Lawful Wife (Eternal Bachelors Club)

by Folsom, Tina

  Without waiting for George’s reply, Daniel turned on his heels and walked to the door.

  When he turned the handle, George’s voice reached him. “What if she doesn’t forgive me?”

  “That’s the risk you’ll have to take.”

  He opened the door and left the room. Now it was up to George to find it in himself to ask for forgiveness. There was nothing else Daniel could do.

  27

  Daniel glanced at Sabrina as she laughed at something his mother said to her. They were just getting up from the dinner table, where they’d enjoyed the rehearsal dinner, which was taking place in the same tent where the wedding would take place the next day. Sabrina looked beautiful in a simple, yet elegant empire waist evening dress in a soft pastel green that accentuated her breasts as well as her eyes. His eyes drifted lower to where the material flowed over her still-flat stomach. Soon everybody would be able to see that their child was growing inside her. He couldn’t suppress the pride and happiness he felt at the thought of Sabrina giving him a child.

  “Daniel? Did you hear me?” Paul Gilbert nudged him in the side.

  Daniel forced his gaze away from Sabrina. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  Paul laughed. “I said it’s not too late to change your mind. You can pack a bag and we can bust you out of here.”

  Jay, who’d sidled up to him, nodded in agreement. “Absolutely.”

  Daniel rolled his eyes at his two friends. “And let me guess, both of you will be more than willing to comfort my jilted fiancée?”

  Paul exchanged a grin with Jay. “Somebody will have to.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but there is nothing in this world that’ll keep me from marrying Sabrina tomorrow.” He glanced in Sabrina’s direction again. “Nothing in the world.”

  “That’s it guys, we’ve lost him,” Paul teased, and everyone around them laughed. “Let’s leave this lovesick puppy and get another drink at the bar, before they throw us out. What do you say, Jay?”

  “You had me at drink,” Jay joked.

  Daniel watched the two walk toward the bar and sighed. His eyes wandered over the assembled guests. Tonight only about twenty-five close friends and family members were assembled: his own parents, the members of the Eternal Bachelors Club, Holly and Tim, of course, Sabrina’s mother, and several relatives who’d arrived earlier in the day. However, Sabrina’s father had not shown up. Would he be there tomorrow? Daniel hoped so with all his heart, because her father not being there to walk her down the aisle would be the one thing that was still tainting the perfect wedding.

  Daniel was about to walk up to Sabrina, when something entered his periphery. He turned his head and stared right at Audrey, who’d walked up to the tent and now entered the lit area. Her red hair glowed like that of a fallen angel seeking revenge. As did her eyes. Audrey was on a mission.

  Daniel set his glass of champagne on the nearest table and walked toward her, intent on preventing her from reaching Sabrina and causing any trouble on this otherwise perfect evening.

  He stopped in front of her. “You’re not welcome here. Leave, or I’ll have the police escort you from the property.”

  “Go ahead, call them! Then I’ll tell them that you’re blackmailing me!” She shoved a large envelope toward him.

  He glanced down at it. “What is this?”

  “As if you didn’t know!”

  Footsteps approached from behind him. Daniel glanced over his shoulder and noticed Tim and Holly hurry in his direction.

  “So you got my package,” Tim said nonchalantly.

  Audrey’s glare landed on Tim. “Who the fuck—”

  “Oh, I forgot, we’ve never officially met. I’m Tim, Daniel’s best friend. And I look out for him and Sabrina.”

  Next to him, Holly braced her hands at her hips. “We both do. And we don’t like people like you.”

  “Daniel has nothing to do with this,” Tim claimed and gave Daniel a sideways look.

  Daniel pointed to the envelope. “The stuff the PI found?”

  Tim nodded. “All the gory details.” He grinned at Audrey. “Who would have thought that at the tender age of sixteen, our dear Audrey was screwing Kevin Boyd, who, if my calculations are correct, was twenty-seven at the time and already married to Linda.”

