Where was he? I didn’t know whether to be aggravated or worried. I had visions of him careening off the side of the mountain on his motorcycle and being unconscious and unable to call for help.
Trying to remain calm, I busied myself, sweeping the porch that Stone and I had stained a steely gray. I continued sweeping down the porch steps and along the cracked sidewalk.
When I heard my phone ding with a text, I hurried to pull it out of my pocket and check the message. Can’t make it. Unexpected business. See you tomorrow.
I texted back a brief reply. Okay.
I wanted to ask much more, but if he didn’t answer my call, then he must be face-to-face with a client.
I was relieved to find out that he was fine, but I was quite disappointed that we wouldn’t be celebrating our anniversary together. I fingered the heart pendant dangling around my neck, and my mind immediately played through the list of things that he had instructed me to remember when he’d first given me the necklace. Finding a sense of comfort in the memory, I went inside to find something to eat.
***
Stone
Damn it. I couldn’t believe this freaking shit was happening now. I glanced at my phone. Almost midnight. I should’ve spent the evening with Dara, but I supposed my life had been running too smoothly lately. I should’ve known that could only mean a bunch of shit was building up, just waiting to dump into my lap and screw everything up. I’d worked so hard to hold on to Dara the last four years, to be the man that she needed me to be.
When she waltzed into the bookstore on that rainy day nearly five years ago, I’d wanted her. I’d wanted her like I’d wanted plenty of girls before her, but it didn’t take long to figure out that there was something special about Dara Golding. That tiny wisp of a girl had wrapped her dainty fingers around my heart, holding it in her palm, and I didn’t want her to ever let go.
I walked through the darkened bookstore, staring out the plate glass window where I’d first watched Dara crawl out of her grandmother’s car and report for her first day of work. She was my whole life, the reason that I started caring about anything after Luke’s death.
Our wedding day would be one of the most memorable days of our lives.
Shit.
Should I tell her?
Chapter 2
Dara
“Dawa,” Emma called as she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my thighs. Golden ringlets twirled midway down her back, and she looked up at me with wide, green eyes. “Whez Stone?”
Since my half-sister and I both shared the same birthday, she’d turned four on the same day that I had hit twenty-two. I didn’t know about her until after Granny had died, and it was a welcome relief to find out that I had more family than I thought.
“We’re gonna meet him at the dress shop, sweetie. Are you ready to go?”
She nodded adamantly.
“Does he have candy?”
I smiled at her. “Of course. You know he always has candy for his little candy monster.”
Emma released my legs and clapped her hands together in delight while she whirled around in a circle.
My mom walked out of her duplex, her dark blond hair hanging just past her shoulders. “Let’s take my car since Emma’s car seat is already in it.”
“Okay.”
I grabbed my purse from my car and climbed in on the passenger side while my mother fastened Emma in her seat.
“I want my pwincess dwess.”
I turned and smiled at Emma. “We’re gonna go get it.”
My mom cranked the car, and fifteen minutes later, we pulled up in front of the dress shop. I immediately spotted Stone’s motorcycle out front, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of relief.
When we walked inside, I found Stone seated in the waiting area.
Emma ran to him and jumped in his lap. “Stone, you got candy foh me?”
Stone tickled her, and she squealed. “Would I bring you candy?”
She smiled and tweaked his nose with her tiny hands. “Yes.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
She giggled. “I’m sho.”
“Be a good girl, and when we leave, I’ll give you your candy.”
“Okay. I’ll be a good gull.”
He set her down, and she ran back to my mother.
“Come on, Emma,” Mom said. “Let’s go try on your dress.”
My mom and Emma made their way through the store, and I sat down beside Stone.
“Are you going to get fitted for your tux?” I asked.
“Already did.”
“How long have you been here?” I was a bit surprised that he’d been fitted since our appointment times were still ten minutes away.
“I got here early. They had a cancellation, so they bumped my appointment up.”
“Oh.”
He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “You want me to help you pick out a dress?”
