I step in front of the head to toe dressing mirror, admiring the white gown. It exposes my shoulders and arms to the tropical sun, the bodice hugging my waist and hips while the train flows about my legs. I run my fingers over the beads and lace that trail down my stomach and around my sides. It’s a formal dress for a beach wedding, but we’re only doing this once, so we’re pulling out all the stops.
“You’re going to have to share some of those cabana boys,” Callie says.
Cora slaps her on the arm. “Hey! What would Don say?”
“He would tell me look, but don’t touch. Which is exactly what I plan to do — I was thinking of Zoey sharing those beach hunks with you. I’m getting worried about ya — thinking you might up and join a nunnery any day now.” Callie’s smirk is prominent as she adjusts the cups of her bra and smooths her hands down the front of her dress.
Her sister rolls her eyes with a snort and turns to me. “Emma, I’m glad you’re not one of those brides who insists on gaudy dresses for the bridesmaids. These are actually really pretty.” She twists her hips, swishing the fabric of her yellow sundress from one side to the other, accentuating its graceful lines.
“And the bridal party gifts, too,” Zoey says, her hand falling to her collarbone, where a pearl necklace adorns her neck. Delicate silver and pearl earrings dangle from her ears, completing the look.
“Yes, they’re gorgeous,” Cora agrees, admiring her matching set. “But I still love yours the most.” She reaches to my head and traces a finger down the finely wrought silver earring, studded with four gemstones and a sparkling emerald band encircling a diamond.
“Daniel’s commitment gift,” I tell her. “They’ve each presented me with one, and I haven’t worn them until today. Do you see the band, here?” I inspect the earring in the mirror, pointing out the brilliant green stones wrapped around the diamond. “It’s emerald, Daniel’s birthstone. He has a thing for earrings. I already have about twenty pairs from him. But these—” I finger the earrings, which match my commitment ring perfectly “—these will always be my favorite.”
“And this one?” Callie asks, pointing to the necklace resting at my breast bone. “Wait. I see it — a blue band. What’s blue?”
“Sapphire. September, for Trigg. Said he wants to be near my heart at all times.”
“Aww, he’s such a sweetie,” Callie says with a grin.
Zoey brushes over my right wrist then gestures to my left. “Let me guess. Matching bracelets for matching men.”
I hold both my hands out, displaying the thin silver bands lined with precious stones. “Orange Topaz for the twins, yes.”
They don’t ask about the symbolism of the bracelets, for which I’m glad. What they don’t know is that the silver bands can be locked together, handcuffing my wrists. Jax and Jude thought it was quite clever, and I have to admit, just having the bracelets on is giving me a little secret smile that I’m trying my best to hide from the girls.
Cora steps back to inspect me. “What about Gunner? I don’t see any more jewelry.”
My cheeks heat. Oh well, so much for trying to hide my secrets. Even on our wedding day, with me far from an innocent maiden, Gunner’s gift can still bring the rush of a blush to my face. How to explain this one?
“Well, um, Gunner’s jewelry is… let’s just say it’s something only the guys will be seeing.”
Callie and Cora stare blankly, but Zoey’s eyes narrow in on me sharply. “Oh my fucking God. You have a clit piercing?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No, not a piercing. It is a lovely piece of jewelry though, made by a French artist.”
Cora lowers her chin, trying to understand. “Jewelry, for your lady bits? But not a piercing?”
Her sister looks at me curiously. “Does it… you know, provide, um, enjoyment?”
I draw in a breath and try to hide that smile again, but it forces its way to the corners of my mouth. “Well, Gunner worked closely with the artist to have it custom-designed and so—”
Zoey interrupts me, laughing. “That means yes, ladies.”
22
Jax
The cool balminess of the tropical dawn makes the snug fit of my tuxedo bearable. The water laps at my bare feet, and I check the horizon once again. Standing at the shoreline, there is nothing but dark ocean in the distance, masked in shades of grey until the sun comes up, when it’s pale turquoise beauty will be revealed. Where the water meets the sky, shades of deep violet are sketching their way across the landscape. It’s the blue hour, when the sky awakens, lightening by a degree each minute that ticks by.
