At Last (Time for Love, #5)

by Miranda P. Charles

  It was the perfect setup, part of Gemma’s plan for a weekend of celebrations.

  Yesterday, they’d had a family dinner at Magda’s house. Greg had thought that was his birthday party. Unbeknownst to him, there was a big temporary marquee being set up in their backyard along with some tables and chairs for around fifty people. Gemma had organised a surprise party for him and had invited some of Greg’s friends and colleagues to join the family.

  She checked her watch and hurried to get herself ready. She needed to be dressed up by the time the caterers came. Then hopefully the guys would bring her boyfriend back home at their agreed time.

  *****

  “The other guests will be arriving soon,” Gemma said to her four best friends, who’d arrived before everyone else.

  “Everything’s set up now. You can relax, Gem,” Rebecca said. “Here, sit down.”

  “It’s you who should be sitting down, pregnant lady.”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” Rebecca said, rubbing the slight bump on her tummy and glowing with happiness.

  “Look, Bec,” Brenna said in a low voice. “Some of the caterers keep glancing at you. I bet they’re trying to figure out if the rumour that you’re pregnant is true.”

  “With Bec always stroking her belly, or resting her hand on it, I’m sure they’re already betting on it being true,” Sarah said.

  Rebecca chuckled. “I keep forgetting. Anyway, I won’t mind if the news breaks out. I’m already ten weeks along.”

  “Have you picked out a name yet?” Gemma asked.

  “No. Not yet.”

  “Jeff and I were joking the other day about baby names,” Sarah said. “As you know, we’re hoping to get pregnant soon. Anyway, he said that if we have a boy, we’ll name him Hunter, since we fell in love while staying at the Hunter Valley.”

  “Oh, that’s a nice name,” Rebecca said. “If we name our baby after the place where Zach and I fell in love... Hmm. The name of that ship won’t do.”

  “You could always pick the name ‘Cruise’!” Amanda said.

  They laughed.

  “And you can name your future child ‘Bondi’,” Rebecca said to Amanda.

  “Eh, no. Love the place, but I wouldn’t name my kid that,” Amanda said.

  “If Ash and I end up with a girl, we could name her Rose in honour of the spot where we first kissed,” Brenna said.

  “Hey, that works,” Gemma said.

  “So what about you, Gem?” Brenna asked. “How do you like Serena after Serenade Bay, if you have a girl?”

  Gemma laughed. “Greg hasn’t even proposed to me yet. So picking a baby’s name might be a bit premature.”

  “Can’t see you not ending up with him,” Sarah said.

  “Me, neither,” Gemma said with a sigh. “But I suppose it will take Greg a while before he gets round to the thought of proposing. Don’t forget that he’s been Mr. Commitment-Phobic for so long.”

  “It only took him a couple of months before he asked you to move in with him,” Rebecca said.

  “I know. I’m happy enough with that.”

  The doorbell rang, and the first of the guests arrived.

  *****

  Gemma tried to keep the grin off her face as she went to greet Greg and the boys.

  “Hey, babe!” Greg said, giving her a peck on the lips.

  “Hi. Have you satisfied the speedster in you?”

  “You bet. We’re gonna do it again sometime soon.”

  “Great. Let’s all go in, guys,” she said, taking Greg’s hand and leading him inside.

  “How about we have dinner out tonight instead of you cooking, sweetheart?” Greg asked. “I managed to get a booking at that newly opened restaurant we were talking about last week.”

  She glanced up at him and tried to keep a poker face. “Sounds like a good idea. But I want to show you something first.”

  “Okay.”

  She ushered him to the back of the house. But before they entered the big open-plan living area with French doors that opened up to the decorated backyard, she stopped him and pulled out a dark blue handkerchief.

  “We have to put this on you first,” she said, smiling widely.

  “Why?” Greg asked in bewilderment.

  “Why, he asks,” Connor said dryly.

  “Yeah, you’d think he’d know why someone would want to blindfold him,” Ash quipped.

