by Calista Fox
Drake’s fingers smoothed back strands of hair from her face. “Shana. You are so beautiful.”
“You make me feel that way,” she told him without thinking twice about it. “I’ve struggled with this for so long, but last night… Everything changed. I just didn’t know how to let go of all that baggage. I’ve carried it for so long, it became a huge part of who I was. Even leaving music behind and changing my name couldn’t cure me of how out of place I’ve always felt. I purposely Americanized myself when I turned eighteen. I never felt comfortable with European culture and I had no experience with my own heritage. I moved to New York and tried to fit in with the rest of the eclectic group that populates this city.”
“Didn’t work either, though, did it?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No. I just keep denying who I am, and that’s no one’s fault but my own. I thought I could be happy as just another face in the Manhattan crowd and hide behind my computer. But that’s not really living, is it?”
His brow furrowed. “What is it that you want?”
“To salsa dance,” she told him.
He let out an unchecked laugh, clearly taken aback. “I don’t think I understand.”
“I’ve never done it. I don’t speak a word of Spanish. I’ve never been to Mexico. I can’t even recall ever eating a taco, because I was terrified of the calorie count. But mostly… I never got the chance to know my own culture because I was thrust into someone else’s and I believed I had to fit into it. I didn’t want to be different. But the fact is, I am. I’m not French or Swedish or Italian. I’m Hispanic. I should know something about my own culture, don’t you think?”
The way her body had responded to Drake and Jane the previous evening helped to trigger this revelation. She’d always been so self-conscious that she didn’t have slim hips and straight lines that she’d fought to keep them stiff and in place, so they wouldn’t sway too much. But last night… It’d been wonderful to fall into a natural rhythm with Drake that involved undulating and rolling her hips. And this morning, the soreness she’d felt had been because she’d never worked that part of her body in that way.
“The bottom line is,” she continued as he remained perplexed, “I realized this evening that I could bury my head in the sand and assume you didn’t want me or I could come here and force you to admit it. So I’d know for sure. Or hear that, in fact, you do want me. So. Which is it?”
One dark brow lifted. “Force me?”
She nodded. “You can’t lie to me.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“First, I don’t believe it’s in your nature. Second, you felt horrible for hurting me and you wouldn’t do it again. Telling me no, you don’t want me, cuts me loose and you won’t have the chance to ever hurt me again, thereby honoring your vow.”
“I see. And telling you I do want you…?”
She grinned. She couldn’t say where all the bravado came from, but like last night, when all the pieces fell into place, it just felt right. “Then you’ll be grateful I’m helping you unpack.”
His smirk was damn sexy. “Do you realize you make my head spin?”
“Answer the question, please.”
“You already know the answer.” He scooped her up in his arms, effortlessly as usual. Cradling her body close to his, he said, “Change of plan, love. Europe is out. Mexico is in.”
Epilogue
Drake and Shana watched the sun set over the ocean. The shadows of twilight wove through the tall palm trees and crept over the Saltillo-tiled patio. They stood in the shade just inside the opened floor-to-ceiling doors in the spacious living room-kitchen area of the two-story casita Drake had bought Shana on the gorgeous and secluded Maroma Beach in the Riviera Maya.
When the glowing colors of the setting sun dissipated and twilight turned to dusk, Drake took Shana’s empty margarita glass and said, “Time for a refill.”
“That was stunning,” she said on a sigh.
They’d caught every sunset since they’d arrived two weeks ago, after the sale was final. Prior to that, they’d spent nearly a month in Playa Del Carmen, where Shana was finally reunited with her family and was able to get to know her siblings for the first time.
As Drake strolled over to the refrigerator and retrieved the margarita mix to whip up another batch of cocktails on the rocks, Shana salsa’d her way over to the large island where he worked.
He watched her with a grin on his face. “Those hips were made for shaking, love.”
“That’s what Miguel said.”
Drake’s grin vanished and he scowled at the mention of her dance instructor. An attractive man who liked to help Shana find the rhythm with his hands on her waist and his body a little too close to hers for Drake’s comfort. “I do wish you’d hire a woman to teach you to dance.”
Though that wouldn’t be any better. He didn’t miss the way Shana commanded attention no matter where she went. She’d clearly misinterpreted the interest in her all these years. Drake could easily see it for what it really was—appreciation of her assets by both men and women.
She swiveled her hips and he groaned as his cock stirred. Her embracement of her culture and his continued assurance he found her sexy seemed to have helped her come into her own. She danced, she sang, she even dressed more provocatively, showing off her curves instead of trying to hide them. Tonight she wore a turquoise mini-dress with thin straps sitting on her bare shoulders. The color was a vibrant complement to her tanned skin. She didn’t bother with sandals when at the house, preferring to kick them off and go barefoot. Her long, dark curls flowed over her shoulders and crested the tops of her breasts, plumped up by the tight bodice of her dress.
He would have forgone the margaritas and whisked her upstairs to make love to her, now that he was thoroughly aroused, but he had a few surprises in store for her this evening. The first one arrived a half hour early.
The doorbell rang and he said, “Why don’t you get that, love, while I finish in here.”