I close my eyes, making sure I can draw every detail in my memory. This is a picture worthy of canvas. I open again, and the beginning of a deep red has appeared below the violet. Our time is drawing near. We had originally spoken of a romantic sunset wedding, but the symbolism of marrying our girl at the dawn of a new day was an opportunity I could not resist.
The four-piece band further up the beach strikes a slow melody, the cue for Emma and her bridal party to prepare themselves. My eyes move directly for the flaps of the white linen tent, not wanting to miss one second of this day.
Jude leans into me, nudging with an elbow. “It’ll be a few minutes still. Relax.”
I give him that look, and he knows how fruitless his advice will be. We all traveled down here together, but Emma was immediately whisked away by her friends as soon as she stepped off the boat, and we’ve barely seen her since, except for lunch and dinner. The anticipation of today has been wearing at us all. I believe Jude slept just as little as I did last night.
To buy some time, I settle my nerves by making eye contact with Mom. She’s been much more solid through this than I could have imagined. After the initial shock of Jude and I committing to the same woman — and then the extended shock of Trigg, Gunner, and Daniel also taking her hand with us — Mom has been surprisingly open-minded.
Emma meeting all our parents at once like this — I can’t even fathom how she’s doing it. All but Trigg, that is, his parents having passed years ago, but Gunner’s mom has made up for it. Trigg has been adopted into her brood. She treats that man like blood; I can see where Gunner gets it. She also was the first to hurtle directly to the conversation about kids. We still haven’t figured that one out, and we tried to politely side-step the topic, but she avowed she’d have no doubt which one was Gunner’s. I’m pretty sure with those genes, we’d all know.
Daniel’s mom took to Emma immediately, and they’ve been a couple of peas in a pod. Jude was the one who broke the commitment ceremony plans to Dad, and he was the hardest to win over. If we ever doubted where we get our bull-headed attitude, that put it to rest. But he’s had a couple months to come around to Mom’s way of thinking, and he’s getting there.
As are our friends. There’s a surprising number of them here, given both the distance and the unorthodox ceremony. Agent Roth has brought his girl, who he intends to propose to while staying at the resort this week. Agent Theo Burlowski is also in attendance, arm incapacitated in a sling as he heals from the third round of surgery to recover from the damage he took during the BHC raid.
Desmond stands half a head taller than most of the guests — except Gunner’s mom — but the guy is sporting an all-knowing grin that says he saw this moment coming for some time. The guy doesn’t miss a thing. He told us over drinks last night that he knew from the first moment Emma walked in the room to meet the security team we’d hired. He saw the way we all looked at her.
All of our secretaries as well as each of the Pentabyte department heads and their families are here. They sure as hell deserve a long, relaxing getaway after being so faithful through the last few months. And they also deserve to know what is going on between Emma and the men of Pentabyte. We’re a growing company, but we’re also a family of sorts. They’ve been fantastic in so many ways.
Jude lifts his eyes to the horizon, and I turn my attention back there as well. The deep red and violets of mome
nts before are being chased away by brilliant oranges and shades of pink. The five of us stand silently and watch the sky bloom into an amazing kaleidoscope of colors, and the shallow water beside us begins to sparkle as the first rays of light peek over the horizon.
Gunner is an emotional wreck this morning. I’d tried to get a bet going on who would be the one to cry during the ceremony, but no one took such an obvious gamble. Trigg stands beside him, and Jude and he share a moment of silent nodding, eyes locked. Daniel’s attention is where mine should be — the tent housing our bride.
I chance one more glance at the sky, just in time to catch the first shade of yellow pop from the horizon, along with the rim of the sun. The band flows from its soft melody into the stirring strain of the wedding march, the increasing volume gathering everyone’s attention. Jude taps my arm, and we position ourselves at the head of our group, attention forward.
