by Meredith, MK
The sun was slowly exiting the day beyond the trees west of Cape Van Buren, leaving a warm, hazy, golden glow upon the lawn. Globe lights were strung back and forth across the west lawn of the cape from gas-lit torch to gas-lit torch.
Large potted plants flanked the corners of the space, and tall bistro-style tables created islands of opportunity to eat delicious foods, partake in exotic drinks, and enjoy the best company that Cape Van Buren had to offer.
Jamie’s big, strong arm encircled the waist of her lustrous metal satin Zac Posen gown. The off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline was supported by sculptural pleating at the bodice with a mermaid silhouette, and flanked on each side by banded short sleeves, leaving the pale skin of her shoulders open to receive the warm kiss of his lips.
His touch made her love leap to life in her chest, and she couldn’t help but turn to him.
“You look stunning.” His voice was deep and thick with emotion. “I don’t know how to explain it, but everything with you is different from with anyone else. Life…” He trailed a finger along her collarbone. “Each breath, each moment…”
She captured his wandering fingers and pressed them to her lips for a kiss. “I feel it, too.” Letting herself get lost in his intense gray eyes, she sighed. “Believe me. I tried to find someone to replace you, but with every encounter, I faced a lonelier future. There was never meant to be anyone else but you, Jamie.”
His jaws flexed as he listened to her words and his free hand drew her toward him.
She grabbed the silver train of her dress and swung it around to accommodate the need to be closer.
“I love you, Blayne.”
She closed her eyes. Could there be a more perfect moment than this? Breathing in the sweet scent of the cape and the salty ocean breeze, her lips trembled. Though she’d always considered her heart her weakest muscle, she finally had the strength to ask for what she wanted. On a swallow, she quietly admitted, “I love you, too, Jamie.”
Jamie’s eyes flared wide. “Bean—”
A quick slap and shake of Jamie’s arm had him stepping from the warm cocoon he and Blayne had made.
Ryker stood grinning from ear-to-ear, and it was as startling to see now as ever. “You two did it. I mean, damn. I knew you would, working together, but this…” He arced his hand out toward the yard. “This is more than I’d ever imagined, and I think exactly what my gorgeous wife was hoping for.”
Larkin joined them on the porch, taking the steps one at a time while holding the full skirt of her lime green halter dress. The color brought out the bright green of her eyes, making them sparkle so bright the setting sun had competition.
Her breath came out in little pants by the time she reached the top step, and she rested her hand on the swell of her belly. “It’s more than anything…” Emotion left her eyes bright and her words stuttering.
Blayne abandoned Jamie’s side to embrace her friend in a hug. “It’s all for you and Archer. He’ll live through this center forever, Larkin, making each and every life in Cape Van Buren better.”
“Shit.” Ryker scowled with concern.
There was the man they all recognized and loved. Blayne grinned as Ryker grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket.
“I knew with the two of you, I’d need this.” Carefully, he blotted the cloth to the corner of his wife’s eye.
Larkin laughed and grabbed his hands in her own. “Just look at it, Ryker.”
The four of them watched as the town of Cape Van Buren joined them in all their decadent, sparkling glory for the gala.
Along the edge of the property, by the entrance, a lone figure stood almost invisible in the shadows.
Jamie swore under his breath. “Is that—”
“Don’t give him a second thought. Sheriff Davenport is watching from the lighthouse. There won’t be any problems. My father isn’t stupid enough to try anything with the whole town as a witness. He prefers small groups, so he has some semblance of deniability,” Ryker said.
Larkin patted his arm. “Not a second thought.” Then she leaned up and placed a kiss on her husband’s cheek.
Blayne’s admiration for Ryker increased at how easily he dismissed his abusive father. That had been a long struggle for hard-fought success.
They still had a few minutes from the official start time when the first chords of a silky jazz song filled the air.
She leaned close to Jamie. “The band your mom hooked us up with is amazing. I was able to listen to them live at an event at Delizioso a few days ago.”
“I’m glad.” He smiled. “Speaking of my mother.” He nodded toward the lawn. Mr. and Mrs. Astor emerged from a limo in their finest, and their look of pride wouldn’t go unmissed by anyone in attendance. Their son played a large part in the splendor and it was written all over their faces.
Blayne shook off a twinge of loneliness. Her da had never witnessed what she was capable of, and her ma’s ethereal view was sweet but out of reach.
“Come on.” He grabbed her fingers and led her down the stairs with Larkin and Ryker close behind.
Larkin slowed as they closed in on the well. “What’s going on?” She pointed to the tarp over Archer’s wishing well. “Take that tarp off, Ryker. No one is going to damage the new well, it’s a sophisticated party, not a college brawl…or construction site.” She made her words at the end very gentle and added a wink.
Ryker winced all the same.
“This is what we wanted to show the both of you.” Jamie’s eyes danced, and Blayne could barely handle how adorable her big, muscly man seemed in that moment.
“What did you do?” she asked, smoothing her hair, a line of dark vintage waves, along one side of her face.
He patted Ryker on the back. “Do you remember that idea I’d mentioned to you?”
She racked her brain. “Jamie, over the past few weeks, you and I have discussed a lot of things.”
