Buster whistled as he saw me causing my cheeks to flush.
“Ian will be the envy of the evening, lass. You take a man’s breath away.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his admiration. “You look quite dashing yourself, Buster. Is that suit custom made for you?”
“You know it, lassie.” He flexed, causing the suit jacket to bulge alarmingly. “Can’t fit these guns in an off the rack jacket.” I nodded, fighting back my grin as he admired his ‘guns.’
“So, true.”
“You ready then? I know they’re impatient to see you. Been texting me for the past half hour. I kept telling them it takes time to get ready, especially when they sprung it on you.”
“I’m ready. Where are we going?”
“Can’t tell you that. It’s a surprise.”
“Of course it is. Tell me, Buster, is it going to be like this every year?”
“Afraid so, lass, afraid so. There’s no persuading Michael when it comes to birthdays. He’ll have his fun, mark my words, and we’re just along for the ride.”
I eyed him suspiciously but he was dead serious and what he said matched what Ian had told me. It was difficult to believe Michael took a child’s delight in birthdays, but I’d seen it for myself. He just had the money to literally make dreams come true.
“Then let’s get this show on the road.”
Of course, we couldn’t travel in the car. No, we had to have a white stretch limo. I slid inside and this time Buster joined me. I glanced at him in surprise and he smiled.
“No driving for me tonight. I’m your escort until we get to Ian. After that, I’ve been told to make myself scarce.”
I laughed picturing the conversation and having no doubt Ian had told him exactly that. I settled back against the leather seat and enjoyed the sights as we glided through the streets. We pulled up in front of an innocuous enough building. In fact, there was no one around and no lights. The building appeared empty, but Buster slid out and held the door for me so I clambered out in my layers of tulle. He gave me his arm and led me inside, the click of my heels echoed down the hall and I had no idea where we were.
Buster stopped in front of a set of double doors and turned to me.
“Ready, lass?”
I nodded uncertainly and he winked as he hammered on the door. I gasped as the doors opened and felt Buster step back. There were a couple dozen people gathered around, all wearing formal attire, but it was Ian who took my breath away. He stood there with his hand outstretched looking debonair in his full tuxedo. Michael stood slightly behind him, dressed similarly, but truthfully I only had eyes for Ian as the band started to play.
“I believe this is my dance, love.”
I nodded and took the hand he offered me. He spun me gently to the center of the room and the world whirled as we waltzed. The stars above me twirled as we made sweeping circles around the room and I gasped, “How?”
I figured out we were in a planetarium, the night sky above us studded with stars you normally couldn’t see in the city. Ian laughed at my awe, but finally took pity on me.
“It’s Michael’s way. He wanted it to be special for you so he rented out the planetarium, hired a band, and invited a few people.”
“You say that so casually,” I answered, still in complete awe at the amount of planning that had went into this evening. Truthfully, it was magical. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“Until next year.” Ian replied with a wink before twirling me once more. “I’m just grateful I finally get to dance with you. It seems I’ve waited my entire life for the opportunity.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing we have a lifetime to enjoy it.” I told him breathlessly as the song came to an end.
“A lifetime.” He brushed his lips against my cheek. “I like the sound of that.” His lips grazed my jaw and finally skimmed my own. Our hands tangled together as our lips clung to one another, and I marveled at the idea of a lifetime with him.
Epilogue
Ten months later
“There’s still time,” I said anxiously, bouncing on my heels as I watched the people coming and going.
“No.” He replied, impatience in his voice.
“Michael,” I wheedled, giving him a pleading look. “You can hire a wife and kids for the few days my parents will be here. They won’t know the difference.”
He rolled his eyes at me as Ian rubbed my arms comfortingly. “It’ll be fine, love. They’ll understand.”
“Of course they will. It went over so well when Michael introduced you to them.” I shuddered at the memory of that video chat. It had come months after telling them I’d be going to school in New Orleans. My parents had taken that news rather well considering it was completely out of character and last minute. It had helped that Michael had been the one to tell them, and that they thought he had a family I would be working for while I lived in the dorms.
We’d finally introduced Ian to them two months ago, and it had went as expected. Michael had told them his brother was going to be attending Tulane and staying with him. My father had taken one look at Ian and told me to stay as far away from him as I could.
