Cosmos sped past Serena as Zander and Dwayne popped up from behind the piano. Preacher appeared from behind a chair, and Madigan stepped out from behind the curtains, sending Cosmos into a zigzagging sprint from one person to the next. Dean and Rick stood up behind the other couch as Gavin and Andre came through the back doors laughing.
A lopsided grin spread across Justin’s face as he went to Chloe and said, “Hey, beautiful. I thought you were having lunch with the girls.”
“I was. Am. What is going on?” Chloe asked.
Justin looked around and said, “We were all just, uh—”
“I’ve got the birthday cake and the banners! Sorry I’m late!” Reba’s voice sailed through the air.
Cosmos darted down the hall, and Sampson broke free, galloping after him. Reba shrieked, and then there was a loud thump.
“Oh shit,” the guys said at once, and everyone ran into the hall.
Reba was lying in the middle of the floor with cake all over her. Cosmos was standing on her chest, licking frosting from her face, and Sampson was gobbling cake off the floor. Reba laughed and said, “I think Cosmos and I are going steady now.”
Relieved laughter floated around them as everyone went to help her, but Preacher was already by her side, shooing Cosmos away. “Get outta here, pooch. I’m the only one that gets to lick this sexy gal.”
“Wow, I had no idea we were playing kinky cake games at this party,” Violet said as she and Desiree came down the stairs.
Justin laughed and swept Chloe into his arms, grinning like a Cheshire cat, or rather, like the gorgeous, thoughtful fiancé he was. As the others tried to stop Cosmos and Sampson from tracking cake and frosting all over the house, Chloe wrapped her arms around Justin and said, “Mr. Wicked, what have you done now?”
“Just living up to my promises of making all of your days special.”
Violet sauntered over in her cutoffs, black bikini top, and biker boots, and said, “Just don’t start talking about your naughty nights or Desiree might go into labor.” She kissed Chloe’s cheek and said, “Happy birthday and congratulations, Chloe. You’ve got a good man on your hands.”
Chloe grinned at Justin and said, “I’ve got a wicked good man on my hands, and I love him that way.”
DESPITE CHLOE’S STUMBLING into the setting up of her surprise party and Reba’s unfortunate cake spill, the party was a smashing success. They spent a wonderful day with friends and family on the beach celebrating Chloe’s birthday and their engagement. Serena made a big SHE SAID YES! sign with an arrow pointing to the side, and they’d taken dozens of pictures for Chloe’s memory books. When evening rolled in, they grilled food for dinner and built a bonfire.
Now the moon hung low over the bay, and the lights they’d set up on the beach twinkled against the night sky. Justin stood by the roaring fire talking with Mike, Preacher, Gavin, Tank, and Blaine as Zander and Drake played their guitars and Gunner chimed in with his harmonica. Baz and Zeke were flirting with the book club girls by the dessert table, and Sid and Evie had found new friends in the couples from Bayside Resort and Summer House. Justin looked past them all at Chloe, chatting with Ginger, Serena, Reba, and Madigan. Sampson was leaning against Chloe’s legs, and she’d kept her hand on him all evening, as if he were a child. She looked gorgeous wearing the black sweatshirt Serena had given her for her birthday with GIRLFRIEND FIANCÉE written across the front. She’d shown off her ring and told everyone about the morning, recounting every moment from the second she’d seen the balloons to the moment she’d said yes.
Justin had thought she’d never looked happier than when she’d seen the cake he’d made, but when he’d given her the key, she’d put that cake smile to shame. And when he’d brought Sampson in and told her about adopting him and Shadow, she’d stepped up her elation once again. But nothing—nothing—could top the look of overwhelming love and happiness in her eyes when he’d asked her to marry him. He knew he’d remember every look she’d ever given him, but that one was wrapped up for safekeeping and tucked away next to his heart.
“I take full credit for this engagement.” Gavin nudged Justin and said, “Right, dude? I made marriage look good, didn’t I.”