  “But... uh... guys... you know I... ” Greg stammered as Gemma guided him out the back.

  “Relax, bro. Everything’s cool,” Jeff said.

  Gemma looked at the guys questioningly. They seemed to be talking about something she wasn’t aware of. But they only grinned at her, and Jeff motioned for her to keep going.

  When they were by the French doors, Gemma waved to all of their guests. They were facing them, grinning in anticipation.

  “Ready, honey?” she whispered to Greg.

  He nodded, a smile playing on his face.

  She took his blindfold off and guests started singing “Happy Birthday”.

  Greg’s jaw drop in surprise, taking in the sight before him. “Oh my God,” he said. “I didn’t think...”

  When the singing and clapping stopped, Greg put an arm around Gemma and held her close as he thanked everyone for the surprise.

  *****

  Gemma frowned as Greg checked his phone once again. He’d been looking distracted, even as he mingled with his guests.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  Greg gave her a bright smile. “Yes, everything’s wonderful. Thank you again for organising this,” he said, leaning down to kiss her lips. “I just need to get something inside the house. I’ll be back. Stay here with the guests.”

  “What—?” She shook her head as Greg hurried away.

  *

  Gemma was chatting to her parents and Magda when she heard some of the guests ooh-ing about something. She turned her head and saw Greg carrying an arrangement of colourful flowers that she couldn’t name from where she was sitting.

  Greg placed the big vase on a small table in the middle of the backyard that wasn’t there before.

  She came over to inspect it, and her breath left her. The flowers weren’t real. They were origami of different shapes and sizes, some of them very complex. Each was so beautiful and perfect that she could only stare at them in delight.

  “Wow. Who made these?” she asked Greg. “Did someone give this to you as a present?”

  “Remember when I missed out on joining the challenge for who would be the guy you’d kiss last New Year’s Eve?”

  She nodded.

  “I hated that I couldn’t be that man, Gem. I couldn’t even watch when you and Lucas kissed. Anyway, I wanted to do something really special for you. Learning how to make these—and make them well—took real commitment. I thought it was fitting for what I’d planned for tonight.”

  “You made these?” she asked in astonishment, glancing again at the pretty handmade blossoms.

  “All of them,” he said proudly. “Took me ages to perfect them.”

  “How long have you been working on them?”

  He shrugged. “A few weeks. I’ve been hiding them in my office at work. Someone did help me with the arrangement, though. And I had to get it delivered here, because I’d left it this morning at the restaurant where I’d planned to take you tonight.”

  “They’re beautiful, honey,” she said, her eyes tearing up. “I can’t believe you’d do something like this. But why did you leave it at the restaurant?”

  “I want to be the only man you kiss from now on, Gem,” Greg said, then dropped on one knee.

  Her vision blurred as she gazed at the man previously known as Mr. Commitment-Phobic. He was holding up a large diamond ring, looking up at her with love and hope in his eyes.

  Love and hope—without a trace of fear.

  “Gemma, you have no idea what you mean to me,” Greg said, his voice shaky. “I have no words to express everything I feel for
you except I love you. Even that doesn’t seem enough, but I plan to spend the rest of my life showing you that you are the best gift I’ve ever received. I want to love and cherish you forever. Will you marry me?”

  “Oh, Greg. Yes,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

  He grinned and slid the ring on her finger. Then he got up and gave her an almost indecent kiss in front of their applauding audience.

  “Honey,” she said with a chuckle against his lips. “People are watching.”

  “Don’t care,” he said, although he did pull away. “Tonight, I’ll be drawing chocolate hearts on me. Not just on my chest, though. And you can lick to your heart’s content.”

  “Oh, this is so wonderful,” Magda said, appearing beside them and making Gemma blush furiously. “I’m so, so happy,” Magda said, dabbing the corners of her eyes while giving them a hug. “This grandson of mine is getting married at last.”

  “Yes, Gran. At last,” Greg said, staring at Gemma. “And I’m never letting go.”