Callie, Cora, and Zoey emerge, bright with wide smiles and brilliant bouquets of tropical flowers that match the colors streaking through the sky. The flap of the white tent opens once more as Emma’s dad escorts his daughter out.
The dawning day chases away the last vestiges of darkness as he leads her toward us. Emma’s eyes are on the sand as she appears, and she looks just as nervous as I. But then she lifts her chin. Her gaze flows to us, and as beautiful as both the sunrise and that stunning dress are, Emma outshines them both.
The tension visibly melts from her body as her eyes land on us, and she beams the most gorgeous smile at us, her breasts heaving with a deep breath of elation. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so hasty on calling for a bet on who cries first, because tears rise to my eyes as she steps toward us.
Emma’s hand is wrapped around her father’s arm as he leads her, and the man has that look on his face. He’s giving away his baby girl, and he’s unsure of her future. I wish I’d had more time with him, to convince him that I will work my entire life to secure her happiness. He has no idea the lengths I will go to for her — to protect her, to please her, to ensure her life is filled with joy. She’s my light, and I will treasure her with everything I have.
They come to a stop in front of us, and Emma’s father scans Gunner, Trigg, and Daniel behind us, then his eyes move to Jude and I. I’m not the only one with tears in my eyes.
Her father’s lips are moving, and just as my nerves are about to boil over, I realize he is working to suppress a smile. His voice is gruff with the tone of a man convinced he can hold back his rising emotion. “Always knew she was going to be a handful, but didn’t realize it’d take five of you.”
Jude laughs with him, but I don’t trust my voice not to crack, so I let my brother do the talking. “That she is, sir. You’ve raised an amazing woman.”
That did it. Emma’s father clears his throat and averts his eyes for a few seconds before returning to Jude. He takes a moment to look at each of us gravely, the weight of the world in his gaze. “I’m depending on you, each of you. Take care of her.”
Squaring his shoulders, Jude solemnly swears, “Yes, sir. We will.”
My eyes remain on Emma as her father places her left hand in Jude’s palm. Taking her right hand, he holds her hand to me. Emma looks from Jude to me, and that tender smile undoes me. I take her hand in mine, and we turn with her, guiding her to the shore and the three other men waiting for her.
The orb of the sun is above the water now, stunning reds and yellows painting the clouds above. Emma squeezes my fingers as she takes in the sky. “See, it’s the colors of the painting and your tattoos. Redemption. You’ve known all along. The darkness just had to be driven away.”
I swallow and draw in a breath, fighting to keep my voice from breaking as I finally tell her the words that ran through my heart that very first night I spent with her, all those months ago. “These guys are my rock. But you are the light in my life Emma.”
Emma's smile is soft and lovely as we settle in place before the guys. Jude and I hold out our united hands, and each of them move to join us, interlacing their hands with ours. The minister begins the ceremony, but I’m so consumed with her beauty, so overwhelmed with the emotions rising within me, at that I barely catch a word.
23
Gunner
Great thing about an early morning wedding is we’ve had all day to celebrate. It’s been a continuous party.
Emma stripped out of that gorgeous wedding dress, and all us guys shed our tuxes hours ago in favor of bathing suits and linens. Our secretaries and department heads have had their children and spouses out snorkeling and waterskiing or tubing all day. It’s made for a lot of crashed-out kids as dinner winds down and everyone takes their turn excusing themselves back to their suites and bungalows.
It’s been a damn full day for all the adults as well. Jetskiing, beach volleyball, tackle football in waist-high water, all capped off by dancing in the soft, warm sand as the pig roast was served. As we ate, even I was starting to feel the exertions of the day, but now that the dining tent is emptying out and we’re being left alone with Emma, my energy levels are spiking once again.
Not just because of the evening ahead of us, but also because I’m terrible at hiding secrets. Especially one as big as this. The guys are amazed I’ve managed to keep quiet about it as long as I have, and to be honest, so am I.
