A Tempting Friendship (Clover Park #10)

by Kylie Gilmore

  He made the short drive to his oldest brother Gabe’s house in Clover Park. Julia was quiet on the way over, and he didn’t disturb her silence with a lot of talk. He knew she’d have enough of that the moment they stepped into the house with his large family.

  When he parked out front, he could tell by the cars that everyone was already there. He didn’t want to disturb the meal, so he just let himself in the unlocked front door. A gray and silver furball charged into the foyer, barking like crazy.

  “Hey, Fred,” Angel said, rubbing the dog behind the ear.

  Fred quieted then turned to Julia and tried to get his nose up her skirt. Angel shoved Fred’s head away.

  “There you are!” Zoe exclaimed, rushing to greet them. She was Gabe’s wife, a bubbly woman with bright brown eyes. She stopped in front of Julia and held her by the arms. “So good to see you again! We’re so happy you’re here!”

  Julia flushed bright pink. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”

  “Here, let me take your coats,” Zoe said. “I’m Zoe, in case you don’t remember in the sea of faces you met at the wedding. And p.s. there’s a lot of people who can’t wait to see you!”

  Julia grabbed his hand in a tight grip. He led her to the dining room, where his whole family was sitting—his dad, his stepmom, his five brothers, his sisters-in-law, and toddler Miles. Surprisingly, the food on the table—two trays of lasagna, garlic bread, and tossed salad—was untouched.

  “You guys,” he said, “you didn’t have to hold up dinner for us.”

  His brothers stared at Julia in open curiosity. His sisters-in-law were more subtle, each of them smiling at her, but checking her out just the same. Julia’s pink cheeks were nearing scarlet territory with all the attention on her.

  His dad stood and shook Julia’s hand. “So good to see you again, Julia. Welcome.”

  His stepmom appeared on Julia’s other side and enveloped her in a warm hug. “I can’t tell you how much it means to us that you came to Sunday dinner.”

  Just wait until they told them they were getting married. He’d saved that for an in-person announcement.

  Julia swallowed visibly. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

  “Not at all,” his dad said. “Please, have a seat.”

  Jared indicated the empty seats next to Miles, who now sat at the table with a booster seat. Julia rushed over and sat right next to Miles.

  Angel stopped behind her. “Don’t sit there. Take the other seat.”

  She shot him a dark look over her shoulder. “Angel, it’s fine. I love babies.” She leaned close to Miles. “And what’s your name?”

  Splat! Miles gifted Julia with a handful of what appeared to be banana pudding, mostly on her nose but dripping down quickly to her mouth and chin. The yellow clashed with the red of her face as she grabbed a napkin to wipe it off.

  “I told you,” Angel said, stifling a laugh.

  The men were all biting back smiles; the women glared at their men.

  “Ah!” Zoe exclaimed as she returned to the dining room after hanging up their coats. “I am so sorry! He won’t stop throwing food.” She rushed over and tried to wipe Julia’s face with a napkin, but Julia leaned back.

  “It’s okay,” Julia said. “I got it. Can you just show me to the powder room?”

  “Of course.”

  Julia left with Zoe, and Angel felt the first twinge of guilt as silence descended on his usually noisy family.

  He took the seat in the food-throwing zone himself. “Not cool,” he told Miles.

  “I’ll get him,” his stepmom said. She scooped up Miles and set him on her lap. “We are going to learn some manners, young man.”

  She’d be the one to instill them, for sure. She’d brought them all up with good manners and taught them to be respectful, even if his brothers were a little rough around the edges.

  “So does this mean you’re together?” Emily asked.

  He smiled. “Yes, we’re together. I wouldn’t have brought her if it wasn’t serious.”

  “It’s serious,” his stepmom whispered to his dad.

  The room went quiet as Julia returned, all eyes on her. The pink immediately returned to her cheeks. Might as well get the big announcement out of the way since she was already the center of attention.

  He stood and met her halfway. “I love you,” he said, which was the only warning she’d get.

