Complete Indelible Love Series

by Cee, DW

  “Yeah?” Nick grinned. “Do tell.”

  “Donovan stopped by after I came home from Florence and pulled an Ed McMahon with a big fat American Family Publishers’ check.”

  “He brought over a fake six-foot check with balloons?”

  “Even better—he brought over a slim white envelope with a check filled with more zeroes than I knew existed.”

  “So I’m dating an heiress? Do you sleep on a pile of cash every night?”

  I laughed. “If you’re lucky enough, you’ll be dating someone who owns a warehouse and a loft, and who works very hard for every dollar she makes. If you want an heiress, date Ruby Bennington.”

  “I’d date you regardless of the buildings you own or don’t own.” This sweet sentiment was spoken with sincerity that could only come from Nicholas Reid. “I’m just relieved to know I won’t be a burden to you.”

  “Nicholas.” His smile was as wide as the Hudson River. “For a long while now, I’ve loved you just the way you are. It matters not to me whether you’re rich or poor, sick or healthy. You are perfect.”

  The rest of the night, we slowly and carefully showed one another just how much we loved and missed each other.

  May 29, 2014 NICK: “Going To The Chapel Of Love” ~The Dixie Cups

  Jake, Max, and Donovan were right. Love does make life better. It was seriously different being in the most romantic place on earth with the woman I loved.

  We finished up in New York on Tuesday, and then flew into London. Bee took care of business earlier than expected and decided she wanted to come to Florence to be with the rest of the family. We arrived to find all the Reids, as well as all of Scott and Jamie’s family, already in residence between Grandfather’s and the Bennington’s villas.

  “Well hello there, Bee Taylor.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about seeing Michael Bennington again.

  “Michael.” Bee’s gorgeous smile was a bit too welcoming for my liking. “I was hoping you’d be here.” Now why the hell was she hoping to see him? “Your grandfather’s villa was meant for weddings. You should get married here, soon.” Bee looked over at the woman standing a step behind Michael.

  “I might if you promise to outfit my bride.”

  “It would be my honor to outfit the next Bennington Duchess.”

  Michael and Bee had some knowing smile I did not understand, and they embraced one another.

  “Am I missing out on a group hug?” My cousin came and hugged the two from the outside. Comically, her belly was so big, it was really only the belly and hands that did the hugging.

  “How are you, Laney Reid?” Michael greeted.

  “Taylor.” Donovan corrected, and pulled his wife away.

  “Laney Taylor,” he amended with emphasis. “How’s life as a married woman with two kids?”

  “Life is beautifully difficult at times, but my husband makes everything all right.”

  Donovan greeted his aunt with much affection and turned the attention on her. “How was your flight over here? Your back OK?”

  “Surprisingly, it hasn’t been that bad.”

  “That’s right,” Michael turned his attention to Bee as well. “Ruby told me you hurt yourself.”

  Before Bee answered Michael, she turned to the nice looking girl still standing behind Michael, awkwardly wondering whether to leave or fit in. “Hello. Do you remember us, Chloe?”

  “Of course I do. You’re Bee Taylor, and you’re Laney Reid Taylor. You’re both famous in the Bennington household.” This woman had a sweet look and an even sweeter voice.

  “I didn’t know you’d be here.” Laney spoke to Chloe, but looked at Michael. “Are you here with Michael? As… Michael’s date?” Laney showed no mercy probing for information.

  There was a blush on both Chloe and Michael’s faces. “No,” she answered. “Michael is here as a guest, and I am here as the Bennington help.”

  “Will you stop saying that?” Michael sounded annoyed. “She’s here as a guest—our family guest.”

  Chloe wasn’t shy explaining that her great-grandfather was Michael’s great-grandfather’s valet. Apparently, her grandfather continued this tradition with Harry Bennington, and her father was also in the Bennington employ. Chloe didn’t quite explain how she was a part of this employment, but she made it clear that she was here to work. Michael appeared unhappy with her statement.

  “Chloe, how about we go grab a bite to eat and you can tell us what kind of a brat Michael was when he was a child.” Laney kidded, and pulled Bee away from me. Bee and Chloe followed Laney, who quickly came back and whispered to Michael, “You better invite me to yours and Chloe’s wedding!” and ran off.

  With the women gone, it was too awkward for Donovan, Michael, and me to chat like old buddies. Michael, too, excused himself, and I was left to grab a drink with my newest cousin.

  “Everything going as planned with Bee?”

  "I believe so." In so many words, I explained to Donovan about my situation with school and how I wanted to approach our relationship. “Thank you for helping Bee. You and Laney have been a huge support to her. I wish I could have been there to help her through all these new developments in her life. She’s been through a lot in the few months we’d been apart.”

  “She has, but it’s only been months, not years. You could have a lifetime with her if you both desire it.”

  “I’m looking forward to figuring those things out together.”

