"I understand," Lucas said, and cut his eyes to Kylie.

As her mom and Della and Miranda walked away, Kylie heard her mom say, "Do they only come out at night?"

Kylie rolled her eyes at Lucas and leaned in. "I'm not sure what she thinks they look like."

"Don't worry," he said. "She'll get used to us. Her daughter did."

Kylie grinned. "Why didn't you answer any of my texts? I've been worried sick."

"I had to cut it off and when I got out it was late and ... I wanted to tell you in person."

"You got on the Council?"

His blue eyes brightened with a smile. "I did." He looked over his shoulder, as if making sure her mom wasn't looking. Then he pulled her against him and kissed her. A soft kiss.

"I got you something," he whispered, his lips breathing words against hers.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a ring. A gold ring with a large diamond. A beautiful, teardrop-shaped diamond that looked like an engagement ring. Kylie's breath caught.

"It was my grandmother's ring. In her letter she wrote you should have it. And before you start panicking, let me say that I know maybe we're too young to call it an engagement. That's why I got you this, too." He pulled out a gold chain. "I want you to wear it around your neck. Call it a promise-a promise that when you do slip a ring on that finger..." He ran his hand down to her left hand. "That it'll be my ring."

Emotion rose in her throat. "You don't have to give me anything for me to give you that promise."

"Perhaps," he said as he slipped the ring onto the chain and then reached around her and clasped it around her neck. "But this is just a little reminder for all the Dereks in the world that you're taken."

She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him again. This time, he pulled her into the line of trees and deepened the kiss. A kiss filled with promises. Promises of more kisses ... of just more. She slipped her hand inside his coat and circled his warm waist. His hum vibrated through her body and she ached to give herself over to the lure of that sound. She came close to pulling his shirttail out and touching his naked back.

He pulled back, a little breathless. "I'd better get you to the wedding. Or we won't make it."

"If I wasn't the maid of honor, I might take you up on that." She arched a teasing brow.

He grinned. "Next week, I'm making a trip to Dallas to start to sort out my grandmother's estate. Do you think ... maybe you could come with me? We could stay in a nice hotel."

Kylie's heart raced, knowing what he was asking, and she didn't hesitate. "That sounds perfect."

As they walked up, Burnett came moving toward them. He looked concerned. "The Brightens are here,"

he said.

"For the wedding?" Kylie asked.

"No, they didn't know about the wedding, they just stopped by in hopes of seeing you." He frowned.

"And just to make things difficult, your grandfather and aunt are also here. I could just send them all away,or I could ask them to the wedding. It's your call."

Kylie looked over at her mom talking to the other wedding guests mingling by the chairs.

"No, I think it's time."

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Kylie stood up at the front waiting for Holiday to walk down the aisle. Lucas stood across the row watching her, caressing her with his gaze. She knew he was thinking about next week. God help her, but it was going to be hard to think about anything else.

Beside Lucas, Burnett fidgeted. She had never seen Burnett like this. He looked like a kid who needed to go to the bathroom.

When Kylie confronted him earlier about appearing nervous, he'd told her, "Hell, yeah, I'm scared shitless that she'll realize she can do better than me."

The music started. Kylie looked back at the crowd. Her mom sat by the Brightens. She had been nervous about meeting them, but Kylie assured her that they would like her. On the opposite side of her mom sat Kylie's grandfather and her great-aunt Francyne. Kylie had introduced her mom to them, too. And a few minutes later, Kylie introduced the Brightens to Malcolm Summers and her great-aunt.

Because she couldn't tell them these were Daniel's real father and aunt, she introduced them as friends of the family. It was awkward for just a second, but then her grandfather shook Mr. Brighten's hand, then embraced Mrs. Brighten and told them sincerely what a pleasure it was to meet them. Kylie could tell her real grandfather was grateful to the Brightens for the love they'd had for his son.

Everyone from that row looked at Kylie and smiled. Oddly enough, they looked like one big happy family. And they were her family. Kylie had never been so proud. And deep inside she heard her father's voice say, Perfect.

In the row behind them, Kylie saw Miranda sitting beside Perry. Kylie would bet her best bra that those two were already planning their own wedding. And beside Miranda was Della, who stared at the row of chairs to her left. Stared at Steve. Would Della ever accept him? Yup, for a few days Della had cratered slightly where Steve was concerned, but she was back to pushing him away again.

Hayden, sitting next to Jenny, smiled at Kylie. To Jenny's right was Derek. Kylie didn't miss that his shoulder pressed against hers. Those two had something special and they deserved it.

Kylie's gaze shifted to the very back row to Fredericka, who sat with the new teacher. Kylie hadn't heard anything from Holiday about Fredericka's asking about seeing him. But Kylie got the feeling that something had happened and it had been in Fredericka's favor.