I gave him an odd look. Stone never volunteered to pick out a dress. He always told me that whatever I picked would be fine with him. “No, thanks. I don’t want you to see the dress before the wedding.”
“You want me to wait here, or should I go?” He rubbed his palms together, his elbows resting on his knees, while he awaited my answer. He seemed nervous, and I wondered if he was getting the pre-wedding jitters.
His bicep bulged from beneath his sleeve, and I reached out and wrapped my hand around his arm, liking the way his hard muscle felt beneath my fingertips. He placed his hand on top of mine, giving me a gentle squeeze before he dropped his hand back to his lap.
“Could you sit out here with Emma while Mom helps me pick out a dress?”
“Sure.”
“So who did you have to meet with last night?”
Stone shifted in his seat and stared at the floor. “It was just a client.”
“Does this client have a name?” I asked, wondering why he was being so vague.
“Of course.”
“What is it?”
“It’s…what difference does it make, Dara?”
“Exactly. If it makes no difference, you shouldn’t mind telling me who was so important that you canceled on me on our anniversary.”
“Baby, I know, and I’m sorry, but we’re gonna have a lot of anniversaries to celebrate. Let me make it up to you tonight.”
Thoughts of Tiffany drifted into my mind, and I quickly shut them out. It had been a long time ago when they had kissed. I refused to allow jealousy that had no foundation to come between us. I trusted Stone. I didn’t know why he was avoiding my question, but unless I found out otherwise, I would assume that he had a good reason. Maybe it was a surprise for our wedding, and if I insisted that he tell me, it would spoil it.
“So what do you want to do?” I asked.
“Huh?” He shot me a puzzled look, his dark brows furrowed over his brilliant blue eyes.
“Tonight. You said you’d make it up to me. What do you want to do?”
“Oh.” He rubbed his palms together again. “Want me to bring the stuff over for nachos? Maybe we can watch a movie? Play doctor?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I’m not sure if you’d make a very good patient.”
He grunted. “Hell, no, I won’t make a good patient, but I’ll make one helluva doctor.”
I coughed. “I think I’m getting sick.”
He grinned mischievously. “Good thing this doctor makes house calls.” He leaned over and kissed me gently before pulling away. “I guess you better go pick out a dress.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back with Emma.”
When I found Emma, she was wearing her flower girl dress and twirling in front of the mirror.
“Okay, Emma,” Mom said. “You have to change back now, so you don’t get your dress dirty.”
“No,” Emma whined. When she saw me, she ran to me, holding her arms out like an airplane. “See my pwincess dwess.”
“You look very beautiful, Princess Emma, but you need to mind Momm
y. Go change, and I’ll let you sit with Stone while I try on dresses.”
“No! I want Stone to see my pwincess dwess.”
“Okay, I’ll take you to show Stone, but then you have to come back and change, okay? Remember, Stone only gives candy to good girls.”
She clapped her hands. “Okay.”
I walked her to the front of the store where Stone was seated. “I have a princess who wants to see you.”
Emma ran to him. “Stone! Look at my pwincess dwess.” Emma twirled in front of him, the white dress spinning out around her.
“You make a pretty princess,” Stone told her, “just like your big sister.”
Emma stopped and stared at him. “Dawa’s a pwincess?”
“She is. She’s my princess.”
“I want to be Stone’s pwincess, too.”
He patted her on the head. “You are. You’re my Princess Candy Monster.”
She laughed and started twirling again while she sang, “I’m Pwincess Candy Monsta.”
“Well, come on, Princess Candy Monster. You’ve got to go change, and then I’ll bring you back and you can sit with Stone.”
“Okay!” Emma held out her airplane arms and ran back to where Mom was waiting.
Once I had Emma settled in with Stone, Mom and I picked out several dresses for me to try. I wanted something simple but elegant and, hopefully, not too expensive.
An hour later, I stood in front of the mirror, knowing that I had found it.
“What do you think about this one, Mom?”
She stood back, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear as she cocked her head. “It compliments your figure nicely. You look stunning, honey.”
