by Kahlen Aymes
Jillian threw herself at Angel, hugging her legs with both arms, and Angel put a hand down to her face as the child looked up at her.
“Weez is gettin’ marrdied!” Jillian’s face was pink with excitement, her blue eyes dancing in her round little face.
“What?” Angel looked up at the other women. Ally and Becca were smiling, dressed in light aquamarine, linen sundresses. Cora had a wistful look on her face, also dressed for the beach in an elegant chiffon dress that hit just below her knees in a slightly darker shade. They were all perfectly made up, but barefoot. Jillian’s hair was full of baby’s breath, and her dress was white linen dotted with small flowers in the same shade of aquamarine as Becca and Ally’s dresses. She looked like an angel.
“Weez is gettin’ marrdied!” she said again happily, jumping up and down.
When it finally dawned on Angel what was going on, she was still speechless.
“Are you okay?” Becca asked in concern, putting an arm around her Angel. Her friend had a stunned look on her face as her eyes went from her face, to Ally, to Cora. “Angel, breathe!”
Cora walked toward her and put a hand to her cheek. “Don’t be angry with Alex, darling. He’s been planning this for a couple of months. He wanted to surprise you.”
Angel’s eyes blurred. “On the beach at sunset?” It was all very romantic and not something she’d expect, even as loving as he’d become. An iron band slapped around her chest as her lungs froze.
Ally nodded.
Angel’s heart threatened to explode, the tightness in her throat almost unbearable. “I’m just surprised.”
“We can throw a big party in Chicago next month,” Cora said.
“Um…” Angel’s legs were shaky. “I don’t have anything to wear. What about my father? As much as I love Alex, I can’t get married without my dad.”
“He knew that sweetheart,” Joe said from the doorway.
“Oh, my God! Daddy!” Angel exclaimed, her hand going to her chest.
“I would have kicked both of your asses if I’d have missed this.”
He was carrying a white gown bag from the bridal shop and laid it across a chair, then came forward and enfolded his daughter in his arms. Angel melted into him, feeling a emotional. “I can’t believe this.” Everything was so overwhelming. Even for someone who usually had a strong hold on her emotions. Ever since she’d met Alex, it was as if he’d brought all of her emotional walls crumbling down. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Her father hugged her tight. “Come on now. You don’t want to keep that fine young man waiting.” He wiped her tears away as the others looked on. Angel gave him a luminous smile, her heart felt like it was shattering with happiness.
“Anga! Why is you crying?” Jillian tugged on her dress. “Don’t you wanna marrdy Zander?”
Angel nodded. “Yes. I want to marry Zander. Very much.”
“Tay! Let’s go!” Jillian started to spin around, fascinated by how her dress twirled around her.
“Let’s get the show on the road, shall we?” her father asked, his brown eyes meeting hers. He kissed Angel’s cheek and backed away. “Okay. Meet you out back when you’re ready.”
After he left, the women burst out in a bunch of excited screams, and Angel hugged them all in a big group hug.
“Let’s get you into this, shall we?” Cora asked happily.
“This is what the appointment was about? Sneaky bitches.” She laughed.
“Yes! Oh my God! Alex was relentless!” Ally exclaimed. “He wouldn’t stop bugging me! Then afterward, he wanted to know what you’d chosen. I wanted to fucking smack him!”
“Allison!” Cora admonished.
“What? It’s true.” Ally grimaced with wide eyes only for Angel to see.
“Did you all come together?”
“Yes. Alex sent the jet back to get us. A stop in Joplin first, then we all piled on in Chicago. Jillian has been like a jumping bean. We’ve been on the other side of the island since yesterday.”
“Incredible.”
It wasn’t long before they had Angel into her dress. It was as beautiful as she remembered; even more so. The crystal that adorned the bow between her breasts had been replaced by a sparkling, antique diamond broach. Angel gasped when she saw it.
“This is really beautiful.” Her fingers delicately touched the intricate design.
“It was Charles’ grandmother’s. It’s very old. Alex used to love looking at it sparkle when he was a baby, so she put it away for him. He wanted you to have it today, Angel.”
Angel blinked at the tears burning the back of her eyes. She didn’t want to cry and ruin her newly re-applied make-up. Not before Alex saw her. She changed the subject to help her get a grip. “How does the gown fit so perfectly?”
Becca answered. “Sonya is very efficient. That, and I smuggled in that strapless dress you wore to the breast cancer fundraiser last year. That fitted one?”
“You guys are quite a crew.”
“Wow!” Jillian said, buzzing around Angel when Becca was putting the veil on her head.
“Isn’t Angel beautiful, sweets?” Becca asked the little one.
Jillian nodded. “Bootifoo!” she agreed.
“It’s a little much for the beach, isn’t it?” Angel asked. She was on cloud nine, her face hurt from smiling at the same time as tears choked her up.
“Maybe, but it’s not too much for my brother,” Ally answered.
Angel inhaled deeply, nodding. Ally was right. Nothing was too much for Alex.
After one last look in the mirror, they were ushering her out through the double doors in the bedroom onto the deck around the pool. The sun was just turning the sky a brilliant coral that faded into dark lavender. The water was turning darker as night fell, but the sun reflecting across it made it sparkle.