“I think they’re warming up to me.” Ian said confidently and Buster raised his eyebrows while Michael only tilted his head. I groaned. They were not warming up to him. I played with the ring on my finger and started to slide it off.
“Maybe we should wait to tell them.” I said brightly and Ian wrapped his fingers around mine, stopping me.
“No.” His reply was forceful as he stroked my cheek. “Where’s my little warrior? Hmm?”
“But Ian….it’s too much. The house, the living with you, Michael’s nonexistent wife and kids, and this.” I wiggled my left hand in front of his face, watching the diamond sparkle in the sun before he captured my hand.
“They’ll love me. Just like they love Michael. They’ll forgive our small omissions.”
“Small?” I sputtered, closing my eyes against the power of his charming grin and the dimples that could persuade me to go skinny dipping at midnight along with saying yes to his proposal. “You’re a father’s worst nightmare, Ian.”
My eyes snapped open in time to catch his offended glare and I reached up to cup his cheeks.
“It’s a compliment because you’re every girl’s dream guy. But let’s be honest. You exude a certain bad boy vibe that any father in his right mind would want his daughter to avoid. You’re a charming rogue, Ian Wright, and I couldn’t love you more. But my parents….well let’s say you’re not what they pictured for me.”
“You mean I’m not Michael.” He said dryly as we glanced over at the man in question.
“You only wish.” He drawled, glancing down at his watch. “Their flight is late. I knew we should have had hired a private jet.”
I sighed, dropping my head on to Ian’s chest.
“It might have impressed them, love. Make them a little more willing to overlook the tiny misconceptions we may have caused them to form.”
I groaned again, something I’d seemed to do frequently the last couple of weeks since I’d found out my parents had decided to come straight to New Orleans after their yearlong mission trip to Africa.
Michael and Ian seemed to think everything would be just fine, but I’d attended enough of my father’s sermons to know this was going to be an incredibly long few days. The lies combined with the omissions promised several uncomfortable conversations with my parents. Plus the fact that their daughter was engaged. I shuddered at the thought of their reaction.
“Ah, here they come.” Michael’s words had me spinning around and I gripped Ian’s hand tightly. Buster held a sign above his head with my parent’s name and as I stood on my tiptoes I could just see the tops of their heads moving toward us.
“Oh dear God.” I moaned, biting my nail. Michael and Ian exchanged a glance above my head, but I couldn’t focus on anything but the sight of my mother breaking through the crowd.
“Mom!”
We seized each other in a tight hug and all of my worries melted away as her familiar scent filled my nose. Tears slipped down my face as a year’s worth of missing her overwhelmed me. I immediately blubbered to her, “I’m getting married.” She grabbed my hand to see the ring and then kissed my cheeks.
“It’s that Ian boy, isn’t it? I told your father the second I saw him, he’d be the one you married. I saw the way your face softened when you looked at him.” I stared at her in shock and she laughed at me. “It may take you by surprise but I was young once.” She leaned toward me and whispered, “And your father was a bit of a rascal himself, back in the day.”
Dad stood next to us awkwardly and I reached over to give him a one armed hug. He patted my back, frowning ferociously at Ian over my shoulder. Mom poked him in the stomach and his mouth twitched before forming the fakest smile I’d ever seen.
“Nice to meet you.” He said, holding out his hand.
“And you, sir.” Ian responded politely, his use of sir thawing my father slightly.
“Now, Jane. Tell us all about your year.” Mom chirped next to me. “We want to know everything! And when do we get to meet the rest of the family? The kids you’ve been watching?”
I clamped my lips together as I exchanged awkward glances with the guys.
“Well….” I began before being interrupted by Ian.
“Now, that is quite the tale.”
“One best discussed over dinner.” Michael broke in with a charming smile as he gestured to the limousine.
“Oh my!” My mother gushed as I let out a relieved sigh. Crisis averted, for the moment.
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~Other books by Kristin Coley~
The Anderson Brothers Series:
Finding Ford
Chasing Colt
Loving Livie
The Hidden Series:
Hidden Truths
Hidden Lies
The Trinity Trilogy:
Unbound
Found
Unite – Spring 2017
Average Jane Page 25
