Redemption (A Golden Beach Novel Book 5)

by Kim Loraine

  Her expression softened at that. She knew his issues with the L word. He’d been honest. This was what he could give her. Him. No word could change the fact that he’d chosen to bind himself to her for a lifetime.

  “Give it a chance,” he pleaded. “You’re so worried about whether it will work or not, you can’t let yourself enjoy it now.”

  She let out a heavy sigh and offered a wan smile. “My mama is going to be so angry we did this. She likes to pretend I’m still a virgin. You should have heard her when she realized you were here with me.”

  He couldn’t contain the chuckle that escaped his chest. “You think an angry Japanese mama is bad? Wait until you see my mother. Alex got married in a courthouse. I was her last chance at a wedding.” A pang of loss gripped his heart at that thought. He wasn’t supposed to be the last chance. John would have given her the wedding she’d dreamed of. But he was dead.

  Shaking his head, he pushed away thoughts of his brother and forced a smile as he watched Lena’s shoulders relax.

  “Looks like we’d better enjoy our honeymoon. When we go back we’re in for it.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed.

  Raising one eyebrow, he lifted his beer to his lips, considering her statement.

  “What?” she asked. “You’re doing the eyebrow thing.” Her cheeks flushed and she licked a drop of wine from her lips.

  “Was that a proposition, Mrs. Oliver?” The thrill of her new name gave him a rush of excitement.

  She twisted the ring and brought those dark eyes to his. “Maybe.”

  He knew she was worried, that she needed him to do more than tell her he’d never leave. The only way he could do that was to show her. He’d spend the rest of their lives proving that she’d made the right decision when she’d said, “I do.” But for now, he’d use these few days together to build the foundation they’d need.

  They spent the rest of the weekend absorbed in each other, avoiding the important topics he knew they should be discussing. As they walked through the shops at Caesar’s Palace, his mind spun with questions. Would she move in with him? When would they tell everyone? The idea of telling his parents both thrilled and terrified him. He was Catholic. You don’t just elope to Las Vegas. At least, not in his family.

  Cocking his head to one side, he pulled her toward a crepe shop. “Come on, I’m hungry.” He really just wanted to take some time and sit with her. They were heading home in a matter of hours. It was time to make plans.

  While he ordered a sweet chocolate and banana confection for them to share, she found a seat and toyed with her phone. He watched her face as she scrolled and occasionally tapped the screen. He loved the way she took her lower lip between her teeth when she was concentrating. It reminded him of the amazing things she had done with her mouth that morning in the shower.

  “Sir? Sir? Your crepe is ready.”

  Snapping out of his lust-fueled haze, he snatched the whipped cream and chocolate-laden plate from the kid at the window and made his way to where his wife waited. As soon as he sat down across from her, she put her phone away and offered him a bright smile.

  “That looks so good. Maybe we should’ve gotten two,” she said, stealing a bit of cream off the top with her finger.

  His groin tightened as she sucked her finger clean. Christ almighty she was distracting. Adjusting his pants, he forced himself to tear his gaze from her perfect mouth.

  “I’m Catholic,” he blurted.

  Her eyes widened in surprise at his outburst. “That’s nice?” It was more of a question than a statement and coupled with the look on her face, he’d just confused the hell out of her.

  “What about you?”

  She shrugged. “Buddhist, I guess. I wasn’t really raised religious. Why?”

  He felt stupid after everything he’d said to her about just enjoying their time. Now, here he was, about to start grilling her and pushing the real issues.

  “My mom’s going to ask. And, I don’t know, we should probably know these things about each other, right?”

  A thoughtful expression spread over her face. “Yeah, we should. Okay, so you’re Catholic. Now it’s my turn?”

  Something in his chest loosened at her lighthearted attitude. Nodding, he took a big bite of the crepe and waited.

  “Um, my parents got married in Japan six months before I was born. We moved to Golden Beach a year later. Then my asshole of a father left us on my second birthday. We haven’t ever heard from him again but my mom still carries on as if they’re married. She hates that I legally changed my last name to Shirakawa instead of keeping my dad’s.”

  That surprised him. He’d always thought her family name was Shirakawa. “What is your dad’s last name?”

  “Blackpool.”

  “So, your mom isn’t Ryoko Shirakawa. She’s Ryoko Blackpool?”

  Lena nodded and speared a slice of banana.

  “I’ve been calling her Mrs. Shirakawa all this time.” He felt like an idiot.

  “It doesn’t bother her. I think keeping his name is the last little bit of my dad that she has. Everyone calls her by her maiden name, but her driver’s license still has his.”

  “Are you going to take my last name?” he asked, suddenly caring more about her answer than the tempting dessert in front of him. His blood pounded in his ears as he waited anxiously for her verdict.

  Her shoulders stiffened, eyes trained on the tabletop. “I . . . hadn’t thought of that. Do you want me to?”

  A primal part of him, the caveman part that wanted to club her over the head and drag her to his cave, screamed yes. But as he looked at her face, conflicting emotions passed through him.

  “I’d love it. But I want you to do what makes you happy. If that means keeping your name, that’s fine. Just as long as you’re mine.”

