by Mia Ford
“No, no, I just thought that maybe you and I could have a date night. A dinner, or something.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull Pru in for a kiss. I’m hoping that I can distract her from my real purpose by showering her in romance. This is something that I’ve managed to keep a secret for months, I don’t want to blow it now. If I can pull this off it’ll be best shock ever.
“Oh, that sounds nice. It’s been forever since we’ve had just a me and you night, hasn’t it? We’ve both simply been so busy… but good busy, right? Sorting out the business and things.”
“Yeah and doing the house renovations. That’s been pretty cool as well.”
Now that we’re more settled, we have a home of our own. A lovely little beach side cottage that’s near enough to civilization that we aren’t ostracized, but that also gives us the privacy that we sometimes need. I love it, which is why I’ve put so much effort in to rebuilding the kitchen.
“I might get changed,” Pru says while glancing down. She has a bright pink bikini top on under a sheer tee shirt, and some board shorts. Maybe it isn’t everyone’s idea of a fancy but she looks so much like herself that I can’t resist her. “What do you think? Should I wear a dress?”
“No.” I bring my lips back down to hers again gently. “Don’t. Stay just as you are.”
“But where are we going? What if I need to look fancy?” She giggles adorably. “They might not want me to show up in a posh place like this. Where are we going?”
I lace my fingers through hers and start walking. She comes with me easily, not putting up even an ounce of fuss. “You just let me worry about where we’re going, okay?”
“Fine, fine, whatever. But on your head be it if it isn’t acceptable.”
I don’t reply, I simply smile to myself. The fact that I’ve been sorting this out for so long and now it’s actually happening is really exciting. It hasn’t been easy to get to this point, which is why it’s good that we both have so many friends that could help me get it done. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them, they’ve saved my ass on more than one occasion. And now they should all be there, waiting expectantly for us to arrive. Hopefully. Fingers crossed this hasn’t gone wrong.
“Where are we going?” Pru asks me, sounding a bit more concerned now. “I don’t remember there being anywhere to eat around here. Are you sure we’re headed in the right direction…” Pru’s words fall apart as we finally get to the church which has been covered in purple flowers. She’s only ever mentioned it to me once, but I recall her saying to me that they were her favorite. It took a while to gather enough flowers to make it work, but it looks great now. “What is this?”
As Pru turns to look at me with a demanding expression on her face, I stifle a laugh. I’m getting used to that look now, especially when her hands go onto her hips which means I’m in real trouble… and there they go. Her eyebrows furrow, her eyes narrow, she purses out her lips.
“Do you remember how roughly a year ago I asked you in a very unromantic way to marry me?” I still cringe at the memory of how I just blurted it out. It’s so embarrassing. “Well, because that was such a failure, I wanted to do something to make it up to you. So, I’ve organized our wedding for us.”
“The whole thing?” She claps her hands to her mouth in shock. “Are you serious? That’s just… that’s too much, I don’t know what to say. It’s the sweetest thing ever.”
“You don’t mind?” I need to ask just in case. “You aren’t mad that you can’t do it.”
“Not at all. You know me, I’m not one for all the fussy details. I love that you did this.”
I drop down to one knee, determined to do it a little better this time. “Pru, I love you, more than anything in the world. Will you do me the honor of marrying me today in front of all the important people in our lives? Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”
“No.” She shakes her head with a very serious expression on her face, but then just as I think I might vomit she breaks out into a smile. “I’m just kidding, of course I will. You know that it’s all I’ve ever wanted in my life. To be your wife.” She pulls me up into a standing position. “Come on, let’s do this. I’m excited to see what it’s like inside since you’ve done such a good job out here.”
As she drags me along I can’t help bursting into laughter. “You know, it isn’t really traditional for the wife to drag the husband down the aisle. I’m supposed to already be there, waiting for you.”
She spins around and rises up onto her tiptoes to kiss me. “Nothing about me and you have been traditional, so why should this be? We might as well do this as unconventionally as we can.”
Once she pushes open the doors, all of our friends burst into cheers. They’ve probably been waiting here for ages for us to arrive, most of them got here early to make sure they didn’t miss out on the surprise part, but they are still really happy for us. Despite the fact that we came here to start again and to keep our identities hidden, a lot of them know how we met now, and they’ve been endlessly supportive. They don’t have a history of judgment to go with it, they just see how happy me and Pru make one another, how we improve each other and life our spirits. They appreciate that and love us for it. Enough to be here for the majority of the day.
“Oh, my goodness,” Pru gasps as her eyes well up with happy tears. “I can’t believe this. It’s too much. Everyone is here… oh my God, even Alice and Becky! You got them here too!”
“I asked them and they really wanted to come,” I reply smilingly. “It didn’t seem right not to.”
