LLucy’s Revenge(Divine Creek Ranch 15)(142)
Charity nudged Grace and pointed at Lucy’s hand. “See? I told ya! I knew something was going on with those three earlier.”
Lucy giggled and held up her hand so they could all see, and the girls crowded around to congratulate her and ogle the second engagement ring of the night.
Grace hugged her and said, “I’m so happy for the three of you. I just knew you were meant to be, despite the struggles you’ve gone through.”
Jayne and Seth came over then and gave her hugs and congratulated the men. Lucy pulled Jayne aside and said, “Are you up to planning a wedding, sis?”
Jayne looked shocked for a second but then smiled and nodded. “On one condition. I want Grace to help us. She’s a pro at planning weddings and receptions.”
They asked Grace and she positively glowed with excitement at the prospect.
Lucy noticed that Chloe and the rest of the Lusty folks had left and Grace said, “They told me they’d be back before too long. I think we’ll be seeing plenty of the folks from Lusty in years to come.”
Jayne nodded. “Uh-huh. I heard that Grandma Kate is even planning a visit sometime.”
They celebrated with several more dances and Ethan even proposed a toast for Lucy, Beck, and Patrick. The day had started out all right and then gone from bad to worse, but all she could think now was that it was magical.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The candles flickered later that night as they lay in repose, limbs entwined, with her in the middle. Lucy’s body tingled with the satisfaction of so many orgasms she’d lost count.
Memories of the day came to her in disjointed chunks, the good thankfully outweighing the bad, and she suddenly remembered one of the high notes.
“Patrick?”
Patrick made a soft sound of acknowledgment in his throat and she stroked his golden chest hair as she said, “I met your mother today.”
Evidently that got his attention because he sat up enough to look into her eyes. He turned and rested his hand on her bare abdomen. “You did? When?”
“This morning, before the day went to hell in a handbasket. I forgot all about it with everything else that was happening.”
He frowned and Beck sat up, too. “What did she say?”
“She wanted to meet me. She wanted to know if the rumors she was hearing were true.”
Patrick frowned harder. “Did she upset you? Was she spouting the same garbage as my father?”
“No, no,” she said as she gave him a soothing stroke. “She apologized for not being more involved and for not speaking up on your behalf in the last few years.”
“She did?”
“Yes. She wants to be involved with PJ. She found out about the ultimatum. I think that was the catalyst for her visit.”
“Is she siding with my dad?”
“No. She told me about being sick for so long while you were going through all the trouble with Elizabeth.”
Patrick nodded. “She couldn’t have done much even if she’d wanted to.”
“She told me. She wanted me to tell you that she’ll deal with your father and that you shouldn’t worry about the custody suit anymore.”
Patrick chewed his lip and then said, “I saw a voice mail message from my father earlier this evening. I didn’t listen to it because I didn’t want to deal with more of his bullshit tonight. In the morning was soon enough.”
“Well, listen to that message in the morning. I’ll bet it’s good news.”
Patrick laid back and let out a deep sigh. “I wonder how he’ll take it when he finds out that we’re getting married.”
Lucy said, “He’ll have the outward appearance that he wants, and perhaps he’ll let us alone to live our lives. Remember when Chloe mentioned how her intuition was talking to her when she saw my vehicle and it made her take a closer look, so that she’d see Emily Anne behind the wheel?”
“Yeah?” Beck said as he stroked his callused fingers along the valley between her breasts. A soft shudder rippled through her and she almost forgot what they were talking about.
He smiled knowingly at her and after focusing her thoughts, she got back on track. “I have a funny, intuitive feeling that there’s more to know about Tabitha Lester. Since that day Val told me he thought he recognized her, I’ve been thinking that her comeuppance is on the way.” She sighed and shrugged. “It’s nothing more than a gut feeling. I still don’t understand why some people would set out to hurt others like that. Purposely wish them ill and make trouble for them, or hurt them. Sometimes I wondered if that shithead I was engaged to, Chuck, ever found someone to marry him and his high society family.”