She could see Alex’s silhouette on the beach, his hands in his pockets. He was enveloped in shadow, so she couldn’t see his face or how he was dressed; he was too far away. Cole stood next to him, and Joe and Charles were waiting for the women.
Outside, four hotel staff were waiting by the cabana, their arms laden with the purple Canna Lilies that had become a symbol of Alex and Angel. Jillian was handed one on a shorter stem, then three each, bound with white silk ribbon, were given to Becca and Ally. With a full bouquet of purple lilies, white orchids, and freesias firmly in one hand, Angel put her left arm through her father’s right.
“Ready?” Joe asked, his eyes glowing love. Angel wasn’t sure, but she could swear he was tearing up, and she leaned in to kiss his cheek.
“Yes.”
The hurricane lamps were lit, and two rows had been placed down the beach to where Alex waited.
She couldn’t help but choke up as Charles kissed her cheek. “You look stunning. I never thought I’d see this day. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“For what?”
“For making Alex believe in love.”
“Everyone is so wonderful. I’m going to cry.” Angel’s voice cracked on the last word.
“Happy tears,” Cora said, her own eyes welling up.
Charles took Cora’s hand and tucked it in his arm after they both kissed Angel on the cheek and then turned and walked across the sand.
Angel watched them go then looked down at her father’s feet. “Everyone’s barefoot. Even the men?”
Joe smiled. “Yes. I thought it was silly at first, but it seems appropriate.”
Ally walked in front of Becca, who had Jillian by the hand.
“Are Uncle Will and Ben here?”
“Yes, and Alex’s friend, Darian. Otherwise, just the family.”
Angel nodded, swallowing. “That is the family.” She didn’t need a huge wedding. This would be better than she could have ever imagined.
“Are you scared?” Her father murmured the question so only Angel could hear. There was a lone violinist playing classical music as the girls walked toward the others on the beach.
Angel sudden
ly felt calm. She shook her head. “No. After what happened between you and Mom, I didn’t think I’d ever want to get married. I didn’t think I’d trust anyone that much, but I trust Alex.”
“I do, too.”
Angel squeezed her father’s arm, and her feet sank into the satin-soft sand as they stepped off the deck. This was the first step into the rest of her life with the man of every woman’s dreams. She laughed to herself. Yes, he was every woman’s dream, and she was marrying him.
The sun was in her eyes, so Alex, Cole, and the minister were mostly in shadow until they got right in front of them. Alex’s hair was still a bit damp and slicked back, and he was dressed to kill in a black suit over a crisp white shirt and black silk tie. He looked impeccable. She glanced down, and just as expected, his feet were as bare as everyone else’s.
When Angel approached Alex, and her father kissed her on the cheek his heart stopped. Angel handed her bouquet to Becca he reached for both of her hands.
She was going to start crying, so she tried hard to tease him.
“There’s still time for a pre-nup, you know.” Her voice trembled, and Alex knew she was struggling for control. His beautiful, strong Angel was as fragile as the finest glass. And she needed him in ways she’d never needed anyone else. That knowledge filled him up to bursting.
“Why? Are you afraid I’m going to steal all your money?” A smile tugged at the corners of his beautiful mouth as mischief lurked in his eyes.
A small, tearful laugh burst from her, and she squeezed his hands.
Alex thought she was the most stunning thing he’d ever seen, and it was hard to believe he even existed before meeting her. “You’re so beautiful. I’m the luckiest man on earth.”
She smiled brightly, lifting her tear-filled, luminous eyes to his. Alex’s own throat was tight, and his eyes burned. He loved her so fucking much, he couldn’t even breathe, and she was all he would ever want.
“Surprised?” He smiled softly, rubbing his thumbs over the tops of her hands.
“You are so gonna get it later,” she said, her voice, though cracking, was amused.
Alex laughed softly, his eyes unable to look away from Angel’s face, but his eyebrow cocked in amusement. “Promise?”
“Oh, I promise.”
“Me, too.”
After Angel handed her bouquet to Becca, Alex took both of her hands in his and kissed the inside of her left wrist, his mouth open and caressing. Their eyes locked, and it seemed like they were all alone on this beach, and the entire planet.
Everyone watched the couple in silence, and it was as if time stopped.
“I love you, so much,” she said in a soft, trembling voice. The tears she was holding back finally broke free to tumble down her cheeks. “I can’t believe how much.”
Alex thought the tears only made her more beautiful, she’d wrapped around his heart from the very first time he’d laid eyes on her. A hundred years wouldn’t change it. “I love you, more. I promise… I love you, more.”
Other Books by Kahlen Aymes
All titles available in all eBook formats and paperback.
After Dark Series
1. Angel After Dark
2. Confessions After Dark
3. Promises After Dark
The Remembrance Trilogy
Prequel—Before Ryan Was Mine (Publishing 12-16-14)
1. The Future of Our Past
2. Don’t Forget to Remember Me
3. A Love Like This
Coming in 2015
UnTouch Me (Stand Alone Novel)
The FAMOUS Novel Series
Stalk Kahlen
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