Secret Vows (Hideaway (Kimani)) (27 page)

David, wearing the requisite white tie, offered Ana his arm. “Come, baby girl. We have to get you married before the clock strikes midnight.”

Greer rested her hand on the sleeve of her father’s tuxedo as he adjusted her veil before handing her Jason’s wedding band. She slipped it on the thumb of her left hand. “Do you mind sharing fatherly duties with Bobby?”

Gregory Evans smiled. “Of course I don’t mind. I’ve always trusted Bobby to look after you and Cooper. Asking him to walk you down the aisle will really make this night even more special.”

She knew when she walked down the white carpet to exchange vows with Jason it would be merely symbolic. For Greer it would become more personal when she’d leave her past behind to begin anew and live openly with her husband. Gathering the skirt of her gown in one hand, she carefully descended the staircase on her father’s arm, gliding across the marble floor to a door leading to the Japanese garden where the ceremony was scheduled to take place. Organza-swathed chairs were lined up in precise rows under an enormous white tent. Greer watched her father tap Bobby on his shoulder. She couldn’t see her uncle’s expression but she was certain he was surprised by her request. It was a warm winter Florida night, the temperatures in the low seventies and perfect for an outdoor nighttime wedding and celebration to follow.

She and Jason had flown into West Palm Beach on Christmas Eve where she was introduced to more Coles, their extended families and traditions spanning four generations. There were so many children, if it hadn’t been for her ability to recall everything she saw and heard, Greer would’ve needed a scorecard or playbill to differentiate who was who. Peyton had become the third blonde in a family where dark hair was the norm. Joshua Kirkland had passed his flaxen hair and green eyes to his grandson, Alejandro Blackwell. Gifts were given to all children under the age of sixteen; those seventeen and older that had driver’s licenses were given keys to their first cars.

They had spent the first night in Nancy’s home and the next three at Jason’s parents’ in Boca Raton. Jason had taken her to the condo Ana had given them as a wedding gift, and Greer had been overwhelmed with the breathtaking ocean views. Ana had accompanied her to a bridal boutique in Miami’s South Beach and luck was with her when she found a dress needing only a minor alteration. The week was a whirlwind of shopping and eating at a different relative’s home every night. Security at the Cole compound was as rigid as it was at Bear Ridge Estates. Invitations along with photo IDs were necessary for access.

One of the wedding planners approached the brides, handing each her respective bouquet. “It’s eleven-thirty and we will begin in exactly five minutes. That will give all of you time to process down the carpet and repeat your vows. At eleven fifty-five you’ll each be pronounced husband and wife. At midnight there will be a display of fireworks to welcome in the New Year. Then the partying will begin.”

Greer blinked back tears before they fell, ruining her makeup as her uncle closed the distance between them, dabbing his own eyes with a handkerchief. “Uncle Bobby, don’t or you’ll have me bawling my eyes out,” she implored him.

Bobby pulled her against his solid bulk. “I love you, honey bunny.”

“I love you more,” she teased.

By the time the prerecorded music ended and the distinctive notes of the Wedding March echoed throughout the tent, every seat was occupied. Greer, flanked by her father and uncle, made her way up the white carpet, silently acknowledging those she recognized with a smile. Nancy Cole-Thomas sat in a wheelchair, dabbing her eyes, while Nichola attempted to console her mother-in-law.

Greer met Jason’s eyes, her heart turning over in tenderness when he placed his right hand over his heart. Peyton and her father followed, and then Ana and her father. Each of the men placed the right hands of their daughters into the left of their respective grooms, then stepped back to take their seats.

An eerie silence descended on the assembly as the black-robed judge began the ceremony in a resonant voice that carried easily in the night. Greer had decided to write her own vows, taking it from Charlotte Brontë’s
Jane Eyre:
“I have for the first time found what I can truly love—I have found you.”

Jason gazed down into the eyes of the woman he promised he would love forever, quoting from Simone de Beauvoir to Jean-Paul Sartre: “I’m altogether immersed in the happiness I derive from seeing you. Nothing else counts.”

Peyton and Nicholas had written their own vows as had Ana and Jacob. This was followed by the exchange of rings, kisses and the pronouncement they were each husband and wife. If Greer hadn’t felt like a wife before, she did now. And so did her family and the world.

