by Layla Hagen
Mom and Caroline are huddled around three large pots at the stove, tasting the contents. Caroline looks relaxed. She’s also sexy as hell, wearing some shorts I’ve never seen on her and a washed-out tank top. Her hair is up on top of her head, messy strands hanging out.
Catching sight of me, she lets out a little shriek, then covers her mouth.
“What are you doing here already?” she asks through her fingers.
I look at my mother in defeat. “You told her.” I should have seen this coming. Keeping secrets isn’t her forte.
She shrugs.
“Told her you’d be here in four hours. Kept an element of surprise.”
Oh, how helpful.
“With that said, I’m out of here,” she continues. “Martin, Richard, and I are going out for dinner.”
“It’s early afternoon,” Caroline points out.
Mom winks. “Early dinner. The house is all yours.”
The second she leaves the kitchen, Caroline goes into a frenzy. “I need to shower. And change clothes. I was going to before you came. I’m wearing Summer’s old clothes, and I’m sweaty. Stinky too, I think.” She sniffs the air a bit, then drops her face into her hands. “I can’t believe I sniffed myself in front of you.”
Adorable as it is to see her this flustered, I have to put a stop to this before she works herself into even more of a frenzy. I roll my suitcase against a wall, then head to her.
“Stop driving yourself crazy.”
If I thought my words would calm her, I was dead wrong. She’s shaking like a leaf, and a strand of her hair is clinging to her cheek. After several attempts to push it away, I realize there is marmalade in it. I clean her up with tap water and can’t help myself. I kiss her. I wanted to say a million things first, but I need this more. I need it desperately. I tease my tongue over her lower lip until she parts her mouth, granting me access. She tastes like apricots and sugar, and I wrap my arms around her, pull her flush against me, greedy for her warm body, her soft skin. Even lost in her as I am, I can still feel her shuddering, and not in a good way.
“Why are you so nervous?” I ask, pulling back. I’m nervous too, but she seems downright scared.
She takes a deep breath and stares at a point on my chin, clearly avoiding my eyes. “You didn’t fly over from Australia to break up with me, right? For my own good or something?”
Ah, I understand her worry perfectly now, given our past. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Okay.” Tension bleeds away from her limbs. She nods, smiles up at me. “Okay. But if you had flown in for that, I wasn’t going to let you do it. Not without putting up a fight first.”
“Will you look at that? My little tigress.”
“I’m sorry about how I handled things on the phone. I was scared and the stupid came out.”
“You had all the reasons to be scared, don’t apologize.” I take her hands in mine, steeling myself. Here goes nothing. “I can’t promise something like this won’t happen again. I’m going to do my best, but I can’t guarantee it. I’ll make whatever changes are necessary in my business to minimize the risk, cut out all the celebrity outings, but I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. Can you live with that? Can you love me despite that?”
***
Caroline
The strain in his voice cuts through me.
“I don’t need you to promise me anything, Dan. And you will not change your business for me. I’ll learn to deal with it. You can teach me. Coach me, as you put it. I can learn. I want to. Anything you need, I’ll be there. And I love you no matter what.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “God, it feels good to hear that. I love you too. So much. It’s always been you. Always will be you.”
No, no, no. Calm down, silly heart. I need my wits about me, and my ears free of the relentless thumping that makes discerning his words rather difficult. He seems to have more to say, and I don’t want to miss one word.
“I want us to build a life together. I want a family with you. Tell me you want the same,” he whispers.
“You know I do.”
“I need to hear it.”
“I want a family with you. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. I’m all in, Dan. I’m all in.”
He lets out a sharp exhale, releases my hands, and cups my face instead. Then he kisses me, and it’s like I’m breathing again for the first time since I dropped him off at the airport. I’ve been too stressed out to fully enjoy the first kiss, but I’m determined to enjoy every single second of this one.
