At Adam’s name, she blanched. He didn’t know.
“Cole…”
“No,” he persisted. “No he wouldn’t, Bri. Where is he? I don’t see him out here fighting for you. But I am. He may be content to sit back and let you slip away, but I’m not. I will keep fighting for you until I have nothing left to fight with. I’m not going away, and I’m not backing down. I know what you feel for me. It’s written all over your face. Are you really so willing to give that up, to give up everything we could be together? You love me, and I love you. Why can’t you give us another chance?”
“I’m afraid,” she shot back. “Okay? I’m terrified that you’ll leave me an empty shell again, like you did before. You ruined me, Cole, and I’m still trying to put all the pieces back together. You frighten me more than anything because…” her voice failed and she had to swallow and try again. “Because I know I’ll never love anyone like I love you. And I hate that you have that power over me.”
Sighing, he took her hands gently in his and looked down at them. “You have that same power over me. You hold my heart in your hands, Bri.” He looked up at her, his eyes shining. “You, and no one else. You have the power to destroy me, just as much as I have that power to destroy you. But you also have the power to heal me, to change me, to lift me higher than I could ever go myself. You make me a better man. Don’t those things outweigh the risk? That’s what love is, Bri. It’s a risk and a trust and a leap and a hope. But most of all, love is a gift. One that I gladly give to you with all my heart.”
He looked into her eyes. “Your heart is safe with me, Bri, I swear it. I swear on all I hold dear, that you can trust me with this gift. I promise you I won’t squander it again. I will cherish it as the most precious thing I have, because it is. All I ask is that you keep my heart safe as well, because it’s yours. It has been since the day I met you, and it will be until the day I die.”
She could taste the salt of her tears, streaming down her face. She wanted more than anything to give into him, to let him sweep her away and never let her go. He saw it, too.
“Say yes, Bri.” He leaned in slowly, stopping just short of her lips. “Make me yours.” He waited there for her to make the final move. When she remained frozen he groaned.
“Stop being so damned stubborn and kiss me!”
“No,” she managed to squeak.
“No?” He pulled back slightly. “Why not?”
“Because,” she sobbed, “I’m afraid if I start I won’t ever be able to stop.”
Chuckling, he gave her a wry smile. “And would that be such a bad thing?”
Her eyes dropped to his lips, and her heart began to pound. No, she silently answered his question. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing at all. And suddenly her choice was easy. It was time to stop fighting her heart, and give it what it wanted.
Cole’s lips lowered toward hers again, and this time she didn’t resist. Letting go of the last of her inhibitions, she met him halfway.
A shock jolted through her at the contact, and her body was flooded by warmth. One hand slid around her waist, the other hand caught the back of her head, and he pressed her tightly to him. His lips, as soft as she remembered, were gentle but demanding, firm and unrelenting in their insistence. She gripped him tighter and opened up for him. He didn’t hesitate a second, his tongue sweeping hers and flooding her with the depth of his feelings. Her own emotions rushed up to answer, and she was caught in a blissful swirl of joy and love and ecstasy.
This was right. This was home. This was where she would always belong. She was whole.
He pulled back suddenly, causing her to start.
“Wait,” he whispered. “What about Adam? I… We can’t do this if you’re still…”
He trailed off and she smiled up at him.
“I ended it with Adam a week ago.”
“Really?” his eyes shone with joy and wonder.
She nodded. “It’s always been you, Cole. It’ll only ever be you.”
The most beautiful smile spread across his face, and she felt tears of joy welling in her eyes as he crushed her to him, his lips claiming hers.
A loud cheer from behind them startled her, and she pulled back to see the crowd from the pub on the sidewalk behind them. She laughed, a little embarrassed by their audience. Laughing, Cole turned to her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Oh, I’m not done yet,” he grinned. He pulled her back to him, dipped her, and kissed her deeply, hungrily, and unabashedly. She felt his kiss all the way down to her toes, and reveled in the way her body came to life in his arms. This time she didn’t even notice the whistles and applause.
She had barely survived without him, and she was tired of just surviving. Cole made her feel desired and loved and alive. She couldn’t live without him anymore than he could live without her. And as his lips communicated the depth of his feelings for her, she knew, without any more doubt, that she wouldn’t have to live without him ever again.
The road ahead of them was sure to be littered with obstacles, but she knew that there wasn’t anything they couldn’t overcome together. Together they were stronger. They would buoy each other up, and keep each other afloat. And under it all, they would have the burning passion of their love to see them through even the darkest of times.
And that was what Bri wanted. She wanted a love so fierce and consuming, so tender and aching, that it drowned out everything else that competed for its attention. She wanted to come home everyday to the man of her dreams and know that he felt exactly the same way about her. She wanted a lifetime of moments like these, so potent and perfect, to fill her heart with and build her future upon.
And she knew, looking up at the miraculous man in front of her- a man who had refused to give up on her, who had fought for their love with every ounce of his being, that she had found the one person capable of giving that to her. He had been there all along, even when she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see it.
Cole was her home. He was her hope and her future, her passion and her past. He was her heart. And her heart was finally home.
