Her wedding dress, which she painstakingly shopped for, was white. Bright white with sparkling glitter from top to bottom. She shimmered like the most prized jewel in the world. It came just above her knees, a little longer than he expected, but fit the picture in front of him. It had no straps, scooping around her shoulders, emphasizing her cleavage in all its beautiful glory. In true Dee fashion, it clung to her body, molding to every delicious curve. He absolutely loved it. Every part.
She stopped right next to him, a devilish smirk shining. “Well?”
“Exquisite.” He linked hands with her, leaning in. “And mine.”
Her wily smirk melted into a tender smile. “You always know the best thing to say.”
A few minutes later, Judge Chance announced them husband and wife. The kiss was short and sweet, because any longer would’ve had him doing inappropriate things in front of their friends and family. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could contain his excitement. She was officially his wife.
Deena Sauer. It sounded perfect to him.
♡
“Brent.” Tilting her head, she let his name roll off her tongue a few more times. “Brent. Brent. Brent.”
“You might want to speak up. Not sure he’ll hear you when he’s in the house and you’re outside.”
Dee looked to her right, keeping eye contact with Sauer’s dad as he took a seat next to her on the back porch swing. Feeling a little claustrophobic, although having a good time, she didn’t hesitate to step outside in the blistering cold for a moment to herself. She just needed a breather from everyone. Clear her mind. Settle her nerves.
“I was just…” How did she explain how she was feeling? She never lost her way with words. Most of the time words came out without her thinking. Offending people as if she intended to when she didn’t. She just spoke with honesty. Here she sat, thinking away for the longest time and words still wouldn’t come.
Bob lifted his gaze to the sky, a gentle smile on his face. “Brent used to come outside at night and just sit under the stars when he was having a frustrating day. He loved to listen to the quiet. He liked the solitude.”
“That sounds like Sauer—Brent.”
Bob looked at her, his eyes assessing, judging almost. She wanted to say it unnerved her, but she couldn’t. There was an underlying tenderness to the look. Fatherly, even.
“What’s troubling you, Deena? Everything went fast. No harm if you think you made a mistake. Brent would understand.”
She still couldn’t get used to hearing his first name. Brent. It just didn’t fit him. He’d always be Sauer to her. Now, she was Deena Sauer. It was just…weird.
“I love him. I didn’t make a mistake.” Maybe he’d come to realize he made the mistake. Maybe he’d see how hard she was to live with. Maybe he’d get annoyed with her within a week. A month. A year. When would they divorce?
“Franny, bless her heart, puts up with my crazy ways. Marriage isn’t easy. Anyone who says different doesn’t have a real marriage. It takes time, understanding, patience. Forgiveness at times.”
It’s as if Bob could hear her thoughts. Answering her with words she needed to hear. Even Sauer’s mother said all the right things this past week. She bonded with her more in one week than she ever did with her own mother. It made her feel guilty as hell.
A strong pair of arms wrapped her in a warm hug. The love she felt almost made her cry. This man, whom she barely knew, understood her pain without her having to tell him. Was this what it felt like to have a father? He just knew your pain without having to ask.
“Welcome to the family, Deena. Franny and I already love you.”
Damn this man. He was going to make her cry. Sucking in a deep breath to keep the tears at bay, she snuggled more into his embrace. It felt like a hug from a father. She loved every second of it.
“You just let us know if you ever need anything. We’ll be here.”
Words still wouldn’t come. Her throat was clogged. If one little word slipped out, she knew the tears would come as well. So she said nothing.
A soft kiss touched her head. Then, as quickly as he appeared, he let her go and walked away. The conversation, if one could call it that, was short and sweet, yet powerful. He managed to make her feel more grounded, accepted. He didn’t say much either. But what he said made all the difference. Like father, like son. Sauer was like his dad in so many ways.
She closed her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek. How did she ever manage to snag a good man like Sauer? Did she even deserve a good man like him? A good family?
