Our Unscripted Story

by L. A. Fiore

  Mrs. C.’s eyes widen at Heather’s choice of footwear. “They are certainly unique.”

  “Yeah. I can’t wait to wear them. I wasn’t allowed to until after the wedding then I’m never taking them off.”

  Tara and Mandy shared a look and giggled. Their dresses were similar, tea length, organza, a little lace work on the bodice and a princess skirt. Tara’s sandals had a bit of a heel, Mandy’s were flats but both were pale pink.

  I caught Tara watching me. It wasn’t the first time since I arrived. There was something on her mind, and as much as I wanted to find a quiet corner and talk with her, she was the kind of person who needed to come to you. And she would, when she was ready, so I smiled at her and knew she understood I was ready to listen whenever she was.

  Mrs. C. touched my gown, the tulle and lace bodice with the cut out back, the fantail train. It hugged my figure. I adored it. My sandals were simple white ones. I wasn’t wearing a veil, just a messy updo. In two days I’d be walking down the aisle, walking toward the one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I was feeling the need to pinch myself again.

  Mrs. C. had tears in her eyes. “You’re going to make the most beautiful bride. I can’t believe the little girl that came to my house that first day is getting married.” She looked at me, a little smile curving her lips. “We love Greyson, Mr. C. and I. He’s a good man.”

  “He’s the best,” Paige chimed in.

  He was more than that, so much more than that and soon we would be bound by not just love but by vows spoken in front of everyone who mattered most…almost everyone.

  “I have champagne downstairs.” Paige looked at the girls. “And young lady champagne.”

  Sparkling grape juice.

  “Cake too,” Mandy chimed in.

  Paige laughed. Mandy had an insatiable sweet tooth. “Yes, cake too. Let’s go celebrate.”

  Dylan, Dominic and I walked along the beach. We’d done this a lot as kids, the scents bringing back so many memories.

  “I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Dylan announced then glanced at me. “Married.”

  A happy shiver moved right down my body. “I have trouble believing it too.”

  “I like him,” he added.

  “Me too. He’s a good guy,” Dominic seconded.

  I loved that they thought so. “I’m glad because we’re all family,” I said.

  “Yeah, we are.”

  “What about you two? Any thoughts about tying the knot?”

  Dylan reached for a shell and tossed it in the ocean. “Not at the moment. Work keeps us plenty busy.”

  “Not that we don’t have our share of the ladies…” Dominic was still a clown.

  “You’re happy though, right?” I asked.

  “Absolutely,” they said together.

  Dylan took my hand. “Even married, you ever need us…anything, Alexis.”

  Tears burned my eyes. My arm went around him; I pulled Dominic close and hugged them both. “I love you. Thank you for walking across the street that day.”

  Dylan pressed a kiss on my head. “Smartest thing I ever did.”

  Greyson

  Alexis was sitting so close she was practically on top of me. It was late; the girls had gone to bed hours ago. We were at Grant’s, the twins too. We were outside, sitting under the stars. The sky was so clear here, unlike in Manhattan. I’d forgotten how magnificent a sight it was.

  “Not to bring the mood down, but I’ve been in touch with the sheriff,” Grant offered out of the blue.

  “For?” Alexis asked.

  Grant turned his focus on me, Alexis followed. “Greyson?”

  “Just being cautious.”

  It took her a minute before her face paled slightly. “The letters?”

  Seeing her unease twisted in my gut, even as anger burned through me. That someone would put that look on her face fucking pissed me off.

  “What letters?” Dylan asked, looking to me then Grant.

  “Fan letters that are unsettling.”

  In all the years I’d known the twins, they were serious about five percent of the time. Now was one of those times.

  “How unsettling?” Dylan demanded.

  “Enough that I’m taking precautions.”

  “What kind of precautions?” Dominic asked.

  “It is more than likely whoever is writing them lives in the San Francisco area. We aren’t too far from there.”

  Alexis stiffened next to me. “You think she might crash our wedding?”

