by M. S. Parker
“I love you,” I said again. “I don’t know when it happened. But I know I love you.”
I sank down against his chest and sighed as he tightened his arms around me.
We lay like that until we both drifted off to sleep.
Thirty-Nine
Liam
I talked Mila into coming to the wedding.
It helped that Michelle heard I wanted her there, and she popped in to give her two cents. “You never argue with the bride,” Michelle insisted, going over to Mila and hugging her. “Besides, how can the best man not have his plus one there?”
Once Michelle had gone back to her bungalow to finish getting ready, I turned to Mila. “You can’t argue with her. She’s the bride.”
“You shouldn’t have gone and pestered her…it’s her wedding day!” Mila scowled at me.
The bruise on her cheek had anger clenching inside me, but I shoved it down. Moving to her, I reached up and feathered my thumb over the shadowy mark. “Look at it this way…if we’re both there, bruised and scraped, I’ll feel a little less self-conscious.”
She rolled her eyes. “Nice try. But…fine. I’ll come.”
She dressed in a long sweep of green-gold. The sleeves were long but slit down the middle, camouflaging the bruises on her arms and hiding the scrapes on her legs from the struggle the night before.
I led her to her seat before returning to wait in my spot next to Jake.
“You two look like hell,” he said.
“You look nervous,” I pointed out.
“I’m getting married.”
“Yeah, well, Mila was attacked, and I fought off an armed man last night,” I replied.
Jake reached up and shoved the heel of his hand against his right eye socket. “Yeah, don’t remind me.” His mouth drawn in a tight line, he said, “You’re going to have to do a better job at bringing Michelle and me up to speed on whatever it was that happened.”
“Later.”
Jake nodded. “Later.”
The change in music had all the guests turning to watch.
A protective screen had been erected in front of the path, keeping anybody from seeing the bride as she approached.
Now Michelle stepped out from behind it, and people gasped.
“She’s so damn beautiful,” Jake said, his voice choked.
I cast a glance at Mila, my heart swelling at the sight of her.
Then I shifted my attention back to Michelle as she started down the aisle.
The rest of the wedding passed in a blur. Michelle’s maid of honor turned over the ring she’d been holding, and I passed the other one to Jake.
As Jake kissed Michelle at the end of the ceremony, everybody whooped and clapped.
They started down the aisle, and I cast one look at Mila and mouthed, “Be right back.”
Then I offered my arm to my cousin, Raye.
She’d stood up with Michelle, the two of us the only attendants at the small wedding.
At the end of the aisle, I let her arm go and turned to find Mila.
She was still by her seat, but her lips curved in a smile at our eyes met.
A rush of peace washed over me.
We danced at the reception a little while later.
A temporary dance floor had been placed where the chairs and arbor had been for the wedding, and the two of us swayed to the music while the sun sank closer to the horizon.
The storm from the past day had blown over, and it was beautiful out, a breeze teasing at Mila’s hair.
Next to us, Raye danced with her boyfriend, her head on his chest.
Just beyond them, we could see Michelle and Jake as they danced, completely wrapped up in each other.
I looked back at Mila, brushing her hair back from her chest. “I love you,” I told her.
She tipped her head back and smiled up at me. “I love you too.”
She gasped, then giggled as I spun her around with a flourish. “You’ve got some moves on you.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “Maybe a few.”
“And here I was thinking I knew all your moves,” she teased.
“I guess I’ll have to work on some new ones and surprise you.” I kissed her, and she sighed against my lips, sinking into me.
We swayed a few more moments in silence before I asked, “Is that job offer still open?”
She pulled away, peering up at me. “Are you interested?”
“Absolutely.” I pulled her back up against me, tucking her head under my chin. “The job is here. You’re here. So…I want to be here too.”
She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tight.
“I think maybe I should give my dad a call and tell him thank you,” she said lightly.
“For what?”
“For sending me you. I love you, Liam.”
Possessiveness burned inside me. Skimming a hand up her back, I cupped her hip and drew her in closer. “I love you too.”
Forty
Mila
There was nothing like New Year’s Eve in the city.
I’d wrapped things up with my practice and was now living full-time on the island with Liam. He’d settled into his position with my security group perfectly – he’d settled into my life perfectly.
No. Our lives. We’d found each other somehow and had this amazing fit, and our lives were so much better for it.
But I did miss New York City, and when I’d suggested coming back here for New Year’s, Liam had been good with the idea.
Now, seated across from Liam in the limo, I leaned over and kissed him, my lips brushing over the stubble that darkened his jaw.
Kane and Raye were with us, and the two of them sat talking quietly as we whiled away the time. An engagement ring sparkled on Raye’s slim finger – I’d noticed it almost right away, and the moment they were settled in the limo, I’d had Liam open one of the bottles of champagne for a toast.
