My Lucky Groom (Summer Grooms Series) (14 page)

“Should I open it?”

“I wish you would.”

Ventura slipped off the silky red ribbon then unwrapped the
pretty white package. She lifted the lid off the box, finding a cellophane-wrapped
fortune cookie nestled inside.

“What’s this?”

“Ventura Hart,” he said, meeting her eyes, “from the moment
I met you, I knew you were different. You made an impression on me the first
night we met and then again on the Metro. The funny thing is, I bet you didn’t
believe me when I said I had this.”

He pulled a small icon from his pocket and displayed it in
his palm. It was a real four-leaf clover, wrapped securely in clear scotch
tape.

“You weren’t kidding?” she asked, delighted.

“I found this when I was eight years old. It was the year
that Jenny was born. My parents were so happy then. Our whole world was golden.
That was before my mom got sick, and Dad lost his way.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, her heart aching for him.

“But that’s not why I’m telling you this. It’s not to bring
you down. It’s to assure you that my hanging on to this meant I understood this
sign was hopeful. I remember, Ventura, what a happy home life was like. I
always wanted that for myself, and now…” He paused a beat. “I want it with you.
We’re right for each other, you and I.
Two crazy,
superstitious people who, on the outside, appear so levelheaded and together.
But on the inside, we both want to believe in the same thing. That there’s
someone special out there for us, our missing other half.”

She looked down at the fortune cookie, a lump welling in her
throat. Richard nodded in encouragement and she ripped open the cellophane,
popping the tiny crescent apart. Her fingers trembled as they held the fortune
and she read it aloud.
“You are doomed to
be happy in wedlock.
I can’t believe that you found this,” she said,
meeting his eyes.

“I didn’t,” he replied with a soulful look. “I had it made.”

“You what?” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “But why?”

“You had it with you that day on the train. The fortune was
brittle. I could tell you’d had it for a while. Nobody carries something like
that around unless it means something to
them
. Now, I
know—to most folks—
doomed
might
sound like a bad thing…” His eyes sparkled. “But something tells me you didn’t
take it that way.”

“You really do know me,” she said, her voice cracking.

“All I’m asking for is the chance to get to know you better
—
for many more years to
come.”
H
e took a ring
box from his pocket and pried it open. “I want to do this right, Ventura. For
us to be a family.”

Ventura stared down at the gorgeous solitaire glistening in
the sunlight. “Richard, I can’t believe that you’d—”

“Believe it. Please believe it…” He plucked the ring from
its pillow and positioned it over her hand. “And then please say yes.” He dove
into her eyes and Ventura’s heart melted. “You can work anywhere in the world
you want,” he said. “At the end of each day, just promise you’ll come home to
us.”

She nodded, smiling through her tears, as he slid the ring on
her finger. “I promise,” she said in a shaky whisper.

Richard cradled her head in his hands, threading his fingers
through her hair. His mouth met hers, and it was sheer heaven. Everything she’d
longed for—his love, his sweetness and passion—came out in his
kiss.

Something knocked loudly from down below. “Hey! Can we come
up now?” It was Mary’s voice, calling from the hull.

“Wow,” Richard said with a laugh. “I’d nearly forgotten.” He
gave Ventura another peck on the lips and glanced at her ring finger. “You
won’t regret this,” he said, heading for the cabin door.

To her amazement, Richard opened it, and Mary and Jason
climbed up the ladder. Jason was carrying a big bag of Chinese food, as Ricky
and Elisa followed.

“I knew it!” Ventura proclaimed with a happy laugh. “I knew
I’d smelled pork lo
mein
!”

“Plus, extra fortune cookies,” Mary said with grin.

Jason glanced at Ventura’s finger,
then
gave Richard a way-to-go smile. Mary stepped onto the deck in high heels,
carting champagne. “I’m so happy for you, Ventura. The paper will go on without
you, but something tells me a family in Old Town can’t.”

Jason handed the bag of take-out to Richard, who held it toward
the others. “Anybody hungry?”

“Yeah!” Ricky and Elisa cried.

As Ventura started to extract take-out cartons from the
sack, the boat rocked.

“Here, let me help,” Richard said, thrusting his hand in the
bag.

“That’s all right. I’ve got it.”

“No, really!”

They both tugged at the bag, and it tore down the middle.
Cartons sloshed sideways and spilled open, drenching both of their life vests.
Ventura and Richard stared down at their soiled clothing and burst out
laughing.

“
Doomed
may be
right!” Richard said with a hoot.

Ventura hugged him tightly in spite of his messy apparel. “I
love you so much.”

He gazed down at her with adoring eyes. “I love you too.”

The kids bounded toward them with giddy hoots and hollers,
hugging them happily as well.

“What happened to Jason and Mary?” Ventura asked.

Richard motioned with his chin toward the bow of the ship,
where Mary and Jason stood engaged in a rapturous kiss. “I guess they were
inspired by the moment.”

“Yes.” Ventura studied Mary’s four-inch heels, thinking
she’d never learn how to dress for the outdoors.

Just then, a
motor boat
tore by,
kicking up wake and sending their sailboat rocking.

“Whoa… Oh!” Mary cried, clinging on to Jason when her
teetering heels began to
slide
.

“I’ve got ya,” he said, holding her fast. But then his
footing slipped as well. Ventura’s eyes went wide as the couple swayed first to
the left, then to the right. “Oooh! Whoa!” Then,
splash
!
They flipped over
the edge, resurfacing seconds later, bobbing about in their life vests. Mary sprayed
Jason with water, laughing heartily. “You look terrible!”

He splashed her back. “Your mascara’s running.”

“Oh no!” She raised her hand to her face in horror, wiping
black streaks from her cheeks.

“You know what?” Richard whispered to Ventura. “I’ll bet he
likes her better that way.”

“How do you know?” she answered with a laugh.

He jostled her in his arms, the kids still clinging tightly.
“That’s when I fell for you.”

“At the Tidal Basin?”

He nodded. “Both times.”

She grinned shyly, finally admitting the truth. In some
ways, Ventura felt like she’d been in love with this man forever. “I fell for you
way
before that.”

He sexily cocked an eyebrow. “Really?”

“On that very first night.”

His face warmed in a pleased expression. “I’m glad.”

Ventura glanced at Mary and Jason, still frolicking in the
water. “Should we help them back aboard?”

“In a minute,” Richard said, giving her a kiss.

Little Elisa looked up. “Does
this
mean you’re getting married?”

Ricky gazed up with a hopeful expression.

Ventura felt a smile tugging across her lips as she and
Richard prepared to answer together. “
Yes!
”
they shouted amid squeals and happy laughter.

“We love you, Ventura,” Elisa said.

She looked down at the little girl and her brother, who also
nodded.

“We really do,” Richard told her. “All of us do.”

Ventura held them tighter, fearing her heart might explode
from the sheer joy of the moment. She was doomed to an eternity of happiness,
and had been destined all along to become a part of this family. She
absolutely, positively believed it. While she’d never precisely been lucky, her
fortunes had begun to change the moment she’d met Richard. He’d brought luck
and love and laughter into her life, and she planned to spend the rest of hers
letting him and his wonderful kids know how much she adored them.

“Oh, Elisa, Ricky, Richard,” she said with a sigh, “I love
all of you back.”

The End

A Note from the Author

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My Lucky
Groom
. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please help other people find
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