free.”
Even though the topic meant downshifting a bit emotionally, Lil know it needed to be discussed before they could move forward. “I’m so glad. Jeremy had the solution?”
“He had a large piece of the puzzle. My parents worked the rest out. However, his insight was invaluable as far as debugging the system in time to meet our deadline.”
Lil absently played with the hair just behind one of his ears. “Speaking of you parents-are they staying for the wedding?”
“I have no idea. For now, they are staying with the Andrades. It’s going to take us a while to put the past behind us, but they seem to sincerely want to be part of my life.”
“You should have Dominic invite them, Jake. They’re family.”
He smiled down at her. “Is this what I’m signing on for-a lifetime of you telling me what to do?”
“Absolutely,” she said without missing a beat.
He sobered suddenly and said, “I love you, Lil.”
She kissed his lips softly. “And I love you, Jake.”
“Do you want to go back to work now?”
Lil rubbed herself playfully against him. “Surprisingly, not as much as I thought I would.”
Within moments she was grateful that Jake had invested in a large and remarkably private helicopter interior. He whipped open the door and laid her across the off-white carpeted flooring.
With precision, he undressed himself and then her. Then his hands slowed as they explored her, worshipped her, guided her to a place where coherent thought was no longer possible. Although the passion remained strong between them, this time there was no need to rush. Knowing that they had the rest of their lives added a depth to their lovemaking. Each touch meant more. Each kiss lingered longer so they could savor it.
He paused to put on a condom and whispered against her lips, “I want to do this right. First marriage and then a houseful of kids.”
She laughed against his lips. “Don’t you mean first marriage, then sex, then kids…”
“Oh, no, I never agreed with that order,” he said and claimed her mouth with his.
She lost herself in his touch, his kiss, the feel of him teasing her wetness and said, “I could be persuaded to your way of thinking.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said, and his best did not disappoint.
Completely spent, she collapsed onto his chest. He rolled onto his side and tucked her head onto his strong bicep. “Convinced?”
She winked at him and said, “I’m not sure yet. We might have to do that again.”
He growled down at her and said, “Really?”
“The whole thing or just that last part. Whatever.”
He ran a teasing finger from her jaw, lightly across the swell of her breasts and down the curve of one of her hips. “I’ve always loved helicopters, but now I have an even deeper appreciation for them.”
Lil reached down, wrapped her hand softly around the part of him that was already coming back to life and asked, “Is your private jet this comfortable?”
He hardened in her hand. “I’ll have new carpeting put in all of my vehicles.”
A good idea, but one that would have to wait.
For now, the helicopter provided just enough privacy for Lil to confidently trail kisses down Jake’s flat abdomen and lower.
Chapter Seventeen
The noise of three generations of Andrades was not as overwhelming as Jake remembered it being, especially not since it included a dash of Corisis and even some Waltons. The rehearsal dinner was certainly not a high society event, but it was filled with laughter and plenty of children.
Colby bounced happily on Jake’s knee while the main course was being served. Other families might have sent the children to another room to eat, but the Andrades merely extended their table and their hearts to include all in what could only be described as a feast.
Lil was seated next to him, happily chatting about babies with one of Stephan’s cousins.
Victor Andrade stood at the head of the table and the room fell silent. “It is my great pleasure to open my home-well, the Andrade home-” His brother raised a glass of wine to him with a tolerant smile. “…to our new family. Some people become family through blood. Some people through marriage. Others find their way into your life and your heart through friendship. Raise a glass to all of our family tonight…those who share our name and those who we have come to care deeply for. There is no greater fortune than to be surrounded by so much love. Dominic and Abby, may your life and your table always be as full as it is tonight.”
Dominic raised his glass and drank to the toast. Everyone followed suit. Abby used her napkin to wipe away tears that were running freely down her cheeks.
Jake looked to his left and saw his parents watching him quietly. He lifted the child on his lap and held her out toward his father. “Dad, do you want to hold her?”
His father took her into his arms as if she were the most fragile of creatures. “So, this will be our first grandchild?”
Jake’s heart swelled. “Yes. Lil had the biological father sign off his rights before she was born. I’m going to adopt her the same day I marry Lil.”
His mother took her from her husband and hugged her. “Jim, it looks like we’re going to have to start believing in Santa Claus.”
His father turned and looked at his son and said, “We will, Jake. This time we will. I could even write an algorithm to prove how he could make it around the world in one night.”
Colby reached out and pulled on her future grandfather’s nose. He laughed, “This one is going to be trouble, Jake.”
Jake smiled and glanced at Lil. “Just like her mom.”
Lil turned around when she heard Jake’s voice. “What are you talking about?”
Jake put his arm around Lil and said, “How every life needs a little chaos.”
“Wait, I’m the chaos? You’ll pay for that!”
He laughed. He didn’t mind the way she doled out punishment.
In fact, he rather liked it.
His father asked, “Jake, whatever happened to Jeremy? We haven’t seen him in days.”
“It seems that his makeover is going to take longer than we thought. The consultant we hired thought it would go faster if he was on site for a while.”
Lil laughed. “Sounds serious. He’s that determined to get Alethea?”
Jake nodded solemnly. “Men will do all sorts of crazy things for women. He did give me a gift, though, before he left.”
Lil cocked her head to the side.
Jake took out his phone and said, “He hacked into a certain news station’s files and made a ring tone for me. Now whenever you call me, I hear this.”
Lil’s voice played clearly from his phone when he pressed a button. “Of course I find Jake Walton sexy, who wouldn’t?”
Lil slapped his shoulder. “Out of that whole interview, that’s all you heard, wasn’t it?”
Jake nodded with a huge smile on his face.
He played it again and held the phone out of her reach when she grabbed for it. “It’s all that mattered.”
Chapter Eighteen
