by Sandi Lynn
It was a Saturday night and Carter and I were getting ready to head to the Christmas party he was throwing for his staff at The Plaza Hotel.
“Damn, look at you,” Carter spoke as he licked his lips.
“You like?” I asked as I did a twirl in the middle of the bedroom.
“What do you think?” He grinned as he looked down at his rising cock.
I smiled and patted him on his chest.
“You’ll have to wait until after the party. We’re already running late.”
“I’m the boss. I can be as late as I want.” He pulled me into him.
“It’s not polite to keep your guests waiting.” I pressed my lips against his.
“Have you by any chance seen my cuff links?”
“Aren’t they in the jewelry box?” I asked.
“No. I looked already.”
Suddenly, we heard something fall in the closet.
“What was that?” he asked as he walked over to the closet and opened the double doors.
He walked inside, bent down, and picked up the small black box with the cuff links in it that Angelique had bought him for his birthday.
“Where did these come from?” he asked me. “I thought I got rid of them.”
“You did and I retrieved them.” I lightly smiled. “There was no reason for you not to keep them. And obviously, she wants you to wear them tonight.” I straightened his bow tie.
“Zoey, I—I’ve never worn them.”
“Then tonight’s as good a night as any to wear them for the first time. She bought these for you and never had the chance to give you them. She wants you to wear them, Carter.”
“Is she here?”
“Not now. But, obviously, she was.”
I took the cuff links out of the box and put them on him.
“There. Go look in the mirror.”
He walked over to the full-length mirror and stared at them.
“Thank you.” He turned to me with a smile.
“You’re welcome.”
He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“You have. But I want to hear it again.”
“I love you to the moon and back, sweetheart,” he spoke as his bright and happy eyes burned into mine.
“I love you too, Carter.” He was so sexy and I couldn’t get enough of him. “Fuck it, we can be late.” I pushed him down on the bed and climbed on top of him.
Carter
It was Christmas morning and Zoey and I sat by our beautifully lit and decorated tree and exchanged gifts.
“Carter, I love it!” She hugged me after opening the new Chanel handbag I bought her.
She handed me a gift with a wide grin across her face. I took the wrapping off and removed the lid to the box, taking out the framed picture of the two of us that Ano took at Sweetheart Rock in Hawaii.
“I love this, Zoey. Thank you. This will be perfect on my desk.”
“It’s a special picture, Carter.”
“I know. It’s of the two of us.” I grinned.
“No. Not just because of that. Look. See the white outlined figure on the rock? That’s Nora.”
Tears started to fill my eyes as I stared at it and then looked up at her.
“Merry Christmas, Carter,” Zoey spoke.
“Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for this. Merry Christmas. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
We finished opening the rest of our gifts, made love in the shower, and got dressed before her family and Holly arrived for dinner. I nervously paced back as I waited because I had one last gift for her.
“Zoey, are you almost ready?” I yelled.
“Yes. I’m ready. Why? They won’t be here for at least another hour.”
“I have one more gift for you,” I spoke.
“You do?”
“Yes. I have to go get it, so stay right here and don’t move.”
“Okay.” She smiled.
I went into the laundry room where I had a bouquet of purple roses hidden since yesterday. Grabbing them, I walked into the living room where she stood and handed them to her.
“Oh, Carter. They’re gorgeous.”
“You told me that the purple rose symbolizes soul mates, but it also symbolizes love at first sight.” I inhaled a deep breath, took the flowers from her, set them down, and grabbed her left hand. “Zoey, I already told you that I felt this incredible connection to you when I first saw you in Starbucks, and every day, that connection grew stronger and stronger. I was so broken and lost at that time that I couldn’t see what was in front of me. You stood by me even when I put you through hell and I will never forget that. My world was so dark and then you walked into it and you pushed all the darkness away.”
“Carter.” Tears filled her eyes.
“Shh. Let me finish, sweetheart. You took all my broken pieces, and when I thought it wasn’t possible, you put me back together again. You made me whole, Zoey. I was imprisoned in my own personal hell and you set me free. You showed me what it was like to live again and I love you so much for that.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box. Flipping open the top, I held it up in front of her. “You are my soulmate, the love of my life, my queen, and the person I was born to be with for the rest of my life. Will you marry me and become Mrs. Carter Grayson?”
She placed her right hand over her mouth as the stream of tears ran down her face.
“Yes, Carter. I will marry you!”
With a smile, I took the three-carat cushion-cut square diamond with a band of diamonds on each side from the box and slipped it on her finger. Then I brought my hand up to her face and wiped away her tears.
“I didn’t mean for you to cry,” I spoke with tears in my eyes.
“How could I not? You’re so romantic and you make me happy, Carter. I love you so much.”
“You make me the happiest man alive, sweetheart, and I love you.”