Before the ceremony can even begin there is a lot of hugging and squealing which I planned for. I knew that this was going to turn into a bit of a reunion because of all the wonderful people that have joined us as we finally make this official, which is why I asked one of my friends, Toby, to officiate. He stands at the front, grinning down as everything descends into chaos.
“Shall we do this?” I finally ask Pru when it feels like we’ve been forever. I really am keen to get on with getting married, I can’t wait to be a husband. “I think Toby is keen to begin.”
She nods enthusiastically so I take her hands and guide her up to the end of the aisle. Then we turn to face one another with nothing but love in our eyes as we wait for Toby to begin.
“Friends and Family of Prudence Evans and Logan Banker,” he begins in the most formal voice I’ve ever heard him do. Clearly, he’s been practicing! “Welcome and thank you for being here on this important day. We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between these two, by joining them in marriage. It feels like it’s been a long time coming with them, so this is pretty awesome, am I right?” A smattering of chatter breaks out in the crowd, but Toby quickly shuts them down. “Now, in a very unconventional way, the bride didn’t know this wedding was happening today, but I believe the groom has written his own vows?” I nod, confirming this. “Good, so let’s all sit back and listen to him being soppy… don’t worry, we can mock him later on.”
Everyone laughs aside from me because I’m trying to prepare myself. I’m not good with speeches, whether they are off the cuff or planned, and this is one I really need to get right…
Chapter Thirty – Prudence
Who the hell books a surprise wedding? I can’t help but think as I wait for Logan to speak. Who does things like that? This is why I’m in love with Logan, he’s different, special, just what I need. And the fact that he’s gone to all this effort to make me have the perfect day is the sweetest. He even got Alice and Becky here all the way from New York. Even though we left that life behind, it’s nice to have a little piece of it here on the most special day of my life.
“Prudence Evans, you are wonderful. Honestly, I cannot express to you how special you are. I knew it, even when we first met, but of course back then there was no way of telling how important you were going to become to me. I didn’t know that you would end up changing my life.”
I cannot believe that I’m getting married in a bikini and board shorts. In a way, it’s weird because I know that I should be in some fancy white gown, but in another way this is me now. This is who I am all the time so why not get married looking exactly like I am? Logan is casual too, in his tee shirt and shorts, and so are all the guests so I certainly don’t stand out or anything for looking sloppy. We just look cool. This is just how it was meant to be. I mean, there are parts of it that I would change, but not the things that Logan has done, only the things that are out of both of our control.
I would have my beautiful, caring mother here and the version of my father before she passed away. It would have been awesome for that man to walk me down the aisle, but still, we’re surrounded by some kick ass friends and family. I cannot ask for more than that.
“I didn’t know that it was possible to love anyone like I do you,” he continues with a smile. “But I do. I would do anything for you, I hope you know that by now, and I vow to continue doing whatever I can for you for the rest of our lives. I will love you as you deserve to be loved, I will respect you, and make you happy, just as you do me.”
I can hear sniffles of tears all around us, which makes me clutch onto my stomach. The emotion is getting the better of me, turning me into mush. If I don’t speak out now then I’ll always regret it, even if I don’t have a damn clue what I’m going to say. Everyone understands, they know this was a shock to me so I highly doubt I’ll be judged for saying something lame.
“I might not have written my own vows,” I pipe up, surprising Logan. “But that’s fair since I didn’t know we would be doing this today, I think everyone understands that.” I hear excited murmurs from the crowd, but I keep my eyes only fixed on Logan. “So, I’m just going to speak from the heart.” I sigh deeply, preparing myself before I begin. “Logan, I might have changed your life, but you did mine as well in the best way possible. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for you, and that’s something that we both know is true.” He can’t even deny it, because he’s seen the transformation. “You have made me the best version of myself that I can be, and I love you for that.”
He gets a bit keen and leans down to kiss me, way before Toby announces that he can… but that isn’t why I take a step back. I haven’t finished yet, there’s still something that I need to say.
“Actually, Logan.” I press my hand on his chest as I speak. “You aren’t the only one who has been keeping secrets.” As expected, he gives me a very confused look. “I didn’t mean to keep this from you I just haven’t found the right time to say it to you.” I give him a one shouldered shrug. “I suppose at our surprise wedding is as good a time as any.”
I grab onto Logan’s hand and press it to my belly. Admittedly there isn’t a bump yet but I’m sure that will come. I found out for certain this morning that I am actually pregnant after having a few weeks of feeling nauseated and just a bit different. I was going to tell him over dinner, but obviously now I don’t have to. Actually, this might be better. It wasn’t exactly something we were planning but I know for sure that he’ll be pleased. He’s keen to start a family.
Gasps burst out in the crowd, but somehow Logan doesn’t look like he quite gets it yet. I burst into giggles and shake my head, disbelieving that I’m actually going to have to tell him outright instead of waiting for him to guess. I suppose hints haven’t ever been his strong suit.
