Smiling, I watched him pull his shirt over his head. “OK, OK. You can come. We’ll do it together.”
Twenty minutes later, we walked across the lawn toward my parents’ house hand in hand. My stomach was a little jumpy, but all in all I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be. My parents would be surprised, but they loved Miles, and I knew they’d be happy for us and thrilled to have their first grandchild on the way.
“Hey.” I squeezed his hand. “You know what I just realized? I gave you a first!”
“You sure did. Many of them. And you know what I just realized?” He tugged me in front of him, wrapped his arms around me from behind, and whispered in my ear. “You’ll give me all my lasts too.”
“They’re ready for you, Skylar.”
At the sound of Mia’s voice, we turned to see her standing in the doorway, a smile on her face. Jillian and I were upstairs at the winery in what Mia called The Bride’s Room, which had a couple sofas and chairs, several full-length mirrors, and plenty of natural light streaming through the windows.
“OK.” Skylar took a deep breath and looked in the mirror one last time. “This is it. Am I good?”
“You’re absolutely stunning.” My voice hitched as I said it, and for the millionth time, I wondered when this pregnancy would stop making me so emotional. I cried at everything these days! Although seeing our middle sister in her wedding gown and veil, holding her bouquet, in the moments before she married the love of her life, even had Jillian near tears.
“You are,” she echoed, sniffing. “No one will be able to take their eyes off you.”
“The only eyes I care about are Sebastian’s.” Skylar’s smile was bright and her eyes clear as she picked up the bottom of her frothy white dress with one hand. “And I can’t wait to see them, so let’s do this thing.”
Sebastian’s two young nieces were serving as flower girls, and they were already giggling at the top of the steps, waiting to be told they could go down. When Mia gave them the nod, they took off, bounding down the stairs in a fit of excited laughter. “Here, let me take your flowers so you can hold your dress up as we go down,” she said to Skylar.
Skylar handed them over and used both hands to ensure she didn’t step on the bottom layers of tulle. She’d chosen a strapless tiered lace dress with a mermaid shape that showed off her hourglass figure, and wore her hair in a loosely braided mass of curls pinned to one side. Her veil floated behind her, and Jillian handed me her flowers so she could pick up the lace-edged tulle and make sure it didn’t catch on anything.
I was last coming down the stairs, carefully keeping my eyes on my feet. The last few weeks, I’d been a little dizzy, but other than that and the out-of-control emotions, pregnancy was treating me pretty well. I was about fourteen weeks along now and just barely starting to pop. My dress, also floor-length tiered lace in a dusty lavender, had a wide eggplant-colored sash that probably emphasized the fact that I no longer had a waist, but at least I could breathe in it. It looked much better on Jillian, whose slender frame was perfect for its slightly vintage look.
As we neared the bottom of the steps, I saw our father waiting and heard music from the string quartet playing outside. My heart beat quicker.
“Hey, Dad.” Skylar held up a hand and he high-fived her. “Ready to do this?”
“I sure am.” He smiled at Jillian and me, offering me a hand as I neared the bottom step. “You feeling OK?”
“Yes. Promise.”
As I’d expected, my parents had been shocked but not unhappy about my pregnancy and engagement, and once they’d had a few days to let it sink in and see Miles and me together, they’d both taken me aside and said how happy they were for me. Although we were living in my house for now, they were hoping we’d move into the Haas vacation home so they could see the baby whenever they wanted. Neither of them seemed bothered by the fact that we weren’t planning to be married before the baby was born, and my mother was already talking about a shower. Miles and I often remarked how lucky I was to have the parents I did. His parents seemed happy for us, if a bit unsettled by the news that Miles was getting married and making them into grandparents, but they still hadn’t come to visit.
“This way, please.” Mia led us over to some large glass doors leading to the terrace and we peeked out over the flower girls’ heads. Rows of chairs had been set up and an aisle created on the stone patio, with everyone facing away from the building. The terrace was strewn with soft pink rose petals, and strands of lights were strung above it, looping from the building to the surrounding trees.
“OK,” Mia said smoothly, handing Skylar her bouquet. “They’ve seated all the parents and grandparents. Skylar and the girls will stay here with me. Natalie and Jillian, you go out, and when you see Sebastian and his brothers line up at the front, you walk slowly toward them and take your places opposite. Got it?”
We nodded, grateful for her cool head and professional experience. The three of us would have been a mess back here alone. For a moment, I wondered about my own wedding—would it go something like this? Miles and I still hadn’t decided what we wanted, but we knew we’d wait until after the baby was born, so we had time to think.
I turned to Skylar and took her hand for a second. I wanted to say something, tell her how beautiful she was, how happy I was for her, how much I loved her, but my stupid throat closed up again and tears welled. She understood, and it made her smile. “I know,” she said, squeezing my hand. “I love you too.”
Jillian fared better. “You’re breathtaking, Skylar. We’re so happy for you, and we love Sebastian like a brother. You’re perfect for each other.” Pressing her cheek to Skylar’s, she smiled. “OK, Nixon sisters. Let’s do it.”
