Walk on the Wild Side

by Donna Kauffman

  “But…” Her mouth dropped open as comprehension dawned. “There was someone else, wasn’t there?” She knew she was right. Frances was unable to hide the flash of pain. “That had to have been over fifty years ago.”

  “If you and Nick were forced to be apart, do you think you’d forget him? Or how he makes you feel?” This was from Bennie. Frances nodded her agreement.

  It was the closest thing Sunny had ever had to a personal conversation with her grandmother, and she couldn’t believe she was having it here, with Nick and his grandmother listening! “No. I would have gone on with my life. But I would never forgive myself for choosing family obligations over personal happiness.”

  “Nor should you.” Her grandmother looked away, seemingly needing a moment to collect herself.

  Bennie stepped in. “This is our common ground, Niccolo.”

  Now it was Nick’s turn to gape. “Now wait a minute. I know for a fact you and Sal were very much in love.”

  Bennie’s face lit up. “Yes, yes we were. I was expected to stay home after my mother died and help my father raise my younger brothers. I was the oldest, it was my place.”

  “But you didn’t,” Sunny said in a hushed tone.

  “No. I met Salvatore and made a very difficult decision to leave Italy with him and come to America. I was only seventeen. I worried many times about my father and my brothers, but I never regretted giving myself happiness. I went back to Italy after we started the restaurant and spoke to my father. He was filled with bitterness and never forgave me. But my brothers, both happily married, understood my decision.”

  “Bennie didn’t want—” After a glance from Mama Bennie, she corrected herself. “We didn’t want you to feel you had to choose, like we did. Between family and love.”

  Sunny left her seat, knelt in front of her grandmother and embraced her. It was awkward, and Frances was still obviously coming to terms with everything, but she embraced her back. It was more than Sunny could have ever hoped for. A beginning. Her eyes were shining with tears when she sat next to Nick again. “Thank you.” She sniffed, then laughed. “This is the best gift you’ve ever given me.”

  When Frances looked confused, Sunny clarified. “Your love.”

  Frances’s eyes instantly were wet with tears, shocking both her and Sunny. “Oh, darling, you’ve always had our love. I know we’re not entirely comfortable with public displays, but I never realized—” She stopped, took Bennie’s offer of a lace-trimmed hankie and dabbed her eyes.

  “It’s okay, Grandmother. It’s okay.” And it was. Sunny treasured this breakthrough with her grandmother, but she was realistic enough to know that some things wouldn’t change. She doubted she’d ever have the close relationship with Frances that Nick had with Bennie, but this was already so much more than she thought she’d ever have. “Does Grandfather know? About all this?” Her eyes widened. “Does he know about…that you married him and loved someone else?”

  Frances nodded. “We might not be the love match of the century, Susan, be we are very well suited to one another. Your grandfather is my closest and dearest friend. And that is more than I ever thought I’d have.”

  “As you are mine.”

  Everyone jumped and turned to find Edwin standing in the doorway, clad in a dressing gown and resting heavily on a cane.

  “Oh, dear, you shouldn’t be up so soon.” Frances stood and went toward him.

  “Now, now, Frances. I can determine where I want to be in my own home and if I’m fit enough to be there.”

  No one said anything.

  “You are my closest friend, Frances. And my biggest champion. You are aware that there is no one else who has as much of my love and respect as you do.”

  All three women in the room had tears in their eyes. Nick made a suspicious swipe at his.

  “Edwin, please,” Frances bade him, looking almost desperate at this highly unusual display. “This can wait.”

  He walked slowly into the room. “No, it can’t. In fact, I have done a lot of thinking these past weeks, and realize that time isn’t that forgiving to those who wait for the right moment.” He turned to his granddaughter. “Susan, I owe you an apology. I have always known you belonged at Chandler and perhaps I was impatient with your obstinacy.”

  “Grandfather—”

  He tilted his cane toward her, signaling she was to let him continue. She did.

  “I was impatient because I knew my health was failing me and I needed you there for me. Your decision to go find yourself couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

  “If you had just told me—”

  “No. And I’m glad now that I didn’t. We both needed to go find ourselves.”

  “But you were right, I do love working for Chandler Enterprises.”

  “But you also need more than that. You need a full life. And I believe this young man and his delightful grandmother are a part of that life.” He turned to a blushing Bennie and nodded. “Thank you for talking with my wife and me so frankly. Your wisdom has proven an excellent source of guidance to us both. I hope you will continue to set us straight when the need arises.”

