“You don’t have to be afraid of my family, sweetheart.”
Addison turned around. “When did you get here?”
“Just now,” Kellen responded. “You ready to leave?”
She nodded.
Upon their arrival, thirty minutes later, Barbara greeted Addison warmly. “How are you feeling, dear?”
“Much better,” she responded. “My doctor’s cleared me to go back to work. She said everything is fine with the baby.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” Smiling, Barbara placed a hand gently on Addison’s stomach. “I can’t wait to meet this little bundle of joy.”
She relaxed a little. “I’m looking forward to being a mother.”
“I know what you mean. My children are my best work.” Barbara glanced down at Addison’s ring. “Very nice.”
“Kellen told you about our engagement?” she asked.
“Yes, he did. Malcolm and I are very happy for you both.”
“I was a little worried about how you would take the news,” Addison confessed.
“I raised all of my children the very best that I could, and I’m very proud of them. I trust them to know their own minds and hearts.” Barbara smiled. “I haven’t been disappointed.”
“Welcome to our family,” Malcolm said, joining them.
Addison glanced over her shoulder at Kellen then back at his parents. “I really hope that I haven’t disappointed you.”
“You haven’t,” Malcolm responded. “You can’t control who you fall in love with. My wife and I are thrilled to have you as a member of our family.” He smiled warmly. “Now, just relax... We won’t bite.”
Kellen walked up and wrapped his arms around her. “What did I tell you?”
Barbara and Malcolm excused themselves, leaving them alone.
“Feel better now?”
Tension rolling off her in waves, Addison nodded. “Much better.”
She met his gaze. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Dr. Rivers said it was okay if we...”
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Are you sure we won’t hurt the baby?”
“We won’t.”
“We’re leaving right after dinner,” Kellen announced.
“We most certainly are not,” she responded. “We are going to spend time with your family for at least an hour afterward.”
“Baby, I love the way you think.”
* * *
Addison’s scent filled the room, clean and floral and utterly captivating. Kellen closed his eyes for a long moment, just breathing in her essence. When he did look at her again, her eyes were warm pools of cocoa, and her lower lip looked full and inviting.
They had been in her condo barely five minutes before Kellen’s need to kiss her hit him full force in the pit of his stomach, nearly stealing the breath from his body.
She appeared to be holding her breath, as well.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
Kellen stood close enough that he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Gently at first, his lips teased and tormented, until finally she opened her mouth to encourage him to deepen the kiss.
He listened to the song playing in the background. Kellen’s lips brushed the shell of her ear as he hummed softly along with the music. “This is our song,” he whispered.
“We don’t have a song,” she responded.
“Maybe we do now.”
The tune was a romantic classic about everlasting love found.
Kellen picked her up and carried Addison into the bedroom.
In a matter of minutes, they lay prone in each other’s arms, drinking their fill of each other with their mouths. He kissed with a natural mastery that thrilled her.
As Kellen finally pulled his mouth from hers, Addison stroked his chest, loving the feel of his hot skin and beating heart. He moved his mouth down the column of her neck, nipping and teasing with his lips against her sensitive skin. She fought a shiver as she reveled in their skin-to-skin contact.
Hesitant touches became more sure, and their passion grew in intensity, making them both breathless and frantic with need. He moved to the side of her and with a hand, caressed her stomach. “I can’t wait to see you grow with my baby.”
“Ooh...you’re ruining the mood,” she said. “Let’s discuss my weight gain another time.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured against her cheek. “I aim to please.”
Kellen fell into the soft, sweet taste of her mouth as all other thoughts were driven from his head.
Chapter 22
“Wow! I can’t believe that you’re getting married.”
Addison laughed. “Tia, so much has happened in the last few weeks. I can hardly believe it myself.” She held up a wedding gown to her body and stood before a mirror. She and Kellen were getting married in a month, so she didn’t have much time to plan the details. “This one’s pretty nice.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you this happy in a long time,” Tia said. “Apparently, Kellen has turned out to be very good for you. I guess I can say I told you so.”
“Although, I’m five years older than he is, but when we’re together—it doesn’t matter,” Addison stated. “We just seem to mesh.”
“How did your employees react to the news?”
“That’s the interesting part,” she said. “Apparently, there were bets as to when we would get together. Everyone said that they saw it coming.”
“Will you two continue working together?”
Addison nodded. “For now but I’m actually looking into some other opportunities in-house. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to have my husband as my employee. Kellen doesn’t think it’ll be a problem. I’m not so sure.”
“I think that’s wise.”
She selected another gown. “I like this one.”
“That’s really nice,” Tia told her. “Try that one on.”
