Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set

by Annalisa Nicole

  “Alright. Do you think you can take me to the place you bought Jax’s watch, too?” I ask with a smile.

  “Sure, let’s go.”

  We head out to the street where her little red sports car is parked. Immediately I start thinking of names to name her.

  Ava looks at me with a grin and says, “You’re not naming my car.”

  “But, I just thought of a really cool name,” I whine.

  “No,” she answers.

  “You don’t even want to hear it?” I ask.

  “No,” she answers again.

  I get in the passenger seat, and literally bounce and dance in the seat just dying to tell her the name. She pulls away from the curb and heads downtown toward all the shops.

  “Oh, alright. Oh, my God, you’re such a brat. Just tell me already,” she yells.

  “Dahlia,” I spit out with a smile.

  Chapter 14

  Aiden

  After a month of planning and waiting to make Savvy my wife, the day is finally here. Savvy and I chose not to go with the whole ‘you can’t see the bride before the wedding day’ just like Ava and Jax did for their wedding. In this case, I’m glad Savvy isn’t superstitious about it. Not only because I need to give Savvy her wedding gift before the girls and the hairdresser get here, but because I wouldn’t have missed this feeling I have in my chest waking up with my arms wrapped around my beautiful, soon to be wife, on our wedding day.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” I say, kissing her on top of her head.

  “Good morning, husband to be,” she says, taking in a deep breath. “Pinch me,” she continues.

  “What? I’m not going to pinch you,” I reply.

  “No, really, you need to pinch me. I need to make sure I’m not sleeping or dreaming and this is really my life. I’m really going to be Savannah Wellington today?”

  “You really are going to be Savannah Wellington today, babe,” I say, giving her a squeeze. “I think you’re the one who needs to pinch me. Is the beautiful angel that’s wrapped in my arms, really going to become my wife today?”

  “Oh, Aiden,” she says, and buries her face in my side.

  “We have a few hours before everyone gets here. What should we do with that time?” she asks, lifting her head up, then she places her chin on my chest.

  “Actually, I want to give you your wedding gift before the girls get here,” I tell her.

  “Really!” she says, perking up.

  I get out of bed and look out the window to see if her surprise has arrived yet. Yep, right on time. I reach into the nightstand and take out a small box and hand it to her.

  “Before you open that, you need to get dressed and come into the kitchen with me.”

  She jumps out of bed, slips on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, grabs the box and my hand, and pulls me into the kitchen.

  “Alright, I’m dressed and in the kitchen. Now can I open it?” she asks.

  “Now you can open it,” I nod.

  She rips the wrapping paper off the box and tears the lid off with a huge smile. She looks inside the box, then her smile fades.

  “Aiden, we talked about you not getting me a new car,” she whispers, looking at the key.

  “I didn’t get you a new car,” I tell her and lead her to the front door.

  I open the door, turn her so she’s facing the street, and stand behind her. I point down the street and wait for her to see it. Sitting at the end of the street is Ruby.

  Just as I take a step on the walkway, the driver starts the car and drives down the street, and comes to a stop in the driveway. I lean around Savvy, so I can see her face. Tears are streaming down her cheeks as she looks at the one material thing I know she treasures the most.

  “Ruby,” she whispers.

  A few days after the night she was carjacked, I asked Max what happened to Savvy’s car. He told me it was in the warehouse and completely undamaged, that one of his men had brought it back to his PI firm and parked it around back. I would have rather bought Savvy a brand new, safe, reliable car, but I know how she feels about that. So the next best thing, was to have Ruby totally restored. The engine was completely rebuilt, new leather interior seats, carpet, dashboard with added air conditioning and power windows. I know what a kick she gets out of my green steering wheel, so I had a red one put in her car. I also added a state of the art GPS system with hands-free.

  Ruby is as safe as any new car I could buy for her. This is also probably the most expensive VW Rabbit in existence. But to see this look on Savvy’s face right now, I’d have paid ten times that amount to do this for her.

