Happily Ever After

by Jennifer Gracen

  “That’s right.” He kissed her lips, nipped at the bottom one. “And don’t you forget it.”

  She kissed him again and ran her hand down the front of his button-down shirt. “So . . . wanna have a hot quickie here on the beach?”

  His return grin was wicked. “Like you have to ask.”

  * * *

  Pierce and Abby stepped out of the elevator. As they walked down the hallway, he reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.

  “It’s this one,” Abby said, stopping in front of a door at the end of the corridor.

  He huffed out a sigh of exasperation. “I still don’t see why you have to do this.”

  “I want to do this,” she said with a grin.

  “I know, but still. We live together. Have for a while. Now you’re going all old-fashioned on me?” He snorted out a laugh. “It’s a little late for that.”

  “I like the premise.” Abby leaned into him, her dark blue eyes sparkling as she reached up to lock her arms around his neck. “I like you not seeing me until I walk down the aisle tomorrow. A tiny last bit of anticipation.”

  “You just want me to miss you.” His hands ran down her sides to rest at her waist as the side of his mouth curved up in a playful grin. “I will, you know.”

  “I love that.” She kissed him. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Coach.” He winked.

  Her grin blossomed into a radiant smile.

  “Have fun with your sleepover with your sister.”

  “Thanks, I will. Hey, at least it’s not with my parents.”

  “Your dad would drive you bonkers.”

  “That’s right. That’s why I’m staying with Fiona.”

  Pierce huffed out another sigh and an exaggerated pout. “I can’t see you at all tomorrow?”

  “That’s the idea. So don’t be late.” She quirked another grin. “You know. Down at the beach. Five o’clock sharp. You, me, wedding ceremony. Be there or be square.”

  “You didn’t really just say that.”

  “Actually, I did.”

  “You’re too damn adorable.” He lowered his head to take her mouth in a sumptuous kiss. They stood there kissing for a minute before she pulled away.

  “What will you do tomorrow?” she asked.

  “Run on the beach in the morning,” he said. “Go for a swim. Eat things. I’m sure Troy and Dane will be around. Maybe even hang out again with Charles and the kids; it gives Lisette a break while she’s taking care of the baby. I’ll take a nap at some point.” He tweaked the tip of her nose. “I won’t be bored while I’m missing you, don’t worry.”

  “I’m not worried. Not at all. About anything.” She caressed his cheek and smiled a dreamy smile. “This time tomorrow, we’ll be married, dancing at our fabulous reception with everyone we love. I don’t have a worry or a care in the world.”

  “That makes me really happy,” he murmured, then kissed her good night.

  Chapter Five

  Abby woke to a bright, sunshiny day on Saturday. Looking out the wide-open window beyond, feeling the breezes on her skin, it seemed like the weather was perfect; warm, but not too hot, and there wasn’t a cloud in the clear blue sky. The wedding weather gods had smiled on them and she was overjoyed.

  She looked across the room; her sister was still sound asleep in the other double bed. They’d stayed up talking until almost one in the morning. Abby smiled as she recalled some of their funnier moments, and some of the heartwarming ones. Fiona was more than her older sister; she was her best friend and she cherished her.

  It’s my wedding day, Abby thought. It’s my WEDDING DAY!

  Excitement rushed through her. Smiling brightly, she rolled over to grab her cell phone off the nightstand between the beds. She intended to send Pierce a good-morning text, but there was one already waiting for her. An hour before, he’d written: Good morning, Miss McCord. This time tomorrow, I’ll be waking you up by making love to you as I say, Good morning, Mrs. Harrison. Hope you slept well. Love you.

  Jesus Christ, she loved that man. She texted back: I love you more.

  He didn’t answer right away. She figured he was either on the beach or in the pool, as he’d said he would be. So she got out of bed and crossed the room to the terrace. Sliding open the glass door, she stepped onto the balcony, leaned on the railing, and tipped her face up to the sun. Seagulls screeched as they soared overhead, and the crashing waves of the ocean ebbed in and out. Abby smiled, closed her eyes, and took a long, deep breath. Life was beautiful. Today would be a wonderful, wonderful day.