“You sure did.” Gavin and Harper’s love was admirable. But it was Preacher and Reba, and Conroy and Ginger, who deserved the credit for Justin’s ability to love and be loved and for his desire to nurture a relationship that could not only survive the worst of times, but one in which he and Chloe would continually help each other become the best people they could be. And it was Mike’s sharing of his story and how much he’d overcome with the woman he adored that had underscored the importance of being a good man above all else, because after that, everything else had fallen into line.
Justin looked at Preacher and Mike and said, “These guys deserve a little credit, too.”
“Hear, hear,” Blaine cheered, lifting his beer.
Mike eyed Tank and Blaine and said, “One Wicked man down. Who’s next?”
“Next?” Blaine looked at Tank, who shrugged.
Preacher put a hand on Blaine’s shoulder and said, “If your Whiskey cousins are any indication, once one good man falls, the rest follow like dominoes.”
“Sorry, Preach. I’m not into dominoes.” Blaine looked across the way at Marly and said, “But I’d like to get into a certain exotic brunette. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
As Blaine walked away, Mike said, “How about you, Tank? You’re getting a little long in the tooth.”
Tank scoffed. “Don’t hold your breath on my account, old man. All that white-picket-fence shit isn’t in the cards for me.”
“Maybe if you’d stop scaring the ladies away,” Justin teased.
Tank’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what’s up with that waitress at the Hog, but the only thing chicks are afraid of is the size of my dick.”
They all laughed.
Mike smirked. “He gets that from his grandpa.”
“On that note, when are you boys going to start using those appendages for making grandchildren?” Preacher looked at Tank and Justin expectantly. “You too, Gavin.”
“Don’t look at me, Preach. We don’t even have a wedding date yet,” Justin reminded them.
“Man, my parents are asking us the same thing,” Gavin said. “Nothing like a little pressure.”
Mike motioned in the direction of Chloe and Reba and said, “Maverick, I bet your mama’s already lodging her vote for procreation with Chloe.”
“I’d better go nix that. We need time to be a couple before we’re parents,” Justin said.
“I’ll sidetrack them,” Mike offered. “I’m heading over to grab another cookie anyway.”
Preacher touched Mike’s arm and said, “Pops, you’ve had a lot of sugar tonight.”
“These next six weeks can’t pass fast enough,” Mike grumbled. His application had been approved at LOCAL, and he was moving in the week before the suicide-awareness rally. He looked at Justin and said, “Your girl is a godsend for getting me into that facility. Think I can pay extra to get the deal expedited?”
Justin shook his head. “Doubt it, Gramps.”
“Worth a try,” Mike mumbled; then he headed for the dessert table.
“I’ll get him,” Justin said.
“Nah. You get your girl.” Tank clapped a hand on Justin’s back and said, “This is your night. I’ll get Gramps.”
“I think I’ll go lock lips with my wife.” Gavin headed up the beach with Tank, leaving Preacher and Justin alone.
“Preach, want to take a walk with me to go see our beautiful ladies?”
“You betcha.” Preacher put an arm over Justin’s shoulders and said, “I’m proud of you, son.”
“I still remember the first time you said that to me, my first night at your place. It was after Madigan had fallen asleep on my shoulder.”
Preacher’s lips curved up and he said, “You hadn’t moved an inch for almost two hours.”
“I know. My arm went numb.” When Madigan had woken up, she’d run off to play, and Justin had pushed to his feet and shaken out his arm, wincing as pins and needles prickled his limb. Preacher had moved his arm this way and that until the feeling came back, and as he was moving it around, he’d told Justin he was proud of him for putting Madigan’s well-being above his own. It was the first of so many important lessons. “I wouldn’t be half the man I am today without your guidance and love. I probably don’t say this enough, but thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
Preacher tapped his head against Justin’s and said, “You say it every day by treating others right, your fiancée included.”
“Fiancée. I like the sounds of that a whole hell of a lot.”
Chloe turned as they approached, and their eyes connected with the heat and love Justin knew would last a lifetime. He wondered if it would be rude for them to sneak off down the beach for a few moonlight kisses. Sampson barked and pulled the leash in his direction. Chloe smiled, and Justin nodded, letting her know she could drop the leash. As Sampson trotted over to him, he said, “I never knew I could love anyone as much as I love her, Preach.”