  My gut said no, but I wasn’t leaving it to chance. She didn’t need to worry about the details. Nothing was going to fuck this up for her. Nothing. I touched her cheek and met her worried gaze. “No, but it can’t hurt to be cautious.”

  Paige touched Alexis’ leg and added, “He’s right. It’s likely nothing, just some lonely woman living in her parents’ basement being creepy, but why risk it?”

  “I’ve got a PI looking into it, the San Francisco cops are too. Whoever it is, they’ll find her but in the meantime we just have to play it safe.”

  “Have you had to deal with this before?” I didn’t like how her voice shook, the urge to curl my fist and snarl was so fucking strong.

  “Not quite like this, but I’m not the first person in the public eye who has had to deal with a creepy fan and I won’t be the last.” I dipped my head, getting eye level with her; those beautiful brown eyes were clouded with concern. That twisted in my gut too. “Statistically, it never comes to anything. We’re not going to let this ruin our day.” I touched her chin. “Understood.”

  I watched her work it out, witnessed as she pushed worry back and let excitement replace it. There’s my girl.

  “Understood,” she said then grinned. “A person in the public eye? Don’t you mean celebrity? Can’t you say the words?”

  Her eyes went wide a second before I had her on her back, tickling her in all the right places. She cried uncle, and I relented, but it worked because there was only joy in those eyes now.

  Alexis

  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. The ceremony was being held on our bluff. Chairs and a white silk runner were set up on our spot. To reach the ceremony, the wedding party had to walk up the bluffs. I couldn’t see Greyson, he had arrived earlier, but I knew he was already standing next to the mayor, a close friend of Dee’s, who was officiating the ceremony.

  “You look beautiful, Alexis. Are you ready?” Paige asked.

  “I’ve been ready for this day for a long time.”

  She smiled. “I know.”

  “You look so pretty, Auntie Alexis. I like your hair up like that,” Mandy said.

  “And look at you. Beautiful. Thank you for being a part of today. I wouldn’t want to have it without you.”

  She touched her gown, her eyes bright with excitement. “I feel so pretty.”

  “You are pretty, no dress needed.” She smiled then ran to Grant, who looked amazing in his black suit, and like Greyson, he didn’t wear a tie.

  Heather was spinning in circles, but it was Tara who drew my attention. She was looking at me and I knew she was ready now. While Paige went to calm Heather down, I joined Tara. She was clasping her arrangement of pale pink peonies and white hydrangeas tightly in her hand.

  “Are you okay?”

  Her eyes lifted; she wasn’t a little kid anymore. “You love him.”

  My heart broke a little when understanding dawned. “I do.”

  “And he loves you.”

  “Yes.”

  She straightened her shoulders. “Then I’ll let him go.”

  Tears burned my eyes. She was fourteen, only two years younger than I was when I fell for Greyson. He was her first crush and she was letting go of him for me.

  “He’ll always be a part of your life, Tara, because you are a part of my life and always will be.”

  “I know.” Her eyes were bright, but she tried for a smile. “He’s too old for me anyway.”


  Understanding the significance of what she just offered, and how much it cost her, I replied sincerely, “Thank you.”

  We hugged then joined the others. Paige and Grant both eyed me, I mouthed that I’d tell them later.

  The music changed, Paige called the girls together. “Are you ready?”

  They were, even little Heather took her part seriously. Paige looked back at me. “See you on the other side.”

  We watched as they walked up the hill, disappearing on the rise.

  “Thank you, Grant, for today and for making me a part of your family.”

  His eyes grew bright. He pressed a kiss on my cheek. “We are family. Never forget that.” The music changed again. “Are you ready?” He linked my arm through his.

  I was so ready.

  My legs were shaking because Greyson and I were finally here. We were starting the beginning of our lives together. We reached the rise. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath then opened them to see my present and future staring back.

  Greyson

  I was getting close to hunting Alexis down, throwing her over my shoulder and bringing her to the mayor myself. What the fuck was taking so long? Grandfather stood calmly next to me.

