”
Nolan frowned, glancing at his watch. It wasn’t even ten in the morning. Who would show up at his office without an appointment and at this hour? “Who is she?”
“A Miss Ivy Chapman.”
He guessed she was tired of sending notes that went unanswered. Hadn’t she heard around town what a scoundrel he was? The last man any woman should be interested in? So what was she doing here?
There was only one way to find out.
“Send her in, Marlene.”
“Yes, Mr. Madaris.”
Nolan had eased into his jacket and straightened his tie before his office door swung open. The first thing he saw was a huge bouquet of flowers that was bigger than the person carrying them. Why was the woman bringing him flowers? Did she honestly think a huge bouquet of flowers would work when her cute little notes hadn’t?
He couldn’t see the woman’s face for the huge vase of flowers and without saying a word, not even so much as a good morning, she plopped the monstrosity on his desk with a loud thump. It’s a wonder the vase hadn’t cracked. Hell, maybe it had. He could just imagine water spilling all over his desk.
Nolan looked from the flowers that were taking up entirely too much space on his desk to the woman who’d unceremoniously placed them there. He was not prepared for the beauty of the soft brown eyes behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses or the perfect roundness of her face and the creamy cocoa coloring of her complexion. And he couldn’t miss the fullness of her lips that were pursed tight in anger.
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