Jake and Michelle weren’t here. Michelle was due any day now, and she’d jokingly commented that knowing her luck, she’d end up in labor and we’d be trapped somewhere in the city, and a New York City police officer would have to deliver her baby.
I’ll pass on that…
I know Liam was hoping she’d have the baby before we headed back to the island in a couple of days.
We arrived at the address where the party was being held, but as the limo driver came around to open the door, both Raye and Liam got a text.
Raye beat Liam to the punch, squealing as she thrust the phone at Kane. “Michelle’s on her way to the hospital!”
I glanced up at the house, then smiled at Liam. “Which hospital?”
He told me, and I peered forward as the driver opened the door. “Change of plans,” I said. “A friend of ours is in labor, and we’d like to go to the hospital.”
The limo driver nodded and shut the door.
“We’re dressed pretty fancy for a night in the delivery ward,” Liam said, grinning at me.
I peered down at my feet and the four-inch heels I’d worn with my cocktail dress. “I think I’ll let you do my pacing for me.”
“Deal.” He leaned over and kissed me.
The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever, the driver navigating busy streets like a pro. We finally got there, and Liam opened the door, not waiting for the driver.
He held a hand out to me, still grinning.
“You look excited,” I told him.
“I am. I still can’t believe Jake is going to be a dad.”
Hooking my arm through his, I turned, and we waited for Raye and Kane to emerge from the limo.
We caught a few curious looks as we hurried inside.`
“I imagine Jake is still adjusting to the idea of fatherhood himself,” I said to Liam as we made our way up to the maternity floor.
“It’s a mind-boggling idea.”
As we slipped into the elevator, I looked at Liam. “What’s mind-boggling, Jake being a father or the idea of fatherhood itself?”
> “Both.” He eyed me appraisingly. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. It still boggles the mind.”
“You’re thinking about being a daddy?”
Funny, but I’d been thinking about parenthood myself the past few months. Michelle’s baby shower had really done me in, and I found myself thinking of little shoes and rocking chairs at odd, random moments.
Liam’s eyes held a gleam as they met mine. “It’s crossed my mind from time to time.”
“Funny…I’ve been having thoughts about being a mom cross my mind quite a bit lately.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek and whispered, “Maybe that’s a talk we should have.”
He slid his arm around my waist as the elevator doors opened and we all stepped out.
The maternity ward was brightly lit, and Liam stepped closer to the sign indicating which rooms were where. He pointed to the left. “Her room is down this way. So’s the waiting room.”
We settled into seats, and Liam sent a quick text to Jake, letting him know we were there.
Then he looked at me, a bemused smile on his lips.
“About that talk?” I said.
He leaned in and kissed me. “We can have that talk.”
He was still kissing me when Jake rushed into the room a few seconds later.
We broke apart as Jake hugged his sister, then turned to pull Liam into a quick hug too.
“It’s going to be a while.” A look that spoke of panic and excitement lit his eyes. “You all didn’t have to skip your party.”
“We’re where we want to be,” Liam told him.
I leaned against him and threaded my fingers through his.
He squeezed my hand and looked down at me. “Aren’t we?”
“No place else I’d rather be,” I agreed. And I wasn’t just talking about the hospital or the baby’s impending arrival.
Liam got it.
He gave me a quick kiss and pulled me into his arms for a hug.
“Happy New Year,” I whispered to him.
He whispered it back against my lips before kissing me.
No…there wasn’t any place else I’d rather be than right here with Liam.
Forty-One
Liam
Mila stood in front of the mirror at her old condo in the city.
She caught sight of me looking at her and arched a brow.
“Just admiring your…outfit,” I said with a faint grin.
She wore a short, sassy skirt, tights, and a black bra. Nothing else.
“I don’t want to get make-up on my sweater,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t bring that many changes of clothes.”
We’d flown back here to have dinner with Raye and her boyfriend and Michelle, Jake and little Brant, Jake and Michelle’s son.
He was a month old today and Jake had called us a couple days ago, asking when we might be back in town.
Michelle is going stir-crazy and wants to talk to some adults…other than me, he’d said with laughter in his voice.
So here we were, taking a weekend away from the island to spend with family.
I leaned against the door frame, watching as Mila dusted something on her cheeks before picking up a tube of lipstick. Her eyes met mine in the mirror once more. “You should go…I don’t know…comb your hair,” she said.
I skimmed a hand back over my ruthlessly short cut. “There.”
She just laughed. “Go on, shoo.”
“You trying to get rid of me?” I asked.
“I’m trying to keep from being late.” She turned around, watching me as she applied her lipstick.
How women could do that without looking in the mirror amazed me.
Once she was done, she capped the tube and put it down.
“Why would we be late?” I let my gaze drift over her.
“Because of that,” she said, pointing at me. “I see how you’re looking at me. Now…go. I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”
I had been contemplating pushing her skirt up over her hips. Instead, I left and made my way into the kitchen.
