Ridge (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 4) Page 17

  Marry me? He wants to marry me?

  “Yes, love, I want to marry you.”

  Realizing she’d said the words out loud, she ducked her head again, and felt a stir of hope deep inside. Her every wish, every desire, every longing rolled into one, personified in Ridge Boudreau. How had she gotten so lucky?

  “You don’t have to convince me, cowboy. I am so head over heels in love with you I’d marry you tomorrow if you asked me. Shoot, I’d marry you today if we could get a license.”

  “I’d take her up on it before she changes her mind, bro.”

  Maggie jumped at the sound of Shiloh’s voice, and peered upward to see Ridge’s twin standing on the other side of the counter. She’d all but forgotten he’d spent the rest of the night, after helping her get the women sorted out and on their way. Ridge stood and offered his hand, helping her up, and she brushed her hands against her jean-clad thighs.

  “I’m not going to change my mind, Shiloh.” She wrapped her arms around Ridge’s waist, leaning in to his side. “Thank you for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Ridge glanced between Shiloh and her. “Did I miss something?”

  “She can explain everything to you. I wanted to let you know I’m out of here. I’m heading over to the Big House, staying a few days before going back to work.”

  “Don’t say anything to the folks, okay?” Ridge looked at Maggie, and she couldn’t doubt him, not with the love shining in his eyes. “We’ll be over later. I want to surprise them.”

  “You got it. Congratulations, you two.”

  They watched Shiloh grab his bag and head for the door, closing it quietly behind him.

  “Where were we?” Ridge smiled at Maggie, and she knew everything was going to be okay. No, better than okay. Everything was going to be perfect.

  “I think you were about to kiss me.”

  “Ah, Miss Maggie Mine, it will be my pleasure.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  EPILOGUE

  Well, another one bites the dust.

  Lucas watched Ridge throw his arm around Maggie’s shoulders, pulling her against his side, while his momma smiled indulgently at whatever he said. Maggie laid her head on Ridge’s shoulder, smiling indulgently at her fiancée. The look of pure joy on his brother’s face, the happiness radiating from him, elicited a pang of envy deep inside Lucas, though he quickly quashed the emotion. He was thrilled his brother had found somebody to love. Ridge, more than most, deserved happiness, though Lucas wondered how Shiloh felt about his twin meeting his soulmate.

  “Bro, good to see you. Things slowing down any?”

  Lucas turned at the sound of Liam’s voice. His brother had showed up a few minutes ago, late as usual. It seemed like every time he came home from Dallas for a visit, Liam was up to his eyeballs with work, always at one job site or another around Shiloh Springs. Between Dad and Liam, the Boudreau Construction Company had thrived and prospered into one of the most successful in the state. Although over the past couple of months, Dad had cut back on some of the bigger projects. Oh, not enough to consider retiring, not by a long shot. But he’d become involved in helping resolve some of the serious situations revolving around the new women his sons had fallen head over heels for. Seemed like each one came with their own personal baggage, and Dad being Dad, became their rock, the constant that held things together. Dad had taken the women—and little Jamie—under his wing like he’d done with all the boys he’d welcomed into the Boudreau clan over the years. Lucas nodded to Rafe as their brother joined them.

  “The life of a reporter is never slow, bro.” Lucas took a swallow of his sweet tea before adding, “I’ve got a couple stories I’m working on. One, in particular, is giving me fits, but I’ll figure it out. Just need to do some more digging. How’re you doing, Rafe? Tessa looks happy.”

  “She’s amazing. Wedding’s getting closer, and we’re neck deep with planning and minute details, but Momma’s helping. I swear I’ve never seen her so—content.” Rafe grinned. “I just stand back and do the heavy lifting.”

  Lucas chuckled before his gaze shifted back to Ridge and Maggie. He’d met the dark-haired beauty when he’d arrived, having driven in from Dallas that afternoon, although he’d heard all about her over the last few days. Shiloh sang her praises and was working with her on setting up a nonprofit to help victims of domestic abuse, since she apparently refused to stop helping those women and children who needed her, and she was financing the new operation with her own money.

  “Guys, I’m going to grab a quick shower, before Momma notices I’m still in my work clothes. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.” Liam clapped Lucas on the shoulder, and headed upstairs.

  “I haven’t seen Chance since I got here. Heard there was some excitement over by the county line. Something to do with Maggie?”

  “Yeah, it’s a long story. Gotta ask, did you know about Ridge working with the DEA?”

  Lucas started at Rafe’s question. Ridge and the DEA—nope, he’d had no idea. “No clue. When did that happen?”

