The Perfect Stroke (Lucas Brothers #1)(80)

I lean in and kiss CC’s cheek, handing her the note I fixed for her earlier.

“You look beautiful. I’ve never been more proud of my son. He did great.”

“Ida Sue… I don’t know how to… you’ve done so much for me,” she whispers.

“That’s what family does, sweet cheeks. And you’re family. You’re my daughter.”

“Ida…”

“My beautiful, amazing daughter. If your name was Chrysanthemum, you’d be perfect.” She laughs, just like I intended for her to.

“I’m not changing my name,” she insists. “Well, I guess after today, I will be a Lucas.” She blushes.

“Dang straight! The sooner, the better. So let’s get this show on the road,” Jansen says. “Besides, Ida Sue made chicken salad for the reception. I want my hands on that.”

“That’s how you got such a fine catch, Ida Sue?” asks Mer. “I always heard the way to a man’s heart was his stomach.”

“Honey, that’s just horseradish. The way to lock in your man is definitely wrangling him by the milk snake.”

“Milk snake?” Mer asks, already laughing along with CC.

“Good Lord, woman,” Jansen says, and I wink at my new daughter. “Let’s go before you say something else I’ll have to spank you for.”

“Okay, sweetheart. See you outside, girls,” I tell them just as there’s another knock on the door. Jackson comes in looking hot as the Arizona heat in the dead of summer. “Jackson dear, you clean up real nice. If I was a little younger, Jansen might have reason to be worried.”

“Ms. Ida,” Jackson says with that sexy little grin of his. “I say we give him reason to worry now.”

“On that note, we’re out of here,” Jansen grumbles just as I reach up to kiss Jackson’s cheek.

“I wouldn’t mind taking a ride on the J train,” Mer says.

Definitely going to have to keep an eye on that girl.

I take Jansen’s hand and we walk out of the room together. When we get to the front door of my ranch house, Jansen looks at me with a grin. “I know today is all about the bride, but I have to tell you Lovey, there’s never been a more beautiful woman than you are right now.”

I move into him, letting him hold me close. “Much more of that sweet talking and I’m going to have to take a ride on the J train before the I do’s.”

“The shindig is set up at the end of the yard. We do pass the little one’s playhouse on the way.”

“I do love a man who thinks on his feet.”

“And here I thought you liked it best when I was off my feet,” he says, sneaking me out and towards the small playhouse.

A new daughter, a happy son, and a ride on the J train.

Life is damn good.





I watch as Mer takes off to walk down the aisle. She’s marching in the middle of all of Gray’s brothers—a fact that made her very happy. That leaves me and Jackson alone in the small bedroom.

“You about ready to get this show on the road, Claude?” Jackson asks and I turn to look at him.

“Can you give me just a minute? I need to get my nerves together,” I tell him, my heart beating hard in my chest.

“Banger would be so proud of you, y’know,” he says, nodding.

“I know,” I tell him, and I finally do.

“Okay, I’ll be right outside the door.”

I watch as he walks out and then I turn to the letter that Ida Sue handed me. My hands shake as I open it up, almost afraid to read it. I’m so happy. I have everything I could have dreamed of and I’m about to marry the man I love more than life itself. With all that good, will this be the bad that I’ve always had in the past?



Dear CC,

I wanted to take a quiet moment to welcome you into the family. Us girls get overemotional and the last thing you need on your wedding day is more tears. I know your new family is crazy. Some are a little mixed-up, but through it all, we stick together and weather any storm, because that’s what family does. They stand up to the world and say f*ck you. It doesn’t matter what it throws at us; what matters is that we have each other’s backs—always.

So as you walk down that aisle today, know that you, my darling daughter, are not only gaining a very handsome husband. You are gaining a family and you will never be alone again. Although I suppose I should warn you, that part isn’t quite as great at times as it might sound.

Finally, I know that you gave your garage to Jackson, even after you and Gray insisted I take the money back for it. So, I did the only thing a mother could do when faced with two stubborn children: I bought you a new garage closer to home. Because this is your home now, darling girl. I know this garage won’t be the same as your father’s, but that one will live on through Jackson, who as much as I can gather, loved the man too. This garage will be all yours, and full of your father’s memories because that’s where we carry the ones we love: in our hearts. They never leave us because pieces of them are sewn into who we are. We take them with us. We teach our children about them. We celebrate them. Love never dies, my girl—it just grows.

Now don’t you dare try to pay me back. If you do, I’ll have to skin your hide. I wouldn’t mind if you had me a grandkid or two, though. Children keep you young, so I figure if I have about a hundred of those little boogers running around, I’ll be good.