“That heart right there,” I interrupt, “is where we’ll build our house.”
“Oh my God … Really?” Her eyes well up with happy tears, and she slips her hands around my waist. I pull her close, brushing the hair from her face.
“Yes. Really.” I kiss her on her forehead, and she returns her focus to the field.
“I love it out here. It’s … perfect.”
“The plans are already approved,” I say proudly.
“What? When did you do all this?”
“I had over two months at home to think, so I put my time to good use. I knew once I was back at work I wouldn’t be able to give it my full attention. We’ll level out the site next week, and then the footings and the slab will be done the week after. I’ve lined up all the trades, and I’ll be doing the joinery with Rob.”
“So how long do you think it’ll be before it’s finished?” she says, but her tone changes, like she’s got something else on her mind. She chews down on the inside of her cheek, and eyes me nervously. Why would she be worried about how long it would take?
“Weather permitting, no more than six months.”
She sighs loudly, and her shoulders drop. “Sounds like perfect timing.”
“Perfect for what?” I frown.
She takes a step back and smooths her hands down her flowing top, over her stomach, that is that little bit rounder. A hesitant smile tickles her soft, pink lips, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
“We’ll, um, need the room.”
My heart twitches in my chest, and I drop to my knees in front of her, wrapping my arms around her hips.
“Does this mean …” I glance up at her through my eyelashes. Unable to contain my excitement, I smile. Like I should be committed.
“Yes, we’re having a baby.” A single tear runs down her flushed cheek.
A dad. Holy hell. I’m gonna be a dad. And I’m going to be the best fucking dad there ever was … there for my kid every step of the way.
I kiss her stomach, and stand up, squeezing her and lifting her off the ground. I slam my mouth into hers, kissing her with everything I’ve got.
When I put her back down, Eevie pulls her chest back from mine. “Easy, I’m a bit tender.”
“You’re everything I ever wanted, baby, and now we’ll have our own family.”
“So you’re okay with it? I know it wasn’t planned.” She looks worried, scared, even. “When we had to go to Griffith for those two days, I … I didn’t have the pill with me …”
“I couldn’t be happier. Are you okay?” I know she’d said she wasn’t ready for kids; not for a long time.
“It was a pretty big shock, but I’m fine. It might sound silly, but I think I’m already in love.”
“When did you find out?”
“Officially today. I knew I was late, but my period had been so out of whack with everything with your dad, and then the accident. I felt a bit out of sorts and did a test last week which was positive, but I didn’t wanna worry you until I was sure. I didn’t want to overreact. I had a blood test a couple of days ago, and saw the doctor this morning.”
“And?”
“The doctor said I’m probably around eight to ten weeks, but the hormone levels are a bit high, so I have to have more blood tests in a week and organise to see an obstetrician.”
“And here I thought you’d put on weight because we weren’t running much anymore. I’ve gotta say, these curves …” I run my hands over her hips. I tug the neck of her top and peek down at her full tits, which I did notice the other day, but didn’t put two and two together. “And these puppies … no wonder you’ve been so bloody horny.”
Eevie laughs softly. A rosy glow spreads over her chest up to her cheeks. She wraps her arms around my back, squeezing my arse. “I think, for good luck, we’d better go down there and christen the plot.”
I shake my head and laugh. “Damn, baby, you’re wearing me out. But I’ll never say no.” I take her small hand in mine, which now bears her engagement ring. I twist the ring around her finger with my thumb as we walk down the hill to the picnic rug
“I packed some champagne, but maybe we can save that for a bit later.”
“Good idea,” she says, her voice filled with mischief.
Eevie tugs my arm and lies back on the rug. I lie beside her and kiss her lips. She throws her leg over my hip, and hooks her hands behind my neck.
I drown in her eyes, if only for a moment. “Did I do good?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. I hope it was everything she ever dreamt of.
“You, Aidan Stone, have completely blown me away. I’m so lucky.” She tugs at my bottom lip with her teeth and wriggles closer, moaning softly into my mouth.
