“It certainly does. Let’s get cleaned up and head over to the hospital. I want to check on my pop.”
An hour later, we walked into the ICU. Sam’s mom and grandmother, as well as Darren, were all there. They stood around Sam’s grandfather’s bed. When Julia saw Sam, she smiled wearily.
“We’ll give you a few minutes with him. Darren and I will wait in the waiting room.” She kissed him tenderly on the cheek before walking out of the room.
“Hey, Gram. How are you holding up?”
“I thought we had more time, Sammy. I thought we had another six months together. I don’t know how I am going to live without him.”
She buried her face in Sam’s chest.
“I know, Gram. I don’t know how any of us are going to live without him.”
“I’m going to the waiting room, so you can have some time alone with him,” I said quietly, recognizing the intimacy of the moment and feeling out of place.
“Don’t leave, Sydney. Please.”
I smiled at Sam, a knowing smile that told him I would stay by his side. Sam’s grandmother came up and hugged me.
“I’m glad you’re here, Sydney. I’ll give you two some time with him.”
Sam turned slowly, walking to the side of his grandfather’s bed.
“Hey, Pop. You were supposed to give us more time. You have more time. I know you do.” Sam took his grandfather’s hand in his. “Pop, I need you to hold on for a little while longer. Remember Sydney? She’s here. She’s agreed to marry me. I’m actually not sure why she has, but she has, so we’re going to make it official sooner rather than later. Can you hold on a little longer?” Sam placed his head down on the bed. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched the scene unfold before me. Suddenly, his head snapped up.
“He squeezed my hand,” he whispered, looking at me expectantly. “Pop, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand again.”
Slowly, Pop squeezed Sam’s hand. Tears fill his eyes.
“Okay, Pop. I know you hear me. Don’t worry. I promise I will take care of Gram and the business. Just hang on for a few more days so I can get married.”
It was after eight by the time we returned home. John and an older woman I hadn’t seen before were at the front door when we arrived.
“Ms. Alexander. Hello. I’m Loretta, Mr. Andrew’s house manager. Bear has had his dinner and is now snuggled up on his bed in the family room.”
“Hello, Loretta. Thank you. I appreciate you looking after him for me.”
“He’s a welcome guest, Ms. Alexander. He has made us all fall in love with him in mere minutes.”
“Sydney. Please. And yes, he certainly is a charmer.”
“Can I get you two anything? Perhaps a drink? Mr. Andrews, I cancelled your sunset cruise and dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. I thought you could still sit outside and enjoy the weather if you like.”
“Thank you, Loretta. That sounds lovely. Yes, we’d like a drink.”
“Sydney, what would you like?”
“A dirty martini, please.”
Sam raised his eyebrow at me.
“I’ll have the same, Loretta. Thank you. We’ll be out back.” He guided me out with a hand teasing heat into the small of my back.
“A dirty martini?”
“Yes, after everything’s that happened today and knowing I’ll be getting married this week, I need something strong.”
“You certainly do,” he said.
“Sam, will we get married at the courthouse?”
“Unless you want to fly to Vegas.”
“Hmmmm, that could actually be fun but not my style. Do you think we could throw a little something together and get married here? I just never envisioned myself getting married at the court house. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But I always envisioned my wedding and the court house wasn’t in it.”
“Were you one of those little girls who had their wedding planned at age ten?”
“Nice try. Try thirty. As I got older, I started to dream about it. Honestly, I always wanted a destination wedding. I wanted to fly off somewhere romantic and get married in an old castle or on the beach. Either one would suit me just fine.”
“Let’s plan something here. We can fly off somewhere romantic for our honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon?”
“Yes, our honeymoon. It’s only proper for a husband to whisk his wife away after they’re married.”
I squealed with delight, “Really? We’ll really go on a honeymoon?”
“Yes, we’ll really go on a honeymoon.”
“What am I going to tell my mom? She’ll never believe I met and fell in love with someone in a week. She’ll want to kill me for getting married so quickly. And my sister? She’ll have a field day with this.”
“Okay. So, let’s think about this a little bit. Thank you, Loretta.”
I took a large sip of my martini as Sam began working out a plan.
“What if we get married here, just us? We can have John and Loretta as our witnesses. We’ll honeymoon in a few weeks, once we know how Pop is doing. Then we can have a large wedding later in the year for everyone. It will give you time to plan the wedding of your dreams.”
“So, I don’t tell my mom or sister that we’re married?”
“That’s entirely up to you. Would it be easier to tell them now, or in a few months once they have actually gotten to know me?”
“Sam, in a few months, we will be closer to the end of our marriage then the beginning. It wouldn’t make sense to have a big wedding in six months. You’ll be divorcing me six months after that.”
Sam rubbed his chin as he thought about what I’d said.
“What if I promise you two years so you can have your dream wedding, Sydney?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious. I owe you that much. You’re sacrificing so much for me.”
“You’re paying me, remember? This is a job I’m getting paid for. The sacrifice isn’t that hard.”
