“Yes.” She wriggles herself on top of me. “I can feel you, too. Now let’s do all of that again from the beginning, okay?”
Fuck, yeah. All day, all night, all my life.
Hours later, my eyes crack open. Steph is still sprawled on top of me, our limbs tangled, bodies flushed and exhausted. I drop a soft kiss onto the top of her head before sliding out of the bed and into my bathroom. I close the door softly. She’s a pretty sound sleeper, but there’s always a chance…and I don’t want to take it.
Not now.
I swipe up so the home screen displays and stare at the keypad before dialing. Three rings later, the line connects, and I take a deep breath. “She’s here. Flew in this morning. And our deal? It’s on.”
5
Stephanie
“I have never seen so many camera flashes.” I gasp as Bobby pulls me through the massive lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas a week after I arrived in LA. Between press conferences, meetings with music executives, and recording a new album, his schedule makes me dizzy, but it’s given me some time to figure out some things about my own career. Like how quickly I can transfer to my law firm’s satellite office in Santa Monica. I want him to know I’m in this, and that I’m willing to uproot my life for him, no matter where it takes us. For the first time, I’m willing to risk it all for him. For our future. “And you’re running so fast, I don’t even know how the photographers can even tell it’s you!”
He snickers and keeps pulling me along. He’s got a good six inches on me, and even in my heels, I’m huffing and puffing to catch up. “If you’re trying to rush me up to the room, I’ll be too exhausted to have sex with you after this marathon.”
“While I would like nothing more than to do just that, we have to take care of one thing first.”
“What exactly would that be? Maybe get some water since I’ve done more cardio in the past ten minutes than I have in the past ten months, and I can’t breathe?”
“No, gorgeous. Although I do see a drink of something in our future.”
“Great.” I roll my eyes and try to control my panting as we approach the famous staircase. I know it well even though I’ve never actually been to the Bellagio. But I have seen Ocean’s Eleven about a thousand times. “Oh, God. Stairs, now?”
He stops and grins down at me. “Babe, this is it. I promise. Once we get up these stairs, I’ll carry you back to the room.”
I tap my finger against my cheek. “Well, that does sound tempting.”
He holds out his hand and I lace my fingers with his, taking another gulp of air. “Why did you make me wear these shoes if you knew you’d be running me all over the place? Do you like to see me suffer?”
“No, but something tells me I’d be the one suffering if I had let you wear the flip flops.” He winks at me, and I shrug. There is probably a deeper meaning to his words, but all of that running basically sucked all of the oxygen from my brain. We get to the top of the stairs and follow a long, dimly lit hallway that snakes around a corner. The movies don’t do this place justice. Deep red jacquard threaded with gold covers the walls, while polished brass sconces give off a soft glow. The aura is pure romance. At least up here it is. Downstairs, the casino is a mess of bells, whistles, and blinking lights. The antithesis of romance. It’s more along the lines of broken dreams.
“It’s so beautiful here.” I gaze into the ornate crystal chandelier hanging over our heads. “Do you want to go to the art museum?”
He smirks at me. “Haven’t you seen it enough in the movie?”
“It’s always nice to see stuff in person.” I giggle. “Besides, what else do we have time for? You have that press conference before the show tonight. Don’t you need to start getting ready soon?”
He furrows his brow. “You mean I don’t look good like this?”
I inch closer and trail a finger down the front of his dark gray button-down shirt. “You look too good. I don’t want you sending any mixed messages to the girls who haven’t heard you’re off the market.”
“You’re right. I might have to make an announcement, just to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
I nod, standing on my tiptoes to nuzzle his ear. “I think that’s a great idea. And after the show, we can take a shower together, and you can fuck me like I’m the last girl on earth and you only have one more day with that perfect cock,” I whisper. “What do you think of that plan?”
His grip around my waist tightens. “I like it. And I can only think of one thing that can top it.”
I pull back, my mouth open wide. “How could it possibly get any better than that?”
Bobby looks at me for a long minute, wearing an expression I can’t quite read. But his eyes…they’re twinkling like emeralds, like he’s got a secret—
“Do you know why I came out here, Steph?”
I nod slowly. “To win Song Slam?”
Bobby shakes his head. “That was only part of it. Winning the competition was important because I had to prove myself – to show you that I can provide everything you need, everything that’s important to you and your future.”
“But I don’t care about—"
He shakes his head. “I know that security is important to you. I know it’s why you work fourteen hours a day, why you’re always looking to advance at your job. I get it. It’s how you grew up, it’s what you experienced. And I also know that I messed up your groove because I showed you a different way to live, one that doesn’t come with any guarantees of success even if you work hard.”