  “Apparently, he’s been working with them for years, and none of us knew. Except Shiloh, Antonio, and Dad, though he swears he only suspected what Ridge was up to, but didn’t have any cold hard facts. Turns out Ridge was working with the DEA when he met Maggie. The DEA suspected Maggie was allowing drug smugglers to run illegal contraband across her property. They tasked Ridge with finding out if she was involved, and where on her property they were moving the drugs. Of course, one look at Maggie and Ridge knew she couldn’t possibly have anything to do with smuggling illegal drugs.”

  “I can’t imagine anybody looking less like a drug runner, but looks can be deceiving.”

  “Oh, with Maggie still waters run deep. Maggie did a few things that skirted the edge of the law, but that’s been nipped in the bud. Chance and Shiloh are working with her, setting things up all legal and above board with her new initiative.”

  “Nica said something about domestic violence and a nonprofit?”

  Rafe nodded. “Maggie was helping women and kids get away from their abusers, acting as a waystation or stop-gap along an underground network. The thing is, what she was doing wasn’t exactly on the up-and-up, legally speaking, and skirted the edges of the law. The stress was eating her up inside. Now Momma is helping her find some property where she can set up a safe place where these women and children can get help through legal channels. Chance is arranging legal representation, getting attorneys to do pro bono work, because most of the time, they can’t afford to fight their spouses or significant others in court. On the plus side, Maggie’s loaded, and she’s willing to invest a big chunk of money into the project.”

  “Underground network? The kind that helps provide new identities and relocation for the victims?” Lucas glanced across the space at Maggie, appreciating her on a whole new level. “I did some research for a story about this exact situation about six months back for a series of articles we ran. I might be able to point her toward some people who can help.”

  “Figured you’d know people who know people, bro.” Rafe grinned and slapped him on the back before turning serious. “You sure you’re okay? You look tired. Anything I can do to help?”

  “I’m good, I promise. Guess I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long. I’ve been spending a lot of time looking for Renee. I can’t shake the feeling she needs me, that she’s in trouble.”

  Without a word, Rafe pulled him into a hug. Lucas slapped his brother on the back a couple of times, appreciating the familial show of affection and support. Rafe knew how long and hard Lucas searched for his sister, ever since they’d been separated as children and forced into the foster care system. They’d been separated almost immediately, and Renee had been adopted out, and Lucas lost all contact with his baby sister.

  “I can’t believe nobody’s been able to find anything on her. It’s not like she disappeared off the face of the earth.”

  “I’m not giving up. R
enee’s out there and I have to find her.”

  “You will. I know it.”

  “Son, good to have you home.” Lucas smiled as Rafe jumped at the sound of their father’s voice. He’d seen his father approaching, but Rafe’s back was to him, and he hadn’t heard him coming.

  “It’s good to be home, Dad. You’re looking well.”

  “Can’t complain. Your momma takes good care of me.” Douglas turned to Rafe. “Son, mind if I have a moment with your brother?”

  “Sure, Dad.” Rafe put his hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “We’ll talk more later, okay?”

  “I’ll be here.”

  As Rafe walked away, Lucas leaned against the doorjamb between the open foyer and the kitchen, where most of the family had gathered to celebrate Ridge and Maggie’s love. He didn’t fight his grin when Nica jumped onto Ridge’s back and wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering something in his ear that had him laughing out loud. He loved this big, crazy family.

  Douglas stood at his side, watching the mingling of his sons, his daughter, and their loved ones and smiled indulgently, before turning to Lucas and handing him a folded piece of paper. Lucas stayed silent, knowing his father would tell him what he wanted him to know when he was ready. Douglas was a stoic man, but when he loved, he loved fully and completely, and his family was the most important thing in the world.

  “I had one of my Army buddies do some digging. I didn’t want to say anything, not until we had something concrete.”

  Though he was a wordsmith and made a living finding the right words, Lucas couldn’t describe the sensation that swept through him at the seriousness of his father’s words, the somber inflection underlying the cautious, yet optimistic undertone. It felt like he was encased in ice, frozen, immobile except for the indrawn breath that caught in his chest.

  “Tell me.”

  “We found Renee.”

  Thank you for reading Ridge, Book #4 in the Texas Boudreau Brotherhood series. I hope you enjoyed Ridge and Maggie’s story.

  Want to find out more about Lucas Boudreau and the excitement and adventure he’s about to plunge headfirst into? Keep reading for an excerpt from his book, Lucas, Book #5 in the Texas Boudreau Brotherhood. Available at all major e-book and print vendors.

  Lucas (Book #5 Texas Boudreau Brotherhood series) © Kathy Ivan

  Bad weather delayed Lucas’s homecoming by a couple of hours. After leaving Fort Worth, he’d had to pull over a couple of times, because the torrential rain made visibility impossible. His wipers hadn’t been up to the job, even on the highest setting, and since he wasn’t on a deadline, he could take his time.

