Sexy Hart (Sexy Series)

by Lovell, Dani

  I move to hug Bea. “See you in a few days, doll. Love you, safe journey.”

  “You too. Make sure you don’t get up to any more mischief…” she says, wiggling her finger between me and Oliver, “Or do, you know… I wouldn’t mind you as a sister-in-law.” Wow. It hadn’t even dawned on me that Bea is my sister-in-law! Oh my god! I wish I could share this with her, although, after my dream, maybe she wouldn’t take the news as well as I would hope, given the secrecy of it all. Oh my goodness, I wonder how his parents will take it… oh no. Now I feel bad. We really didn’t think this through.

  Oliver hugs his sister goodbye and I reach into the car to give the baby one more kiss on her rosy, little cheek before we make our way into the airport to check our bags in. I’m a little sad, subtly wiping my cheeks to banish the tears before Oliver notices and thinks I’m being silly.

  “Over here…” he says, nodding towards the check-in desks before looking at me. “Hey,” he says, frowning, “are you sad?” he stops in his tracks and drops his bags to hold my face in his hands.

  I nod and smile, shyly, embarrassed.

  “Hey,” he says, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tightly. He rests his face on my head and speaks softly. “Don’t be sad, darling, they’ll be bringing the baby to see us soon and you’ll be back here before you know it. I promise.”

  I nod against his chest, releasing my suitcase to wrap an arm around his broad back. I can feel the muscles through his t-shirt and it makes me feel even more secure and protected. He’s my man, now. Gosh.

  I pull back and sniff, forcing a smile and blinking back the tears. “I know. I know. It’s just… there’s so much to think about and so much to miss… I’m just feeling a little fragile at the moment. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, I understand. We’ve got lots to talk about, baby, and we finally have time alone to do that. We can relax and talk or sleep on the plane, whatever you want, and then when we arrive back home, we can go back to yours or mine and stay with each other for a few days, until Bea gets back. How does that sound?”

  “Good. It sounds really good. Thank you.”

  “Great. Don’t be worrying about us though, okay? We’re going to work, when we figure out when and how we want to tell everyone - we’ll just be a normal, happy couple like everyone else. We’ll figure it all out between us.”

  “Okay. Um, Oliver? I do… I really do… um, you’re… thank you.” I stutter, wanting to say ‘I love you’, but feeling too nervous.

  He smiles and kisses my lips, gently. “I know. I really do, too.”

  After we check our bags and pass security, we don’t really have an awful lot of time before our flight so we decide to sit down together and wait for boarding. We find an empty row of seats and sit next to each other, Oliver pulling me against him and wrapping his arm around me. I curl my legs up on the seat and rest against him, hugging him, my head on his chest, comfortably. It’s lovely.

  “You okay, darling?”

  “Yeah. I’m fine, thank you. Is it weird that I’m so sad to leave Emily?”

  “No, of course not!” he says, playing with my fingers before entwining them with mine. “You love her, you and Tilly are like sisters so it’s not surprising or weird at all that you feel attached to her baby.”

  I nod, thinking about what he has said and agreeing. It is true, so I suppose I am allowed to be sad. “Thank you.”

  “Of course. You be as sad as you like, I’ll look after you.”

  I chuckle. “I know you will. And I love that about you.”

  He puts his other arm tightly around me until my bent legs are resting on his thigh and the rest of me is cocooned in his arms at his side, and we sit here like this, in silence until our flight is called.

  We pre-booked the legroom/bulkhead seats on one side of the plane and they’re great, and as the ‘cabin crew doors for departure’ announcement sounds, we realise we’ve got an empty seat next to us.

  “Result!” Oliver says, excitedly.

  “Yes but someone could still move here if they ask the cabin crew, and I’m sure someone will. No one wants to sit behind someone when there’s a legroom seat available.”

  “Yeah, I suppose. Maybe I’ll have a word… excuse me,” he says, calling over a member of the crew. He talks quietly and I watch the stewardess look from him, to me and back again with a huge grin.

  “Of course, sir.” she says politely before looking over to me. “Congratulations, such lovely news.”

