Brown Eyed Girl (44 page)

“
Aw, Doc,” Red groaned, holding tight to his sobbing wife.

Vivienne left her husband’s side to collect her daughter in law. “Come on dear, let’s go have some girl talk,” she said as the women all disappeared down the hall into the master bedroom.

Red furrowed his brow, confused as ever as he watched his wife disappear into their bedroom. He felt his father’s reassuring hand on his shoulder and looked up at him. “Is that a normal reaction?”

Pete McAllister grinned knowingly. “Oh, it may be for a while, but believe me…it’ll pass, son.” He turned away from Red to hide his grin. “It always passes.”

Chapter 21

Red and Tiffany’s nuptial celebration was a simple affair, at Tiffany’s request. The only items that had been added to the traditional Christmas decor that graced the altar of the church were several more poinsettia plants. There were no bridesmaids, no maid of honor, no flower girl or ring bearer at the church wedding that included family, close friends and co-workers of both Red and Tiffany.

There was just Daniel, dressed in his own black tuxedo walking his daughter Tiffany down the aisle to Red, who was also handsomely dressed in his own black tuxedo. She arrived in front of him in the simple, but elegantly cut gown of ivory satin with her hair pulled up and her curls strategically escaping from their loose binding. Daniel kissed his daughter gently and handed her over to Red, who shook his hand and thanked him.

Red turned to Tiffany. “You take my breath away.”

She smiled tenderly at him as they both turned to Father Mitch. There, before everyone who meant anything to them at all, Tiffany and Red were joined in
holy
matrimony.

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Red’s new club, again thanks to Tiffany’s simple, but elegant tastes, was beautifully decorated, even though it lacked the usual fuss and fluff of so many weddings these days. The food, provided by a catering service, was delicious and artfully displayed, the champagne was high quality, and the music was Red’s D.J., playing every song that the couple had chosen together. Brandon had offered the services of his band, but Tiffany flatly refused, insisting this night was for family to
enjoy,
and he was under strict orders to dance with his wife the entire night. The couple had each chosen a song to dedicate to their spouse. Red smiled when the D.J. announced the bride’s choice for her husband— “This Love,” by LeAnn Rimes.

“
This song brings back some pretty good memories for me,” she told him as they spun gracefully around the dance floor.

“
Mmmm…our first time in the shower,” Red said mischievously. “You made an excellent choice, as usual. Have I told you how breathtaking you are today, my wife?”

“
I believe you have, my husband. It’s quite a change from me walking around the house with no make-up, jeans, and sneakers, isn’t it?”

“
You always take my breath away—
especially
with no make-up and dressed in your running gear.” He nuzzled her neck. “Sing to me, Mrs. McAllister.”

They spent the rest of the song lost in the moment and totally oblivious to anyone else in the room, as Tiffany sang sweetly into her husband’s ear. She ended the song with a tender kiss.

They stood motionless as the D.J. made an announcement. “Okay folks, I have to admit, I’m not quite sure what this is all about, but the groom has dedicated this one to his lovely bride.” All was quiet in the room when the marching drums started and Tiffany looked at Red in utter confusion. When the flute and piccolo part started up and the opening notes of
The Yellow Rose of Texas
began, Tiffany’s mouth flew open.

“
Red McAllister...you did
not
!” she cried.

He stood there—his arms spread, with a huge grin on his face. “Baby, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

Melissa and Bailey both screamed with laughter when they recognized the song. “The tattoo!” they cried out, in unison.

“
Spring break in Panama City!” Melissa yelled at Tiffany.

“
Somebody break out the te-qui-la!” Bailey threw in.

Both women turned and touched a finger to a spot just above their right butt cheeks causing the crowd, along with the bride and groom, to erupt in laughter. Tiffany, willing to play along, turned her back to the crowd and leaned over as Red pointed out the exact spot where her tattoo was located. Then he looked up, nodded at the spectators, winked, and gave the crowd a big thumbs-up while they laughed and burst into applause. Tiffany’s cheeks flushed only slightly with embarrassment, and Red, having teased her enough for one day, asked the D.J. to cut the song.

“
Yellow rose tattoos aside,” the D.J. announced, “here’s the
real
dedication song from the groom to his bride.” The familiar opening notes of Van Morrison’s
Brown Eyed Girl
began.

“
Now,
that’s
more like it, mister!” Tiffany said to her husband as she put her hand out to him as they began to jitter-bug around the dance floor, to the crowd’s delight.

Later, Tiffany was speaking to Carrie and Giselle when her husband walked up and placed both hands softly on her waist.

“
Excuse me ladies, but could I steal my wife for a dance?”

Tiffany beamed as Red whisked her off into a slow waltz to John Michael Montgomery singing
Hold on To Me.
She dropped her head back as she murmured in appreciation. “Hmm...Now
this
song brings back some interesting memories.”

Red nuzzled her neck. “For me too—our last dance at Jackson and Giselle’s wedding reception. It was all good, right up until that slap.” He rubbed the side of his face for show.

She smiled at him and kissed the cheek that had once worn her handprint for the entire afternoon. “I was talking about the first time I spent the night at the ranch, when neither of us could sleep. I walked into your office, and you were sitting there, all shirtless
and buff…looking so damn sexy and playing this on your guitar. I was mesmerized.”

