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Lucas’s heart filled. He wanted to sweep his Lyssa into his arms and carry her away with him to a place where she would never have reason to cry or feel anything but joy. He wanted to make her smile, make her laugh, he wanted to tell her—to tell her—
“I am tired,” Felix said. “That is enough for today.”
“More than enough,” Lucas agreed, a little coldly. He turned Alyssa to him, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, and to hell with having an audience. “Wait for me outside, chica. Will you do that? I’ll only be a minute, I promise.”
He waited until she’d left the room. Then he went to his grandfather’s side and looked down at the old man.
“Some might say you played at being the devil,” he said quietly, “not God.”
“Si,” Felix said wryly. “Anyone can see how the two of you despise each other.”
“That is not the point, Grandfather.”
The old man sighed. “I know.”
“You did an awful thing, adding that marriage clause.”
“I know.”
“You cannot force strangers to want each other.”
“I know, I know, I know. What else do you want me to say?”
Lucas reached into his pocket and took out the contract signed by his grandfather and Alyssa’s father.
“I want you to scrawl your signature here, at the bottom, where I have put an addendum.”
“Which says?”
“Which says,” Lucas said grimly, turning the document toward Felix, “you agree that the Reyes Corporation should pay the arrears and whatever’s due the bank for El Ranch Grande.”
“If that is what you wish, mi hijo.”
“And,” Lucas continued, pointing to the addendum, “that you agree that the Reyes Corporation will deed the ranch over to Alyssa McDonough.”
Felix sighed. “My glasses and a pen are on the table.”
“And,” Lucas said, “you agree, as well, that the marriage stipulation is null and void.”
“All of that is what you wish, Lucas?”
“All of that, Grandfather.”
The old man held out his hand. Lucas slapped his eye glasses and his pen into the palm.
Seconds later, the signed amendment, together with the original contract, was safe in Lucas’s pocket.
“You did a terrible thing, old man,” Lucas said. Then he sighed, bent down and pressed a soft kiss to Felix’s white hair. “But I love you all the same. Get some rest, yes? I will stop by again later.”
Alyssa was waiting for him beside a pond that was home to a pair of swans.
Her back was to him. Lucas took advantage of that and slowed his steps so he could watch her.
She had taken an awful blow today, discovering she’d not only judged Aloysius wrong but that he was also her father.
She’d wept, yes. He would have, too, if such news had been dropped in his lap. But she’d maintained her composure, kept it well enough to strike back at Felix with courage and dignity.
He smiled. Dios, she was amazing.