“Yes, you did.” I look at the burgundy carpet. “I know I made you feel like I didn’t believe in you before, but that life is so empty without you in it. Bobby…” I raise my gaze to meet his. “The last two months have been hell for me. Yeah, I’ve been successful at work, but I’ve had nobody to share it with because you left. The money and the status? I’d give it all up in a second because you’re more important than any of it.” I rush into his arms, burying my head in his neck, breathing in the spicy scent. “I’m so sorry I made you feel like you had to leave to prove something to me,” I whisper.
“That’s only part of it.” He strokes the back of my head, dropping a kiss on top before pulling back to look at me once again. “I needed to be sure that your feelings were real, Steph. Leaving killed me, but I had to know if you were really ready to take the next step into the unknown. That’s why I didn’t answer your calls and texts. You needed time to figure out what you really wanted, and I didn’t want to interfere, no matter how much you begged me to. I wanted you to figure out your feelings, and you coming out here shows me you did. I came out to LA because I had to prove myself to you…that I can build a future for us. And now I can.”
I gasp as he falls to one knee and holds out a tiny red velvet box. My hands fly up to my mouth. He flips the top open and a gold band with…oh my God…is that…? It is. A small sparkly donut shines up at me. Flecks of color reflect off the top like glittering sprinkles. It’s perfect. For me and for us. My eyes flit from the ring to his hopeful expression.
“I know it’s not the diamond you deserve, but I promise you here and now that the world will be yours.” He grins. “I just need a little time, but I will deliver on that. My quest, from this day forward, is to make you happier than you have ever been. Stephanie, will you let me do that? Will you be my wife?”
My head bobs as quickly as the tears stream down my cheeks. I throw my arms around his neck and bury my head in his neck. “You’re all I need, Bobby. I will marry you and follow you from dive bar to dive bar for the rest of our lives because that’s what you truly love.”
“What I truly love is you.” His lips graze the skin behind my ear and my knees buckle. He catches me before I hit the carpet face-first. “I always will, Steph.”
“I’m serious, Bobby. I don’t care about all of this.” I wave my hand around. “If it’s what you want, I’m with you all the way. But if you just want to say screw it all and go back to Long Island, we c
an do that, too. As long as I’m with you, I will be happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I think I know something that will make you even happier.”
“You naked? Well, that’s a definite bonus, but I—"
He snickers. “Easy, killer. We have the wedding night for that.”
Wedding night? Holy crap, of course! We’re in Vegas! We can get married. Here. Now. I clap a hand over my mouth. My family will kill me if I do this. Elope. With Bobby. And without—
Wait. No. I don’t care. I want to be with this man more than anything. And if they can’t handle it, that’s their issue. Not mine.
Not right now, anyway. We’re going to do this, and they’ll just have to accept it. I manage a quivering smile at my fiancé. “I think it’s a perfect day for a walk.” I rise to my feet, my teeth chattering a bit even though it’s hotter than Hades in this hallway. I guess they save the frigid air for the gamblers downstairs.
Bobby leaps to his feet and grasps my hand, leading me around another corner. There is the possibility that my parents will disown me for this, but witnessing his excitement makes my heart swell with adoration, even in the midst of this silent panic attack. “You just made me the happiest guy on the planet, Steph.”
I swallow hard. The entrance to the chapel is decorated in florals, tulle, and tiny white lights. Classic, elegant, and sophisticated. At least Elvis won’t be officiating my marriage ceremony. So, there’s that.
I tighten my grip on his hand as he pulls open the door. A faint tune drifts out of the speakers mounted in the corners of the room. “Bobby! That’s you!”
“Do you like it? I recorded it this week, but it never aired because I had bigger plans for it.” He cups my chin, his lips grazing mine.
“It’s beautiful. I just wish that they—” My lips tremble, and the words sneak out before I can pull them back. “I mean, um…I just wish I had something different to wear.”
“You look beautiful.” He nods at the officiant. “We’re ready.”
I bite my lip and look around. “So I guess I’ll just walk by myself.” I nod and take in a huge gulp of air. “Yes, I can do that.” I’d dreamed of my wedding day for as long as I could remember, and even though it had always been Bobby waiting for me at the end of the aisle, I’d walked arm in arm with my dad in every single daydream.
Am I making the right decision?
“Babe, are you okay with this? I’m sure we can find someone to walk you down the aisle.”
I plaster a smile on my face. “Yes, of course. I’m great. I can do this on my own.”
“Yes, but do you really want to?” A familiar deep voice makes me jump…and tear up at the same time. “Because I’m not so sure I’m great with that plan.”
A hand flies up to my mouth, and I spin around. “Daddy?” I whisper.
His dark eyes shine with tears, and he holds out his arms as I rush into them. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you think I was going to marry you without flying your family out here?” Bobby folds his arms over his chest. “I mean, even though they tried to chase me out of your life, they’re still your family.”
Dad points a finger at Bobby. “Watch it. She hasn’t said ‘I do’ yet.”
