ain’t seen nothing yet.” He drew back his fist and popped Roman in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. “That’s for trying to deceive my woman.”
Magnolia was stunned. For an instant it seemed as if everyone and everything around her was frozen. Then, her grandfather stood, outraged. “Call the police,” he said to one of the ushers.
“That’s a splendid idea, Benjamin,” Lillian said loudly.
“What is this about?” Benjamin demanded, glaring at Lillian.
She arched an eyebrow. “Why don’t you ask Eric?” Her voice cut the air like a sharpened knife through a ripe piece of fruit.
All eyes turned to the attorney. His fleshy face began blotching red. His wife put a protective hand on his arm.
Grandfather bunched his brows. “What’s going on, Eric?”
“I—I’m not sure,” Eric stammered.
“I’ll tell you what it’s about,” Lillian continued as she threw Roman a malevolent glare. “Roman Abbott is Eric’s nephew.”
The air whooshed out of Magnolia’s lungs. She looked at Roman and could tell from his panicked expression that it was true. She’d met Roman at the country club in New Orleans. They played tennis together. Her world expanded and contracted in a hard jolt. “My entire relationship with you was a sham,” she uttered. She ran her mind back through the course of their relationship as a short laugh clipped through her throat. “No wonder I kept feeling like something was off. You are a despicable snake.”
“And you’re an entitled snot,” Roman sneered. “I’m almost glad you found out the truth. Five years with you would’ve been torture. No amount of money is worth that.”
“Careful,” Lucas warned, the vein in his neck pulsing, “or I’ll finish what I started and give you the real thrashing that you deserve.”
Roman swore. “I’m out of here.” He looked straight at Eric before he stomped away.
“Now that the trash is gone, we can breathe a little easier,” Lillian declared with a laugh. She lasered in on Eric. “Well, some of the trash is gone.”
Lucas turned to Magnolia, searching her face. “I’m so sorry I left.” He jammed a hand through his hair. “I thought I was doing the right thing,” he muttered. “I thought I was giving you a chance to get your inheritance while having a happy life.” She could tell from the tortured look in his eyes that he’d been in turmoil. “It was a mistake.” The corners of his jaw twitched. “When I think about what could’ve happened if you’d married that clown …” his expression darkened “… it makes my skin crawl.”
All her emotions bubbled to the surface as she slapped him hard against the jaw. “That’s for leaving me!”
Lucas’s eyes widened in shock as his hand went to his face.
Laughter gurgled in Magnolia’s throat as tears sprang to her eyes. “This is for coming back.” She threw down her bouquet and flung her arms around Lucas’s neck as she pressed her lips to his, giving him a long, satisfying kiss that stoked her ache for him. She drank him in, needing the reassurance that he was hers.
When they pulled back, Lucas kept both arms firmly fixed around her waist. His eyes moved over her slow and appreciatively, causing her blood to warm. “You’re the song that I never wanna let go of,” he murmured.
“Luckily, you won’t ever have to,” she asserted. “I’m not letting you get away from me again.”
A corner of his mouth pulled up in a lopsided grin. “You throw a mean slap, princess,” he drawled. “Remind me not to ever again get on your bad side.” His expression grew serious. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” A smile curved her lips. “More than a little.”
Lillian began clapping. “Now that’s what I call a happy ending,” she exclaimed jubilantly.
Lucas released Magnolia’s waist. He reached for her hand, linking his fingers through hers. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Gladly,” she sighed.
“Wait a minute!” Eric interrupted, eyeing Lucas. “How do we know that you’re not after the money?”
“I think you’ve done enough damage,” Oscar said, a clear note of warning in his tone.
“I—I was only trying to carry out Carol’s wishes,” Eric sputtered, keeping his eyes fixed on Grandfather. “She wanted her granddaughter to marry someone with the right breeding and background so that Magnolia wouldn’t end up like Oscar. I was only trying to help. My nephew is a good man. He didn’t mean those things he said. He was just—”
“Enough!” Grandfather commanded, holding up his hand. He gave Eric a look that was as scalding as it was cutting. “I’ll deal with