by Dori Lavelle
When he pulls back, there’s a glint in his eye. “Now that we have that out of the way allow me to do this.” He holds up the prenuptial agreement and tears it down the middle.
I bring my hands to my lips. “What are you doing?”
“It was a test. We don’t need it. If you leave me tomorrow and take my money with you, it’ll all be worth the time I got to spend with you.”
“Never.” I kiss him again. “I never want to leave you. A life without you in it is not one worth living.”
He takes my hand and glances down at it. “You still have the ring?”
I nod. “I didn’t have the courage to take it off yet.” I never intended to sell it for money, even though I was desperate for cash. I had planned on mailing it to him once I found the courage to let go of it.
“Well, I guess I don’t have to propose again, then.” He tightens his fingers on my hand. “We better get off this bus.”
“We should.” I look back out the window, surprised to discover that the bus had come to a halt. “Where are we?” My eyebrows draw together.
“The hospital. I asked the bus driver to bring us here. I need you to have a checkup tonight. Then if everything is okay, tomorrow we’ll fly to Cabo for our wedding.”
“Really?” I breathe. I’m still finding it hard to believe he forgave me for everything I did wrong.
“Really.” He kisses my cheek and grins. “I had given you a chance to plan our wedding before, and you messed up. Now it’s my turn to make it happen.”
“Yes, please.” I laugh out loud, my headache forgotten. “Take the wheel, Mr. LaClaire.”
“Quick question, though,” he says before we exit the bus. “You don’t plan on taking back your old name, do you? I’m kind of used to Jia.”
“Nope. Alana is gone forever. Jia is here to stay—with you.”
25
Jia
Everything is perfect. The LaClaire Villa in Cabo San Lucas is filled with flowers and candles. At midnight, I’ll become Mrs. Jia LaClaire. I never thought this day would come.
Rose walks into the room, and I turn away from the mirror. “Jia, you’re the most beautiful princess in the world.”
She looks so beautiful in her white organza and lace flower girl dress with a scoop neckline and a peplum top. Peeking out from the curls on top of her head is a cute crystal crown. I can’t decide whether she looks more like a princess or an angel. All I know is that I can’t wait to be her stepmom. It doesn’t matter that I wasn’t the one who brought her into this world; she feels like a part of me. As far as I’m concerned, she’s my daughter.
I turn away from the mirror and open my arms to the little girl who stole a piece of my heart. She walks straight into them. I hold onto her until she starts to squirm.
The past few days, I couldn’t stop thinking about the baby Lance and I lost because of the car accident. The day we got back together, he spent the night at the hospital with me, and we talked about our baby all night. When I told him about the baby I lost in prison, he didn’t turn his back on me. Instead, he just held me as I cried for both the babies I lost. Then he made it all better by saying if we never have more kids, it wouldn’t matter, that we don’t need another child to complete us.
“Come downstairs, Jia.” Rose’s eyes dance as she gazes into my face and claps her hands with glee. “Your prince is waiting.”
I hold her face between my hands and plant a kiss on her forehead. “Tell Daddy I’ll be right down, sweetheart.”
“Okay.” She runs from the room, her curls bouncing behind her.
I’m only alone in the room for a few seconds when Grace breezes in, wearing an ivory chiffon bridesmaid dress with sequins on the bust. Her golden hair tumbles like a waterfall down her back.
I rise from the dressing table, and we embrace. When we pull apart, both our eyes are wet.
Grace places her hands on my shoulders. “I want you to know that the past doesn’t matter, not to me, and not to anyone else down there. This is your new beginning, and I’m so honored to be a part of it with you.”
“You have no idea how much that means to me.” I tug a tissue from a box on the dressing table and blow my nose. “Thank you, Grace.”
“You’re welcome. Now stop crying and get ready to become a part of this wonderful family.”
“I’m so ready.” I do a quick twirl. “Do I look good enough to marry a LaClaire?”
