Greta flopped onto her bed, belly down.
“Nah. My room was mine. As long as I didn't paint or draw on any other walls in the house, it was fine.”
“I can see why Harrison and your dad are concerned that you didn't finish school.”
Greta's silence behind him made him turn around.
She pushed up to a sitting position and folded her legs underneath her.
“That's the trick, isn't it?” she asked, her face somber.
Shane's eyebrows furrowed and he sat on the edge of the bed.
“School was fun... for a while. I enjoyed learning more, and creating more, and really pushing myself as an artist, but it just...” She sighed and shook her head, not finishing her sentence.
“It just what?” Shane prompted her softly.
She pursed her lips and looked down at her lap.
“It stopped being fun.” She shrugged, folded her hands together, and looked back up at him. “I like working with customers. I like the coffee shop, the same as I liked the clinic. But I like my art more when it's not something I'm expected to do. It's for me. And I know that sounds selfish, but it's the only way I can really explain it. If I were to finish school, then I'd be expected to get a job in the category of “artist.” So that means I'd be out there, showing my heart to potential employers and they'd be turning me down. Because that's how the market works. It's just too heartbreaking of a thought for me.”
“I think I just fell in love with you a little bit more,” Shane heard himself mutter.
Greta's eyes lit and she smiled sweetly.
“Have you had a pretty good birthday so far?” she asked softly, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.
“Best ever,” he answered honestly.
Not letting go of his hand, she reached up with her other and traced the line of his jaw, then his lower lip, then his eyebrow. “That day in your office, when we discussed the arrangement of us working together, I couldn't stop staring at the lines of your face. I still haven't stopped thinking about them. I have so many sketches of you at home. I can never get you out of my mind,” she whispered.
Shane's chest expanded and his heart squeezed. “Every time I have to say goodnight and leave you to go sleep someplace separate, it hurts. And every morning when I wake up and you're not there, it feels wrong. Like a part of me is missing,” he confessed in return.
Greta sucked in her bottom lip and bit down. She released it after a few seconds. “What do we do about that?”
“You could stay with me tonight,” Shane offered. He watched her carefully, noting the fresh flush of her cheeks.
“My dad really likes you, Shane, but I'm sure that would end instantly if we did something like that.” She smiled shyly. “Besides, my brother is staying there still.”
“What would it take for them to be okay with it?” Shane asked, and her eyes flashed at his question.
“Besides being married, nothing,” she laughed as she said it.
“Then let's get married.”
She stopped laughing and her eyebrows lifted. “What?”
Shane didn't answer right away. He had spoken on impulse, but now that he was thinking about the reality of what he'd said, he couldn't think of anything else he wanted.
“We've been going fast, it hasn't hurt us yet. So let's go faster.”
“I'm not sure I know what you're saying.”
Shane ran a hand over his face and grinned, shaking his head. “Let's take a page out of your playbook and be impulsive.”
Her chin dipped down as her gaze grew hard on his face. “Shane, marriage isn't something to take lightly.”
“Greta,” he said, giving her a pointed look, “I know that.”
She shook her head and closed her eyes. He let out a deep chuckle, got up and walked to the window, looking at the world outside.
“We only have to be on St. Lucia for two days to get a wedding license.”
“What?” she breathed behind him.
Shane's smile widened, but he didn't turn around.
“I mean, I would have suggested Vegas, but that's been done recently. Besides, marrying you, on a beach in the Caribbean... that's the stuff dreams are made of.”
“You can't be serious,” Greta protested. He heard her get off the bed, cross the room, and come to a stop behind him.
“Or maybe in the mountains,” he continued, trying to picture it.
“Shane, be real with me for a second,” she coaxed.
He turned slowly, his gaze ran over her dark hair, bright eyes, bubblegum lips. “That day I saw you for the first time on the beach, I knew you were amazing. The way you carried yourself on the waves. Your fearlessness, your grace.” He took a breath, felt his lips tip up on one side. “It was the perfect moment, capturing exactly who you are. The more you show me, the more I like.”
He swung an arm out to circle the room. “Look around, you cover your world with beauty every time you let your heart detonate. You explode with light and color. I already know I'll never let you go. Why not make it happen now? Why wait until, what? Society says we've known each other long enough? Who makes those rules anyway?” He reached out, gripping her by her upper arms and pulling her close to him.
“You hit my life like a bolt of lightning and set everything around me on fire. I want you to be mine. In every way possible. Because I'm already yours.”
Her breath hitched and he looked from her desire-soaked eyes to her parted lips. Then he crashed against her mouth with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck immediately, building the fire of the kiss quickly. Like only she could do.
“Say yes,” he demanded against her mouth, then kissed her hard again before she could respond. “Say you'll be mine, that you'll promise your forever to me.”
“Yes,” she breathed out, her hands fisting in his hair, her body pressing against his.