  “I believe it’s called statutory rape,” Holly added. “Now wouldn’t that be a terrible thing if that got out in public and ruined Kevin’s life? I suppose your best friend Linda won’t take kindly to that revelation. Nor to her husband landing in prison. He’d be a registered sex-offender. What scandal!” She chuckled.

  “Do you think this is funny?” Audrey snapped at Holly.

  “Almost as funny as you feeding that ridiculous story about Sabrina being a call girl to the paper,” Holly retorted.

  Audrey scowled and jabbed her index finger in Holly’s shoulder. “You bitch!”

  Holly shrugged, smiling. “Call me what you must. But frankly, I don’t give a flying fuck about your opinion.” Then her smile vanished. “Now take your scrawny ass out of here! And if we ever hear a peep out of you again, a copy of these documents will go straight to the district attorney, and we’ll be taking Kevin Boyd down and drag you into the mud with him. See how you’ll like it then.”

  Audrey’s facial expression changed. She knew she’d lost. With an angry huff, she turned and rushed into the dark.

  Daniel turned to Holly and Tim, shaking his head at Tim. “I thought I told you that I didn’t need any revenge anymore. My best revenge is being happy with Sabrina.”

  Tim grinned. “I know that. But I figured a little insurance policy for your happy future without any interference from Audrey ever again was in order. Though eventually she’ll figure out that the statute of limitations has already run out on the rape case, it won’t change anything about how Kevin’s wife or the community will react.”

  Daniel gripped Tim’s shoulder and squeezed it, then hugged Holly. “Thank you, guys.”

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Sabrina’s voice drifted to him as she approached.

  Daniel released Holly and opened his arms to draw Sabrina against his body. “Holly and Tim just made sure that there will be no more bumps in the road.”

  Sabrina chuckled and glanced at their two friends. “Why do I get the feeling that this has something to do with Audrey?”

  “Because you’re a smart woman. I’ll tell you all about it later,” Daniel answered and kissed her.

  28

  Sabrina stood staring into the full length mirror, looking at her reflection, and could barely believe that she was the woman in the beautiful white bridal gown. She’d dreamed of this day for as long as she could remember, and now it had finally arrived.

  “Oh, Sabrina, you look absolutely breathtaking.”

  She turned to look at her mother. “Thank you.”

  Holly and Raffaela walked in a moment later.

  “Sabrina, dear, you are so beautiful.” Raffaela hugged her gingerly, careful not to crease her dress.

  “Thank you.” Sabrina sniffed and drew a shaky breath.

  “Don’t you dare cry,” Holly warned. “You’ll ruin your makeup and we don’t have time to fix it.”

  Laughing, Sabrina said, “Don’t worry. I’ll save the tears for the ceremony.”

  “Good,” Raffaela said. “I have something I’d like to give you.” She held out a rectangular black velvet box.

  Sabrina opened it. Her eyes widened as she perceived the beautiful antique necklace with the brilliant emerald in its center. She looked up at Raffaela. “It’s beautiful.”

  “The stone used to belong to Daniel’s grandmother.” Raffaela smiled. “Something old.”

  Tears welled up in Sabrina’s eyes. She fanned her face with her hand in the hope of keeping them at bay. “Will you help me put it on?”

  “Of course.” Raffaela took the necklace out of the box, draped it around Sabrina’s neck, and fastened the clasp. “There.”

  Sabr
ina reached up and fingered the necklace, then looked into the mirror. The green stone emphasized the green color of her eyes.

  “My turn,” Holly said excitedly. “Here’s your something borrowed.” Holly opened her palm. “My tear drop diamond earrings that you love so much.”

  Sabrina looked at them. “Are you sure?”

  Holly laughed. “Borrowed, remember?”

  Sabrina nodded and hugged Holly, then took the earrings and put them on.

