The Honeymoon Prize

by Melissa McClone

  “That’s true.” Addie couldn’t believe they thought anyone would watch their show. A happy couple frolicking on the beach wasn’t must-see TV. Though female viewers would like seeing a shirtless Nick. “I’m ready to go back to San Diego.”

  “You leave tomorrow.”

  “Want to come with me?” she asked.

  Mama Lani laughed. “You must return to Starfish Island to see me. I never leave here.”

  “Never?”

  “This is home. My family is here. No reason to go anywhere else.”

  Addie used to think that way about Coronado when her grandparents had been alive, but she might as well be an orphan after everything her family had pulled. “My friend Emily needs you to take care of her the way you’ve taken care of me.”

  “Send her my way. Mama Lani is always here.”

  “I would if Emily would took time off from her job. She works all the time.”

  “Too much work is no good.

  “I agree.” Addie thought about the current state of her bank account and how much a stay on Starfish Island must cost. “Might take me a while, but I’ll be back. Someday.”

  When she took a real honeymoon.

  Scratch that. She didn’t want memories of Nick to be following her.

  “Smile, smile.” Mama Lani motioned Addie over. “Time to put on your new dress, then we will work on your hair.”

  “That might take a while. I went to bed with my hair wet.”

  “We have an hour.”

  She stood. “What in the world does the crew have planned today?”

  “This is not for the TV crew. There are other things we must do first.”

  “Okay,” Addie said, resigned. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Chapter 10

  Three hours later, Nick waited on the beach for Addie to arrive. Hands in his pockets, trying to act calm and cool when his insides trembled, he shifted his weight between his bare feet, the cuffs on his white pants rolled up, sand between his toes. A floral lei hung around his neck, the sweet scent reminding him of Addie.

  He hoped this worked.

  Thanks to Emily, Mama Lani and the resort’s event planner, an impromptu wedding vow renewal ceremony had been put together last night.

  Nick wasn’t sure about Emily’s plan, but after she said his idea sounded like kidnapping and illegal, he decided to go with hers. But he’d added a touch of his own.

  A proposal.

  Nick would propose. Just he and Addie alone, no cameras in sight. This would give him the opportunity to tell her how he felt and ask her to marry him again only this time for real and on bended knee with an engagement ring.

  A simple plan. Easily executed.

  He wanted to say failure wasn’t an option, but he had zero control on how Addie would respond. All he could do was hope this worked out.

  Nick rubbed the ring in his pocket, a lifetime of love against his fingertips. If his words couldn’t convince her, maybe the engagement ring would show her how much he cared, not only here but also back in San Diego.

  Brad jogged up the beach. His tan had darkened over the past week. His hair had lightened. The guy wasn’t as annoying he’d been at the beginning. Nor was he stupid. He’d given Nick and Addie time alone before the ceremony in exchange for a Q&A on camera about why they wanted to renew their vows a week and a half after getting married.

  “We’re good to go.” Brad checked the screen on his tablet. “Ready?”

  “Yes.” Nick removed his hands from his pockets. The film crew had no idea the true reason behind the wedding vow renewal. They’d been excited by the idea last night and worked hard with the resort staff to set up a ceremony site on the beach this morning. “I’m good to go.”

  Brad beamed. “Mama Lani is on her way with Addie.”

  Nick’s stomach clenched. “Great.”

  He’d known fear. Multiple deployments took their toll, but he’d managed, survived. What mattered downrange was his brother on his right and the one on his left, making sure they stayed safe. He’d been part of a team, with the best men he’d ever known, and knew each one would give his life for him, as he would for them.

  But here, now, he was on his own. Not a soul to watch his back. Zero cover.

  He stared at the water—clear and blue. Gentles waves lapped against the sand, but the rhythm did nothing to soothe his uncertainty, the gnawing fear over how Addie would react to his proposal.

  Nick wasn’t a pilot, but he’d jumped out of many aircraft. The odds of crashing and burning were high. But he needed to do this. No regrets. He’d have those if he didn’t at least try.

