Complete Indelible Love Series

by Cee, DW

  “Is this a competition?” Donovan was game.

  “You see JR already starting to walk? He’s only nine months old. Will your kids walk that early?” Jake was throwing down the gauntlet. His best friend had no choice but to pick it up and promise to throw it back even further.

  “You just wait until our twins are born!” Donovan spoke this statement with conviction.

  “Oh my gosh. You two are so lame. Get a life—both of you.” Jane threw both her pillows at the men in question.

  “Shall we all stay a night in New York since we’re stopping by?” Donovan asked no one in particular.

  “Negative.” Jane spoke for us. “We have to get to Antoni Villa. We have a three-night stay reserved and we don’t want to miss any of those nights,” my fiancée answered. “By the way, do you and Laney want to stay at Antoni Villa during the wedding since it’ll be harder for you to get around?”

  “It’s not like I’m an invalid,” Laney answered unhappily. “No matter what my husband tells you, I’m healthy and capable of living life to the almost-fullest until we have these babies.”

  “Groan.” There was no need to explain who was rubbing his temples. “Why can’t you stay barefoot and pregnant? Why must you be all over the place?”

  “Whatever.” The eye rolling was comical. She turned to me and answered, “Thank you for the offer, but I think we’ll stay in our room at Grandfather’s villa.”

  “You have a room with your names on it?”

  “We sure do.” She winked and kissed her complaining hubby on the cheek.

  Once we all made sure Jake and his family were safely on their way to their apartment, the plane took off again and dropped us off in Florence before Donovan, Laney, Bee, and Luciano headed to Barcelona.

  “I feel so sad for my brother.”

  “I know what you mean. Nick and Bee looked good together, but I guess they have some issues to hammer out before committing.”

  “It’s not that I dislike Lily or Luciano. They’re both good people, but not for Nick and Bee. Bee was meant to be a part of our family.”

  I didn’t like seeing my fiancée distraught. “Worry not, Gem. They will go through their tough times and become stronger than ever—just like us.”

  It was either my encouraging statement or the sight of Antoni Villa that did the trick. Most likely it was the latter that brought the happiness back.

  “Look!” She pointed to the enormous sign that couldn’t be ignored. “They’re having a bridal fair. Let’s go check it out.”

  As if I had a choice.

  She ran off without listening for an agreement.

  “Slow down.” I pulled her back as she flitted from booth to booth.

  “I need to ask you to get us checked in right now.”

  What? “Why? I thought you wanted me here.”

  “You know it’s unheard of for a bride to be dress-less with the wedding two months away, right?”

  “I hadn’t realized it was unheard of, but OK…”

  “I think I see my dream dress. I need to try it on and send a picture to Gram; she must approve.”

  “So why do I have to leave?”

  “Hello!” She dragged the o for several seconds.

  What the hell was I missing? She stared at me like I was a moron. “OK. I give up. I’ll get us checked in.” I started walking away.

  “Wait!”

  I swear I felt like a dog in training. “Yes???” I answered, dragging the ye in the yes.

  “You have to come back as soon as I text.”

  “Why? Didn’t you just ask me to leave for reasons unknown to me?”

  “Once I get approval from Gram, I need you to decide on all the other arrangements.”

  She was asking me to be a part of this wedding process, but she made all the decisions. I supposed I was only here for moral support? As a bodyguard? As a bagboy? “Call me when you’re ready, but don’t be alarmed if I don’t answer my phone. You know I didn’t sleep on the plane ride over here.”

  I heard the annoyed huhn!

  As asked, I checked us in and decided to enjoy our posh digs. The price of this place, even with the half-off discount, made me cringe, but I had to admit this was a first class experience all the way. Being of like mind with my fiancée, I was glad we were getting married here.

  The bed continued to call my name, but I knew the moment I laid my head on the pillow, Murphy’s Law, by the name of Jane Reid, would call me back to the bridal festival. Rather than punish myself with a five-minute nap, I unpacked our belongings and headed back to my bride.

