Sierra gave him a half-hearted smile. “Maybe. I think we’ll survive even if they say no. It seemed like we were in agreement on most of the important stuff even before you proposed but now I’m beginning to think that we need to make sure.”
“Sie, please don’t tell me that you’ve changed your mind about marrying me.”
“I haven’t Luke, and I know that things are going to come up for both of us that we’ll have to compromise on and that there are going to be hurt feelings along the way. That’s the reality of being in a relationship. But I have to know that you’re going to be honest with me. I will understand if you’re a little jealous of Kimber and Paul’s relationship. You have two children with her and you spent years of your life with her. I understand that you have to be in the public eye to a certain extent at least, but we have to be even more careful about that now because it’s not going to just be about your children being there with you, it’s going to be about my child being there too. I don’t want that for Nathan, and I really didn’t think that that’s what you wanted for your kids either.”
Luke sighed. “Kimber and I talked a lot about that when I first started to gain popularity and we agreed that the kids didn’t need to be in the public eye. I’m sorry baby.”
“You have to talk to me Luke. I spent most of my marriage with Paul feeling like I wasn’t part of the decision making process. I am not okay with that.”
Luke squeezed her hand. “I know Sie, and I’m sorry that what I did made you feel that way. I want us to make decisions together.”
“We have for the most part. Are you okay with having the wedding in the backyard? I really would prefer it that way. If we didn’t have the kids I would elope with you.”
Luke chuckled. “Yes the backyard is fine, though I’m sure that Alexis will ruin her dress.”
Sierra shrugged. “She’s a kid. Let her ruin it.”
“I love you Sierra.”
“I love you too. Now that we’ve got the wedding issue worked out, can we talk about how much pot you’ve been smoking lately?”
“Okay Sie, I promise you that I will cut down.”
She held out her pinky. “Pinky swear.”
He smiled back, then leaned in to steal a kiss while sealing the pinky swear.
“Thank you. Now we need to talk about Kimber and Paul.”
Luke sighed. “Do we really have to?”
“Yes we have to. I know that you two have reasons not to like each other, but you’re grown men. You are going to be his son’s stepfather and whether you want to think about it or not, he is going to be the stepfather of your children. You need to learn to get along. Haven’t I done well with Kimber?”
“Of course you have. But it’s a lot easier for the two of you.”
“How is it easier? Did I not have an affair with her husband? Did she not have sex with mine? Am I not helping to care for her children? Is she not helping to care for my child? Kimber and I face the same issues that you and Paul do, and while I’m not sure that she exactly likes me, she’s always been polite to me.“
“I think that Kimber tried not to like you, but she found it pretty hard since you’re so damned wonderful.”
Sierra shook her head at him. “I am a bitch.”
“True, but you have plenty of redeeming qualities.” He winked at her.
“Ha ha Luke. Will you admit that you’re a little jealous that Kimber is with Paul? And will you promise me that you will try to give Paul a chance? Your kids must like him.”
Luke made a face at her. “I don’t see why they would. He’s a stick in the mud.”
“Seriously Luke, quit trying to change the subject. And your kids do like Paul. Your daughter told me so.”
“I’m sorry Sie. It’s just hard for me to like the guy since he was such an ass to you.”
“Babe, he wasn’t an ass to me. Okay so maybe he was, but I was a bitch to him. We didn’t agree on things and chose to ignore them or go around them instead of working on trying to fix them. Paul has plenty of reason not to like you too. He probably thinks he has more reasons not to like you than you do not to like him. Can’t we all just get along?”
Luke laughed. “I promise you that I will try baby. It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows though.”
Sierra rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s not silly man. But thank you. Do it for the kids.”
“Yes ma’am. Speaking of kids, do you want to go upstairs and practice some baby making before little man gets home?”
Sierra smiled. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Luke took her hand and led her towards the bedroom.
Luke
He lost the deposit he had put down on the club during his failed attempt to change the wedding venue, but Luke didn't care. The band he had booked was popular enough that they didn't want to play in his backyard, but he and Sierra were able to agree on a local band. The wedding plans were mostly smooth now, though Sierra was having a hard time choosing her dress. She had wanted to pick it out without him, but she had so much trouble he ended up helping her pick it out in the end. He thought that she looked gorgeous in every dress she tried on, but she found one problem or another with every one of them. Luke secretly thought she was being overly picky, but she was the one who had to wear the dress. Their search for a dress felt almost hopeless until he caught a smile on his beautiful fiancé’s face when she looked in the mirror after trying on a particular dress. Luke bought the dress for her immediately without bothering to check the price tag.
Three Months Later
Sierra
Sierra looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. It was almost time for her to walk down the aisle, or what passed for an aisle in their backyard, and she had just noticed that Luke had given her a hickey.
She shook her head at herself in the mirror, glad that her mother was down the hall with Kimber and Alexis, fixing the little girl's hair. Sierra was sure that her uptight mother wouldn't be thrilled over the fact that her daughter was getting married for the second time with a hickey.