I run my hand under her shirt, and over her bra that seems too tight. I reach around and unhook the clasp, and she sits up and takes off her shirt.
“No, I’m the lucky one,” I say low in my throat, running my hands over her tits. Damn, they are bigger. Her nipples harden up into perky-looking raspberries, which I can’t wait to run my tongue over.
“Are these gonna get bigger?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Apparently so.” Oh man.
“Are you feeling okay? I mean, have you been sick?”
“I’m fine. Just take your jeans off, huh?”
“Does being bossy come with pregnant territory, too?”
“Yes, now hurry,” she growls sexily, as if she might eat me alive. I can’t help but chuckle. If I’ve got another seven or eight months of this to look forward to, I’m going to have to get fitter to keep up.
Eevie slips off her boots, and wiggles her jeans and panties off. I do as I’m told, and take off my jeans, and her fingers busily undo my shirt. I take her arms above her head, and give each of her nipples the attention they’ve been waiting for. She arches her back off the rug, and wraps her bare legs around me.
I position myself between her legs, and she impatiently tilts her hips and presses against me. I sink in deep, feeling her heat, and her need to be close. Eevie doesn’t hold back on those little groans and gasps, sounds that are the best music in the world to me. A small part of me thinks maybe it’s because she’s horny as anything, but I know this woman, and I know our love.
We make love, fast and intense, sharing our passion with the place that will bear witness to it for many years to come. As our hearts recover, the gentle breeze swirls amongst the grass, causing a hum through the field.
We have found our new home.
****
“So when do you wanna get married?” I ask, turning to watch Eevie who is fascinated by watching the clouds floating by.
She shrugs. “I don’t mind, but I don’t want a big thing. Just close family and friends. You know, the people that are important.”
I lean onto my side and brush her hair from her face. “There’s a little church not far from here. My grandparents got married there. It’s kinda old, but I think it’d be cool to get married in the same place.”
Eevie’s beaming smile meets her eyes. “It sounds perfect.”
“Maybe we should do it soon. Before we get too wrapped up with the house.”
“And before I get too big.” I lift up her shirt and run my hands over the firm skin of her belly, which isn’t all that swollen. It just looks like she had a big lunch.
“You’ll look beautiful, no matter how big you are,” I assure her. She smiles brightly, like she desperately needed to hear the words.
“So I guess we’d better tell everyone the good news. I mean, about the wedding and the house. We should wait a while before we say anything about the baby. I hope everything is okay. I’m just worried about having to have more tests. Needles aren’t exactly my thing.”
“Yeah. As much as I want to, we’d better see him for ourselves and make sure everything is okay first.”
“Him?” Eevie says, raising her eyebrows.
“I don’t know, him, her … Whatever the sex, they’ll be tearing around this place
on a bike before they can walk.” There’s no doubt about it. If the bub is anything like me, the adrenaline is already pumping through its veins.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
* EEVIE *
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my long, vintage-lace dress flowing from under the bust. The dress hides my tummy, even if I’ve only got a small bump. We didn’t want questions before we’d had our twelve-week scan, and even though it shouldn’t matter, we didn’t want people to think we were getting married because I’m pregnant—even though Aidan proposed before we knew.
“You look beautiful, darling,” Mum says, putting her warm hands on my shoulders, her head peering around so I can see her reflection in the mirror. She fiddles once again with the wildflowers in my hair, dotted amongst the loose chignon bun.
I turn around to face the mother-of-the-bride in all her glory, looking elegant as ever in a fitted teal green dress. Her blonde hair is tucked up in a loose bun, and her smile tugs straight at my heart. I haven’t seen Mum this happy in forever.
“So do you, Mum,” I say, and pull her into a hug. She squeezes me for that little bit too long and moves back, holding me at arm’s length.
She smiles nervously. “I don’t need to tell you, Genevieve, that today is a special day. I’m proud of you, in more ways than I can count, but today …” She pauses and sniffs. Her blue eyes glisten, and I know she’s about to cry.