“Really? I always knew you had it in you.” Preacher winked.
As Preacher went to Reba, Justin loved up Sampson. Then he put an arm around Chloe and said, “Hey, baby.” He kissed her softly. Turning his attention to Reba, he said, “Mom, would you mind if I steal my girl for a minute?”
“Don’t you mean our girl?” Reba asked. “That’s my future daughter-in-law you’re holding.”
The smile on Chloe’s face was as enchanting as the one he’d seen when he’d proposed.
“And she’s my sister-in-law,” Madigan said. “I’m so excited to work with Chloe. I’ll get to see her as much as you do, Mav. I know we’ll get final funding for a long-term project. I’m a kick-ass puppeteer.”
“Have I told you how much I love your sister?” Chloe asked. “I was just telling her and Reba that I’m meeting with our clinicians Monday afternoon to choose the residents who will be taking part in the trial program.”
Reba gave Justin an approving look and said, “Your fiancée knows her stuff. She’s a real go-getter.”
“And guess what else she is?” Madigan didn’t give Justin time to guess. “My new landlord! Chloe said I can rent her cottage when she moves in with you next weekend. She’s leaving a lot of the furniture, too, which makes it even more perfect.”
Justin said, “Remember when we had lunch and I said I might have a lead on a place for you?”
“Yeah.” Understanding dawned in Madigan’s widening eyes. “Oh. You meant Chloe’s? You could have told me you were proposing. I kept the secret about her party.”
“Yes, you did, but the only person who needed to know was Serena, and that was only because I wanted to ask her for Chloe’s hand in marriage.” Justin saw a look of disbelief in Chloe’s eyes and said, “You were hers long before you became mine. It was the right thing to do.”
“You never fail to surprise me,” Chloe said with awe. “I can’t believe Serena hasn’t said anything about it.”
“I asked her not to. I only meant until you said yes, but it’s good to know she’s so loyal.”
“Yeah, good to know,” Chloe said sarcastically. “I might have to rethink my matron of honor.”
“Have you given any thought to a wedding date?” Reba asked.
“Mom, we just got engaged. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m lucky enough to wake up next to this incredible woman every day for the rest of my life.”
Chloe leaned into his side and whispered, “I love you.”
“Aw,” Madigan said. “You guys make me wish I believed in love for myself.”
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, baby girl.” Reba looked at Chloe and said, “Have you always dreamed of a big white wedding?”
“To be honest, my life was all about survival for so long, I never dreamed of white weddings or a knight in shining armor. It wasn’t until after I’d bought my house and my career was settled that I started hoping I’d meet someone who would love me in the ways I always wanted to be loved. But I think in my head, a wedding was just checking off a box, wanting something because everyone else was moving in that direction.” She looked at Justin’s parents and said, “Then Justin came into my life, and without realizing it, I spent a year and a half comparing men to him and fooling myself into thinking that we weren’t right for each other. Thank heavens Justin didn’t give up, because he’s showed me that if I’d settled for being loved in the way I thought I wanted, I would have been shortchanging myself.”
She turned those loving hazel eyes on him and said, “I don’t care if I get married barefoot on the beach or in glass slippers in a castle, as long as when I say I do, I get to say it to you.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
CHLOE LEFT THE meeting with the clinicians Monday afternoon feeling productive. They’d discussed potential candidates for Madigan’s trial program and arranged for Madigan to come in and meet with their medical teams to ensure they were all on the same page. The trial program wasn’t due to start for several weeks, but everything was coming together nicely—there and in all aspects of Chloe’s life. She glanced at her sparkling engagement ring for the millionth time that day as she followed the sounds of laughter and music into the community room.
Rose was sitting beside Tina, one of the juniors in the new program, and her senior partner, Clara. They were looking at Tina’s and Clara’s phones. In the middle of the room, Kelly, another junior, was teaching her senior partner, Barbara, and Arlin, how to do the floss, a trendy dance move. The three of them were laughing as Kelly tried to guide Arlin’s hips in the right direction. It was good to see so much joy coming from the program.
