Page 111 of Lawbreaker

Three days later, a radiant Odalie in a white designer silk sheath dress with a bouquet of snow lilies and white roses was married to Tony in the local circuit court’s probate judge’s office. A photographer had been hired to immortalize the couple for future generations.

“You look beautiful,” Tony told his bride as he kissed her with breathless tenderness. “And I will love you until the stars burn out.”

She smiled under his hard lips. “I’ll love you just as long.”

“That wasn’t what you said on the phone just before James’s men grabbed you,” he said sternly.

“I was having morning and evening sickness and feeling faint at the time,” she replied. “And you had thrown your girlfriend at me just before I went back to my apartment!”

“I was saving you,” he said.

“From what?” she asked.

“From me, of course.”

“I didn’t want to be saved from you,” she pointed out.

“Yes, well, you didn’t make that clear, did you?”

“I made it perfectly clear. And come to think of it...”

“Ahem.” Stasia moved between them. “We’re here to get married,” she murmured. “Not to start World War Three.”

Tony frowned. “Is that why we’re here?” he asked Odalie.

“Don’t ask me. I just came in to get directions to the restroom,” she said with a straight face.

Stasia turned to the amused probate judge. “Could you go ahead and marry them? Then they can argue about why they’re here without taking up your time.”

The probate judge burst out laughing.

They had a huge spread at the ranch for anyone in the neighborhood who wanted to stop by to see the bride and groom.

There was a full house, too. Odalie had fun bouncing Cort and Maddie Brannt’s little girl on her knee and anticipating her own child many months in the future.

Tony knelt beside her, smiling at the dark-haired, dark-eyed child. “She’s a beautiful child,” he mused, brushing his big hand over the child’s thick head of hair.

“Ours will be beautiful, too,” Odalie said, smiling at her husband.

“He will be if he looks like you,” he teased.

“You’re gorgeous yourself,” she replied and kissed him gently. Her eyes brimmed over with love.

He touched her mouth with his fingertips. “I thought I had to give you up, for your own good,” he said quietly. “It was the closest I’ve ever come to hell on earth.”

“You thought I wanted a career, and all I really wanted was you,” she said.

He brushed back her hair. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

“Positive. No sane person will ever regret a baby,” she whispered, smiling. “Or especially three or four of them. I like big families.”

He chuckled. “I do, too. My own was pretty small, but I cornered the market on distant relatives. That reminds me—we’re expected in Jersey next weekend for a big bash to celebrate the wedding.”

“That will be fun,” she said.

“You were a big hit with cousin Connie.”

“I liked her. She’s a firecracker.”