  Donovan and I went and helped Emily, who had all three kids with her, and played with them until the main event began.

  With Bee next to me at the dinner table, we watched Laney walk up to the stage and do her hilarious monologue about the life of Jane and Laney and one Donovan Taylor. When she was done, our Reid tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue began.

  Traditionally, the groom picked which tradition to celebrate. Grandfather Jerry had picked something old, and gave Gram his mother’s pearls. Uncle Henry, the first to get married among his brothers, picked something blue, and gave Aunt Babs a blue garter. This was a gift highly celebrated among the men and boo’ed by the women. Of course, my brother Jake had to show off and give his bride something old and something new—that something being diamonds. Since we are all to follow the tradition set by the first of our generation to get married, Donovan took the word show-off to new heights, and gave his bride a tiara filled with old diamonds from the Reid family members, and new pink diamonds provided by the groom. Knowing Max was a med student with meager earnings, I was curious to know how he would outdo either man. Forget outdoing. He’d have a hell of a time barely keeping up.

  “That was ingenious of Max, wasn’t it?” Bee whispered after the revelation was over. It sure as hell was impressive of my soon-to-be brother to pull off the diamond-count upset of the century.

  “Damn Jake, Donovan, and Max. How the hell are the rest of us supposed to keep up?”

  Bee giggled and squeezed my hand. “I love your family.” She kissed my cheek like a little girl.

  “You think we might get there?” My eyes pointed to the happy couple still in an embrace.

  “I don’t know. But, where we are right now is a good start. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Was I sure? “Hell yes!”

  “Then happy birthday,” she whispered, and handed me a small box.

  “Where’s the big box you had originally?”

  “That’s back at home. You can claim that when we get back to LA. This is what I brought with me.” I opened the box to find a small pewter frame holding a picture of the two of us in the London Eye. The frame had the inscription Nick & Bee. This must have been the frame her mother was talking about back when I met her in Donovan’s office. “I had this made when we returned from Europe, the first time. I know it’s cheesy.”

  I stopped her from saying anything more. “I love it, and I love you. Let’s try and make this work this time.”r />
  Kissing this woman was always the most natural thing for me. Our arms belonged around one another, our lips felt perfect on each other, and our hearts were meant to beat for one another. This was the woman for me.

  “Break it up, Nick.” My brother and Donovan laughed. “Time to go on our men’s outing.”

  Bee looked bemused and dazed. “We have another tradition where we keep the bride and groom apart until their wedding hour. I didn’t realize we’d hold this tradition even out in Tuscany.”

  “We need to torture the groom until the very last moment.” Jake and Donovan let out an evil laugh. They looked like they were about to haze a newbie in a frat house. “Just you wait, little brother of mine. Emily and I remember every last detail of how you kept us apart on our wedding day. Donovan, Max, and I will repay in multifold.” The two let out their hardy-har-hars.

  Shit! Maybe a Vegas wedding was in our future.

  June 2, 2014 BEE: Many Hearts

  “Gram, why do we need to keep this tradition since we’re not home, and Max and I still need to take care of a few things tomorrow?”

  “Like what do you need to do?” Jane and Laney’s grandmother pretty much had the final say.

  The Reids have many traditions and even out in Tuscany, they were holding to the tradition of keeping the bride and groom apart from each other after the wedding rehearsal. There was so much love tonight among the Reid, Davis, and Taylor families. I was entrenched in it and for the first time, I felt like a participant rather than an onlooker.

  “Where are the men going at this late hour?” Jane was one anxious bride.

  “They’re headed to another villa while we all stay in our original residences. The ladies will have a luxurious day at the spa tomorrow, while the men race cars and motorcycles.”

  “Seriously, Gram?” Laney wasn’t happy now. “Donovan didn’t tell me that part. He said they were spending the day wine tasting.” She took out her phone and dialed her husband. “Donovan…” She walked away so she could continue their conversation.

  “You’ll be all right, Jane.” Emily laughed. “We all survived it.”

  “Are you telling me that Jake is actually staying away from your bed tonight and tomorrow night?”

  We all concurred with Jane’s unspoken statement that Jake would be back very soon.

  “All the men are gone. Even James and JR left with their father.” I looked around and found that to be true. All the male Taylors were gone too. Gram wasn’t kidding.

  “I, for one, am glad all the men are gone.” Becky spoke for all the Taylor women except Laney. “I need a break. Thank you, Grandma Estelle, for treating all of us to a day of rest, relaxation, and beauty!”

  “What will you do tomorrow, Miss Ellie?” I engaged our two-year-old companion. She jumped from her mother’s arms into mine.

  “Bee. Pray ‘morrow?” Nick’s niece, and the only girl in this entire generation of Reids and Taylors, was absolutely adorable. Her gorgeous features shined even brighter when she smiled. Everyone in the family was in love with Ellie and rightly so.

  I kissed her nose and answered, “I would be honored to play with you. What do you want to play?”