She covered the hickey as best she could with make-up, wondering if her mother was driving Kimber completely crazy. Her mother loved Nathan and adored Luke's sweet son, but she was excited to have a granddaughter.
Sierra took one last look at herself in the mirror, then took a deep breath and let it out. She could hear voices coming from Alexis's room when she opened the door.
Her heart beating fast as the minutes until the wedding ticked down, she knocked on Luke's daughter's bedroom door.
"Come in," Alexis called out.
Sierra opened the door and gave the girl who would soon be her stepdaughter a bright smile.
"You are beautiful sweetheart."
Alexis smiled. "Thank you."
Sierra turned to Kimber. "Do you know if the boys are ready?"
"I think Paul was helping them get dressed. I can go check on them if you want."
"That would be great. Thank you."
Kimber left the room. Sierra thought that she looked a little relieved, though she was sure this wasn't the most comfortable situation for Kimber.
Her mother stopped messing with Alexis's hair and turned to Sierra.
"You're beautiful darling."
"Thank you."
Her mother gave her a hug and then turned back to Alexis. "Are you ready honey?"
Alexis nodded.
"We'll see you down there."
Sierra smiled at her mother and Alexis as they left the room.
She took another deep breath and let it out, wondering why she suddenly felt so close to a panic attack. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, forcing a smile to her face. It looked completely fake, and she let it fall away as she left the room.
Paul and Kimber were in the hall with Nathan and Halden. The boys were wearing identical tuxes and had been given the job of ring bearer.
Nathan was frowning. Not thinking about her expensive dress that she thought Luke had spen
t entirely too much money on anyway, she bent down to her son's level.
"What's wrong baby?"
"I want to throw flowers with Alexis."
Sierra smiled at her son, hugged her beautiful boy and turned to Halden, who was clutching his mother's hand. "Do you want to throw flowers with your sister too?"
Halden looked to his mother, who gave him a smile. He nodded and gave Kimber a bright smile back. He looked so much like Luke that it seemed funny to think there could ever have been a chance that he was Paul's child.
Sierra straightened. "It's settled then. You can all throw flowers."
Paul looked relieved. "I'm sorry Sierra. I didn't know what to tell him."
"No worries Paul."
Again not thinking about her dress, she picked Nathan up and gave him a hug. "I love you baby. Go with Daddy and Kimber. Mommy will be down in a minute."
She put Nathan down. Paul reached for their son's hand. Halden had dropped his mother's hand and was giving Sierra an expectant look.
She smiled at him. "Do you want a hug too?"
He nodded. Sierra's heart was full as she embraced the little boy. When she put him down he said "I love you Sierra."
"I love you too Mr. Halden."
She wasn't sure how it made Kimber feel to hear the exchange, but the other woman's expression hadn't changed. She took her son's hand again, turning to Paul and Nathan.
"I guess we should get down there and let you finish getting ready."
Sierra smiled. "I guess so."
Paul kissed her cheek. "You're beautiful. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
She watched Paul and Kimber walk away with the boys, then headed to the bathroom to check her reflection one more time before the ceremony.
Luke
When Luke saw Sierra walking towards him, he thought he'd never seen a more beautiful woman. Tears stung his eyes as she neared him. Not wanting her to see him almost crying, he tore his eyes away from her, sneaking a glance at the kids. They had all loved throwing the flowers and looked mostly content, though he knew his daughter would probably be the first to talk someone into letting her change out of her wedding clothes.
He blinked back the tears and his eyes were clear when Sierra reached him. He cleared his throat and took her hands, letting everyone else fade into the background for the moment.
He had tried to convince Sierra that they should write their own vows, but it hadn't worked, especially after he'd spent more time attempting to write his vows than he had to write more than one hit song.
When the minister pronounced them man and wife and Luke kissed his beautiful bride for the first time, the world felt like it stood still. He had never been happier in his life and couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life as Sierra's husband.
Kimber
It had definitely been an interesting day for Kimber. She wasn't sure she liked Sierra's mother very much, but she knew that the woman was excited that Alexis and Halden were joining her family. She tried not to let it get to her, even when the older woman stepped in and finished fixing Alexis's hair.
It had felt a little strange to hear her son tell Sierra that he loved her, and she had definitely felt a little pang at first. But she had bonded quickly with Nathan as well, and she knew that it was unreasonable not to expect her children to bond with their stepmother, so Kimber let it go.
Sierra looked beautiful. Luke was as handsome as ever, but she only had eyes for Paul. He looked so handsome she could hardly stand it, and she was very much looking forward to spending as much of the next few days as possible with him.
Paul
Kimber looked so beautiful on the day of Sierra and Luke's wedding that Paul could hardly stand to look at her. Sierra was beautiful too of course, but looking at her only made him wonder what Kimber would look like in her wedding dress. His thoughts were drifting more and more to spending the rest of his life with Kimber, though he hadn't yet had the courage to tell her that he loved her.