  She beamed and said softly, “I love you too. But shouldn’t we sit down? Nobody’s eating. I think they’re waiting for us.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and turned to his family, who were all gazing at them curiously. “We’re getting married in June.”

  His stepmom let out an audible gasp and then everyone spoke at once, congratulating them. The women rushed to Julia, hugging her and welcoming her to the family. His brothers slapped him on the back, bowling him over with their enthusiasm. It was crazy joyful chaos.

  Finally all the excitement settled down enough for everyone to go back to the table to eat.

  “Wait a minute,” Jared said. “Me and Emily are getting married in June. It’s…when is it, Em?”

  “June fourth,” Emily said dryly.

  “Yeah,” Jared said, “I knew it was early.”

  “And I’m due June seventeenth,” Sophia said, putting a hand on her baby bump. Vince’s wife was five months along.

  Nico’s wife, Lily, piped up. “I’m due June twenty-fifth.” They were both expecting girls, and he had a feeling they’d be as close as twins.

  Julia turned to him with a smile. “We’re going to need a coordinator to work out all the logistics. I think Hailey just got her first big wedding.”

  He grinned. “It’s going to be a helluva June for our family.”

  “Hear, hear!” his dad said, raising his glass. Everyone raised their glass. “To family.”

  “To family,” they all chorused. They clinked glasses all around and drank.

  “I want to start our family right away,” Julia announced, shocking him. First because she was such a private person, and second because they hadn’t even talked about it.

  Another round of cheers and congratulations went around.

  She turned to him. “Is that okay? I feel like we’ve lost so much time. I don’t want to wait.”

  “It’s more than okay.” He kissed her tenderly, and she gave him a loving look in return that warmed him all the way to his toes.

  “I love you so much,” she whispered.

  “I love you so much too,” he said.

  “Damn,” Vince boomed. “And she didn’t even eat the cookies.”

  “I did,” Angel said, trying to spare his stepmom’s feelings, who truly believed her Italian wedding cookies were the key to marrying off her sons.

  “She will,” his stepmom said. “They’re waiting for us for dessert.”

  “Better get one, Ma,” Vince said. “Don’t let her get away.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” she said, handing Miles over to his grandfather. “I’ll be right back.”

  A few moments later, his entire family watched while Angel fed Julia an Italian wedding cookie. It meant a lot to his stepmom. For Angel it was just good luck.

  Julia chewed and swallowed while everyone stared at her expectantly, though he had no idea what they thought she might say. They’d already announced a wedding in June.

  She grinned at him. “I think I just got pregnant!”

  Everyone laughed.

  “She’s going to fit in here just fine,” his dad said. “Now let’s eat.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Julia and Angel’s wedding had been a long time coming, and it was finally here. Julia had wanted elegant and sophisticated at Clover Park’s Ludbury House, a black-tie affair befitting the joining of the love of her life, and that was exactly what she got. She paid for it herself with the money from selling the movie rights. Over the last few months, she’d grown very close to her new sister-in-law Emily as they both excitedly plann
ed for a June wedding (Emily’s wedding was a week before Julia’s). Emily was the sister Julia had always wanted. They’d even gone dress shopping together. Hailey was, of course, ecstatic to help plan Julia’s wedding, especially once she heard that the movie star Claire Jordan would be attending.

  Filming on the Fierce trilogy would begin in August, and Claire had been spending the past couple of weeks in Clover Park, hanging out with Julia and Angel, and digging deep for her character. They hadn’t told her the characters were based on them, but Claire picked it up within minutes of their first meeting with her. “Omigod, it’s you! You’re Mia! The attraction is electric! Oh, this is even better! Now I can get in both your heads.”

  Julia made Claire put it in writing that their identities would never be revealed before she’d say another word. Once they’d worked that out, she and Angel continued their conversation with Claire. Strangely enough, Julia’s forcefulness turned Angel on. Hell, lately, most everything did. In any case, the night after she stood up to the glamorous Claire Jordan, Angel insisted they act out the dining room table scene from Fierce Longing. It was so dirty. And multiple orgasm, limp-as-a-ragdoll good.

