“As if …” I shoved her shoulder. “You’re the most put-together woman I’ve ever seen. Even as a child you knew exactly what you wanted. And now you’re going to have twins.” I lowered my head to stare into her eyes. “I’d like to come up at the end of July while I’m in between classes and help you out if that’s okay. If you’re up for it.”
“Oh, Charity! That would be so great. With the business and the horses, and twins, I’m just scared to death.”
“Good. It’s a date. But I’m sure Jesse wouldn’t allow you to do anything anyway.”
Kayla laughed. “He thinks I’m a doll. That I might break if I pick up anything.”
“He loves you. I wish —”
A knock at the door broke off my words. “Kayla. Charity. Is it okay if I come in?” Jesse asked from outside the door. He hadn’t even peeked in like I had.
With a tap to Kayla’s knee, I stood. “Get some rest. You know Gram will want to play cards all night. Come on in, Jess!” I made my way to the door as Jesse inched it open.
“Thanks, Char!” Jesse whisked by me and dropped down in front of his wife, kissing her. “Two out of three wins for me, babe. I might be getting good enough to beat you in gin rummy.”
“In your dreams,” Kayla retorted.
“Bye, guys!” I waved. “Jesse, make sure Kayla gets some rest.”
I pulled the door closed behind me and headed back to the living area, passing my father and Gram as they played a game of cards. My mother was still in the kitchen, preparing everything for our Memorial Day cookout, refusing to accept any help. Not that it was a difficult meal. Mostly she was just preparing pasta salads and veggie trays, cutting up lettuce, tomato, and onion for the burgers, and pouring chips and dips onto serving plates. But anything my mother did in the kitchen was worth getting excited about, and I was. I felt like I had a mother and father again.
The sun would set soon, so I decided to go outside and enjoy the last few minutes of sunshine before I had to go back to work tomorrow. It was so rare that I had time to come to the beach anymore.
The salty air, the rhythmic crash of the waves on the beach. Just being on the beach made me feel like I was on vacation. I stepped up onto one of the pylons my father had buried around the edge of our property, along with a few thick areca palm trees and shrubs he’d planted for privacy.
With my eyes closed, I lifted my head to the sky and inhaled deeply.
Something plopped in front of me, and I opened my eyes. A rectangular gold envelope was about three feet in front of me. I cocked my head but didn’t move. After all, a gold piece of paper wasn’t actually something to be scared of.
“Hello?”
From behind the dense palm, another envelope, this one red, landed in front of me, along with a bag of what looked like chocolates.
I smiled, but didn’t move, waiting for more treasures from heaven.
A pink envelope this time, coupled with several long-stemmed roses landed within inches of me.
“I thought the sandman only came at night, and I didn’t realize he came bearing cards, candy, and roses,” I said to the tree.
Still no answer, and this time a blue envelope, along with oval plastic things in bright blue, yellow, and lime green colors rolled across the sand in front of me.
“Seriously? Is that you, Jules? You should be in Boston by now. No matter how many gifts you throw my way, you’re not convincing me to move to the land of sleet and snow.” The leaves rustled, but refused to divulge my benefactor. “And my father said money didn’t grow on trees. Who needs money when your trees throw gifts?”
Nothing. But I refused to move from my pylon. This was my perch. She could get her own.
The tree shook as another object came flying under it. This item was small, square, and black.
My eyes instantly filled. “Brock?”
Brock stepped out, but then bent over to pick up all the items he’d tossed.
He took a step toward me, then held up the gold envelope. “Happy New Year!” He took another step and then held up the red envelope and bag of chocolates. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Next, he lifted the pink envelope and roses. “Happy Birthday!”
I bit down on my lip as he came within two feet of me, holding up the blue card and what I now realized were plastic Easter eggs. “Happy Easter.” He held up the final gift. “I did what you asked, Charity. I got my life together. As of tomorrow, I will own my own business, and the baby isn’t mine. But even if I hadn’t figured out all of that, there’s one thing I know … I absolutely hate that I missed the last five months of your life. I love you more than anything else in my life, and if you’ll allow me, I don’t ever want to miss another day with you.” He dropped down in front of me, and opened up the black velvet box with a perfect little diamond ring nestled inside. “Will you please tell me you still love me and agree to marry me?”
“I do,” I choked out. “I do love you, and yes, I will marry you.”
Brock wrapped his arms around the bottom of my legs and lifted me off the pylon, turning me around and around, and then let me slide down in front of him.
His lips captured mine and our mouths melded together as though we hadn’t been apart for five months.
“Yay!” Cheers, whistles, and applause came from behind me.
Brock pulled back from my face and smiled. “They approve?”
“Sounds like they do. As if it would matter. I’ve never needed anyone to tell me that you were a catch, Brock Ryan.”
He pressed his lips to mine again and swung me up into his arms.
Epilogue – Brock
Thirteen Months Later …
No matter how hard we’d tried, we hadn’t been able to dissuade Charity’s parents from throwing an extravagant wedding.