Sierra
The wedding reception seemed to take forever to Sierra. She'd wanted to change out of her wedding dress, but her mother had insisted she keep it on, and had endlessly snapped pictures of everyone, even Paul and Kimber who she had happened to catch stealing a kiss.
Her mother had always liked Paul more than she'd ever liked Luke, and hadn't been thrilled when Sierra had told her of their engagement, but she seemed happy that day. Even Timothy was playing with the kids, and Alexis and Halden seemed to like him.
Sierra almost cried when it was time to say goodbye to the kids since she'd never been away from her son for five days in a row before, but she held back. She didn't want Nathan to start crying too, though he seemed to be happy about spending the days of their honeymoon with his dad, Kimber, and his new sister and brother.
Luke
The wedding reception seemed to take forever to Luke too, and he was glad that Sierra had talked him out of having a more public wedding. When they said their goodbyes to the kids, he could see that Sierra was trying hard not to cry. She'd never been away from Nathan for more than two days in a row and he knew it was going to be hard for her.
Once the rest of their goodbyes were said, they headed off to their honeymoon and their first days together as husband and wife.
Kimber
The kids were asleep upstairs, Alexis in her room and Nathan and Halden in Halden’s room. It was a little strange for Kimber to think about the fact that Luke and Sierra were on their honeymoon, but in all honesty, she thought that it hurt a lot less than she had thought it would. She’d even had to admit to herself that their wedding ceremony was nice. She was much more concerned with her own relationship with Paul than she was with Luke and Sierra’s anyway.
He looked so tense sitting at the other end of the couch. He had barely touched his glass of wine. She thought that it was probably because he was still planning on driving home, though she hoped to talk him into staying with her, or seduce him into staying with her.
She knew that a lot of her frustration came from the months that she had spent with Paul, sharing kisses that were so filled with passion she could hardly stand it but nothing more. She was sure that Paul was feeling some sort of sexual frustration himself, especially since she had caught him looking at her with naked hunger in his eyes on several occasions. But she also knew that he was feeling frustrated over his job as well. While Kimber’s move had turned out wonderfully, Paul’s most definitely had not brought him everything he’d hoped to achieve.
His job was demanding and Kimber sympathized fully with him when he told her that he felt he didn’t have nearly enough time with his son. It bothered him even more due to the fact that Luke worked from home and was closer to a stay-at-home parent to his son than Paul would ever be. Kimber knew that while it might be hard for her and Sierra to truly like each other, it was even harder for Paul and Luke. She wanted badly to comfort her man, but she knew that he was going to be miserable as long as he continued to work the hours that he was working.
Paul had hardly spoken to her since the children had been put to bed. He was staring off into the distance now, as if trying to work something out in his mind. She wished that he would talk to her. It had seemed easy for him to open up to her when they had first gotten together, but lately it had seemed as if there was so much on his mind. He talked to her of course, but it rarely seemed like he was really talking to her. His mood make Kimber unsure of whether or not tonight would be a good night to attempt to seduce him, but at the same time, she thought that making love might release some of his tension for a while at least.
She drained the rest of her wine and poured herself another glass. Paul gave her a look, but she ignored him. She wasn’t driving, the kids were asleep and she wasn’t planning on getting shit faced. She just wanted to have a buzz when she made what she hoped was a successful attempt at seducing Paul.
Kimber ran her hand down Paul’s arm. “Are you okay babe?”
“I’m fine Ki
mber.”
There was irritation in his voice. She didn’t think that he was upset with her, but she was starting to get irritated herself. She was tired of him trying to solve all of his problems by himself without bothering to explain to her what was going on.
“Paul, talk to me. Something is eating you up inside and you won’t tell me what it is. I want to help you baby.”
Paul sighed and moved his arm. She was tempted to give him a dirty look, but instead she looked away from him, wondering if he was going to ignore her, or make an excuse to run away.
When he remained silent for several minutes, Kimber took a big gulp of her wine for courage, then she moved over on the couch, settling her head against Paul’s chest. She breathed in his scent, loving the fresh, clean way that he smelled. She wondered if telling him that she loved him would make him feel any better, or if it would stun him into saying something to her at least.
Paul’s arms tightened around her. She let herself enjoy the feeling of being in his arms for several minutes, trying to shut her worries out for the time being.
Paul cleared his throat. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch as she waited for him to speak.
“Kimber.”
She turned her head to look at him. “Yes Paul?”
“I love you.”
Her heart rate didn’t slow. It felt wonderful to hear the words leave his lips. She held his blue gaze with her own.
“I love you too.”
There was much more that she wanted to say him, but Kimber's hormones were on overdrive and they were telling her it was now or never. If she didn't make a move on Paul, she knew that she definitely wouldn't be getting laid that night. Her seduction felt selfish in some ways, but he had taken a step towards opening up to her when he had told her that he loved her, and she didn't want him to shut down again.
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 34