  “You’re back.” By the ear-to-ear grin, I assumed all went well with the dress. “You have perfect timing.”

  “How do I have perfect timing?”

  “The sales lady just packed my wedding dress in a garment bag and it’s being sent to our room. You can’t peek, no matter what.”

  Was it wrong of me not to care what my bride wore on our wedding day? Regardless of the dress, she’d make the most beautiful bride.

  But, I wouldn’t make a fuss either way. I only wanted to see her happy. “I promise not to peek. I assume we will take it back with us?”

  “You assume right.” She pulled me along like a little girl at her favorite shoe store. “Let’s go talk to the photographer. He seems amazing.”

  We browsed through samples of photos and videos, and Jane decided this was the guy who would capture our lasting memories.

  “Are we done?” I asked without complaint.

  “We need a florist and as soon as that’s decided, we need to sample a wedding meal.”

  “Once again, we may have to roll down the aisle with all these food tastings. Let’s do the tasting tomorrow and dine in our room tonight.”

  “We can’t. We are doing a dinner tasting every night, while we’re here, so we can try just about everything on their menu.”

  I held back my complaint in exchange for my bride’s smiling face.

  “Whatever pleases you, Gem.” I kissed her nose and followed her around the hall. I listened, I answered questions, and I “participated” in all the decision-making. At the end of the two hours, we had a dress, a florist, a photographer, musicians, and a DJ. Regardless of whomever else we needed for the wedding, I was at my wedding-planning capacity. I was done.

  “Thank you, Max. This afternoon was more productive than all the months combined. May 31st is going to go down as the most beautiful day Tuscany has ever seen.”

  “How can it not be when you’re the bride?”

  “Awww, Max.” My bride looked giddy. “You say the sweetest things all the time. I must be the luckiest woman on earth.”

  “I’d settle for being the luckiest man on earth who beds his fiancée before the wedding.” Between my lips on her neck and her giggles, I thought I was assured some form of sex.

  “You’ll feel like the luckiest man on earth on our wedding night with all this built-up tension.”

  Damn. “Can I opt to be that lucky man tonight, instead?”

  There was no budging. “Come on. The caterers are waiting to dazzle us.”

  The bride spoke. The groom obeyed. This was the recipe for the perfect marriage.

  Groan…

  Chapter 2 Jane: The Sweetest Meetings

  “Have you ever been to Paris?”

  “No, my beautiful bride. The Davises did not hang out in Paris.”

  “Mom used to force us to this city every spring and I hated it back then.” Max and I decided to walk from Gimpy’s apartment to the Eiffel Tower for lunch. “I begged my parents to take us to Hawaii with Uncle Henry’s family, but Mom wouldn’t budge. She insisted she needed to be in the City of Lights when the flowers were blooming and the weather still had a nip to it. Being here today reminds me of when I was little.”

  “Well…” Max stopped me in the middle of the street and kissed me deep.

  “What was that for?” I asked after bei
ng dazzled by his talented mouth.

  “Isn’t this city famous for romance? I thought it was de rigueur to kiss my woman in public.”

  I giggled. “You’ve been very patient with me, Max Davis. I thank you for waiting to bed me until our wedding night.”

  “Shit. You caught onto that, huh?”

  I kissed him back, with added enthusiasm. “You need to behave at lunch. I do not need Donovan and Laney on my case, and I do not want to see them go at it. Those two are unstoppable.” My lips went back to their mate a few more times. “Continue your story.”

  “We Davises went on road trips during vacation, or we stayed home. There weren’t enough days during spring break to go anywhere far. In fact, I hadn’t been to Europe until last summer with you.”

  “So all your European memories are being made with me, and only me?”

  “Well, I remember Em during our time in Europe.”

  “Asshole!” He deserved the punch in the arm.

  “I’m kidding.” He laughed. “Yes, Europe has been with you and you only, my precious Gem. By the way, why the hell is this walk taking so long? The Eiffel tower didn’t look too far from Roland’s window, but damn, it’s far.”