Chapter 41
Zoey
I couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous ring that sat on my finger. The moment John, Scott, and Holly walked in, I shamelessly showed it off. But they already knew about it. Carter had asked all three of them for their permission to take my hand in marriage. John and Scott openly welcomed him to the family and called him the perfect gentleman.
Nine Months Later
I took in a deep breath as my dads walked into the bridal room of the church.
“Wow,” they both spoke at the same time with tears in their eyes.
“No.” I waved my finger at them. “No tears. Not yet anyway.”
“You look absolutely beautiful, baby.” John kissed my cheek.
“You sure do. We always knew this day would come.” Scott began to cry. “Sorry, I can’t help it.” He wiped his tears.
“Are you ready?” John asked as both he and Scott held out their arms.
“Yes. As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The music started to play and they slowly walked me down the aisle. The only thing I could see was my handsome husband-to-be standing nervously at the altar.
“Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?” the priest asked.
“We do,” both John and Scott spoke at the same time.
After kissing my cheek, they placed my hand in Carter’s.
“Are you okay?” I whispered to him.
“I’ve never been better. You?”
“Same.” I smiled.
We said our vows, which had both of us crying along with all of our guests. And then we were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Carter Grayson.
“You may kiss your bride, Carter.” The priest smiled.
“It would be my pleasure.”
After the ceremony and pictures, we headed to The Plaza Hotel for our wedding reception. We walked around, greeted our guests and had a wonderful dinner. It was time to share our first dance as husband and wife, and we danced to the song How Long W
ill I Love You by Ellie Goulding.
“You are so beautiful,” he spoke as he smiled at me.
“So are you.”
As we were dancing, I smiled as I stared at Nora and Angelique, who were a few feet away from us. When the song ended, the DJ announced he had a request for another song for us and not to leave the dance floor. My heart started racing because I had a feeling I knew what it was. Suddenly, Unchained Melody started to play. I looked at Carter, who swallowed hard.
“It’s okay, Carter. She wants us to dance to this.”
“She’s here, isn’t she?”
“Yes, and so is Nora.”
“Tell her I said thank you.” He smiled as we slowly danced.
Three Months Later
Carter and I spent a three-week honeymoon traveling around Europe and taking in the beautiful sights of Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Paris, and London. Once we got home, our lives went back to normal. Carter went back to running his company and I went back to the hospice center. So needless to say, our lives were pretty busy.
One morning after Carter left for the office and I was getting ready to work, Holly came over before she had to open the shop. I was standing in the bathroom doing my makeup when she walked in. Suddenly, the smell of her perfume sent a wave of nausea over me.
“What kind of perfume are you wearing?” I asked.
“The same kind I wear every day. Why?”
Placing my hand over my mouth, I ran over to the toilet and vomited.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” she asked as she held my hair back.
“I don’t know. The smell of your perfume made me sick.” I began to laugh. “I’ve been feeling a little sick to my stomach the last few days. I think I have a touch of the flu.”
“Or a touch of a pregnancy.” She smiled.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not pregnant.” I wiped my mouth and stood up.
“Yeah. I think you are, Zoey.” She grinned.
“I can’t be. I’m on birth control. I get the shot every three mon—Oh my God, I forgot to get it last month! With everything going on and the hospice center, I forgot! And come to think of it, I never got my period last month.”
“Yippee!” She jumped up and down. “I’m going to be an aunt!”
“Holly, we don’t know for sure if I am.”
“Well, the only way to find out is to go buy a pregnancy test and take it.”
“I guess I’ll have to.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
“Okay. Call me when you take it and let me know. I have to go open the shop. I love you.”
“I love you too. Have a good day.”
I took a seat on the edge of the bed and pondered the thought that I might be pregnant. Carter and I never really discussed kids. I mean, we both wanted them, but we didn’t talk about when. On my way to the hospice center, I stopped at the drug store and bought three different pregnancy tests. Going into the bathroom once I got to work, I peed on each stick and tried to wait patiently for the results, but I didn’t have to, because instantly, the sticks turned positive. I was in shock, but a good shock. Carter and I were going to have a baby and I couldn’t wait to tell him.
Since his birthday was only a week away, I kept the news to myself. As torturous as it was, I wanted it to be the best birthday ever for him.
“Happy birthday, baby.” I smiled as I gently kissed his lips.
With his eyes still shut, he smiled.
“Thank you.”
He opened his eyes and softly stroked my hair as I leaned over him. Rolling over, I pulled two gift bags out from under the bed.
“Open this one first.” I grinned as I handed him the bag with the new watch he wanted.
“You didn’t!” he exclaimed as he took it out of the bag and opened the box.
“I did.” I smiled.
“How? They didn’t have any left and weren’t getting another shipment in for a couple of months.”
“I had the salesman tell you that.” I winked.
“Come here.” He pulled me into him. “I love you. Thank you.”