“Don’t … don’t cry, Mum. I’ve already had to fix my makeup twice this morning.” I rub up and down her arms, trying to ward off her tears, and mine. I hope she doesn’t cotton on as to why I’ve been so bloody emotional. Or are all brides like this?
“I’m just glad you’ve found someone special. I’ve never seen two people more in love. You two have something truly special … something I never had.” While it’s lovely for her to say, I don’t need another reminder that my father isn’t here today. Whether he would have come or not, I couldn’t go through with ringing him. Not after the way he left, the way he cheated on Mum. Today is about Aidan and I, and people close enough to us to care.
“I’m so happy knowing my daughter will have everything she deserves. A loving husband, a beautiful home, and one day, a family of your own.” Oh God. Does she know I’m pregnant? If she asks me, I won’t be able to lie. I’m done with lies.
A tear slips down my cheek. Damn it. “Thanks, Mum,” I whisper, trying to keep it together.
With a soft knock on the door, we both turn around. Cassie, maid-of-honour extraordinaire, comes in and smiles.
“Come on. We’d better not keep Aidan waiting any longer,” she says softly, handing me my bouquet of wildflowers. “Dammit, Eevie. Are you crying again?” she scoffs, and snatches a tissue from the box on the table.
“It’s Mum’s fault this time,” I say, giving Mum a soft smile. I take off my glasses, and Cassie gently dabs the tissue beneath my lashes.
“You’re a wreck today,” she says and shakes her head.
Is she going to see through me, too? I don’t want to tell anyone else yet. If I do, I’ll never get to that church, and I can’t wait another minute to see him: my man.
“I’m a bride, Cassie. Isn’t it expected? Do I look okay, now?” I huff, as she checks me over again.
“You look beautiful. Radiant, even.” She winks.
“Come on, let’s go,” I say. Another second in here and I’ll spill the beans.
We get in the car, and a few minutes later pull up at the front of the old sandstone brick church. The doors to the church are closed, and my brother Chris stands tall in his charcoal-grey suit in front of them.
Mum slips into the church, and Cassie fusses with my dress as I walk closer to the doors. Chris leans in and kisses me on the cheek.
“Oh, boy. Aidan’s gonna be a dribbling mess when he sees you. You look good, Eve,” Chris says, and flashes me a beaming grin.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” I breathe in and out slowly, trying to tame my wild, beating heart.
“Are you ready?” Cassie asks, lining up in front of me. Chris stands beside me and offers me his arm. I loop my hand through the inside of his elbow, grateful to have him walk me down the aisle.
“I’ve never been more ready.”
****
* AIDAN *
The old, worn floorboards creak beneath my feet as I shuffle around. Waiting.
Waiting for my one and only love to become my forever. How late is acceptable for a bride? Seriously? I know it’s only been like fifteen minutes, but it’s felt like a lifetime, and I’m sweating like a motherfucker beneath this suit. My tie feels like it’s trying to strangle me. I tug on the inside of the knot with my index finger, trying to work it loose.
“Relax, mate,” Rob says, reminding me that he’s standing beside me.
I look down the aisle, with yellow and white wildflowers and white ribbons tied at the end of each row. I just want her here already. The suspense is slowly killing me. I can’t wait to see her in her dress, the one she’s been so secretive about. But really, isn’t a dress just a dress?
I took charge of the music, one of the few things I felt confident doing. Eevie bugged me for weeks trying to get me to at least tell her the song for when she walks down the aisle, but I stood my ground. I had the perfect song in mind, which has the words I wish I could’ve come up with. I want to make this day as special as she deserves, and prove to her once and for all that I will always be there for her.
The music starts, the soft sound of a guitar filling the room.
She’s here.
Keith Urban croons Memories Of Us, the words perfect for the occasion.
Cassie strolls down first, looking lovely in a long, silvery-blue dress. She doesn’t keep my eye for long.
