Summer Kisses (60 page)

“Okay.” This day was getting stranger and stranger. The last time Charlie had talked about princesses, they’d taken her… “We’re going to Disney World again? Are the girls coming too? They’ve never been.”

“Nope. No Disney tonight.” Betts was the first to pull away. She pointed at Charlie. “Stop the princess talk. You’ve gotten her hopes up.”

“Trust me. In a million years and with a billion guesses, she couldn’t figure out what’s planned for the evening. Will is impressive. You’ve got to hand it to him.” Charlie’s smug attitude was getting on Lucky’s nerves.

Betts picked up Lucky’s hand and glanced down at her nails. “Oh my God. She’s chipped a nail. Quick, I need a nail file.”

Charlie felt around in the tiny pockets she’d had sown into the cleavage of her dress, but she came out with nothing.

Betts burst out laughing. “I super-glued all her pockets closed last night. Messing with her is the best.” She turned to Lucky. “It’s especially grueling because I left all her little things in the pockets so she can feel them but can’t get to them.”

Lucky high-fived Betts. “Genius.”

“You both are evil and must be destroyed.” Charlie shot them equally terrifying glares. “I will have my revenge, and it’s going to be very painful.”

Betts wrapped an arm around each friend. “I don’t know about you, Lucky, but I find it hard to take threats seriously from anyone the size of one of Willy Wonka’s Oompa-Loompas.” She looked down. “Butt kicking must be so hard with those tiny little elf feet.”

Arm-in-arm, they walked to the car. Tomorrow, Charlie and Betts were leaving. Lucky would miss them and the life they brought to her house so very much. But now she had a family, so loneliness was no longer on the menu.

At exactly six forty-one, Lucky climbed the spiral staircase to the sundeck on top of her boathouse. Vivid purples, pinks, and oranges splashed across the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon.

When she stepped onto the sundeck, Will, dressed in an Armani tux, waited for her. Vivi, Mandy, and Dawnie—all dressed in matching tea-length pale blue dresses—stood on his left.

“I thought we were having dinner.” Lucky looked around. No table, no screen—just four people who’d became her family.

“Later.” From his trouser pocket, Will pulled out a small, black velvet box.

Lucky’s hands flew to her mouth. This was it. He’d gone to a lot of trouble and enlisted her friends to help him propose.

Dawnie grabbed Lucky’s left hand, and Vivi took the right.

Mandy stepped in front of Lucky and pulled her into a tight hug. “Will you marry us? All of us. You made us a family when we didn’t even understand the word. You loved us when we’d never really been loved before. We want you to be our Wow … always.”

Tears burned the corners of Lucky’s eyes and then streamed down her cheeks. Her vision turned watery.

Mandy let her go and stepped aside.

Will got down on one knee and handed her a sealed envelope. It was heavy ecru paper with Lucky St. James-Strickland in calligraphy on the front. After letting go of Vivi’s and Dawnie’s hands, she tucked her index finger under the flap and ripped it open.

It was an invitation. She pulled it out.

Together with their family

Willis Arturo Brodie & Lucky St. James-Strickland

Invite you to share in their joy at the celebration of their marriage,

Friday, the first of November, two thousand and thirteen,

at seven o’clock in the evening.

Sometimes Island, Lake Travis

Transportation via boat will be provided from Rough Hollow Marina.

Reception following

“I don’t understand.” Lucky swiped at her tears and reread it. “My wedding? Now?”

“If you’ll have me.” He extended the opened black velvet box. “And this.”

She’d forgotten about the ring. Looking down, her breath caught in her chest. Three diamond hearts—one for each of the girls—set in a platinum band and on either side an eternity band of square-cut diamonds. “It’s perfect.” She nodded violently. “Yes … yes …
yes
!”

“Thank God,” Mama called from down below. “Do you know how hard it is to eavesdrop without making a sound when you’re weeping like a little girl?” She blew her nose. “For the love of God, let’s go.” She whistled loudly, and a boat’s motor hummed to life. “You don’t want to be late for your own wedding.”

Dawnie smiled up at her. “We were all going to get down on our knees, but right before you got here, we voted, and all us girls decided not to mess up our dresses.”

Lucky matched her smile. “Good thinking.”

“We love you Wow and hope you have the best wedding ever.” Vivi wrapped her arms around Lucky and hugged tightly.

Mandy put her arm around Lucky. “Last night I dreamed about Daddy. He told me to tell you, “Be happy, Lucky Lady.” Mandy squeezed her tightly. “I know it’s stupid, but I thought you should know.”

“Thanks, Mandy. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.” She squeezed back.

Ricky had gone out of his way to send his blessing. In her heart, she thanked him.

Vivi, Mandy, and Dawnie let go and tromped down the stairs.

Will caught her hand and pulled her to him. “I’ve planned for you the wedding you’ve always wanted. A long time ago, you told me you wanted to get married on the beach with just your close friends and family looking on. Sometimes Island is the closest I could come to a beach. Betts and Charlie, in full Marilyn dress, are standing by to give you away. I thought you would want to be married in your white Marilyn dress, but if not…” He trailed off like he hadn’t thought about the
if not
until now.

“It’s perfect.” She leaned up and kissed him lightly. “You’ve always given me everything I’ve ever wanted.” She cupped his face. “But you … this is your wedding too.” Reality marched in and smacked her right in the fantasy. “I don’t have a ring for you.”

Lucky looked around like one would materialize. He’d done so much for her; she wanted him to have a token of her love.

His index finger dug underneath his collar and pulled out a chain. Floating on the chain was a navy blue plastic ring she’d won at a carnival that he’d taken her to when Ricky was on the road.

“You already gave me a ring.” He smiled brightly.