  Bennie laughed, her eyes still shiny with unshed tears. “I would consider it an honor, Eddie.”

  To his credit, his wince was barely visible. Sunny swallowed a laugh, then sat ramrod straight when her grandfather said, “Now, Nick. Can I call you Nick?”

  Nick stood and took Edwin’s outstretched hand. “Please, sir.”

  “Are you aware of what you’re getting into here?”

  Nick grinned. “I don’t think so, sir. But I’ve never been one to turn my back on a challenge.”

  “Well, Susan will definitely be that and more.”

  “Grandfather!”

  Nick was chuckling. “Actually, sir, I was thinking more in terms of you and your lovely wife.”

  Edwin smiled. “Good, good. Just so you understand.”

  “Oh, I understand. We’re well aware we’ll have a whole lot of people looking over our shoulders, making sure we take good care of one another.”

  Sunny stood and slipped her hand in Nick’s. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Good, good,” Edwin said again. He lifted his cane and rapped Nick lightly on the shin. “Well, boy, don’t just stand there, sweep her off her feet. She needs more of that in her life, and we’re just not equipped to give it to her.” He turned and motioned to Frances. “Ring Vincent and have him serve our best champagne.”

  Nick realized Edwin was giving him an opening to discreetly leave with Sunny, and he wasn’t about to pass it up. He took her into his arms and kissed her. When he lifted his head, he purposely avoiding looking at the other three occupants of the room. He was certain Bennie was beaming in approval, but he knew his future in-laws would take some time to adjust to such…public displays of emotion. He was prepared to give them many opportunities, and soon.

  He tucked her hand in his, and they’d almost made their getaway when he stopped short. “Wait. I forgot something. Something really important.”

  “What?” Edwin, Frances and Bennie all spoke at once.

  Nick and Sunny turned to find the older three staring at them. So much for sneaking away.

  Keeping Sunny’s hand in his, he crossed the room to Edwin and extended his other hand. “I’d like to formally ask for your granddaughter’s hand in marriage.”

  Edwin nodded in approval and shook Nick’s hand. “Granted.” Then he grinned. “Just remember, no returns.”

  “Not on your life. I plan to do this right.” Nick turned and got down on one knee.

  “Nick, you don’t have to—Please, get up.” Sunny looked at her grandparents and Bennie, then at him. “This really isn’t—” What was she doing? This was the most romantic, wonderful moment in her life.

  “Will you marry me, Sunny Chandler?”

  She laughed even as tears of joy sprang to her eyes. She helped Nick to his feet and kissed him soundly on the mouth. “Yes. Yes
, yes, yes.” She grinned. “Now, can we go back to that feet-sweeping thing my grandfather mentioned? I rather liked that.”

  “So did I.” Bennie shrugged when everyone looked at her in surprise. “I’m a sentimental old fool.”

  Nick swung a laughing Sunny into his arms and headed for the door.

  “You realize they’ll be down here naming our children before we even set the wedding date,” Nick whispered in her ear as the door shut behind them. Then he groaned.

  “What?”

  “I just realized she’ll be telling my sisters.”

  “Oh, let her have her fun.” She nipped at his earlobe, making him groan again. “After all, it’s only fair since we’ll be having ours.”

  Nick stopped at the base of the sweeping staircase. “I don’t think I can wait until we get home. Which room is yours?”

  Sunny laughed and motioned upward.

  Nick kicked the door open to her room. Suite of rooms, he amended.

  She must have seen the look on his face, because she nuzzled his ear and said, “I was sort of hoping I could move in with you if that’s okay. Unless, of course, you had your heart set on moving in here.”

  Nick wandered through the room and finally found the right door to her bedroom. He tried to be tactful. “I, um, wasn’t planning on it.” Then he saw the ocean of down mattress and the sea of pillows she called a bed. He smiled as he fell onto it, cradling her against him. “But we could compromise and move your bed to my place.”

  “Our place.”

  He rolled over so she was half beneath him. Looking down into her lovely face, he couldn’t believe she was really his. “Our place. Our life.”

  “Our two families,” she added wryly. “It probably won’t be easy.”

  “Nothing worth having ever is.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I love you, Sunny.” Wonder filled him. “How is it you went looking for yourself and ended up finding me?”

