Slow Burn (A Madaris Family Novel) (28 page)

Charges were being filed and a press conference had been called by both the congressman and senator to explain what the charges were about and why. Skye chose not to attend the press conference, nor did she want to see it on television. What she wanted was to get as far away from Augusta as she could. Slade had granted her that wish, and plans were under way for them to leave to return to Houston later that day.

She and Slade had just finished enjoying a late lunch in their hotel room when there was a knock on the door. Her parents had called, eager to talk to her to tell their side of the story, not wanting her to think they knew what had been going on with Helen and Wayne. They had even apologized, saying they had never meant to hurt her and that deep down they did love her as a daughter. A part of Skye had wanted to believe them, but then another part, the one that had taken their mental abuse for years, could not.

“Who do you think that is?” she asked as Slade headed for the door.

“Probably Justin to let us know what time the plane will be ready.”

It wasn’t Justin. It was the senator. “Sorry to show up like this, but I just came from the press conference and was wondering if I could talk to Skye.”

“Certainly,” Slade said, inviting him in.

And to give them the privacy he felt they needed, he said, “I’m going across the hall to Justin’s room to check with him about something. I’ll be back later.”

As soon as the door closed behind him Skye glanced over at the senator. “Would you like to sit down?”

“Yes,” he said, taking the seat she offered him.

He stared at her for a few seconds before saying, “I can see the resemblance. You favor Kathy.”

She nodded. “You do remember her, then.”

“Yes, I remember her. I thought she was very beautiful. I’m not going to lie and weave some story of a summer love that I never got over, because that wasn’t the case. I was seventeen, away from home for the summer, and she and I met. We liked each other right away and eventually became involved. I remember that night being special because it had been the first time for the both of us. At the end of the summer we exchanged addresses and phone numbers and said we would keep in touch, but we never did. I returned home with my focus on attending Harvard.”

“So, you never talked with her again?” Skye asked, tilting her head to look at him.

“No, I never did, and after my parents told me she’d lost the baby, I thought of sending her a card and flowers but decided against it. I figured it would be best that we both moved on with our lives.”

Skye didn’t say anything for a long moment, then said, “May I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“Whenever I saw you, you always seemed to be distant to me. Why was that?”

“Because of my father. He was fascinated with you, always singing your praises or mentioning your name, and I never knew why he’d taken such an interest in you. He never would say, so I could only form my own opinions.”

Skye looked shocked. “You thought your father and I were involved in some way?”

“I didn’t want to think it, but it’s been known to happen. My mother had been dead a number of years and one day I accidentally came across a bank account he had set up for you. I do know that older men get attracted to young girls. It’s been the career downfall of several of my colleagues.”

Skye understood where he was coming from in light of the most recent scandal in the Senate, where a well-known senator was accused of having an affair with a young woman—twenty-two years younger—who had worked in his office last summer. The pregnant young woman had come forward to tell her story.

“But I want you to know that today I publicly announced that I recently discovered that I have a twenty-six-year-old daughter who just happened to have been born on my eighteenth birthday.”

Skye lifted a brow, surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

He smiled. “Neither did I. Dad told me. He and Mom thought that in itself was a special blessing for the both of them. I’m glad they got to spend time with you while you were growing up.”

“I’m grateful for that time as well. Your mother was so nice to me. I used to hate it when the time came to leave. Then all I had to look forward to was the next weekend. I’ll never forget how I felt when I got word that she had died.”

The senator leaned back in his seat. “I guess the big question is just where do you and I go from here, Skye? You are my daughter and more than anything I want to get to know you.”

Skye’s heart didn’t feel as heavy when she said, “And I want to get to know you as well. I’m returning to Houston and I will make my home there with Slade. He’s asked me to marry him and I’ve accepted. But you and Congressman Baines are welcome to be a part of my life. I really want that.”

A smile touched the senator’s lips. “I want that as well, and I know Dad does. And you’re not the only one contemplating marriage. I’m giving up my bachelor status and I’m asking Addy Peterson, the woman I’ve been seeing for a couple of years, to marry me.”

Skye grinned. “That’s wonderful, and congratulations.” Automatically she crossed the room and gave her father a hug. He held her tight and she felt it: a tie and bond were established between the two of them.