I wrap my arm around the back of Emma’s chair, loving how she immediately melts into the crook of my arm. “Now that we have you all to ourselves, what do you say about getting back in the water? No one can see this cove from any of the cabins.”
Emma gives me a not so coy smile, her eyes drifting from my bare chest to my face. “Why, Gunner, what on earth could you possibly have in mind?”
I shrug. “Just saying, that bikini’s pretty hot, but I like your birthday suit more.”
Daniel shakes his head and gives me an exasperated look. Yeah, okay, he’s right. If it were up to me, we’d be getting busy right here in the open-air dining tent, surprise be damned — it isn’t going anywhere.
“We have something we’d like to show you, love,” Daniel tells Emma.
“You guys,” she says, her tone one of gleeful disbelief. “This has already been beyond amazing. I could just curl up right here and sleep, perfectly happy.”
Trigg extends his hand to her, helping her rise from the chair. “Our wife isn’t sleeping on a table tonight. We have a special bed prepared for you.”
Emma’s eyebrows go up as Trigg leads her outside, with the rest of us right behind them. “Oh?’
Together, the six of us walk up the knoll of the island to the highest point. The sun is setting now, giving us another beautiful show of colors. We take her to the edge of the hill overlooking the water. Little, uninhabited islands and boats of various types and sizes dot the ocean’s surface.
We take in the gorgeous view for a moment, the six of us standing together in a silence that contains too much emotion to fill with words — the fullness of our hearts, the depths of love for our new family, the gratitude for this day, and all our hopes for the future.
After a long while, Daniel hands Emma a pair of binoculars.
“What am I looking at?” she asks.
“You’ll know it when you see it,” Jude tells her.
Emma raises them to her eyes and begins scanning the water. Her gaze trains slowly, passing from island to island, sailboats to fishing charters to houseboats. The guys and I exchange grins, waiting in anticipation. Then she sucks in a gasp of surprise, and we know her eyes have finally landed on the right spot.
Her mouth moves, and I can tell she’s reading the towering letters of the ship’s name on the stern of the gigantic yacht.
“The Foxy Lady,” she whispers.
She pulls the binoculars away from her eyes and squints out at the view then quickly raises them again, as though she’s checking it’s not a mirage. Emma lowers the binoculars again, slowly this time and looks at us, her mouth falling open. “Oh. My. God. Where did that come from?”
&
nbsp; The guys laugh as she narrows her focus on me with an amused smile. “Something tells me you picked out the name.”
“What?” I shrug with a grin. “We all agreed it was the best name for your wedding present.”
She blinks. “My wedding present?”
“Come on,” I say, taking her hand, and we head back down the hill toward the jet skis pulled up on the shore.
“You torched Jeremy’s,” I explain as we go. “So, we figured you needed one of your own. One big enough to fit your new family.”
She pulls on my hand, her momentum making her collide with my chest. Emma’s arms trail up my arms until her fingers are in my hair, tilting my head down for a kiss. “I love it,” she beams.
I walk backward with her, holding her tight. “Good, because that boat’s gonna be rockin’ tonight.”
She swats at my chest, but her smile lets me know she’s down with that plan. “It sure is big enough to handle it. Which of you is going to man the controls?”
“Don’t need to,” Daniel says. “The crew is already onboard. Captain, chef, and several other staff. But don’t worry, they know to make themselves scarce tonight.”
“Damn right,” I say. “Tonight, we have you all to ourselves. Come on, beat you to it.”
I release Emma and turn, running toward the jet skis. Her laughter calls out behind me, and she quickly gains then overtakes my lumbering pace. All the guys are in on it now — Jude, Jax, Trigg, and Daniel — everyone running down to the water’s edge for the jet skis.
I can’t help but slow my pace further, soaking in the sights and sounds. I blink back tears as joy swells in my chest, so intense it takes my breath. The smiles, the laughter, the love we’ve all bathed in all day. These men and my woman, they are my everything.
My family, forever.
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Perfect Design Page 17