A hidden door swings open and Mom and Kelly pop out, dressed to the nines and holding out flutes of champagne.
Kelly swats at my dad’s finger. “Daddy, enough. We’ve been over this a million times. It’s time to let go.” Kelly rolls her eyes and engulfs Bobby and me in a bear hug. “They love each other. This is happening.”
“Thank you,” I mouth to my sister. I turn to my parents. “Guys, I know this is hard for you to accept, but—“
“No, let me go first.” My dad steps forward and looks at his shoes for a few seconds before focusing his gaze on Bobby. “I know we haven’t made things easy for you over the years. Just understand it’s because we wanted the best for our daughter.” His eyes flicker over to me. “I know now that she has the best. Bobby, you told me Steph was your whole world.” His voice cracks. “But she was my world for so long, it was hard for me to accept that she...” A moment passes, his words trailing off. “You promised me that if Steph came back to you, you’d give her the fairy tale ending. I’m holding you to that.”
Bobby rushes at Dad, throwing his arms around him. I let out a loud giggle because the look on my father’s face is priceless. God, I wish I had a wedding photographer to capture that moment. “I will, sir. You have my word.”
Dad clears his throat and stiffens against Bobby. He claps him on the back twice and pulls away. Bobby pulls my mom in for a hug next, and not one to miss her turn, Kelly leaps at him as soon as his arms are free.
“Can we get on with this party please?” Kelly clasps her hands together. “I mean, it’s exciting and all, but I’m really here to meet Damon. Good Lord, he is the sexiest television host I’ve ever seen in my life!” She winks at Bobby. “I told you that was my condition for this whole wedding surprise.”
I giggle and slap Kelly’s shoulder. “I should have known! You’ve been sweating him since the show started!”
Kelly winks at me. “Damn right! And now that I have connections, I’m sure as hell going to use them!” She links her arm with Bobby’s and leads him into the chapel. “Come on, bro. Let’s get you into position.”
Mom gives me a quick kiss and hug. “Be good,” she whispers to my dad, thrusting a small bouquet of calla lilies into my hand. She winks and hurries through the chapel doors to join Kelly and my groom-to-be.
He adjusts his tie and averts his eyes when we’re alone. “I’m sorry for the way I treated him. He deserves better. I’ll be better.”
“I know, Daddy. I love him so much. He’s such a good person, and I want you to see that for yourself.”
Dad turns his head to look at me. “I already do. It’s written all over your face, Steph. Has been for a long time. And even though I always saw it, I was too stubborn to acknowledge it. But you didn’t let that stop you from going after what you wanted. Bobby knew you’d come back to him. And deep down, so did I. That’s why I’m here, why we’re all here. This is the beginning of your fairy tale, Princess.”
My shoulders quiver, and I throw my arms around his neck. The collar of his shirt is soaked with my tears by the time the first few bars of The Wedding March drift through the doors. “It’s time, Daddy.” I swipe at my eyes as he opens the door, leading me inside the dimly lit chapel.
He kisses my forehead and holds out his arm. “Let’s take that walk now.”
I bite my lower lip to keep it from trembling. Bobby stands in front of the chapel under a white archway adorned with tiny white flowers, a wide smile stretched across his face. I’ve never seen him so elated…not even when he won Song Slam. This…this is all for me. And for us. And for the future. Our future, which is still unwritten.
But I know one thing for certain as I glide down the aisle toward my forever.
Our story? It’ll be a bestseller of the most epic kind.
THE END
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Need more sweet stories that donut contain carbs? Check out:
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Donut Dilemma by Jessika Klide
Donut Be Easy by Kristen Hope Mazzola
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About the Author
Kristen Luciani is a USA Today bestselling romance author and momtrepreneur with a penchant for stilettos, Silicon Vall
ey, plunging necklines and grapefruit martinis. As a deep-rooted romantic who prefers juicy drama to fill the lives of anyone other than her, she tried her hand at creating a world of enchantment, sensuality, and intrigue, finally uncovering her true passion. No pun intended…
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THE VENTURE SERIES
Unlikely Venture: Book One of the Venture Series
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Joint Venture: Book Four in the Venture Series
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Jack
“Hey, man. Where’s Skye?” Noah asked under his breath.
Checking my watch again, I shrugged. “You know how she is, probably still getting her hair done or some shit like that.” Another lie successfully pulled out of my ass.
The truth of it was that I had no flipping clue where my wife actually was, and she was embarrassingly late. It was getting to the point that I didn’t know if I was more worried or mad at her selfishness.
I ambled over to the drink cart and looked around at all of my friends who had shown up to help me celebrate the big four-zero. Skye had planned the whole damn thing, insisting that I needed to lighten up because you only turn forty once. All I wanted was to have a low-key night with a fifth of Jack Daniels to help me forget that my youth was a thing of the past, and now there I was making excuses for why my wife wasn’t at my own fucking party.
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