“Logan. I’m having your baby. You are going to be a father. We’re going to be parents.”
“Are you serious?” Now it’s his turn to look like the rug has been pulled out from underneath us. Every day with Logan feels like the best roller coaster ever, but there are some days that are more dramatic than others. This is definitely one of those. “You are… we are… there is…”
“Yep, I took three tests. We’re definitely one hundred percent going to have a baby.”
Maybe it isn’t the best timing since we’re in the process of starting our own business, but I think if there’s one thing that me and Logan have proven it’s that timing doesn’t really matter when you’re in love. We didn’t exactly meet at a great time, we didn’t get together at the right time, we probably even moved at the wrong time, but we’ve made it work. It’s me and him against the world and it’s worked out just perfectly. Of course there have been bumps, but what story runs smoothly?
The only thing that has come at the right time is this wedding… at least now our baby will be born into wedlock. Maybe people will think that’s why we got married, but not the important people. I’ve learned not to care about the opinions of others anyway, I’m living for me not them.
“Oh, my God. Me, you, and our little boy or girl.” Logan rubs my belly and rests his forehead against mine. “How did I end up so damn lucky? I don’t get it sometimes!”
He dips his head to mine and he kisses me with utter love and passion making my chest heat up and my heart swell with joy. I still get butterflies in my belly every time we kiss, I’m still just as attracted to and in love with him as I have been from the start of this. I don’t see any of that ever going anywhere. This love is so strong, and it’ll always be that way.
“Er, I guess you can kiss the bride!” Toby calls out. “Then let’s sod this and start partying, we have a lot to celebrate here today. A wedding and a baby. Who would have thought it?”
Everyone here might think they have a lot to celebrate, but it isn’t as much as me. I defied all the odds and ended up smack bang in the middle of a happy ever after. There was a time when I had nothing, no hope for a future, and now I have it all. The career, the man, the baby on the way, the friends to share in my joy. Logan hasn’t just given me him, he’s given me my world and for that I will always be so achingly happy that I could laugh and cry all at once. I am proof that anyone can find love and be happy, even if it comes from the strangest of places.
“I love you,” Logan whispers in among the noise, only for me to hear. “So damn much.”
“I love you too,” I cling to him as I reply. “You make me the happiest woman alive, and now we have someone else to share that love with. A baby who’s going to have a proper life.”
“A baby surrounded by love.”
Unprepared Daddy
Blurb
Ben Katch has it all… money, success, all the women he could ever want. The last thing he wants to do now is change his perfect life. Not for anything. Not even for the sexy new girl that’s started working at his favourite club...
Serena Jones hasn’t ever told anyone this, but she has always had this feeling that something special is going to happen to her soon, something that will turn her boring life around. She doesn’t know what it’s going to be, but she can’t wait. Maybe it’s even the hot billionaire who’s started giving her the eye...
But as these two start an ill fated affair, their differences quickly begin to show. Steamy chemistry can only get them so far when the cracks are more like chasms. But then a dramatic surprise shocks them both, and it’s one that will either bring them closer and bond them forever, or tear them apart and shatter them completely.
Are they strong enough? Can they survive? Or should they walk away now before they not only lose each other but themselves too?
Chapter One – Ben
“Thank you for coming everyone!” I yell over the microphone, slurring my words only slightly from the alcohol. “After yet another fantastic quarter you all deserve to party thanks to all your hard work at Katch Industries... that’s why I’ve purchased the most expensive champagne.”
A cheer bursts up around the room, effectively ending my speech for me.
I’m glad really, the company is doing so well that we ha
ve plenty of these events. There are only so many ways to say well done to everyone. I love my staff members, but they already know that. They don’t need to hear it every minute of every day.
Instead, I raise my glass and everyone cheers. As I stagger down from the stage, I’m swarmed by people. Not the managers of each department in my financial company but the staff from the bottom floor too. That’s why these sorts of events are a good idea. It gives everyone a little bit of access to me. I’ve learned over time that letting people feel connected to me means they’ll work that much harder for me.
It also means I only have to do it every so often. I’m a busy man, I can’t speak to everyone all the time. They know that, I’m sure they do.
“Thanks, everyone,” I say to everyone, no one in particular. “Your work has all been fantastic recently.”
I soak in the compliments I get in return like a sponge. I’m no different to anyone else, I need a boost to keep me going. “You’re all awesome. Please, enjoy the party.”
“Hello there, handsome.” As the sultry voice blasts into my ear I almost let my eyes roll to the back of my head in mild annoyance. I know who it belongs to without even turning around, but I also know from past experience that ignoring her leads to bigger trouble than just speaking to her. “That was a great speech up there, Mr. Ben Katch.”