by Suzy Shearer
Still crying Kallie managed to kiss him. “Thank you. It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever got.”
Zeus thought something was wrong. Whimpering he tried to get both their attention. Alex ended up sitting on the floor and pulled Kallie down to join him. They rubbed Zeus’s tummy until he was calmed then the three went down to the salon. Zeus pulled out most of his toys, and he and Alex spent a rough-and-tumble half hour playing while Kallie checked everything with Marie for their lunch.
Around eleven Dan and Stacy turned up. Lunch was relaxed and filled with laughter. After coffee Charles came in and nodded to Alex. Alex stood and took Kallie’s hand leading her out to the front of the house with the other two trailing behind.
“Close your eyes.” He opened the front door and led her out. “Okay open them.”
The other two were cheering as Kallie looked at the Jeep tied with a huge red bow. From Derek, Alex had ordered one that was the same as she’d lost in the fire. He’d actually ordered it just after she’d agreed to marry him. It had arrived last week, but Derek had agreed to hold it until Charles picked it up today.
“Happy fiftieth birthday, my darling.”
Kallie turned and buried her face in Alex's chest. Her muffled words barely audible. “I thought the studio was my present.”
He laughed and lifted her face. Carefully wiping her eyes he kissed her then the four of the piled into the car so Kallie could drive them around the block. The rest of the day went perfectly and that night lying in bed together Kallie told him it was the best birthday she’d ever had.
Two days before Christmas she and Alex were married in a beautiful old church nearby. Nervously Alex stood at the front of the chancel with Dan beside him.
“You’ve got the ring, haven’t you, Dan?”
“Relax. Yes, you’ve asked me that five times already.”
“Sorry.”
Alex began pacing back and forth. “What time is it?”
“Damn, Alex. Will you calm down and stop asking me the time?”
Five minutes later he kept looking to the front of the church. “She’s late, isn’t she?”
“Only by ten minutes.”
Alex grabbed Dan by the shoulders. “She’s not coming! Fuck, Dan, she’s changed her mind!”
Dan laughed at his distress. “Alex, it’s perfectly normal for a bride to be late. She’ll be here. Don’t worry.”
Alex knew he was driving Dan crazy, but he couldn’t help himself. His heart was pounding and he felt sick. But at last everyone in the church stood. Pachelbel’s Canon in D filled the church as Stacy, dressed in a long jade-green chiffon dress, walked down the nave toward them. She winked at Alex when she got close and then stood opposite the two men. Alex turned as a hush fell over their guests.
If Alex were ever asked to describe the next moment he knew he would never be able to find the right words. When Kallie appeared he thought she looked like an angel walking toward him. She was breathtaking.
Her beautiful gown sparkled with each step as she moved closer to him. The long veil seemed to be a halo around her as it cascaded down and then flowed out behind almost like a waterfall. Her wedding dress was stunning, and she later told him it had thousands of crystals on the draped pleated tulle net over the Chantilly lace. He didn’t understand a word of it but all he knew was it looked beautiful. Her lovely collar seemed to glow as it reflected the chapel lights and candles.
His heart almost stopped when she finally reached his side and smiling placed her hand in his. He remembered his vows somehow, although he stuttered over them. Kallie’s voice rang out clearly as she spoke in that sultry voice of hers. The rest of the ceremony became a blur until the minister announced they were man and wife. Alex wiped a tear away as he swept Kallie into his arms to kiss her for the first time as his wife. Everyone in the church erupted with applause as they continued their kiss.
The rest of the night sped by quickly until finally he and Kallie were alone in the bedroom of their hotel suite. With shaking hands he untied the ribbon laces that wove the back of her gown closed and then helped her step from it.
Alex pulled her into his arms. There was no fear anymore. He knew she would be his for the rest of their lives. Never again would there be cold centre in his chest. Kallie had melted his frozen heart, and now his heart sang.
THE END
WWW.SUZYSHEARER.WIX.COM/SUZY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best-selling and award-winning author Suzy Shearer writes contemporary and paranormal erotic romances filled with mature and interesting characters. Her books have constantly reached her publisher’s Best Seller list with several reaching No. 1. Her book Build A Love was runner-up in the Ménage category in the Easy Chair Bookshop’s Fiction competition 2015 and A Hunter’s Heart was runner-up in the Series Category.
Single, all alone, and fancy free, Suzy lives in the Western Suburbs of Sydney Australia with one very spoilt dog and two equally spoilt cats keeping her company. She is a Buddhist, an author, an artist, a computer nerd, and a voracious reader. Suzy has a penchant for crazy coloured hair—pinks, purples blues, even rainbowed. It changes every month. Oh yes, also a penchant for tattoos!
Her books always feature older heroes and heroines ranging from mid-40s to 60s. The heroines are usually confident plus-sized women who are proud of their curves. Suzy feels it’s important for readers to connect. When she discovered many romance books seemed to cater for younger readers with their heroines and heroes in the 20s, she decided to write about characters who were older but maybe not always wiser. As she is in her 60s, Suzy feels she can relate to her characters’ desires, fears, and hopes, and hopes her readers can as well.
Suzy also wants her readers to understand just because people are older doesn’t mean they aren’t intriguing, desirable, open to challenges, and willing to experiment. Sexy isn’t just for the under 30s.
When Suzy is not writing, she is usually painting. An accomplished watercolour artist, her subjects range from portraits and animals to nudes and landscapes.
For all titles by Suzy Shearer, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/suzy-shearer
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com