“Say you'll run away with me and get married, before the year ends.”
She jerked her head back and he could see the surprise war with her excitement. “You're sure?” she asked with some hesitation.
“With everything that I am,” was his response. It must have been the right one, because she aimed that blinding smile directly at him, engulfing him in a light so hot and so bright, he couldn't see anything but her.
Chapter 16
A Place Only You Can Go
St. Lucia.
Greta looked out across the crystal turquoise waters and took a deep breath of the salty air.
Her heart hadn't stopped pounding since she'd arrived in New York City four and a half days ago. It increased in speed and intensity as they closed in on New Year's Eve.
Today.
Now it felt like it was about to break apart her rib cage and launch itself at the man standing across from her.
After Shane's unconventional proposal on Christmas Day, and her more than eager agreement, he had taken charge and set into motion a plan that was crazy. A plan that, if she had told anyone about it, would have had them questioning her sanity.
Shane had taken her birth certificate and flown to New York that night to fax the required documents and arrange accommodations. He'd instructed her to pack and be on an early morning flight out the next day to meet him in NYC. The only sticky part of that was that she had to lie to everyone. Like everyone. She told them all she was flying back to California a day early because of work. Then she called Laura at her job and said that there was a family emergency and she wouldn't be back for another ten days. No one in the world knew that she and Shane were flying to the Caribbean to get married.
Shane had met her at JFK, where they boarded a flight that took them to the Port of Spain for a one-hour layover, then on to Castries, the capital of St. Lucia.
During the first flight, Shane had explained the plan. The whole thing. And Greta had listened, she was sure of it. Something about wedding licenses taking three weeks to prepare unless you pay an expedition fee. Which Shane did, so that they could get married on New Ye
ar's Eve. On the beach. All Greta had to do was not lose her passport, Shane took care of the rest. But most of the details were swept clean away when she saw the island out of the window as it came into view.
The island where she would go from a solo to a duet.
From unitary to united.
From alone to accompanied.
Forever.
With Shane.
Greta loved traveling. She'd been doing it alone for years. Usually flying out on a whim to see her brother play a show, or maybe just to test the swell of the North Shore in Hawaii. But she had never been to the Caribbean. And she had never had a travel companion.
It was nice. Very nice.
Shane turned out to be more than she had expected all those months ago when she'd run into him casually during a girls night out. A night out with friends she didn't normally see often, at a place she never frequented.
But she'd known who Shane was the moment he bumped into her. It was impossible not to. She'd been living in Huntington Beach for so long at that point, Shane Brookings was a common topic of conversation. Not to mention he was her roommate's boss.
So while she knew of him, the rumors, the reputation, the history, the heartbreak, she didn't know him. Until now.
Without a doubt, Greta knew she was with the exact right person. It was more than the way he made her heart race or how he filled out his athletic-cut tees. It was the way he laughed at her jokes. The way he never held back his smiles or his happiness with her. His confidence, his humility, his drive and passion, his curiosity, his quiet strength, his patience. He let her see everything, and all she saw was beautiful.
He was right; marriage between them was inevitable. So why waste another minute?
They arrived at the resort and Greta had her first real temptation.
Shane had booked them in the same room. She thought maybe they didn't need to wait until the marriage was final to get with the naked time. When she presented this idea to Shane, he had laughed until Greta thought maybe he would hurt himself. Which was unfortunate, because she wasn't joking.
“I'm going to try to pretend like your reaction wasn't about having sex with me and maybe you were remembering a joke someone told you and you just picked this really inappropriate time to relive it,” she grumbled as she unpacked her tiny carry-on. That was another thing, she didn't have anything to wear here. She had only brought what she had packed to go home with. So Boston winter apparel didn't exactly transfer to sun and surf.
Shane hooked an arm around her waist and hauled her in front of him. His lips brushed the shell of her ear in a tender kiss and she immediately got goosebumps.
“I was laughing because you're as hilarious as you are sexy. I'm just as anxious as you, gorgeous, but let's stick to the plan.”
He released her and she took a moment to steady herself. How he was so confident and relaxed about this whole thing, she had no idea. Not that she was freaking out, she wasn't. But she was a little more on edge than she usually liked to be.
“Can't wait to finally see that tattoo,” Shane muttered as he lightly slapped her backside. He walked passed her and closed himself in the bathroom with a chuckle.
Over the next few days, Greta was much more relaxed. They hiked, they surfed, they snorkeled. It was similar to the time they spent together at home.
Easy.
Fun.
Perfect.
She found a pale pink silk dress in a boutique on one of their shopping excursions. It became her wedding dress. Shane chose some gray slacks and a white button-down shirt. After that, he took her to a jewelry store and they picked out an engagement and wedding set.
Every night Shane would tuck her in and count down how many days left until he didn't have to sleep on the couch in their room.
“Last one.”
Greta smirked at his playful expression.
