Story of Love
A Braden Novella
Love in Bloom Series
Melissa Foster
This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
STORY OF LOVE
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2017 Melissa Foster
Kindle Edition
V1.0
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Cover Design: Elizabeth Mackey Designs & Natasha Brown
WORLD LITERARY PRESS
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Dear Readers,
If this is your first Love in Bloom book, get ready to meet the loving and loyal Bradens of Weston, Colorado. Story of Love is a great way to get to know the family, and then you can go back and read each of their love stories.
See my website to start the Love in Bloom series FREE.
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Melissa
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
A Note to Readers
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Hal
Excerpt from Friendship on Fire
About the Love in Bloom Series
More Books By Melissa
About the Author
Chapter One
RILEY BANKS RAN through the dark alley clutching a box of homemade brownies in one hand—because every bride needs chocolate to calm her nerves—and clinging to her fiancé with the other. If the last twenty-four hours were any indication of what her wedding day would be like, she’d need about ten more pounds of chocolate just to make it through the weekend. Warm air whisked over her skin as they fled the gorgeous Bahamas resort to avoid a mob of paparazzi that were eagerly awaiting the wedding of world-renowned fashion designer Josh Braden.
“This is so ridiculous, running away in the middle of the night like we’re criminals. We’re just two regular people who want to get married. It’s not like we’re celebrities.” As Josh’s business partner and codesigner, Riley was not far behind him in notoriety, but she didn’t see herself that way. In her eyes, she was still a small-town girl from Weston, Colorado, who’d fallen in love with her high school crush years after graduation and happened to have a knack for designing clothes.
“No celebrity could hold a candle to you, babe.” Josh tightened his grip on her hand, keeping her moving at a quick pace.
They rushed toward the road where Josh’s brother Hugh was waiting to drive them to a remote landing strip. There they’d connect with their brother-in-law Jack Remington, who would fly them to their real wedding destination—the Sterling House, a rustic inn where Josh’s parents had been wed, in the Colorado mountains. The Sterling House no longer functioned as an inn, making it the ideal location to exchange their vows, for both sentimentality and privacy. Thankfully, Josh’s extended family was happy to help them avoid the paparazzi mayhem. His relatives from Peaceful Harbor, Maryland, and Trusty, Colorado, had descended upon the resort for their fake wedding. Josh’s cousin Jake was a stuntman and was used to the media swarming film sets and parties. He knew exactly how to create diversions and handle the media—giving Josh and Riley the chance to slip away unnoticed for the small, private ceremony they desperately desired.
Josh stopped suddenly and swept Riley into his arms. Love and adoration swam in his dark eyes, making Riley want to head back to the hotel and make love to him one more time before leaving the beautiful island.
“Are you having second thoughts about marrying a famous fashion designer? Because if you are, I’ll go riches to rags and we can live on an island far away from paparazzi without a stitch of clothing or a dollar to our names.”
Riley’s heart swelled. She’d loved Josh for so long. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t loved him, and she knew he would do anything for her—including giving up the incredible empire he’d created, which she’d never, ever want him to do. Although the without a stitch of clothing part sounded pretty darn good to her.
“No second thoughts about us, Josh. You know that.” She glanced back at the sparkling lights of the resort against the clear night sky, then down at the cobblestones beneath their feet, and finally, she lifted her gaze to meet his, and her heart tumbled anew. She hated that the press had the ability to drive them away from such a romantic setting. The truth was, there were many times she resented the media attention that came along with Josh’s fame. She wanted desperately for them to have a normal life together, one where they could walk in the park or go out to dinner without having to worry about photographers or reporters documenting their every move.
“I just can’t imagine raising children under these conditions,” she admitted for the tenth time in as many days.
Josh splayed his hand over her belly, and her body tingled with excitement—and worry. “I still can’t believe we’re pregnant.”
When she’d stopped using birth control, she’d gone two months without having her period. Her doctor had assured her that her body was simply adjusting to going off the pill and from the stress of the elaborate scheme they’d concocted for their wedding.
“I’ll never forget how devastated we were when the doctor said I would be unable to get pregnant.” After three months without a period, her doctor had run tests, and he’d informed her that it appeared she had a rare condition called silent anovulation, where her body had regular periods but didn’t release eggs. Apparently the pill had kept her cycle regular, and once she went off it, and her body was self-regulating, she didn’t have periods at all.
“Can you believe it’s been eight weeks?” They had still been mourning the children they’d never have when she’d started getting sick in the mornings and they’d run more tests. She placed her hand over his, remembering the elation that came with the news of her pregnancy.
“You’re my medical miracle.” He kissed her softly.
Her doctor had called her a medical anomaly. Her morning sickness, like everything else about this pregnancy, had been odd and had lasted only two weeks. Because of her doctor’s concern over her unusual pregnancy, she and Josh had decided not to tell their families until they’d made it through the first trimester, at which time her doctor felt they would be past the most tenuous stage of pregnancy.
