The Proposal & Solid Soul - Brenda Jackson [64]
Bella smiled. “Yes, we can handle it.” And they would because what had started out as a proposal had ended up being a whole lot more and she was filled with overflowing joy at how Jason and his family had enriched her life.
He reached out his hand to her and she took it. Hers felt comforting in his and she could only be thankful for her Westmoreland man.
EPILOGUE
“WHEN I FIRST HEARD you’d gotten married I wondered about the quickness of it, Jason, but after meeting Bella I understand why,” Micah said to his brother. “She’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Jason smiled as he glanced around the huge guest house on his and Bella’s property. The weather had cooperated and the construction workers had been able to transform what had once been a ranch house into a huge fifteen room guest house for family, friends and business associates of the Westmorelands. Combining the old with the new, the builder and his crew had done a fantastic job and Jason and Bella couldn’t be more pleased.
He glanced across the way and saw Dillon was talking to Bane who’d surprised everyone by showing up. It was the first time he’d returned home since he had left nearly three years ago. Jason had gotten the chance to have a long conversation with his youngest brother. He was not the bad-assed kid of yesteryears but standing beside Dillon in his naval officer’s uniform, the family couldn’t be more proud of the man he had become. But there still was that pain behind the sharpness of Bane’s eyes. Although he hadn’t mentioned Crystal’s name, everyone in the family knew the young woman who’d been Bane’s first love, his fixation probably since puberty, was still in his thoughts and probably had a permanent place in his heart. He could only imagine the conversation Dillon was having with Bane since they both had intense expressions on their faces.
“So you’ve not given up on Crystal?” Dillon asked his youngest brother.
Bane shook his head. “No. A man can never give up on the woman he loves. She’s in my blood and I believe that no matter where she is, I’m in hers.” Bane paused a moment. “But that’s the crux of my problem. I have no idea where she is.”
Bane then studied Dillon’s features. “And you’re sure that you don’t?”
Dillon inhaled deeply. “Yes, I’m being honest with you, Bane. When the Newsomes moved away they didn’t leave anyone a forwarding address. I just think they wanted to put as much distance between you and them as possible. But I’ll still go on record and say that I think the time apart for you and Crystal was a good thing. She was young and so were you. The two of you were headed for trouble and both of you needed to grow up. I am proud of the man you’ve become.”
“Thanks, but one day when I have a lot of time I’m going to find her, Dillon, and nobody, her parents or anyone, will keep me from claiming what’s mine.”
Dillon saw the intense look in Bane’s face and only hoped that wherever Crystal Newsome was that she loved Bane just as much as Bane still loved her.
JASON GLANCED OVER AT Bella who was talking to her parents. The Bostwicks had surprised everyone by flying in for the reception. So far they’d been on their best behavior, probably because they were still in awe by the fact that Jason was related to Thorn Westmoreland—racing legend; Stone Westmoreland—aka Rock Mason, New York Times bestselling author; Jared Westmoreland, whose reputation as a divorce attorney was renowned; Senator Reggie Westmoreland, and that Dillon was the CEO of Blue Ridge. Hell, they were even speechless when they learned there was even a sheikh in the family.
He saw that Bella was pretending to hang on to her parents’ every word. He had discovered she knew how to handle them and refused to let them treat her like a child. He hadn’t had to step in once to put them in their place. Bella had managed to do that rather nicely on her own. They had opted to stay at a hotel in town, which had been fine with both him and Bella. There was only so much of her parents that either of them could take.
He inwardly smiled as