Larkin laughed. “Look, the gala is beginning and I’m due any second. We don’t have time for guessing games.”
“You heard the woman.” Ryker grabbed a corner of the tarp.
Curiosity tugged Blayne closer as the men pulled the tarp off the well.
Larkin gasped.
Blayne’s hands came together over her chest as if trying to hold in the swelling of love that she felt for Jamie in that moment. Now she remembered.
Archer’s Angels.
“What’s this?” Larkin whispered as she stepped up to the well.
Blayne had so many memories of visiting the Cape with Archer and Larkin. He’d loved the well and dropped pennies over. But he had a rule. No wish could be made until it reached the bottom. She’d never seen a five-year-old boy as patient as he’d been, his blond hair ruffled by the wind and that huge grin with the dimple in his chin, just like his mom’s.
Ryker stepped behind Larkin then wrapped his arms around her waist as well as he could.
“Well, as Blayne and I were navigating our way through the policies and procedures and board responsibilities, it occurred to me that time and again you’ve mentioned wanting to make sure that kids had a voice on the Cape,” Jamie said.
Larkin’s nod was slow but steady.
Blayne couldn’t help the feeling of pride she had for Jamie and joined him at the well so she could better see Larkin’s expression.
“I thought that it only made sense to have a secondary set of board members made up Cape Van Buren kids called Archer’s Angels.”
A sob broke from Larkin’s lips and her fingers flew up to press against them. Ryker retrieved his handkerchief again, which she snatched quickly and without moving her eyes off the new stone sign that stood next to the well.
“Archer’s Angels will keep us honest when it comes to the vision and priority of the center. Kids first, the residents first, not bottom lines or profit margins. Though we want this to thrive and need money to make that happen, that is my responsibility.” His warm fingers wrapped around Blayne’s wrist, drawing her closer.
“Our responsibility.”
Tears of love and regret welled in her eyes as well, in empathy with Larkin but also from a deep-rooted sense of well-being she hadn’t felt since stepping onto U.S. soil ten years ago with Jamie. Well-being she had to walk away from.
“The kids will have an advisor, but there are rules put in place to make sure the children’s voices and needs are not only heard, but listened to when it comes to our programs, events, and opportunities.”
Jamie sucked in air as if he’d forgotten to breathe, then let it all out in a long huff.
Music drifted around them, accompanied by the din of happy conversation and the breaking waves of the ocean against the rocks surrounding the cape.
Blayne swore a delighted echo of laughter floated above the trees as they stood, waiting for Larkin to speak.
Her friend’s eyes widened, and she lifted her face toward the sound. Whether it was their imagination, their joy, or possibly their hope, Blayne would never know, but she’d never deny the moment as long as she lived.
“Are you okay?” Ryker asked.
Larkin gripped the hands around her and smiled at Jamie. “Never better. There are no words, Jay…”
She stepped away from Ryker and wrapped her arms around Jamie. Holding him, she dabbed at her tears before they ran down her cheeks. Jamie patted her, looking toward Blayne for help.
She smiled at him and mouthed the words. “Hold her.”
Jamie wrapped his arms around her pregnant form and let her take the time she needed.
Larkin went on to express her heartfelt thanks, then the night rolled on in a waterfall of well-wishes, volunteer and financial commitments, and promises to help make the vision of the center a reality.
Blayne and Jamie presented both the official board and Archer’s Angels to the town. They presented the donor program and announced the first official gift by none other than the Astor family.
The food was spectacular, the music perfection, and Maxine’s moonshine found its way into more than one glass.
Blayne and Larkin watched as Judge Carter stared after Maxine with the forlorn look of lost love. Blayne understood the feeling, and her heart went out to the man. “Just look at him.”
Larkin sighed. “I know. I feel awful. I tried talking to Maxine but she’s being as stubborn as ever and even threatened to leave me out of her moonshine will.”
“Her what?” Blayne laughed.
“You heard me. I dropped it. Going without over the last nine months was hard enough. I wasn’t risking it.”
“She’d never.”
Larkin raised a brow. “Are you going to test it?”
Blayne pretended to study her manicure. “Hell, no.”
“Exactly, but I know she’s hurting.”
“Yep.” Blayne waved to where Maxine, Evette, and Janice were doing the Charleston. Maxine was laughing as she tapped forward, then tapped back, her hands swinging side to side with the move, but there was tension in her eyes, and her voice was a bit too bright.
“She’s miserable. And unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong.”
Larkin shrugged. “Try telling her that and risk your future of any moonshine enjoyment.”
“What are we going to do?”
Suddenly, Blayne was swept onto the dance floor by Jamie.
“Not so fast, I can only move my legs so much in the narrow skirt of this dress!” But she laughed, unable to stop or catch her breath.
Jamie broke out into one of the best versions of the Charleston she’d ever seen. She’d never known such a big man could move so fast.
And, man, did she like what she saw. The lazy lub-dub of her heart sped up as she took in the breadth of his shoulders encased in a tuxedo jacket that looked as if it had been made for him.
On second thought, it probably had been.
