Kathleen Brooks - Secrets Collide

The music changed and the doors opened. His father stood proud as he escorted Gemma down the aisle. Cy never saw the huge smile on Jake’s face or the joyful tears from his mother in the front row. No, he only saw his glowing bride as she floated down the aisle.

He took a step down and offered her his arm as they stepped in front of Father James. “You’re breathtaking,” he whispered to her as she grinned up at him.

“And I love you,” Gemma said as she squeezed his hand.

Cy mouthed the words back to her as Father James started the ceremony. He happily pledged his love and life to Gemma. When the priest pronounced them husband and wife, Cy grabbed his bride and kissed her with all the love he had.

Laughter and cheers erupted as Cy scooped Gemma into his arms and ran down the aisle. She wrapped her arm around his neck, tossed her head back and laughed with such joy that he knew their life would be filled with nothing but happiness.

The bridal couple took a seat at the head table as the town sat around them talking gleefully and eating dinner. Gemma leaned over to Cy and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I wanted to give you your wedding present tonight, but I’m too excited to wait,” Gemma whispered.

“Sure. I won’t turn down gifts. Does it involve that thing you do with your leg and then you bend . . .”

“I’ve learned a new trick. Think we can escape?”

“A new trick? Let’s go,” he winked.

“You think they’ll notice?”

“Have some faith in your husband, Mrs. Davies. I was a spy after all. They’ll never even miss us.”

Cy casually stood up and offered his hand to his wife. He led her around the perimeter of the reception, talking to friends, before leading her toward the small break in the white curtains hanging from the tent. Now he understood the goofy little grins his brothers always wore, because he knew he had the same look as he looked down at Gemma.

“So, what’s the plan, super spy?”

“We’re going to walk right out of here and no one will notice.” Cy stopped her near the hidden exit and looked around. When he was sure no one was looking, they slipped through the curtains and into the moonlit night. “Now, about that new trick?”

“Come right this way, husband.”

“I’d follow you anywhere, wife.” And he would.

Marcy Davies smiled to herself as her family talked around her. Cy thought he was so sneaky, but she always knew when he had slipped out of the house as a boy and tonight was no different. She had seen the look in her son’s and new daughter-in-law’s eyes. And definitely didn't miss them sneaking out of the tent.

Marcy nudged her husband of forty years and nodded to where Cy and Gemma had just been standing, “It looks as if your son couldn’t wait to begin the honeymoon. Oh, Jake! I just know there’ll be more grandbabies on the way soon,” she whispered as she wiped a tear from her eye. Her family gave her so much happiness.

“Just make sure you don't die of happiness too soon,” he whispered back with a grin on his face that Marcy still found sexy. Oh no, she was very much alive tonight and if her husband kept smiling at her like that, Cy and Gemma wouldn’t be the only ones sneaking out of the tent.

“You’re right, honey. I can’t die happy until I have all my grandbabies. Tammy and Pierce . . .” Marcy’s eyes narrowed on Tammy and Pierce and the rest of the Davies family gathered around Gemma and Cy. “Tammy? Is that apple juice?”

“Um . . .” Tammy stuttered.

“And your dress looks different than it did last month.” Marcy paused as she looked Tammy over. Tammy fidgeted under the examination. “Oh my gosh. You’re pregnant!”

“We are, but we wanted Gemma and Cy to have their day before we announced it. So, thanks for blowing the surprise, Ma,” Pierce tried to chide.

“Well, bless y’all’s hearts,” Marcy cried as she wrapped her dear daughter-in-law up in a hug.

Miss Lily and a group of townspeople came over to offer their congratulations. “Keeneston will be in full bloom by spring,” Miss Lily said as she and her sisters dabbed their eyes.

Ahmed stood by the door and watched his love dance. She was beautiful. But the man dancing with her didn’t deserve her. He had to remind himself he couldn’t claim her by punching the guy out. She couldn’t know his feelings until Sergei was dead. Until then, he had to love from afar. It was starting to hurt, but Ahmed tried to keep the hope alive that someday he would be where Cy was today—married to the love of his life.

“Sir,” Nabi said as the serious young man approached him with a piece of paper, “this popped up in a Pakistani newspaper. One hundred people and counting are dead in a train explosion.”

