Cityscape Affair Series: The Complete Box Set

by Hawkins, Jessica

  “I’m coming in,” she said.

  “What the hell?” David quickly ran a hand through my hair to fix it. “How—”

  “She probably has a key.” I whipped opened the door.

  Elaine took one look at my face and pursed her lips. “Please return to your seats at once. We don’t allow this kind of behavior.”

  With his hands on my shoulders, David grumbled and kept me in front of him as we walked back to our seats to stares from other passengers.

  As soon as we’d buckled up, I turned to him, trying to be sincere, even though I knew he’d eventually find it as funny as I did. “I’m sorry.”

  He dropped his head in his heads and said under his breath, “We still have over four hours left of this flight, and I have a painful boner.”

  “I know, but—”

  A giggle interrupted me as tiny footsteps rushed down the aisle. Emmalina jumped over me, reaching for David. “Uncle David, the—”

  I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her onto my lap as David froze in shock. “Uncle David’s not feeling well,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Let’s not climb on him.”

  Gretchen appeared at my side as other first-class passengers started to look over. “Sorry,” she said, placing her palm on her daughter’s head. “She knows you guys are on the plane and won’t sit still.”

  “I want to be up here with you,” Emmalina said.

  “Who doesn’t?” Gretchen joked. “It’s so swanky in this part of the plane. And serene.”

  And Gretchen had been going non-stop for a while. She’d continued to work after having Emmalina, and had even been made a partner at her PR firm. In terms of childcare, it helped that Brian had a flexible freelancing schedule as a photographer, but he still often left for weeks at a time on assignment. Though comfortable, they still lived in Brian’s artist loft in the city and had to be somewhat careful with finances. Gretchen had planned the wedding on her own with the resort to save money.

  I glanced over at David, who took one look at my face and shook his head. “Olivia, no.”

  I turned back to Gretchen. “It’s your big weekend. Why don’t we switch seats with you and Bri? You can get some alone time.” I tickled Emmalina’s sides, and her laughter pealed through the cabin. “We’ll hang out with this little monster.”

  “You’d sit in coach?” Gretchen’s eyes widened. She didn’t give David a chance to protest before she hurried off, calling, “Brian, get our things!”

  I met David’s grumpy glare. “Oh, it won’t kill you to be humbled a bit,” I teased and lowered my voice. “Plus, everyone up here knows we just got busted trying to you-know-what. This way, you won’t have to face them or Elaine again.”

  David’s expression cleared. “You make an excellent point.”

  As it turned out, even an exit row wasn’t enough space for David’s long legs. After spending the remaining four hours in the air constantly trying to get comfortable, with Emmalina chattering in the middle seat between us, I suspected David was looking forward to our alone time even more.

  But when we arrived to find that the airline had lost Gretchen’s garment bag with her wedding dress, she threw a hysterical fit the entire car ride to the hotel that didn’t help David’s mood.

  “We’ll find you a new dress,” Brian assured her in the backseat as David drove our rental car.

  “I spent thousands on mine, and it fits me perfectly,” Gretchen said, clearly offended by the suggestion. “And I’m sorry, but I already had one shitty wedding where I was ten pounds overweight—”

  “Your wedding wasn’t shitty, and you were pregnant,” I said, turning in the front seat just in time to catch Brian’s frown. “It was a lovely day—it just wasn’t the spectacle you wanted, which is why we’re rectifying that now. You’re going to look gorgeous no matter what you wear.”

  “My rehearsal dinner outfit was in there, too,” she said as if she hadn’t heard a word, then broke down with a fresh set of tears. “This is complete shit.”

  Emmalina hugged her waist. “Stop saying shit, Mommy.”

  That finally got a smile from David, but he quickly returned to brooding.

  At the hotel, David unloaded our bags from the trunk as Brian and Emmalina went to check in.

  “You can take my rehearsal dinner outfit,” I said to Gretchen. “I know you wanted to wear white, but I brought that flowy, silk, camel-colored Stella McCartney jumpsuit you love.”