She closed her eyes and thanked God for bringing Slade into her life and for uniting her with her biological brother, father, and grandfather.

Diana smiled when she opened her hotel room door to find the tall, handsome, distinguished-looking man with sea green eyes standing there. “Syntel!” she exclaimed, going into his open arms.

“I hope you didn’t think I’d let you and Nedwyn marry without me being here,” he said, chuckling in his deep Texan drawl. “Ned called me last night and I immediately made plans to get here. I always told him I wouldn’t be cheated out of the chance to be his best man.”

She couldn’t help but smile. Ned and Syntel had been best friends since college, and over the years their friendship had strengthened. There was nothing one would not do for the other.

When Nedwyn walked out of the bedroom and saw his best friend, he couldn’t help but grin. “Somehow I figured you wouldn’t let this day happen without you.”

“Not on your life,” Syntel said, giving Ned a huge bear hug. “And it’s about time you asked this beautiful lady to share your life with you,” he said.

When Diana gave him a questioning look, Syntel simply grinned and said, “Yes, I knew how he felt about you, Di. He’s held it in for a long time and I’m glad he’s finally let it out and admitted it. I wish the both of you much happiness.”

“And what about you, Syntel?” she asked softly. She knew the woman he loved had died over thirty years ago and that she had a permanent place in his heart.

He smiled fondly and said, “I’m a man who can only love one woman, and Janeda was it for me. I’m happy these days spending time with my daughter and granddaughter.”

Moments later the three friends left the hotel for the small church where the wedding services would be held.

“I now pronounce that you are man and wife.”

The minister’s words rang loud and clear, not just in Nedwyn Lansing’s ears but in his heart as well. He stood facing the woman he had loved for so long, finally making her his.

“And you may kiss your bride, Senator Lansing.”

A huge smile touched Nedwyn’s lips as he leaned down to do exactly that. He whispered, “I love you,” moments before their mouths touched.

When he finally released her mouth to gaze at her, her incredibly beautiful eyes sparkled with the same love he felt. “We’ll probably have to do this all over again for Felicia’s benefit,” he heard her whisper.

“I’ll do this as many times as needed,” he whispered back to her. “You, Diana Madaris Lansing, are one woman worth kissing over and over.”

She chuckled. “I’m talking about the ceremony, Ned.”

He laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “Oh.”

And then with Syntel behind them, they walked out into the dazzling sunlight, a promise that the rest of their days would be just as bright.

It’s good to be home,
Skye thought as she glanced around the living room of her condo. They had arrived back in Houston a couple of hours ago. With the threat removed, Justin had immediately left for Whispering Pines to get his son.

“Alone at last.”

Skye turned around and glanced over at Slade. He was leaning against the closed door. He was staring at her and the intensity of his gaze almost took her breath away.

“Our little adventure is over, so I guess it’s going back to work for us tomorrow,” she said, watching him slowly walk over toward her.

“Maybe,” he said huskily when he reached her and drew her into his arms. “And maybe not. Taking another day off work won’t hurt things. Besides, there’s something important I want to do tomorrow.”

She tilted her head back to look up at him. “What?”

“Take you to a jeweler to pick out your ring. Then you and I can decide on a date.”

She shook her head, grinning. “Any day other than Christmas Day.”

He smiled, understanding. “That’s no problem.” They had a chance to talk after finding Bigelow and Helen Stone together. Although Skye had told Slade she was all right, he knew both Wayne’s and the woman’s betrayal had to have hurt.

“I want to get married a lot sooner anyway. Would you mind having a wedding during the time of the Madaris family reunion? That way the majority of the family will be in town.”

Skye lifted her arched brow. “That’s next month.”

He grinned. “Yes, I know, but I’m sure the women in the family will help in planning things. The sooner I make you mine, the better.”

She moved her body closer to his and whispered against his lips, “I’m already yours, Slade.”

And she meant every word. She could now admit she had become
his
the moment he opened the door at Justin and Lorren’s home to find her standing there. And in a way she believed they both knew it.

“So what are our plans for tonight?” she asked, looking up at him.

When his eyes darkened with profound passion at her question, “Besides that,” she quickly said.

He laughed. “Sweetheart, I’m a Madaris and there’s little else besides that.”