  Savvy

  I never once asked anyone what happened to Ruby. Not because I don’t care or think about her anymore. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. I’ve thought about her at least a million times a day. Every time I thought I had the courage to ask about her, I’d chicken out. I just couldn’t do it. It was somehow easier to just not know the possibility that she had been totaled at the warehouse, or lit on fire and burned to the ground, or driven over a cliff, Thelma and Louise style, and gone forever. The last thing I remember about her, is being over the moon happy about staying with Aiden and putting things in her trunk to take back to his place. Then . . . well, again we know what happened next.

  The car driving toward us has a nice, shiny new, deep cherry red paint color, and she looks like she just rolled off the showroom floor. But I’d never mistake this car for anything. It’s my Ruby. Aiden restored Ruby as my wedding gift. He’s the absolute most beautiful man, inside and out. This must have cost him thousands and thousands of dollars to get her in this condition. She was never hurt or destroyed. She’s been in Aiden’s safe hands all this time.

  Ruby comes to a stop in the driveway and I’m rooted to the floor. I’m stuck to the walkway in a state of shock. I can’t help the flow of tears streaming down my cheeks. They just keep coming and coming. I finally come unglued. But it’s not to run to Ruby and hug her hood.

  I turn around and throw myself into Aiden’s arms, repeating over and over, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  Aiden picks me up off the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist and squeeze him as hard as I can. God, I’m the luckiest girl on the face of the planet. I hear Ruby’s car door open, then close. There was no loud lurching noise or creaking noise either, she sounded beautiful. I hear someone walking up the sidewalk and I expect it to be one of the guys.

  Aiden sets me down on my feet and says, “Ruby isn’t your only wedding gift.”

  I feel a gentle tap on my left shoulder. Aiden gently takes me by the shoulders and turns me around. If Aiden weren’t still holding my shoulders, I’m pretty sure I’d be on the ground and on my ass. She’s aged some. Her hair is a beautiful shade of grey, her eyes have a few wrinkles around them, but they’re the kind of wrinkle that only adds to her beauty. But just how I’d know Ruby anywhere, I’d know this woman anywhere. This is the woman that made me want to become what I’m working so hard for.

  “Ginger,” I whisper, as chills race through my body. I can’t help the loud, uncontrolled sobs that come from deep within me. “But, how?” I manage to choke out, looking back at Aiden.

  As soon as my eyes connect with Ginger’s again, suddenly I’m that ten-year-old little girl. I’m brought back to that day in the hospice center with my mother, Aunt Molly, and Ginger. But what plays in my mind isn’t the sadness of my mother dying, it isn’t the anger toward my aunt for not seeing things through, it’s just before that. When my mom had clarity, when I was by her side for the last time and she seemed to be back to her normal self. It was only for a brief time, but she was there. In a flash, it’s like she’s right here standing with me, celebrating my big day with me. I look up to the sky and close my eyes. I don’t want it to end. I feel the warm sun on my face and I see her reach for my hair, softly take a chunk and twirl it in her fingers with a smile. She’s so proud of me. I know she is, I can feel it. I hear her sweet voice in the warm breeze telli
ng me, ‘I love you, Savvy girl. I’m so proud of you and the woman you’ve become. I’m here with you every step of the way.’

  I open my eyes and look at Ginger. She smiles that warm smile at me. Oh, do I remember that smile. I remember that smile like I just saw it yesterday, so caring and compassionate. A loud horn blares behind Ruby. I look around Ginger and see Jax’s H3.

  “That’s for me,” Aiden says, grabbing his tux from the closet doorframe. He grabs his bag on the floor, kisses me on the lips, touches Ginger’s shoulder with a smile, then walks down the walkway.

  Following behind Jax is the limo loaded with all the girls. Aiden and the rest of the men are getting ready at Asher’s house, while we get ready here. I introduce everyone to Ginger, then it’s all hands on deck as the chaos begins. Chloe is the last to leave Ginger’s side. She brings her in for a hug that I’m sure Ginger doesn’t understand. But the way Ginger hugs her back and her own tears in her eyes, I think she does understand.

  All the girls are dressed. They look so beautiful in soft, one shoulder, flowing pastel orange gowns. I’m sitting in a chair in a ratty button up shirt and sweats as the makeup artist finishes the final touches, when Ava walks up to me and holds out a small rectangular box between the two of us. I’m not going to lie, I’ve thought about this moment so many times. I still can’t believe it and I’m so honored to take place in the Wellington bridal tradition. I smile as I try not to cry a full on blubbering snot ugly cry.