  She folded a tissue in half and placed it under her wet, mascara-heavy lashes to expertly dry them. “Are you sure?” she asked. “Do you have a backup outfit?”

  “Of course,” I said. “I don’t know what we’ll do about the wedding dress, but at least that’ll cover tonight.”

  David snuck a glance at Gretchen’s Windex-blue eyes, now red and puffy, as he rolled her daughter’s Disney-themed suitcase toward her. “Do they have shops in the hotel?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Gretchen sniffled. “But not wedding dresses, and what they do have will be hideous and overpriced.”

  “What choice do you have?” David asked. “If you find something, put it on our bill. Just don’t tell Brian, or he won’t accept it.”

  “Thank you.” Gretchen clasped her hands over her heart and lifted her gaze to him. “That means a lot. By the way, I made friends with Elaine, the stewardess in first class, and she told me what you guys did. You’re sick.”

  I laughed, then rose onto the balls of my feet to peck David on the cheek for his generosity, and because his face was turning red.

  He shook his head and took our bags up to the room.

  After spending extra time at customer service dealing with the airline’s luggage snafu, I had to go directly to the concierge to make sure all the guests had made it. Next, I spoke to the private chef and restaurant staff to ensure they were prepared for tonight’s rehearsal dinner, and the actual ceremony the following night.

  Once I’d taken as much off Gretchen’s plate as possible, I headed up to our suite. The rehearsal dinner started in an hour and fifteen minutes, and I still needed to transform from plane wench to dutiful matron of honor. But I could sense that each minute David and I spent together without physical intimacy was wearing on each of us. I figured if I could pass off damp hair as “beach waves,” that would save time I could use to fool around with David in the shower.

  I slipped my keycard into the slot, entered the suite, and started stripping down in the foyer. “Get naked and meet me in the shower STAT, you sexy piece of ass,” I called, walking into the bedroom. “We have twenty minutes max to screw—”

  I slapped my hand over my mouth when I found David on the hotel room phone. “It’s Gretchen,” he said to me. “And she’s convinced you’re a nympho.”

  “She would be, too, after eight weeks, six days, and twelve hours without sex!”

  He grinned at me. “The airline found her garment bag.”

  “Oh, thank God,” I said, walking in to sit my naked ass on the bed. “Are they bringing it?”

  “They can’t until later tonight.”

  I grimaced. If I knew Gretchen, she was already in the hair-and-makeup portion of getting ready for the rehearsal dinner, and it would make her night if she could wear the ivory lace dress she’d bought just for tonight. Plus, it would relieve stress from everyone once she had her wedding dress in hand.

  I went to David, and his eyes scanned down my naked torso to my bare feet, then back up to my breasts.

  “Honey?” I said.

  He blinked and reached for me. “Yeah.”

  I snuggled up to his fine Italian wool suit and looked up at him. “Maybe you could run back to the airport and grab her stuff?”

  He covered the speaker. “That’s a forty-minute drive each way. I’ll barely make it.”

  “I’m giving you an excuse to drive fast.” David loved fast cars, and for his fortieth birthday, I’d gifted him a day at a racetrack. Now, he went a few times a year. “I know you can make the trip i
n an hour. We’ll wait for you.”

  “I’m not the damn groom.”

  “You’re the best man. And the damn groom has his hands full. Imagine trying to plan a wedding, squeeze it into a single weekend, then pull it off with Emmalina underfoot?”

  David searched my eyes. I knew what he was thinking, because my mind was on the same track. This meant no sex until late, post-drinks, whenever Gretchen decided to call it a night. I pouted. “Please?”

  He caught my bottom lip between his teeth and tugged before giving me a quick peck. “How can I resist that?” He took his hand off the receiver and spoke into it. “I’ll run to the airport now and grab your dresses, Gretchen. Happy to.”

  She squealed on the other end of the line right before he hung up.

  “I just want an uninterrupted weekend with you,” he said with an exaggerated exhale. “Is that so much to ask?”

  “Considering we’re all here this weekend for a wedding in which you and I are both in the bridal party . . . yes, it’s asking a lot.”

  “I’d take an hour, then,” he said.