“Oh my God, that’s so sweet my blood sugar just shot through the roof.” Lucky couldn’t believe that he’d kept it all these years. Will was sentimental—she hadn’t realized how much until now.

He unlatched the chain, slid the ring off, and handed it to her.

“I can’t believe, after all these years, you said yes.” Will radiated joy.

“You’re the love of my life. Why would I say no?”

“Really?” His smiled actually got brighter.

“This is my dream wedding. But what about you? I hope it’s everything you wanted.”

With his thumb, he traced her bottom lip. “Legs, you’re everything I want … have always wanted. A life where I get to wake up next to you is a dream I thought would never come true. I can’t believe I get to share your life. When I look at you, I see my future. Right now, I wish it were tomorrow.”

“Why?” Lucky didn’t understand. He wanted to skip the wedding he’d worked so hard to put together.

Will looked her directly in the eyes. “Because I’d already be married to you. It has taken me over seventeen years, but I’m finally getting Lucky.”

“Wow, I’ve never heard that one before.”

Katie Graykowski is a bestselling author who likes sassy heroines, Mexican food, and glitter nail polish. She’d love to hear from you. Visit her at
www.katiegraykowski.com
.

The Return to Redemption Series Prequel

Winner of Romance Writers of America
®

Golden Heart
®
Award

BY

LAURIE KELLOGG

Dedicated to the brave men and women who sacrifice so much for our country

She can’t forget him—He can’t remember her

Together, they must discover the healing power of unforgettable love

The day Lieutenant Matthew Foster departed for his so-called ‘tour’ in Vietnam, he never expected a sudden change in his itinerary would include an extended stay in the horrific Hanoi Hilton. Six years later, he’s finally released with the other POWs during Operation Homecoming. Unfortunately, his memories before his capture were erased by the complimentary torture provided by the hotel’s concierge. Due to prior facial injuries and the beard concealing his gauntness, he looks nothing like the boyish photo in his military file.

When the Army informs Matt he has a wife and he was mistakenly declared dead, he’s sure Abby must have made a new life for herself. He doubts the bitter man he’s become can salvage the boy she once cared for, so to be fair to her, he decides to simply write a note to wish her well and leave. But before he does, he can’t resist going to Redemption, PA, to catch a glimpse of the woman he’d loved enough to marry. 

The irony of the small town’s name is totally eclipsed by Matt’s dread that he’ll discover he’s lost something truly worth remembering. That fear becomes reality when he learns Abby is engaged, and he’s a daddy! Luckily, his wife doesn’t recognize him, so Matt could still walk away from the beautiful stranger who’s been starring in his X-rated dreams. However, he could never, ever abandon his sons.

The clock is ticking. Any day, the military will inform Abby he’s alive, and her wedding is in only six weeks. It doesn’t give Matt much time to discover if he can reclaim the love the war stole from him.

2 April 1973

Clark Air Force Base, Luzon Island in the Philippines

The streaked window of the base hospital magnified the afternoon sunshine, radiating its warmth across the bed with the intensity of a heat lamp. Lieutenant Mac McCartney swiped his finger over his plate and licked it, savoring the last of the spicy tomato sauce. He glanced at the captain sharing his semi-private room. “I may not be able to recall much about my life, but I’m now sure I liked lasagna—
a lot
.”

“If you like the food here, that proves you’ve been deprived,” the captain muttered, shoving his tray away.

“Amen.” A feminine voice drew their attention to the door where Mac zeroed in on a dynamite pair of legs. “I’m glad to see you’re cleaning your plate. You need the calories.”

He slid off the edge of his mattress and stood, letting his gaze wander over the woman’s long russet waves and centerfold curves. He wiped his mustache and beard with his napkin. “Everything tastes a lot better when you’ve got teeth.”

The day before, the dentist had finished the bridgework to replace the three incisors he’d been missing since he’d woken up over six years ago in the North Vietnamese POW camp with no memory.

Who was this woman? She was dressed way too nicely to be a nurse or an aide.

“Hello, Lieutenant, I’m Dr. Katherine Grant. I’m taking over your case.” The woman flashed a brilliant smile and extended her manicured hand. The heady scent of her perfume mingled with the antiseptic odor that, by all rights, should peel the institutional green paint from the walls. Apparently, the military got some sick sadistic pleasure from assigning a woman who looked and smelled like her to treat a sex-starved man.

He shook her hand, ashamed of his chauvinistic assumption. Why shouldn’t she be a doctor? “So how many of my two hundred and six bones did they break?”

She flipped through his chart. “You really should be asking which bones they
didn’t
break. All things considered, you’re in remarkably good physical condition. Although, your body isn’t why I’ve come to see you. I’m a psychiatrist.”

If they’d assigned a shrink to his case, they must have decided he was bonkers.

Recalling his rusty manners, he dragged the chair from the corner and placed it next to his bed.

Before seating herself, she pulled the curtain between him and his roommate. It was sort of ridiculous since there was no such thing as
privacy
in a semi-private room.

The doctor settled in the chair and crossed one stocking-encased knee over the other. “Seeing as you chose Paul McCartney as your name, I assume you like his music. Do you mind if I call you, Paul?”

 “Actually, I’ve been going by
Mac
.” He settled back onto the edge of the hospital bed.

“Okay, Mac. Can you tell me what you remember?”

“Everything except details about my life. I seem to know a lot about electrical and mechanical engineering as well as science—particularly biology and anatomy and physiology.”

“That explains why you know the exact number of bones in a human being.” She jotted down some notes on her yellow lined pad. “Anything else?”

“I have vague recollections of things that happened to me as a kid, and I have awful nightmares that I can’t remember after I wake up.” He also had vivid memories of sex, but no way would he tell her about them. “I remember having a sister.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “And the name, Abby.”