by Eliza Ellis
“Susie?”
“Hmm?” She looked at her all innocent-like.
Kat narrowed her eyes. “When you were asking about furnishings and design, it wasn’t just for this place, right?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course it was for this place. Don’t you see everything you picked?”
“I was just at Drew’s, and—”
Susie laughed. “Uh, yeah. He wanted to know what style you preferred because you two are getting married.”
“Wait, what?” Her gaze shot to Drew’s, who winked at her from over the head of his grandmother.
“He said you two got engaged when you were eight. So glad that Parker is out of the picture. I mean, I know she’s your friend and all, but you and Drew belong together, no question. You’re good with your hands, and he’s good with his.” She winked and chortled.
“Susie!” Kat hissed.
“You don’t know yet? Weren’t you just at his place?”
Kat groaned and covered her hot cheeks.
Susie continued to laugh. “You know I’m only teasing you.” She kissed Kat’s hand that still covered her cheek. “Welcome back. I’m glad you love it. But you do have some people here who would love it if you’d get back in the kitchen and whip us up something to eat. You’ve mastered steaks, right?”
Kat laughed. She had learned from one of the best and could definitely sear a steak.
Her mother came over and squeezed Kat’s middle. “Finally got your Steven, huh?” she whispered.
“I think so,” Kat said, her cheeks burning from her grin.
“I knew you could do it, honey. I knew you would go after what you wanted.”
Kat hugged her mother. The woman had been right. In under a year her life had dramatically changed. The stronger her belief in herself and what she was capable of, the more doors opened. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be a year from now.
In an hour, she had a few mini cakes cooling on the counter and eager family and friends waiting to eat them.
Drew stood behind Kat as she fed him one of the desserts she had created while being taught by Chef LeBleu.
“I think I like this one the best,” Drew said, licking his lips.
Kat rotated until she faced him full on. “Thank you for doing this. For everything.”
“Thank you for being my friend. For supporting me.”
“You’re supposed to be doing this on one knee, you idiot,” Muriel said from her table. “Kat, I’m glad you’re back, because I was really mad at you.”
Mary slapped her friend’s arm and shushed Muriel.
Drew and Kat walked hand in hand from around the counter, and Drew got down on one knee. By the time he had finished his short speech, Kat could barely see him through the tears in her eyes.
But she was finally able to shout “yes.”
Chapter 21
Spring had come early for their town and with it an abundance of wildflowers in a field a short distance from Drew’s home. The air was still cool, but the rays of the noonday sun skipped across the lake waters and warmed the bulbs of daffodils that were still bursting through dirt to bloom.
Susie, Muriel, and Mary had spent the better part of the week moving Kat’s things into Drew’s home and softening the masculine style until it suited both of their needs. Last night, Kat spent her final day as a single woman. Today, she would be spending the night in her forever home with the man that she loved more than anything.
Drew smiled from the flower-covered archway—the same one Muriel said she borrowed from the reenactment society’s shed. Muriel sat in the front row beside her son and daughter-in-law. Drew had told Kat that the relationship between his parents and Muriel hadn’t fully healed, but it was definitely on the mend. Muriel had been civil to Drew’s mother when they were all at the rehearsal dinner the other night. Muriel wiped her eyes with a tissue. Kat caught Drew’s wink.
As Kat’s mother continued to walk Kat down the aisle, Kat saw her sister Keighly’s tech-mogul boyfriend Pete Headley sitting near the front while Keke stood at the altar as her bridesmaid behind Susie, her maid of honor. Both Keke and Pete had flown in the previous evening on Pete’s new jet. They had to be back in L.A. by tomorrow evening, but Pete had promised his jet to Drew and Kat whenever Kat had to fly to New York to visit executive producers for Kat’s new show.
Behind Pete sat Chef LeBleu. Kat didn’t know how he had the time to be here. He had offered to prepare their reception dinner, while Kat refused to let anyone else do the wedding cake besides herself. LeBleu smiled, either because of Kat, or the fact that everyone’s taste buds were about to explode with his dinner choices.
Kat had hoped Parker would’ve made it from London to attend the wedding. Parker couldn’t get out of a business meeting she was attending in China. Kat feared her friend was avoiding her because she was marrying Drew, but Parker gifted them a honeymoon trip, using two first-class tickets on an airline she said she wouldn’t get around to using until probably next year because she was too busy to get away.
The one person Kat had wished could’ve made it was her older sister Kornelia. Kori had been out of touch for months, and Kat worried that her sister was in some kind of trouble. Thankfully, Kori messaged her earlier that morning with crying emojis but wished her well.
Mary handed her middle daughter off to Drew. When Kat placed her hands into Drew’s, her heart skipped a beat, but peace filled her. She had once thought she would never see her childhood best friend again. She couldn’t believe that, after so many years, they would be standing together and actually getting married.
“You look beautiful,” Drew whispered, his eyes continuously scanning her dress.
She’d chosen something simple and whimsical that had reminded her of the lace-accented dress she’d worn on the day of the reenactment. Kat thought hers would fit right in with the beauty of their land.
“And you look handsome.”
Drew opted for his service uniform, as did the groomsmen who had flown in for the event. All of them had been in the same unit. Kat was honored to have the men be a part of the wedding.
After they repeated the vows and exchanged rings, Kat and Drew shared a long, slow kiss.
The crowd cheered, but not louder than Muriel’s, “finally!” Kat and Drew laughed and hugged each other—this time the marriage ceremony was real.
Drew swept Kat up into his arms and walked her down the aisle toward their beautiful home, the tree with their initials, and into their new life together.
Dear Reader,
If you enjoyed Kat and Drew’s story, then you’ll be swept away by Kori and Marshall’s in My Best Friend’s Father.
Kori Kaye is desperate for a new job to pay for a lawsuit against her former employer—a man who has blackballed her in the industry. Her best friend Sabrina has an idea: work for her father Marshall Buchannan. He’s desperate for another executive assistant and doesn’t care about Kori’s background.
It’s the perfect solution, except Marshall’s firm is trying to push him out. Could they help save each other? And what will Sabrina think about their budding relationship?
Start reading My Best Friend’s Father
Thank you for reading. If you enjoy any of my romances, I would appreciate it greatly if you leave a review on Amazon.
Time to write another romance!
Eliza
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