  “You’re going to rip up the grass if you don’t stop fidgeting,” he whispered.

  Fuck the grass. I was minutes away from making Alexis mine…heart, body and soul. The fucking grass would grow back. My gaze drifted over our guests. It was a small crowd, but it was everyone we wanted to witness our union. My throat got tight, almost everyone. I knew Mom and Dad were looking down, and I knew how much Mom would have loved Alexis. Would have loved this day. My eyes stung, then the music changed. The girls and Paige appeared, the four of them pretty in pale pink. Grant was a lucky man. Even Heather was cooperating. There had been a fifty-fifty chance that she’d detour from the aisle to explore. Instead, her face was tense with focus, as serious as I’d ever seen her. The music changed again, my eyes trained on the spot as anticipation hummed through me. She appeared and everything else faded. My heart slammed into my ribs even as my body urged me forward to take, to claim. She was a fucking vision. Her gown hugged her willowy frame, her hands clasping a bouquet of pink peonies, a flower I didn’t know until she picked it for the wedding. Her hair was up, soft and loose to frame her beautiful face. But it was her eyes, those gorgeous eyes, bright with love staring at me like I was the beginning, middle and end of her story. I couldn’t wait for them to make the trip down the aisle, couldn’t wait for her to come to me. I met them halfway.

  Alexis

  I only had eyes for Greyson and in his I saw what I was feeling. He didn’t wait for us, meeting us halfway. Grant chuckled, then kissed my cheek. Our eyes connected and Grant was crying. Greyson took my hand, pulled me right up against him. His mouth touched my ear.

  “You are exquisite.”

  He was shaking, not from fear or nerves, but anticipation and excitement.

  I tried to listen to the ceremony, but it all passed in a blur. I remembered saying my vows. I remembered hearing Greyson say his. He slipped a platinum and diamond band on my finger and I slipped a platinum band on his. I had something engraved on his ring. He’d see it eventually.

  The mayor declared us husband and wife. We didn’t kiss right away. Greyson took my face in his hands and curled his spine to look in my eyes. In my whole life, I would remember that moment as the most perfect of my life. Then he smiled, a big beautiful smile.

  “Kiss me, husband.”

  It wasn’t soft; it wasn’t fast. Like the moment, it was perfect. Lips touched, tongues tasted, a silent vow as strong and binding as the words we spoke. His lips lingered and he whispered, “Mrs. Ratcliffe.”

  His hand moved down my arm leaving chills in its wake. His fingers linked with mine, the beginning of the rest of our lives…finally.

  I didn’t recognize the diner. It looked amazing, flowers, white cloths, crystal stemware and china dishes. Waiters in black suits walked around with champagne and appetizers, but my eyes lingered on our cake, more specifically the cake topper that Greyson had made. It was us on the back of a motorcycle, fashioned from iron.

  “My bike or yours,” he teased. He really hated my bike. I still had it. It was in Paige’s garage. Maybe I’d wrap it up and give it to him as a first anniversary gift.

  I studied the topper. It was so us. “It’s perfect.”

  And it was resting atop a four-tiered sugary confection with our wedding flowers, peonies and hydrangeas recreated in gum paste, cascading down the side.

  We had a line of people waiting to give us their best, but Greyson maneuvered us through the masses to somewhere more private. “Before we get overwhelmed and are pulled this way and that, I need a moment with my wife.”

  His wife. I hoped hearing him say that always had me feeling what I did then. “I like hearing you say that.”

  “Not as much as I like saying it.”

  He kissed me long and hard. “That’s going to have to hold us over for a bit.” He touched my chin. “You’ve got to stop looking at me like that or we’re leaving.”

  I really wouldn’t have a problem with that, but Paige and Grant had gone to a lot of work for this. “Tara let me have you.”

  His expression went blank for a second.

  I clarified, “She’s had a crush on you from day one, but today she let you go for me.”

  Love moved over his face. “She’s a good kid. They all are.”

  “Yeah, they are.”

  He glanced over at our guests. “Are you ready, Mrs. Ratcliffe.”