  Besides Claire, they’d invited everyone in the singles book club to their wedding, the teachers and principal from work, her parents, and Angel’s whole family. His family had taken both her authorship and her Damon inspiration in stride. In fact, they were actually very proud and supportive of them both. Her own parents were still in shock. She did have a bit of a girl-next-door vibe, she knew, and her parents were trying to reconcile that image with reality.

  She and Angel had put in their resignations at work and finished out the school year the week before the wedding. The timing couldn’t be helped. They had Jared and Emily’s wedding the first weekend in June and didn’t want to risk having their own wedding any later in case Sophia and Lily went into labor. As it was, both women were bursting, nine months along with the daughters they carried. She and Angel had agreed to start trying for a baby on their wedding night. She knew he’d be a fantastic dad and couldn’t wait to have their own little family.

  Her house had sold, and she’d moved into Angel’s place. They were still house hunting, but were hoping for a contemporary-style house like Julia had always wanted. Lately, Angel had been scouting around for some land so they could build their dream home together. They planned on staying close to his family, wanting the cousins to grow up together.

  Julia stood alone now in the bridal suite of Ludbury House, at her request for a moment’s quiet before the ceremony. She looked in the mirror and beamed, bursting with happiness. The gown was modern, a flowing white satin with color blocked silver on the bottom. She turned and admired the keyhole back with rows of crystal swags. Glimmering buttons ran all the way to the train. She wore no veil, preferring to face Angel with nothing between them. Her hair was swept up in a twist with tendrils of loose hair on either side of her face. But it wasn’t the gown or the hair or makeup that made her feel radiant. She’d forgiven Brad, and Brad had forgiven her. Her heart was open to all the love she had for Angel, and his for her. Which was an overwhelming mushy lot.

  Hailey burst back in the room, clipboard in hand. “Did you have your quiet moment?”

  Julia smiled indulgently. “Yes, I’m good.” She knew it had killed Hailey to give her that moment. She’d been fluttering around like a crazed butterfly ever since they arrived, fretting over the flowers and getting the details right. The details that Julia had thrilled to plan, so different from her first wedding, everything that suited her and Angel here and now. Hailey didn’t have to worry. Everything was perfect.

  The bridesmaids and groomsmen—Angel’s brothers and sisters-in-law plus her friends, Ally and Gina, walked in pairs down the grand staircase first. Sophia and Lily, practically waddling at nine months, had opted out of the bridal party. They relaxed in cushioned chairs along with the other guests in the large foyer. More people stood on either side of the foyer, watching from the large parlor and formal living room. Julia hadn’t wanted her father to give her away. She wanted her and Angel to be partners as they joined together.

  Finally it was their turn. Angel, looking gorgeous in a black tux, met her in the upstairs hallway, seeing her in the gown for the first time. A smile played over his lips as he took her in from head to toe. His dark brown eyes were full of love as they gazed into hers. He kissed her cheek before whispering, “You look beautiful. Are you nervous?”

  She beamed. “Not at all. Nothing has ever felt so right.”

  He blinked, his eyes watering. “I couldn’t agree more,” he said in a choked voice.

  “Don’t start that,” she warned, fighting back her own tears. “I need to hold it together. Hailey will kill me if I mess up my makeup.”

  He laughed. The music started. He leaned close, offering his arm to her like he had the first time they’d met. And this time, she took it, absorbing his warmth and steadiness, the rightness of the gesture zinging down to her toes. They descended the grand staircase together.

  All eyes were on them, but all Julia could think of was saying the vows. She’d written her own and they would be a surprise gift for Angel. The crowd was hushed as the ceremony began. The mayor of Clover Park was acting official. Angel went first, reciting the traditional vow, promising in a voice full of pure love and solid intentions to love her in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, for the rest of his days.