  I tilted my head and teased, “What would you do with one hour?”

  “First I’d eat your pussy—just to warm you up.” He nodded past me, toward the other side of the suite. “Then, we’d move outside. You haven’t even seen this place. It has a terrace with whirlpool. I’ll fuck you so hard out there, the whole beach’ll know about it. After that, a cold beer on the balcony to look out over the water while you tell me all about your book tour.”

  Heaven. David hadn’t been lying when he’d told me he did vacation right. He spared no detail, no expense. “You and I spoke every night we were apart, usually via video,” I pointed out. “There’s nothing you don’t already know about the tour.”

  “Yeah.” He squinted out toward the water. “But it’s not the same. I miss just being in your presence, talking with you like this.”

  My heart swelled with love. Good intentions usually sat at the heart of David’s moodiness. “And I miss having your mouth between my legs.”

  He snorted. “You and me both. I’m a hungry man.”

  “You’re going to be a dead man if you don’t get Gretchen’s dress here on time.”

  He half-rolled his eyes and released me. “Right.”

  “Sorry, baby.” I grinned. “But I really appreciate everything you’re doing, and I promise to show you how much as soon as we’re alone tonight.”

  ***

  Once David left for the airport, I finished getting ready and went to Gretchen’s room. David returned with her dresses a few minutes after the rehearsal was supposed to start, so I helped her change quickly. From that point on, David and I each got busy with our respective wedding party duties as well as helping out with Emmalina. After the rehearsal dinner, the ladies—Gretchen, her friends, the women in her family, and myself—went to the bar for drinks while Brian took Emmalina upstairs. The groomsmen, David included, had scheduled an early morning surf session while we planned to sleep off our hangovers.

  Because I knew David had a six a.m. shuttle to catch with the rest of the surfers, I decided not to wake him when I returned to our room after midnight despite being drunk and aroused.

  I stripped off my dress, changed into David’s t-shirt and boxers, and fell into bed without bothering to remove my makeup or brush my teeth. The room spun slightly as I closed my eyes.

  After a few moments, David rolled over. “You’re home.”

  I lifted my head. “You’re awake.”

  “You’re drunk.”

  “Tequila.” I bit my lip and snuggled up next to him. “Since you’re awake, we can have the wild drunk sex.”

  “It’s only wild when we’re both sloppy drunk.”

  I frowned as I tried to focus on his face. “You don’t want to do it?”

  He ran a hand through my hair. “I’m afraid if I wanted it any more, I’d come off as desperate.”

  “Good,” I murmured. I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes with his ministrations. My smile turned into a yawn. “So get on top and put it in me, cowboy.”

  His chest vibrated with a chuckle. “All right, honeybee. Get ready for the ride of a lifetime.”

  The next time I opened my eyes, light streamed into the room. I sat up in an empty bed, still dressed in David’s boxers—and the t-shirt I was pretty sure he’d packed for surfing today. Whoops.

  I showered, changed, and packed a few things for getting ready in Gretchen’s bridal suite. But first, I met her and her mom for brunch. We’d almost finished eating when David, Brian, Gretchen’s brother, and the other groomsmen returned from surfing, Emmalina in tow.

  She ran over to Gretchen. “I surfed all morning,” she exclaimed.

  “I hope Daddy put lots of sunscreen on you,” Gretchen said, fixing her daughter’s salty, straw-like hair.

  “Skincare is paramount. Don’t you think I know that by now?” Brian asked on his way to the table.

  “I’ve taught you well,” Gretchen said as she stood.

  Brian engulfed her in a hug and smiled. “Happy wedding day, my blushing bride.”

  “Thank you for taking Emmalina,” she said. “It’s nice to spend time with my mom.”

  “Of course.” He winked at his daughter. “Her instructor said she was a rock star out there today.”

  David’s hands landed on my shoulders, and he leaned into my ear. “How’re you feeling this morning, tequila?”

  I turned my head to him as he massaged me. “A little silly for falling asleep on you.”

  “I knew you’d pass out. Drunk sex only works when we’re both there.”

  “Like tonight?”

