Free Fate Intended (The Coulter Men Series Book 3) by Elizabeth Seckman Page B

with the glitter of diamonds on the water.
    “It is a nice day. Thank you for getting me out.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “So….” He took a drink, then asked, “Why did you come to America?”
    Jane thought a moment. She didn’t need to lie to answer this question. “It was Sasha’s idea. Her uncle needed someone to run the building.”
    “Thank God for Sasha,” Trip said looking to the blue sky. He turned to Jane and said, “Never thought I’d find cause to say that.”
    Jane giggled. “Sasha is more than a good friend. She’s family.”
    “You got a lot of family?”
    “No,” Jane said simply. “You?”
    “Mmm, hmmm.” He swallowed his bite of food. “We used to be a small family, but then my brothers and my mother got married and wow, now there’s a bunch of us.”
    “How many brothers?”
    “Two. No sisters. I have my mother, and a new stepfather. I have two nieces and three nephews, and of course there’s Grams. Can’t forget the lady who practically raised me.”
    “You weren’t raised by your mum?”
    “Well, she was there, technically. But when my dad died she had to go to work and was always busy. Grams moved in and took care of me. My brothers were teenagers and out doing their own thing…getting in trouble…making my mother miserable…but that’s a whole different story.”
    “I’m sorry about your poppa.”
    “It’s funny. My brothers,” he said as he looked at Jane and smiled, “they remember life with my dad. I know he died of a heart attack when I was eight. I remember the funeral, sort of. But the times I spent with him? I don’t really remember much. I just remember we were happy. So weird. I can’t recall details, just the feeling.” He looked at Jane and sighed, taking a slow bite of his burger before he continued. “My brothers remember the family being rowdy and close. I remember a family of bitter adults and fights between my mom and my brothers. This whole new big family, this new crazy group with all these little kids? I have to admit…it’s pretty freakin’ great. I feel like everything is finally falling into place.”
    She leaned over and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “It is sweet that you have big family. I also had a poppa that I loved. He was the only family I was really close to.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    Jane shook her head. “It’s fine…he was enough.”
    “Is he still in Russia?”
    “He is,” Jane said and looked to the pond oasis, “gone.”
    “I’m sorry.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple.
    “Thank you. I’m doing fine. Poppa taught me to be strong. And I am strong.” Jane tossed some fries to a duck waddling past. He honked for more, so she threw him another. She turned to Trip and shrugged. “But you already know…. You lost your poppa, too.”
    “But I was too young to know what I lost.”
    Tilting her head as the memories of her father played through her head, Jane admitted, “I wouldn’t give up a single memory of him, even it if it eased the pain of losing him.” She turned to Trip. “No, I am the lucky one.”
    He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re a special lady, Jane Mitchell.”
    She beamed. “I think the same of you. Though, not that I think you are a woman, but that you are a special person.”
    Trip chuckled. “Good thing. I’d sure hate to be in this alone.”
    The duck honked again. Trip threw his fries as far as his aim could reach. “Dang. You think he’s on Sasha’s payroll?”
    Jane laughed. The duck waddled off, but she knew he’d be back. “No, I created that nuisance.”
    “Well, I was trying to create a moment. One where you feel the magic they talk about in books and you come under my spell and do as I ask.”
    “A spell?” She made big eyes at him. “Sounds serious.”
    “It is. I really want you to come with me…to meet my family.”
    “It’s not that I don’t want to….”
    “Please? I swear, it won’t kill you.”

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