  I look at Oliver, confused, and he grins like the cat that got the cream before leaning over to kiss me. An electric current runs through me, straight to my bits and bobs; I don’t think I’ve ever been this severely in need in my life.

  “I told her we were just married and have been with our friends for days so I’d really appreciate some time alone with my beautiful, new wife, and asked if it would be a problem to keep this seat unavailable to any other passengers. Lucky for me, she loves a good romance story.”

  “Great, Oliver. Well done.”

  “I meant it. Would you consider… maybe, wearing this again? For a little while anyway?” he asks, nervously, looking into my eyes for my response as he pulls my wedding band from his pocket.

  Aww, he’s so adorable! “I would love to, darling.” I take the band from his fingers and immediately slip it onto mine. It’s so nice that for a little while, we don’t have to hide. Okay, so I’m not totally convinced that things are going to be quite as simple as we thought at the time, and I have been feeling a little apprehensive about it all, but I am loving being in his company. I love his attention and kisses and cuddles and everything that involves Oliver being so affectionate with me, and to be able to do it in public is such an enjoyable novelty.

  Oliver slips his ring on, too, and takes my hand in his. “I know you’ve been feeling nervous, but for me, I’m just really looking forward to starting our lives together, properly. You’re so much more than I could have ever asked for, or deserve. I’m lucky to be the one who gets to care for you, and ‘do stuff’ with you - everyday.”

  I blink a couple of times, unsure if this is really happening and if I’m actually hearing this. No one, in all my life, has ever made me feel as important or special as this man right here. And he’s a man. A British man. The only men I have ever heard be so loving toward anyone are Daniel and Luke, and I just put that down to some kind of best-buddy/American/too-good-to-be-true parenting or something. Wow.

  “I… I don’t really know what to say, Oliver. Are you trying to make me cry again?” I giggle, because he might be succeeding.

  “If you want to cry, cry. But no, of course I don’t want to make you cry or see you upset. Ever. In fact, I’ll do anything in my power to stop you feeling pain of any kind. I have always protected you to some degree, Clare, but now I have a wife to tend to and I’ll shelter you from anything I can. And for the things I can’t, I’ll be there to hold you until you’re right again. I promise you that.”

  My heart literally aches as tears fill my eyes. “Oh, Jesus Christ, Oliver,” I say, wiping a heavy droplet from my cheek, “what are you doing to me? I’m an emotional wreck!” I sniff and hold his hand in both of mine, turning to face him. “Thank you, No one has ever made me feel so cherished and I couldn’t think of one single person I would rather have that feeling with, than you. We’ll be ok, won’t we?”

  He smiles and lifts our hands to his mouth to kiss my wedding band. “We’ll be perfect. You’ll see.”

  And as if we were in a romantic movie, at that exact moment, the plane lifts off the ground and hurtles through the air. I hadn’t even noticed thundering along the runway at top speed prior to the take-off. That’s what having a husband like Oliver, saying things like that, does to you.