Josh bent down and kissed her not-yet-round belly, then rose and kissed her mouth softly. “I know you’re worried. You know I’m all for moving back to Weston for part of the year if that’s what you want. I’d do anything for you. For both of you.”
It was true, he would. But as much as she wanted to raise their children in their hometown, near family and friends, neither of them knew what type of impact such a move would have on their business. And
she couldn’t get past the fact that asking Josh to move was unfair. The woman he’d fallen in love with had accepted everything about his life, including living in New York City and the media attention that came with it. She felt guilty for even thinking about moving away from the hub of the empire he’d built.
Despite the guilt, her heart raced just thinking about the idea of living in two places. She loved the idea of it, but she just couldn’t figure out how they could possibly make it work. “I know you would, but dragging kids back and forth? Assuming we’re lucky enough to have more than one. How hard will that be on them? And what about when they start school? We’d have to hire someone to handle the on-site management of the company while we’re gone, and I don’t want our kids raised by nannies because we’re traveling all the time. I want them with us.” Her mind felt like it might explode. There were too many things to consider and no easy answers. And to top it all off, she was on the cusp of launching a new clothing line next summer, which presented another host of issues to consider with a baby in the mix.
She splayed her hand protectively over her belly and took a deep breath. “I can’t even think clearly enough to pull it all together. It seems like we’re heading into a storm of unknown factors, and—”
Josh touched his lips to hers, silencing her fast-streaming words. Then he flashed that sexy, confident smile that made her insides flutter. “Babe, we will figure this out. We’ll talk with Treat and Max, and Savannah and Jack, and the others. Look at Hugh and Brianna. They travel all the time with two children. And Dane and Lacy live on a boat. They’re never in one place for more than a few weeks. If my siblings can maintain more than one household with children in tow, we can make it work, too.” Of Josh’s five siblings, only his brother Rex, and Rex’s wife, Jade—Riley’s best friend—had made Weston their only home.
“But their businesses are different and—”
He pressed his lips to hers again. “Shh, baby. Slow your brilliant mind for a second. Mia has been my assistant forever, and you know she can handle the office and coordinate schedules. It’s not like we’ll be in a third-world country with no Internet or phones. We can speak with her daily and fly back when necessary.”
She clung to him, acutely aware of the seconds ticking by and Hugh and Jack waiting for them. Josh was her rock, and had been her calming influence during the craziest of times. He had the innate ability to see past chaos to the eye of the storm and diffuse it effortlessly. He was also the most accommodating man she’d ever met, and that knowledge came with responsibility. What if their business suffered because they weren’t on site to oversee the production of the designs? What if schedules were problematic and caused issues with last-minute meetings like the ones they were always pulled in to? She didn’t want to be the cause of making a mistake where their design firm was concerned.
“I’m still thinking about everything. Can you imagine how protective I’ll be over our baby if we stay in the city? I’d probably get thrown in jail for clocking a photographer, or end up like Michael Jackson, covering our baby’s face in veils so it’s not put on the cover of every rag magazine. My claws still come out over the rest of the world wanting a piece of you.” She wrung her hands together, unable to believe she’d just admitted something so juvenile.
He chuckled, and the enticing, low rumble gave her goose bumps. They’d been together for years, and she still found everything about him as exciting as she had on their very first date. He ran his hands over her hips, keeping her close—her favorite place—and brushed his lips over hers.
“They want a piece of us,” he whispered. “You and I are one. And I know how much you hate the attention. I hate it, too, and I’d be the one in jail, because there’s nothing I won’t do to protect our family.”
Ever since they’d gotten together, the media had begun snapping pictures of her when she was out doing the most mundane things—going for a walk or grocery shopping—and Josh had become more possessive than ever.
“But we have months to figure all of this out. And right now”—his gaze turned sinful—“you look so hot and sexy worrying about our baby. I want a piece of us, too.”
He sealed his lips over hers, taking her in a heart-pounding kiss. She melted into the warmth and security of his arms, and her worries began to fade away. He clutched her ass, pressing her tighter against his growing arousal, and they both groaned.
“God I love you,” he said hastily between kisses. His hands traveled up her back as he deepened the kiss.
“Christ, you two.”
She startled at the sound of Hugh’s deep voice, but when she tried to pull away, Josh intensified the kiss, leaving her no choice but to give in to his scintillating demands.
“For crying out loud,” Hugh complained, though Riley could hear the smile in his voice. “You can make out in the car.”
Ignoring Hugh’s complaint, Josh’s eyes turned serious. “Let me worry about the future. Think of nothing but our beautiful…” A silent “baby” passed between them. “Wedding. Okay?”
