Secret Vows (Hideaway (Kimani)) (21 page)

Slipping out of her running shoes, Greer placed them in a corner. “I can’t wait to see the horses.”

Crossing the room, Jason cradled her face. “You can use the bathroom first.”

Going on tiptoe, she kissed him. “I won’t be long.”

Twenty minutes later she emerged from the bathroom in a pair of cotton pajamas. Greer had packed pajamas because she was uncertain whether she would have to share a bedroom with someone other than Jason. “I left you some hot water,” she teased when he patted her softly on her bottom.

“Don’t wait up for me.”

Greer doubted whether she would be able to keep her eyes open even if Jason had asked her to stay awake. She dimmed the lamp on Jason’s side of the bed and slipped under the lace-trimmed sheet and feather quilt. Within minutes of her head touching the pillow, she was asleep.

* * *

Greer descended the staircase, slowing when she saw a petite raven-haired woman staring up at her. They were similarly dressed in jeans and flats. Greer had turned back the cuffs on her man-tailored shirt.

“Good morning,” she said in greeting, continuing her descent. As she came closer, she knew intuitively the woman was Jason’s twin sister. They had the same black curly hair, large golden-brown eyes and olive complexion. She extended her hand. “I’m Greer Evans.”

* * *

Smiling, dimples deepening, Ana studied the woman who’d succeeded where so many had failed with her brother. She held out her arms and wasn’t disappointed when Greer hugged her. “And I’m Ana Cole Jones.” Easing back, she reached for Greer’s left hand.
“¡Mierda!”
She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry about that,” she apologized. “I know my brother didn’t pick this without some help.”

Light from the chandelier reflected off the blue and white prisms in the diamonds. “We picked it out together.”

“I knew it because Jason hates shopping. Your ring is ab-so-lute-ly gorgeous.” She’d drawn the word out into four distinct syllables. Ana looped her arm through Greer’s. “Come with me and I’ll introduce you to my cousin Celia, and Nicholas’s mother and fiancée. You’ll meet the men later. They’re probably sleeping in because some of them had an impromptu bachelor party over at Blackstone Farms. Nicholas said they were drinking moonshine. He decided not to join them because he knew he had to meet your flight.”

* * *

Greer felt the nervous energy radiating from her future sister-in-law. She gave her a sidelong glance, marveling how much she resembled the photographs of her Cuban-born grandmother. She walked into the dining room with Ana, her gaze sweeping over the occupants. The older woman with stylishly coiffed gray hair had to be Nicholas’s mother, and the woman sitting next to her had to be Celia. She looked like a delicate doll with large dark eyes, pert nose, full lips and a mop of black hair framing her café au lait complexion.

“Everyone,” Ana announced, “this is Greer Evans, my future sister-in-law. Greer, the lady with the perfect hair is Nichola, Nicholas’s mother. The
chica
on her right is her daughter Celia. And the blonde who keeps telling everyone she’s not experiencing any premarital jitters is Peyton Blackstone.”

Greer found herself surrounded as the three women complimented her on her ring while welcoming her into the family. “Thank you. I feel like a Cole even before I marry Jason.”

“How and where did you meet Jason?” Celia asked.

Nichola gave her daughter a pointed look. “Let the child get something to eat before you begin to interrogate her.”

Greer smiled at the older woman with not only perfect hair but who was also elegantly dressed in a pale blue raw silk suit and Ferragamo pumps. “I just want some coffee right now.” A coffee urn and chafing dishes were set up on a buffet server.

Ana took charge. “Sit down, Greer. I’ll bring you a plate. How do you like your coffee?”

“Light with one sugar.”

“Could you please bring me a cup, too?” Peyton asked.

“No coffee for you,” Ana and Celia chorused.

A blush darkened Peyton’s palomino-gold face. The added color made her large cool-gray eyes and natural ash-blonde hair appear lighter. “I usually add lots of milk.”

Celia shook her head. “No coffee. I know you don’t want your baby born with a caffeine addiction.”

Peyton rested a hand over her flat belly. “I don’t know why, but I’m craving coffee.”

“The first three months of my pregnancy, I couldn’t tolerate the smell of brewing coffee,” Celia admitted.

Ana set a plate of scrambled eggs, home fries, turkey bacon and beef sausage in front of Greer. “If I could have a baby without experiencing cravings, morning sickness, swollen ankles or not being able to bend over to tie up my shoes, I’d have a dozen of them.”