Another warm, strong pair of arms circled her, pulling her into his embrace. She inhaled the musky scent of Sauer, wondering if his dad told him where she was. Not that she disappeared completely, because she didn’t. Normally the life of the party, she sat in her own little corner while everyone else had fun. What was wrong with her?
A few more tears escaped as Sauer said nothing, but held her in his arms, softly running a hand up and down her arm. The quietness, the peace surrounding them soothed her more than any words could have done.
“I’m so—forgive me?” She still couldn’t open her eyes.
“For what?”
“I have no idea.” Lifting her head from his chest, she slowly met his gaze that was filled with love and concern. “Everything. I’ve made so many things difficult for you. I’ll probably continue to do so. I should’ve recognized him. I knew him when I was younger. I should’ve been able to identify him, and because I didn’t, Rina got hurt.”
“You’re sitting outside thinking about Vince? I was worried you were having second thoughts about us.” He cracked a smile, probably trying to elicit a smile out of her. When she didn’t, he continued. “It’s not your fault. I’ll keep repeating that until you believe it. He was sick.”
She looked away, back at the dark night sky. “I wasn’t really thinking of just him, but everything. My life. The way your family accepted me so quickly. I keep wondering when it’ll all fall apart and you’ll leave. It always happened with my mother.”
He tensed slightly, then relaxed just as quickly. “I’m not going to leave you. Not without fighting for you. We’ll probably fight. I have no doubt about that.” He squeezed her tighter, a soft chuckle renting the air. “Love survives it all. Fights. Mistakes. Hard times. How do I know? My parents. I saw a doozy of a fight when I was seven. My dad went drinking and drove home drunk. My mom was so pissed at him. He said he didn’t want to wake her up, then have to wake me up so we could go get him. I thought for sure with the words they said to each other they were done. I never heard them yell like that. The next morning I woke up prepared for the worst. Do you know what I saw?”
A kiss touched her forehead. She wanted to look at him. Instead, she shook her head for him to continue.
“My mom making breakfast with a smile and my dad sitting at the table with a cup of coffee as if nothing happened. It confused the hell out of me. I didn’t say anything, but my mom just knows things. She came to my room later and explained what happened last night was a part of life. A part of marriage. You have arguments and disagreements and you let it out. Then you make up and move on. It’s when you lose the love the relationship falls apart. I don’t ever see myself losing my love for you. I can’t say it any plainer than that.”
He sighed softly. “I know you don’t have the best example from your mom, but I’m not like all those guys. If I was going to leave so quickly, don’t you think I already would’ve? You haven’t exactly made things easy on me, as you so clearly pointed out.”
Since sitting outside, letting her thoughts take her away, she smiled. A bright smile. “That’s a good point. I can’t explain my insecurities right now.” A laugh bubbled out, even though nothing was funny. He laughed with her. The sound soothed her rattled nerves.
“Remember that the next time you get the crazy thought I’m going to leave. Because I’m not. Hell, I have the same fear. What can shy, quiet Sauer possibly offer crazy, beautiful Dee
?”
“Hey!” She nudged him, not very gracefully, as his arms were still locked around her. “I’m not crazy.” His brow rose. “Not that crazy, anyway. Just a touch.”
“Give me a sprinkle of crazy, a dose of loudness, with a shower of beauty, and I have all I want.”
“We make such a perfect pair, uh? Shy and quiet with a mixture of loud and crazy.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He kissed her lightly. “Let me know when you’re worried. About anything.”
“What bad timing to get all emotional. It’s our wedding night and I’m ruining it.”
Framing her face with his hands, he got nose to nose with her. “Who said it’s ruined? It’s the best day of my life. It’ll get even better when we kick everyone out.”
“What are you waiting for?”
His tongue swooped in, making her heart soar to the beautiful night sky. His kisses always had a way of calming her down. Before the kiss turned into a territory that would be indecent, he pulled away, breathing heavily.