I’m wearing a slim A-line wedding gown with an illusion neckline and tiny crystals all over the flowing skirt and court train. Around my neck is a diamond necklace Lance had given me last night along with matching earrings.
Earlier in the evening, a celebrity makeup artist and hairdresser had come to the house to make me beautiful, and that’s exactly how I feel—beautiful and happier than I’ve ever been both in this life and my past one.
“You’re breathtaking. I can’t wait for Lance to see you. Now go and get your man.”
That’s exactly what I do. Thirty minutes later, I’m sitting opposite Lance inside the huge living room, which is lit up only by candles. Floral balls hang from the ceiling along with loose crystal draperies that glint in the candlelight.
I’m still amazed at how fast Lance and Iris were able to plan the wedding in such a short time. I don’t even want to know how much money went into organizing a wedding at the last minute. I tried telling Lance that we could have a simple ceremony in Boston, but he refused. He was still determined on giving me my dream wedding.
As Lance’s family and friends watch on, we exchange our vows and rings and promise each other forever.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister—flown in from Boston—says with a smile that causes his eyes to crinkle at the corners. He hugs his Bible and glances at Lance. “You may kiss your wife.”
“Thank God.” Lance draws me close. Our lips meet in a sensuous kiss that takes my breath away. We only break apart when we hear Rose ask Uncle Derrick when the kiss will end so she can have cake.
We pull away and join the laughter filling the room.
Lance turns to the cheering guests. “Ladies and gentlemen, please head over to the beach and enjoy the good food and drink. I would like a moment with my wife before we join you.”
Before I can ask Lance where we’re going, he takes my hand and escorts me slowly to the elevators. He hasn’t used his cane once all day. He has been slow to get from A to B, but instead of minding, I’m damn proud of him.
“What are you up to, husband?” I ask when we are behind the closed doors of his suite.
“I just wanted a quiet moment with you before everyone else takes all your time.” He sits me down on the bed and brings my hand to his lips. “I wanted to make sure you’re happy.”
“More than you can imagine.” I swallow my tears of joy. “I’m part of a family now. I have a husband and a beautiful daughter. And I’m sorry for what I did to you, baby. I promise—”
“Stop.” He places a finger on my lips. “Let’s look forward. I’m just glad that you’re happy.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re not scared that I might leave you after the wedding, are you?”
He chuckles. “Why should I be? In case you haven’t noticed yet, I’m pretty hot shit.”
“I fully agree. I’m not going anywhere.” I lean into him. “I mean it, Lance.”
“Good.” Lance gets up and approaches the office area of his room. “Now let’s talk honeymoon. Any idea where you want your new husband to take you?”
“How about we just stay in Cabo? It’s a perfect honeymoon destination.”
“I agree, but this is also our second home. Let me take you to a place you’ve never been before.”
He returns to the bed with a globe and a calendar. “Close your eyes and pick a place, any place in the world. Wherever your finger lands, we’ll go. Unless you’ve been there before, of course.”
“You’re such a romantic.” I’m all giggles as I close my eyes, excited butterfl
ies fighting for space in my stomach.
My finger lands on Kenya.
“Great choice.” Lance pulls out a pen and picks up the calendar, and we decide on a date. “We’ll get to visit the Lotus Home,” he says.
I frown. “What is that?”
“The orphanage I founded in Nairobi,” he says.
“You’re full of surprises, Mr. Lance.” I wink.
“You have no idea.” He gives me a mischievous grin. “Let me show you another one of my little surprises. I hope you’re ready for what I’ve got in store for you, Mrs. Jia.” He gathers the skirt of my dress with one hand while pressing me down onto the bed. “Time to get this party started.”
My giggles are out of control when he shoves the wedding fabric aside, and slips a finger inside me, then another.
My laughter soon turns to gasps, and then I forget about everything except Lance and the future we are about to build.
THE END
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Also by Dori Lavelle
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