by D. A. Young
“Yes, we will. I promise,” Kat humbly agreed, a happy glow warming her cheeks.
Holt glanced down at Moira. “What do you think, sweet baby? Think she’ll honor and obey me?”
The baby looked at Kat and smiled. Or so they thought. It was accompanied by a long vibration from her bottom. Holt and Kat shared a heartfelt laugh. “See? Even she thinks you’re full of you know what.”
Kat pressed her lips to Holt’s ear, and he shuddered at the intimacy of her touch. Jesus, it had been too long.
“I said I’d be the best wife for you. We both know I’m at my best when I’m disobeying you…Mr. Brammer. Wouldn’t you agree?”
His large palm squeezed her thigh possessively as his shaft lengthened underneath her bottom in silent agreement.
“I wouldn’t have you any other way,” Holt kissed her tenderly. “Yeah, I’ll wife you up, Little Romankov.”
She rolled her eyes and he nuzzled her neck, his chuckle running down her spine. “Today?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Say what now?”
She raised hers right back. “Don’t you want the rest of our lives to start as soon as possible? The entire time we were separated, floating in the back of my mind was the thought that we should be on our way to saying ‘I do’. I’ve said it from the jump; the day is just a formality. Having you as my husband is all that matters to me.”
“You’ll come back to Sweden with me? What about your work in New York?”
Moira whimpered and Kat picked and settled her against her chest. “I’m done. Madam Lalita understands. She even sent me the most amazing goodbye gift. I’m looking forward to showing it to you sooner rather than later hopefully. Regarding work, I can do that anywhere but will commute for the final stages of projects. I can’t just go cold turkey on our peeps here again. They weren’t exactly pleased with my spontaneous business decision.”
She pressed her lips to his and welcomed the glide of his tongue across her bottom lip. Reluctantly, she pulled back. “Thank you for the desk. I would have said that sooner, but I didn’t know. My boss was the one that figured it out yesterday. How did you arrange it?”
“Why are you tryin’ to ruin the magic? It was supposed to be your other Christmas present.” Holt wasn’t going to say shit about Cruz helping him. That pervert wasn’t coming anywhere near Kat again.
“And the espresso machine, rug, and candles?”
“I’d already started thinking about buildin’ your studio and preordered things, so I arranged for it to be set up before you got there.”
Kat kissed his cheek. “Holt, you went to all that trouble when I was a complete –”
“It’s in the past. Let’s leave it all there.” Holt pressed his lips to her jaw. “Except for this business with Summer Birkin and why you know how to handle yourself like you do. You been holdin’ out on me, baby.”
“I feel like you’re keeping score,” Kat complained.
“You should. My memory is long and you will be makin’ everythin’ up to me. Preferably on your knees.”
“Oooh! Go on. I’m listening.”
“Woah! That leap from Romanceland to Kinkville was a nice little plot twist!” Sidra observed, startling the reunited couple. They’d gotten so caught up in each other that everyone and everything had fallen away. A glance over their shoulder found their family wearing mixed emotions. The women were shocked and pleased. The Sullivan brothers, Ian, and Alexei wore thunderous frowns of disapproval. “But yessss! I’m so here for this! We all are!”
“Dude…” was all Guy could manage, torn between laughter and lecturing. “Even I draw the line at pitchin’ x-rated woo in front of a baby.”
““No, we are not here for this, Sid!” Casey objected sternly. “And in front of Moira, no less! She hasn’t even been here twenty-four hours and they’re corruptin’ her! Holt, you damn well better sign that prenup and get her down the aisle today!”
“What is he talking about, Holton?” Kat inquired.
“He’s talkin’ about the fact that I called him to draw up the prenup yesterday, darlin’. I’m glad you came to your senses, but I’d already planned on comin’ for you,” he answered truthfully.
“I guess it’s true what they say about great minds,” Kat murmured with a grin.
“Oh, yes we are, husband!” she crowed. “Because it no longer makes us the worst! Holt and Kat have knocked us out of that spot! They are officially the worst!”
Her husband’s eyes lit up. “Baby, you’re right!”