  “I’m going back to the crew,” Brad said. “We’ll be watching for you and Addie.”

  “Before you go. Do me a favor. Stand next to me during the vows.”

  Brad’s brows drew together. “What?”

  “Be my best man. I didn’t have one the first time around. Though fair warning, you might be called on to make a toast at the reception.”

  His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes, the first wrinkles Nick had noticed on the guy. “Yes. Hell, I’d be honored. I’ll be so on with a best man speech, too. Thanks, dude. Means a lot.”

  Brad jogged up the beach toward the ceremony site with a spring to his step, leaving Nick to wait.

  A few minutes later, plant leaves rustled. Mama Lani’s signal to be ready.

  Nick took a deep breath, then another. No game face to put on, but he needed to relax, get rid of the tension bunching his muscles. He should smile, except all he could do was rub his lips together. A silent plea to the friends and teammates he’d lost over the years to take off the Green Beret they wore over their halos and send down some mojo from the bar-that-never-closes in the sky.

  Mama Lani appeared on the sand. Addie followed, a vision in white.

  Gorgeous. His breath caught in his throat.

  The colorful floral garland around her neck matched his. Matching flowers had been woven into her long hair. A beautiful white dress hugged her curves. The hemline fell below the knees, showing off her toned calves and bare feet, complete with hot pink painted toes. She wore no jewelry except a pair of pearl earrings and the gold wedding band on her finger. The ring kept her from looking like a . . . bride.

  His heart pounded.

  Addie’s gaze met his. Something flashed in her eyes. Not anger. More like relief. Her lips parted. “I hear there’s a big surprise in store today.”

  He nodded, unable to tear his gaze away from her. “We only have one more night on the island.”

  Someone cleared her throat. Mama Lani. Her get-with-the-program chastised Nick. The woman could give an ODA team leader lessons on mission preparation. But one look at Addie and he’d gotten sidetracked.

  “I leave you with Mr. Nick.” Mama Lani’s tone was loving and nurturing. “He knows what’s supposed to happen next.”

  “I do.” He reached out and clasped Addie’s hand. She stiffened, then relaxed, keeping up the happy couple act in front of Mama Lani.

  “See you both soon,” Mama Lani said. She would walk to the ceremony site from here, using the path not the beach, to be Addie’s matron of honor.

  But would this wedding vow renewal be for the cameras or for real? Time to find out.

  Mama Lani walked off the sand, giving Addie time to admire Nick in his white button-down short-sleeve shirt and pants and allow her annoyance to build. She glanced toward the path. No one was in sight.

  She let go of Nick’s hand and took two steps back. “You didn’t sleep at the bure last night. Now there’s a surprise when you know I don’t want to be part of the filming today. What is going on?”

  “You are stunning.”

  She raised her chin. “Answer my question.”

  He laughed. “No one’s going to step over you again.”

  “Nope. So . . . ?”

  “I’ve been an idiot.”

  She wasn’t about to disagree, but she had a feeling they were talking about
two different things. “What you’d do?”

  “It’s what I didn’t do, but I’m going to make amends.” He closed the distance between them and held her hand again.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Let me explain.” He took a breath, wet his lips, took another breath. He looked nervous, unlike himself. “Yesterday, you said you loved me. I responded the way I always have when there’s romantic feelings between us. I staged a tactical retreat. I thought I could walk away, guard my heart from you, but I realized that’s a losing battle. I need to admit defeat. Surrender while I still can.”

  “You’re not making sense.”

  “I love you, Addie. I always have. Not platonically. Romantically. With my whole heart.”

  The air whooshed from her lungs. She forced herself to breath. “Stop joking.”

  “I’m serious. I love you. I was too damn scared of the feelings and how you might react if I told you. After what happened in Fort Bragg, I was plain scared of being hurt and rejected so decided to separate sex and love. Figured I’d be safe. Worked for a while.”

  “What happened?”

