by Soraya Lane
“You still want my advice on which painting to buy, don’t you?” she asked. “I mean, after all the time I took making notes and deciding . . .”
“Darlin’, we have to buy something today. Just remember that it’s going to be for our collection, so make sure you choose wisely.”
The slow smile that spread across her face was contagious. “Ours?”
“Faith, you’re going to be my wife. Whatever we do from now on we do together.”
She stepped away from him, clasping his hand and tugging him to his seat.
“Well, let’s have lunch, buy this damn painting, and find a hotel to spend the night. I’m ready for some of this togetherness you’re talking about.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he winked as she took the silver lid off one of the dishes.
“Oh really?”
“Yes, and trust me, you’ll need all your energy to keep up with me. So eat up.”
“All my energy?” he quipped, taking his own lid off, not nearly as interested in the food as he was in the woman seated across from him.
“Yes,” she said, picking up her fork but never taking her eyes off his. “And then some.”
He laughed; then so did she, holding out her left hand at the same time.
“Are we really going to get married?”
“No. This was just some big scam to get you into my bed tonight.”
“Well, it worked.” She was still smiling and looking down at her ring. “It’s perfect, Nate. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.”
“You’re perfect. And the perfect girl deserves the perfect ring.”
He’d never been one for big romantic gestures, but seeing the smile on Faith’s face told him that he’d want to spoil her for the rest of her life just to see her face lit with happiness.
“To us,” he said, raising his glass.
“To us,” she murmured in reply, taking a sip and grinning at him over her glass.
Thank god he’d stopped being such an idiot and manned the hell up to his feelings. He’d been an idiot plenty in the past, but not chasing Faith and showing her what she meant to him would have been the biggest mistake of his life.
“You know, it should have scared me, the fact that you’ve been with so many women.”
Faith stretched out on the oversize bed, the final rays of sunshine falling across the covers. So much for flying out tonight. Instead they were holed up at the Waldorf Astoria, in an extravagant room filled with fresh flowers to make it feel like home, as if they were already newlyweds without a care in the world. She might like to pretend she wasn’t impressed by his wealth, but there were certain things that she was already starting to look forward to enjoying, and beautiful rooms and lazy afternoons spent in them were top of her list.
Nate stroked her face, his fingertips gentle as they caressed her skin like she was the most precious thing on the planet. “How about we don’t talk about the other women I’ve been with.”
“But it didn’t,” she continued, finding it impossible to keep her eyes open, relaxed and feeling like her limbs had turned to jelly after being in bed with Nate all afternoon. “You’ve been with plenty of women, gotten all that out of your system, and by now, I figure that you know exactly what you want.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “You could say that.” He dropped a kiss to her lips, mouth moving slowly across hers. “Because all I want is you. In my bed, in my kitchen, on my plane . . .”
She giggled. “I kinda like the sound of all that.”
“Well, good,” he muttered, reaching for her left wrist so he could push her arm back onto the pillow and force her onto her back.
“The benefit of you saving your bed at home for me is that I don’t have to insist you get a new mattress at least,” she teased.
This time she was certain Nate growled; she heard the rumble in his throat as he stared down at her, his face inches from hers as he positioned himself above her, supporting his weight with his elbows.
“Enough talking!” he demanded.
“Or what?” she asked, wiggling beneath him, arching her back so her breasts were against his bare chest. “Haven’t you had enough of me yet?”
“I knew you were trouble,” he muttered, reaching for both her wrists so he could hold her down properly, his body heavy against hers now. “From the day I realized you were all grown-up and gorgeous, and then all over again when you landed on my doorstep demanding I take you in.”
“You think I’m trouble?” she asked, sucking hard on his bottom lip and receiving a curse from him in response. “I’d say that’s the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Oh yeah?” he murmured, taking her mouth against his and kissing her hard until she moaned. He softened it then, his lips going from firm to so, so soft.
“Yeah,” she managed.
“I’ll show you trouble, Ms. Mendes. Like you’ve never known in your lifetime.”
She let him kiss her, loving that he was holding her down yet she felt safe as she’d ever felt with a man. “That’ll be ‘Mrs. King’ to you soon.”
“I know,” he replied, slowly releasing her wrists so he could move down her body instead. “And I can’t wait.”
Faith gasped as he kissed her neck, then her collarbone, then teasingly danced kisses around her breast. He might have thought she was trouble, but he was the one who’d gotten her into trouble way over her head. Only now she could see that for once in her life it was the kind of trouble she should have embraced rather than run from. All she’d ever wanted was to be happy, to know that what she was giving a man was going to be returned and then some. And with Nate she had everything. A man she’d admired since girlhood, who’d turned into a man jaw-droppingly gorgeous, yet with the business acumen to succeed in everything he turned his hand to, and he loved her. He loved her. Nate fricking King loved her, and she intended to bask in his love for as long as she could.
Epilogue
Nate was sweating. His suit felt like a wet suit, it was clinging so tightly to his body, like a plastic cling wrap that he couldn’t escape from.
“I’ve found a fan,” the wedding planner announced, hurrying in with the cord of an old fan trailing behind her.