Fingers snapping and heads bobbing, they made up a celebratory song. “Uh-huh…oh yeah…they trash… that’s right…we crazy…and winnin’…”
“We were whispering!” Kat objected feebly, scarcely able to meet Alexei’s stricken gaze. “But the good news is, we’re getting married. Today. We don’t want to wait. Mama, I know you had your heart set on a lavish wedding-”
“I did until I heard the filthy laundry you were airing. We just want you to be happy. Lex, do you feel like sweet talking those judges you occasionally play golf with, in order to get a permit and make this happen today?”
Vivienne smiled at Noelle and Avery. “Looks like we have a shotgun wedding to plan, ladies. Are you up to the challenge?”
“I like a good challenge,” Noelle grinned.
“It’s true, she does,” Jack joked. “Guy, let’s me and you check out what we have in inventory for an arch.”
“Sure thing. I started their broom the night I found out he received Lex’s and Ms. Vivienne’s blessin’s. It’s been completed.”
“I say let’s do it!” Avery whipped out her planner. “Kat and Holt, I’ve got questions for you both.”
“I’m all over the playlist,” Sidra offered pulling her phone out.
“Case and I will get Jenny and the kids together,” Darby volunteered.
“Ian, please check and make sure Alexei still has a pulse. He hasn’t blinked in five minutes.”
Ian clasped his friend on his shoulder and steered him toward the door. “Come along. Let’s see if the cafeteria has a nice Macallan scotch you can indulge in.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
When they left the hospital, Holt drove Kat to the Miramar Spa where Vivienne and Elin were meeting her.
“I don’t want to spoil our big day, but we need to talk about the videotape you received,” he informed her grimly.
“Then you shouldn’t have prefaced the conversation with that. What more is there to say? I believe you, and I know you wouldn’t cheat on me.”
“I’m glad you know that, but that’s not what I referrin’ to. Geneva didn’t lie about bein’ my first.”
Kat knew it was irrational, but hearing Holt say that bitch’s name made her want to break her baton out again. “I’m sorry that your first time was with a viper.”
“Baby…”
“I’m listening!” she grouched. “Please…make it quick, though.”
“I didn’t touch her again for years. It’s the God’s honest truth. We did spend time together. Back then, I enjoyed her company. I slept with her because I wanted to lose my virginity, but Gene—” At Kat’s hot look, Holt quickly amended, “She lost her appeal because I knew Ivar selected her for me. He expected me to utilize her ‘services’ and most likely pumped her for information after my departure. We became friends and remained so for years.”
Holt’s rigid body overheated with shame. He despised doing this but knew transparency was of the utmost importance if they were to start their new life together with no secrets between them.
“I started sleepin’ with her again to channel my feelin’s for you. It was an asshole, pathetic, shitty thing to do, and I’m a bastard for it. I think I was of the notion that ‘what happens in Sweden, stays in Sweden’. I never wanted that to touch my life here in The Row. I recognize that now, and I’m not proud of it, darlin’. What you saw, me doin’ things with the -um- enthusiasm that I did them? Yes, I have a healthy sexual appetite, but it was nev
er about her. She wasn’t who I was thinkin’ about when we fucked. Ever. It was sick and twisted, and I knew I had to end it. I didn’t even know if you were plannin’ to reject me; however, I felt fucked up about the entire thing.”
“You’re right, Holton. That is fucked up!” Kat admonished him sternly, making him feel a foot tall. “No woman should ever be used as a substitute or taken advantage of. Yes, we may be packaged prettily with stars in our eyes and curves that make the opposite sex assume we’re soft, but underneath our surface lurks a lioness waiting to roar at the slightest provocation. You seriously mishandled the situation if you thought things were going to be copasetic with her.”
Kat reached over and punched his arm and he grimaced. “Ugh! I can’t believe I’m defending that ho! Did she know that you were using her? Is that what led to that bout of spitefulness?”
“I told her from the beginnin’ things would only be physical. I never knew we were bein’ videotaped. I’m in complete agreement, and she cost me the woman I love. Hell had become my place of residence until today.”