  I linked our fingers. “Absolutely.”

  We worked the line and ended with Paige and Grant. It was both a surprise and a joy to see Greyson and Grant hug. Paige said a few words to Greyson. He smiled then kissed her before his focus moved to the girls.

  He greeted each of them, kissing their hands as he had a habit of doing. He greeted Tara last. He didn’t release her hand and asked, “May I have this dance?”

  She would always remember that moment and I loved Greyson all the more for giving that to her. She blushed, but nodded her head. Greyson turned to the dance floor but looked back at Mandy and Heather. “Save me a dance, ladies.”

  They hurried after them.

  “What did she say to you before the ceremony?”

  My heart was so full watching Greyson with the girls. “She gave him up for me.”

  Tears filled Paige’s eyes. “She said that?”

  “Yeah, and it cost her too. You’ve got three amazing daughters.”

  “Yeah, we’ll keep them,” Grant teased then pulled Paige close and pressed a kiss on her temple. She curled into him.

  “When will we have little ones to play with?” Paige asked.

  Grant rolled his eyes. “They just said I do. Give them some time.”

  “What he said,” I teased.

  “Well, when you do have kids I’m going to spoil them.”

  Tara squealed in delight turning our attention back on Greyson and the girls.

  “He is going to be a wonderful father.” Paige wasn’t wrong.

  We danced, we ate, we laughed. At one point, “Just Like Heaven” played. Greyson pulled me to the dance floor. “Our song,” he whispered.

  After the last guest left, and Paige and Grant took the girls home, Greyson and I headed to the house he had rented. Our honeymoon was chilling in Mendocino for two weeks. Like the wedding, it was perfect.

  Memories teased me as we pulled up the drive to the house he and his grandfather had rented once upon a time. “We’re staying here?”

  “I thought you’d like it.” He climbed from the car and came around for me. Hand in hand we walked to the door we’d entered countless times as kids. He unlocked it, but didn’t let me in.

  “What are you doing?”

  He answered by lifting me into his arms. My heart rolled in my chest. He went right to the bedroom and dropped me to my feet.

  “Mrs. Ratcliffe.”
He brushed his finger along my collarbone. “You’re stunning.”

  Tingles started, shooting right down my arms.

  He pulled on the zipper of my dress and my heart pounded. His dark head lowered, his tongue running over the swells of my breasts. The dress slipped from my body. Brushing my nipple with his thumb, he touched the other with his tongue.

  Slowly, he moved his hands down my sides, then he dropped to his knees. He played with the edge of the lace panties I wore. “I love these,” he murmured. Kissing me where the lace sat low on my belly. “I’ll buy you a new pair.”

  He tore them from me. I wanted to laugh but then his face was between my legs, his tongue working magic. Instead, I grabbed his shoulders, spread my legs wider, closed my eyes and rode his face. He nipped and bit, sucked and savored. He thrust his tongue into me; the orgasm stole my breath.

  He lingered, savoring my taste before he moved back up my body. His cock was tenting his trousers.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

  Slowly, I unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it and his jacket down his arms. It landed on the floor with my dress. Unsnapping his trouser, I took my time dragging the fabric down his legs. His briefs went with them. I touched his cock with my tongue. Just the tip. He moaned.

  “Later,” he growled. “Right now I want inside you.”

  We tumbled on the bed. He moved between my legs. I closed my eyes because him joining us was one of my most favorite things.

  “No. Eyes open. The first time as husband and wife I want you to watch as I make you mine.”

  Exquisitely slow, he filled me, stretching me to take him. I bit my lower lip and lifted my hips. His focus moved to my lip a second before he drew it between his teeth. I slid my hands down his back to his ass and squeezed.

  He felt so good. I couldn’t take any more, wanted him to move his hips to start that magnificent friction, but he stopped. Tenderness stared back. “My wife.”

  It wasn’t frenzied. He moved slowly, deliberately working us both, building the pleasure so when it crashed over us, it took us both in the most exquisite orgasm.