“Well then, consider it a gift. I want to give you your dream wedding. It would be my honor.”
“Honestly, it’s fine. I don’t need my dream wedding right now.”
Loretta arrived with our dinner and a bottle of wine. I was in the mood to drink tonight. My life felt out of control at that moment, so drinking seemed like the only thing I could control.
“Sam, before we got together today, you promised to fill me in on Lena.”
Turning to look at me, he took a long, slow sip of his martini.
“I did, didn’t I?”
“You did. I just need to understand what I’m getting in to.”
Taking another sip of his martini, while simultaneously running his hand through his hair, he let out a slow breath.
“Lena and I were an item about ten years ago. She wasn’t the woman you met the other day. She was actually fun to be with, had a heart that actually cared about others, and I thought she would be my wife one day. She broke my heart.”
I inhaled quickly. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“I found her in bed with Marcus.”
“No—” I gasped.
“Yes. We were a year and a half into our relationship. I had left work early that day, having decided to surprise her. We had been fighting a lot about how much I worked. She said I never paid attention to her anymore, that I was too wrapped up in my work to even notice her. Maybe she was right, I don’t know. I stopped to pick up a bottle of wine and flowers. I had made dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant and entered her house quietly. I loved the idea of sneaking up and seeing the expression on her face when she saw I had left work early for her.
“As I approached her bedroom, I heard noises. I didn’t think much of it, thought she was listening to music or something. I never thought she would be in bed with another man, let alone Marcus. She knew how much I despised him. The door to her bedroom was ajar. I opened it slowly to find them in bed together. She screamed and j
umped out of bed to grab a robe. Marcus, as you can imagine, sneered triumphantly at me. I never said a word. I simply turned around and walked out of her house. All I know is finding them in bed together was the biggest betrayal I have ever experienced.”
“I’m so sorry, Sam.”
“It was a long time ago. Lena begged me for forgiveness. She told me she didn’t mean to do it, that it would never happen again. She told me she loved me and wanted nothing more than to be with me. I refused. I knew I would never trust her again. That’s when she turned on me. She morphed into someone I don’t even recognize.”
“Wow. That wasn’t what I was expecting.” We lapsed into silence for a moment, both of us mulling over our own thoughts, and I felt my other questions stirring within. They’d been pushed into the background by the recent events, but now, more than ever, I needed full disclosure. “What did Marcus mean when he said, ‘just ask Lena,’ and what did Lena mean about your ‘proclivities?’”
He looked out toward the Bay, taking a long, slow sip of his martini, biding his time before he answered. I remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts. When he finally turned his attention back to me, he reached his hand across the table for mine. I placed my hand hesitantly in his.
“We said honesty would help us through this, right?”
“We did.” I reply.
“Then I want to be completely honest with you about this. You may not like what you are going to hear. I’m prepared for that.”
“Nothing you could say would make me change my mind at this point. We’ve come this far.”
He hesitated before speaking.
“Lena told Marcus I could never satisfy her. She told him that to get to me. She knew he would gloat and hold it over my head. As for my ‘proclivities,’ Lena and I experimented in the bedroom. I like total control.”
My eyes widened as I took a sip of my martini. Maybe it was the martini and two glasses of wine that gave me the balls to ask what I did. I wasn’t sure, at that point, why I asked or even why it seemed important.
“What do you mean, you like control in the bedroom?”
“I like control in every area of my life, Sydney. The bedroom especially. I like being with a woman who is willing to surrender to me. A woman who is willing to push boundaries and experiment.”
“You mean like…BDSM?”
“Perhaps. It depends on the woman.”
My eyes widened again, and I could feel my cheeks heat with something more than simple embarrassment.
“Don’t worry. We have a celibacy clause in our contract. You don’t have to worry about any of it.”
“Do you think you can be celibate for a year, Sam?”
“I was celibate for a year after Lena. I vowed to never give my heart to anyone again after what she did to me. Since then, I haven’t been in a serious relationship. I don’t let anyone get too close. I have trust issues, you could say.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
“Then we’ll be the perfect couple, won’t we?” He stood up, taking my hand in his, and brought me to my feet. Staring intently at me, he leant down, kissing me gently. Suddenly, he was on one knee before me.
“Sydney Alexander, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Startled, it took me a moment to gather my senses. The most incredible man I had ever laid eyes on was before me on one knee, holding a beautiful pear-shaped diamond ring in his hand.
“Sam…” I was breathless. “How? When? I don’t understand.”
“Sydney, I am a gentleman. Of course, I will ask you to marry me properly, whether this is a business deal or not.”
“I…I’m just…surprised, is all.”
“Good. That’s what I was hoping for. How long do I have to wait for my answer?”
“Oh! Yes, Sam. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring on my left finger and stood, wrapping me in a bear hug, then swung me around before kissing me gently on the lips. Those damn butterflies returned with a vengeance, small shock waves that churned in the bottom of my belly. I leaned into Sam and opened for him. His mouth was addictive, soft and sensuous, and I couldn’t get enough of him. I accepted his possession of me, afraid I would never be the same after our time together. Too soon, Sam dragged his mouth from mine.