  * * *

  After his shower, Pierce wrapped the towel around his waist and walked into the large sitting room. The suite felt empty without Abby. He really did miss her. Knowing she was with her family somewhere on the resort property appeased him somewhat, but still . . . He’d hated going to sleep without her and hated waking up without her. Holy shit, was he a changed man. Good thing he was marrying her, he thought with a wry grin.

  He was supposed to meet Tess, Dane, and Julia for lunch at noon down at the outdoor restaurant. After that, he’d try to catch a catnap before the festivities kicked in. Whistling as he strode across the room, the knot of his towel loosened and dropped to the floor. With a snort of a laugh, he bent to pick it up, but something under the coffee table caught his eye. Looked like a business card or something, and two pink flower petals. He reached for the card with his left hand, then snatched up the towel with his right. His eyes ran over the words on the card . . . and the grin fell off his face.

  “What the actual fuck?” he murmured as his heart rate ratcheted up a notch. He glanced around the room. There were no flowers anywhere. So what was this? Had his father sent flowers? Or contacted her? Why wouldn’t Abby tell him about that? Why would she hide it from him? Why would she hide anything from him? His gut churned.

  By the time he entered the restaurant for lunch, his mood was shit.

  “Hi!” Tess smiled as she greeted him at their table, reaching out for a hug. Immediately she stopped, her hands gripping his upper arms instead. “You don’t look right. What’s wrong?”

  “I need to talk to you,” he said tightly.

  “Sit,” Tess commanded, and they both did.

  He pulled the card from the pocket of his shorts and handed it to her. “I found this about half an hour ago. Under the coffee table in my suite.”

  Tess looked at it and sighed deeply. “Oh dear.”

  “That bastard’s trying to contact her behind my back?” he ground out. “And she didn’t even tell me?”

  “I told her not to tell you,” Tess said. “Calm down.”

  He felt a muscle jump in his jaw. “When did this happen?”

  “Yesterday afternoon. He sent her a big bouquet of flowers.” She folded her hands on the tabletop. “They’re lovely, actually. They’re in my room.”

  Pierce sat there, seething.

  Tess sighed again. “She called me when they arrived and asked what she should do. I took them back to my room and told her not to mention it until after the wedding. Guess the card fell out.”

  “Oops.” It came out as a snarl.

  “Stop it,” Tess said firmly. “We decided it was best not to tell you so you wouldn’t get upset. You’re only proving us right. Look at you.”

  “I think I have a right to be upset.”

  “Really? Why?”

  Pierce practically gritted his teeth. “Are you fucking kidding me? My parents are awful people, that’s why I don’t want them at my wedding. And they keep popping up their ugly heads anyway. They want to ruin the day.”

  Tess leaned in close and looked her younger brother right in the eye. “The only one who could ruin this wedding is you. If you let them get in your head and upset you. And hey . . . look what’s happening.”

  Pierce scowled.

  “Charles has done a damn good job of keeping Dad away from you, from the wedding, from Abby, all of it. Believe me, he’s been a gatekeeper a
ll these months.”

  “I know,” Pierce admitted in a low voice.

  “Dane and I have pitched in too,” Tess continued. “Both with him and with Mom. All three of us called her separately yesterday and lit into her, by the way.”

  Pierce let out a heavy sigh. “I appreciate that.”

  “They’re not going to be at the wedding. Which is what you wanted.” Tess reached for his hands and gripped them. “We love you. We’ve got your back. Mom and Dad . . . they never did right by you. No one can undo a miserable childhood. The damage was done. I’ve tried to compensate for that your whole life and these past few years, your big brothers finally caught up and have done the same. We didn’t have it nearly as bad as you did, and yes, we’ll always feel residual guilt about that, even though all of us know it wasn’t any of our faults.” Tess stared hard. “I know you know all this.”

  Pierce nodded, but his eyes flashed and his jaw still held tight. “I do know. And what you especially have always done for me, and now them too . . . it means more to me than I can ever express. Honestly.”