“You know, I don't think I've ever told you how much I love your smirk,” Shane said, his amber eyes going lazy as he focused on her mouth.
“No one likes my smirk.”
Shane stared at her mouth and his expression turned thoughtful. “You know why everyone loves the Mona Lisa?” He didn't wait for her response as he traced the line of her mouth with an index finger and then tapped her nose. “It's the smirk. It says everything you need to know about her without saying anything at all.”
Greta swallowed and slowly let out a breath. “I hope you know what you're getting into with me. It's not too late to change your mind,” she whispered.
“I could say the same to you.”
“Never gonna happen.”
Shane's mouth met hers in the warmest, softest, slowest kiss she had ever experienced.
Now, Greta wiggled her toes a little deeper in the sand on the beach where they had chosen to make their vows, and took a deep breath. She looked from the water into Shane's perfect golden eyes and saw all the love and excitement she was feeling being reflected right back.
She repeated the vows that the officiant spoke for her and watched Shane's smile take over his face in a blinding way.
They had decided to go with traditional vows, since the rest of the event was so irregular. The promises “to have and to hold 'til death do you part.” Greta had always loved those vows. How many ways could you say forever anyway? Might as well not mess with the classics.
But she had one more thing to add.
“Can I just promise one more thing?” she asked softly, her eyes shifting to the officiant.
“Of course.” He smiled and dipped his chin slightly.
Greta felt her eyes get wet as she took in all that was Shane. If she had sat down at some point in her life and figured out who the perfect man would be, she would never have dreamed this up. And she knew he wasn't perfect, he had his flaws. Flaws that he was more afraid of than she was. But he was perfect to her.
“You told me that I was a bolt of lightning into your life. If that's true, then you're my thunder. The kind that wakes me up in the middle of the night with the promise of new rain. What good is lightning if it never connects? You're where I connect. You're the place where I come home.”
“Sweetness...” Shane whispered, his hand came out to tuck a hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear. She grabbed it and pressed his palm to her cheek.
“I promise, with everything I have, with everything I am, you can do the same with me. I will always be the place you can come home. Every time.”
Shane didn't wait. He slipped his hand around her neck, gave a gentle tug and she fell against him. Somewhere in the middle of the kiss, Greta heard the officiant chuckle that they were now husband and wife.
***
Shane stared at his sleeping wife in the moonlight. He lightly traced her collarbone with his fingers, moving the hair that had fallen there off to the side. Her full lips were slightly parted, her dark lashes a perfect contrast on her creamy skin. He'd thought she was beautiful before, but... damn, he really didn't have a clue.
As far as first times went, it was perfect. She'd been nervous, but he'd taken his time and once they started, only exhaustion would stop them.
It was electric.
It was intense.
It was fantastic.
As he watched her sleeping in the bed they were finally sharing, Shane made his own extra promise.
Never in his life did he imagine he'd have all of this to himself. That he'd have the love of a good woman to call his own. But here she was. And she was his in every way now. How he had survived this long in his life without her was a mystery.
He would never take that for granted. He would never make her regret trusting him with her heart and her light. He'd spend the rest of his life showing her exactly how amazing she was and how grateful he was to have her beauty in his life. Every day, from now on, would be spent honoring that beauty.
Shane pulled her soft body against his and she rolled towards him. He tucked her into his side as she pressed her cheek against his chest. The arm underneath
her circled her shoulders while his opposite hand guided her leg over both of his and he rested his hand on her hip.
“I'll love you forever, crazy girl.”
“Mmm, okay,” she whispered in her sleep as she burrowed deeper into him.
Shane grinned at the ceiling, and then he too fell fast asleep, happy and sated. Mind, body, and soul.
***
For the next five days, they didn't leave their room. They didn't need to.
No one called because no one knew.
Shane figured they'd deal with the fallout when they got back. He knew that anyone who was upset by recent events would get over it.
They'd have to, because no two people were meant to be like they were, and he was never spending a day without Greta again.
Chapter 17
First Straw
“I'm a little scared, not gonna lie,” Greta blurted her first words since their plane had touched down at LAX.
Shane knew something was on her mind and he could about guess what it was, but didn't push her to talk about it. They didn't discuss where to go after arriving home, he automatically took her back to his house. He'd carried their luggage into his—their bedroom, and gone to find her. She was sitting on the couch with her hands clasped in her lap, elbows to thighs, face pensive.
He took a seat next to her, sliding his hand over hers; he felt the tension in her body ease at his touch.
“You want me to tell everyone?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I just haven't really considered what to say or what they'll say up until this moment.” She sniffed a laugh and looked down at her lap. “Typical Greta; jump first, think during the free fall.”
“But you didn't jump alone this time,” he reminded her gently.
She smiled at him fondly.
“It's not my parents that I'm worried about. They love you, and chances are they've been expecting this since the moment Harrison told them about us.”
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