“Must be the lobster delivery,” she said excitedly. “Those are going to be oh so tasty tonight.”
She sashayed away and his grin returned. He ditched the margaritas and instead set out several champagne glasses. He pulled out a few bottles of champagne he’d stashed behind some food on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Then, he peered around the corner of the wall that ran halfway across the room, separating the kitchen from the formal dining room directly behind him. The rest of the first floor of the casita was open and airy.
Shana reached the door and pulled it open, instantly squealing in delight as Jane stood on the other side of the threshold.
Clasping Jane’s hand and dragging her inside, she closed the door as Jane deposited a large package on the foyer table and returned the hug Shana gave her.
He tamped down the territorial growl lodged in his throat. As was the case with Miguel, he had to deal with others finding the love of his life as appealing, and as sensual, as he did.
Pulling Jane—who snatched the elegantly wrapped box from the table—into the kitchen, Shana said to Drake, “You planned this, didn’t you?”
He nodded.
“You sneaky devil! How long have you kept this from me?”
“A week or so,” he told her, thrilled she was so delighted. Even if he had to share a little of her affection with Jane, seeing her so pleased made him happy.
Jane set the white box with a wide, silver satin bow on the granite-topped island and gave Drake a quick hug.
“Things going well at Body Scenes?” he asked.
“Exceptionally well.” She beamed. “I think I run the place better than you do.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you enjoy wielding your power and deciding who gets an invitation.”
“I’ve found it challenging and intriguing to bring together an eclectic mix of notables.”
“Didn’t know you had an eccentric side.”
She smiled up at him. “Really, I love it. But I do miss you.
” She turned her smile on Shana. “Both of you.”
Shana gave her another squeeze. “We miss you too.”
The doorbell rang again and Shana’s face lit up once more with excitement. “The lobsters.” To Drake, she asked, “You ordered one for Jane, right?”
“Of course.” He turned to his assistant. “Would you mind getting that? I’ve something to show Shana.”
“Not at all,” Jane said. “Though I’m dying to know what’s in that package I picked up for you in Paris.”
“Paris!” Shana gasped. Her gaze snapped to Drake. “What have you done?”
He merely grinned. Jane went off to get the door and he gestured for Shana to open her present.
She looked closely at the gift for the first time and her eyes widened as her fingertips swept over the embossed name along one edge of the box. She paused for a moment, myriad emotions crossing her beautiful face. Then, tentatively, she pulled the loose ends of satin and unraveled the bow. She lifted the lid and set it aside. Peeling back metallic silver tissue, she gasped again as she stared down at the creation he’d had replicated.
“Oh, Drake.” Her fingers grazed the sparkly, white-lace bodice before she carefully lifted it from the box.
Drake slid his arm under the satin skirt so it didn’t touch the floor, but was laid out for Shana to admire.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered in a shaky voice. “Every stitch, every bead. Phillipe LaVallier made this just for me?”
“Guaranteed to fit. I sent him one of your dresses.”
“The blue one I thought I’d left in Playa Del Carmen? I kept meaning to drive over and get it, but you’re always distracting me.”
She didn’t look at him as she spoke. It seemed she couldn’t take her eyes off the shimmering gown.
“He returned it,” Drake said of her blue dress. “It’s in this box, beneath more tissue.” He confirmed this by rummaging around with his free hand.
She was still mesmerized.
It seemed a good time to say, “I want you to wear this tonight. When you marry me.”
Finally, her gaze flashed to his face, shock in her eyes. “What did you just say?”
He gazed intently at her. “I suppose it would be more appropriate to get down on one knee, but I don’t want to drag the train of this dress on the floor.”
Her mouth gaped.
Pulling a small box from the front pocket of his dress pants, he flipped the lid with his thumb and presented a ten-carat, pear-shaped diamond ring to her.
“Oh.” Her eyes misted. “That is absolutely breathtaking, Drake.”
“It’ll look even better on your finger.”
She gathered up the dress and carefully nestled it back in the billows of tissue. Drake took the ring from its velvet holder and placed it on Shana’s finger.
“You will marry me, right?” he asked, because she hadn’t yet said yes.
Fat teardrops crested the rims of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
“I want to spend the rest of your life with you,” he told her. How he’d survive it when she passed, he had no idea, but that wasn’t something he allowed himself to dwell on. They hadn’t discussed making her a vampire and he assumed it was an unspoken agreement that she would remain human.
But then her gaze lifted from the ring on her finger and met his. “I want to spend an eternity with you.”
His breath caught. “Forever?”
“And ever and ever.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. She circled his neck with her own arms and relief washed over him. He’d never have to give her up. He’d never have to be without her.
“Would you look at the size of that rock!” Yvette’s voice filled the room as she reached for Shana’s hand and inspected the ring…until Shana detangled herself from Drake and threw her arms around Yvette.
“Oh my God!” she shrieked. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
Beside them, Finn said, “Drake told us it’d either be a surprise wedding or a night of drowning his sorrows in a case of Cristal.”
Releasing Yvette, Shana gave Finn a quick welcome hug and then turned back to Drake. “As if I’d say no.”