  “Having had my hopes dashed over and over this weekend, I won’t hold my breath.” He kissed my temple. “Fortunately, I’m happy just to have you back in my arms. But one request—save your stubborn, bad-tempered husband a dance at the wedding?”

  “All my dances are yours,” I said with a smile.

  In Gretchen’s bridal suite, we took turns getting our hair and makeup done by local stylists. I’d been allowed to choose my own dress, so long as it was black and sleeveless to match the other bridesmaids. I’d found a gown-length, halter-neck style that showed off my shoulders. My hair had been swept back to display diamond earrings that dripped from my earlobes—a first anniversary gift from David. And underneath it all, my new, red, lacy lingerie reminded me of David—and his plans for me—with my every movement.

  Gretchen sparkled in a fitted bodice that pushed up her cleavage, and half-up, half-down curled hair topped by a glittering tiara only she could pull off. She held Emmalina’s hand as we made our way to the beach for the ceremony.

  “Yesterday was rough, but it all came together,” I said to her. “How are you feeling?”

  “Really good.” She smiled softly. “Brian could see that I was stressing, so he sat me down last night. Said no matter what, today would be the fourth best day of his life.”

  “Fourth?” I asked, trying to think up what the first three could be. “I’m assuming your first wedding and Emmalina’s birth are one and two.”

  “The night you introduced us is in his top three,” she said. “Brian’s happy to go through all this for me, but the first wedding was more his style. He’s partial to our quieter moments.”

  “He’s so good to you.”

  “Yeah, but then he asked if I’d walk down the aisle au naturel today—no elaborate hair or makeup—and I nearly divorced him on the spot.”

  “I appreciate that he loves you the way you are,” I said, “but what the hell is he thinking?”

  “My response was a little less PG.” She laughed. “But I promised to let my hair down on the dancefloor.”

  As we approached, I fluffed the train of her bridal gown, excited to watch Brian’s face light up when he saw her.

  In front of the resort, overlooking the Sea of Cortez, wicker-fabric chairs flanked both sides of a walkway sturdy enough for high heels. It e
nded with a trellis strung with colorful flowers and leafy garland. A mix of mini palm trees and lanterns had been arranged throughout, and gauzy white fabric wafted with each breeze. I hadn’t seen David since brunch, but he appeared on the sand moments before it was time for the bridal party to head down the aisle in pairs. With the sea at his back, and in a jet-black tuxedo to match his inky hair, David still took my breath away, even after all these years—just like when I’d first met his gaze.

  His crow’s feet deepened around his eyes as he held out his elbow for me. “You’re the most beautiful woman here, Mrs. Dylan.”

  I linked my arm with his and nudged his side as we waited for our turn in the procession. “Don’t let Gretchen hear you say that.”

  “Please. She knows I think you’re the most beautiful woman in any room.”

  I couldn’t help my smile as he escorted me toward the trellis where the officiant stood.

  We parted to stand on separate sides, and Emmalina quickly followed us, twirling and tossing pink and white rose petals all over the place. At the end of the aisle, she dropped her basket, hugged my legs, and burrowed into my dress, suddenly shy.

  Gretchen floated down the aisle on her dad’s arm. Brian clenched his jaw, clearly stemming back tears as his eyes, blue as the sea, fixed on his bride. When she reached him, he kissed the back of one of her hands, and she held out the other for Emmalina, who ran to her mother’s side and stayed there throughout the vows.

  Spirits soared as we applauded the union, then moved to a terrace for cocktails while the twice-married couple and their little girl posed for pictures.

  Later, Emmalina sat with David and me while Gretchen and Brian worked the room. David patiently unfolded a napkin over her party dress, cut up her chicken nuggets, then went in search of apple juice because she wouldn’t drink anything else.

  I watched all this with a sense of calm. Yet, every year or so, at my urging, David and I revisited the topic of having children. I wanted to make sure he was still on board with the life we’d chosen. And if he wasn’t? I didn’t know what we’d do, only that we’d find a way to make our marriage work regardless. It’d taken me a while to feel secure in what we had, but now I knew—nothing in the world could come between us.