  The decision to head for Shiloh Springs had been a spur of the moment one, even though he’d been home a few weeks ago to celebrate with Ridge and his pretty new lady, Maggie, and catch up with the rest of the family. Rafe and Tessa’s wedding was still a few months away, but he’d never seen his brother happier. Antonio and Brody also seemed to radiate happiness, especially when they were around their newfound ladies.

  Exhausted from investigating his latest story, the one he’d turned in the day before, he’d crashed for twenty-four hours straight. The investigative work for the story turned ugly early on, and the more he dug, the harder it became to stay objective. He had to hand it to his brothers, because they had to deal with the scum of the earth on a regular basis. As an investigative reporter, he only came in contact with slimy characters when he was researching, making sure he had his facts straight, and that his sources were impeccable. This story, though, it got to him, crawled beneath his skin and into his brain until he saw it, lived it, breathed it even in his sleep.

  Shaking his head, he realized he’d been so engrossed in his thoughts, he’d missed his exit off the interstate, and he’d have to backtrack through the southern part of Shiloh Springs county instead of heading straight to the Big House.

  Heading down Main Street, everything looked the same as he had when he’d been a boy. Not a whole lot changed in the small town, and that’s the way he liked it. He liked knowing even if he wasn’t living here full time, when he came back home, everything stayed exactly as it had been when he’d left. Oh, sure, a few things changed. Shops closed. New ones opened. Folks moved away and new ones took their places. But the essence, the heart, of Shiloh Springs remained.

  Silhouetted in his headlights, he spotted a woman leisurely walking along the sidewalk, and immediately his chest tightened. His breath caught in his throat, because he recognized her.

  Jillian Monroe.

  Jill, the woman he’d known most of his life. They’d grown up together. Gone to school together. Shared a first kiss together. She’d been his first crush, all the way back in the sixth grade. He’d hated it when she’d left and gone away to college back East. Hated every minute she was gone, though he’d never admitted it to anybody. But when she came back, she was changed. Different in a way he couldn’t put his finger on. The laughing, friendly, loving Jill disappeared underneath a layer of silence, withdrawn and missing the spark she’d always had burning deep inside.

  And she wouldn’t talk to him. Oh, she never went out of her way to deliberately avoid him, but the spontaneity, the joie de vivre, her zest for life, disappeared.

  Slowing down, he rolled down the passenger-side window, and called out to her. “Jill. Want a ride?”

  LINKS TO BUY LUCAS:

  www.kathyivan.com/books.html

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  BOOKS BY KATHY IVAN

  www.kathyivan.com/books.html

  TEXAS BOUDREAU BROTHERHOOD

  Rafe

  Antonio

  Brody

  Ridge

  Lucas (Coming Soon)

  NEW ORLEANS CONNECTION SERIES

  Desperate Choices

  Connor’s Gamble

  Relentless Pursuit

  Ultimate Betrayal

  Keeping Secrets

  Sex, Lies and Apple Pies

  Deadly Justice

  Wicked Obsession

  Hidden Agenda

  Spies Like Us

  Fatal Intentions

  New Orleans Connection Series Box Set: Books 1-3

  New Orleans Connection Series Box Set: Books 4-7

  CAJUN CONNECTION SERIES

  Saving Sarah

  Saving Savannah

  Saving Stephanie

  Guarding Gabi

  LOVIN’ LAS VEGAS SERIES

  It Happened In Vegas

  Crazy Vegas Love

  Marriage, Vegas Style

  A Virgin In Vegas

  Vegas, Baby!

  Yours For The Holidays

  Match Made In Vegas

  One Night In Vegas

  Last Chance In Vegas

  Lovin’ Las Vegas (box set books 1-3)

  OTHER BOOKS BY KATHY IVAN

  Second Chances (Destin
y’s Desire Book #1)

  Losing Cassie (Destiny’s Desire Book #2)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  USA TODAY Bestselling author Kathy Ivan spent most of her life with her nose between the pages of a book. It didn’t matter if the book was a paranormal romance, romantic suspense, action and adventure thrillers, sweet & spicy, or a sexy novella. Kathy turned her obsession with reading into the next logical step, writing.

  Her books transport you to the sultry splendor of the French Quarter in New Orleans in her award-winning romantic suspense, or to Las Vegas in her contemporary romantic comedies. Kathy’s new romantic suspense series features, Texas Boudreau Brotherhood, features alpha heroes in small town Texas. Gotta love those cowboys!

  Kathy tells stories people can’t get enough of; reuniting old loves, betrayal of trust, finding kidnapped children, psychics and sometimes even a ghost or two. But one thing they all have in common – love and a happily ever after).

  More about Kathy and her books can be found at

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