“You were nervous? You didn’t look it.”
“The magic cake worked. I was afraid the rings were going to fall out of my hand. They were very slippery.”
I kissed his cheek. “You did an awesome job, thank you.”
A light scratching on the door made him sit up. “That’s Pirate. He’s been hiding in the cottage all day. Come here, kitty.” He patted the covers when I let the furry cat in.
Pirate limped his way to Max and cuddled next to him. They had their own little routine. This family life with Derek and Max felt as if it’d always been this way, as if the bad stuff had never really happened.
In two minutes flat, Max snoozed off next to a snoring cat. What a pair. I kissed Max’s cheek again and walked to the window to draw the curtains. From up here, I had a new appreciation for the size of the party. The ceremony chairs had already been removed to make room for the dance floor. On the opposite end, a live band played under the arch of the altar. Twinkling lights hung from the flower garlands and provided a romantic ambiance. Nikki had thought of everything.
Near the pool, Derek stood by himself, away from all the guests. I didn’t blame him. Weddings could be such a sensory overload. I owed Nikki big for thinking of getting us out of here early. To get started on that honeymoon, as she’d said.
I darted out of Max’s room and into ours down the hallway, eager to get back to Derek. A quick look in the mirror told me how right Nikki had been to send me upstairs. I had a long streak of mascara down the side of my face. Happy tears. I’d take that any day of the week.
With Derek in my line of sight, I exited through the terrace and took the grand stone steps down to the garden. When he spotted me, he made a beeline toward me. That smile of his made me ache for him the way I used to when I lived in his cottage and thought he couldn’t be more than an erotic fantasy. How was I supposed to know Derek could not only be the husband type but also a dad to Max?
He sighed when I reached the bottom of the stairs and snuggled close to him. “I’m ready to take you away from here and make love to you all night.”
“All night? Is that even possible?”
He raised an eyebrow at me, tipping my chin toward him. “With proper incentive.” He kissed my lips. He whispered in my ear, and a puff of warm breath brushed my cheek. “And meticulous aftercare. Oh yeah.”
I moaned. “All of that sounds very tempting. But Nikki will kill me if we don’t cut the cake and have that first dance like we’re supposed to.”
Nikki’s voice filled the air, introducing the new Mr. and Mrs. Cole. After an awkward minute of silence, where guests glanced at each other, eyebrows raised, she called us onto the stage. I shrugged, giving Derek an innocent look as I dragged him onto the dance floor. Nikki shook her head at us, then gestured for the band to play.
The song “As Time Goes By” started, and I let Derek lead me. He had me do a double turn before he pulled me into his arms under the twinkling lights. “If you hadn’t just agreed to spend the rest of your life with me, I’d throw you over my shoulder and leave this shindig right now.”
“I’m so in love with you.” I cupped his cheek.
“Me too. How could I ever repay you for breathing life back into me?”
All I ever wanted was a home for Max. Because of Derek, I had a home and a family to call my own.
“You already have.”
24
That Side of Perfect
Valentina
Two weeks later…
I opened my eyes to find Derek’s side of the bed empty. The home screen on my phone said it was past noon. I’d overslept again? Jeez. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and darted to the bathroom to clean up. I grabbed my toothbrush and squeezed toothpaste on it, taking in the view beyond the copper bathtub, which sat out on the side terrace facing the gardens. The warm, salty breeze carried sounds of birds singing and water waves that flowed the length of the corridor into the master bedroom.
Derek’s over-the-water bungalow in Bora Bora sat on a private islet, overlooking the turquoise water. The thatched roof, teakwood furnishings, and sculptures from local artists added to the island feel of the home. This place was truly paradise, a work of art.
In the living room, I found Derek’s running shoes and a sweaty towel. No doubt he was up at the crack of dawn to get some exercise in before starting our day, which mostly consisted of eating and having sex. We did manage to leave the house last week to do a scooter ride around the island. I smiled and stuffed a hand in my hair. How was all of this even real?
I followed his voice to the front side of the house where the tall windows offered an incredible view of the shimmering beach. He stood by the pool terrace in his white linen pants that hung low on his slim hips and no shirt because my life was just on that side of perfect these days.
