Dangerous Love (29 page)

Ken sighed with relief and accepted the handshakes and slaps on the back. Faith was waiting for him when left the den. She searched his face, looping an arm around his. “You okay?”

“I thought I was going to talk to your father, not the entire clan.”

She chuckled. “Those were just some of the uncles.”

Meeting her family was nerve-racking. Most were local, but the out-of-towners were from all over the place. He had yet to meet her half-brothers, but she had introduced him to her stepmother Jacqueline and Kara, a pretty, sweet woman engaged to her cousin Baron. Then there were twins from Montana, one a pro baseball player and the other a Bureau man.

“Was it really so bad?” Faith asked.

“Eddie already talked to them, but they wanted to hear my version of events, if I planned to continue running my security company or join my father. I told them what I told you last night. I’ll help my sister run the company by telecommuting as a chief security officer while keeping my obligations to my team.”

“Except for the next two months,” she reminded him.

Ken chuckled. “They didn’t need to know that.”

Faith hugged him. “No, they didn’t. Sorry you had to go through that, baby. But it’s over. Uncle Ronan told me. Wait here. I need to tell the uncles dinner is ready.”

She walked back to the den, knocked, and disappeared inside. Seeing her so happy filled him with something he hadn’t felt in a long time, peace. She didn’t mind the fact that he’d be gone the next two months either. San Diego was close enough for them to fly back and forth.

“There you are,” Jade Fitzgerald said, cutting into his thoughts. “You should already be seated, guest of honor. Where is Faith?”

“She went to tell your uncles dinner was ready. Guest of honor?”

Jade chuckled, her hazel eyes twinkling. “Yep. Uncle Ronan gave everyone the news. Welcome to the family.”

They hugged. The last time he saw her, her stomach was flat. A bump was now visible. “Thank you, and congratulations.”

She patted her stomach and giggled. “I’m beginning to show, aren’t I? That’s what happens with you carry more than one. Twins run in our family, so be prepared.”

Before he could respond, her husband Vince joined them. He congratulated Ken but he was distracted by his wife. “Sweetheart, you are supposed to rest and put your feet up.”

“I’m pregnant, sweetie, not on my deathbed.” She gave him a lingering kiss then sighed. “Besides, I didn’t cook. This is my way of helping. Ken, tell Faith I’ve notified the group in the theater,” she added.

“Since you insist on helping, I’ll carry you to wherever you wish to go.” Vince scooped up his pregnant wife, who giggled and gave him another kiss.

Ken was still watching them and imagining Faith carrying their child, when she rejoined him. He kissed her, taking his time and not caring that her father might walk out of the den and find them.

“What was that for?” she asked when he let her up.

“I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he said.

Laughing, she led him down the long hallway, past closed doors, to the dining room. Faith had given him a tour earlier. The stucco house was built more like a resort than a home. It had numerous bedrooms, a great room, home theater, indoor and outdoor kitchens with wet bars, a vanishing edge pool, acres of vineyard with a small distillery, equestrian facility, and an arena. It even had a creek and a pond.

 
The dining room had two long tables packed with food, each with place-settings for twelve. An arched doorway connected the room to the kitchen, where more food vied for space on the L-shaped counter.

The Fitzgeralds, old and young ones, poured inside. From the ones who had been playing pool in the rec room to the ones from the patio, pool, and the horse stalls. The majority of them came from the home theater, where they’d been watching football. The older ones settled in the dining room, while the younger ones headed to the kitchen.

“Our family traditional Thanksgiving is more like an Irish Christmas dinner,” Faith whispered to Ken as they settled in their seats. “There’s turkey and stuffing of course, roast and mashed potatoes, gravy with giblets, butternut squash soup, marrowfat peas, carrot in lemon butter, and cranberry sauce. For dessert, we have chocolate bread pudding with custard, Bailey’s Irish Cream cupcakes and pumpkin pie. For drinks, we have Guinness and lager, and of course wine from Aunt Viv’s distillery.”

Conversation revolved around sports, from college teams, which some of the younger ones played for, to professional ones. They had a few pros in the family too. No one brought up Sean, not even Vivian, who was seated on Ken’s right at the head of the table.