More tears of obvious joy streamed down her cheeks.
“Now, Shana,” Jane said as she yanked a paper towel from the holder on the counter. “If you keep crying, you’re going to end up with red, puffy eyes and that just won’t do in your wedding photos.”
She clamped a shaky hand over her mouth, as though holding back a shriek of delight at the idea of wedding photos. At the idea of a wedding. Her wedding.
Drake could hardly contain his own excitement. He welcomed Yvette and Finn and then popped the corks on three bottles of champagne while Jane filled the chillers with ice.
The doorbell rang once more and Shana laughed. “Finally, the lobsters.”
“An entire feast, actually,” Drake said. “Along with a florist, a photographer, a videographer, a wedding decorator and a guitarist.”
“Hope you remembered the officiant,” Jane said.
“Of course.”
Shock crossed Shana’s face again. “You planned our entire wedding?”
“We even have cake. Compliments of Yvette and Finn.”
“Unbelievable,” she said on an exhilarated breath. “Most men can’t be bothered with any of this.”
“Well,” he said as he pulled her back into his arms. “I’m not like most men, am I?”
“No, you are not.” She beamed up at him. “You are most definitely one of a kind. That’s why I love you so much.”
His grin was a devilish one, he knew. “I thought it was my mammoth—”
“Drake!” Pink tinted her cheeks as she swatted playfully at him.
He laughed, then let go of her. “Upstairs, love. Let your bridesmaids fuss over you. The best man and I have some drinking to do.”
“You realize you’ve completely put me to shame,” Finn lamented as Jane went off to answer the door again and Shana and Yvette headed upstairs with her new dress. “I’ll never be able to top this with Yvette.”
“She wouldn’t want you to plan your wedding,” Drake said. “Something tells me it would need to be social event of the season, and that requires a legion of expensive wedding coordinators pulling rabbits out of their hats to meet ridiculously impossible expectations.”
“I have so much to look forward to,” Finn deadpanned.
Drake raised his glass to his friend. “You’ll jump through every hoop they ask you to so Yvette gets the wedding of her dreams. Trust me on this one.”
“Yeah, that ring you gave Shana is something else. And the dress… That alone probably costs as much as my BMW.”
“Not quite. But even if it had… What could I do but have it designed for her? She’s wanted to wear it since she was fourteen. Of course I had to give it to her.”
“You’re a good man, Drake.”
He even felt like one, with Shana. But there was no denying he was glad to be a vampire so he’d have more than a mortal lifespan to share with her.
“Thank you for coming,” he said to Finn. “I consider you a good friend and it means a lot to me that you’ll stand beside me tonight.”
“I expect you to return the favor.”
“Certainly. If you ever get around to proposing to Yvette.”
Finn sipped his champagne and then said, “Something tells me it’ll be inescapable after this evening.”
“And you’ll be damn glad, won’t you?”
Finn smiled. “To wake up every morning next to that firecracker? You’d better believe it.”
When Yvette and Jane were done with her hair and makeup, Shana stood in front of the full-length mirror in her and Drake’s master suite and willed herself not to gnaw her crimson-colored lips as Jane deftly fastened the buttons that started at her hips and ran up to the middle of her back. The lace dipped a bit lower there than it did in the front, though the rounded tops of her breasts
crested the scalloped edges of the bodice.
“All done,” Jane said, and Shana breathed a sigh of relief. It fit.
“You look sensational,” Yvette said in genuine awe. “That dress was meant for your figure. It’s a perfect fit and so very beautiful.”
“You’re stunning,” Jane told her. “Drake will be on his knees, thanking you profusely for saying ‘yes’. That’s if he can even breathe.”
She smiled at her friends. “Thank you, both. I am so lucky to know you and it makes me want to cry that you’d come all the way here to share this with me.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Yvette assured her as she gently squeezed Shana’s hand. “I just can’t imagine how I’m going to live up to this spectacular vision before me if Finn and I ever get married. You’re seriously going to blow Drake’s mind.”
She flushed over the compliments, but accepted them graciously. They’d both proven to her that she needed to stop all of her internal obsessing and accept who she was and how she looked. So much so, she’d taken to writing about her experiences, her painful past and her new outlook on life, along with everything she’d learned about her heritage. The reception of her online postings to her web community had been overwhelmingly positive and also therapeutic. She only wished she could help Jane with what ailed her. She hoped that her and Yvette being her friends provided at least some relief to the longing for human contact Jane feared indulging in because she didn’t fully trust herself.
Staring at herself in the mirror, Shana had to admit she looked exactly as she’d always hoped she would on her wedding day. Deliriously happy and radiant. What more could a girl ask for?
Except…she’d gotten more out of the deal than what she’d dreamed of in her youth.
She had three earnest friends wanting to stand by her side. She had a renewed connection with her family. And she had the sexiest, sweetest man-vampire-fiancé waiting downstairs to marry her.
She had everything she’d always wanted and so much more.
Fighting back another wave of tears, she said, “I could stand here all night and admire this gorgeous gown, or…I could go get married.”