I slide my arms under his, encircling his torso, pulling him to me. He brings our bodies flush against one another, sinking against me as if he needs to feel every inch of my body against him, as if he needs me as much as I need him.
I give myself to him the way I always do: wholeheartedly. Only this time, I try to put every feeling and emotion into the kiss.
When we pull apart, I notice I’m trapped between the counter behind me and Daniel in front. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Such a sweet hardship. I’ll take it any day of the week. Dan kisses my forehead, my temple, then the tip of my nose. I’m shaking lightly. Maybe from the relief of being back in his arms and knowing he wants me in his life forever, just as I want him. Maybe it’s because every cell in my body is clamoring for skin-on-skin contact, for him to be inside me. I want us to be united in every way.
As if reading my mind, he takes me in his arms, carries me up the stairs.
“I’m staying in your old room,” I inform him, a thrill of anticipation running through me. He carries me straight to the en-suite bathroom. While we’re ridding each other of clothes, I search his face. I’ll never tire of looking at him, of trying to read him and anticipate what he needs to be happy.
We step in the shower together, and as the warm water sprays down on us, Daniel pours shower gel on his palms, then lowers himself, running his soapy hand along my leg, up one thigh. He brushes his thumb over my clit, luring a moan out of me, right before he moves his hands on my other leg, starting to soap it from my ankle, making his way up slowly. I’m shuddering with anticipation, my center burning. When his hands reach the apex of my thighs again, I need his fingers inside me so badly I nearly beg for it. Looking straight up at me, he slides his hands over the outside of my thighs to my ass, cupping it. One swipe of his tongue against my clit is all it takes for me to cry out for him, fisting his hair. He licks me again and again, until I’m unsteady on my legs. Then he kisses up to my navel, moves to my breasts, sucking one nipple into his mouth.
“Dan, oh!”
I feel him lift my legs, propping me back against the tiled wall. Instinctively, I wrap my legs around him and he lowers me onto him, filling me inch by inch. He groans my name as I clench around him and kiss his neck. His hands are holding my ass cheeks, his fingers digging into my skin. He fits me so perfectly. We simply stay like this, not moving or attempting to, simply being with each other. This moment is so intimate I’m trembling from the intensity of it.
He presses his thumb at the corners of my mouth, then kisses me again. When I part my lips and his tongue slips inside my mouth, I feel more tenderness and heat than ever before. I pulse around him, push my hips forward, seeking friction. He kisses down the side of my neck, then back up before finally unhitching his lips from my skin and looking me in the eyes.
“I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have your love,” I whisper.
“Then I’ll do my best to prove it every day.”
Chapter Thirty
Caroline
“I am so proud of myself. So proud.” I smile as we step out of the hotel lobby and into the pleasantly cool Vegas morning.
Daniel cocks a brow. “You’re worse than Summer.”
“What are you talking about? I only fangirled about five times.”
Batting my eyelashes, I flash him a grin. What was he expecting? He just introduced me to one of my favorite TV stars, Nina. When Daniel told m
e he was organizing her birthday party in Vegas and asked me if I wanted to join him, it took me all of five seconds to say yes. He patiently coached me how to deal with paparazzi in case any show up. He also gave me advice about how to act when I meet Nina. I’m still working on implementing it.
“What do you want to do?” he asks. “We have the whole day to ourselves.”
“Well, since you’re the Vegas expert, and I’ve never been, I want a private tour.”
“Your wish is my command. Mid-December isn’t the best month to be in Vegas, but at least we won’t cook. Our last stop will be the Bellagio fountains. There’s a water show every thirty minutes.”
We’re staying at a hotel on the Strip, so we’re right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. I’ve visited quite a few cities, and they each have their own pulse, something that sets it aside from any other place—something beyond architecture or language or history. Vegas is colorful and vibrant, holding a sense of wonder and danger, and I can’t wait to explore it with Daniel.