“I want you.”
“You have me.”
A silky smile graced his face. “I do.” A low chuckle escaped. “Care to let the crazy out?”
“Meaning?”
“Go tell everyone to get the hell out so I can make sweet love to my wife.”
Cocking a brow, a slow smile built into a beaming one that had him tilting his head in confusion. “As you wish.” She slid out of his embrace and stood up.
“Well, not in those exact words…”
With a little pump to her hair, she placed a hand to her hip. “You asked for crazy. You married crazy. Crazy is what you’re gonna get.”
She started to walk away when Sauer’s hand grasped hers.
“Coming along for the ride, are you?”
“I don’t wanna miss any of their expressions when you say that. It’s one of the things I love about you. The things that come out of your mouth.”
Right then, she knew. It slapped her squarely in the face. All her doubts melted away. How could she still worry that he’d leave her? He loved her, every outrageous part of her. He embraced who she was. For that, she loved him even more.
She laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“My little bit of crazy is rubbing off on you.”
He let go of her hand and looped an arm around her. “I could say something dirty to that.”
She laughed even harder. “In less than a minute, you can do all the dirty things you want to me.”
His eyes lit up with desire, his arm tightening, then relaxing as he opened the sliding door. They stepped inside, took their coats off and made their way to the living room where everyone was. He positioned himself behind her, wrapping his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder as she cleared her throat. The words almost stalled as she felt his hardness pressed delightfully against her ass. He wanted her. She wanted him just as badly.
“It’s time to get the hell out so Sauer can make sweet love to me.”
She almost let embarrassment wash over her that she said something so rude-like in front of Sauer’s parents and Zeke’s parents. Instead of horror or disdain hitting their features, everyone laughed.
“I was wondering when we’d get kicked out.” Richard winked at her, as he helped Deborah up from a chair.
“The things you say.” Zeke chuckled, yet set his drink down.
Franny walked up to them as everyone else started to leave. “You two have fun. I would love to have lunch one day next week, Deena.”
“What about me?”
She almost laughed at the way the words left his mouth, as if he were wounded. “I’d love that, Franny.”
“Perfect.” She touched her cheek in a motherly way that made her feel the love, then kissed Sauer’s cheek. “Don’t keep your wife waiting. We’ll lock the door.”
“Thanks, Mom, but I got it.”
It wasn’t quite under a minute like she told him, but within ten minutes, everyone was gone. She waited in the threshold of the living room as Sauer closed the front door, set the alarm, then turned toward her.
“So, about that sweet lovemaking?”
“I’d thought you’d never ask.” He grinned, a blissful twinkle in his eyes as he scooped her into his arms. “Notice how no one seemed affected by your words?”
“Yeah, they’re used to my wild ways.” She started to press tiny kisses on his neck. “Next time I’ll do it while we’re in a public restaurant or something.”
He stumbled in his footsteps, almost dropping her before reaching the bed. “You wouldn’t?” Then he chuckled. “Of course you would. Let’s work up to that.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course.”
Everyone needed to work up to that level of crazy. She knew Sauer was just the man for the job.
Epilogue
The King & Queen’s Ball
Dee plucked two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, then handed one to Rina. Zoe already had one in her hand, slowly sipping as if it was the grossest thing she ever tasted. They paid good money for these tickets, the dresses, the lessons. Dee planned to live it up and enjoy every single minute of this night.
And whew! Her husband and a tux. Say no more. The man knew how to fill out a tux. Hands down, he was the handsomest man in the room.
“No, thanks.”
Cocking a brow, she shoved the glass a little closer to Rina. “Drink it. You haven’t had one glass tonight. The night is only half over. One little glass isn’t going to kill you.”
“Unless you’re pregnant. I mean, it won’t kill you, but it’s not good—” Zoe stopped talking when Rina turned red. “Holy shit! Are you seriously pregnant?”