  “And finally, your something blue and something new,” her mother said. “You might already have one, so if you do, take it off and use this one instead.”

  Laughing, Sabrina took the small, gold gift bag and peeked inside. It was a blue silk garter belt.

  “Oh, Mom, thanks!” She sensed a blush creeping up her cheeks. “I actually didn’t have one. I don’t know how I could have forgotten that.”

  “Well, you have one now. That’s all that matters.” Her mother smiled while Sabrina slid the garter belt up her thigh.

  Sabrina turned back toward the mirror and spun around in front of it for what felt like the hundredth time. Today was the day she would marry the man of her dreams, the man who had made all of her dreams come true. Today she would walk down that aisle and become Daniel’s wife.

  At the thought of walking down the aisle, her smile faded. Daniel’s father had offered to do the honors. She appreciated his offer, but it wouldn’t be the same as her own father being there.

  She felt a hand on her forearm and looked up. Her mother met her gaze in the mirror. “He’ll come, honey.”

  Sabrina nodded, though she didn’t believe it. He wouldn’t come. “I guess we’d better ask James to come in now. It’s time.” She loved Daniel’s father. He would be by her side to give her to his son. It would have to do.

  Raffaela nodded and walked to the door, when there was a hesitant knock. She opened the door. “Oh!”

  Sabrina turned at her surprised gasp. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the man who stood in the door frame, dressed in a dark suit, a white shirt and a tie. She’d never seen him dressed so handsomely.

  “Dad,” she whispered, her eyes growing moist with tears once more. Was she dreaming?

  His gaze locked with hers as he stepped into the room, setting one hesitant foot in front of the other.

  “Holly.” Raffaela gestured to Holly and the two of them left the room, easing the door shut behind them, leaving Sabrina alone with her parents.

  “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” her father started. “I should have believed you.”

  Sabrina sniffed. “Oh, Daddy, you’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She opened her arms, and her father took the last few steps that separated them and hugged her.

  “Forgive me.”

  She couldn’t say anything, because she was choking up. So she nodded instead and fought against the tears. When he released her from his embrace, he looked her up and down.

  “You’re so beautiful. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

  Sabrina smiled and noticed her mother come closer and put a hand on her ex-husband’s forearm. He turned to look at her.

  “You’re a good father, George. You’ve always been. The two of us were just never meant for each other. But we did one good thing together, didn’t we?” Her mother glanced at Sabrina, a wet sheen covering her eyes.

  Her father nodded. “Yes, we raised a wonderful daughter.” Then he put his arm around his ex-wife and hugged her to him for a brief moment.

  It was the most tender gesture she’d ever seen her parents exchange.

  “It’s time for you to get married.” Her father held out his arm to her. “Ready?”

  “Yes,” she said, taking his proffered arm and allowing him to lead her out of the room, her mother following them.

  After walking down the staircase and through the hallway, they reached the porch that led to the tent in the back of the Sinclair’s garden. Sabrina felt her heart beat excitedly. Everything was perfect now.

  She felt all eyes on her when she and her father stepped onto the carpet that led to the podium on which Daniel and the priest waited, Tim and Holly by their sides. Sabrina’s eyes saw only Daniel. He stood at the altar, smiling, his eyes sparkling, looking like Adonis in his tailored tuxedo.

  She felt as if walking on a cloud as her father escorted her down the aisle, toward her waiting groom.

  When they reached the podium, her father kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so proud of you.” Then he stepped aside and took a seat in the first row next to her soon-to-be in-laws.

  Daniel took her hand. “You are so beautiful, baby. You steal my breath away.”

  She couldn’t say a word for fear she would cry, because she was so moved.

  Father Vincent took a deep breath and began. “We are gathered here today to join together Sabrina Palmer and Daniel Sinclair in holy matrimony. The bride and groom have informed me that they’ve written their own vows.”

  Father Vincent nodded at Daniel, signaling for him to start.

