“I’ll cook breakfast for you anytime, sugar.” He winked and sat, his leg brushing up against me tantalizingly.
“I’ll let you.” We piled food onto our plates and ate for a few minutes in a sweet, companionable silence that was easy and stress-free. It was nice. No, it was more than nice. It was just about perfect. The only thing that was missing was a precocious little girl who talked a mile a minute.
My stomach was a bundle of nerves so I waited until my plate was half empty and pushed it away. Now was the time. “I can’t say for sure when I fell in love with you, but I think it was pretty early on. So when you said you were happy with the way things were between us, I pulled back. I want you to know that I wasn’t happy about it but I did it because you matter to me.” I sucked in a deep breath because when you’ve been living your life alone and afraid to connect for so long, a little bit of sharing goes a long way.
A really long way.
Nash grinned at me as he chewed. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“It was, actually.”
His gaze was sobering. “You regret it?”
“Nope.”
A smile spread that split his handsome face in half. “So what you’re saying is that you love me?”
I shook my head with a grin. “No, I’m saying that I love you too. Because you said it first.”
Nash laughed like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard, swiping tears from his eyes as he stood and disappeared into the living room. I’d been sitting still too long to follow him and with so much food still left on the table, I knew he’d be back. A few short seconds later he was back, the mysterious bag in his hands. “Curiosity is eating you alive, isn’t it?”
I chose silence but shook my head in response.
He laughed again and pulled out a gorgeous wooden box. Well, it was more like a cube but it was fantastic, with a little key with tassel opener on top. “What is it?” I couldn’t help but blurt out because like Nash said, curiosity was killing me.
Instead of answering, Nash pushed it closer to me and urged me to open it instead. “Go on, open it.”
Reaching for the box, I pulled it closer and examined the beautiful craftsmanship of it. There were deep swirling grooves that gave it the appearance of motion from every angle. “It’s magnificent, Nash.”
“Open it.”
“No.” I couldn’t. Not yet. I looked up at him and smiled but this time it was sad or bittersweet or filled with longing. This time it was showing him exactly what I felt, my heart bursting to full. “I’m in love with you too, Nash. And it’s not like the crush I had on you back in high school. This time, it’s about the man you are. The artist, the devoted father and businessman, the friend. The man. I should have told you yesterday, hell I probably should have told you when I figured it out. Or when I finally admitted it to myself, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not yet.”
His gaze tracked my tongue as it slicked over my suddenly parched mouth. “And now?”
“Now, I’m ready. For everything. I’m ready to believe that you love me. I’m ready to believe in us. And,” I sighed because voicing the last belief out loud was hard.
Nash was up on his knees beside me, hands resting on my thighs. “And? You’ve already done the hard part, you told me you love me.” A nervous laugh escaped and he shook his head as his hands slid up my legs. “Which I’m glad to hear because I love you too, Vivi. So damn much.” He pressed his lips to mine in a hot kiss that stole my breath. It was fast and rough and hungry. It was fucking delicious.
When Nash pulled back I stared at him with a wide-eyed wonder as the colors crystallized around me, making everything clear. This man was my future. “I’m ready to believe in forever, Nash. With you. Only with you.”
“That’s a plan I can get behind, darlin’. One thousand percent.” This time I kissed him, long and slow until the heat between us swirled out of control. I wanted him. Right now. In the kitchen to seal our love. But Nash broke the kiss. “You gonna open the box now, woman? Or you plan to ruin my moment?”
“Your moment? I’m pretty sure this is my moment, Boudreaux.”
He laughed and kissed my lips before standing and placing the box in my hands. “Open it.”
I could have argued over his bossy tone but my own curiosity was too strong. Examining the box carefully, I noticed there was a sliding door on one side and the tassel and key was removable. I slid the door off and gasped. There were five gaps and three of them were occupied. With my books. Two gaps remained for the final two books in the series.
My friggin’ books! “My books. Nash,” I began but honestly I didn’t know how to respond to this. He couldn’t really understand how much a gift like this meant to me. Or maybe he did. “This is…” I couldn’t. Again, but this time I was starting to tear up.
“Shit, Vivi. You hate it?”
“Hell no, I love it.” My fingers slid over the smooth surface with reverence. “It’s amazing. Your work is really beautiful, Nash, but this. It means a lot to me.”
“I’m glad because you mean a lot to me, Vivi.”
With his heart shining in his eyes, I couldn’t love that man more if I tried. “Is this your sneaky way of getting your hands on my newest book?”
“Maybe,” he said with a far too innocent shrug. “I’ll get it one way or another.” Those words, spoken as a deep promise, sent a spear of heat straight through my body.
I believed him if for no other reason than the temperature in the room went up about twenty degrees. And because Nash had yet to disappoint in the bedroom. “Then I’ll let you convince me you deserve a copy.”
“As soon as you finish with the box, you can count on it.”
I shivered and pulled each book out, looking into each slot which was carefully sanded and marked with the book number in the series. I put the back and slid the wooden cover back into place and grabbed the metal key, twisting it with gentle pressure as it opened like a blooming flower. Inside was a ring and I gasped in double surprise. It was a ring. A very stunning ring with pink and yellow diamonds, cushioned in deep red velvet. “Oh, Nash.”