“Okay, well, I guess that cancels everything out,” she reluctantly conceded. “I think all parties involved learned valuable lessons. Enough now! Let’s focus on our big day!”
Holt pulled up to the spa and turned to Kat. “We still meetin’ at the altar this evenin’?” he solemnly asked.
Kat reached over the divider and kissed the corner of his mouth, brushing her nose against his beard. How could she have lived without him? “Try and stop me. I’ll be there with bells on.”
“Can’t wait. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
Holt snorted disbelievingly. “That would be an impossible feat to accomplish, darlin’.”
***
Kat was pampered thoroughly and exfoliated and polished within an inch of her life.
“She practically has a new car smell,” Elin remarked with a grin while they walked to the nail salon section in the fluffy navy chenille robes the spa provided. They selected chairs and made themselves comfortable for their mani-pedis.
“How are you wearing your hair, hon?” Vivienne inquired. She smiled her thanks at the mimosa she was offered. “What about half of it up?”
Elin accepted a mimosa as well. Kat declined. She planned to drink only one glass of champagne and that was for their celebratory toast tonight. She wanted to remember every single nanosecond of today for the rest of her life.
“No, Mama. I’m wearing it down. That was Holt’s single request.” Kat looked around anxiously. “Maybe I should go and help Noelle and Avery? I did spring this on them at the last minute…”
“And you can repay them with babysitting duties until the babies graduate high school. Noelle and Avery are pros and relish a challenge. Although, I don’t know how much longer Avery will be able to manage with her pregnancy.”
“Vivienne, I’m so jealous of you and your grandbabies. Hopefully, we’ll get to share one soon,” Elin smiled expectantly at Kat, who was choking on her water.
“Elin, are you trying to give your old friend Alexei a heart attack? As it is, I’m afraid that I’m going to have to cut our visit here shorter than I’d like. Ian texted me earlier that my husband’s not doing well. They stayed at the hospital. He figured Lex was being too maudlin and some Moira time would do wonders for his spirit.” She smiled cryptically. “I bet that’s not Ian’s only reason for deciding to stay.”
“You can’t just drop nuclear bomb clues and act like I’m not going to pick up on them, Mama! Avery is pregnant?! How did I miss this?!”
“You wouldn’t have missed the signs if you hadn’t abandoned us,” Vivienne snarked. “It’s a good thing the boys are around. You’re giving me trust issues about my golden years. Your father and I anticipate being the oldest stoop kids in the world.”
“She’s exaggerating,” Kat explained to Elin. “I have no intention whatsoever of abandoning them. Notice how she’s not mentioning that she and Papa visited me five times in New York while I was gone. Back to Avery, Mama.”
“Avery is constantly grazing instead of eating. I’ve caught her nibbling on crackers a couple of times. She seems fond of the goldfish ones. I’ve managed to conveniently have them on hand whenever their family comes over. You should see your brother; he creates these elaborate distractions to lure me away from Avery. I think it’s so sweet. Therefore, I ignore him.”
“You are positively diabolical.”
“The side effect of birthing an evil spawn that abandoned me.”
“Mama!”
Elin laughed at them and accepted another mimosa from an attendant.
“Don’t mind us, Elin. We do this a lot,” Vivienne explained mischievously. “And in public if we can arrange the right audience.”
Elin laughed. “Well, you are very good at it.”
Kat winked at her. “Welcome to the family!”
***
“Could you fangirl any harder, Ian?”
Ian looked away from the nursing station where Dominick was charming them and signing autographs. He scowled at Sidra, who was making her way through a pudding cup. “Excuse me?”
“Just talk to him! Don’t be all stuffy about it either! I don’t want my brother to leave because you hurt his feelings like the last time!”
“I did not hurt his feelings.”
“You did! You’ve been avoiding him and us. He reached out to you a couple of times, and you didn’t respond unless it was about work. Not. Fucking. Cool. Ian.” Sidra huffed.
She twisted the twenty-four-carat gold namesake bangle with each letter of her daughter’s name separated by a diamond. Designed by Kat, Casey had presented it to Sidra as her push present. “I didn’t take you for a coward.”