  “It’s only another mile or so. I love walking the streets of Paris.” Secretly, I had led us the very long way to lunch. I figured Max wouldn’t mind. I surely loved being among the French.

  We walked in silence the rest of the way enjoying the scenery, and becoming photographers for many tourists trying to capture the Eiffel Tower as their backdrop.

  “I talked to Donovan earlier and he said they went to watch an FC Barcelona game. We should have joined them.”

  “I’m not a soccer fan.”

  “I’m not either, but when you get a chance to watch the world’s greatest soccer player, I think it’s a no-brainer. We should have stopped in Barcelona with them.”

  “Donovan is out to enjoy the last days of freedom before these babies arrive.”

  “That, he is.”

  “When do you think you’ll want kids?”

  This was always a hot topic for me. I was really torn between wanting to have babies with Max and furthering my career.

  “I’d have them now if you’d agree, but I know you want to settle in with the law firm. We can wait. We’re both still young.” My fiancé was always the cool, collected, and confident one.

  “What if I can’t have kids? What if I can’t ever leave work? What if I don’t ever figure out when to have them?” Damn. That was a lot of “what ifs.”

  Without fail, Max came to the rescue. “If you can’t have kids, we can adopt. Watching you with JR, I can’t possibly believe you’d allow work to supersede having children. When it’s the right time, we will both know.” He squeezed my hand to comfort me in this moment of mini-anxiety. “We are both in flux. Neither of us can leave what we’re doing to care for children—and that’s all right. There’s no ten commandments that state we must have children right away.”

  “I know, but…”

  “No buts. Some choose the easier way, some choose the harder way. We will take our time and choose our way. OK?” He asked gently, letting me know he wasn’t commanding or demanding anything.

  “How did I get so lucky? How did I meet a man who knows all the answers to my questions?”

  Max only grinned. “I think it’s me who raided the treasure chest, Gem. Let’s go before your cousin’s arm falls off.”

  Looking over at Max’s line of sight, I saw Laney furiously waving at us, hurrying us along.

  “She must be hungry,” was the last thing I said before Max rushed me toward the private elevator leading us to Le Jules Verne, inside the Eiffel Tower.

  “Hello!” All the greetings were given and taken.

  “Enough with the chit-chat.” My cousin was acting her bossy self. “This nice gentleman is waiting to take us up. Let’s not dilly-dally.”

  “No breakfast, today?” I ribbed.

  “A huge breakfast, plus a bag of pâte à choux from the truck around the corner.” Bee explained the eating habits of her niece.

  “Hey, you all had some, too.” It couldn’t possibly be that my cousin was feeling self-conscious?

  “Stop teasing my wife and let’s go eat. It’s lunchtime and the mother of my children doesn’t like being hungry. She gets a little cranky.” Donovan laughed at his pouting wife.

  “It’s all your fault for knocking me up with twins.”

  “Dear,” Donovan corrected, “if you notice, twins seem to run in your family. For all you know, Jane could be carrying twins…oh yeah…I forgot…that’s not possible right now, is it?” That rat had an evil smile. “No luck changing the Miss’ mind?” He asked my fiancé and spread the curious news to two people I didn’t want in my business.

  “Hey. I don’t expect you to help, but don’t be a hindrance, OK?” Max sighed again.

  “What are you talking about?” This was not a discussion I was going to get into at lunch with Bee and Luke. Laney dropped the issue for now. She was too busy ooh’ing and aah’ing over the private elevator taking us into the restaurant that sat right smack in the middle of the Eiffel Tower, above the first observation deck.

  “Right this way.” The elevator man led us out and walked us halfway around the tower and directly into a big surprise.

  “Michael!” Laney exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you!” Michael stood up from his seat to greet an excited Laney who escaped her husband’s tactical hold.

  “Michael?” Bee wondered.

  “Hi, um…” Michael stuttered and mumbled along. “Um…yeah…how are you?” Between Michael’s apparent discomfort and Laney’s big stomach, the hug was awkward enough for Donovan to stay put and not drag his wife away, as my brother does at all times.