Celia met Ana’s eyes. “If you eliminate salt, then you won’t retain fluid.”

“Thank you, Dr. Faulkner. Which one are you? Dr. Faulkner or Cole-Thomas?” Ana asked.

Celia gave her a facetious smile. “It’s still Cole-Thomas. Cole-Thomas is on my medical license, so I see no need to change it. What about you, Greer? Are you going to be Greer Cole or Greer Evans Cole?”

“I’ll probably drop Evans.”

Nichola took a sip of tea. “It makes it a lot easier for your children if they don’t have a hyphenated surname. My mother-in-law insisted on retaining her maiden name when she married, so Timothy was saddled with Cole-Thomas.”

Celia glared at her mother. “Please, Mom. Don’t start in on
Abuela
.”

Nichola put down her cup so hard it rattled on the saucer. “I don’t understand my children. They invariably defend their grandmother at every turn.”

“Mom, don’t be so melodramatic,” Celia said when Nichola stood up and stalked out of the dining room. Puffing out her cheeks, Celia blew out a breath. “Peyton, Greer, you’ve just witnessed the family drama queen in all of her spectacular glory.”

Ana sat down next to Greer. “I love Nichola, but there are times when I can’t deal with her theatrics.”

“That’s because Daddy entertains the theatrics,” Celia added.

Peyton waved a hand. “Can we please drop this topic? I’m carrying Nichola’s grandchild, and I’d like my son or daughter to have a positive relationship with their grandmother.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Peyton. My mother is a very good mother and an even better grandmother. It’s just that she refuses to get along with
Abuela
.”

“Greer, how did you meet my brother?” Ana asked, deftly shifting the topic of conversation.

She told them about waiting tables at Stella’s and Jason asking her to make a demo tape after hearing her sing on Karaoke Night. Celia asked if she was waiting tables so she would be available to go on auditions.

“No. I’m a former schoolteacher. I’m working at the restaurant to help out my uncle.”

“Do you plan to return to the classroom?” Peyton asked.

“No,” she repeated. “I’m going to eventually run my uncle’s restaurant.”

Ana gave Greer a long, intense stare. “You and Jason are not going to have a bicoastal marriage.” The question was a statement.

Greer smiled. “No. We’re going to live in Oregon.”

Ana smothered a curse. “I don’t mean to beat up on you, Greer, but when was my brother going to tell me this?”

“Tell you what?” Jason asked, walking into the dining room. He made a beeline to Greer, leaning down and brushing a kiss over her parted lips. “Good morning, babe.”

She touched his arm, smiling. “Good morning.” He looked shockingly virile in a white T-shirt, relaxed jeans and running shoes. He hadn’t shaved and his hair was still damp from a shower.

Jason rounded the table, kissing Celia and then Peyton. “I’m Jason,” he said, introducing himself. “Congratulations on the baby and welcome to the family.” He kissed Ana, ruffling her hair. “Hey, kid.”

“When were you going to tell me that you plan to move to Oregon?” Ana questioned.

He stood up straight, heading for the buffet server. “I don’t have to move because I already have a home there. I plan to make it my permanent base because Greer is involved with her family’s business.”

“What about Serenity, Jason?” Ana asked her twin.

“Nothing’s going to change, Ana. I’ll still be involved. What I’m going to do is ask Diego to release Graham so he can assist you on the business end.”

Ana shook her head. “I don’t think he’s going to go for it. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve asked Diego if I could hire him.”

Jason filled his plate with eggs, sausage and potatoes. “Don’t worry about it, Ana. I’ll take care of Diego.”

“How are you taking care of me?”

All eyes focused on the tall, powerfully built man with cropped gray-flecked hair, deep-set dark eyes in a lean face the color of cured tobacco.

“
Buenos días, primo,
” Jason said, smiling. “How’s the head?”

Diego held his head with both hands. “Don’t ask.” He made his way on shaking legs to a chair. “Cee Cee, would you please bring your big brother a cup of black coffee?”

Celia pushed back her chair. “This is a first. The almighty powerful CEO of Cole-Diz humbling himself to beg for coffee.”

Diego glared at his sister. “I’m not begging. I merely asked you to bring me coffee.”

Jason sat down next to Greer, their shoulders touching. “Diego, once your vision clears, I’d like to introduce you to my fiancée, Greer Evans.”