The three couples had gathered at the receiving line as an explosion of colorful fireworks lit up the nighttime sky, spelling out HAPPY NEW YEAR! The pyrotechnics continued for ten minutes, the young children screaming in excitement. Their excitement was short-lived when those under sixteen were escorted back to the house. Those who were fifteen would have to wait another year before they were able to join the frivolity that wouldn’t end until just before dawn.

Greer extended her hands to Chase when he stood in front of her. He was wearing a tailored suit. “Thank you for coming.”

Bending slightly, he kissed her cheek. “You know I couldn’t miss this. You are a beautiful bride. Jason is a very lucky man.”

“And I’m a very lucky woman.” She took a step closer. “Which name did you use to get in?”

Chase appeared very boyish when he flashed a sheepish grin. “My government name.”

“What is it?” she whispered.

He winked at her. “If I tell you, then I’d have to kill you. Save me a dance.” Chase was there, then he disappeared in the throng streaming out of the garden.

* * *

Chase acknowledged Diego Cole-Thomas, who wore a dark suit, white shirt and white tie, with a nod. “Nice party.”

Diego flashed a rare smile. “Wonderful party. Come with me.”

The two men walked a distance away until concealed behind hedges in the boxwood garden. Diego sat on a stone bench while Chase leaned back against a hedge, slipping his hands in the pockets of his trousers and crossing his feet at the ankles. Strategically placed flood lamps ringing the property lit the area up like daylight.

“It’s done, Diego,” Chase said after a comfortable silence.

“How can I thank you, Simon?”

Simon Charles Leighton exhaled an audible breath. “You already did when you paid me.”

“This is not about money and you know it, Simon. It’s about family.”

“Yep. Family.”

Diego angled his head. “How old are you?”

“Why?”

“Please answer the question.”

“Thirty-five.”

“Don’t you think it’s time for you to find a woman and start a family?”

Chase shook his head. “No, my friend. What woman would put up with a man who can’t tell her his real name or what he does for a living? And don’t forget his disappearing acts.”

“If she loves and trusts you, then there’s no reason why you can’t have a normal relationship.”

“What’s this all about, Diego?”

“I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

“What’s up with you playing matchmaker?”

“No more questions until you meet her. The only other thing I’m going to say is she’s a Cole woman.” Diego stood up. “Well, my friend. I’m going to get back because this celebration only comes once a year, and I intend to enjoy every minute of it.”

Chapter 23

G
reer sat at the bridal table with her head on her husband’s shoulder, watching Ana and Jacob on the dance floor dancing to “Cha Cha Slide.” Nicholas and Peyton were the first couple to leave, with her pleading extreme fatigue.

Greer had changed out of her gown and into a pale pink silk pantsuit with black satin three-inch sandals. She’d danced with Jason, her father, Bobby, Chase, her brother and every male connected to her husband’s family, some as young as ten.

“What time is it?” she asked.

Jason glanced at his watch. “Two-forty.” He had reserved a driver to pick them up at three to take them to Boca Raton where they would spend the next two days at their condo before flying back to the West Coast.

He knew Greer was exhausted. She’d gone for her final fitting, and then had spent hours at the salon for a complete beauty makeover. He had tried to convince her to take a nap, but that was thwarted when her brother and parents had arrived.

“It’s like we’re in a fairy-tale world,” Greer said, watching the couples whirling about the dance floor. “Cinderella and her prince have nothing on us.”

“You can’t be Cinderella because she had to leave the ball before midnight.”

She giggled. “But I can be Cinderella after the prince finds that she fits the glass slipper.”

“True.”

The music stopped and the DJ tapped the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen. I have a special request to play Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love.’ We will also have a special performance by the male relatives of the wedding party.”

Greer sat up, watching in amusement as six of Jason’s cousins, ranging in age from late teens to early twenties stepped onto the stage. Screams went up from women when they realized they were going to be treated to a scene from
Magic Mike.

It was apparent they’d spent time choreographing their steps when they slipped out of their shoes. The screams escalated when tuxedo jackets were tossed in the air. They gyrated, swiveled their hips when removing ties, suspenders and dress shirts. A collective gasp went up from the women when the spotlight slanted across rippling muscular pectorals and defined rock-hard abs. Screams of protest went up from their mothers as they shimmied out of their trousers. Wearing boxer-briefs, the half dozen superbly conditioned men slithered sensually across the stage à la Channing Tatum.

Greer was on her feet, applauding and cheering when several young women tossed bills onto the stage. The catchy dance song ended, and the dancers picked up their discarded clothing, racing off the stage. It took a full minute before the DJ was able to continue spinning his tunes.

