The Wedding Promise,Used

Product DescriptionRefusing Gabe's proposal was the right thing to do.And Katie hasn't regretted her choice once in the past ten years. Gabe went on to law school and a brilliant career, and she took care of her family, put her siblings through college and even opened her own bakery.She couldn't stand between Gabe and success any more than she could have left her family to struggle without her. Though life can be a little lonely sometimes.Life has been good to Gabe, but he wants to come home to Cactus, Texas, and the embrace of his grandmother's house. When he returns to settle Gran's estate, he learns that her bequest will only be granted if he marries Katie! Well, the idea of baring his soul to Katie a second time sure doesn't sit well with Gabe. But without her, he'll never find the peace he's looking for.Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Cactus, TexasGabe Dawson carefully pulled into a parking space on the town square. He didn't want to have a wreck on his first day back in town. With memories pouring into his head, he feared he might be too distracted to drive.He'd grown up here, learning about life, sharing, hunting, camping, riding with his friends. Falling in love for the first time. Katie."Gabe!"The man standing by his car door waited for him to acknowledge his presence. Gabe opened the door and got out. "Mac Gibbons!" he replied, grabbing one of his best childhood friends into a bear hug. "How did you know I was here?""I'd been to see Cal. Your new Mercedes caught my eye. Nice car.""Yeah, thanks." The car was a result of his recent success. "I was on my way to see you.""About your grandmother's will?" Gabe nodded.Mac reached out and squeezed Gabe's shoulder in silent sympathy. "Come on, let's get it over with. Then we can visit."Mac Gibbons knew Gabriel Dawson was in for a shock. He decided it would be better not to procrastinate. He hoped Gabe would take some time to think, not make a quick decision.He led his old friend into his offices. After introducing him to his secretary, an efficient middleaged woman, he took him down the hall, stopping at the first door."Alex, let me introduce an old friend, Gabe Dawson. Alexandra Langford is my partner.""Langford?" Gabe repeated, a question in his voice.Mac nodded. "And Tuck's wife."Gabe smiled. "Tuck always was a lucky man. But I'll admit, I never thought he'd marry."Mac chuckled. "One look at Alex, and he was a goner."Alexandra gave her partner a knowing look. "You don't have room to talk, Mac.""Yeah," he agreed with a contented sigh."You remarried?" Gabe asked, astounded. He'd been around when Mac had lived in Dallas. He knew how badly his friend had been hurt."He married and is a daddy twice over," Alex added.Mac's grin only widened. "Never mind that. We'll catch up later. First, we've got some business to conduct."He led his friend into his office and shut the door.Before sitting down, he pulled a legal file from his file cabinet. "Your grandmother changed her will last year."Gabe's head snapped up. "Do you mean I'm not the heir?"It wasn't that he needed his grandmother's estate. As an attorney with a large firm in Dallas, he earned a morethanhealthy salary. Then he'd taken a risk on a personal injury case and had won big. Big enough that he'd never have to work again.But he'd loved his grandmother. He wouldn't want to think he'd disappointed her."You're still the heir," Mac assured him, "if you meet certain conditions.""Certain conditions?" Foreboding filled Gabe. His grandmother had fussed about his lifestyle. Surely she hadn't"You know how amazed you were that Tuck and I were both married?"Gabe stared at his friend. What did their marriages have to do with anything? "Well, yeah, Tuck was determined never to marry and you, well, I was there when you went through your divorce. I remember how bitter and hurt you were."Mac nodded. "Spence and Cal are married, too," he added, naming two other friends.