“Christ,” Hugh grumbled. “Yeah, she gets it. We’ve got to get moving.” He put a hand on Riley’s back and guided her out of the alley. Like all the Braden men, Hugh and Josh shared their father’s dark hair and eyes and his tall, broad stature. Only their sister, Savannah, had gotten their mother’s auburn hair and eyes that hovered between green and hazel.
“We need to hurry,” Hugh urged. “Jake just called and said the photogs are scrambling because someone thought they spotted Riley heading into town. They might have gotten wind of your escape.”
“Hands off my woman, little brother.” Josh’s tone was only half teasing as his hand replaced Hugh’s on Riley’s back. With his mouth beside Riley’s ear, he said, “You’re my pretty mama.”
A little thrill ran through her at his secret endearment and his staking claim—even if he had no reason to do so around his very married, very faithful, father-of-two brother.
“They didn’t get wind of us,” she assured them as they rushed across an empty street, following Hugh toward an off-road vehicle. “There was a last-minute addition to the plan. Your cousin Emily and a few of the girls headed toward town after we left to distract any lingering photographers. We thought it would help. The girls probably forgot to clue Jake in.”
Hugh unlocked the doors as he called Jake and filled him in. Josh climbed into the backseat beside Riley, and she snuggled against him.
“Are you ready to ride off into the wild blue yonder and stop living in sin?” She read the answer in his eyes before he said a word. After watching Josh’s five siblings and her best friend, Jade, marry and begin their families, she could hardly believe it was finally their turn.
Lacing her fingers with his, she imagined the adorable dark-haired baby they’d have. A baby with Josh’s handsome features and easygoing nature and her spark of country-girl rebellion. A hint of fear and what if tiptoed in. She hated that the fear of losing the baby was never far behind her happier thoughts of what it would be like to love and cherish their child. As she’d been doing since the day she found out she was pregnant, she relied on that leap of faith her mother had told her about when she’d fallen in love with Josh, remembering their conversation as if it were yesterday. “All you can be certain of is the here and now…It’s all a leap of faith.”
“I’ve been ready for years. How about you?” He leaned closer and whispered, “Ready to make little, sweet hazel-eyed Rileys who wrap me around their tiny fingers and baby Joshes who are more interested in helping us design their birthday outfits than in riding ponies?”
Josh’s voice pulled her from one memory to the next. She remembered the evening he’d proposed to her in Christos. At the time she’d thought that would be the biggest, most important event of her life other than the day they actually got married. But now she knew how very wrong she’d been. Each and every day they were together she experienced moments that felt bigger than any that came before them: When he climbed into the sho
wer with her, hot and sweaty from his morning runs, hungry for her and only her. The way he gazed at her across the room when they were at fashion events, the electricity between them stronger than ever. And the loving words he whispered on a daily basis—none of which were sweet nothings. They were sweet everythings.
“Yes,” she said, a little breathless. “I’ll follow you anywhere your heart desires.”
He nuzzled against her neck as Hugh sped down the dark, deserted roads, his breath warming her skin. “Being with you, babe, that’s what I desire. Always and forever.”
JOSH AWOKE AS the plane keeled toward the small private landing strip, giving him a bird’s-eye view of the Sterling House. Sunlight spread like a misty blanket over the mountain peaks and the roof of the ancient inn, reflecting off the heart-shaped lake and reminding Josh of the reason they’d chosen to marry there. He’d lost his mother, Adriana, to cancer when he was just four years old, leaving his father, Hal, to raise him and his siblings on their family ranch. During the weeks when he and Riley were selecting a wedding venue, his mother had come to him in a dream. She had looked beautiful and young in her white wedding gown, standing before that very same lake, her long auburn hair blowing in a gentle breeze as she beckoned him with one hand. Josh was sure he had conjured up his mother’s image out of sheer longing, wishing she could experience this momentous time with them. Truth be told, he had always been a little envious of his older siblings for having memories of their mother to draw upon, while he’d been too young to retain any. When he’d mentioned the dream to Riley, she’d been sure it was a sign. Until that dream, Josh wasn’t so sure he believed in signs or spiritual connections, but his future wife did, and that was reason enough for him to agree—and to hope she was right.
“It’s pretty cool that you chose to get married here,” Hugh said softly, eyeing Riley, fast asleep beside Josh. “Do you think Mom and Dad knew when they married that they’d have six kids?” Hugh had been three when they’d lost their mother, and like Josh, he hadn’t retained his memories of her. Treat was nine when their mother first became ill, and eleven when she died. He’d shared his treasured memories with each of them. Though Josh carried a little emptiness inside him for not having his own memories to draw from, he would forever be thankful to his family for helping him keep their mother’s spirit alive.
Story of Love (Josh & Riley's Wedding Novella): Love in Bloom: The Bradens Page 1