Holding on to Jason’s arm, Greer leaned into him. “Will you become my personal Magic Mike?”

Throwing back his head, Jason laughed. “I’m sorry, babe. There’s no way I can move like that.”

“Did you know they were going to strip?”

Jason shook his head. “No. I just prayed they weren’t wearing G-strings because that truly would’ve been
escandaloso
and talked about for years. Come, darling. It’s time for us to leave.”

* * *

Greer followed Jason out of the tent, waving to her parents who were dancing to a classic Motown song. Her brother appeared entranced by a petite woman with short black hair, velvety dark skin and a full, curvy body, pressed intimately to his as they danced without moving their feet. She had invited her parents to Mission Grove for an extended visit, and they had promised to come the first week in February and stay a month.

She climbed into the rear of the town car, slipped out of her shoes and rested her head on Jason’s thigh. The smooth, rolling motion lulled her into a state of total relaxation. Greer hadn’t planned on falling in love or marrying again, but fate had circumvented her plan the instant she had seen Jason Cole walk into Stella’s.

The threat against Jason’s life ended with Stefi’s mysterious disappearance and the gas explosion that killed Webb Irvine; she no longer had to go undercover, and Greer now looked forward to living her life without having to look over her shoulder.

“I love you,” she whispered as sleep enveloped her in its comforting arms.

* * *

Jason closed his eyes, whispering a prayer of thanks. He had told Greer if she loved him enough to marry him, then he would spend the rest of his life making her as happy as she made him. And that was what he intended to do.

Martin and David Cole, Joshua Kirkland and Timothy Cole-Thomas slipped away from the celebrating to lock themselves in the library as they did every New Year’s. Each man puffed leisurely on cigars as they eyed each other. The time of reckoning had come to see who had won the wedding wager.

“Come on, Martin,” Timothy urged. “Let’s not prolong the suspense. Open the doggone safe.”

“Slow down,
sobrino,
” Martin warned in a soft voice. “You can’t be in that much of a hurry to lose your money.”

Timothy blew out a perfect smoke ring. “What makes you think I’m going to lose?”

David loosened his white silk tie. “He is going to lose.”

Stretching out long legs, Joshua chuckled under his breath. “If Martin had won, he would’ve opened the safe the minute we walked in here. Am I not right, David?”

David smiled, the expression so much like Jason’s. “I’m staying out of this, brother.”

“What do you know that we don’t?” Timothy drawled. “You’re being awfully smug.”

Sucking in a mouthful of flavorful tobacco, David squinted at his nephew. “Smug or confident?”

Standing, Martin walked over to the James Baldwin print, opening the safe concealed in the wall. He removed the envelope he’d placed there a year ago. “Josh, please hand me a letter opener.” The sound of ripping paper echoed sharply as all eyes were trained on the slips of paper falling to the surface of an antique table.

Joshua picked up one slip. “Martin picked Jason, Ana, and then Nicholas to marry in that order.”

Timothy picked another slip. “Joshua selected Ana, Jason and then Nicholas to marry in that order.”

It was David’s turn to select a betting slip. “Timothy picked Nicholas, Jason and then Ana.”

Martin selected the remaining slip. “David’s choice is Ana, Nicholas and then Jason.”

The three men threw their slips at David who couldn’t stop laughing. “I told you I know my kids. Gentlemen, I will let you know where you can send your donations.”

Joshua stubbed out his cigar. “I thought we had agreed the money would go to the winner’s alma mater.”

“I’ve changed my mind,” David said. “Instead of donating the money to private colleges that have sizeable endowments, I decided I want the money to go to public schools for their music programs and to public television. Does anyone have a problem with this?” The three men shook their heads. “Happy New Year, my brothers and my nephew. It feels real good to take your money. And now that all of my kids are married, you’ll have to think of something else to wager on.”

“How about grandchildren?” Joshua asked with a wide grin.

Martin shook his head. “Oh, hell no. I’m not touching that. You and Vanessa have two children and a tribe of grandkids. David may be the only one who’ll be able to match you.”

David cupped his ear. “Do I hear another wager?”

“No!” the others chorused, coming to their feet.

The four men exchanged hugs and kissed one another on both cheeks, then walked out of the library to rejoin the revelry. It was New Year’s Day and the entire clan had come together to preserve a tradition that had begun in 1924.

* * * * *