Fall Into Temptation (Blue Moon Book #2)(97)

Franklin, looking dapper in his dark suit, made a lap around their little circle pouring a little for everyone, including a sip for Summer and one for Evan as well. Her son was thrilled at being included with the adults.

Niko joined them, snapping away with his camera, trying to make the most of the day’s dying light.

Gia pulled Beckett’s jacket tighter around her, and let his scent envelop her. God, she missed him. She missed his touch, his laugh, those sterling eyes on her, always watching. She could and would forgive. But she couldn’t just forget the hurt, the rejection.

She looked around their cozy circle, at Summer and Carter glowing with love for one another, excited about the start of their family. She wanted that and wouldn’t settle for less. Not this time.

Her father set the bottle down and joined Phoebe where she leaned against the warm brick of the fireplace. Her deep violet gown a compliment to the bridesmaid’s dresses.

“I’d like to propose a toast,” Franklin announced.

Gia could feel the shift in mood immediately. She glanced at Summer and saw her friend’s mile-wide grin. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. Could this be it? Could her father be ready to reach for his own happy ending?

“To family,” Franklin continued. “To the blood that binds us and the love that forges us. As Summer and Carter begin their own family, they blend two others. It’s this blending that builds community. This blending that allows for an old restaurateur to fall for a beautiful farmer and decide that he finally wanted to live happily ever after.”

He pivoted toward Beckett, who tossed him a velvet jewelers box. Phoebe’s jaw fell open as Franklin neatly sank to one knee. There was a significance in having Beckett keep the ring for him, Gia realized. A message to his mother that he was on board. Recognizing this, Phoebe’s eyes welled up.

“Phoebe Pierce, would you do me the honor of being my wife, of blending our two loud, crazy, wonderful families, of being my partner —”

Franklin didn’t get to finish what was sure to be a sweet sentiment because Phoebe was kissing him.

Gia looked up at Beckett. His eyes looked the tiniest bit damp as he watched his mother look into the face of the man she loved as he slid the ring on her finger.

“Oh!” Phoebe said, admiring the ring on her finger. “I just don’t think I can possibly take any more happiness this year.”

“Well, then you’re not going to want to hear what we have to say,” Carter began.

“If you say the word triplets I will have a heart attack on the spot,” Phoebe threatened.

Carter pulled the roll of paper out from behind his back and opened it on the small patio table.

Phoebe and Franklin peered at it and everyone else crowded around.

“This is the farm,” Phoebe said, frowning at the map.

“And this,” Carter said pointing to a swath of land, “is where you and Franklin can build your new home.”

Phoebe’s fingers flew to her mouth.

“It was Beckett’s idea,” Carter told her. Gia’s eyes darted back to Beckett who was bouncing Aurora on his hip.

“We talked to Franklin about it when he asked us for our permission,” Jax chimed in. “He gave us your list of must-haves in a house and we talked to Calvin.”

Carter peeled back the top paper to reveal a house plan and elevation sketches. “And this is what he came up with. It’s rough and you can change anything you want, but we wanted you get an idea of what you could build.”

“What’s that upstairs?” Phoebe tapped the second floor plan.

“That’s the bunk room. For all your grandkids,” Beckett told her.

Gia bit her lip as Phoebe’s mouth opened and no words came out. She kissed Franklin again and then pulled each of her boys in for a hard hug, strangling the breath out of each one.

Beckett closed his eyes tight as his mother embraced him. Aurora patted Phoebe on the head. “Hi Miss Phoebe!”

“Hi, sweetheart,” she sniffled. “I guess I was wrong. I have a little bit more room for happiness.”

Beckett raised his glass with his free hand, his gaze locked on to her face. “A toast. To family.”





36





Beckett was just early enough for the first Debate Club meeting to handle a little personal business first. He burst into the second conference room on the left without knocking. A half-dozen faces looked up from the large conference table and smiled expectantly.

“I need your help,” he announced.

“It’s about damn time,” Willa said with a satisfied smile.

Ellery grinned at him from the front of the room.

He glanced at the board and noted a large X had been drawn over Paul’s picture. “Phase One” was written underneath. His own picture, one taken at a recent chamber event, had been added next to Gia’s above the words “Phase Two.”

“What’s all this?”

Ellery joined him at the front of the room. “You’re a stubborn man, Beckett. You didn’t know how much you wanted Gia until you couldn’t have her.”

He turned to his paralegal. She was dressed in platform suede boots and a dress with spider web sleeves. “You’re diabolical.”

“Thank you,” Ellery said with a mock bow. “And now that you know what you want, we’re here to help you get it.”