Authors: Linda Cajio

Night Music (20 page)

BOOK: Night Music

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He lifted his head. “I thought I got that last night.”

“Basic sustenance.” She grew serious. “Jane and Jeremy are taking over the business here. I’m going to open a branch store and catering business. In Wildwood.”

He stared at her in astonishment. “But I thought we were going to move halfway between the businesses.”

“It would never have worked.”

“We’ve got to do something about your optimism,” he said.

She laughed. “I believe I just did. The business here is doing well, and Jane and Jeremy have the know-how and the contacts. I think the branch will be adventurous—”

“And I thought you were doing it for love.”

“And fun.”

He stopped dancing and pulled her to him, kissing her soundly. Everyone at the reception applauded.

“I love you,” he said, when he finally raised his head.

She smiled through her tears. “Not as much as I love you.”

“We could debate that forever.”

“I intend to.”

He chuckled, and twirled her around the dance floor.

After the requisite dance, they joined his family. Lettice and Marsh were surrounded by her grandchildren. Dev tolerated the kidding from his relatives and his grandmother’s exceptionally smug expression. He acknowledged they weren’t a bad bunch as a family. A little misguided as to the finer things in life, but not bad.

“Look at her,” he said, pointing to Lettice. “She thinks she played matchmaker again.”

“I did,” Lettice said.

Everyone burst into laughter, except for Marsh, who looked completely bewildered.

“No, you didn’t,” Ellen Kitteridge-Carlini said. “We arranged
you
this time.”

“That’s right,” said Anne Kitteridge-Farraday, laughing gleefully. “Catherine called a family meeting after your last stunt.”

“We gave you the idea of Hilary for Dev,” Susan Kitteridge-St. Jacques added.

“Dev and Hilary agreed to go along with the arrangement to get you and Marsh together,” Susan’s brother, Rick, said, grinning at his grandmother.

“And you fell for it!” Miles said, laughing.

“We’re really sorry you were the victim,” Dev said to Marsh.

Marsh shrugged. “She grows on you after a while.”

“Are you all done being proud of yourselves?” Lettice asked. Everyone laughed more loudly until
she added, “I would like to remind you that we are at Devlin and Hilary’s wedding.”

“A technicality,” Dev said.

“A major coup,” Lettice corrected him, “considering how tough a nut you were to crack. That’s why I left you for last. For a long time I thought Hilary was perfect for you … and for a long time I’ve wanted to make things up with Marsh.” She smiled at her husband, then the smile became sly as she turned back to her grandchildren. “You don’t honestly think James’s grandmother pulled Marsh’s name out from thin air, do you? I’ve been expecting you all to take revenge for some time. Lavinia was primed for months.”

Everyone gaped at her.

“And it certainly took you long enough!” she added in clear disgust. “I thought you’d never figure it out!”

Miles’s wife, Catherine, was the first to find her voice. “She’s trying to make herself look good, now that it’s over.”

“Forget it,
chère
” Susan’s husband, Remy, said.

“No way,” Ellen’s husband, Joe, and Anne’s husband, James, said together.

Rick’s wife, Jill, just shook her head.

“I have always ‘helped’ you find love and happiness, because I had lost mine,” Lettice said, patting Marsh’s hand. “I wasn’t brave enough to keep it. This does not take away from your grandfather or Marsh’s wife. They were wonderful people and we loved them. But you almost never get a second chance in a lifetime. Thanks to your being led down the garden path—and you all went the right way—I’ve now got mine.”

Everyone was silent for a long minute, until Dev
finally said, “Right, and next you’ll have a bridge to sell me.”

“There is this one …” Lettice began.

The family started laughing.

“At least she’s done,” someone said.

“There’s always the great-grandchildren,” Lettice reminded them.

“No!”

Lettice smiled.

The Editor’s Corner

Welcome to Loveswept!

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb
, and so do our Loveswept romances, enticing stories ready to seduce you all month long. Take a look at this list!

Just One Night
finishes up Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series featuring Sam Compton, the hero we’ve all been waiting for. New York’s hottest “sexpert,” Riley McKenna, has been living a lie, and it’s up to one man to keep her honest … all night long.
Dream It
introduces a new hot series by Jennifer Chance with the tale of a smoldering rocker and the fangirl who catches his eye. And
Third Degree
, Julie Cross’s new Flirt release, is one you don’t want to miss in the new adult coming-of-age scene. Marshall Collins gives Izzy Jenkins all the normalcy she’s looking for while Izzy teaches Marshall a thing or two of her own.

Classic Loveswept romances are back, too, and this month Sandra Chastain’s
Adam’s Outlaw
and
The Runaway Bride
top the list, followed by Fran Baker’s
San Antonio Rose
. And don’t miss Linda Cajio’s delightful
Night Music
, coming on the heels of Karen Leabo’s suspenseful and spirited
Witchy Woman
. Deborah Harmse’s charming and warmly passionate romance,
A Man to Believe in
, will touch your heart, and
New York Times
bestselling author Iris Johansen’s rerelease of
Satin Ice
continues with the Delaney family saga.

Last but not least, always a favorite of ours,
New York Times
bestselling author Connie Brockway sweeps us back to Victorian England with her enchanting stories
Bridal Favors
and
Bridal Season
.

Let Loveswept warm you on those cold winter nights.

~Happy Romance!