“I know we’re already married, Vivi, and I hope like hell you love me enough to want to live with a sometimes grouchy single dad and his energetic little girl who never stops talking. Ever. Because we love you and we want you. Forever.” He cupped my face blue eyes shining with love. “Vivi, will you stay married to me?”
I laughed at the way he phrased it, pulling back and kissing each of his hands. “I can’t think of another man I’d rather be accidentally married to, Nash Boudreaux.” He laughed hard and then he kissed me.
And I decided to be brave one more time and test out the new and improved hip.
With my husband.
Epilogue
Nash ~ Solstice Celebration, One year later
“Looks like it’s too late for an abundance ceremony,” Zeke called out with a laugh, flashing his brightest smile my way. I noticed he and Maddie weren’t standing near each other, but while we waited for Aunt Mae to make sure she had everything right and wouldn’t accidentally divorce us, I noticed the looks. Zeke and Maddie both, staring at the other when their back was turned. They were on the outs but it looked to be a temporary thing from my perspective.
Vivi smiled into the laughing crowd and flashed Zeke a narrow-eyed gaze as she rubbed her rounded belly. “Last year was for us, this year maybe abundance will be headed your way, Zeke.”
His eyes widened comically and her sweet laughter washed over me once again. I turned to my wife with a wink. “It never gets old hearing you laugh. I missed it while you were away.”
She rolled her green eyes, which sparkled like emeralds against her white lace dress. “I was gone for three months.”
“Three long months,” I reminded her even though it wasn’t technically true. She’d been away from Belle Musique for three months but Norah and I had flown to see her every other weekend, neither of us able to go longer than that without he
r. “But you’re back now.”
“And bigger than ever,” she groaned and rubbed her belly again.
I put my hand on top of hers because I loved to feel my child growing inside her belly. She was only five months along but to me, she looked stunning. “You always look beautiful to me,” I told her, honestly.
“Keep that up and I just might marry you again.” She laughed again when Aunt Mae gave a heavy sigh.
“It’ll be perfect this time, don’t you worry. And if it’s not, maybe I’ll get two babies to spoil instead of one.” She smirked when Vivi sucked in a breath.
“Bite your tongue, old lady.”
Aunt Mae laughed and winked. “Okay, now we’re ready to begin. Turn to face each other with your palms nearly touching.”
We did as instructed and an intense sense of déjà vu washed over me, reminded me of a year ago when we stood right here trying to hold in our laughter. Vivi and I had no idea last year, just what an exciting journey we were about to embark on but I couldn’t be happier that we did.
As Aunt Mae did her thing, Vivi looked up at me and winked. “I love you,” she mouthed the words I’d waited so long to hear her finally say. Now, I heard the words every single day. Without fail.
When she first left on her book tour, Vivi called every day and she ended every call with an ‘I love you.’ It was a heady feeling, having the full love of a big-hearted woman like Vivi, and every day I woke up and tried to be the man she deserved. “I love you more,” I told her a little too loudly and drew a glare from Aunt Mae.
“You’re already married, Nash, no need for vows.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Vivi snickered. “Busted.”
We found our calm and managed to stay quiet for the rest of the ceremony until it was time for my favorite part. The kiss. Nobody kissed like Vivi and nobody certainly tasted like her. Sweet with a hint of spice and my love threw her whole self into every kiss. This one was no different, only it was better. Because now we knew where we stood. I knew Vivi loved me as much as I loved her, some days even more because she always told me so.
It was better because a year after we were accidentally married and nearly fell apart, our lives were perfect. Norah was happy to have Vivi around and had already begun calling her ‘mama’ but that wasn’t even the best part. She was excited to be a big sister, especially so she could make her little brother or sister perform in her latest play.
“And now we seal this ceremony with an unbreakable bond. With a kiss.”
Vivi already stood close because I was an overprotective dad-to-be and she had a habit of forgetting to eat. All I had to do was step in and lean her back over my arm to hold her and the other hand rested on her swollen belly as I kissed my wife in front of the whole town and a couple thousand tourists. Yep, our story along with Vivi’s newfound popularity had been a boon to our little hometown. Everyone wanted to see the couple who’d been accidentally married and fell in love.
Vivi’s one concession to the hoopla was to do the ceremony again this year, and the town was ready to erect a statue in her honor because the week had been busy. Every lodging establishment in town was booked solid along with the few other bars and restaurants in town.
“Okay kids, keep it decent. This is a family event.” Mae clapped her hands before placing one on each of our shoulders, trying to pull us apart.
Vivi snorted. “Is voodoo family friendly?”
“Of course it is, child, all religion is.”
Wisely, Vivi kept her thoughts to herself and placed her hand in mine. “If you don’t mind, Aunt Mae, I’m going to take my husband somewhere and finish that kiss.”
“Go on. It’s never to early to start working on another baby for me to spoil.”
Vivi laughed again and bussed her aunt’s cheek. “Except right now it literally is too early.” She pulled me away, through the crowd which she barely acknowledged and then she froze.