  A grin spread over her lips. “You could always take my name.”

  He could feel the blood leaving his face. There’s no way that would fly at the firehouse, or with his family.

  She burst out laughing as he floundered for the right answer. “Okay, okay, firefighter. We’ll figure it out. Lena Oliver doesn’t sound too bad.”

  He let out a relieved sigh, as they stood and tossed the remnants of their dessert in the trash. She looked up at him as she leaned into his body, sending a wave of emotion through him that scared him.

  “Michael Shirakawa sounds pretty good, too,” she whispered in his ear, her tone light and teasing.

  His heart flipped when her hand slipped into his and she idly twirled his wedding band as they walked.

  This was the right choice.

  It would work.

  It had to.

  Chapter 11

  Lena set her purse on the floor in the entryway at Michael’s house, stomach fluttering with anticipation. They’d been home two days, getting into the swing of things and trying to figure out how to break the news of their marriage to friends and family. So far, they hadn’t been able to agree on how best to share their impulsive wedding with their parents. Maybe it was the impulsive part that scared her. She knew her mom would move past her disappointment pretty quickly, as long as she was sure Lena was happy. Michael’s mother was a different matter.

  The sudden blare of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me” made her jump as she walked down the hall toward the kitchen. She smiled, catching a whiff of warm spices and fresh baked bread. Her smile turned to laughter when she rounded the corner and caught sight of Michael, a chef’s apron tied around his waist as he cooked. He was dancing as he stirred something on the stove. She had to cover her mouth with a hand to keep from making noise and giving herself away. When he spun around using the wooden spoon as a microphone, she lost it, bursting into loud giggles and breaking the spell.

  His eyes popped open and blood rushed to
his cheeks. “You’re early,” he said, composing himself.

  “I missed you. If I’d known I was going to an all-male revue, I would’ve stopped and got some dollar bills.”

  Lips turning up into a smirk, he swayed his hips and pulled her against him. “You can pay me in other ways.”

  “Oh, can I?”

  Nodding, he lowered his mouth to hers. “Definitely,” he murmured against her lips, before releasing her. “But not until after dinner.”

  Pouting, she batted her eyelashes. “I’m not that hungry.”

  A smile in his eyes, he shook his head. “Nope. I’ve never cooked for you and this is my favorite dish.”

  He pulled out a stool from under the bar and helped her up onto it. Pouring her a large glass of red wine, he winked and turned away. She couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting over his strong shoulders, down his back, and to his amazing ass while he served her dinner.

  His expression was filled with excitement as he placed a bowl filled with mashed potatoes and a rich beef stew in front of her.

  “Go on, tell me what you think.” He was like an eager puppy, watching her take a bite. She had to fight off the urge to laugh.

  Truthfully, the food was delicious, but all she could think about was tasting him. “Michael, it’s so good.”

  A wide smile spread across his face as he dug in to his dish. They ate and drank slowly, savoring the food and exchanging flirtatious glances. As the meal drew to a close, Michael’s expression changed from relaxed to pensive.

  “What’s that face for?” Her chest tightened at the seriousness in his eyes.

  “Were you going to tell me about Japan?”

  Stomach clenching, she took a sharp breath. “How did you know about that?”

  “You left your email open. I saw it when I was turning off your laptop.”

  Reaching out, she grabbed his hand. “I planned to tell you. I just didn’t want to spoil anything. We’ve been so wrapped up in being us. I wasn’t ready to go back to the real world yet.”

  “Baby, you’ve got to tell me things. What do you think I’m going to do? It’s your job. It sucks that you’ll be gone, I can’t deny that, but I’m not going to tell you not to do it.”

  The tension released its hold around her heart as she stared into his eyes. “I’m leaving in November.”

  Nodding, he offered her a soft smile. “Then I guess we need to make good use of our time before you go.”

  “And we can video chat while I’m there. Rhett said as long as I have Wi-Fi I’m good. I don’t really want to deal with tons of international charges for phone service. According to him, the reception is spotty anyway. Seems like a waste of money. There should be Wi-Fi everywhere.”

  “Are we talking, Skype sex? I’ve never done it, but I’m not one to shy away from new things.”

  She let out a laugh. “I’m sure that can be arranged.” Cocking an eyebrow, she gave him her best come hither stare. “You want to practice now?”

  “Baby, I always want to be with you.”

  Snagging her bowl, he placed the dishes in the sink and crossed the room, scooping her into his arms without another word.

  “You did what?” Hallie shouted over their table at The Creekside.

  Lena winced, and ducked her head behind her menu. “Keep your voice down, will you?”

  “Sorry, sorry. I’m just shocked. You never told me it was serious with Michael.”

  A flutter started in Lena’s chest at the thought of just how serious it really was between them. “I’m in love with him,” she admitted.

  Hallie sat back in the booth and took a deep drink from her wine glass. “Well, I should hope so. You married him.” A dreamy look came over her before she shook her head and leveled her piercing gaze on Lena. “Is that why we’re here? You buttering me up before dropping a bomb like that?”

  “Actually, there’s something else.”