Epilogue
Five years later
Gliding through the hall, Bri paused at the door long enough to rap twice before slipping inside.
Startled, Cole turned from his contemplation of his bow tie in the mirror to glance at her.
“I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t be here,” he gave her a wry smile, before turning his attention back to his tie. Bri took the opportunity to admire his long, lean tuxedo-clad frame, as he finally got the bow tie to work.
“Actually, they sent me up here to find you.” She moved closer to him, stopping just behind his shoulder. “You’re late,” she admonished with a grin of her own.
He turned, and his eyes slid down her, taking in her flowing white dress, and back up again.
“We could be later,” he grinned, his eyes darkening. She felt her body and face flush, but remained resolute.
“I was told to tell you to ‘get your ass down here right now or we’ll damn well start without you’. Jimmy’s words.” She considered him a moment. “Although, maybe we should be late, after all.” She slid up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Hmm?” he grinned, his lips brushing hers. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?”
“No,” she smiled. “But now is a good time.”
“You look so stunning that all I want to do is tear off that dress, throw you on the bed, and…”
A sudden pounding on the door diverted both of their attention. “Bri? Cole? They’re ready to start. Are you coming?” Bri’s stepmom’s voice sounded through the door.
With an audible sigh, Cole released her, and Bri headed to the door. “We’ll be right there,” she assured Summer. Turning back to Cole, she held out her hand, a small smile turning up her lips. “Are you ready for this?”
“I’m ready if you are.” He took her hand, and they walked down the main staircase of the reception hall, to meet the weddin
g party waiting below.
“Finally,” Jimmy murmured as Cole walked past. “Took you long enough.”
Cole just threw him a cocky grin. “I had to get the tie right. Perfection takes time, you know.” Jimmy just snorted. “Besides, you couldn’t very well start without me. I’m the best man after all.” He took his place next to Bri, who gave him her own smug smile, and as the music started, they moved together down the aisle.
The guests all stood, and Jimmy and his soon-to-be wife walked the isle together and took their place in front of the minister. As the ceremony began, Bri caught Cole’s eye across the small expanse and smiled, the memories of their own ceremony still fresh in her mind.
They hadn’t waited long to get married. Bri had felt no hesitation or fear when Cole proposed. It wasn’t marriage that she’d been afraid of, just marrying the wrong person. She and Cole had flown their families and friends to Hawaii, for a small but intimate ceremony on the Maui beach at sunset. It had been simple, beautiful, and perfect. Still, as she gazed lovingly at her husband, she was amazed at how close she’d come to throwing it all away. She would be forever grateful for Cole’s stubbornness and tenacity.
They’d lived in New York for a couple of years, in a small, modest apartment that they’d loved- despite the leaking pipes and worn carpet, because it was theirs, together. She still missed that place. They’d made a lot of happy memories there.
But then Bri had been offered a promotion in her publishing firm, which required a move across the country to their Los Angeles location. After talking it over, and making sure that Seb was on board, she and Cole had decided it was time to go home. ESPN had easily transferred Cole to their L.A. studio, and Seb along with him as his producer. They’d bought a house down in San Pedro, up on a small cliff overlooking the ocean, and a boat, which they docked nearby and took out to Catalina as often as their schedules would allow.
Cole had moved from an analyst at ESPN, to a full anchor during basketball season, and a Sports Center contributor in the off-season. It had been a hard decision for him to leave Reggie and their band in New York, but they still managed to get together every once in a while. He wouldn’t admit it, but Bri knew he was a little sad his band had replaced him, despite her assurances that no one could ever replace Cole Marra. He was a force unto himself.
Cole’s career had benefited Seb, who of course had moved back to California with them. He had been approached by other on air talent to produce their segments, which he did around producing Cole’s. He’d bought a condo in downtown L.A., and was doing well. He was still single, but Bri had heard that he might finally have gotten serious about a girl. She hadn’t met this mystery woman yet, but she held out hope that Seb had finally found someone as special as he was. All things considered, though, Seb seemed pretty content as he smiled at her from his spot at the end of the line of groomsmen.
Claire, who was sitting with the guests, watched the ceremony with dreamy wistfulness. Finished with beauty school, she’d gotten a job at a movie studio, and while she was working mostly small, low budget movies, she loved what she was doing. Her fiancée, Dylan, sat beside her, holding her hand and grinning at the excited bouncing of her knees.
Turning her attention back to the ceremony, Bri felt a sigh of contentment. After moving back from New York, Bri and Summer, in a move of unprecedented solidarity, had decided that Cole’s dad was too great a guy to remain single the rest of his life. Devastated by Cole’s mom when she’d left them, Jimmy hadn’t been able to get over her. But after Lynette had shown her true, money-grubbing colors and tried to take advantage of her own son, Jimmy had finally been able to let go of any remaining feelings, and was finally free of her.
There was a lady in Summer’s book club that she and Bri had introduced to Jimmy. Jaime was a wonderful, sweet woman, about ten years younger than Jimmy, with three kids of her own. She and Jimmy had hit it off, and after the world’s longest courtship, he’d finally proposed. And the rest was history.