Some five hours later, I feel like my feet are about to fall off. We’ve visited all the major casinos—my favorite is hands down the Venetian, with its picturesque bridges, and the High Roller, the giant ferris wheel. As we watch the water show at the Bellagio fountains, I understand why Daniel kept it until the end. It’s truly breathtaking, the best way to end the tour.
“You’re truly a Vegas pro,” I compliment him once the show is over and the tourists scatter. “Is there anything you haven’t done in Vegas? Actually, don’t answer. Some things I don’t need to know.”
Daniel chuckles, tucking me into him, kissing my cheek. “I have no secrets.”
I unzip his jacket, snaking my arms inside it, holding onto him. He’s grown suddenly quiet, a contemplative expression on his face.
“There is one thing I haven’t done here,” he says.
Is it my imagination, or does he sound a tad uneven?
“What?”
He takes my hands out of his jacket, leading me through the streets once again. I have no idea where we’re heading, but I trust him.
We enter one of the lower, inconspicuous buildings on a side street. I don’t realize what we’ve walked into at first. There are many couples around us, some not entirely sober.
I only put two and two together when I spot the couple at the far end of the room, and the wedding officiant behind them.
“Oh my God.” My mouth goes dry. We’re in a chapel. Daniel’s eyes are trained on me, waiting.
“That’s one thing I haven’t done. Anything you want to change about that?” he asks, voice rough, full of emotion.
“You planned this?”
“No. If I had, there would be no one else here, and I’d be wearing a suit. I’m not a cufflink man, but for such an occasion....”
I’m not dressed for the occasion either, obviously. I’m wearing jeans, a pink sweater under my jacket, and pink ballerina shoes with oversized bows.
“Oh, Dan! I—yes, let’s do this. But wait... our families won’t be too happy. But I also don’t want to wait.”
This might be a little surprising, a lot reckless, but oh my goodness, it feels so right. So perfect.
“It’s up to you. We can wait and do everything in San Francisco. Or we can do it now. Or we can have both. We can get married here, throw a party home.”
“Sounds great.” I’m so excited I can barely get the words out.
“Which part?”
“The last one. Wedding now, party home.”
Dan doesn’t answer. He simply pulls me in and kisses me hard. The sound of hands clapping fills the room. I blink open one eye and see that everyone is watching us.
“I love you so much,” I whisper. He smiles, keeping me close, and I lose myself in him, in this moment.
I watch the couples in front get married as if through a haze. My senses seem to be completely consumed by Daniel. Our hands are clasped together as we wait.
When our turn comes, Daniel talks to the officiant in a low, hushed voice before the ceremony begins. As we stay next to each other, and the minister presents us with rings—simple gold bands—I can’t help but wonder why everyone doesn’t do this. Sometimes I think weddings are more for the benefit of the guests than the bride and groom, who often stress themselves out to please the guests at their own expense. This is perfect for us.
When the ceremony starts, I feel my entire body tense, excitement and adrenaline coursing through me. No nerves or hesitation grips me. This feels more right than anything ever has.
I can’t believe this moment is here, that Daniel is standing next to me, about to become my husband. I’ll make him the happiest man on earth; that’s a vow I’m making to myself, and I intend to remind myself of it every day.
“Have you prepared any vows?” the officiant asks.
“No, but I want to say a few words anyway,” Daniel says, turning to face me. “Caroline, we met when we were just becoming adults. You were my friend, then my lover. Then I let you go. I promise I’ll never let you go again. You’re my everything. And you’ll be my everything for the rest of our days.”
I smile, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. We needed these years apart to become the people we are now, to grow and learn how to be there for each other in all ways.
“I love you, Dan. No matter what life will throw at us, I’ll be there for you. I’ll love you through all of it, until my last breath. And whatever comes after that, I’ll love you then too.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Caroline
I twirl once, watching the fabric float around me. The light pink chiffon swirls in waves. I love it. The bodice is tight around my torso, V-shaped, with broad straps across my shoulders. The skirt reaches down to the floor and is so voluminous, I’m afraid I’ll get lost in it. Yet for all the fru-fru and seven layers of veil and whatnot, it’s remarkably easy to move around in it.
