Bluegrass Dawn: Bluegrass Single #2 (Bluegrass Singles) (9 page)

 

Jake looked at his amused wife and smiled. This was all because of them. It was evidence of their love for each other and for their family. The adults laughed and the kids grumbled at seeing their parents kiss.

Not to be left out, Jake stood and walked down the long table to his wife. He held out his hand and Marcy placed hers in it. He helped her out of the chair and pulled her close to him. Jake felt as though there was a permanent indentation on his shoulder where her head fit perfectly.

Marcy leaned her head back and her eyes sparkled with amusement. He lowered his head and kissed her. His hands slid down and gave her bottom a nice pat before bending her back to deepen the kiss.

He could hear his children, now ranging from fifty-two-year-old Miles to forty-one-year-old Pierce groaning. And they thought they could gross out their kids with a little kiss at the table. Amateurs.

 

Marcy tried not to laugh as her own children made throwing-up noises. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss when the doorbell rang and the door opened. Will and Kenna came in carrying presents. Their daughter, Sienna, was back from her first semester at college and Carter was close behind, not wanting to leave his sister’s side. Kenna had told them that Carter had been so glad when Sienna left. That sentiment lasted a week. Now the siblings video-chatted together more than Sienna did with her parents.

“How is college going?” Sophie asked as she pushed past a starry-eyed Ryan.

“Great. I won the Powder Puff football tournament. I still think I should have tried out for the football team, but the guys would have freaked a little. They’re such wimps when it comes to playing with a girl.”

“I can’t wait to go to college. Tell me all about it.” Sophie and Sienna headed for the couch with the rest of the girls close behind to talk as Mo and Dani stepped inside the door.

“Zain! Gabe!” Wyatt, Jackson, and Carter called out. The boys ran to see the dark-haired, blue-eyed twins.

“We are so glad to be here. Since Grandfather passed away two years ago, Uncle Dirar has been making us go to Rahmi to learn about being princes and kings,” Zain complained as he put some presents under the tree.

“Yeah,” Gabe continued. “He says because his son will someday be king, we’re like the backups.”

Mo shook his head. “It’s not that bad.”

Dani raised her eyebrows. “I distinctly remember you running from Rahmi to set up your farm here. But, they only have to go over during the summer until they’re eighteen. So just two more years.”

“It would be a lot cooler if they let us explore and do the things we want instead of prince summer school. Really, am I ever going to need to know who ruled Rahmi in 1267?”

“But if you don’t make it through classes, Grandma Fatima won’t give you treats,” Mo reminded them.

“True,” Zain admitted grudgingly.

“Tell me about the new horses you have in Rahmi,” Carter asked as the boys broke off from the younger ones.

“Mrs. Davies,” Ariana, Mo and Dani’s nine-year-old miracle daughter, said as she stood shyly in front of Marcy. Dani had gotten pregnant with Ariana after three miscarriages. She went into pre-term labor at thirty-two weeks. Ariana was born weighing just three and a half pounds. But she was a fighter and came home a month later to be completely spoiled by her whole family.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Marcy replied.

“Did you save any apple pie for me?”

“I sure did. I saved two slices in the kitchen for you and Kale. Speaking of which, here he is.”

Ariana smiled and left to drag Ahmed and Bridget’s eight-year-old son to the kitchen for pie.

Ahmed kissed her cheek and Marcy flushed. He was a year older than Miles, but Ahmed, like her son, was still just as good-looking. His black hair was still mostly dark. A sliver of gray was brave enough to venture forth in a couple of places. He still looked just as deadly as he had been as the head of security for Mo and the Rahmi royal family. But the darkness that had been in his eyes was now gone. Now they showed joy, love, and peace.

“How is the most beautiful woman in all of Keeneston?”

Marcy swatted his arm. “I think your wife would have something to say if she heard you flirting with me. So would Jake. So let's just not tell them,” Marcy giggled.

“Ah, here is my beautiful wife now. Bridget, darling, is Abigail settled?”

Bridget looked over to where their twelve-year-old daughter sat with her leg propped up. All the kids surrounded her as she told them how she broke her leg.

“She’s soaking up the attention.”

“Oh my goodness! What happened?” Marcy asked.

“You know how she’s determined to keep up with the boys. Well, she wanted to enter this martial arts tournament. We told her not to. She was too advanced for them, but she wanted to do it anyway. She entered and won the girls’ division easily. When she was sparring with the winner of the boys’ division, he got mad she was beating him so easily and did an illegal low kick and fractured her leg. She only has to wear the cast a couple of weeks.”

“How horrible.”

“All I can say is thank goodness Ahmed kept his hands on his diplomatic immunity papers.”

“Me? You’re the one who raced across . . .”

“Enough of that!” Bridget said cheerfully, effectively cutting him off. “Anyway, thank you so much for having us over every year. “

“You’re family,” Marcy said as Jake came and put his arm around her.

Bridget and Ahmed joined the group in the living room. The men started to move the table and chairs so everyone could fit. Soon the whole room was filled with people and Christmas cheer.

“We’ve done well, haven’t we?” Jake asked.

Marcy saw the kids playing, the men sharing stories, and the women laughing. “Yes, we have. I can’t wait to see what else we do.”

Jake raised his drink, “Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“Merry Christmas!”

 

###

Other Books by Kathleen Brooks

 

More Women of Power stories are coming soon!  More information will be available shortly on my webpage. The anticipated release for Allegra's story will be in January of 2015 and Mallory's story will hopefully be around April/May of 2015.

 

There will also be a collection of Rose Sister novellas in mid 2015. A next-generation Bluegrass series will begin sometime in 2015 as well.  So much to read in the next year!

 

Sign up at this link to receive notification for all new releases by Kathleen Brooks:
www.kathleen-brooks.com/new-release-notifications/

 

If you are new to the writings of Kathleen Brooks, then you will definitely want to try her Bluegrass Series books set in the wonderful fictitious town of Keeneston, KY.  Here is a list of links to the Bluegrass and Bluegrass Brothers books in order:

 

Bluegrass Series

Bluegrass State of Mind

Risky Shot

Dead Heat

 

Bluegrass Brothers Series

Bluegrass Undercover

Rising Storm

Secret Santa, A Bluegrass Novella

Acquiring Trouble

Relentless Pursuit

Secrets Collide

Final Vow

 

Bluegrass Singles

All Hung Up

Bluegrass Dawn

 

 

Women of Power Series

Chosen for Power

Built for Power

Fashioned for Power
- coming January 2015

Destined for Power
- coming April/May of 2015

About the Author

 

Kathleen Brooks is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author.  Kathleen’s stories are romantic suspense featuring strong female heroines, humor, and happily-ever-afters.  Her Bluegrass Series and follow-up Bluegrass Brothers Series feature small town charm with quirky characters that have captured the hearts of readers around the world.

 

Kathleen is an animal lover who supports rescue organizations and other non-profit organizations such as Friends and Vets Helping Pets whose goals are to protect and save our four-legged family members.

 

Email Notice of New Releases:
www.kathleen-brooks.com/new-release-notifications/
Kathleen’s Website:
www.kathleen-brooks.com
Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/KathleenBrooksAuthor
Twitter: 
www.twitter.com/BluegrassBrooks
Goodreads: 
www.goodreads.com/author/show/5101707.Kathleen_Brooks

 

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