Read Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption (Book 6) (Legacy Collection) Online
Authors: Ruth Cardello
Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption (Book 6) (Legacy Collection) (33 page)
Colby raised her face and smiled, allowing Lil to lower her onto her feet beside her. Holding her mother’s hand, Colby said, “Togedder.”
Lil straightened from her daughter and looked at her sister and best friend standing side by side. A huge smile spread across her face. “Best wedding present ever.”
Jake resisted adjusting the bow tie on his tuxedo as he stood in front of a white rose-covered altar with the minister. Dominic, Jeremy, Stephan, Rachid, and Richard stood in a line off to the side of him. Although he and Lil had lived together for almost a year, his stomach was still doing crazy flips in anticipation of seeing her walk down the aisle to him.
He spared a glance at the men on his side. Time had tested each of their friendships and they were stronger because of it. He couldn’t imagine what his life would have been like if he’d never met Dominic. Jeremy had become the younger brother he’d never known he wanted but now couldn’t imagine not having. Rachid had stepped out of his life for nearly a decade, and his return had been chaotic, but having him there felt right. Stephan and Richard represented half of the people in attendance—the Andrade family, people Jake couldn’t imagine marrying Lil without. He saw a bit of himself and Dominic in Alessandro and Victor and hoped to one day have a legacy as large and loving as theirs.
Marc met his eyes from over the heads of the seated guests. He’d told Marc that he didn’t have to work that day, but like Alethea, Marc couldn’t turn off his inner watchdog.
Music began to play, and the guests fell silent.
The door at the end of the aisle opened, catching the women
a bit unaware, still smiling and laughing over some private joke.
Under his breath Richard asked, “I wonder what they’re plotting today.”
Dominic said firmly, “Let’s not go looking for trouble.”
Richard answered with humor, “No need to look for it. It’s dressed and walking this way.”
“Stop before you make me laugh. Lil will kill me,” Jake muttered.
Stephan interjected, “They definitely look too happy.”
Rachid added with royal confidence, “Women are always happy at weddings.”
“Mark my words,” Richard said, “something is brewing.”
Jake muttered, “Will you all just shut up? You’re making me nervous.”
Dominic chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about unless you forget your vows or step on Lil’s veil. Whatever you do, don’t accidentally call her the wrong name.”
“You’re such an ass, Dom,” Jake growled without taking his eyes off the procession of women walking down the aisle.
Jeremy burst out with a laugh that had all of the guests looking forward at the men instead of back at the bridesmaids. “Sorry. I just pictured Lil’s face if Jake called her the wrong name.”
With a forced smile, Jake said, “You’ll be where I am soon enough, Jeremy. Remember that payback is sweet.”
Jeremy gulped and kept his next thought to himself.
Dom flexed his shoulders and bragged, “Luckily, I’m safe.”
Jake said, “Oh, no, Dom, you have an upcoming baptism. Push me and I’ll use that event to tell Abby that you said you’re ready to start on your second child.”
Dominic fell silent after a muttered curse.
Stephan laughed.
Dominic glared at him.
Further teasing would have been wasted; the moment Lil stepped out from behind the door and started down the aisle, Jake’s attention was riveted on his bride. She walked toward them slowly, handing a now happy Colby off to Abby, and joined Jake in front of the minister.
The minister started the ceremony with the usual formality. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the union—”
Lil burst out, “I do.”
A chuckle echoed through the church. The minister said, “We’re not at that part yet.”
Flushing a deep red, Lil said hastily, “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Just keep going. I guess I’m nervous.” She looked across at Jake apologetically. “And now I’m babbling.”
“I do, too,” Jake said with quiet dignity, as if it were perfectly appropriate. Then he winked down at his bride.
Lil’s eyes filled with happy tears. “You do?” she asked.
Jake nodded solemnly and held out a hand to her. “Today. Tomorrow. Forever. I promise you, Colby, and the family we’ll make together that I will be there for you. Always.”
The minister closed his book in resignation and waited.
With a huge smile, Lil took Jake’s hand. “I promise you the same. Today. Tomorrow. Forever. I will be there for you—always.”
Rolling with the impromptu change in script, the minister asked, “Do you have the rings?”
Jake slid Lil’s on. Lil slid Jake’s on. She burst into happy tears and he pulled her to him for a deep kiss.
The minister coughed. “Okay, it looks like we’re kissing the bride now. With the power invested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He cleared his throat loudly again. “What God has brought together today, let no one separate.” As their kiss continued, the minister smacked Jake on the shoulder lightly with his Bible. “A little separation is necessary sometimes.”
With a laugh, Jake and Lil ended their kiss and turned to the people gathered.
The minister said, “I now present, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Walton.”
Lil held out her hand to Colby, who was straining to leave Abby. She came running across the altar to them. Jake gathered up his adopted daughter and held her with one hand as he took Lil’s hand in his other and they walked down the aisle together.
Dominic held out an arm to Abby. She took it and, even as she smiled, said, “Don’t think we didn’t hear you guys laughing. You’re wearing microphones, you know.”
With a half smile, Dominic threw his friend under the bus. “Richard started it. He said you ladies are plotting something.”
Abby smiled. “We are.”
“Should I worry?”
“Maddy, Lil, Alethea, and I have a bet going. First one to marry off an Andrade cousin wins.”
“Good luck with that,” Dominic said. “Victor says those boys have had a rough time.”
Abby said smugly, “I don’t need luck. I have Marie.”
“You included Alethea in on this?” Dominic whistled softly. “You’d better hope that Stephan’s family doesn’t have any skeletons in their closet.”
Abby covered her mouth with a worried hand. “I never thought of that.”
Dominic shrugged, bent, and kissed his wife’s cheek. “What’s the worst thing she could find?”
The End
Legacy Collection:
Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire
Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire
Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire
Book 6: Breaching the Billionaire
Recipe For Love, An Andrade Christmas Novella
Texan Nights Series:
Book 2: Coming Soon!
Andrade Family Series
Coming 2014!
:
Ruth Cardello lives on a small farm in northern Rhode Island with her husband, three childre
n, two dogs, two horses, and two cats. If there is a happier place on Earth, she hasn’t found it.
Contact
Ruth:
W
ebsite:
RuthCardello.com
E
mail:
[email protected]
F
aceBook:
Author Ruth Cardello
Twitter:
@RuthieCardello
One random newsletter subscriber will be chosen every month in 2014. The chosen subscriber will receive a $100 eGift Card! Sign up today by clicking on the link above!