An Accidental Family. Loree Lough

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ to attention.

      “Earth to Dad, Earth to Dad…”

      “Hey, Reid.”

      “Man,” his eldest son-in-law said, “were you off in Never-Neverland!” He grinned. “Or should I say ‘Nadine-Nadineland?’”

      Lamont laughed good-naturedly. “Is it my fault if I have a good eye?”

      “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but I’m not fallin’ for that line of malarkey.” Reid leaned closer. “Don’t worry—your secret’s safe with me.”

      Frowning, Lamont stiffened and glanced at the gaudy gold clock above the door. Two hours before the reception ended. Officially. Then there’d be gifts to pack into the car, and bills of lading to sign, checks to write and—

      “Lily looks great today.”

      Reid was right about that. “I hate to sound like a braggart, but all four of my girls are knockouts.” He found each one in the crowd. “Their mama would’ve been proud.”

      “Rose would have every right to be proud. Of them, and of you, too, because you did a bang-up job, raising them all by yourself.” He shook his head. “Don’t think I could’ve handled it.”

      Lamont met his eyes. “Sure you would have. What choice would you have?”

      Cammi walked up to them, linked arms with both men. “So, what are my two best guys gossiping about?”

      “I was just telling your dad what a great job he did, bringing up you girls.”

      She stood on tiptoe to kiss Lamont’s cheek. “He’s the best dad in Texas.”

      “In all of the Southwest,” Ivy added.

      “In the whole country!” Violet said.

      “You’re forgetting the universe,” the bride put in.

      “Knock it off,” Lamont said, grinning. “You want somebody to snap a picture of me blushing like a schoolgirl?”

      “Oh, I doubt anyone would confuse you with a schoolgirl.”

      Weird, Lamont thought as Nadine stepped up beside him, how natural and normal it felt, sharing this warm family moment with her.

      When she smiled up at him, big eyes glittering like blue diamonds under the enormous crystal chandelier, Lamont had to control the urge to kiss her, right there in front of his girls. “So,” he said to Lily, “what’s next on the schedule? Cake cutting? Tossing of the bouquet?”

      “Father-Daughter dance.” Lily waved at the bandleader, who signaled the other musicians to end their song. The dance floor cleared, and in the ensuing hush, guests gathered at the edge of the parquet tiles. “Ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee said into his microphone, “gather ’round as our host takes his best girl for a whirl around the floor.”

      Leave it to Lily to choose a song guaranteed to pluck his fatherly heartstrings. In the hope that banal conversation would distract him from the meaningful lyrics, Lamont told her again how pretty she looked. Talked about the wedding-perfect weather. Asked if she’d packed for the honeymoon, and if she’d remembered plenty of sunscreen and antiseasickness pills. “Careful not to stray too far from the beaten path,” he warned, “because the news is full of stories about what happens when tourists end up on island backstreets.” It seemed to be working, because he almost didn’t see the huge circle of friends and relatives, standing all around the dance floor.

      Almost…

      As they two-stepped from one side of the room to the other, Lamont and Lily passed Nadine. Was he seeing things, or were those tears in her eyes? He would have turned to get a second look, if Lily hadn’t chosen that moment to plant a loving kiss on his chin.

      “Thanks, Daddy,” she said, “for everything. You’ve made this the most special day of my life.”

      “Love you, Lilypad.” The use of his pet name for her put a hitch in his voice, and he hoped she hadn’t heard it.

      “Love you, too.”

      The song ended, and the guests applauded, and his little girl ran off—to do whatever came next on her list of bridal obligations.

      “Hey, sailor,” Nadine said, taking his arm, “goin’ my way?”

      He shot her a grateful half grin and led her into the lobby. “Did I see you crying back there?” he asked when the doors closed behind them.

      “Maybe,” she said, blushing. “I guess. But only a little.” And rolling her eyes, she playfully smacked his shoulder. “So what if I was?”

      “Softie.”

      “Yeah, well, I saw a tear shining in your eye, too…”

      “Yeah, well,” he echoed, “I’m footin’ the bill for this fancy shindig. I have every right to bawl like a baby!”

      Had her laughter always been so melodious? And why hadn’t he noticed before that hearing it turned his ears hot and his palms damp?

      She didn’t look a day over thirty, though he knew for a fact that she’d turned fifty on her last birthday. Hard to believe this woman’s a grandma! he thought, smirking.

      “There you go again,” she said, one well-arched brow high on her forehead, “looking like a cat with a mouthful of bird.”

      “A cat with a…a what?”

      “Well, unless I wanted you to call me the Mistress of Clichés again, I figured I’d better come up with something original.”

      “Oh, trust me, you’re original, all right.”

      Lashes fluttering, she blushed again. Yes, by golly, Nadine was flirting with him!

      The banquet room doors opened a crack, and Cammi stuck her head out. “Dad, Lily is looking for you.”

      “Be right there.” And once his eldest daughter was out of sight, he said from the corner of his mouth, “Guess it’s time to write the check.”

      Nadine laughed again. “Nut,” she said, kissing his right cheek.

      He didn’t remember much after that…

      …except wishing she’d aimed a little left….

      Nadine sat in the big wooden rocker, boot heels propped on the white picket rail surrounding the front porch. A little blustery to be outside so late on a February evening, but she didn’t mind. She had fuzzy slippers, her favorite afghan and a cup of tea to keep her warm.

      Behind her in the foyer, the dulcet tones of the grandfather clock sounded the ten o’clock hour. She ought to turn in, because tomorrow she was supposed to sing that new hymn she’d been practicing all week. But she wasn’t the least bit sleepy.

      Just five more minutes, she mused, closing her eyes to the starry, inky sky.

      Smiling СКАЧАТЬ