Page 71 of Summer Weddings
It felt so good to be in his arms again. She hadn’tintendedto kiss him right there on the sidewalk with half of Anchorage looking on, but she couldn’t stop herself. Charles O’Halloran was solid and handsome and strong—and he was hers.
His mouth found Lanni’s and her objections, her doubts, her misery, all melted away. She hardly heard the traffic, hardly noticed the smiling passersby.
Slowly Charles lowered her to the ground. He dragged in a giant breath; so did she. “When it comes to you, Lanni,” he whispered, “I haven’t got a bit of self-control.”
They clasped hands and began walking. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“We have to go somewhere?” he teased.
Lanni leaned her head against his shoulder. “No, but dinner would be nice. I’m starved.”
“Me, too, but I’m even more starved for you.”
Lanni smiled softly. “I’m dying to hear what came of the lawyer’s visit to Hard Luck. What’s this about Mariah being the one who’s filing the lawsuit? I don’t know her well, but I can’t see her doing that.”
“I’ll explain everything later,” he promised, sliding his arm around her, keeping her close to his side.
“All I can say is that Christian deserves whatever he gets. He’s been so impatient with her.”
Charles’s eyes met Lanni’s, then crinkled in silent amusement. “Whose side are you on in this fiasco?”
“Yours,” she said promptly. “It’s just that I find it all rather…entertaining.”
“Is that a fact?” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Christian’s convinced we’re in a damned-if-we-do and damned-if-we-don’t situation.”
“Really?” Her eyes held his. This could well be more serious than it sounded. “Is Midnight Sons in legal trouble?”
Charles held open the door of her favorite Chinese restaurant. “I don’t know. Frankly, it’s not my problem. Sawyer and Christian are the ones who came up with this brilliant plan to bring women to Hard Luck. I’m sure that between them they’ll come up with a solution.”
They were promptly seated and the waiter took their order. “Don’t look so worried,” Charles said, reaching across the table to take her hand. “As far as I’m concerned, this is a tempest in a teacup. Mariah’s parents are the ones who started this, so I suggested we let Mariah work this out with them. Her father doesn’t want to ruin Midnight Sons—all he really cares about is making sure his daughter’s safe.”
“I’d say Mariah can look after herself very well indeed. She’s bright and responsible and—”
“Christian might not agree with you, but I do.”
A smile stole across Lanni’s features. “You’re going to be a very good husband, Charles O’Halloran.”
For long moments they simply gazed at each other. To Lanni, there was no better man than Charles. Of all the women in the world, he’d chosen to marryher—but then, she was convinced their falling in love had been no accident.
“I talked to your mother,” she said, suddenly remembering the lengthy conversation she’d had with Ellen Greenleaf.Ellen had remarried a couple of years ago and was now living in British Columbia.
“And?”
“And she’s absolutely delighted that you came to your senses and proposed.”
“I proposed?” he repeated, his eyebrows raised. “Seems to me it was the other way around.”
“Does it really matter who asked whom?” she said in mock disgust. “The important thing is I love you and you love me.”
Charles grew serious. “I do love you.”
Lanni would never doubt him. Slowly he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. The action was both sensual and endearing.
“Does your grandmother know about us?” Charles asked.
Lanni shook her head. “Her health has deteriorated in the last few weeks. Half the time, Grammy doesn’t even recognize Mom. Apparently she slips in and out of consciousness. The doctors…don’t expect her to live much longer.”
Charles frowned and his eyes were sad. “I’m sorry, Lanni.”