When he sensed my presence, the muscles on his back rippled. He turned to face me, and his smile made my heart thrum. “Hey, Valentina’s up. I gotta go,” he said into his phone before he ended the call. “Good morning.”
“Who was that?”
“You were sleeping. I figured I had a few hours to get some work done.”
“I don’t know why I’m sleeping so much. The waves lapping outside our bedroom window just knock me out.”
“You’re on vacation. You’re allowed.” He sauntered over to me and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you hungry?”
“I am.” I met his gaze.
“Yeah?” He kissed me.
After the wedding reception, he’d delivered on his promise to make love to me all night. He’d started in the small bedroom on the plane and finished somewhere on the beach on our way to the house. The two weeks we’d spent together had been something out of a fairy tale. Returning to the real world, where I had to share him with work and other people, was going to be so hard for me.
“I meant for food. But definitely hold that thought for later.”
He chuckled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I spun around to head for the kitchen, and the entire room did a few turns in front me. I reached out to hold on to Derek, but I was already on my way to falling flat on my face.
“Whoa.” He scooped me up and carried me to the sofa. “Are you all right?”
“I think so.” I swallowed, pressing a hand to my forehead.
“Don’t move.” He darted to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water and a plate of pancakes. “Better? Maybe you’ve been napping so much because you’re sick?”
I drank a few sips of water. “Maybe. I honestly can’t remember the last time I slept so hard.” That wasn’t entirely true. I’d practically slept through the entire first trimester when I was pregnant with Max.
“Let me call the doctor.”
“No. There’s no need for that. Can you get my phone?”
He left and returned in under a minute with my mobile. I unlocked it and tapped on my fitness app, where I kept track of my periods. With all the commotion before the wedding, I hadn’t realized I’d missed the last cycle. By like three weeks.
“Valentina, if there’s something wrong, you need to tell me. We can go home anytime.” He cradled my neck, his cheeks red as he surveyed my face.
“I don’t think it’s anything that needs immediate attention.” I bit my bottom lip. “But I do think it’s time to go home.”
His face blanched. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I offered him a sheepish smile. “I think I’m pregnant.”
“I’m sorry, what?” He dropped to his knees next to me. “I mean, are you sure?”
“I’d have to have my doctor confirm it, but yeah, I’m pretty sure. I’m sorry. I know it’s too soon.”
“No, don’t apologize.” He beamed at me. “This is the best news. Do you know how much I love you?”
I nodded. “Tell me anyway.”
How had I ever imagined living a life without this kind of love, without Derek? No more running and no more secrets. That had been
our promise to each other. The love part had always come easy to us. Keeping our promises? Well, we’d have to take that one, one day at a time.
Hey Sexy Reader!
Thank you so much for reading Unravel You. I hope you enjoyed Derek and Valentina’s happily ever after. The binge reading continues! Remember Matt Cole, Derek’s brother. You can download Matt and Ela’s story now.
One-click PROVOKE YOU now!!
The bing reading continues!
Don't miss out on this suspenseful and seductive series.
Unravel You, Book 1 (Derek and Valentina)
Provoke You, Book 2 (Matt and Ela)
Escape You, Book 3 (Tyler and Mia)
Unleash You, Book 4 (Wesley and Anabelle)
Defy You, Book 5 (Zack and Rebecca)
Did you know? Unravel You is the sequel to Love Over Lattes. If you want to read about how Derek and Valentina met, you can download it now!
One-click LOVE OVER LATTES now!!!
Praise for LOVE OVER LATTES:
"Hicks' first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense...A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance." - Kirkus Reviews
"Love Over Lattes is one of those quintessential romance novels with plenty of chemistry, mutual attraction, and push and pull between the characters." - Readers' Favorite
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About the Author
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy contemporary romance with a touch of suspense. Love Over Logic, Desert Monsoon series book 2, is the 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner in the Romantic Suspense genre
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
www.DianaHicksBooks.com
Books by Diana A. Hicks
Desert Monsoon Series
Love Over Lattes
Love Over Logic
Love Over Time
Cole Brothers Series
Unravel You
Provoke You
Escape You
Unleash You
Defy You
Unravel You: A Hot Billionaire Romance (Cole Brothers Series Book 1) Page 23