  “You. This place. Your honesty about your feelings made me examine my own. I realized how empty my life would be without you.”

  Her insides tingled. Joy threatened to overflow from her heart. She wanted to believe him, more than anything, but this was Nick. Every word was the opposite of what he’d said yesterday, what he’d said for years.

  Addie leaned into him, raised her mouth to his ear to whisper, “Are there cameras on us?”

  “No cameras, sweetheart. Only you and me.” He kissed her cheek, then raised his hand to his mouth. “But I’m ready to shout the words. I love Adelaide Sinclair Cahill.”

  “What happened to you not being a one woman guy, not settling down, claiming love is fleeting?”

  “Told you I was an idiot.”

  She gave him a look.

  “What happened is I met a cute girl who grew into a beautiful, smart woman. She made me see I was living a lie. And so you know, I’m going to find another job or go into business for myself. I don’t want a job that keeps me away from you so much.”

  A tug of war raged inside her. Was Nick telling the truth? She wasn’t sure. “Did you have one too many mimosas for breakfast?”

  “I’m not drunk.” He raised his hand so she spun under his arm. “Unless I’m tipsy on love.”

  She laughed at his bad line, then looked around. “Who are you? And what have you done with Nick?”

  “I’m right here,” he said. “I’m the boy who proposed when we were five. The man who proposed when we were twenty-seven. I’m the husband who wants to propose now.”

  Nick dropped down on his knee.

  Her heart slammed against her chest, beating fiercely in triple time. The scene felt surreal, a dream come true. This couldn’t be happening, could it? “Nick?”

  “Marry me, Addie. Not in name only. For real. Mrs. Nick Cahill. Nice ring to it, remember?”

  The words rushed from his mouth. The hope and affection in his eyes touched her heart. “You’re serious.”

  Her voice was soft, a notch above a whisper.

  “Of course, I’m serious. I love you.”

  He pulled something from his pocket. He held a gold ring between his thumb and index finger and raised his hand. A diamond sparkled in the sunlight.

  She took a closer look, gasped, and then covered her mouth with her hands. Tears stung her eyes. “Grammy’s engagement ring.”

  “For you.”

  “I can’t believe this. I was sure I’d never see the ring again. How did you get it?”

  “Emily. She told me what you’d done to pay for the funeral. I knew how much the ring meant to you and your grandmother. I roped her into finding it while I was in Dubai.”

  Addie had no doubt about Nick’s sincerity or his love. He’d gone after the ring for her, determined to take care of her when she didn’t know he was doing it. She didn’t have to worry if his love was true. Like his friendship, his love had always been there. “No wonder she thought we were in love.”

  “I’ve been carrying the ring around, wondering when I should give it to you. Emily was confused why you weren’t wearing the ring after the ceremony. I told her I was saving the ring as a surprise. Thought the honeymoon might be the right time. So . . . surprise!”

  Addie threw herself into his arms, knocking him backwards onto the sand. She landed on top of him. “Nick, oh, Nick. Thank you. I love you. Of course, I’ll marry you.”

  Her lips found his and pressed hard, a kiss full of longing and promise and heat, lots and lots of heat.

  “I’m so glad you said yes.” He touched her face. “We’re going to renew our wedding vows in front of the cameras. We don’t have to pretend. This is for real.”

  “How many surprises do you have in store?”

  “You’ll have to wait and find out. But we need a proper ceremony this time with a reception afterwards.”

  She was wearing a white dress. “This is my wedding gown.”

  “You always said you wanted to get married on the beach.”

  “I never told you that.”

  “You told Emily. She did some long distance wedding planning with Mama Lani last night.

  So that was what kept him busy. “Unbelievable.”

  “We should get—Oh, crap.”

  “What?”

  “I dropped the ring. It’s gotta be here.” He scooted from beneath her and hopped to his knees. “You wouldn’t believe what I tracked down in the mountains of Afghanistan. Trust me, I can find a ring in the sand.”