“You’re speaking of things you know nothing about, my dear.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve said my peace. It’s clear you’re only interested in random lame hookups who are plotting to kill you. Talk about walking on the wild side,” she bit out sarcastically.
She was right. Bradan’s unexpected motive for pursuing their relationship still stuck in Ian’s craw. The window was closing on the chances of experiencing another relationship like the one he’d cultivated with Harvey. If he decided to put himself back out there, Ian suspected he would have to lower his expectations. The rarity of lightning striking the same spot twice could also be applied to him finding true love again. He would rather settle for being grateful to have experienced it once in a lifetime than be burned again.
Ian’s smile was blade-sharp. “Careful, Sidra. You’re treading on thin ice.”
“Dom is my link to the nurses! He indulges them by dropping bars, and I get to have all the pudding and Jell-O I want. We got a good thing going here. Don’t screw it up for us, Ian. He’ll be around for only a couple of days since my parents’ contract demands that they finish their press junket. They won’t be here for at least another two weeks.”
“How much pudding and Jell-O could you possibly want? Please tell me you’re not breastfeeding that innocent baby. I know crazy is hereditary, but the debate is still out on transferable? I guess time will tell…” he murmured doubtfully.
Ian checked his watch. “I’m going to go check on Alexei and Moira then head to Noelle’s to give her a hand. I’ll see you later.”
“Ian?”
“Yes?”
“I only want you to be happy. Even if it’s not with Dom.”
‘Do you think since we’re the only two gays you know and are in close proximity that we should automatically fall for each other? That’s not quite how it works, Sidra,” Ian snapped.
“No. I think that because of the way you watch him,” Sidra shot back. He flinched but didn’t deny her acute observation and she relented slightly. “It’s true. You watch him, Ian. Like you can’t wait to unwrap him and discover how far his layers run. You’re an open book that doesn’t know it’s being read. Do something, anything, about it except, continue to suffer in silence.”
***
Holt and Kat decided to get married in the hospital chapel so Sid and Moira wouldn’t be left out. The space was small and intimate, which worked out perfectly for what Kat and Holt wanted. On a Whim decided on a simple rustic elegant theme using lots of greenery. Avery handled decorations while Noelle handled meal-planning and execution. With a generous donation to the hospital, Alexei was able to have painters come in and paint the baby-blue space an off-white and have the dark wooden pews and matching floor polished and waxed. Avery and Jenny styled the pew ends with large, cascading bouquets of silver-dollar eucalyptus and babies’ breath and turned them upside down and tied with white satin ribbon. In lieu of a runner, Avery used white chiffon to line each side of the aisle, a striking contrast for the dark floor. Holt, Jack, and Guy decided on a horseshoe shape arch for the altar. Jenny and Avery covered it in two types of eucalyptus: willow and silver-dollar along with white garden roses and café au lait dahlias and threaded it with lights.
Madam Lalita had sent the wedding dress Kat tried on to the brownstone. In addition, she’d added the Chessa cape, which was Kat’s second favorite piece from the collection, made of white floral brocade and lined with white satin. It was knee-length and flowing with a hood trimmed in white ermine.
Kat stared at herself in the floor-length mirror, scarcely able to believe that the time had finally come. She’d opted for a smoky-nude makeup palette and pinned her curls off her face with a sterling-silver and rhinestone headband she’d picked up in town. It wasn’t the crown she’d wished she had time to design, but it would do.
“You’re a fairy tale come to life, Katerina,” Vivienne admired, coming to stand behind her. She lightly squeezed her daughter’s shoulders. “I’ll admit that at first, I was skeptical of you and Holt. You were the unlikeliest pair. The low-key player and Princess Bambi. I wondered how long the two of you would last. Yet, when I look at the two of you together…I see a man whose love for my daughter will sustain the test of time. He’s her biggest fan and a true protector. I see the promise of a future filled with the pitter-patter of little feet and successful careers. Most importantly, I see a lifetime of happiness that is more than I could have dreamed up for you.”