  “The bride has written her own vows,” the mayor said.

  Angel didn’t blink at the surprise, he took most things in stride, and only said warmly, “Julia.”

  She swallowed over the lump in her throat. The hardest part would be getting all the words out without breaking down in tears. She took a deep breath. “Angelo Marino, you have been my other half, my soul mate, my best friend, and so much more from the first day we met. I will spend the rest of my life dedicated to your happiness.” She paused. “I was lost for so long, and you were my rock. Now I want to be that for you, for richer or poorer, sickness or health, all the highs and lows that life brings, I bind myself to you, body, heart, and soul for eternity. Not even death will ever part us.” A tear escaped and Angel brushed it away with his thumb. “I look forward to a long life with you, to our children and grandchildren, and to the happy harmonious home we will make together.”

  Angel’s eyes were watery when she finished. “Thank you, darling.”

  She blinked and another tear escaped. She nodded, unable to speak.

  The mayor jumped in and quickly proclaimed them husband and wife. She threw her arms around Angel’s neck and kissed him with all the love in her heart. The crowd cheered, and when she turned to beam at their family and friends, she was surprised to see so many wiping tears from their eyes.

  They accepted congratulations from everyone before Hailey hustled them down the hallway to the reception in the large ballroom at the back of Ludbury House. The curtains were closed, the room lit with crystal chandeliers and glowing votive candles set on long tables holding refreshments. The press hovered around the property, hoping to catch sight of Claire Jordan and the reclusive author of the new movie franchise, but Hailey had kept everything on the inside of Ludbury House private.

  They danced, they celebrated, they loved. Julia had never felt so happy, her future with Angel so bright.

  Hailey finally calmed down near the end of the reception, hugging them both and congratulating them. Josh, the bartender from Garner’s, was Hailey’s date, but Hailey didn’t seem to see him as a romantic interest so much as an assistant. Josh had a bit of a badass biker vibe to him, which made him look especially comical in a tux, holding Hailey’s purse. Hailey was still busy with her clipboard, checking off items for the reception and making sure everything was going according to schedule.

  “Are you two ready for the big send-off?” Hailey asked Julia and Angel.

  “Yup.” Angel grinned. They were heading from here straight to the airport for a honeymoon in Paris.
Angel was going all out on the romantic stuff. He said he had to make up for lost time.

  “I can’t wait,” Julia said. “I’ve never been to Paris.”

  “Me either,” Angel said.

  Hailey sighed happily. “You two are so cute. I have got to get more sweet couples like you in here.” She turned to Josh. “I get credit for this one. If it wasn’t for my singles book club, these two wouldn’t have gotten together.”

  “Uh—” Angel started.

  “Save your breath,” Josh said with a laugh.

  Not that Hailey noticed. She was beaming as if she was solely responsible for any love that took place in Clover Park. She looked up at Josh. “Do you have any brothers?”

  One corner of his mouth lifted. “Not any that you’d like to meet.”

  “Why not?” Hailey demanded.

  He paused, a twinkle in his eye, before finally saying, “I’m the good one.”

  Hailey lit up. “Are they bad boys? I can reform them! Women love bad boys.”

  “The baddest,” Josh said wryly.

  Hailey gasped. “You mean, criminals?”

  “Worse.”

  “What could be worse than criminals?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.” Josh turned to Julia and Angel. “Congrats. Enjoy Paris.”

  “Thank you,” Julia said.

  Angel shook Josh’s hand. “Thanks.”

  Josh turned and left. Hailey hurried after him, demanding to know about his brothers.

  “He’s in trouble,” Angel said.

  Julia laughed. “She’ll make him talk.”

  Angel kissed her. “Come on, Mrs. Marino, it’s time for us to start our new life together.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  They walked out the door, hand in hand, more than ten years after the day they’d first met, and never too late.

  ~ ~ ~

  Find out more about Hailey, Josh, and all the future weddings she has planned in my spinoff Clover Park Brides series coming Fall 2016!

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