“Great,” Nate muttered, tugging his shirt out of his pants so he could hold the cord up. She went to plug it in, but Chase took over, bending down to push it in while Ryder angled the fan.
“It’s not that hot,” Ryder teased, standing in just his shirt and tie, suit jacket resting over one of the pews in the first row of the old church.
“Trust Faith for picking the only damn place with no air-conditioning.”
“Hey, she wanted an intimate ceremony for like thirty people instead of some kind of circus for two hundred.” Ryder shook his head. “I’d be thanking my lucky stars.”
Nate shrugged. “I just want this whole thing over.”
“Cold feet?” Chase asked, frowning as he crossed his arms and leaned against a seat.
“No,” Nate said emphatically. “I just want Faith here in front of me, the ceremony to be over with, and us getting to work on the happily ever after part.”
“In bed?” Ryder laughed and Chase joined in.
“I’m just too damn hot; that’s the problem,” Nate muttered. “Why couldn’t we have just eloped?”
“Don’t say it!” Sam called out, interrupting him. “I might be okay with you marrying her, but I don’t want to hear anything about the two of you, or whatever the hell depraved things you want to do with her as part of that happy ever after.”
Nate dropped his shirt and held out his hand to Sam. “Does the fact that you’re here mean she’s here, too?”
Nate’s friend grinned. “Yeah, she’s here. Looking pretty gorgeous if I do say so myself.” He looked Nate up and down. “I think it’s about time you tucked yourself back in. Can’t have my sister marrying a hobo.”
They all laughed and Nate was pleased Sam was here. They’d known each other a long time, and it was good
having him with his brothers alongside him. People started to file into the church then, just a handful of friends they were both close to. Nate forgot all about how hot he was as he greeted everyone, took his mind off the fact that he was about to get married as he chatted. Ryder had been right—a ceremony for a couple hundred people wouldn’t have been anything like this, wouldn’t have held the same meaning.
The minister appeared then, walking in with a big smile on his face and holding out his hands to Nate. The last time he’d held a service for the King family it had been for Clay’s funeral, and Nate was pleased to be seeing the minister for something happier this time, even if he was wishing his granddad was there to see him get married.
“I think it’s time,” the minister said. “Your bride is ready and waiting for you.”
Nate sucked back a breath and followed the minister, his brothers, and Sam moving to stand alongside him.
“This is it, big bro,” Ryder said.
“And just like that, all three King bachelors are off the market,” Sam joked, making them all laugh.
Nate was about to say something back when the words died in his mouth. He couldn’t even remember what had seemed so funny at the time. The string quartet had started to play, a soft rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major; goose pimples trailed across every inch of Nate’s skin, a chill that he’d never felt before. The last time he’d set foot in a church had been to say good-bye to his mother, a fact that he hadn’t shared with Faith because he hadn’t wanted to ruin their special day when she was so excited about marrying in her local church. His brothers had known, he’d refused every Easter and Christmas to join them even as a boy ever again, and he’d seen the surprise on their faces when he’d told them where their ceremony was taking place today. But now that he was standing there, it felt right. Like his mom could be looking down over them, all the awful memories of saying good-bye to her replaced with waiting for his bride.
And there she was. Nate suddenly couldn’t hear anything else, couldn’t see anything else except the woman standing at the back of the church. Chloe walked first with Rose, the little girl giggling as she threw tiny pink rose petals, Hope followed and then Faith’s friend Cara, but he only managed a quick smile to her bridesmaids. Today was all about Faith, and damn, was she incredible. Her smile took his breath away, emotion catching in his throat as she slowly made her way to him. Her father was seated in the church, she’d invited him, but she hadn’t wanted him to walk her down the aisle, and Sam ran forward. He crossed past Nate, did what they hadn’t planned but what sure as hell seemed right, and took Faith’s arm so she didn’t have to walk alone.
When they finally reached him, Nate was brushing away a tear from his cheek and clearing his throat, holding out both hands to Faith. She was dressed in a simple gown; it hugged her body, white and covered in tiny beads that caught the light, her shoulders bare in the strapless dress. She wore no veil, just a white flower in her long dark hair that was out and tumbling down over one shoulder.
“You look incredible,” he whispered, unable to stop grinning like an idiot. “Faith, you are so beautiful.”
Her smile was wide as she stared up at him, eyes filled with tears that mirrored his own.
“You scrubbed up pretty well yourself, Mr. King.”
Sam cleared his throat then, getting their attention. The music was still playing, which meant no one else heard the low words leveled at Nate.
“Don’t you ever hurt her, Nate. You keep your promise,” Sam cautioned. “You love her and look after her until your dying breath, you hear me?”
Nate held out his hand to shake Sam’s. “I promise you, Sam. On my mother’s grave, I promise that I won’t so much as harm a hair on her head.”
Sam smiled and paused to kiss Faith’s cheek. “I wish you two all the happiness in the world. I never planned on getting this douche bag as a brother-in-law, but it could have been worse.”
Nate laughed, but his eyes were only for Faith. The church was silent, the music gone and everyone waiting for them, but he didn’t care. He held both of Faith’s hands and stared down at her, amazed that somehow he’d met a woman like her who’d completely changed his life.