“He’s back,” Ahmed said as he glanced at the picture of destruction.

“You’re sure it’s Sergei?”

“I’m sure. He must've found a new employer. See, the minister of energy was on the train. Instead of just killing the minister, he blew the whole thing up. The high body count hides the assassination. It’s one of his old tricks.”

“What are you going to do?”

Ahmed thought about his deceased wife and child before looking up from the newspaper. His eyes automatically fell on the woman he had to love in secret as she danced around. “End this.”

Cy swung his wife around the dance floor as the crowd cheered. No one seemed to notice when they slipped back into the tent thirty minutes later. The music was fast and the floor was full of couples laughing and talking the night away. He couldn’t imagine a better night—marriage to the woman he loved more than life itself.

He pulled Gemma to him and kissed her enthusiastically before spinning her away again. “Hey, Cy,” Gemma called as she lifted her skirt and twirled.

“Yes, my love?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He pulled Gemma back to him and leaned down. “I think it’s time to go and let me show you how much I love you. Maybe if I’m a real good boy, you’ll do that thing you just did with your . . .”

Gemma blushed. “So soon? We just got back,” she giggled. “Well, if you’re a real good boy and dance with me some more, then I might show you what I can do when I bend my back like . . .”

Cy feigned shock. “You’ve been keeping secrets.”

“Not anymore. No more secrets. Just us and our new family.”

The sound of clinking caught their attention as Jake raised his glass. “A toast . . . I want to welcome Gemma to our family. Over the past couple of years, our family has more than doubled in size. By the end of next year, I'll be bouncing more babies than I can hold and my wife will be able to die happy.” The crowd laughed and Marcy smacked him even though she was smiling from ear to ear. “But our family wouldn’t be who we are today without the help, matchmaking, gossiping, and happy trigger-fingers y’all have. So, from my family to y’all—please raise your glasses to Keeneston!”

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Kathleen Brooks is the bestselling author of the Bluegrass Series. She has garnered attention as a new voice in romance with a warm Southern feel. Her books feature quirky small town characters you’ll feel like you’ve known forever, romance, humor, and mystery all mixed into one perfect glass of sweet tea.

Kathleen is an animal lover who supports rescue organizations and other non-profit organizations whose goals are to protect and save our four-legged family members.

Kathleen lives in Central Kentucky with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and a cat who thinks he’s a dog. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at Kathleen@Kathleen-Brooks.com

Check out the Website for updates on all of Kathleen's series. You can also “Like” Kathleen on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @BluegrassBrooks.

Keeneston Continues!

The Bluegrass Brothers Series will have one last installment.  The Davies brothers' stories may be told, but their brother-in-arms waits. Ahmed's book will be released in early 2014.  Be sure to like me on Facebook or follow my Blog to get updates on the release date!

Bluegrass Series

Bluegrass State of Mind

McKenna Mason, a New York City attorney with a love of all things Prada, is on the run from a group of powerful, dangerous men. McKenna turns to a teenage crush, Will Ashton, for help in starting a new life in beautiful horse country. She finds that Will is now a handsome, successful race horse farm owner. As the old flame is ignited, complications are aplenty in the form of a nasty ex-wife, an ex-boyfriend intent on killing her, and a feisty race horse who refuses to race without a kiss. Can Will and McKenna cross the finish line together, and more importantly, alive?

Risky Shot

Danielle De Luca, an ex-beauty queen who is not at all what she seems, leaves the streets of New York after tracking the criminals out to destroy her. She travels to Keeneston, Kentucky, to make her final stand by the side of her best friend McKenna Mason. While in Keeneston, Danielle meets the quiet and mysterious Mohtadi Ali Rahmen, a modern day prince. Can Mo protect Dani from the group of powerful men in New York? Or will Dani save the prince from his rigid, loveless destiny?

Dead Heat

In the third book of the Bluegrass Series, Paige Davies finds her world turned upside down as she becomes involved in her best friend’s nightmare. The strong-willed Paige doesn't know which is worse: someone trying to kill her, or losing her dog to the man she loves to hate.

FBI Agent Cole Parker can't decide whether he should strangle or kiss this infuriating woman of his dreams. As he works the case of his career, he finds that love can be tougher than bringing down some of the most powerful men in America.