“For what?”
“For coming here with me today. A hospital is not the most felicitous place to spend the first day of our married life together, but I needed to be here with my father. I didn’t want him to be alone, particularly if there was no hope for his survival.”
“I know you did,” Sophie said solemnly. “Your protective streak is what made me fall in love with you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, indeed. As for our first day together, we have our entire future ahead of us, and this is a perfect beginning. I suspect that when we’ve grown old and gray, we will look back on today with great fondness.”
Pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, Jack tightened his arms around Sophie. It was an appealing thought, growing old with the love of his life.
“I only regret,” she added with a hint of exasperation, “that my father took so long to agree to our marriage.”
“At least he acted out of love for you. In all honesty, I’m glad you have your parents to cherish and protect you, even one as hardheaded as your father. My mother and my adoptive parents were just as protective. And I have no doubt we will feel the same protectiveness toward our children.”
Turning her head, Sophie glanced back at him, searching his face. “Is that a promise?”
“Absolutely.”
Apparently satisfied with his answer, she relaxed against him again and sighed with profound contentment.
Jack felt a similarly intense contentment as he held Sophie and marveled at his good fortune. Remarkably, he’d found the same kind of passionate love his mother had known, an all-encompassing ardor where no sacrifice was too large. But his would be the kind that only grew richer and deeper with time. A passionate, greedy, breath-stealing love, the kind his family was famous for.
“I am an incredibly lucky man,” Jack said against Sophie’s hair.
To his surprise, she didn’t concur. “I don’t know about that. I would say that you made your own luck by pursuing me against all odds.”
“True.”
“I never stood the slightest chance of resisting you, did I?”
He heard the smile in her voice—and in his own voice when he responded. “Not the slightest inkling of a fraction.”
Sophie’s soft laughter warmed his heart. “My aunt was right. You are a prince of rogues, Lord Jack Wilde.” She turned fully in his embrace and lifted her face for his kiss. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
My heartfelt thanks to the wonderful vets
and caretakers who helped my mare Riva recover:
Dr. Ross Rich and the Cave Creek Clinic crew,
Jean Franzmeier, Judy Weiss, Heather Bruch, and Dr. Debra Tibbetts.
And especially to Dr. Charmian Wright,
who’s always been there
when my “kids” needed her most.
BY NICOLE JORDAN
Legendary Lovers
Princess Charming
Lover Be Mine
The Courtship Wars