“I never picked you for a man who’d cry,” Faith whispered, touching her forehead to his when he bent down.
“Hey, I never picked myself for a guy who’d marry,” he murmured, pressing his lips softly to hers to make sure he didn’t ruin her makeup.
“I don’t mean to interrupt you two lovebirds, but there’s some folks here waiting to witness a wedding.”
Their friends all laughed at Sam’s loud words, but Nate took his time, not intending rushing anything about his big day.
“I love you, Faith,” he whispered in her ear.
“Well, good,” she said with a laugh. “Because I love you, too.”
They finally turned, hand in hand, Nate almost laughing, the whole situation was so hilarious. How the hell had he ended up about to marry the one woman in the world he’d vowed never to touch?
“Friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Nathaniel King and Faith Mendes,” the minister began, facing them as he spoke. “I’ve come to know this happy couple very well over the past few months, and I’m confident that their union is one that will truly pass the test of time.”
Faith squeezed his hand and he glanced down at her. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her by his side forever, no matter what.
Faith felt like she was walking on air. The entire day had been incredible. She’d never been the little girl dreaming of a white wedding growing up, but she couldn’t deny that her wedding hadn’t been the most amazing day of her life. Or at least one of them.
“Sweetheart, it’s time for speeches,” Nate drawled into her ear, making her shiver. The way he spoke to her, the depth of his voice when he addressed only her, it did something to her, made her feel content and challenged and special all at the same time.
“Do you still want to go first?” she asked, leaning back so she could look up at him.
Nate seized the moment, dropping a kiss to her lips. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Mmmm,” she murmured, reaching up for him even though she was upside down. “I think you might have, Husband.”
“This is something that arrived for you yesterday, Nate,” Chase said. “The lawyer told me to wait until your speeches to give it to you. He said you weren’t to read it first, just to stand up and open it.”
Faith watched the exchange between the two brothers, wondering what it was all about.
“What do you think?” Nate asked her.
“I think it’s probably something from your grandfather, don’t you think?” It was the only logical explanation.
Nate shrugged, but she could tell it was troubling him.
“Just open it, darling. Take a quick look.”
Nate did as she suggested, running his thumb under the seal and pulling out a handwritten letter. She could tell from the look on his face that it was indeed from Clay.
“It’s a letter from him,” Nate said, eyes slowly meeting hers, the letter in his hand still. “He wanted me to read it on my wedding day.” He paused, a smile kicking up the corners of his mouth as he read further. “If I married you.”
“Me?” She laughed. “He must have known what we didn’t.”
Nate took her hand in his and turned it to kiss her palm before moving to stand beside her at the table and tapping his spoon to his glass.
“I’d like to say a few words!” he said loudly, his booming voice quieting the previously noisy room.
Faith looked at her husband, unable to take her eyes off him. He looked incredible in his Dolce & Gabbana suit, his tie long since discarded, white shirt open necked and showing off a whole heap of tanned skin.
“I’d like to begin by saying how grateful that we are to be surrounded by our closest family and friends. We all owe thanks to Faith for the intimacy o
f this ceremony.” Nate winked at her and she smiled back, taking a sip of champagne as he continued with his speech. “I never believed I’d ever fall in love, yet here I am today having declared my love for this one incredible woman who managed to come along and knock the stuffing from me when I thought I’d lost her.”
There were murmurs amongst their friends and Faith reached for his hand, needing to touch him.
“I’ve known plenty of beautiful women in my lifetime,” Nate continued, scowling when a few of the guys sniggered, “but none who also possessed the brains and sass to keep me in line.” He cleared his throat. “And it seems that even my granddad knew I’d met my match, if this letter I just received is anything to go by. He’s the one person missing today who I wish could have held on long enough to see me married, but I’ll just take a moment to read this aloud for the first time, as he wished.”
Faith could see the tears glistening in Nate’s eyes, heard the catch of emotion in his throat as he spoke of his granddad, and so she rose, slipping an arm around him and dropping her head to rest on his shoulder, to stand by him and support him.
“ ‘To Nate and Faith, because I know that unless you’ve done something to muck it all up, son, that she’s the only one you’re ever likely to marry in this lifetime.’ ”
Faith laughed softly and held Nate even tighter.
“ ‘You swore black and blue that you would never marry, but I always knew that one day a woman would come along who would challenge you enough to make you want to chase her. And when I saw you all bent out of sorts over Faith, I knew you’d finally met your match, because that’s exactly how I was over your grandma. She pushed all my buttons, made me fuming mad half the time trying to figure out what the hell she wanted, but she was the only one for me.’ ”
Nate cleared his throat, glancing across at Faith before continuing.
“ ‘All I’ve ever wanted is for you boys to be happy, and imagine me finally letting go and knowing that your younger brothers had met wonderful women to love them. My only hope is that you and Faith can find the same kind of happiness that your grandmother and I had, to bring up your children on the ranch that has been in our family for generations, and to continue our legacy. And please tell that gorgeous new bride of yours that I wholeheartedly approve of your decision. In fact, if I was ten years younger I might have tried to give you a run for your money.’ ”