The Midnight Hour - Brenda Jackson [118]
"Yes, Christy is beautiful and the brothers are very protective of her," Nettie whispered as if letting Tori in on a secret when it was a fact that everyone knew.
Corinthians Grant didn't say anything as a smile touched her lips. She gazed past where Christy was talking to her brothers to the man standing alone, off in the distance and watching Christy with keen eyes.
Alex Maxwell.
She knew that the Madaris brothers were clueless that their baby sister and Alex were attracted to each other. She wondered what would happen once they found out. She could tell by the way Alex was staring at Christy that all was not well between them. In fact, it seemed that Christy was deliberately ignoring him, something Corinthians had noticed her doing on a number of other occasions. But Alex was definitely not ignoring Christy and Corinthians had a feeling that as far as Alex was concerned, there was unfinished business between them.
"Well, I don't have too long to wait now," Tori said, breaking into Corinthians's thoughts.
Corinthians turned around. "No, you don't and you and Sir Drake deserve to be happy. After all you have gone through, I don't know of any other couple who deserves happiness more," she said softly as tears clouded her eyes. She would always have deep love and affection for the man who had helped her husband rescue her from the clutches of a crazed kidnapper almost two years ago.
"And I agree," Nettie added. "Sir Drake was there for Ashton and almost single-handedly rescued him out of that forest fire when the park rangers had wanted to give up. But of course Sir Drake wouldn't let them." Nettie giggled. "He even threatened to blow off their heads with his Beretta if they tried."
Tori shook her head, smiling. She had heard the stories of those two incidents involving Corinthians and Ashton, as well as Drake's other escapades and how he took pride putting the fear of God into people and wouldn't hesitate carrying out any threat he'd made.
"Well, I plan to cool him down some," she said, smiling brightly. "He won't be taking unnecessary risks from now on. He'll be too busy playing the role of dad than of Rambo."
It seemed that nothing but blessings had been coming their way lately. Drake had made a decision to leave the Agency and start his own security company since he'd had such good success with the one he had installed.
"Is it true, Tori? Did you and Drake get a wedding gift from the president and first lady?" Nettie asked excitedly, as she stepped back from the window to adjust a curl that had fallen out of place atop Tori's head.
Tori smiled. "Yes, it's true." The president had been grateful for her and Drake's rescue of his niece.
"All right, ladies. It's time to go and you know how your father believes in things starting on time, Corinthians."
Everyone turned when Corinthians's mother, Maudlin Avery, entered the room. Corinthians's father, the Reverend Nathan Avery, was ecstatic that Drake was giving up the cloak-and-dagger business and settling down and getting married. He had eagerly agreed to perform the ceremony.
Maudlin took one look at Tori and a huge smile touched her lips and tears formed in her eyes. "You look beautiful, dear, and I know Drake will thank God every day for bringing you back into his life."
Back into his life, Tori thought as a smile also touched her lips. "And I will thank God every day as well for bringing him back into mine."
It was a gorgeous day for a wedding, and a few minutes later, outside under the beauty