“
You thought I looked sexy?” He kissed the tip of her nose.

“
Oh God, you looked so good, I could have attacked you.” She rubbed her hands over his broad chest and wished they were alone in the room.

Red’s groan rumbled deep in his throat. “I wouldn’t have stopped you, that’s for sure. Every time I closed my eyes I pictured you in that damned Jacuzzi tub. Every time I dozed off, I woke up wanting you so badly.”

“
Wanting me?” She traced a nail softly over his lips and chin.

“
Oh yeah. Why the hell did you think I had my shirt off?”

“
I don’t know but it was freezing that night.”

“
Not to me—I was on fire. It was almost unbearable having you under my roof and not being able to do all the things I wanted to do to you. If you’d only agreed to the damn skinny dipping,” he said, causing her to chuckle. “I love you Mrs. McAllister.”

“
I love you too, Mr. McAllister. Sing it to me now?”

They continued dancing as Red sang lowly into her ear. When the song was over, he pulled her close to him. “I can’t wait to get you home, you know.”

“
I know, but we have some gifts to open first,” she said.

He dropped his head back in frustration. “We have to open those
here
? I thought we’d get to take them home and open them all later.”

“
No, we have to do it here, babe. Your mom says it’s a McAllister family tradition.”

“
Aw man, why can’t we start our own family tradition?”

“
Stop whining, Red. Come on, it won’t take that long...there are just a couple of dozen from people who didn’t attend the shower or have gifts delivered.” She pulled him over to the gift table and enlisted Melissa and Bailey’s help to write down everything that was given and by whom so they’d have a list for thank you cards.

They went through the gifts rather quickly and got down to the last gift on the table. Tiffany picked it up to study it. “There’s one left, but the only thing the tag says is ‘To be opened by Red’—so here you go. You get to open this one.” She handed him the box and stepped away.

It was a square, flat box, wrapped in white ribbons. He pulled the ribbons away from it and took the lid off. There was a layer of cotton on top and he removed it carefully, curious about what was underneath. He looked closely at the contents, gently nudging one, then another, then another of the three items inside. He covered the box and looked to his left for Tiffany and didn’t see her, then he looked to his right and didn’t see her. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see his wife standing behind him, beaming up at him.

“
Are you serious? Can it happen this quickly?” he asked in amazement.

“
I think I’ve married into a very virile family,” she murmured letting him pull her into his arms for a kiss.

“
What is it?” someone yelled from the back.

Red reluctantly let go of his wife and turned to the crowd. He lifted the lid from the box and took out the three items...three different sticks from three different pregnancy tests. Each one showed the same result...whether it was a blue dot, a pink plus, or simply the word PREGNANT.

He broke out in a huge grin as he addressed the crowd. “We’re pregnant!” He picked up his wife and spun around with her before he brought her down to his level gain.

“
Oh, but I love my red haired, blue-eyed devil,” she said breathlessly.

He pulled her close to him and closed his eyes, thanking God one more time for bringing her into his life. He whispered softly into her ear, “I love you too, my brown eyed girl.”

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First Chapter Preview of

Heaven in Your Eyes

Book 4:
La Fleur de Love
series

Coming in late spring of 2012

Chapter 1

New Year’s Eve                    

Annie sensed him as soon as he entered the club.  She watched from her vantage point at the edge of the dance floor as he filled the doorway of her brother’s club.  
Why
must he show up just in time to ruin her night? And
why
must he always have to look so damned good doing it?  She groaned inwardly at the sexiness of the man dressed in dark grey slacks with a black shirt, as usual, tailored to fit him perfectly.

<>

Drake LeBlanc made his way into the club.  The place was full to capacity, which was great news for his brother in law and owner, Red McAllister.  It was New Year’s Eve and the grand opening for the brand new club named simply,
Red’s. 
People on the packed dance floor moved rhythmically as the latest country chart buster blasted from the sound system.  He could see several dozen gorgeous women with swaying, gyrating hips.  He scanned the floor, searching for one face only—one particular shape in the crowd, when he heard a familiar voice.

“
Hey, brother in law!  We were beginning to wonder if you’d be able to make it.”

Drake grabbed Red’s hand and gave it a firm shake.  “I’m late, I know,” he yelled to be heard over the sound system. “But I’m working my ass off trying to get settled in.  I unpack at the office until seven, go home, eat a little take out, and unpack there until ten.”

Red laughed. “It gets easier.” He pointed to a corner of the huge, open room. “Everyone is over there.”

It took a few minutes to get to the far side of the room where the rest of their group had taken up three rectangular tables in the VIP section. 

Tiffany McAllister jumped up out of her chair when she saw Drake.  “There’s my little brother!”  She hugged him tightly then pointed to the chair next to her. 

Drake exchanged greetings with all the familiar faces at the tables then seated himself.  “Great crowd—I’d say this has all the makings of a successful dance club.”  He looked around.  “Is this all the family that made it?”

Red grinned at Drake.  “Annie’s dancing.”

Drake nodded, trying to look nonchalant.  “Did she come with anyone?”

Tiffany leaned closer to him.  “You mean is she alone, or with a date?”

He gave her a cocky smile.  “Whether or not she’s got a date is of no concern.”

“
Bull!” she retorted. “We know how you feel about her.”