  Daniel took both of her hands into his and smiled. “Sabrina, my love, you came into my life when I least expected and most needed it. In the short time we’ve known each other, you have given me more to live for than anyone I’ve ever met. You’re the reason I want to get up in the mornings and the reason I can’t wait to go to bed at night.”

  Sabrina felt her face flush as the crowd chuckled.

  Daniel continued undeterred. “Because of you, I’m a better person.” He turned to Tim and reached for the ring his friend held out to him. Slowly, deliberately he slid it onto her finger. “I promise to spend every moment for the rest of my life loving you. I promise to make you smile every day, to tell you I love you every night, and to never take you for granted. For as long as I live, I will love and cherish you.”

  Sabrina’s face was wet with tears and her lips trembled. Her hands shook and Daniel gave them a reassuring squeeze.

  “Sabrina?” Father Vincent prompted her.

  She nodded and wiped her face with the back of her hand. Taking a deep breath, she tried to speak, but her voice failed her. She cleared her throat and tried again.

  “Daniel.” Her voice was shaky. “Every little girl dreams of finding her knight in shining armor. For so many years I truly believed I would never find him, but then I met you.”

  She paused and licked her lips, hoping to stave off another round of tears. “You showed me what true love is. Daniel, I fell in love with you the moment I met you without knowing why. But now I know. Because you’ve proven to me time and again that you’ll fight for our happiness and slay every dragon for me. Just when I think I can’t possibly love you more, my love for you grows stronger.” A sob escaped as she took the ring from Holly and slipped it onto Daniel’s finger. “I promise to love you, cherish you, and honor you for as long as I live and fight for our love as much as you do.”

  Father Vincent raised his hands and announced, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Before the last word had left the priest’s lips, Daniel’s mouth was already capturing Sabrina’s for a deep kiss. His lips were soft and gentle, his tongue delicious and imploring. Sabrina slid her hand to his nape and savored their connection. Daniel snaked his arms around her, pulling her flush against him, before releasing her lips for a moment.

  “I love you, Mrs. Sabrina Sinclair,” he whispered, and then kissed her again.

  His kiss left her dizzy, and had he not held her so tightly, she might have fallen. When they turned to their guests, smiling faces greeted them.

  They were finally united. Husband and wife.

  29

  Daniel twirled Sabrina around on the dance floor. The wedding reception, surrounded by happy family and friends, had been perfect. As it drew to a close and the sun had set, making way for a glittering night sky, Daniel couldn’t wait to spend the night with his new bride. He’d been thinking about peeling her out of her beautiful wedding dress the mom
ent he’d seen her walking toward him on her father’s arm.

  “Today has been an absolute dream,” Sabrina said with a smile.

  “Perfect,” he murmured into her ear. “But it’s not over yet.”

  She laughed softly. “Well, I hope not.”

  “What do you say? Shall we get out of here? I have a car waiting for us to take us to a hotel for the night.”

  Sabrina looked around. “We still have guests. We can’t leave yet.”

  “It’s our wedding. We can do whatever we want. Besides, they all expect us to leave.” He motioned to the guests who were dancing, talking, and drinking.

  “To a hotel, you said, hmm?”

  “Yes. Tonight, we’re staying at a hotel. I thought it was more appropriate than staying in my old room in my parents’ house. And tomorrow we’ll leave for our honeymoon.”

  Sabrina laced her hands behind his neck. “So, where did you say you’re taking me?”

  Daniel threw his head back and laughed. “I didn’t say.”

  “You’re not going to, are you?”

  He shook his head. “Just one clue. It’s the most beautiful end of the world.”

  She brushed her lips over his cheek. “Take me to bed then.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  A short while later, a limousine dropped them off at a tucked-away bed and breakfast in Amagansett. A bottle of champagne was waiting for them in their luxurious room, but Daniel wasn’t thirsty. All he wanted now was to make love to Sabrina and consummate their marriage.