Renegade (25 page)

Tears filled her eyes. “What now?”

He pulled her to his chest. “We’re going to get you cleaned up, then we’re going pack your clothes. After that, I’m taking you home. Then we’re going to call my folks and your grandmother to let them know we’re getting married next week. We’ll spend the February recess in Puerto Rico or Ocho Rios, or anywhere you want before we come back and fulfill our commitment to the grant. After I write the music for that movie soundtrack, then we can make plans for what we want to do with the rest of our lives.”

She smiled up at him. “I like the sound of that.”

“I thought you would,” Gabriel crooned as he lowered his head to kiss her. The kiss was soft, healing, and filled with a love that promised forever.

Epilogue

A year later…

Martin Cole, Joshua Kirkland, Matthew Sterling, and David Cole sat in a circle in the library at the Cole estate in West Palm Beach. Tall, solidly built, silver-haired with faces lined with experience and character they toasted one another.

Martin’s dark eyes sparkled like polished onyx. “I’d say we haven’t done too badly with our kids.” He smiled at his brother, David. “I know we’ve been teasing you for years about your children not giving you grandchildren, but I must say that Gabe and Alex have done you proud. I think you hold the record for two grandbabies in one year.” Merrick and Alexandra had welcomed a daughter, Victoria Grayslake, while Gabriel and Summer celebrated their son’s birth on Christmas Day. He wasn’t expected until the beginning of January, so they decided to name him Emmanuel David Cole.

David flashed a smug smile. “Now that Ana has found a boyfriend we don’t have to threaten to break either his neck or kneecaps, I think Serena and I can look forward to another wedding and a few more grandchildren. And because I have the twins, there is the possibility there may be more twins in the future.”

Matthew Sterling’s gold-green eyes narrowed. “Hey,
you’re not the only one with twins. Remember Sara gave me twin granddaughters. I have twin sisters, so if Sara and Salem decide to have one more—maybe, just maybe I will have more grandchildren than Joshua.”

Joshua Kirkland’s impassive expression did not change. His light-green eyes surveyed his two brothers and his lifelong friend whom he had come to think of as a brother. Retired horse breeder Matthew Sterling had come to the aid of the Coles more times than they could count, but he had finally joined the family when his stepson married Joshua’s daughter.

“You’re not going to ever catch up with me,” Joshua stated in a deep, quiet voice. “Chris and Emily have three, and now with Michael and Jolene on their third you can’t possibly catch up. They told Vanessa and me that they’ll stop at six.”

Matt whistled softly. “Damn.”

“Who we don’t want to catch up with is our sisters,” Martin said, laughing.

“Oh, hell no,” David sputtered. “Nancy and Josephine had nine children between them before we even thought about making babies.”

Martin raised his glass again. Attractive lines fanned out around his eyes. At eighty-three, he still was a man who could walk into a room and turn heads.

“To our family. And to the legacy we have created because we were never afraid to risk everything for love.”

The four men tossed back their drinks, stood up and hugged one another. Tears shimmed as they took turns kissing each other on both cheeks.

Gabriel walked into the library, coming to a complete stop when he saw his father and uncles, offering hugs and kisses. He stepped back at the same time his father glanced up and saw him.

David smiled at his son, winking. Gabriel returned the smile, then turned and walked away.

It was apparent the older warriors were bonding and celebrating again. It was something they did more often now. If was if they knew the circle would be broken one day, but Gabriel hoped it wouldn’t happen for a long time.

He walked down a wide hallway to the dining room where he would find his wife and infant son. He had stayed on at Weir, teaching music and encouraging the students to become the best they could be.

He loved teaching, but his greatest joy was when he arrived home to find Summer waiting on the porch for him. It was a tradition they had established—one he hoped would continue for an eternity.

Walking into the dining room, he saw Summer holding Emmanuel to her breasts. His son had fallen asleep. Moving closer, he took the tiny infant from her.

“Come, let’s put him to bed, then I want to show you something.”

Summer gave him a questioning look. “Where are we going?”

“I walk you to join me for a walk in the garden.”

“And do what, Gabriel?” He gave her a lecherous grin. “No!”

“Come on, baby.”

Summer stared at him, then smiled. Tyler had just given her medical clearance to begin sharing her body with her husband again. “I’ll do it, but I’m not going all the way.”

“All the way? What the hell do you mean by not going all the way?”

“Put the baby to bed and join me in the garden, and I’ll show you.”

Serena Morris came up behind Gabriel, tapping his shoulder. “Please give me my grandson and do what your wife says.”

Gabriel stared at his mother. “You heard?”

Serena smiled into a pair of eyes so much like her own. “Yes, I heard. Now, give me the baby.”

Gabriel placed Emmanuel into Serena’s outstretched arms. Leaning down, he kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She watched his tall retreating figure as he followed his wife. She and David had done well. Their children had done well, and she was willing to bet their grandchildren would do very well.

Cradling Emmanuel to her chest, she headed for the staircase and into the room where many a Cole baby had slept. She lowered him to a crib, staring at the little boy who was all Cole.

Serena sat down on a rocker near the crib. Closing her eyes, she smiled and thought of the time when she saw David Cole for the first time, not knowing the joy his love would bring.

The love in her son’s eyes when he looked at Summer was similar to the one still burning in her husband’s dark gaze.

The Cole men were really something else, she thought. They offered a woman their protection, passion and a love that promised forever. Yes, she mused, Summer was very lucky because she knew what was in store for the young woman. She had reunited with her parents, but she also had a new family who had claimed her because she was now a Cole.

And being a Cole was all that mattered to the generations of men and women who dared to risk everything for love.

About the Author

Rochelle Alers
has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today’s most prolific and popular African American authors of romance and women’s fiction.

With more than sixty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Ms. Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the
Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing,
the
Romantic Times Career Achievement Award
and the
Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award
.

She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Theta Zeta Chapter and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling.

A full-time writer, Ms. Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.