Taking on Twins (18 page)

He was as familiar to her as her own heartbeat. Yet in many ways, he was different altogether than the boy she'd once known.

Instinctively, she knew their breakup had been hard on Wyatt. Workaholism had been his coping skill of choice. By proving to the world that he was somebody, he could forget that he had nobody. Annie shifted her gaze past Wyatt to the seemingly endless Pacific Ocean.

It couldn't have been easy for him to be the one to make the first move, and re-establish contact after all these years. Then again, for him to admit that he'd been wrong about her need to be there for her father. And yet, he had. And he'd done it with such grace. Such maturity.

She glanced into the backseat at the cherubic faces of her slumbering sons. The fact that he'd been so kind, so loving to her little boys, children she'd borne with another man, was simply additional testament to his character.

And now, he'd put his career on hold in consideration for his sister's safety…Annie swallowed against the lump that was forming in her throat.

Whether he knew it or not, he'd become a man Joe Colton could be proud to call son.

 

When they pulled onto the Hacienda de Alegria's long, tree-lined drive, Annie was again astounded at the massive estate that spoke of a family imbued with such privilege. Such power. It was almost chilling, in a way that she'd been too naive to notice back when she was a girl. Then again, it probably had everything to do with what she knew about Patsy Portman and nothing to do with the imposing structures laid out so grandly before her.

She hadn't been here since her college days and Annie
drank in the awesome sights. Memories of happier times came flooding back. She glanced back at the boys, who were awake now and staring agog, out their windows. She shifted her gaze to Wyatt and they shared a smile.

Rolling hills surrounded the multi-level house—nay, mansion. Stucco and brick pillars flanked the road where the line of trees ended and allowed access to the grand estate through a set of ornate iron gates. Then, drawing closer to the house, a stucco wall, ornamented by a series of massive Mediterranean-style arches gave the whole affair the secluded feel of a fortress in the waning afternoon light. Impenetrable. Strong. Safe.

Annie knew the feeling was only an illusion.

Exactly like the feeling in her own hometown now. For as long as Emily's attacker was there, Keyhole was no safer than Prosperino.

Beyond the seemingly endless fields, the mountains were a light plum-colored backdrop. Sunlight slanted through the grove of trees that sheltered the house, casting an ethereal golden glow over the terra cotta roof. Overhead, the sky's cloudless blue was deepening, preparing to showcase the stars that would be visible all too soon.

Annie couldn't imagine a finer place in all of God's heaven, it was so magical. Just like something out of a Maxfield Parrish painting.

As Wyatt had predicted, they were met at the Prosperino ranch with open arms by Rand and Lucy and assorted other Colton family members, foster and otherwise. Within minutes, Liza heard the commotion and rushed from her last-minute meeting with the wedding planner to hug Wyatt and greet the infamous Annie. Ever since they'd heard that Wyatt was bringing an old flame, the family—chiefly Lucy—had been abuzz with speculation.

When they'd all been roundly kissed and hugged, Liza
grasped Annie's hand in her own. “Annie, though I never got to meet you while you and Wyatt were in college, I have heard so much about you over the years. I'm honored that you would come to my wedding.”

“The honor is all mine,” Annie murmured.

To the boys, Liza said, “Hey, guys, did you pack your swimsuits?”

Shy, they could only nod, but their expressions held vast interest.

“Great. Your bags are being delivered to your suite now, right next to Wyatt's. He and I will show you the way. If your mom says it's okay, you can go put your suits on and swim in the pool out back.”

Annie smiled. “It sounds wonderful.”

Together, they all moved through the grand foyer and toward the large courtyard garden that sat in the very center of the house. The sky itself acted as the ceiling allowing sunlight to stream in and plants to flourish. A stunning fountain burbled at one end of the yard, and before it, a smallish, gazebo-like tent, draped with yards of mosquito netting had been erected and under that, an altar.

“This is where Nick and I will say our vows tomorrow afternoon,” Liza explained as they all stopped and gazed and the lush atrium-style courtyard. “It's going to be a small wedding, friends and family only for the ceremony.”