Her mouth watered at the sight of his chest muscles flexing under his crisp white shirt and his thighs bulging in the most delicious fashion every time he stepped forward. If she didn’t get a few minutes alone with the man, she was going to spontaneously combust.
Grabbing his hand, she tugged him from the floor. Besides, she had to talk to him and figure out what they were going to do before she went mad.
“Wait, where are we going?”
She tossed him a wink. “You’ve hung out with Ryker long enough to pick up a few tricks. I want you to show me how to extract a little honey.”
The look in his eyes went from heavy with desire to delight with such speed she would have dropped his tux pants right then and there if it weren’t actually against the law. She didn’t need anything else getting in the way of her future.
They burst through the front doors of the house as quickly as her skirt and train would allow her to go, past the kitchen, and down the hall until they found the honey room.
Once inside, she slammed the door shut then locked it.
The click sounded loud in the quiet of the room.
They could hear the crowd outside. The music, the joy.
This was her town, after all.
“What are we doing in here?”
“I told you. I want you to extract some honey.”
He stared at the large stainless pots in bewilderment. “Seriously, I have no idea—”
“Jamie, we need to talk.” Her voice was low, but the tone caught his attention.
She ran the tip of her finger along the upper swell of her breast at the neckline of her dress. “And I want you to extract my honey.”
“Well, fucking hell,” he growled, reaching for her. “I might have to be told twice, but I only have to hear it once.”
“Wait, I—”
His lips found hers in a kiss that was as sweet as it was hot. All thoughts of conversation flew from her head as she promised herself that one day she’d get him in one of the bee suits just so she could take it off him again.
The subtle scent of honey in the air and the soft jazz filling the room from outside was the most delicious backdrop to her guaranteed happy ending that she could have ever imagined.
* * *
Jamie turned Blayne around and unzipped her gown to discover she was completely naked underneath. With an urgency that was foreign to him, he didn’t waste any time helping her step out of it and into his arms. The thing was an amazing contraption that somehow stood on its own as if it had an audience.
He didn’t give a fuck if they had a stadium. He was about to give the best performance of his life, and if anyone even thought of interrupting, he’d kill ‘em, then spend the rest of his life in jail warm with the memory of Blayne’s heat, the scent of her sweet, ocean breeze skin, and the unique flavor of her mouth that he craved like an addiction.
She spun on him in a frenzy, launching into his arms and making him land hard against the countertop. His arm flung out, sending a pot crashing to the ground, but the commotion only seemed to excite her more.
A desperation seemed to push her along as if they didn’t have the rest of their lives to love one another. There was nothing he’d rather do than answer every kiss, every bite, every tug with equal fervor. Cradling her face, he took command of her mouth, tasting, sipping, drinking her in as if he’d never have the chance again.
She shoved his jacket from his shoulders then yanked his shirt from his pants. She had his fly open and the hard length of him in her hands before he could fully register the direction of her efforts.
“Blayne. Fuck.”
She squeezed him, stroking from the tip to the base, and his sight went white. There was no slowing the woman down when she got her mind set on something, and he’d learned a long time ago not to try. Besides, any ride with Blayne was a ride he wanted to be on. No matter how fast or slow.
He slid his fingertips along her body, taking in every familiar curve and dip, knowing every sigh and every breath hitch before she gave it. He knew this woman.
Knew her body, her heart, her mind, and her soul.
He was beyond proud of what she’d
accomplished and that he was able to be a part of it.
His chest swelled with the love that had never died, had never wavered, and he yanked her up against him.
She had to let him go and catch herself at his shoulders, wrapping her arms around him.
“Stay,” he said.
As her heated gaze held his in question, a few wisps of black hair fluttered around her face. She whispered, “If only I could.”
She was the most beautiful woman in every way, and he didn’t think he could ever feel more passionately for her than in that moment.
“I’ll always be here for you, Bean. Never leave you again.” His breathing labored. “You’re amazing.” His statement was half-growl, half-moan, as she rubbed her breasts against his chest. Trying to focus, he gave a small shake to his head. “I’m serious. Your mom, your dad would be so proud of you.”
She stilled, her eyes glistening with the threat of tears.
Setting her to her feet, he cupped her face again. “I didn’t mean to upset you, I—”
“I love you,” she whispered. “I always have. Remember that. Okay?”
His mind, heart, and soul tripped once more. Wondering if he’d misheard her, he just stared like he had on the front steps, afraid she was simply caught up in the excitement of the gala.
He’d hoped, but he’d never let himself truly imagine that she’d ever forgive him for his royal fuck up. And even now, having heard her words again, the fear that he was wrong, that he’d mistaken her meaning, kept him silent.
Finally, he found his tongue. His voice, hoarse with emotion, dragged past his lips and he demanded, “Say it again.”
Her berry-painted lips spread into a grin but trembled with something else.
“I love you.” She kissed his forehead. “I love you.” She kissed each brow. “But—”
“I love you, too,” he cut her off.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she used his shoulders to lift her body until she was poised to take him inside her. “Don’t ever forget,” she whispered, worry clouding her eyes with something he couldn’t understand.
His body on fire and his love burning brighter than ever before, he gave a fierce shake of his head, then rested his forehead against hers. “Never.”