“Chloe!” Rose waved her over. “Tina is filtering us.”
“Filtering?” Chloe asked.
“Photo filters.” Tina, a petite redhead with a sweet demeanor, held up her phone, showing Chloe a picture of Rose with bunny ears and whiskers.
“She’s showing us how to use Snapchat,” Clara said. “It’s all the rage these days, and Tina makes it easy to understand.”
Chloe loved that they were all enjoying their time together. “Very cute, ladies. Maybe now you’ll consider signing up for our technology program.”
Clara said, “Tina, would you go with me to a technology class?”
“Sure. Let me know when and I’ll check my schedule.” Tina handed Clara the phone and said, “Why don’t you try a filter?”
As Clara navigated the program on Tina’s phone, Rose got up and reached for Chloe’s hand. “I just have to see this gorgeous ring one more time. Your engagement is all anyone can talk about.”
When Chloe had arrived at work that morning, she’d stopped to chat with Shelby, and when she’d told her about the engagement, Shelby had popped to her feet, letting out a loud “Congratulations!” She’d hurried around the desk to hug Chloe just as two more staff members had come through the door. It hadn’t taken long for word of her engagement to make its way around the facility. Residents stopped her in the hall to congratulate her and ask about the lucky man who had snagged her heart. She loved telling them about Justin and his family, and about Shadow and Sampson. Justin had taken Sampson to work with him today, and he’d texted earlier to say how good a boy he was.
Tina got up to check out Chloe’s ring. “Wow, that’s cool. I’ve never seen a ring like that.”
“It’s custom. Her fiancé designed it,” Rose said. “I hope you two are as happy as Leon and I were, but for many more years.”
“Thank you, Rose.”
“Tina, look at this one.” Clara waved the phone.
As Tina sat beside Clara, Rose lowered her voice and said, “Emery told me all about how Justin wooed you and how you played hard to get for a very long time.”
“I didn’t play hard to get. I just had to get out of my own way and let nature take
its course.”
“Either way, a man who waits is a man worth waiting for.” Rose turned toward the women who were learning the floss, and said, “Do you know how to do the floss?”
“Yes. I love to dance, but that’s not my dance of choice.”
“I miss dancing with Leon.” Rose’s expression turned thoughtful. “We used to slow dance, and oh, how I loved being in his arms.”
“Justin and I love to slow dance, too. I think dancing with him is one of my favorite things to do with him,” Chloe said, remembering the way Justin had pulled her into his arms earlier that morning after their shower and they’d slow danced in the bathroom. He’d touched his forehead to hers and whispered, I will always love you.
Rose squeezed her hand and said, “That’s good, Chloe. I hope you two always have that.”
“Me too.” Chloe checked the time. It was already three thirty. She and Justin were meeting at her cottage right after work to start packing for her move. “Oh gosh, I’d better get back to work.”
“I’ll get back to my filtering.”
Chloe headed down the hall. Shelby was watching her approach. She’d pinned her curly dark hair up and a few pretty tendrils had sprung free, framing her face.
“Are you knocked up?” Shelby asked. “Because you are absolutely glowing.”
“Not pregnant, just happily engaged.”
“Some of the residents asked me to find out about your wedding date so they can throw you a bridal shower.”
“Really? That’s so nice. I’ll let you know when we figure it out.” She and Justin had started talking about their wedding date last night. Neither one wanted to wait too long, but between work, acclimating to life with two furbabies, and making the sculpture for the suicide-awareness rally, the rest of their summer was going to be busy. The rally was in September, and Chloe knew that was going to be a difficult time for Justin. The last thing he needed was more pressure, so she suggested they put off talking about a wedding date until after the holidays.
Shelby lowered her voice and said, “Maybe you can introduce me to one of Justin’s single brothers. That big guy who was here for the tour was a mighty sexy beast.”
A Little Bit Wicked (The Wickeds Page 36