Diego’s gaze shifted to the woman sitting next to Jason. “You’re engaged? When?”

“Last week. And do you know what I want for a wedding gift?”

“I’ll give you anything you want,” Diego said as he closed his eyes.

“I want you to release Graham now so he can work for Serenity.”

Diego opened his eyes and gingerly shook his head. “Come on, Jason. I’d give you anyone but Graham.”

Jason obviously decided to push his agenda. “Graham is the only one with a music and business background. Serenity needs him on the East Coast because I’m making Oregon my permanent home.”

* * *

Diego stared at Greer for the first time, seeing why his younger cousin was so smitten. Greer was youthfully beautiful. The natural reddish highlights in her hair reminded him of Jason’s mother’s. It was the same with her gold-flecked eyes. It was apparent Jason was marrying a woman who looked a lot like Serena Cole.

“Does Greer have anything to do with your decision to live in Oregon?”

“Diego!” Ana and Celia admonished at the same time.

Jason and Diego engaged in what had become a stare-down. “Yes, she does.”

Taking a sip of the strong black coffee Celia had placed in front of him, Diego slumped back in his chair. “Okay, Jason. You can have Graham.”

Ana jumped up and hugged Diego. “Thank you.”

He pushed her away. “Cee Cee, can you give me something for my headache?”

“It’s not a headache, brother love. It’s called a hangover.”

Diego stood, cursing under his breath in Spanish as he left the dining room.

* * *

Greer watched, taking everything in.

“I told him not to drink that stuff,” Peyton said, struggling not to laugh. “He told me it couldn’t be that bad because Ryan and Jeremy had downed a few shots.”

Jason swallowed a mouthful of eggs. “What did he drink?”

“It’s my cousin’s so-called specially blended bourbon. It’s stronger than the liniment I use on horses.”

Jason angled his head. “I think I want to sample this specially blended concoction.”

Greer clicked her tongue against her teeth. “If you get toasted, then don’t expect me to bring you coffee.” Everyone laughed as Ana, Greer and Celia exchanged high-five handshakes.

She hadn’t officially married Jason, yet she felt a connection with the Coles as if she’d known them for years.

When asked about her wedding, Peyton said, “I decided on a less-than-formal wedding because I know Nicholas and I have to do this again in December. By that time, I have to go through several fittings because of the baby.”

“Had you and Nicky planned this baby?” Celia asked.

“No. We had what I call an ‘oopsie’ moment. I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I was in the hospital after my crazy, druggy ex tried to gut me in front of more than a hundred people. The doctors ran several tests, and when they told me I was pregnant, I nearly fainted because, if Reggie hadn’t been shot midattack, he would’ve been responsible for taking not one but two lives.”

Greer closed her eyes for a moment. It looked as if she wasn’t the only one with a crazy ex-husband bent on murdering his wife. And if Peyton’s ex had succeeded, then Peyton wouldn’t be here preparing to marry a man that would join not only two families but also two horse farms.

Celia smiled. “That’s what you get for sleeping with a Cole man. All they have to do is look at you and you’ll find yourself
swole
up.”

“Word,” Ana drawled. “Look at Michael and Jolene. What is this? Their fourth or fifth?” She smiled at Greer. “I wouldn’t mind another niece or nephew, but if you’re relying on Jason to protect you, then you better think about taking a contraceptive.”

“I agree,” Celia concurred. “If you need a prescription for the pill I’ll write you one.”

Peyton doubled over in laughter. “Y’all ain’t right.”

Celia pointed a finger at her. “If we’re not right, then why are you
swole?
”

Peyton wrinkled her nose. “Is
swole
a real word?”

“Yes,” chorused Greer, Ana and Celia.

The women continued to trade jokes, laughing uncontrollably until Gavin Faulkner and Jacob Jones stumbled into the dining room, heading for the coffee urn. They looked worse than Diego, and if the situation wasn’t so pathetic, Greer would’ve laughed.

She could never understand why bachelor parties translated into excess when it wasn’t that way with bachelorette parties. She wondered how Jason would fare when it came time for his rite of passage from a single guy to a married man. Hopefully he would exercise more self-control and not overindulge.

She sobered inwardly when she thought about Ana and Celia warning her about an unplanned pregnancy because she didn’t want to experience an oops moment with Jason. So far she’d relied on him to protect her but that couldn’t continue indefinitely. Once they returned to Mission Grove, Greer planned to see an ob-gyn.