She smiled seductively. “Well, in that case,” she said, tipping her head back and lifting her mouth as an invitation to a kiss. It was a hot, seductive, lingering kiss that beckoned them to mate their mouths until breathing became a necessity.

Slade then swooped her into his arms. She didn’t have to ask where he was taking her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest. This was the man she loved. The man who would give her plenty of babies and lots of love. A man she knew she could count on when the going got rough and tough. He would erase all the bad memories in her life and replace them with only good ones.

Slade Madaris was her everything.

“So, how does it feel to be a married woman?”

Skye smiled over at Slade’s great-grandmother, Laverne Madaris. “It feels simply wonderful.”

“That’s good, child. Slade is one that I knew wouldn’t take long to know what he wanted. Now Lucas and Blade will be another story. See that young lady over there?” Great-Gramma Laverne said, looking across the yard of Whispering Pines where tables were loaded with plenty of food.

Skye followed her gaze and saw the very beautiful woman she had been introduced to earlier. Her name was Mackenzie Stanfield and she was an attorney from Oklahoma and a cousin to Ashton Sinclair. “Yes, I see her,” Skye said, smiling.

“She’s the one for Luke,” the old woman said with confidence in her voice.

Skye lifted a brow, then glanced around for Luke. He was standing leaning against the corral taking to his aunt Diana and her new husband, retired senator Nedwyn Lansing. They had surprised everyone by returning from a trip to Savannah last month and announcing they had gotten married. Everyone was happy for the older couple.

Skye then returned her attention back to Luke. If he and the woman whom Great-Gramma Laverne had pointed out to her were an item, Skye hadn’t noticed it. But she
had
noticed that most of the single men present couldn’t keep their eyes off of Mackenzie. She was utterly beautiful. Christy had whispered that she was African-American mixed with Cherokee Indian, just like Ashton.

“Do you know why I say that?” Laverne Madaris then asked.

Skye’s smile widened. “No, why do you say that?”

“Because I can see things regarding my grands and great-grands that they can’t see themselves. Mark my word. She’s the woman for Luke.”

“Who’s the woman for Luke?” Slade asked, coming up behind them and grabbing his wife of only thirty-two hours around the waist and bringing her closer into his arms.

“None of your business. This is woman talk, Slade,” his great-grandmother quickly informed him.

“Yes, ma’am, but I just wanted to borrow Skye for a second. I promise to bring her back.”

“Okay, as long as you bring her back. She and I have a lot more talking to do.”

Slade took his wife’s hand in his. “Come on, let’s go for a walk, sweetheart.”

“All right.”

Both yesterday and today had been beautiful days. Yesterday afternoon she and Slade had gotten married in his great-grandmother’s church. Skye’s biological grandfather, Congressman Baines, as well as her biological father, Senator Baines, had been there for her. And her aunt Karen had also come. Skye glanced to where her aunt was talking to an older, handsomely rugged-looking man by the name of Abram Hawk, who was a good friend of Sir Drake and his lovely wife, Tori.

Skye couldn’t help but smile and cross her fingers. Her aunt was such a wonderful and beautiful person, and it was time she found love all over again. And from what Skye could see, Mr. Hawk was as fascinated with her aunt as she seemed to be with him. One thing Skye had discovered about some of the people attending the family reunion: If they weren’t a Madaris by blood, then they were connected to them by a special friendship, and to a Madaris, friendship spoke volumes.

She had invited her parents to her and Slade’s wedding, but neither of them had responded to her invitation. Evidently they weren’t happy about not receiving the bonus they would have gotten had she married Wayne.

She continued walking by Slade’s side. He didn’t say anything and neither did she. They were enjoying the quiet stillness of their surroundings. When they reached a huge stream, Slade turned to her and smiled. “Walking helps me to think.”

She returned his smile. “I know. So what do you think?”

He stopped walking and put his hands at her waist and pulled her closer to him. “I think I’m the happiest man on the face of the earth right now, because I have you as my wife. And just like I said in front of everyone yesterday, I promise to love you, protect you, cherish you, and respect you for always and forever. You, Skye Madaris, are my every woman.”

“Oh, Slade.”

And then he leaned toward her, captured her lips to seal the words he’d just spoken. And deep in her heart Skye knew so many doors were opening to her, doors she was not afraid to walk through as long as she had Slade by her side.

She was a very blessed woman.