“I expect you two to see Father O’Malley for counseling,” Aunt Viv said firmly to Faith and Ken before they left.

“Of course, Aunt Viv.”

Ken nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Now that’s settled.” Vivian reached inside a bag, pulled out an envelope and handed to Faith. “Lex inherited this along with a bunch of other papers from your Uncle Aaron. I thought you might want to see it.” She shook Ken’s hand. “Be good to her or you’ll be getting a visit from me.”

Ken didn’t respond, but moving his offices crossed his mind. On the other hand, he could put up with all the Aunt Vivs of this world for Faith.

As they left the Santa Rosa vineyard and headed toward Charles M. Schulz Airport, Faith turned on the light above them, opened the manila envelope, and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

“What is it?” Ken asked when she kept staring at it.

“The DNA paternity test Uncle Aaron did. I guess I’m a Fitzgerald after all.”

There was hope for Viv Fitzgerald after all, Ken decided. He smiled when Faith slipped the certificate back in the envelope and rested her head on his shoulder with a gentle sigh.

EPILOGUE

It was chaotic behind the runway for Falasha Fashions, but it was the nice kind. Faith’s decision to hire Jennifer Larson had paid off. The hairstylist and her team were efficient and ingenious. They had sleeked the models’ hair back, giving them a wet look on the front and straight dry hair in the back, so the hair wouldn’t distract. The make-up team had gone for grays and silver around the eyes, adding depth and mystery, and a burst of colors on the lips to gel with the bold colors of her collection. The look was dramatic.

Faith kept an eye on the models leaving for the catwalk as she helped the others change. Her heart pounded with nervous excitement, keeping in rhythm with the pulsing classic rock tunes she’d chosen for the night.

Who knew her show would be sold out because of a series of articles detailing her nightmare with Sean. She ended up getting a bigger venue for her show and an after party in the ballroom of a local hotel. The entire front row was packed with fashion editors, retailers, stylists to the stars, her family, Barbara and her girls, and of course, Ken and Gemma Frost, her godmother.

Just thinking about Ken made Faith less nervous. The things that man had done for her. Not only did he find Gemma, he paid for her trip to New York, arranged for her to stay at their hotel, and got them together last night for dinner.

“Final walk,” her new assistant reminded her.

“Thank you.” Faith headed toward the runway. She waited until the last model left before she stepped in the spotlight.

The music slowly faded away as the applause rose to a deafening roar and high-speed cameras clicked. She smiled and waved, blew a kiss to her family. Her gaze connected with Ken’s.

He bowed, paying homage to her. Smiling, Faith turned and left the runaway. The models were already changing into their own clothes. Most of them had others shows or were attending after parties. Her teams started packing while Faith got mobbed by editors and retailers. Cards were pressed in her hand. Congratulatory pats rained on her back, and the hugs from editors she only knew by reputation humbled her.

But her best moment took place many, many hours later after the glitz and the party was over and everyone had retired to their hotel rooms. She snuggled in her fiancé’s arms.

 
“Thank you for making today possible,” she whispered in the dark.

He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m the talented one. Elegant yet edgy, sexy, and unique. I don’t think those words describe me or anything I did.”

“Actually they do. You are amazing.”

He chuckled. “Then my plan is working.”

“What plan?”

“To make you the happiest woman alive.”

He already did.

THE END

EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She finished her PhD in chemistry, married the love of her life, and decided to be a stay-at-home mother. She now lives in a picturesque valley in Utah with her husband, five children and two American short-hair cats. When she is not writing, you can find her doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah writes adult romance under the pseudonym E. B. Walters. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Book 2, MINE UNTIL DAWN, was released in July 2011. KISS ME CRAZY, book 3 in the series followed three months later.

When she is not writing adult romance, Ednah writes YA fantasy books. Her series, The Guardian Legacy, is about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the first YA fantasy book in The Guardian Legacy series, was released in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book two in the series, will be re-issued by my new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012. She’s currently working on book 3, HUNTED, which will be released later in 2012.