  Addie trusted him completely. She sat back, her heart full of love for Nick. “I know you will, but I’m going to help.”

  She searched the sand around them.

  He glanced her way, an intense expression on his face. His gazed narrowed on the bodice of her dress. “Found it.”

  She glanced down. A prong had snagged the fabric on the right side of her breast. “How did the ring end up there?”

  A sheepish expression crossed his face. He removed the ring from her dress. “No comment.”

  Her smile felt wider than her face. She extended her hand. Carefully, he slid the ring onto her finger. A perfect fit.

  Addie stared at the ring. “This would make Grammy happy.”

  “Damn straight. She always thought I was a catch.”

  “You are, but you’re mine now.”

  “I am.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I’ve always been yours.”

  She wanted to keep that satisfied smile on his face forever. “Took us long enough to figure this out.”

  “No worries. We’ve got one more night left to make the most of our honeymoon, and we have the rest of our lives together.”

  Addie stared up at him, her heart full of love. “We won the best prize of all.”

  “We sure did.” Nick embraced her, pulling her against his chest, brushing his lips over her hair. “Each other.”

  The breeze off the cove ruffled the hem of Addie’s new white dress. A conch shell trumpeted her arrival on the wedding raft. Drums sounded, echoing the beat of her heart, steady and strong like Nick.

  A few minutes later, she stood barefoot on the sand in front of an arch of tropical flowers, the sweet fragrance something she’d never forget about Starfish Island. Her pulse stayed constant, the rhythm as soothing as the waves lapping against the beach, as she and Nick exchanged vows.

  Don’t lock your knees. Passing out would fuel pregnancy speculation. Not that she was, at least not yet, but who knew what might happen tonight? She wiggled her toes in the sand.

  Clicks sounded—photographs being taken by guests and the resort. More pictures to put in their wedding album.

  Her excitement built. She glanced at the engagement ring, excitement building. Breathe. She needed to breathe.

  This. Was. It.

  Nick stood next to her. The wind blew the ends of his wavy light brown hair.
A garland of flowers around his neck. So handsome.

  Her husband.

  Joy overflowed from her heart, rushing through her.

  I can’t believe this is happening.

  Once upon a time, she’d dreamed of marrying Prince Charming. Turned out her schoolgirl crush and in-name-only husband was her Mr. Right. Today she’d been given the opportunity to hear him declare his love, accept his proposal and renew their wedding vows.

  Birds flew overhead. The water rolled to shore. Mama Lani stood to her left, dabbing at the corner of her eyes with a tissue. Brad stood to Nick’s right, one eye on the ceremony, the other on the film crew taping them. Resort guests and staff filled the white chairs set-up on the beach.

  A reception would follow, complete with a first dance on the beach, wedding cake, bouquet toss, and at least one champagne toast. Most likely two. Mama Lani said she might want to make one in addition to Brad’s.

  Forget the wedding of Addie’s dreams being held at the Del in Coronado. All she needed was Nick. The location didn’t matter. She thought he was rescuing her by proposing, but his marriage plan and this honeymoon had helped them rescue each other. Everything might not be fairy-tale perfect. Both of them would have to make changes, but they were stronger and smarter then they’d been. Together, they could do anything. No matter what, they had each other’s backs. She couldn’t ask for a better beginning to a happily ever after.

  “You may kiss your wife.”

  Nick looked at her, a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his lips.

  This time Addie didn’t hesitate. She rose up on her toes and kissed him, hard on the lips.

  Mr. and Mrs. Cahill a.k.a. the cutest couple ever.

  Those T-shirts would make a great first anniversary gift. A wonderful fiftieth one, too.

  The End

  An Excerpt from The Cinderella Princess

  By Melissa McClone

  Emily Rodgers sat in the backseat of a rusted-out taxi next to her longtime friend and pseudo-assistant, Addie Cahill. The ad agency should have had a limousine waiting at the airport, not an old cab that burped and passed gas. But Emily had been sent to Alvernia, a small European country, for damage control, not a holiday.