  “I know that.”

  “But . . . this isn’t about you guys. Abby’s going to be my wife. She hid this from me . . . dammit, she can’t hide things from me.”

  “This isn’t some big lie,” Tess said. “It was a little white lie, for a short time. She didn’t want you upset before the wedding. That’s all. She was going to tell you after. C’mon, Soccer Boy. Take some deep breaths. I thought you were past the days of letting your temper get the best of you.”

  Pierce sat with that, working to take it down from a boil to a simmer.

  “Pierce. Sweetheart . . .” Tess’s voice was quiet and gentle as she gazed at him, still holding his hands. “You haven’t been insecure like this in a long time. Talk to me. Maybe I can help.”

  He blinked. “Is that what this is?”

  “I think so. I think you’re scared.”

  “I want to marry her more than anything. I’m not scared of marriage to her.”

  “I know. But once you get married . . . there’s a lot more to lose. And you’re scared to lose her. And the reminders of Mom and Dad, so close to the wedding . . .” Tess grimaced sadly. “They trigger you. Push your buttons. Remind you of how lost and scared you felt when you were young, and how bad their marriage was, and of everything you fear most. Triggers are wreaking havoc on you.”

  Pierce went very still. His heartbeat seemed to slow in his chest. “Jesus, that went deep.”

  “I know you very well. I understand you better than just about anyone.” Tess gave his hands a squeeze. “Psychological triggers are a powerful thing. You just . . . you have to fight them, remind yourself things are different now. That you’re a grown man, with a good life you’ve worked hard to build for yourself. And an amazing, wonderful woman is about to become your wife, and she understands you too. She loves you as much as you love her. That’s why things are going to work out. And because you can’t remind yourself of that at this moment, I’m here to remind you. I’ve got you.”

  His mouth went dry and a lump rose in his throat.

  “Our parents really suck. That’s the sad truth. But they can only get to you if you let them,” Tess asserted gently. “Don’t let them.”

  “I usually don’t,” Pierce finally said. “Not anymore. I’ve been good. But I guess . . . what you’re saying has merit.” His stomach churned as he thought about it. “I just want this to be perfect for her. I don’t want them tainting it in any way . . .” His throat thickened as he got out the rest. “. . . and make her regret marrying me. Choosing me.”

  “Never happen. Can I remind you of something?” Tess asked, rubbing his hands. “The very first night you introduced her to the family, at that disastrous wedding party Dad threw for Dane and Julia. Dad attacked you viciously in front of everyone, and he attacked her too. What did she do?”

  “Gave it right back to him,” Pierce said quietly. “Stood up for me. And for herself.”

  “That’s right. That’s no shrinking violet you’ve got there. Dad can be intimidating as hell. She told him off her first night out.” Tess smiled. “She’s got guts, she’s really smart and insightful, and she has a big, warm heart.”

  He nodded. “She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Other than you, of course.”

  Tess grinned before continuing. “That night, she made it clear she had your back. But you were so thrown by it all, you tried to push her away. Even got her to break up with you.” Tess squeezed his hands as he winced, remembering. “You almost did irreversible damage. You had to really work for it, beg her to come back. And she did. Because she knew, deep down, why you’d done it in the first place. She knew you that well, even then. She chose you too. Right?”

  Again Pierce nodded, releasing a shaky breath.

  “She knows you, she understands you, she chooses you, and she loves you. Not she loves you anyway, Pierce. She just loves you. Do you get the distinction?”

  He nodded yet again and said, “I’m the luckiest bastard on earth that she does.”

  “She’s pretty lucky too. You’re a great guy.” Tess’s voice dropped to a fervent whisper as she asked, “When are you truly, truly going to believe that? I know Mom left you and Dad abused you. But you are worthy of love and worthy of Abby and worthy of the good life you have now and will continue to have. Believe that.”

  It was like she’d gut-punched him. Jesus, if she was wrong, it wouldn’t have hurt. Her astute words wouldn’t have stolen his breath or made tears sting his eyes.