“I love you, and you have one more present to open.”
“Sweetheart, the watch was more than enough.”
“I think you’ll like this better than the watch.”
I handed him the bag, and after pulling the tissue paper from it, he took out a newborn white baby sleeper with little yellow ducks on it. He held it up and then looked at me.
“Does this mean—”
“Yes!” I nodded my head with excitement. “We’re having a baby.”
“We’re having a baby? Me and you?” he asked in shock.
“Of course me and you!” I laughed.
“You’re pregnant?”
“Oh my God, Carter, yes, I’m pregnant!”
“Zoey.” He choked up. He brought his hand up to my cheek with tears in his eyes. “We’re having a baby,” he whispered.
I leaned in and brushed my lips against his as he wrapped me tightly in his arms. Then suddenly, he let go of me, jumped out of bed, opened the bedroom window, and yelled, “We’re having a baby!”
Chapter 42
Carter
As the months flew by, I made sure to keep Zoey and the baby safe at all times. I could tell she was irritated by it, but she knew I was only doing it out of love. Today was the day we would find out the sex of our child at a gender reveal party that Holly was throwing us at our penthouse. It didn’t matter to either one of us what the gender was. We just wanted him or her to be healthy.
Our friends gathered for dinner and drinks as we anxiously waited to cut the cake Holly had specially made for us.
“Okay, you two. It’s time to find out the sex of your little one. I feel so special since I’m the only one who knows.” She smirked.
“Holly, can we please get on with it?” I asked.
She laughed and handed Zoey the knife.
“Carter, put your hand on Zoey’s, like you did when you cut your wedding cake. If the cake inside is blue, it’s a boy; if it’s pink, it’s a girl. I’ll count to three. One...two…three.”
Zoey and I cut into the cake and took out a piece.
“We’re having a girl!” Zoey exclaimed.
“Perfect.” I kissed her lips with a grin across my face.
Everyone clapped and hugged us and we all enjoyed a piece of cake and toasted to the news.
A daughter. A little princess. I felt like I was living a dream and I never wanted to wake up. Later that evening, after everyone left, Zoey and I climbed into a warm bath, her back tightly pressed against my chest as my hands softly rubbed her growing belly.
“I love the idea of having a little princess running around here,” I spoke.
“You’re going to spoil her.” Zoey smiled as she looked up at me.
“You bet I am. She’s going to deserve the world, just like her mommy does.” I kissed her head.
“You better be careful or you’ll turn her into a little diva.”
Suddenly, I felt her kicking my hand.
“Did you feel that, Zoey?” I asked in excitement.
“How could I not, Carter?” She laughed.
After our bath, Zoey climbed into bed with a book and I grabbed a pair of headphones from my nightstand and put them over her belly.
“What are you doing?” she asked as she arched her brow.
“Playing some music for the baby.”
“What kind of music?”
“Just a song. No big deal.”
Zoey took the headphones off her belly and brought them up to her ears.
“‘Daddy’s Little Girl’?” She laughed. “What are you doing? Brainwashing her?”
Taking the headphones from her, I placed them back on her belly.
“No. Of course not. How could you say such a thing? I just want her to know right now that she’s daddy’s little girl and I will always be there for her to love and protect her.”
A tender smile crossed Zoey’s lips as she brought her hand up
to my cheek.
“You are an amazing daddy already.”
We stood in the middle of the rose gold and white nursery that was now ready and waiting for our daughter. She was expected to arrive in two weeks and I couldn’t wait to hold her.
“Everything looks perfect.” Zoey smiled. “You did a great job, Carter.”
* * *
“Thanks, sweetheart, but we did a great job. I can’t believe how fast time is flying by.”
“It may have flown for you, but for me, it feels like eternity.” She smiled.
“Well, everything is done and put in its place, so now we just can sit back and wait.”
“Umm. I don’t think we have to. My water just broke.” She looked down.
Chapter 43
Zoey
“What?!” Carter exclaimed. “You’re not due for another two weeks.”
“Tell that to your daughter, because obviously, she wants to be born now.”
“Okay, don’t panic, sweetheart. We got this.”
“I’m not panicking, Carter.”
“Are you in pain? What do you need me to do?”
“I’m not in any pain.” I placed my hand on his chest. “You go get the bag we packed for the hospital and I will call Dr. Perry,” I calmly spoke.
“Okay. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” He kissed my head.
He was so cute and nervous as hell. I placed my hands on my belly.
“Thank you, baby girl. I’ll see you soon.”
I picked up my phone, which was sitting on the dresser, and called Dr. Perry. He told me to go right to the hospital and he’d see me when I got there.
“I have your bag. Did you call Dr. Perry?” Carter asked.
“Yes. He said to come right to the hospital.”
“Are you sure you’re not in pain?” He lightly took hold of my arm as we walked out of the nursery.