“What’s wrong? Is it the baby?”
“Yes! Where’s Norah?”
My shoulders sank in relief. “She’s with a few of her friends in town from the community theater.”
Here eyes widened with excitement. “You think she’ll share her new play with them?” Hand to her heart, Vivi was the best mother I could have wished for my little girl. She felt everything for Norah deeply, even nerves right now.
“We’ll find out later, won’t we?” She nodded, and I tucked my wife into my side until the sounds of the Solstice Celebration grew quieter and quieter and we made it home. “Home sweet home.”
In the spirit of compromise, I’d rented out the house Norah and I had lived in since she was a baby and moved into Vivi’s house, which she insisted on putting in both of our names. “Do you regret moving in here?”
“No way. Your place is roomier and feels more like home.” She curled up on the glider on the porch and I dropped down beside her. “Wherever you and Norah are is exactly where I want to be.”
“What a sweetheart,” she said softly, smiling up at me with her heart in her eyes. “I have an anniversary gift for you.” She spoke so softly I wasn’t sure she was speaking to me. At first. “Check the mailbox.”
I did and found a big brown envelope inside with my name written on it. “I thought we said we weren’t doing gifts this year?”
Fiery red brows arched in question and I shrugged because I’d been caught. “Okay fine. What is it?”
“Open it.”
Inside were papers. Legal documents to be specific. For a piece of property. “You bought me a building?”
“No, I bought you a new workshop right on the main drag. This way you have room to store non-commissioned pieces that people can come in and just buy.” She must have taken my silence for displeasure because she pushed on. “And since I work at home I thought you’d want the bigger space for your supplies and toys. Say something, Nash!”
I chuckled and pulled her in for a long, sweet kiss. “Thank you, Vivi. I love it and I love you, babe.”
She snuggled in closer and kissed me again. “I love you too, Nash. Thank you for waiting for me and not giving up.”
“How could I give up on the love of my life?” When Vivi made that soft, satisfied noise as she laid her head on my shoulder, my heart was full. This woman had changed my life in a million different ways and all for the better. “You’re mine, Vivi. Forever.”
“Right back atcha, Boudreaux.”
And that’s how we would be. Forever.
Preview: His Takeover
Poppy
“You won’t even believe it, girl, he took me to a speakeasy! A speakeasy!” My grandma Maple’s laugh trilled, echoing against the lush flowers, plants and herbs before bouncing off the small garden near the shed. “I haven’t been to one of those since I was your age!”
Yeah, in case you’re wondering, my grandma has a better social life than I do. “And did it stand against the test of time?” I bit into my turkey and avocado sandwich and sipping my spiked lemonade, courtesy of, you guessed it, good ol’ grandma.
“It did. Of course, ours were much cooler but these new ones are dark and smoky, the drinks are strong and most of all, you feel like James Bond trying to get in! Ted was as shocked as I was and he found the place.” Ted was Maple’s newest love du jour, but I have a feeling he’ll be around longer than the others. “I even let him stay a while.”
My brows rose. “Well I guess he is more than a silver stud.” That was her term for the men in her age group who were hot to look at but had nothing between the ears, according to her.
“So far, he is. If he plays his cards right, he’ll stay the whole night next time.” She spoke confidently, fluffing her gray curls primly.
I laughed and took another sip, enjoying this late lunch with Maple. I had just finished up a big design project for an indie band so I planned to enjoy the next couple days for myself. Technically I worked as a freelance graphic designer, but calling my work freelance would be a disservice. I did j
obs for everything from small boutique bakeries to album covers and websites for the latest celebrity du jour. “Ted is a lucky man, Grandma.”
She laughed and took a long gulp of her own lemonade. “I tell him that every chance I get.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her confident words. Maple was the best person I knew, loud and colorful, strong and independent. She raised me to be the same, from the time the police dropped me off at her place when I was just four years old. “Ted’s a keeper,” I told her.
“We’ll see. Meanwhile, let’s talk about you. You need to get out there and put that body to use before it shrivels up and falls off.”
“Grandma, seriously? I’d think after all your experience you’d know it doesn’t work like that.”
Maple snorted. “You should listen to me. Believe me. I’m older and wiser.” She tapped one long red nail on the wooden table between us. “I’ll set you up with someone. My poker buddies all have single sons, nephews and daughters, if that’s your thing.”
“You know damn well they aren’t my thing,” I told her, earning one of her loud guffaws. “How about we go see an all nude version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”
“That sounds delightful! Just tell me these are all young folks because I don’t need to see saggy tits and balls for three hours,” she grumbled, finishing her lemonade and topping us both off.
I enjoyed these afternoons with Maple. She was getting older even though she’d never admit it, and we had the perfect living arrangement, thanks to her foresight. About a year after the plane crash that killed my parents, Maple took the insurance money and bought a duplex in a nice residential neighborhood in the heart of Portland. She rented one side out and we lived in the other, until I finished college. With a proud smile she handed me the deed and said the unit next door was finally empty.
We’ve been neighbors ever since. “It’s a mixed bag, Maple, depending on the role.”
Accidentally Hitched: An Accidental Marriage Romance Page 18
