Authors: Liz Crowe
Vegas Miracle (20 page)
Henri sighed and rolled over, pulling a towel over his Speedo to hide the bulge. "Your sister, she's very bossy," he grumbled but grinned at Alice as he handed over the bowl of bright orange and red morsels.
"I’m just jealous," Alice claimed around a mouthful of fruit. "Handsome, rich husband, plus hot celebrity chef other husband. What sister wouldn’t want that for herself," she grinned wickedly at Grace who rolled her eyes as Henri laughed.
"Jules, they are as high maintenance as shit, I assure you." She winced and rolled over pulling herself up to sitting in time to catch her son’s seal-wet form as he launched into her lap, Ryan coming up behind him.
"
Etes-vous dans la douleur, Maman
?" She ran a hand through his dark blonde hair. His familiar piercing blue stare made her catch a breath.
"No darling, I’m fine. Just uncomfortable. Like before you were born."
Ryan laughed and sat at the foot of Henri’s chair, grabbing a water bottle from the cooler.
"Son, your mother was a real joy to be around before you were born. And I’m guessing this next month will be just as fun."
"
Merde,
" Henri muttered.
"Yeah? Well you big strong men carry this around for a few months and see how cheerful you feel," she heaved a pillow at Henri and aimed a kick at Ryan.
Ryan pulled Liam into his lap and Grace smiled. The boy clung to his father, chattering in his ear as Ryan listened, sipping at his water, his eyes trained on Grace. The man doted on his son and Liam worshipped his father. It wasn’t always easy, but Ryan made every effort to be fair and fun and in charge, in equal measure.
With Henri’s lighter hand and Grace’s organization, the four of them managed their life together just fine. Liam Christophe Sullivan was a happy, energetic and creative little boy adored by anyone who met him. Marie Alice Cristophe was due in about four weeks, not a minute too soon as far as Grace was concerned.
"Hey!" Alice called out. "Your agent just sent the new author bio for the books."
Grace’s series had shifted, becoming a trilogy beginning in a small Michigan town the day a young boy found his brother dead in the garage, a victim of fatherly bullying. It hit best seller lists with a vengeance and the new editions had a changed author bio, written by Grace herself.
She read it aloud:
"Grace Christophe Sullivan lives with her family in Paris and Nice, France. When she isn’t visiting her sister in Detroit or her father in South Carolina, she’s enjoying America’s Playground, Las Vegas, home of her own personal miracle."
The new photo featured Grace sitting on a windswept beach in the south of France, framed between Ryan and Henri, their arms around each other. The photographer had caught them in a moment of pure laughter, which made all their faces shine.
The End
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