Mila joined me a few minutes later, carrying a pair of boots in her hand. I watched as she sat down to tug them on. “What are you going to do with this place?”
She shrugged. “I’m still trying to decide. I might just keep it, so we have a place to stay when we come visit everybody.” She grinned at me. “Or if I get the urge to go on a shopping spree.”
One thing she didn’t like about the island—she couldn’t shop until she dropped. I didn’t see that as a bad thing, but then again, I wasn’t exactly into fashion.
She zipped her second boot, then stood up. “We can go!”
I moved over to her and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “You look beautiful.”
Her eyes softened, and she reached for me, but before she could tug me closer, I backed away. I winked at her. “We don’t want to be late, remember?”
We weren’t but Raye and Kane were.
We’d been standing around the kitchen, nibbling on some food Michelle had put out—canapes—she’d told me. Seemed like a fancy word for appetizers.
I didn’t care what they were called really, as long as they were edible. One in particular—I couldn’t get enough of. I’d already downed half a dozen of the little crackers piled high with spicy shrimp and avocado.
I was eying the last one when the buzzer went off, announcing Raye and Kane’s arrival.
As Jake went to let them in, I glanced at Mila.
She only had eyes for Brant, cooing down at him while he looked around with that wide, unfocused gaze of a newborn.
“Hey!” Raye rushed in. “Sorry we’re late!” She homed in on Mila and the baby. “There’s my guy!”
She passed her coat off to Jake, then washed her hands before turning to Mila, reaching out. “Gimme!”
Mila clutched him a little closer and pressed her nose to his head. “I hardly ever see him.”
I glanced at Kane. “I think we’ve been forgotten.”
The big man crooked a grin at me as he accepted a beer from Michelle. “Looks like.”
We settled against the counter, watching as the women cooed over the baby for a little while. Jake and Michelle finished up the food and soon we were sitting down in the dining room.
Brant had fallen asleep and Michelle retreated to put him down for a little while as we ate.
“What, can’t he have spicy…” I studied the food spread out in front of us. “Is that Szechuan chicken? No fried rice?”
“Very funny.” Michelle poked me in the shoulder as she returned to take her seat. “He’s still on very much a liquid diet.”
“How is nursing going?” Raye asked.
Immediately, Kane and I found something else to discuss and we kept at it as the food was passed around and we helped ourselves. I’d learned that Kane’s family was as big—and as boisterous—as mine, although he seemed closer to his mom and siblings than I was with my parents and various brothers and sisters. I was working on that, though, and usually called them at least once a week.
“Boys, we’re done discussing nipples and boobs,” Mila said, her voice dry.
My face heated and I grabbed the bottle of beer from the table. “How about a toast?” I suggested.
Everybody raised their beer bottle or glass of wine.
Michelle cocked her head, studying me. “What are we drinking to?”
I glanced at Mila and found myself grinning. “Us. Let’s drink to us.”
“Here, here,” Jake said.
“To us…and to my first glass of wine in forever,” Michelle added, grinning broadly. She winked at Raye and said, “We’ve been working on getting Brant to take a bottle and for the next twenty-four hours, feeding him is Jake’s responsibility.”
We clinked our drinks together, then drank.
Mila reached under the table and took my hand, squeezing lightly.
I squeezed back as I put my beer down.
“So, when are you two t
ying the knot?” Raye asked as she scooped up a bite of rice and chicken.
Mila and I looked at each other, then grinned.
“Actually…” Mila said, drawing the word out. “That’s one of the reasons we’re in town. We’re going to pick out my engagement ring.”
Gasps, laughter and applause broke out. I glanced at Mila and squeezed her hand once more, then leaned over to kiss her. She hummed softly as I drew back.
“Come on,” Jake said. “Let’s eat before these two decide they need to get a room.”
Once more, laughter echoed around the table.
As Mila laughed, I settled more comfortably into my chair and reached for my drink, silently lifting it in toast once more.
To us…to family. To the rest of our lives.
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PREVIEW
One
Bastian
Sitting behind the driver, I stared at the scenery outside the window and tried to pretend my older brother, Marcellus Von Brandt, the Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, heir to the throne and the title of Prince Regnant, wasn’t sitting in the seat next to me.
We’d been close once, Marcel and me. There had been fights, of course, periods of rivalry. We were siblings. Siblings fought. But there was a real distance between us and had been for some time.
“The official wedding invitations will be sent tomorrow, Bastian.”
I didn’t even look at my brother. “You can’t be serious. You’re still intent on marrying that woman? I told you—”
“Your Highness, we’re coming up on Malbun,” the driver said. “The chalet has been stocked, but is there anything out of the ordinary you’d like?”
Marcel shot me a sidelong look.
I wanted to say no, but at the same time, I also wanted to get through the next few days—hell, the next few weeks—sane. It was a touch and go thing as far as I was concerned.