The air I’d been holding in while waiting for a glimpse of my girl suddenly dissipates from my lungs. The moment I see her on the arm of her brother Chris, I find the answer to my earlier question. A dress is not just a dress when it’s wrapped around the woman who owns your heart. The sunlight pours in through the old glass windows. Her skin is glowing like an angel—my angel—and her smile has my heart doing backflips. The sparkle in her eyes lets me know I did good with the music.
She is beautiful … No, that word doesn’t even come close to describing the vision walking towards me.
The closer she gets, the more insistent my heart pounds. I might just cry. Like a girl. The words of the song do little to keep my emotions in check. The lyrics talk about promises, and the ones I make today will last until my last breath.
Eevie stands opposite me, and Chris places her hands in mine. I wanna kiss Eevie’s gorgeous lips right this second, but I know the vows come first. That much I remember from the rehearsal. I just hope to God I can spit my words out. I squeeze Eevie’s warm hands in mine, and she mouths “hi”. I do the same, and we both sigh, as the lyrics fade.
The minister rattles off his introduction, and we run through the stuff we did yesterday. Can’t say I’m really paying attention when this beautiful woman is standing beside me.
Finally, the minister gives me the nod. It’s time for the good stuff.
“I, Aidan Maverick Stone, take you, Genevieve Paige Lawson, to be my wife,” I repeat straight after the minister.
“I promise,” the minister continues, but I cut him short.
“I got this,” I interrupt. I know this off by heart, and here, in this moment, the idea of him saying it first doesn’t feel right. I’d kept these vows secret for a reason.
I look deep into Eevie’s eyes and grip her hands tighter. “I promise to be there for you, inspire you, and love you, no matter what obstacles come before us. You are my world. I love you for your beautiful kind ways, the fierceness of your love, and for finding that part of me that was waiting for someone as special as you. I vow to protect you, honour and respect you, and love you until my dying day.”
I slip the wedding ring on her finger, and she lets out a long, slow breath through parted lip
s.
“I, Genevieve Paige Lawson, take you, Aidan Maverick Stone,” the minister says firmly.
“I got this too,” Eevie says, holding up a shaky hand to silence him. I chuckle. Eevie smiles and shrugs. Look at my girl. Silencing the damn minister in the middle of the service.
“I, Genevieve Paige Lawson, take you, Aidan Maverick Stone, to be my husband. Today, I marry my best friend and soul mate. I promise to be here for you, always, come what may. I trust you with my life, my heart and I promise to encourage you and help you become all you can be. I’m so excited for the adventures ahead of us, and I can’t wait for the next chapter in our lives to begin. I promise to stand beside you and love you until the end.”
Like a throttle-grip on my heart, Eevie’s vows wrap around it. Tight.
I forget about the people watching us, bearing witness to our promises. I vaguely hear the minister pronounce us husband and wife, and with the green light given, I sweep Eevie up into my arms, lifting her feet off the ground, and kiss her with enough feeling to send me giddy.
I will never forget today. The way she looks, our words to each other, and the feeling deep down inside that I know will never fade.
I fucking found my forever.
****
* JONES (yes, Jones) *
“I fucking hate how they do this at weddings. Put the single blokes together,” I say on the quiet to Ryan. I lean in closer to him, an empty chair sitting between us at the rounded table. “You know, the only good thing about a wedding is drunk and horny-as-fuck-bridesmaids, and mark my words, before midnight, that maid-of-honour’s red lipstick is gonna be smudged at the base of my dick.”
“I can guarantee you it fucking won’t,” Ryan all but barks at me.
“Pfft. Why, ya think you have a shot?”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Because she’s my fucking sister, so watch your mouth. And besides, her boyfriend is sitting behind us.”
I choke on a mouthful of my beer, and struggle not to spit it across the table. His sister. Well, I guess that rules that out, then. Between Ryan and the boyfriend, I’d be in over my head. I wouldn’t want things to get nasty. Ryan by himself could probably take me down. He’s a muscly prick.
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