I followed her out into the warm September afternoon, managing to hold my tears at bay. Standing at the back, we watched as the three Pryce brothers came from around the building and walked together to the front of the terrace, where the officiant waited. Jillian reached behind her back, and I grabbed her hand when we saw how sweetly nervous Sebastian looked. He was clean shaven, hair neat, and his tall, muscular frame filled out his black suit like nobody’s business. He had a face that rivaled Skylar’s in its classic beauty, and for a moment I imagined the gorgeous children they’d have.
Once the men were in place, Jillian took a breath and started up the aisle, heads turning to watch her. When she was nearly to the front, I started out, my legs a little shaky, my fingers gripping my hydrangea bouquet tightly. Halfway up the aisle I saw Miles, and surprisingly enough, his handsome smile and adoring expression didn’t make me tear up. Victory! Maybe I could get through the ceremony without weeping!
As I passed him, he mouthed the word beautiful at me, and my stomach fluttered. I passed my mother, seated at the front, and she smiled before bringing a clump of tissues to her nose. Glancing at Sebastian, I flashed him a big grin and he gave me a small one back. I took my place next to Jillian, and we held hands as we watched the flower girls come up the aisle, all ribbons and giggles and gap-toothed smiles.
Finally, the music changed and our dad and Skylar appeared at the base of the aisle. The guests rose, and a collective gasp sounded as everyone took in how beautiful the bride was. They started up the aisle, and I had to laugh to myself because it looked like Skylar was moving even faster than our Dad, like she was so eager to get married, she was hurrying him. Jillian squeezed my hand as he kissed her cheek, and we both sighed at the way Sebastian looked at Skylar as he took her hand, as if she might not be real.
The ceremony began, and as I listened, I looked out at the love of my life, at my family, at this perfect, sunlit day that felt like such a gift. Putting a hand over my stomach, I caught Miles’s eye and smiled at the pure joy in my heart. It was almost too good to be true.
Almost.
As always, to my husband and children for their love and understanding. You make me smile every day.
To my early readers: Crimson, Laura, LeAnn, Margaret, Megan, Melanie,
Melissa, and Rachel…thanks for giving me feedback, inspiration and encouragement. You’re the best peen queens around.
To Paula, for being such a dirty girl and inspiring the character of Madam Psuka. Thanks for all the anal-ysis!
To Melissa Gaston, for endless laughs and hugs and cheerleading. You make it possible for me to do what I do! Love you!
To my awesome team: Jenn Watson at Social Butterfly PR, Tamara Mataya, Angie Owens, Amanda Maria, and Cait Greer, you are the best! Thanks for all you do.
To Give Me Books, The Literary Gossip, and Ellie at Love N. Books for all the help with publicity.
To Kayti McGee, Laurelin Paige, and Sierra Simone for dealing with Noir Mel during the blackest month of the year. We survived.
To my fellow authors and friends who have so generously answered my questions, read my books, and helped me along: Laurelin Paige (my favorite domme), Lauren Blakely (you are a goddess), Geneva Lee (sorry I stole your purse #notsorry), M. Pierce (with your “memes and suspicious lack of teasers”), Corinne Michaels (why can’t I write books like you), Claire Contreras (please leave me more voice messages), Helena Hunting (you are my fave combination of funny and sexy), and all the ladies of FYW—you inspire me every day!
To the Porkers, Jesus Chevy did we have fun in Savannah! Let’s do it again!
To my Harlots—I love you all! Keep inspiring me with all your hot pics, keep talking to me about all the stories and authors you love, keep making me laugh every day. You’re amazing!
Melanie Harlow likes her heels high, her hair pink, and her history with the naughty bits left in. In addition to the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, she’s the author of the FRENCHED series (contemporary romance) and the SPEAK EASY duet (historical romance). She writes from her home outside of Detroit, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and one insane rabbit.
Connect with Melanie online:
Website: www.melanieharlow.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieHarlow
Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/351191341756563/
Twitter: @MelanieHarlow2
Email: [email protected]
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/melanieharlow2/
Tumblr: melanieharlow.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/melanieharlow
The HAPPY CRAZY LOVE Series…
SOME SORT OF HAPPY http://amzn.to/1Kg91tw
SOME SORT OF CRAZY
SOME SORT OF LOVE (coming Feb 2016)
Preorder here! http://amzn.to/1MKJpFq
The FRENCHED Series…
FRENCHED: http://amzn.to/1CtP5yr
YANKED: http://amzn.to/1CtO1dQ
THE WEDDING NIGHT (Mia and Lucas) http://amzn.to/1FLnNVS
FORKED: http://amzn.to/1GP5GCI
FLOORED:http://amzn.to/1ygqtht
The SPEAK EASY Duet… http://amzn.to/1aqhU8v
THE TANGO LESSON… http://amzn.to/1Pgu9F6
Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
The Almost Night
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Melanie Harlow
Some Sort of Crazy (Natalie and Miles) (Happy Crazy Love #2) Page 22