  Her friend’s eyes narrowed. “You better not be firing me so you can spend your life bearing Michael Oliver’s children. We’ve got a good thing going here. I’m making enough money now to finish paying off my student loans.”

  Lena held up a hand. “Stop. I’m not firing you. I want you to take over the business.”

  Hallie’s jaw dropped. “What?”

  “I’m going to Japan for a three month assignment. Honestly, I’ve been gone more than I’ve been here. You’ve already been running things most of the year anyway.”

  “Do you mean permanently? You’ll be back, right?”

  Lena nodded, pushing away the slight ache in her chest at the thought of stepping away from the business she’d started years ago. “I’ll be back, but who knows when I’ll be gone again. We’ve got enough steady business that we need someone reliable. Someone who’s schedule is steady. No one wants to book a photographer who jets off to parts unknown all the time.”

  “I don’t know, L. I’ve been fine doing this by myself when I knew you’d be back to save me if I screwed up.”

  Lena almost laughed. “You’ve never needed me to save you. Usually, you’re the one saving me. Reminding me we’ve got clients booked, helping me remember what to bring. There’s no one better to take this on than you.”

  Shaking her head, Hallie finished her wine and flagged down the waiter. She ordered each of them a glass of champagne before Lena could protest, and flashed a beaming smile.

  “What did Michael say about you jetting off for three months?”

  That caught her off guard. Why would Hallie think he’d have a problem?

  “He was fine with it. He knows what I do.”

  Hallie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’d be a little disappointed if my new husband was leaving me for a quarter of our first year of marriage.”

  “It’s fine. We’ll be fine,” she argued, but deep down a tightness took hold in her chest.

  “I guess this means we’ve got two things to celebrate. To you and Michael, and to change.” Hallie clinked her glass with Lena’s, and with a bittersweet cloud hanging over them both, drank deeply.

  “Wait, what did your mom say when you told her?” Hallie asked.

  Biting her lip, Lena hid her shame by taking another sip. “I, uh, I haven’t told her yet.”

  Hallie clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Bad idea, Shirakawa. Wait, is it Oliver now?”

  “We haven’t figured that out yet.” She avoided Hallie’s gaze and broached the other topic of conversation. “I’m going over to Mom’s tomorrow for breakfast. I’m going to tell her then. I was hoping the Japan trip might soften the blow, distract her a little.”

  A slight smirk turned up the corners of Hallie’s mouth. “Good luck with that.”

  Michael tugged at the collar of his shirt, popping the top button and loosening the uncomfortably tight tie. A clammy layer of sweat covered his forehead and he was sure he looked sick as he waited for Lena to arrive at Kaneyo with her mother. His parents were already seated, enjoying the beachfront table and the warm summer air. Why was he so nervous? Lena’s mother loved him. She’d practically thrown them together the last time he’d seen her. Still, his chest tightened when he saw them, slowly making their way down the sandy path.

  “Ah, Michael-san. You like Japanese food? Good.” Lena’s gaze found his as her mother called out to him.

  His eyes focused on Lena’s left hand. Bare for now. He’d forgotten to take off his wedding band, but so far, no one had noticed. Taking Mrs. Shirakawa’s arm, he led her to the table, hoping Lena had given her a head’s up that his parents would be joining them. Clearly, she hadn’t. Her mother’s face paled when she saw them.

  “Why are your parents here, Michael-san?” Those glittering dark eyes darted from the table where his parents sat to him. “What’s going on?”

&nbs
p; Lena took her mother’s hand and pulled her to a seat. “Okasan, sit down.”

  He watched as his wife murmured to her mother in Japanese, a sly grin spreading over the older woman’s face.

  His mother piped up from across the table. “It’s nice to see you again, Lena, Mrs. Shirakawa.”

  Silence fell heavy over the table until Lena’s mother bowed her head slightly.

  “Please call me Ryoko. We are all friends here.”

  Lena heaved a sigh of relief and squeezed Michael’s hand. At the contact, his body flooded with warmth and the nervous feeling in the back of his mind eased. Over the course of the next hour, they chatted together about his family’s time overseas and Ryoko’s life in Japan, but tension still filled the space between topics.

  A lull in the conversation bought him a moment to order another beer and he had just begun to flag down a server when his dad tossed his napkin on the table and cleared his throat.

  “All right, son. It’s time to get down to business. What’s going on? Something is clearly up with you two.”

  His throat and tongue were suddenly as dry as the Sahara. Swallowing, he took Lena’s hand. “Uh, yeah. You’re right.” His mom was bouncing in her seat in anticipation. A broad smile on her sweet face. “Lena and I . . . Uh, well . . . we got married.”

  Letting out an audible sigh, he ran a hand over the back of his neck, happy to have made it through the moment without his voice cracking from nerves. He brought his gaze to his mom first, expecting the smile from earlier to be there still. Instead, her eyes were wide in disbelief and before long, tears pooled in their hazel depths.

  “Married? You got married without telling us?” His heart nearly broke at the sadness in her voice.

  “It uh, it just sort of happened,” Lena offered.

  He winced inwardly. She was trying to help, but that just made it worse.