Annie sent Wyatt a narrow gaze.

He winked and rubbed the small of her back, and suddenly, Annie felt included. Especially since Liza was smiling so happily, lost in her little dream world, moving through the garden, envisioning her wedding.

“After the ceremony, the reception will include about two to three hundred more guests, and be held in the great hall that faces the south hillside garden and lake. We are going to open up that wall of glass doors that lead to the
patio, to sort of bring the outside in. If you get a chance later on, you should go see it. The designers have outdone themselves.”

She continued to chatter, as she led them out of the courtyard and off toward Wyatt's suite.

“I just hope the weather is gorgeous, just like this, tomorrow,” Liza mused. “Although, we do have a ton of tents set up. There will be a sit-down dinner and after that, dancing until the wee hours, and of course, Uncle Joe is cracking open some of his private reserve, so the toasting should go on forever.” She laughed. “Oh, I'm so excited. I've looked forward to this moment for so long, I can't even begin to tell you.”

Wyatt glanced at Annie and in that instant, she knew he was thinking about their own missed opportunity. And her wedding to Carl. And the improbable chance that they might have their own wedding in the future, and all nature of wonderings. She knew, because she was having the exact same thoughts.

They wended their way through the opulent interior of the house, and off toward the wing where they'd be staying. Once again, Annie was reminded of the few times she'd come here to visit, back when she was a student. Wyatt's girl.

As they passed Joe's masculine study, Annie peeked in, remembering the rich smell of freshly polished wood and cigar smoke, and the hours spent there, studying with Wyatt. Studying Wyatt. A tiny smile twitched. She was looking forward to seeing Joe once again.

Meredith, however, was a different story.

Her gaze shifted to her sons. What with the beefed-up security, Annie knew that they were probably safer here in Prosperino than in Keyhole with the actual attacker. Even so, this Meredith person was disturbed. Hopefully, she'd
spend most of her time out of the way and off doing her own thing, as she was now.

Annie nudged Wyatt, and being that he'd always been able to read her mind, he glanced around and asked, “Liza, where is Meredith?”

“She was holed up in her room all morning, and then she went for a drive this afternoon. Haven't really seen her all day. But I know Joe is eager to see you both. He's in the wine cellar and should be back any minute.”

It was obvious that Liza was acting as hostess for her uncle in her aunt's absence. Liza's warm expression included Annie and made her feel welcome and at home. And for that, Annie was grateful.

“Now, are you hungry?”

Wyatt scratched his stomach and answered for them all. “Yes. We had a picnic on the beach, but that was hours ago.”

“Well, good. I'll have something light sent to your rooms and then we're having a giant family dinner at eight, right after the wedding rehearsal. A last supper, so to speak.” Liza laughed and took Wyatt by the arm. As they led Annie and the boys to their room, the bride murmured to her cousin in that intimate way that spoke of a long history together. “I'm so glad that you made it back in time for my wedding, cousin.”

“I told you I would.”

“True, but you've been known to let work interfere with your plans before.”

“Those days are over.”

“Really?” Liza peeked over her shoulder. “She must be good for you.”

“She is.”

“Good. She's really lovely, Wyatt.”

“I think so too.”

“So, do I hear wedding bells?”

“Yes, you do, but I'm afraid they're yours.”

 

Much later that evening, while the children frolicked outdoors, the adults rehearsed Nick and Liza's ceremony with the wedding planner and the minister in the large garden courtyard. There was much laughing and teasing; Joe caught the bouquet and ran, Wyatt picked up Liza and ran, Lucy and Rand grabbed each other at the altar and smooched noisily every chance they got and more than once had to be dragged away and reprimanded.

No one missed Meredith.

After Noah and Alex had worn themselves to a fare-thee-well in the pool and then attended a pizza and movie party with the other Colton-and-friends small fries in the home theatre, Annie put them to bed and joined the rest of the family for the dinner that followed the rehearsal.