  “Now you can also plan for babies,” Magda said with a big grin.

  They laughed as Gemma turned to the other well-wishers. Her best friends were waiting in line for her, their eyes brimming with tears.

  EPILOGUE

  More than five years later...

  Gemma caressed Greg’s sweaty back as they caught their breath from another incredible lovemaking session.

  “That was amazing,” Greg whispered in her ear.

  “Hmm,” she answered with a smile.

  When was it not amazing? Even when all they could do was cuddle after a tiring day, even when they got annoyed with each other every now and again, even when unwanted publicity cropped up occasionally, everything about her life with Greg was incredible.

  Greg cupped her breast and leaned down to lick a nipple.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m getting you horny again,” he said, thumbing the other bud while he lightly sucked on its twin.

  “We don’t have time for another round,” she moaned, her body responding readily.

  “Yes, we do. For an extra-fast quickie,” he murmured.

  Her phone rang, and both of them sighed. Gemma picked it up.

  “Hello, Gran,” she said.

  “Hello, dear,” Magda said. “Someone wants to talk to you. I’ll put him on.”

  Gemma smiled and put the phone on speaker so Greg could hear.

  “Hi, Mummy. I’m making mountains,” Grady, her three-year-old son, said proudly.

  “You’re making mountains?” she asked with a grin.

  “Yeah. With sand.”

  “Are you at the beach, buddy?” Greg asked.

  “Yeah. Come here, Daddy. Help me make many mountains.”

  “I’m sure Great-Granny and your cousins are happy to help you,” Greg said soothingly. “How about you make lots and lots of mountains with them, then when Mummy and I get there later, I’ll count them with you, okay?”

  “Okay!” came the happy reply. Then they heard a shout. “Hey! Let’s make lots and lots of mountains!”

  They chuckled.

  *****

  Gemma and Greg got out of the golf cart and walked the rest of the way to Serenade Beach.

  “The other guys must also have driven here instead of walked,” Gemma said, eyeing the long line of golf carts at the beach end of the boardwalk.

  They found Magda sitting under a large beach umbrella, cooing at the infant child Rebecca was carrying in her arms. Sarah was sitting beside them, putting sunscreen on her legs, her pregnant tummy obvious from her profile.

  Brenna was holding the hand of her daughter Rose as well as Amanda and Connor’s child Annalise as they joined in some kind of ball game that Zach, Jeff and Ash were playing with the little boys.

  Gemma smiled as her son Grady ran to pick up the ball his uncle Jeff hit, passing it to his cousin Ryan—Zach and Rebecca’s oldest child. Hunter—Sarah and Jeff’s son—called out for it and Ryan tried to throw it his way, missing by a smidgen.

  “I wonder where Amanda and Connor are,” Gemma murmured.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still locked up in their cottage,” Greg said. “Maybe they’re trying to perfect their extra-fast quickie sex. I was telling Connor how handy it is when you’re pressed for time.”

  Gemma slapped Greg’s arm lightly. “You’re so naughty.”

  “You love me naughty,” Greg whispered in her ear.

  “Daddy! Mummy!”

  Grady came running to them.

  “Hello, buddy,” Greg said, lifting his son in his arms. “Are you enjoying your day?”

  Grady’s head bounced up and down. “Look at the mountains!” Grady said, pointing to a section of the beach where little mounds were created. “Count them with me, Daddy.”

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  Gemma smiled with contentment as she watched the two loves of her life race to the spot.

  “There you are, Gemma,” Magda said with a smile. “We were just talking about food. Sarah’s getting hungry again.”

  “I don’t know what it is about this place, but I always want to eat,” Sarah complained.

  “It’s the baby girl in your belly who’s responsible,” Magda said, her face a picture of happiness.

  Rebecca’s daughter let out a baby gurgle, making them chuckle.

  “That means she can’t wait for her cousin to come out of Auntie’s tummy so they can play,” Rebecca said.

  “Not long to go now,” Sarah grinned.