Seeing the joy on both Jaime’s and Jimmy’s faces made tears fill Bri’s eyes, and she reached out to squeeze Summer’s hand next to her. Summer beamed back at her, and Bri’s heart swelled. As the minister pronounced Jimmy and Jaime man and wife, Bri’s tears fell freely, spilling her happiness down her cheeks.
Cole stepped up to her, cocking an eyebrow. “Again?” he teased.
“I can’t help it,” she defended, grinning. “I love weddings.”
“Me, too.” He pulled her to his side and kissed the top of her head.
The guests all sat down to dinner, and toasts and congratulations were given. After dessert, the DJ started the music, and two rather disturbingly tall, identical blond boys rushed over, nearly knocking Cole out of his chair.
“Hurry, Cole, you have to take us home,” Logan panted. “We have to get out of here. Now!”
“Yeah,” Liam agreed, “Mom said she was going to make us dance. With them!” The twins both turned to gape in horror at the two fifteen year old girls eyeing them and giggling. “There’s no way we’re sticking around for that.”
“Boys, boys,” Cole corralled them. “Why would you possibly want to miss out on a chance to get up close and personal with a girl. Don’t you know dancing is the best way to do that?”
“Hey!” Bri folded her arms indignantly.
“Not with these girls,” Logan returned, ignoring his sister’s outburst. “They’re pushy, and crazy, and apparently won’t take no for an answer. Come on, Liam, Cole’s no help. We’d better go find somewhere to hide before mom finds us.” He turned to see Summer still sitting with their dad at their table, pleasantly oblivious to the absence of their gangly teenage sons.
As her brothers ran off, Bri turned a glare on Cole. “Don’t give them advice about girls. At least not while I’m sitting right here.” She shivered. The thought of her brothers dating was too weird to think about, so she tried really hard not to.
“But I’m a wealth of information and experience,” Cole spread out his hands. “If they don’t get advice from me, where will they get it. All the things I could teach them,” he trailed off wistfully.
“Yeah, I know all about your methods,” she leaned into him, and he wrapped an arm around her. “But seriously, do not give my brothers dating advice. I cannot in good conscience release two mini Coles on the female population. They do not deserve that.”
“Hey,” it was Cole’s turn to be indignant. Smiling, she reached up and kissed him.
“Oh, and speaking of crazy offspring, I told Layla I’d babysit for her on Saturday.”
Cole let out a facetious groan.
Layla and Devon had also moved back to L.A. after Devon finished his masters. He was a history teacher at a local high school, as well as the head football coach. They had a little girl, who was about two and a half, and she was the center of their universe. Lynsay was a little spitfire, just like her mama, and she adored her honorary uncle Cole. Whenever she came over, Lynsay would follow Cole around like a puppy, wanting to go everywhere and do everything with him. Cole adored her just as much and, despite his protestations, didn’t mind having a constant three-foot shadow.
“And by me babysitting, I actually mean you babysitting.” Bri winced.
“What? Why?”
“The studio has their recital on Saturday, and I told Layla I’d come help.”
Layla, deciding she wanted to stay home with Lynsay and be a mom, had opened a small dance studio to keep herself busy. This was her first year in operation, and things looked promising. Bri had offered to help teach, and together she and Layla had a small contingent of students. Bri loved it. When Layla started stressing over the recital details, Bri had offered her help.
“It’ll only be a couple hours on Saturday evening. Devon would take her, but he’ll be with us. Poor guy got suckered into that one,” she grinned.
“Yeah well, so did this guy,” Cole crossed his arms.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you.” She patted
his arm. She knew Cole loved his Lynsay time. The toddler practically hero-worshipped him.
“You’d better,” he grinned.
“Dance with me?” she tilted her head toward the dancing couples.
“Of course.” He led her out and pulled her tight against him. Sighing, she melted against him, happy and content to be in his arms. “So, three more months. You getting excited?”
“A little,” she grinned. In fact, she was much more than a little excited. Her manuscript had been accepted for publication, and her debut novel’s release date was only three short months away. It was a dream come true for her. She’d wanted to be a writer her whole life, it was what had pushed her into editing in the first place. And now, that dream was coming true. She still couldn’t believe it sometimes.
She looked up at Cole. Yes, she still couldn’t believe it sometimes. She’d never dreamed she could be this happy. She’d take all of the pain and heartache of their up and down relationship all over again if she knew she’d make it to this point again: a loving husband, a blossoming career, and now one more miracle to add to her list.
“So,” she began hesitantly, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” Her heart began to pound with nerves. She’d been trying to find a way to tell him for a couple weeks now, but hadn’t been able to do it. She was still in shock over it, and it was hard enough to admit it to herself, let alone anyone else. But it was time.
“Oh really?” He dropped his eyes to her, all attentive. “What is it?”
“Well, it’s just that…” she trailed off, not knowing how to say it. “Um, I mean that I…” Her mouth went dry and fear gripped her. What if he was upset? They hadn’t planned this, hadn’t even talked about it. What if he freaked out and blamed her? What if he wasn’t ready?
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