  “Maybe I found myself in you. I think I realized that you never stop discovering who you are.”

  “So you won’t mind me shaking things up once in a while?”

  She shook her head. “I was sort of counting on it. There’s no law against having a lifelong fling with your husband, is there?”

  “Not that I know of. What say we start shaking things up right now? Wanna walk on the wild side with me right here in Haddon Hall?” He rolled to his back and pulled her astride him. Her skirt hiked up high enough on her thighs to reveal thin lace garter straps.

  “When—” The word came out a dry croak. “When did you start wearing those?” he asked weakly.

  Her expression could only be described as smug. She slowly unhooked first one side, then the other. “Maybe you’ll be discovering a few new things about me, as well.” She shimmied her skirt up. Her panties were held together with the merest wisp of lace. She grabbed one side and yanked. “Come on. Let’s get wild.”

  Epilogue

  THE SUN was setting and the air was finally cooling off. Twinkling lights flickered on, illuminating the surrounding trees. The buffet tables were thinning out as everyone drifted to the dance floor to watch the bride and groom take their first turn as husband and wife.

  Andrea sniffed as she held her husband’s hand. “They are even more gorgeous together than I thought they’d be.” Callie was holding her other hand. Her little bridesmaid dress was adorable, with matching sprigs of flowers woven in her curls. You hardly even noticed the sauce stains on her chin…or the matching ones on the front of her dress.

  B.J. rubbed her taut tummy and smiled as she felt her husband’s hand kneading the ache in her back. Maybe she’d take a turn around the dance floor, after all. Suddenly she was feeling a bit lighter.

  Marina scolded her kids for the hundredth time, then turned to clap when Nick executed a smooth dip to the laughing delight of his new wife. So she finally had a sister-in-law. Boy, was this going to be fun.

  Rachel leaned in between her sisters. “So, when do we take bets on the first baby, huh?” They all laughed, then drifted onto the dance floor with their husbands, children tumbling after them.

  Bennie settled back in her chair, wishing Sal could be here to see his oldest grandson so vibrantly and happily married. She tapped her foot along with the orchestra. They weren’t so bad. It hadn’t been her idea, but since Franny had relented to having the wedding outdoors and catered by D’Angelos, giving in on the music seemed a small thing. She sighed, thinking back over the service. It couldn’t have been more lovely. Father Sartori had beamed throughout the sermon and had even wiped his eyes when Nick and Sunny had spoken their personally written vows at the end.

  She looked at Edwin. He’d given a wonderful if slightly stuffy toast. Still, she didn’t miss the look of admiration in his eyes as Sunny twirled by. Bennie smiled. She’d have plenty of time to work on him. He’d loosen up yet.

  She helped herself to two glasses of champagne as a waiter passed by, then turned to Frances and handed her one. “Well, I think it’s all gone quite well, don’t you?” Bennie tried to hide her smile as yet another D’Angelo youngster went flying past, feet pounding, with two more little ones right on her heels. Franny did look a mite…overwhelmed. But she had plenty of stamina and good breeding. Bennie had faith she’d adapt. Eventually.

  “Yes, I believe it did,” Frances finally said. Her calm was belied by the larger than acceptable swallow she took. Her fourth glass.

  Yes, everything had turned out well indeed. Bennie lifted her glass in a silent toast heavenward. Well, Sal, five of them are happily taken care of and giving us great-grandbabies. Or will be shortly, if I know anything about anything.

  Joey popped up at that moment and kissed his grandmother soundly on the cheek. “Any chance my best girl will give me a dance?”

  Bennie flushed with pleasure but shooed him on. “Surely there are other young ladies out there who can keep up with you better than I can. Go on now.” She turned to Frances and patted her on the knee. “Handsome boy, isn’t he? And bright, too. Did I tell you he already has job offers in the computer technology field?”

  One of the older D’Angelos raced by, snatching a sloshing glass of champagne from the sticky fingers of her little one. She smiled frantically, then handed the glass to a startled Frances before taking off after the chubby toddler.

  Bennie laughed, but was not to be deterred. “So, I understand Chandler’s new CEO has a granddaughter about Joey’s age, am I right?”

  Frances Chandler nodded and smiled faintly…then downed the contents of the sticky glass of champagne in one gulp.

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-7113-8

  WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

  Copyright © 2001 by Donna Jean.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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