  Magda let out a long sigh.

  “You getting tired yet, Gran?” Gemma asked, knowing that Magda had been out and about for most of the day.

  “Oh, no, dear. I’m just thinking how blessed I am to still be around to watch these kids grow up. And I can’t thank you three enough for making my grandsons so very happy. This is one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had. Better than when I had those big parties.”

  Tears sprang to Gemma’s eyes. Magda was the finest woman she knew, full of wisdom, generosity and love, and with a resilient spirit and zest for life that inspired everyone around her. She loved Magda just as much as if they were of the same bloodline.

  She put her arm around Magda’s shoulders, squeezing the older woman affectionately. “Happy birthday again, Gran,” she said. And may you have many more to come.

  “Mummy, Mummy!”

  Grady was running towards them, followed by Greg.

  “I counted twelve mountains!”

  “Twelve! That’s a big number.”

  “Yes. You know how many is twelve, Great-Granny?”

  “How many, dear?” Magda asked.

  “Lots and lots!” Grady said before the little boy trotted back to the group playing ball.

  “Where do they get the energy?” Magda asked, shaking her head.

  They laughed, and Greg held out his hand to Gemma.

  “Swim, babe?”

  She smiled up at him and took his hand. She’d go with him to the ends of the earth.

  ###

  Thank you for reading!

  While this is the last book in the Time for Love series, some of the minor characters you’ve met here are clamouring to have their own stories told.

  When Lucas first appeared in Again (Time for Love Book 3), I already sensed that I’d be writing about his love story. When he reappeared here in At Last, I knew his time has come.

  So my next book, The Unwilling Executive (Captured by Love Book 1), is about Lucas. Like he’s said to Gemma, there’s more to him than meets the eye. Enjoy the first chapter in the next pages or get your copy by clicking here.

  THE UNWILLING EXECUTIVE

  (CAPTURED BY LOVE BOOK 1)

  He doesn't care about the wealth and opportunity his father offers.

  Racing car mechanic Lucas Renner never expected his biological father to start acknowledging him as a son and only heir. He bet the old man has ulterior motives that has
nothing to do with wanting to develop a relationship with him. He refuses to make contact with the man who has rejected him all his life... until his father's message is hand-delivered by a blushing beauty who stirred him in the right places.

  She cares about keeping her job.

  Jade Tully thanks her lucky stars for her new role as the personal assistant to a wealthy CEO. Heaven knows she needs it. But she doesn't anticipate getting entangled in the personal conflict between her eccentric boss and his extremely hunky son—a man who rattles her poise and melts her heart. She wants to help bring father and son together. But if she continues to do her boss's bidding, would she lose Lucas' trust and her chance to capture his heart?

  *

  Chapter One

  Jade Tully exhaled her frustration as she checked her watch for the umpteenth time. It was thirty-five minutes past the scheduled start of her meeting with a guy called Lucas Renner, and he still hadn’t turned up.

  She drummed her fingers on the wooden table of the busy café in the middle of Sydney’s bustling business district while surveying the patrons. Perhaps Lucas was already here, waiting?

  No. She was the only one sitting by herself.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t even know what Lucas looked like. She was relying on her new boss’s assurance that Lucas would get the message of where she was sitting and the colour of the top she was wearing.

  “Can I take this for you?” a wait staff asked, indicating her empty mug.

  “Yes, thank you,” she answered. “And I’ll have another latté, please. Decaf, this time.”

  “Sure.”

  Jade didn’t want another drink, but the establishment was full and she felt guilty hogging a table when there were people waiting for a seat. She grabbed her phone and dialled the direct line for Thomas Bilton.

  “Jade,” her employer answered.

  “Hello, Mr. Bilton. I just want you to know I’m still waiting for Mr. Renner. He hasn’t turned up yet.”

  “Hang on a minute. Let me check if he’s left a message.”

  A few seconds later, Thomas was back on the line.

  “There are no messages, Jade. Please keep waiting. He must be held up somewhere.”