Addison tried on three more dresses before she returned to the office. She had found one that she liked. Livi Alexander had called Addison earlier to let her know that she had some dresses set aside for her. She wanted to look at those before she made a final decision.
A smile spread across her face. She was getting married.
Addison couldn’t be happier.
* * *
Addison leaned back against the desk, resting her hips there. Kellen noticed the small roundness forming at her waist and wondered at the tiny life growing inside her.
When he looked up and met her eyes again, she was smiling. It was a smile of contentment, of happiness, of peace.
“She’s growing.”
“I noticed.” Kellen realized she had called the baby “she” and wondered if she had some maternal instinct that told her it was a girl.
“Each day I feel stronger. Each day,” she said softly, “I know I’m happy I’m going to be a mother. It’s definitely not something I planned or expected to happen, but it is something I can thank you for.”
He smiled. “You don’t need to thank me—you are the one who is giving me the best gift of my life. I’m so glad God created you and our child just for me. He took my brother, but he gave me something wonderful in return.”
Kellen wrapped his arms around her. His breath was warm against her hair.
She shifted her shoulder so she was leaning more against him, the pose both intimate and comfortable.
“Ari told me that love is stronger than death. I understand completely what he meant. I have never felt such an intense emotion. I love you so much.”
* * *
He’d been awake since four in the morning but had stayed beneath the sheets, thin
king. It had nothing to do with habit and everything to do with getting married today.
Getting married to Addison.
“You look a lil’ nervous, bro.”
Kellen glanced up to find Blaze standing in the doorway of the dressing room. “I’m cool,” he responded.
His brother was not convinced. “Really?”
“Okay, I’ll say it. I’m nervous,” Kellen confessed, “but this is huge. I’m getting married to the woman of my dreams.”
Blaze laughed as he straightened his younger brother’s tie. “I hope you’ve thrown away your playa card. You certainly don’t need it anymore.”
“Man, I got rid of it the moment I realized that I’d fallen in love with Addison.”
“What are you two talking about?” Ari inquired from the doorway.
“Kellen was just telling me that he’s no longer a playa-card-carrying member,” Blaze answered.
Ari broke into a light chuckle. “The right woman will do that to you.”
Both Blaze and Kellen nodded in agreement.
“The only thing that would really make this day perfect is having Dreyden here,” Kellen stated.
“He would have loved to witness your wedding—that’s for sure,” Blaze commented.
“Yeah,” Ari interjected. “Dreyden didn’t think you would ever get married.”
He laughed. “He wasn’t the only one.”
They spent time bonding as brothers before Ari and Blaze disappeared to check on their families.
He stared out the window. It was a perfect autumn day for a wedding.
“Kellen, are you all right?”
He turned away from the windows in the dining room to find his parents eyeing him with mild concern.
He smiled and nodded. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“Not having second thoughts, are you?” Malcolm asked.
“If I didn’t have second thoughts while planning the wedding, Dad, what makes you think I’d have them now?”
His dad shrugged. “Are you truly ready for marriage? I know that you want to do right by Addison because she’s pregnant.”
“I love her, and I want to marry her.” He and Addison had talked at length about getting married, and Kellen was ready. He had the luxury of growing up with parents who loved each other—he wanted the same for his child.
“Did you make Addison aware that there may be some uninvited guests?” his mother inquired.
Kellen knew she was referring to the media. “She expects it, but it’s really not at the forefront of our minds.”
“Franklin is providing security,” Malcolm announced. “No one without an invitation will be able to get in.”
“If they do, then I hope they bring a gift or make a donation in my brother’s name to the American Cancer Society.”
* * *
Her wedding day was absolutely perfect.
Addison woke at 6:00 a.m. She’d retired early the night before; but instead of sleeping in, she got up to help Zaire and Barbara with the final arrangements before it was time to dress in her gown. Quietly she slipped from her bed and to the bathroom.
She ran hot water and washed her face and brushed her teeth before jumping into the shower.
Afterward, she wrapped a thick blue towel around herself and stared in the mirror. Today she was a bride.
Tonight she would be Addison Alexander, Kellen’s wife.
She glanced over at the wedding dress hanging on the closet door.
In a few short hours she’d be wearing it, carrying a bouquet of roses and gardenia. It seemed like a wild, crazy dream.
Addison joined her future mother-in-law downstairs.
“How did you sleep?” Barbara asked.
“Well,” she responded with a smile. “I slept like a baby.”
Glancing around, Addison inquired. “What still needs to be done?”
“Nothing,” Barbara told her. “Everything has been taken care of, dear. Today is your big day so we want you to enjoy it. Zaire has arranged for someone to come to the house and style your hair. She also arranged for you to have a...I think she called it a mother-to-be massage.”
Addison was touched beyond tears.
