Suck it up, Dylan. He approached her, noting that she was wearing a pale gray suit and not a wedding gown.
“Alexis.” He touched her arm.
She spun around. “Dylan!”
He couldn’t tell if she was glad to see him or not. He drew her away from the others. “I want you to know that I wish you and Vincent the very best. I’m happy for you.” He kissed her chastely on the cheek.
She swatted him away. “How could you think I would marry Vincent?”
Dylan blinked. “I saw all these people…”
“In truth, I almost did marry him, but I changed my mind. We had an enlightening chat, where he humiliatingly informed me that he was simply removing the competition, and he’s gone back to Houston and I’m throwing a big party for my family.”
Dylan had stopped breathing when she said she’d changed her mind. She hadn’t married Vincent.
“If you aren’t married to Vincent, then will you marry me?” He sounded desperate. He was desperate.
Alexis gave him a haughty look. “What kind of proposal is that? You took off without even giving me a chance—”
“You mean like the way you did to me?”
“Yeah. Like that.”
He swallowed. “So I figure we’re even. Now will you marry me?”
“What happened to groveling? No, don’t bother. I’m off marriage.” She swept a hand through the air. “We can still sleep together, though. Just think how much cheaper it’ll be when we break up.”
“You’re still mad.” He should have groveled.
“Actually, I’m happy.” She made a grand gesture all around them. “I’m surrounded by friends and family. None of Vincent’s could make it, so they’re mine. All mine. I’m deliriously happy. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that love just doesn’t last.”
“Ours lasted—”
“About three hours and then you took off at the very first misunderstanding. Here I had broken up with Vincent without any idea whether you had marriage in mind and then I agreed to marry you without any guarantees.” She turned her head away. “So, no, thanks. Not gonna do the marriage thing.”
She meant it and Dylan felt a coldness invade his stomach. He had to convince her. He had to grovel. “Please. I love you. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. I’m an idiot. I was…scared.”
She tilted her head and regarded him for a moment. Then she wrapped her arms around him, but shook her head.
“It was me. It was all my fault,” he continued. “Am I getting anywhere?”
“Let’s just enjoy what we’ve got while it lasts. You are a good lover.”
When had being told he was a good lover become an insult? “What can I say to convince you? I am sorry I misjudged you. I’ve learned my lesson. I want you in my life.”
The girl from the kitchen the other night was suddenly standing right next to them.
“Sunshine!” Alexis turned to Dylan. “It’s the pre-nup culprit in the flesh.”
“Yeah, and I could get in a lot of trouble for doing this,” she said.
“It’s all right,” Alexis told her. “I know you meant well.”
“I’m not talking about that. I shouldn’t be visible in this crowd. I’m risking a spot at the Picnic for you, so you’d better pay attention. Now, you tell this nice man that you’ll marry him.”
“I beg your pardon!”
“He loves you and you know you love him. You’re just being pigheaded out of pride.”
“You’re right.” She looked directly at Dylan. “I do love him and it hurt like hell when he walked out today. I don’t want to have to go through that again.”
He infused his voice with all the sincerity he possessed. “I’m not going anywhere, Alexis.”
“You will when all the fun and sizzle stops.”
“Honey, you two were sizzling this morning and that sizzle has lasted for years. It ain’t going anywhere, either.”
While Dylan appreciated Sunshine’s help, the staff at this hotel certainly took their romantic honey-mooner reputation seriously. “Thanks, but I can handle my own proposal.”
“You’ve been doing a piss-poor job. Offer her that marriage agreement thing.”
Not a bad idea. “Alexis, I—”
“Don’t. I’m not holding out for a pre-nup. But if I was, it would say one thing—that you agree that I come first in your life. I want real commitment. Years ago, you had obligations and I can accept that. But if you want me to marry you now, you have to tell me that I’ll be your number-one priority. You’ll be committed to me.”
It was exactly what he wanted. “Absolutely. Draw up the papers and I’ll sign.” He couldn’t say the words fast enough.
“I might just do that.” She smiled.
It was the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. There was yes in that smile. He didn’t need to hear it. He smiled back.
“Wait,” Sunshine said. “I still think you ought to ask for a nanny. Kids can be a real handful. I had seven younger brothers and sisters.”
They both stared at her.
“Oh.” She looked from one to the other. “You’re going to marry him, aren’t you?”
Alexis nodded.
“That’s great!” She beamed a huge smile, huge even for her. “I’ll just…this is so great!” And she disappeared into the crowd.
Alexis laughed. “I guess we’d better get to the microphone and tell everybody that this has turned into an engagement party.”
“We’re not going to need a microphone.” Dylan pulled her close and kissed her. It was an attention-getting kiss and Dylan highly recommended it as a way to announce an engagement.
WHILE ALEXIS AND DYLAN PLANNED their life together, a happy Sunshine was summoned before the Judge, Miss Arlotta and the council.
They were smiling—all of them. Even Flo.
“Well done,” Miss Arlotta congratulated her. “With an extra gold star. You have your ten notches by unanimous vote of the council. But that means we’re going to have to say goodbye.”
Sunshine trembled with hope. “The Picnic?”
Miss Arlotta nodded.
“Really? Oh, I—” She stopped. Even though she could almost feel that grass between her toes, she looked at the others. “On the roof…the others helped me and, well, I can’t go if they have black marks because of it.”
Miss Arlotta looked down at her hands. “I’m not certain how much help they actually were.” She leveled stern looks at Mimi and the Countess. “But there have been no black marks issued because of it.”
Sunshine beamed. “Then that’s it? I can go?”
As she spoke, a bright light shone in the ceiling and a golden ladder descended. “Oh! I see Belle! Save me a seat, Belle, I’ll be right there!” As Sunshine stepped on the bottom rung of the ladder, she waved to the women who’d been with her for so long. “Goodbye, everybody. I’ll miss you!”
There was an answering chorus of goodbyes that faded away.
The light was so bright Sunshine had to close her eyes. And when she opened them, grass was tickling her toes.
Special thanks to the New Braunfels group:
Christina Dodd, Connie Brockway, Susie Kay Law, Geralyn Dawson, Susan Sizemore and our most excellent cook Bobbie Morganroth.
We should do that again sometime, too.
ISBN: 978-1-4603-7226-5
CAN’T BUY ME LOVE
Copyright © 2004 by Heather W. MacAllister.
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to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Can't Buy Me Love Page 17