“This is certainly going to be an interesting year,” he said hungrily.
I laughed, trying to act like I wasn’t flustered by what just happened. “It certainly will.”
Chapter Nine
Sam asked me to come over Tuesday evening after work. Bear was outside with John as I navigated my car under the car port.
“Hello, Ms. Alexander.”
“Hi, John. What’s Bear doing here?”
“Mr. Andrews brought him over earlier today. They seem to have quite an affinity for one another.”
“They do, don’t they?”
“Mr. Andrews asked that I escort you the guest room immediately.”
“The guest room immediately?”
“Yes, Ms. Alexander. Please follow me.”
“John, please call me Sydney. Ms. Alexander seems so formal.”
“As you wish…Sydney.”
I followed him up the stairs to the guest room.
“Here you are.”
“Thanks, John. Do you know what I am supposed to be doing in here?”
“I think you’ll get the idea when you get in there.” He beamed at me then turned away and hurried off.
I opened the door slowly, and my breath caught in my throat.
“Oh my.”
Hanging in front of the large bay windows was an exquisite, rose-water-loloured, A-line, organza wedding dress. Walking slowly toward it, I lifted my hand to touch the soft fabric, trembling slightly. Taking my time, I admired every beautiful square inch of it. Crystals, sequins, and beads were sewn delicately into the bodice, while the organza flowed effortlessly. I knew I would feel like a princess wearing it.
I jumped at a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Thinking it would be Sam, I turned with a wide smile on my face.
“Mom?” I cried, running toward her. She wrapped me in her arms.
“Hey there, sweetness.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Sam invited me—us. He knew how much it would mean to you to have us here. He told us you two have been dating under the radar for a few months. Why didn’t you tell me, honey?”
Astonished, I don’t know what to say. My reservations crowded in, unsettling me with the reminder that I’d never had to lie to my mother before, no matter how good the reason.
“I just…after James, I was afraid to let my heart feel again, Mom. I-I wanted to keep a low profile in case things didn’t work out.”
“I understand, but I wish you had told me. You’ve caught yourself quite a catch, honey. He’s quite handsome.” She laughed.
“I know, he is. He devilishly handsome but he also has a wonderful heart. That’s what I like best about him.”
“Let’s get you ready.”
My heart soared. My mom was there. She looked beautiful in her pale pink dress, although seeing her with her cane always made me sad and brought up the reminder of our loss.
“Okay, let’s get me ready.”
I definitely felt like a princess by the time we were finished. Mom stood behind me as we both looked into the full-length mirror.
“I’m happy for you, sweetness. If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“You are breathtaking. Sam’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you. Wait until he sees you.”
I knew my cheeks were pink. If she only knew the truth. Sam’s hands would never be on me…even though I wanted them to be.
“Ready?”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m ready.”
Arm in arm, we moved slowly to the top of the staircase, Mom leaning heavily on her cane
. “Lauren?” I exclaimed. My sister stood at the foot of the stairs, looking radiant in her short amethyst chiffon dress. She had the biggest grin on her face I had ever seen.
“Hey there, little sis. You sure know how to cause a scene.”
I practically ran down the stairs and flung myself into her arms.
“I can’t believe you are both here.”
“We can’t believe we are both here either. You certainly hit the jackpot.”
She handed me a bouquet of calla lilies bound with a white satin ribbon.
“Your bouquet.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“You look beautiful, sis. I’m happy for you. Ready?”
“Yes.” I trembled slightly as I took my bouquet.
“It’s normal to be nervous, Syd. Come on. Let’s not keep the handsome groom waiting.”
Just then, John came around the corner.
“Ms…I mean, Sydney. You look beautiful. If you’re ready, we’re ready to get started.”
“Thank you, John. I’m ready.”
With that, he left us, circling back around the corner of the formal entry way toward the back yard.
“Okay, little sis. I’m up. See you out there.”
Lauren left me with Mom and went out to the back yard.
“Ready?” Mom asked.
“Yes.”
“I never thought it would be me walking you down the aisle. I always envisioned your father doing it. He would be so proud of you, sweetness.”
“Please don’t make me cry, Mom.” Tears had already misted my eyes, threatening to spill over.
“Okay. But he would be so proud of who you are, Syd.”
She put her arm out for me to take a hold of, and I allowed it to steady me for a moment. John and Loretta opened both French doors as I approached. That was when I lost it. Sam had transformed the backyard into a magnificent wonderland. Tears threatened to spill over as I jerked to a standstill, frozen in place.
String lights covered the entire backyard. It was magical, like a scene you would only find in a movie. Sam’s mom, Darren, and his grandmother were all seated to the right, behind where Sam stood. Emily and Stuart were to the left, behind my sister, who stood up front, waiting for me to walk down the aisle. Sam had Bear on a leash next to him. My four-legged friend sat at attention, his coat silky smooth, with a white ribbon tied around his neck.
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