  “You’re something new,” Ava says, letting go of the box.

  I take deep breaths to try and calm myself. This has already been the best day of my life, and I’m not even to the ‘I do’ part yet.

  “Open it, sweetie,” Willow encourages.

  I remove the lid and the contents take my breath away. It’s a brilliant orange sapphire tennis bracelet set in platinum. At the end of the clasp is one dangling ruby. She’s thought of everything to make this the absolute perfect gift.

  “Ava, it’s just beautiful,” I say standing up, and then I give her a big hug.

  She hugs me back then pulls away, takes the bracelet out of the box, and secures the bracelet around my right wrist.

  I wish I could put it around my left wrist, but my cast is too big. It’d look killer on the same arm as my engagement ring.

  She continues to hold my hand, and I see on her wrist her beautiful tennis bracelet Chloe gave to her. It’s a platinum bracelet that alternates lemon opals and canary yellow diamonds. Chloe puts her hand on top of ours, with her beautiful tennis bracelet dangling from her wrist, given to her by Shay. It’s a platinum bracelet, with alternating black diamonds and purple amethysts. Shay puts her hand in, and her beautiful tennis bracelet dangles from her wrist that Amelia gave to her. Hers alternates with seafoam green and peach diamonds, and is also set in platinum. Amelia puts her hand on top of all of ours. Her beautiful, brilliant diamond tennis bracelet, given to her by Willow, sparkles in the sunlight on her wrist. Last, Willow puts her hand on top of everyone’s and squeezes. Her beautiful diamond and pink sapphire bracelet set in platinum, sparkles brilliantly. Hers was given to her by the man who started this amazing tradition, Asher.

  All I can think is that we look like a bunch of fruity Rainbow Bright sisters with all of our multi-colored bracelets.

  “All of us together look like the leprechaun from Lucky Charms threw up all of his marshmallows all over our wrists,” I say, looking at the girls.

  They all look at our wrists, then Willow lets out a sob. We all look at her and it’s contagious. Amelia is next to get watery eyes, then Chloe.

  “Savvy, you cry, and I swear to God, I’m never doing another Wellington bridal makeup session again,” the makeup artist says next to me, wielding her cosmetic application wedge at me.

  Willow watches the wedge go back and forth with her eyes, then busts out laughing, “Don’t worry, there aren’t any of us left,” she says, as her large pregnant belly bobs up and down as she laughs, making the rest of us laugh. She wraps her arms around her belly and says, “Shit, now I have to pee,” then waddles toward the bathroom. We all crack up just watching her. “You all will so pay for that,” Willow says, closing the bathroom door.

  “For your something old,” Ginger says, stepping forward, handing me a small box.

  My heart immediately goes to my throat. Her being here was the best gift ever. If I had to say it, which I’m glad I don’t, seeing her here on my wedding day is way better than getting Ruby back. I take the box from her and open it. Inside is a symbol I’m very familiar with. It’s an antique brooch. It’s a caduceus, but in the center there is an old nurse’s hat like they used to wear before the 1980’s. On the bottom are the two little words that I’m working so hard toward, Hospice Nurse. Ginger takes the brooch from me, walks over to my dress, flips the hem up, and pins it to the inside of the skirt. She walks back over to me, takes my hand, and gives it a squeeze.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, barely holding it together.

  “For your something blue,” Ava says. “Sky and Hope helped me make it,” she continues.

  I open the small, flat box. Inside is a beautiful blue garter. The girls did a fabulous job making it.

  “It’s beautiful! Thank you,” I tell her, giving her a hug.

  I pull away from Ava and stand there. Everyone’s eyeballs are looking at each other, but no one’s saying anything.

  “Oh for heaven’s sake, Willow. Hurry it up in there, you’re up with the something borrowed,” Amelia yells toward the bathroom.

  Willow comes out of the bathroom fluffing her skirt.

  “You all try going to the bathroom with a basketball in your lap wearing this dress.” She walks over to her bag, removes a box, then walks over to me. “Your something borrowed.”