At least it wasn’t huge. Charity had put her foot down when it came to the guest list. As much as she understood that her father and mother wanted to invite every single relative — even some she hadn’t seen since she was in diapers — and every single friend of theirs in Pinellas County, she’d begged and pleaded until they’d finally agreed to a small wedding and reception on the beach. And no, not in one of the fancy hotels on Sand Key, she’d also insisted. Charity wanted a small wedding at her parents’ beach house.
Her parents, being the loving people they are, had finally agreed, but then slipped an envelope into my hand while I was getting ready. The letter had simply stated:
Dear Brock,
For the last twenty years, we’ve made provisions for our daughter’s wedding, college, and future, and she refuses to accept any of it , so I will have to plead with you instead. Inside your vehicle is a packet of paperwork for your new house, which is in both of your names. We had her Uncle John b u y the house a few years ago when the market was really low . It’s a modest house, just enough to get you started in life. Please do not refuse us this one last chance we have of providing for our daughter by giving the two of you a little bit of an easier start in life. We’re very happy the two of you found each other , because we know you will always complement each other, filling each other’s needs.
We love you both,
William and Melissa (Mom and Dad)
I was certain Charity would complain. Odd that the girl who’d had everything now wanted nothing. Of course, she insisted that she had everything she wanted now, more than she’d ever had, and I certainly couldn’t argue with her, especially as I watched her make her approach.
No doubt, if I lost everything I owned and I still had Charity, I would be the richest man I knew.
My bride smiled up at me as she took her father’s arm. Her long hair was free, not pinned up in a style I wasn’t familiar with, which I’d begged of her. I loved her long flowing hair.
A white braided headband held a veil that swooped down her back. Her dress, while not as simple as she’d wanted, was breathtaking. All white satin and beaded lace and strapless, with a front that looked like a heart, emphasizing her beautiful figure. As
soon as Charity made it to the end of the aisle, Julie bustled around her, fanning out the back of the dress. The train, if I remembered correctly, reminded me of a giant scallop shell.
I smiled widely as Charity’s bright blue eyes connected with mine.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the preacher asked in his deep voice.
“Her mother and I,” William said quickly, tears filling his eyes. His forehead was dotted with perspiration as though he were afraid he’d mess up his one line. He kissed Charity on the forehead and guided her to me.
“Thank you, Dad,” Charity whispered. “I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.” William shuffled to his seat next to Melissa, who was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey, back.”
“You ready?”
“Definitely.”
“Dearly beloved …” and everything else faded into the background as I gazed into Charity’s eyes. The wind and the waves, the kids still playing in the surf, even though the sun was getting ready to set, the passersby on the beach who stared as though they’d never seen a wedding before … All the noises and activity that had captured my attention mere minutes ago couldn’t compete with the woman standing in front of me, the woman I would spend the rest of my life with.
Without a doubt, I knew that while life wouldn’t always be perfect, we’d live happily ever after. The last year and a half had definitely shown me that. Charity was a woman who said what she meant and meant what she said. I never had to wonder what she wanted or what she was thinking, and for some reason, she loved me. She loved me as I’d never been loved. We simply enjoyed every minute together and doing everything together. From sitting and reading, to surfing and water skiing, and she even enjoyed going dancing when Autumn’s band was in town. I’d finally found my soulmate.
Hearing my cue, I answered, “I do.”
And now for the best part. I waited patiently, and I could have sworn that the preacher was teasing me, adding extra words to fill the air.
“You may now kiss the bride,” he finally said.
I wrapped my arms around her and stared into her eyes before taking my kiss. “I love you, Charity Jane Ryan.”
“I love you, too, Brock Ryan. Now hush and kiss me!” she demanded, reminding me of our first night.
“With pleasure.”
Charity
I closed my eyes as Brock pressed his lips against mine. No different than the last thousand times he’d kissed me, my heart pounded out a ridiculous rhythm as though it wanted to escape my chest, and my insides burned with a fire that just might have given my heart the power to escape if it were possible.
Indisputably, my insides were also burning more than usual, because tonight I would finally experience one hundred percent of Brock Ryan. For some reason, we’d both come up with this silly notion that we should wait until our wedding night to consummate our marriage, and I’d come up with the really stupid idea of having a June wedding on the beach after I’d finished my associate’s degree. Not that I would have had time for any extra-curricular activity since I’d taken an extra load of classes to finish in less than a year and a half, but abstaining had its benefits. I’d learned so much about the man I planned to spend my life with, and I’d become stronger and more confident in myself than I’d ever thought possible. I’d also learned that I didn’t have to make sacrifices, and how a man treated you if he really loved you.
Brock hadn’t had a lot of extra time either, with his new business. But we’d both agreed that now that we were married, we would slow down. Okay, maybe I had agreed I would slow down this summer by not starting my next classes until the fall.
Our kiss was long and deep. Apparently Brock wasn’t concerned with getting too heated up, since we had the beach house all to ourselves for the rest of the evening. Then tomorrow we were heading out to someplace Brock wouldn’t share with me. He’d assured me we’d have plenty of time for fun in the sun and undisturbed nights, though.