When Dan and I touched down from Las Vegas, our wedding bands caused quite a stir, which is why we decided to have a second ceremony too, not just a party. So here we are, one week after Christmas, having a winter wedding.
I have to admit, I can’t wait for the ceremony. There is something about making promises in front of everyone I love that beckons to me. It’s the part I look forward to the most. And giving Dad the opportunity to walk me to the altar.
I admire my engagement ring again. The double infinity knots are all elegant curves and shiny diamonds. When Daniel gave it to me, I asked why infinity knots, and he answered, “Because we are forever.”
I only received the ring yesterday. Daniel asked Pippa for a custom-made engagement ring, and Pippa confided in me that Daniel turned out to be her most demanding customer. They spent the two weeks since we returned from Vegas working on it.
“On the bright side, spending weeks overworking my creative juices gave me an idea for a new line of engagement rings: unusual designs. More than the princess, prong, and usual cuts and settings.”
The sound of the door opening snaps me out of my daydreaming. Dad walks in, teary-eyed, and I can feel the emotions coming off him in waves. Oh no! At this rate, I’m going to turn misty-eyed in no time.
“Dad, I must say, you look dashing in a tuxedo.” This is the first time I’ve seen him wearing one.
“Your mother would never have let me go to my daughter’s wedding without one.”
He opens his arms, and I walk right into them. I never missed Mom more than today, and this has to be just as hard for Dad. When we pull apart, he takes something out of his pocket.
“This belonged to your mother. I kept it with me, but it’s a shame not to be worn.”
He opens his fist to reveal Mom’s old silver butterfly pendant.
“I don’t know if it goes with your dress. It’s not so fancy.”
“Of course I’ll wear it. It’s perfect.” My voice wavers, loaded with emotion. I turn so he can clasp it around my neck, and we both sniffle lightly.
“Tha
nk you, Dad.” I feel a bit as if Mom is with us too, right this very moment.
We head out of the bedroom, down to the living room. I chose to get dressed here in my childhood home. Niall should arrive any minute now to drive us to the church.
“Fathers usually say no one is good enough for their daughters, but I don’t feel that way. Daniel is a great man, and he loves you.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“When I saw your mother, I knew.”
“Really?” I’ve never heard their story. Too personal, I suppose, and I haven’t asked.
“Yes. Took some time convincing her, though. She was always the practical one. Wanted to be sure we weren’t being hasty.”
“Sounds like her, yeah.” I laugh, touching the pendant. Just then, a honk from outside tells us Niall is here.
The church is full to capacity with our family and friends, and I do my best not to let any nerves show as I slowly walk to the altar, my father’s arm steadying me. When we come to a stop in front of my man, Daniel looks Dad straight in the eyes and says,
“I promise to take care of your daughter, love her, and respect her.”
“I know you will.”
After the ceremony, we head on foot to the restaurant, which is just across from the church. It’s a lovely venue, large enough for the three hundred guests attending. Only about fifty were at the church; the rest will come directly to the restaurant. Daniel and I are leading the group of fifty, crossing the street. It rained this morning, so I have to keep my dress up to keep the hem from getting dirty. My satin shoes will probably be a mess, but no one will see them under the dress.
The restaurant is surrounded by a beautiful garden, and vines loop around the black iron entrance gate. Past that, a path of cobblestones leads to the front door of the restaurant. It was easy enough to walk on the uneven cobbles wearing flats, but in heels it’s hell. I don’t even voice that thought before Daniel hooks an arm around my waist, steadying my every step.
He only lets go inside the restaurant, where servers are waiting with trays of champagne. As the guests help themselves to a glass, I notice Summer is firing off instructions to the wedding planner. I barely suppress a grin. Between the wedding planner and Summer, Daniel and I didn’t have to do much in terms of organizing.