  “See ya later, Cali,” he says, regretfully and all of a sudden, though I already miss Emily like crazy, purely because I can’t have her, I feel more positive. I feel excited again and like this is going to work. We will talk eve
rything through in the next few days alone and then we’ll continue to live our lives learning to be a couple, a real life, happily married, perfect couple. And then… hopefully… the rest.

  ~~~~~~~

  Once the seatbelt signs have been switched off, I use the toilet quickly and when I return, Oliver has put the middle arm rests up and is sitting back on a cushion against the closed window with one bent leg up along the back of all three seats, the other foot on the floor.

  “Wow, someone looks comfy.”

  “Come,” he says, patting between his legs, “sit here and cuddle me.”

  As if he needs to ask. Once I’ve taken my cardigan from the overhead locker, I’m in there like a shot. Snuggling up to my new man, whom I happen to have loved for forever. It feels so right.

  He laces his fingers between mine and crosses our arms over my chest. “So. What’s the plan?”

  “I don’t really know. I think we definitely need to get used to being a couple before we tell anyone anything. What do you think?”

  “Yeah, I’m with you on that. Everyone knows us as friends. I don’t want to feel like they’re watching our every move while we’re making something together.”

  “Exactly. But… what about Bea and your parents? Don’t you think we should tell them? I’m worried they’re going to be upset that they were kept in the dark.”

  “I think they’ll understand. We’ll tell them first and we’ll do it properly. I don’t want to make some huge, public announcement or anything. It should be done tactfully and I think that way, my parents and Bea will appreciate our reasons for getting married and our decision to keep quiet for a while. What about your parents though?”

  “Oh, I don’t think my parents will mind too much. We’re not as close as you are and… well, I’m kind of… different to the rest of my family. They expect me to break rules and defy convention.”

  “What? Really?”

  “Mmm hmm,” I murmur, nonchalantly.

  “I find that hard to believe. You’re a good girl.”

  “Yeah, but I’m different to my family.”

  “Are you going to let me meet them? I’m amazed after all these years that we rarely even discuss your family.”

  “I know,” I sigh. “You will meet them, of course. I’ll take you when we’re ready to be seen as a couple.”

  “Will you tell me about them?”

  “Yeah, maybe not now, though.”

  “Okay, beautiful. So, how about the wedding? Are you sure you’re okay with the one that we had? It was so rushed and secretive, I don’t want you to regret that.”

  ‘No! I absolutely will not. I love that we did that. We’re not doing things conventionally, I never really have. So I think our wedding was fun and solely about you and I. And that’s what matters to me. Besides, Bea and Daniel’s wedding will be coming up at some stage, and we had Tilly and Luke’s beautiful ceremony only a few months ago; it’s not like we’re short of shindigs. Let’s keep ours a memory just for us.”

  “Oh!” he says, remembering something, “I keep forgetting to give it to you. I doubt you’ll have a use for it now that it’s wilted, but I had your bouquet of roses boxed up at the hotel - I’ve got them in my bag.”

  My heart suddenly races and I sit up to turn and look at him. “You… you got my roses back?”

  “Uh huh,” he says, calmly.

  “Oh my god! Oliver! Thank you! I thought they were gone! I wanted to take the ribbon, at least, but when I left them on that chair, I thought I’d lost them. Oh that means so much to me, you’re amazing!’ I clutch his face and kiss his lips over and over, loving him for being so god damned thoughtful.

  He laughs as I kiss him and he holds up his hands in mercy. “I just thought you might want to keep them, I wasn’t sure…”

  “I wanted a keepsake and the posy of roses just reminds me so much of the chapel and everything. It was so much fun, just you and me. You know?”

  “I do. I loved it because of what I gained and what I shared with my best friend in the world.”

  “And I got you. I’m so lucky.”

  “Be quiet,” he says, pulling me back into his embrace.

  “I will not! I am lucky.” I turn on my side to snuggle, comfortably, against his chest.

  We lay together quietly for a while. I close my eyes and think back to Tilly’s wedding; it was a beautifully sunny, spring day back at the beginning of April. The daffodils and bluebells were in full bloom and the sun had just turned powerful enough to warm the days, pleasantly. It wasn’t anything huge or elaborate, just a small, intimate gathering of close friends and family.

  Luke’s parents and their partners flew over from the States, along with Gemma, Jay, Jack and a few other family members and friends, for the stunning ‘do’ at ‘The Grove.’ They decided they wanted to have the celebrations in the UK because Tilly would soon be moving to LA with Luke, and they wanted their married life to start where Til grew up. It was sad that Alexia couldn’t make the wedding because of a hugely important work issue that needed either her or Daniel, and as Daniel is Luke’s best friend, obviously he attended the wedding.

