Page 62 of The Playboy Meets His Match
“Our playboy retires,” Rob stated.
“It’s about time,” Aaron added. “Next thing you know, the playboy will be announcing a baby on the way.”
Jason grinned, unable to stop smiling. “I leave the bachelor and playboy reputation to Keith, who outlasted all the rest of us.”
All the men chimed in and Aaron raised his glass. “Here’s a toast to the man who keeps bachelorhood alive in Royal—our own Keith Owens. Our confirmed old bachelor.”
“All right, you guys. We’ll see who has the most fun at that ball,” Keith answered with a laugh.
“I know who will,” Jason said, “all the married guys. Each of us will get to take home the woman he loves.”
“To the women in our lives,” Sebastian said, proposing another toast and immediately glasses were raised.
“What’s your charity going to be?” Aaron asked Keith as they lowered their glasses.
“Y’all told me to think about it and I have,” Keith said. “I’ve picked what I want.”
“Tell us what it is,” Jason said.
“The New Hope Charity for battered women,” he said quietly.
And Jason nodded while Aaron said, “That’s a good charity.”
Others repeated Aaron’s sentiments while Jason thought about Keith’s old flame from college. If he remembered correctly, Andrea O’Rourke was a volunteer at New Hope.
“And how long is this honeymoon?” Rob asked, bringing Jason’s thoughts back to the present. Jason realized there was a serious note in Rob’s voice.
“Only a week and I will leave word with you—and only you—how you can get in touch with me if there is an emergency.”
As all of them sobered, Jason suspected each one of them was thinking about Dorian.
“When you get back, we’ll have another meeting and see where we go from here. There’s still nothing that really pins anything on him,” Rob stated.
“Even if it did, he has an alibi,” Jason said, aware they didn’t even have to say Dorian’s name.
“If any of you need any kind of help from more of us,” Aaron offered, “you know we’ll be glad to do whatever we can.”
“Thanks. Now, my friends, I think I’ll go find my bride and I’ll see y’all when we get back to Royal.”
Jason and Merry left Royal, driving to Dallas to the bridal suite in an elegant hotel. Tomorrow they had a flight to Madrid, and then they were driving to a small town on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
The moment the door closed behind the bellman, Jason reached for Merry to pull her into his arms. He still wore his tux, but she had changed to a simple navy dress and pumps. His arms tightened around her and he leaned down to kiss her.
“Mrs. Jason Windover. I’ve got you, love, and you’ll see how much I mean it when I tell you I love you.”
“Your playboy days are over, Jason.”
“I was just waiting for you, darlin’. You’re the one and only in my life forever.”
He bent his head to kiss her and Merry stood on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck as she clung to him and kissed him in return. Joy filled her, and she no longer had any doubts about the depth of Jason’s love. And she didn’t intend him to have any doubts about the depth of her love for him. She loved him with all her being, and she planned to spend a lifetime showing him so. She tightened her arms around his neck, whispering, “I love you, my special cowboy.”