  “Oh, honey.” Tess rubbed his hands, gripped them harder. “The triggers did this to you. Fight. You’re a fighter. So understand what’s getting to you and work on overcoming them. But don’t be upset with Abby over this little thing.”

  “That’s what Dad wanted,” he said, realizing it as he said it out loud. “For me, and her, to be upset on our wedding day, even if only for a few minutes.”

  “Right,” Tess said on a sigh. “Look, she didn’t lie to you. She’s not always hiding things from you. She hid this one little thing because she was protecting you. Because she loves you so much. Like you would do for her if the situation was reversed.”

  Unable to speak, he nodded again. His throat had thickened and he swallowed hard. His jaw clenched.

  Tess rose and pulled him to his feet. When he stood, she moved close and hugged him tight. He hugged her back, sighed, and rested his head on hers.

  “You’re getting married tonight,” Tess said in his ear. “This should be the best day of your life. Don’t let Dad or Mom or anyone take that away from you.”

  “You’re right,” he said, squeezing her back. “Absolutely right.”

  “Well, I’m the smartest of the four of us,” she reminded him cheekily.

  “God, that’s so true.” He smacked a kiss on her curly hair and pulled back to look at her. “Thank you. So much.”

  She reached up to hold his face in her hands and said, “I will always be here for you. You have Abby now, but that will never change. I’ve always got your back.”

  “For which I will be forever grateful.”

  Tess rubbed his scruffy jaw. “You’re going to shave before the wedding, right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Okay, good.”

  He grinned but said quietly, “I didn’t know I was doing that. The things you said.” He huffed out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Jesus Christ, Tess.”

  “Lifelong, ingrained habits are very, very hard to break,” she said. “A few steps forward, a few steps back. No damage done. Cut yourself some slack.”

  He nodded. “I’m a work in progress, I guess.”

  “We all are, Pierce. We all are. We stop growing and learning, we’re dead in the water.” She moved to sit down. “Now, let’s get you fed before we get you married.”

  As Pierce sat, Dane and Julia approached the table. “Sorry we’re late,” Dane said as they all kissed one another’s cheek
s in greeting. “Did we miss anything?”

  “Nah,” Pierce said and reached for his water glass. “It’s going to be a great day.”

  Chapter Six

  Several months before, it had taken a long discussion and half a bottle of whiskey when Abby told her parents she wouldn’t be getting married in a church. She’d sat them down and, despite their misgivings, got them to understand she wanted to be married out on the beach. Outside, by the ocean, with nothing above her but the sky.

  Her dad had growled. Her mom had frowned. But, as always, they’d listened to her and ultimately come around to supporting her unequivocally.

  “You better pray it doesn’t rain,” Jesse had said. “Or you’ll wish you did it the traditional way, with a roof over your head. Marrying an untraditional guy, now this . . .” He sighed and shook his head, then wagged a finger at her in mock exasperation. “Whatever you want, that’s how it’ll be.”

  Abby had hugged her father tight. “You’re still gonna walk me down the aisle, right?”

  His grizzled expression had softened at that. He’d reached up, touched her cheek, and said with pride and deep affection, “You kidding? Been waiting to do that since the day you were born. No one on earth could stop me.”

  Now, as Abby stood in the resort, fully dressed and waiting, she placed her hand in the crook of her father’s arm and said, “I’m so glad you’re here with me, Dad.”

  He smiled down at her. “Nowhere else I’d be, sweetheart.” He straightened the jacket of his navy suit, then leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. “I can’t get over you. You look like an angel. A princess. All those unearthly beautiful things. Really.”

  Jesse McCord didn’t give mushy compliments often. She was moved. “Thank you.” She drew a shaky breath and tried to stay calm over the fluttering of her heart.

  “Abby.” Her father spoke quietly. “Listen. I, uh . . . just wanna say, I know you two are going to be good. In your marriage. Pierce is all right. I gave him a hard time at first, sure. He deserved it.”

  Abby snorted out a giggle. “You were brutal.”