  I take the box from her and open it. Inside is a beautiful antique strand of pearls.

  “Thank you, Willow, it’s beautiful.”

  “Oh, I have something for you, too,” Quinn says, running to her purse.

  She comes back and places a small coin in my hand.

  “What is that?” Shay asks, leaning in to look at it.

  “It’s a sixpence for your shoe,” Quinn replies.

  “I didn’t have a sixpence in my shoe,” Amelia says.

  “I didn’t either,” Willow says.

  “Stop being babies. I saw it on the internet and thought it would be nice. Plus, I didn’t want to be left out. You all have given a gift at one point or another. I wanted to, too,” she says.

  “Girl, there aren’t any Wellington men left to marry off, but honey, you fit right in,” Willow says to Quinn with a smile.

  “I think it’s time to get you in that dress and get you to the marina,” Shay says.

  I smile, knowing this is the moment that I get to put on my wedding dress for the last time and I finally get to say, I do, to Aiden. Chloe brings it over and the girls help me get into it. Ava helps me put the garter on, then Quinn pops the sixpence in my left shoe, then helps me put them on. Amelia tucks my veil in the back of my up-do, then they all stand back and smile at me with tears in their eyes. I turn around and look into the floor to ceiling mirror on the back of my bedroom door and gasp. I am beautiful. The beautiful woman I see looking back at me in the reflection isn’t the woman I saw just a few short months ago. So many of my dreams have come true. I am Cinderella and I even have sisters now. They’re all the most amazing sisters a girl could ever ask for.

  “You’re beautiful,” Ginger says next to me. “I just know your mother is smiling down at you, so proud of the young woman you’ve become.”

  That did it, even though the makeup lady threatened me with a vicious makeup wedge, a tear slides down my cheek.

  “Just one more thing, then we’ve got to get going,” Chloe says.

  She walks up behind me and ties a pastel orange sash around my waist.

  As much as I wanted to go with the orange color in a tiger lily, I didn’t think that was a very wedding like orang
e. My bouquet is all tiger lilies, but I went with the same pastel orange as the girls’ dresses. She ties a beautiful bow, then lets the long pastel orange satin fabric flow down the back of my dress.

  “Perfect,” Willow says.

  We walk out to the limo, and the chauffeur drives us to the restaurant. I don’t dare sit back in the seat, afraid of ruining the perfectly tied bow. The butterflies start dancing in my stomach and I’m glad I used extra strength deodorant this morning, because I feel like I’m sweating like a pig. He pulls up to the restaurant, and we’re immediately whisked away to a private room until it’s time for the ceremony. I saw Jax’s H3 and a bunch of Max’s Explorers out in the parking lot. That means that Aiden is already here, too.

  Chapter 15

  Aiden

  There’s not a cloud in the brilliant blue sky. The sun is at its peak, and the salty smelling ocean breeze is light and warm. The sounds from the marina behind me are just like I pictured them in my imagination every time my dad told us the story about his wedding day. The terrace is packed to capacity with two hundred guests. To my right are Savvy’s maids of honor, Ava, Chloe, Amelia, Shay, Quinn, and Willow. To my left are my best men, Adrian, Asher, Kyle, Jax, and Max. I inhale several breaths through my nose, then out through my mouth. I close my sweaty hands into fists, then shake them out. The anticipation of seeing Savvy is killing me. Then the traditional bridal music starts, everyone stands and turns around, then all eyes go to Savvy. I remember every word my dad told me about his wedding day, but I never really understood the waver in his voice when he described it, until this very moment.

  How this woman ever thought she wasn’t beautiful is incomprehensible. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She watches her feet as she walks toward the last row of chairs, careful not to step on her dress. Then she stops and her stunning green eyes come up and find mine, her face is that of an angel. Her eyes leave mine and go to Gary. His hand is resting on hers, which is resting on his right arm. His eyes are entranced and glossy, he pats her hand, smiles, then takes one step forward. She looks back at me and wipes a stray strand of hair from her face with a smile. My heart stops, but with every step she takes closer to me, my heart takes a single beat. Only this woman makes my heart beat. She’s the driving force of my existence.