Joe was in fine fettle, cracking jokes and making toasts. As she had remembered, he was still every bit as sweet and gentlemanly as he'd been when they first met. He treated her like a long-lost daughter and ribbed Wyatt about locking her up and not letting her go this time.

Wyatt had taken the teasing good-naturedly, but there was nothing offhand about the possessive look in his eyes that had the family whispering and smiling.

During dinner, Meredith put in a brief appearance and, when she had endured as much of the festivities as she could, she excused herself and turned in early. The party went on without her, much the way it usually did. The only person who appeared even remotely troubled by her absence was Joe.

Seeming to notice Joe's sudden melancholy at Meredith's departure, Jackson sprang to his feet and offered yet another ridiculous toast designed to distract.

“Here's to Uncle Joe, foster son, foster brother, foster father, second foster cousin twice removed from Foster Grant!”

Joe grinned and slowly tore his eyes away from the door Meredith had just exited.

Annie couldn't help but feel sorry for Joe. No doubt he was reflecting on his own wedding. On the love he'd lost.

On his vows to stay with Meredith, until death parted them.

Annie shook off the eerie thought. There were plenty of guards on duty. Surely Nick and Liza's wedding would go off without a hitch. Certainly, with all these people around, not to mention the raft of security guards, no one in the Colton family had anything to fear from Meredith.

“May he continue to live long and prosper,” Jackson went on. “May we all.”

 

After dinner, Wyatt took Annie for a moonlight walk around the ranch. Hand in hand, they wandered around the property and looked back at the house, lit up and sparkling, a gem at the top of the hill. From where they stood, they could hear voices and laughter mingled with live music.

Liza had hired a small jazz ensemble to perform on the back patio and many of the family's couples had drifted outside to dance under the stars. Wyatt took Annie in his arms and they danced, cheek to cheek.

“Remember when we used to slow dance in the dormitory's cafeteria on Friday nights? Everybody from our five dorms would push back all the tables and turn out the lights and we'd play records till some house mother or somebody would chase us out. Remember that?”

“Um-hmm.” A husky laugh burbled from deep in Annie's throat. “I remember the first time you ever asked me to dance.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I'd just been asked to dance by the cutest ROTC boy with a buzz cut.”

Wyatt snorted.

Annie ignored him. “I said yes, so he turned to lead me to the middle of the dance floor. But before I could get all the way out there with him, you saw me and grabbed me and pulled me off to the middle of the dance floor without even asking. I barely knew you, and—” her laughter rose and Wyatt found himself chuckling “—it took the poor ROTC guy several minutes to realize that he was dancing with both of us.”

“So? He didn't have anything to complain about. As I recall, I was a pretty good dancer.”

“Then why did I have to carry a box of Band-Aids in my purse every time we went dancing?”

“Blisters from trying to keep up with old Mr. Footloose?”

“No. Mashed toes.”

Wyatt chuckled. “Am I mashing your toes now?”

“You seem to have outgrown that habit.”

“Ah. Good.” He nuzzled her neck. “Having fun?” He hoped that he hadn't commandeered her all the way to California only to realize that she was having a terrible time.

“Mmm. Heavenly,” she murmured into his shoulder. “Your family is just as lovely as I remembered. Liza and Nick's wedding is going to be so beautiful. I got all choked up at rehearsal tonight when they were saying their vows, and he was looking down into her face and promising to love her until death parted them. It was…very touching.”

He hated himself for asking, but he'd been so good for so long and he was dying of curiosity.

“This remind you of your own wedding?”

“No.”

“No? Why not?”

“I don't have particularly fond memories of my wedding.”

“Oh.”

They were silent for a very long time and Wyatt feared that he'd overstepped his bounds. Brought up a painful memory and she probably thought he was prying, which he was, but still…

“Why were the memories of your own wedding so unhappy?”

Annie didn't respond.

Wyatt waited, wondering if he should backpedal. Apologize for asking such an insensitive question. But something made him hold his tongue. He wanted and needed to know.

Annie took a long, deep breath, then seemed to resign herself to the fact that it was time she finally opened up about her life with Carl.