  “No hello for me?” Bee stood next to Laney awaiting her greeting.

  “Hi.” He smiled with a bemused, slightly frustrated visage. It was obvious to all that Michael’s groove was thrown off to the point of forgetting his “duchess’” name, along with the woman whom he held an interest in a month ago.

  “It’s good to see you again, Michael. We’re sorry to intrude. Laney and Bee were excited to run into you.” Always the problem solver, my fiancé’s greeting lifted the anxiety from Michael’s handsome face. “You remember my fiancée, Jane, and your nemesis, Donovan?” Max grinned. “And this is Luciano Alvaro, a friend of ours, and a business associate of Donovan and Jane.” What a fantastic introduction and segue from a possibly embarrassing situation. I loved my fiancé! Sigh…

  “Hello everyone.” Michael lumped us all together and wished us away—at least that’s what appearances intimated. “It’s nice to see you all, and a bit surprising,” he added without pause. “How are you feeling, Laney? You’ve grown quite…” He was smart to stop mid-sentence. What the hell did you tell a woman, who carried twins, about her appearance?

  Laney didn’t give two-cents about Michael’s thoughts. She and Bee were salivating at the possibilities of Michael and the woman sitting at the two-top with him—his ‘unwilling-to-admit-childhood-sweetheart.’

  “Hi. I’m Laney. And you are?” Absolutely and very purposely, no tact or mercy shown. My cousin was on the prowl.

  “Hello. I’m Chloe—Michael’s…friend? Designer? What the hell am I?” Her thoughts were frank and vocal. By the sly upward curve of Laney’s mouth, I’d say she found her answer.

  “Girlfriend?” Once again, Laney went in for the kill and didn’t care to leave any survivors.

  Michael and Chloe were entirely flushed and discombobulated in their answers.

  “No!” They responded within a millisecond of each other.

  “We’re friends,” was Michael’s defense.

  “I work for the Bennington family,” was Chloe’s reasoning.

  “You do not work for the Bennington family. You don’t need to work for Grandfather, you choose to, no matter how many time
s I’ve told you to follow your dream.”

  “I am following my dream. I’m decorating your apartment in London and His Grace’s residence in Paris.”

  “But you won’t let us pay you. That’s not following your dream.” Michael continued to disapprove, not recognizing our avid attention.

  “Our seats appear to be near one another. Why don’t we join our tables and have lunch together? We need to relieve the congestion in this narrow restaurant.” Talk about relief. Our host shifted from one foot to another, wondering how to have the six of us sit our butts down.

  Laney exclaimed, “Great idea, Honey,” and sat in the seat closest to Chloe.

  “We are just about done with our meal…” Michael fought our nosiness and more than mild interest. In his defense, they’d received their chosen desserts as well as the house desserts and coffee, already. He wasn’t lying.

  “And we have a meeting with the kitchen designer in fifteen minutes.” Chloe’s sincere answer gave them a way out. Michael asked for the check and they only stayed a few minutes longer. We received no further information concerning these two.

  “What do you think?” Laney asked Bee with a generous amount of enthusiasm.

  “I’m thinking what you’re thinking, my dear niece. I hope it works out for the both of them.”

  “They both looked smitten, huh? The way they were arguing was like me and Donovan before he came to his senses.”

  “I agree. I wish him well.”

  When there weren’t so many ears listening to this conversation, I’d have to fill the two ladies in on what I learned about Michael and Chloe.

  “How was Antoni Villa?” Donovan asked Max, who shrugged his shoulders.

  “Ask the opinionated woman who made all the decisions. I was told to nod my head to the tune of my fiancée’s whims.”

  “Nuh-uh,” I protested. “We only happened to like and dislike the same things. You weren’t coerced into any decisions.”

  “Uh-huh,” my fiancé grunted.

  “Max…” I whined. “Did you really just nod your head? Was I that much of a tyrant with my decisions?”