  “Swing?”

  “If we can find a swing, I will push you, otherwise, how about I make you another dress?”

  Her eyes lit up and she nodded yes about twenty times over. “Yesh! Yesh! Yesh! Dwess!”

  That pretty much summed up what I would be doing with Elizabeth Reid.

  As it was time to part for the night, Emily came back to claim her daughter. “Did you have a good time talking to Auntie Bee?” Auntie Bee sounded so good coming from Emily’s mouth.

  “Yesh, Momma. Dwess, ‘morrow.” Those four words explained it all.

  “Is Auntie Bee making you another beautiful dress, Elizabeth?” Ellie gave us her fabulous smile, and clapped her hands. “Aren’t you fortunate to have an auntie who can make you a dress?” She kept on smiling and kept on nodding.

  “Lellow dwess, Bee.” This girl had it all figured out. I loved it.

  Emily excused herself so she could put Ellie down to bed, and Laney joined me instead. “You done chatting with your hubby?”

  “Yes,” she answered with a pout. “Donovan refuses to take me on the car ride. I knew a Ducati was out of the question, but I thought he’d let me at least sit next to him in the Lamborghini.”

  “He loves you and wants to protect you and the babies. That’s a beautiful gesture.”

  “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s talk about you instead. What’s going on? Last we talked, you were saying you couldn’t make it to Italy and next thing I know, Nick is whisking you off to New York and London.”

  What to tell her. What did I believe was going on?

  “In regards to the trip, Nick worked it out with Missy and forced me to do some business on the road. In regards to us, I think we’re going to try again.”

  “What about Luke and Lily?”

  “Nick had time to sort out his situation with Lily, but I haven’t had the chance to do the same with Luke. I owe him an explanation.”

  “I liked Luke, but I love my cousin Nick. You’re making the right choice. You two belong with one another.” Laney was all smiles.

  “Are we talking about Bee and my brother?” Jane joined.

  “Yep!” Laney chirped. “I’m still hungry. You think there’s food here?”

  We were all at Laney’s grandparents’ villa and unbeknownst to us, her gram had ordered a midnight snack. We were encouraged to sit in the huge “living room” and by the time food arrived, Emily had also become a part of our intimate circle.

  “Is Ellie down?” Jane inquired.

  Emily chuckled. “Her eyes were almost closed while I was brushing her teeth. Mom offered to take her tonight so I’m all by myself.”

  “I’ll bet you my wedding dress that Jake and Donovan will both be back tonight.” Jane rolled her eyes. “It’s only Max and me who have to suffer.”

  Laney was busy stuffing her mouth with slices of ham and cheese, but there was still room for words. “Let’s get back to Nick and Bee. Tell us more.”

  I explained to the rest of the ladies that Nick and I wanted to try and date again. Gram and Emily had words of wisdom to share.

  Gram, being the oldest and wisest, started. “My grandson appears easy-going and quiet, but he has a temper and a stubborn streak. If he thinks something should be one way, there’s no talking him out of that ‘one way.’ I’m glad he found a way around his ‘one way.’”

  “What was the problem between you and Nick? What was he being stubborn about?” Though Jane spoke to me, she was watching Laney eat. As slender as she was, Jane refused to eat anything fattening or salty this weekend. Tonight, I watched her pick at her meal, and we could all tell she was salivating at Laney’s mouth-watering snack. Laney even offered her a mini sandwich to which Jane took another sip of her water and looked away.

  “All this time, I thought he didn’t want to get involved because he wanted his freedom. He always told me he didn’t want to be tied down and I’ve recently decided that I did want to be tied down.”

  “What’s changed?” Jane kept her eyes on me only. I wanted to laugh, but thought I shouldn’t tease a bride who wanted to look her best on her wedding day.

  “Nick has this notion of a man being the sole breadwinner, and he told me that he felt inadequate as a man—or better put, as a Reid.”

  “That’s silly.” Laney continued with her meal. “He’s a student. What does he expect? He can’t work and be a med student.”

  I explained, “While Nick isn’t upset about the largess given to his siblings, he does feel like an underachiever compared to them. He mentioned not being able to pay for anything if he were to marry and have a family.”

  Jane shook her head in disagreement. “He’s taking this caveman part a little too far. You’re a successful businesswoman, and you
have a home. Why can’t he bum off you until he starts working?”

  “Had he told me his concerns before we split, I would have said the same things.” I nodded my head several times in agreement.

  Gram spoke again. “Sandy and Robert tell me that he is going into research? He’s changed his field and is in a different program?”

  “Yes. He’s still at the same school, but on a different track. Nick says it’ll take anywhere from three to five years to finish his MD/PhD.”

  “He has his own ‘largess’ coming his way that he doesn’t know about. You and he will be fine, Bee. Trust Nick to love you and treat you well, and trust in the Reids to take care of their own.”