“Breakfast is ready,” Barbara announced. “Why don’t you go get something to eat?”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
From the breakfast nook, Addison had a good view of the huge white tent that had been set up for her wedding. Beautiful floral displays in large vases were placed on either side of the entrance.
She was joined by Livi and Zaire.
“Happy wedding day,” Livi said with a smile.
“Thank you,” she responded. Addison wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Have either of you seen Kellen this morning?”
“He stayed with Blaze last night,” Livi replied.
“Bachelor party?”
Livi nodded. “Only we’re not supposed to know they had one.”
Everyone in the Alexander family was nice and very friendly. There was warmth and sincerity in their gazes, which made her feel comfortable. Addison felt as if she belonged.
Two hours and a host of pampering later, Addison rose, looked in the mirror and wanted to cry. Her eyes were large and somehow more luminous than she could have imagined, while her skin appeared flawless. Her lips were etched and painted with a color very close to her natural pigment, and her hair was pulled back gently from the sides, the remainder curling simply down her back. A small circle of flowers sat daintily on her head.
At the sound of someone knocking, she said, “Come in.”
“It’s just me, dear.”
“You don’t have to knock, Mrs. Alexander.”
She gave Addison a tender look. “Call me Mom or Barbara...whichever is more comfortable for you.”
Barbara sat down on the leather couch, careful not to wrinkle her navy blue suit. She opened her clutch purse and took out a small box. “This should take care of the borrowed and blue part of wedding tradition.”
Addison took the box with shaking fingers. Opening the lid, she found a square velvet box. Inside were nestled a sapphire and diamond necklace and earring set. “Oh, my goodness! They’re gorgeous.”
“Kellen wanted you to have them for your wedding. It’s his hope that if you two have a little girl, she will wear them on the day she gets married.”
“He’s already starting family traditions.” Addison carefully removed the earrings, took out her own pearl studs, which she had planned on wearing, and replaced them with the antique sapphires. The oval stones were surrounded by tiny, winking diamonds.
“Oh, sweetheart, they look stunning on you.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Addison held up the necklace and Barbara fastened it around her neck. “The only thing that could make this day more perfect is having my mother here.”
“She’s here with you,” Barbara said softly. “In your heart.”
The time came for Addison to make her grand entrance.
She walked out of the house and was surprised to find her mother’s brother waiting for her. “Uncle Elijah...” Addison was overjoyed to have a member of her family present. Her father was an only child and her mother had one brother who never married. “I’m so glad that you’re here but how did you know? Everything kind of happened so fast.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, honey. Kellen wanted to surprise you, so he gave me a call and told me that it would mean a lot for me to come. He sent a plane and everything.”
“I’m sorry for not staying in contact,” she said. “I miss Mom so much and...”
He embraced her. “I understand. We have time to catch up later. Right now there’s a nice young man waiting for you at the altar. If I don’t
get you down there to him, I just might be hitchhiking back to Chicago.”
She laughed as she looped her arm through his.
Kellen’s brows lifted briefly in surprise when she entered the tent, and then a huge smile of approval swept over his face, the heat of it tangible even from several feet away.
Faces turned in her direction, but Addison focused on none other than Kellen and his gray eyes as her shoes silently crushed the grass beneath her feet.
She stopped when he took three steps out of position and lifted his hand, offering it to her.
She took it.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered, making her heart swell. He led her under the arch and before the minister, to begin their life together.
Addison’s fingers shook in Kellen’s hand, her lips quivering as tears trembled on her lashes. She didn’t want to cry, but tears flowed as she bubbled up with love and joy as she gazed lovingly at her husband-to-be.
The next ten minutes passed in a haze, a series of impressions that left Addison feeling more and less than she’d expected. The feel of Kellen’s hand holding hers, the sound of the minister’s voice offering a prayer, handing her bouquet off to Tia so that she could take his fingers in hers.
“You may kiss the bride.”
That line came through her consciousness crystal clear, and she lifted startled eyes to Kellen’s.
They were warm with understanding and the little secret of the kiss they’d already shared in the weak morning sunlight. Sealed with a kiss... His mouth touched hers, paused, deepened, lingered, until he pulled away just enough that her lips followed ever so briefly. She stared at the fullness of his mouth, smudged with the color of her lipstick, and her cheeks flamed as clapping erupted.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the minister said, gesturing with a hand, “Mr. and Mrs. Kellen Alexander.”
Chapter 23
Addison put her hair up in a ponytail, twisting the tail around and around and anchoring the dark bun with a plain band, keeping her neck free and cool. When she was done she placed both hands over the place where her child lay.
Tonight was the first time she’d been alone since her wedding to Kellen a week ago.
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