Finally, he pulled back, and I felt as though I were on cloud nine, as though I’d just drunk a bottle of wine. Funny that I didn’t need alcohol to feel euphoric anymore. Brock’s embrace and affection were all I needed.
As much as I enjoyed my family, there was a reason I’d wanted a small wedding: I wanted to get my hands on this man I’d been in love with for nineteen months.
Every toast, I chanced a peek at my phone.
“Expecting a call?” Brock’s warm breath tickled my ear.
I turned my face to his. “From you … Would you run inside and call me, say it’s an emergency?”
Brock brushed my hair off my shoulder, his fingers lingering on my neck, sending a shiver through my being. “It’s your wedding night, baby.”
“Exactly,” I whispered. “You know, receptions should be held when the bride and groom get back from their honeymoon, don’t you think?”
“I think that’s a great idea. Where do we write to change tradition?”
“Brock …” I whined, which was so unusual for me. But I was dying inside.
“Okay,” he said, kissing me quickly. “I’ll start dropping hints.”
Not a half an hour later, the only people left were the caterers and my parents.
“Good night, you two.” My father kissed me on the forehead, then extended his hand to Brock, pulling him in for a hug. “Have a great honeymoon, and call me as soon as you get back so we can go over the rest of our business affairs.”
“Business affairs?” I inquired.
But my father waved me off as my mom kissed and hugged me.
Brock wrapped his arm around my waist as we watched the last of my family drive off.
As soon as my father closed his car door, Brock swung me up into his arms and carried me to the house. “Your room?”
“Of course.” I’d bought a ton of candles and had asked Julie and Kayla to light them. They, of course, went crazy. Sheer white gossamer was strung from the posts of my bed frame like a canopy. Rose petals were sprinkled across the bedspread and on the floor. The air was infused with a light, relaxing scent. Lavender, I guessed.
Brock lowered me to the bed. “One question …” He lowered his eyes. “I know we’ve both received clean bills of health, but what about protection against little ’uns? As much as I want kids, I’m not sure that I’m ready for twins … yet. Jesse said that if Kayla had twins, there’s a great chance that you will, too.”
“Me neither!” I laughed. “I started getting that part under control a couple months ago. We’re all set.”
“Whew,” Brock said, then laughed. He sighed longingly and moved toward me. “God, Charity. You are absolutely breathtaking, darling.”
“Brock, enough talk —”
“I know … Shut up and kiss you.”
Finally, my husband pressed his lips to mine with so much power, he pushed me to my back. Then his hands were everywhere, grazing along my breasts, down my arms, smoothing the lace over my hips, and then eventually, after many tender kisses and feather-light strokes, his hands found their way to my back, gingerly unhooking each satin-covered button until my dress fell, exposing me. All of me.
Then again, Brock had exposed me from our first night together, had seen the person I was and hadn’t been afraid to tell me. Then, somehow, he’d also seen the person I could be.
Because of Brock — and Nathan, and Morgan, and Kayla and Jesse, and everyone else I’d injured in my life — I’d wanted to become a better person. But more than anything, for myself, for my future, for my sanity, I’d wanted to be a better person.
I’d let Brock go to force myself to become that better person, because I’d been sure Brock was good enough for both of us. If I’d allowed him, he would have accepted me as I was and would have made up for my shortcomings. But that wasn’t good enough for me, and Brock didn’t deserve that woman.
Because of my willingness to let him go, fate — whatever type o
f mysterious beast fate was — had seen fit to allow me to be with Brock again.
And this time, I intended to keep Brock forever.
A true love story never ends, because true love is for eternity.
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If you haven’t read the first book in the collection, Love Like Crazy, flip to the next section of this book for a sneak peek, or just head on over to my website: www.CarmenDeSousaBooks.com!
Before you go...
Thank you so much for reading Love Until It Hurts. If you enjoyed Brock and Charity’s story, please consider posting a review on Amazon. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a few words that will help other readers decide if they’d like to read it too.
If you haven’t read Love Like Crazy, the first book in the Crazy Love Series, look for it on Amazon, or find links to it and my other novels on my website, www.CarmenDeSousaBooks.com.
All my books are stand-alone stories — no cliffhangers — but I like to include characters from previous books. So if you’d like to see future books, please sign up for my newsletter here. I rarely send out emails, so you’ll only receive notices when I have info on a new releases or specials. Look for stories featuring Morgan and Caitlyn in future books in the Crazy Love Series, then Autumn (Brock’s Sister) will be featured in a spin-off series.
Love Like Crazy
I pulled into the shrouded driveway that was virtually covered with leaves and debris from Mrs. Johnson’s surrounding trees. No matter how many neighbors complained, or how often I had to return, she refused to remove any of the massive trees that dotted nearly every inch of her property. The combination of old oaks, palms, and pines — most of which were older than the houses in Crystal Beach — not only stretched their limbs far and wide, but also their root systems. So instead of spending the first day of spring break sleeping or kayaking, I had to do the dirty job of unclogging the pipe beneath Mrs. Johnson’s house.
Love Until It Hurts (Crazy Love Book 2) Page 19