  I know she was gutted to have missed it, and we missed her, too, but we managed to video-call at the reception which was great fun, and included her in the day somewhat.

  Gemma, Bea and I were bridesmaids, and Tilly’s nephew, Jack, was her page boy. It wasn’t a super-traditional wedding; the whole thing took place at the Country Estate, but it was absolutely stunning. They chose a beautiful pastel blue for their colour theme which was simple and elegant. Our dresses weren’t run-of-the-mill, made to measure bridesmaid dresses from a catalogue, either, oh no. We had a fun shopping spree or two into London, on a mission to find a beautiful designer frock to suit us all.

  In the end, after sending picture upon picture to Gemma, we all decided on a knee length, strapless, sixties style, full skirted dress in a plain blue taffeta with pointy matching kitten heel court shoes. So my style! And the kitten heels were great because we didn’t all tower above our tiny Tilly.

  And Tilly. Wow. She was a picture; incredibly beautiful with her hair up in a slight beehive with a thin, ivory alice-band separating it from her lovely full fringe. She wore large but simple diamond earrings and a matching pendent to complement the flawless, ivory, empire line gown. The dress was made of a thin, lined tulle with a deep v-shaped neck-line and a wide band running around her ribcage, under her bust and narrowing to a small, fabric covered broach at her sternum. Even with her bump, the band accentuated her tiny little waist, so from behind, you’d never even have known she was carrying a child.

  The fabric hung heavily to her toes, skimming her baby bump elegantly. The floral embroidery at the bottom of the dress and running through the short train was immaculate, and finished the dress to perfection. Bea made a note of the designer so that she can explore the range when she plans her wedding, because she fell in love with Tilly’s dress, as we all did.

  The thing I remember most about that day - apart from how handsome Oliver looked and how sad I was that we hadn’t spoken for a while - was how ecstatically happy Tilly was, and how thoroughly emotional Luke seemed. I’ve never seen a wedding more about true love, than that one.

  “What are you thinking about?” Oliver asks, brushing a few stray hairs from my face.

  “Oh, I was just remembering Tilly’s wedding.”

  “What a great day. Remember Luke’s dad on the dance floor?”

  I laugh, loudly, at the memory of his incredible break dancing, I don’t think anyone had expected anything like it. “I forgot! That was so funny, he was amazing!”

  “At least now we know where Luke gets his dance floor moves from.”

  “Yeah! Where do you get your moves from, Ol? Your dad’s not much of a dancer.”

  “You can say that again! I don’t really have any moves; I just like to wind and grind to the rhythm of my girl.”

  “Er, well, you’ve not done a lot of winding and grin
ding to the rhythm of this girl, darling, but I definitely enjoyed a bit of that on my birthday, we’ll have to go out and do some more now we’re… together… and everything.”

  “Yes we will,” he says, squeezing me tightly. “The one thing I don’t like about that wedding, is that I was with Stacy. She was hard work that day.”

  Uh, don’t make me think about her. “I bet. It would have been nice if we had been together then.”

  “Uh… I wish we had been. I couldn’t stop looking at you.”

  “Really?” I ask, trying to hide my huge grin.

  “Yeah, you were absolutely stunning! If I’d have known in a couple of months you’d be Mrs. Oliver Hart, I’d have had to assume that a crazy coincidence had occurred.”

  I giggle. “Don’t be daft.”

  “Hand on Hart’s heart, I never thought I’d manage to convince you to go any further than occasionally letting me poke you.”

  I laugh louder, again, “You really fancied me then?”

  “Clare,” he says in disbelief, “are you being serious? I more than fancied you way before then. Years before. How didn’t you know that?”

  “Because we were best friends, Oliver! We were super-close up until Simple Stacy. And you were so determined to stay with her, even though she was so awful, I really thought you were going to be together for a while. And that was really difficult for me because I knew how wrong she was for you.”

  “You knew it, because you knew you were right for me.”

  I pause for a minute. “Not exactly. I knew I could be a good girlfriend for you, because I know everything there is to know about you and because you mean the world to me. But I didn’t think we should be together because we had something so good before. I couldn’t have lost you if it went wrong, you know that. So I didn’t let myself contemplate it.”

  “Hmm, interesting. So… Simple Stacy, huh?”

  I smile, feeling naughty. “Well, I had a few names for her. Most starting in something bad and ending with ‘Stacy’.”

  “You’re naughty.”

  “I know. I tried to keep them to myself though, I didn’t want to bitch about her, you know, she was your girlfriend and though I didn’t respect her too much, I had enough respect for you not to go overboard about how much I disliked her.”