Rina’s eyes bulged as Dee chuckled at how loud Zoe said that. “I…we…don’t talk so loud.”
Zoe had the grace to look bashful, then stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Were you guys keeping it a secret for a bit?”
“I never said I was.”
“Rina, sweetie, you can’t get anything by us. You didn’t admit it, but you did.” Dee smiled, then took a sip of champagne. A large one, since she had to drink two glasses now.
“I’m not that far along…it took awhile to get pregnant. I don’t want to jinx it.”
“We won’t say anything. I have faith it’ll all be okay.” Zoe gave Rina a hug.
“Congrats. You’re going to make a wonderful mother.” She gave her another smile, truly meaning her words. If anyone would make a good mother, it would be Rina. She was one of the nicest, sweetest people. So caring and friendly. Always helping others.
They didn’t use condoms anymore, but she was still on the pill. She hadn’t gotten pregnant yet, and she wasn’t sure she was ready. What kind of mother would she be? A crazy one. Sauer would even their child out with his quiet and calmness.
Boy, did she need that trait of his so much in the past two months. About a week after their wedding, she finally spoke up about her nightmares that tended to plague her during the day as well. She could never get shit-face, or in a kinder word, Vince, out of her mind. From there, they talked. Sauer was the best listener. Sometimes, she would talk and talk and talk, wondering if he fell asleep on her. But no. He was listening intently, his face one of serious concentration. The wonderful thing about Sauer was he never said anything back. She didn’t need him to say anything. She just needed him to listen. Now, the nightmares weren’t as frequent.
“Thanks, Dee. You will, too.”
She almost spit out her champagne at those words. Would she make a good mother? Maybe she’d stop taking the pill soon and find out. Just maybe.
“Susan’s having fun with Stitch. I can’t believe you hid that hunk of a man from us for as long as you did,” Zoe said with a laugh.
Dee laughed with her, not disputing how gorgeous Stitch was. Sauer had told her what happened with Newman. That Susan overheard he didn’t want to go with her. Dee knew Susan wanted to go to this ball, so she didn�
��t hesitate to ask Stitch to step in and help her with what he would consider a huge favor. Stitch didn’t date nice, normal women like Susan. But for Dee, he’d do just about anything. By the smiles and laughter coming from them, they were having a great time together. It was a good thing. She still didn’t like Newman.
Although, Stitch and Susan were an odd pair. He was over six feet. She was maybe 5’5”. Susan was sweet and gentle. Stitch, more rough and dangerous. In appearances, maybe. In reality, he was sweet and gentle. She liked them as a couple. Who knew what would happen after tonight? Stitch was only helping her out, but she could see he was enjoying himself. They hadn’t left each other’s side the entire night.
“He’s a great guy. What can I say? I got busy with my life, and so did he.”
“They’re sort of cute together.” Rina smiled as they all glanced at Susan and Stitch dancing away.
“It was good thinking on your part, Dee. I like Susan. Maybe we should ask her to start joining us for drinks on Fridays,” Zoe said.
They all liked that idea, agreeing that Dee would make the offer to Susan. Soon after, they scattered to the dance floor with their husbands.
“So, what did you men talk about?”
“Baseball.” Dee giggled, tucking her head into his chest. Immediately, Sauer corrected her stance and winked. “Posture, remember.”
“If I didn’t love you so much, I’d step on your toes just because.”
He swooped in and kissed her, breaking his perfect posture, lingering longer than she expected. Every time they kissed, it felt like heaven. The heat would ignite into a flaming inferno. The desire swift and aching. She wanted him so badly.
He ended the kiss, sweeping her across the dance floor as elegantly as he always did. She loved dancing with him. So many times at home, he’d sweep her into his arms and dance away down the hallway, to the living room, to the bedroom. Just everywhere. Anytime he had a chance, he’d wrap his arms around her. It cemented her love for him a little more every time.
One Taste of Crazy (A One Taste Novel Book 3) Page 22