I focused my attention back to the mirror, admiring the white, charmeuse fabric with its lacy overlay, silver accents, and delicate beading. The sheath-style gown hugged my curves, and I liked the sleeveless design. The back of the dress opened into a deep V, exposing my back, and a row of cloth-covered buttons started at the point of the V, decorating the bottom half of the dress. The subtle train was a bonus since I wouldn’t have to bother with a full-blown bustle and all of the aggravation that came with it.
“I like this one, Mom. You think Stone will like it?”
She nodded. “He’ll love it.”
We notified the sales associate that we had decided on it, and she helped me pick out a satin pair of strappy, low heels. The dress fit so well that the only alteration it would possibly need would be to have the length shortened. The seamstress took measurements, and while I would have to pay a rush fee, she agreed to have the alterations completed within a two-week time frame.
We turned the dress over to the seamstress, paid for the dresses and shoes, and met Stone and Emma at the front of the store.
Emma poked at the bag in my hand. “Did you buy a pwincess dwess, too?”
“I did, but I’m gonna pick mine up later. These are my shoes.”
Her mouth opened in surprise. “I want pwincess shoes.”
“Mommy’s gonna take you to buy some,” my mother said, taking Emma’s hand.
“Here, Princess Candy Monster. I don’t have any princess shoes, but I do have some candy.”
Emma opened her eyes wide and started licking her lips. Stone took the wrapper off a lollipop and handed it to her.
“Yummy,” she whispered, eyeing the lollipop like she’d been hypnotized and then popping it in her mouth.
We all walked out of the shop, and Stone followed us to Awesome Sauce, the local hangout for the younger crowd, for lunch.
Afterwards, Mom took me to pick up my car. She and Emma went to find Emma shoes for the wedding, and Stone and I drove back to my place.
He collapsed on the couch and motioned for me to come to him. I sat on the edge of the cushion beside him and admired how handsome he was. His dark hair was neatly styled, and the stubble on his jaw made it clear that he hadn’t bothered to shave this morning. It made him look sexy. He watched me, his eyes partially closed as he reached out and touched my hand.
“I love you, Stone,” I said softly, realizing how much he meant to me, how glad I was that he was here with me now.
“What can I say? I’m a chick magnet.”
I smacked him on the stomach, eliciting a grunt from him as a grin broke out across his face. “I’m kidding, babe.” His face grew serious as he pulled me down on top of him, my legs fitting perfectly between his, my cheek pressing against his chest.
I could hear his heart beating, and I closed my eyes, his nearness wrapping around me like a security blanket.
He stroked my back. “I love you, Dara. And I promise you that I’m gonna make you happy.”
His tender words squeezed my heart, and my hands clung to his sides, afraid that if I let go, this moment would slip away too soon. I wanted to savor it, turn it into something tangible that I could hold in my hands and tuck away into a secret box, so that I could pull it out and remember it on dark, hopeless days.
My emotions overtook me, and even though I tried to hide my tears from him, I couldn’t keep him from noticing the slight trembling of my shoulders.
“Are you crying?” I could hear the concern in his voice as he raised his head and his fingertips gently swiped below my cheeks. “Shit, Dara. You are crying.” He pulled into a seated position, bringing me up with him. He took my face between his palms. “What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t speak, but I shook my head back and forth. Nothing was wrong. Everything was perfect. “Nothing,” I finally squeaked.
“Has something happened?” His voice grew louder. “Dara, tell me! Has someone said something to upset you?”
“No.” His questions were so forceful that he startled me.
With his fingers splayed across my cheeks and holding my head steady, he looked at me hard, his eyes searching my face as they tried to discern whether I was telling the truth.
“Nothing’s happened, Stone,” I whispered, finally finding my voice. “I’m just…everything’s just…you’ve already made me happy. I’m crying because I love you so much, and you’re so sweet to me, and you’ve done so much for me already.”
He exhaled loudly, pulled me to his chest, and held on to me tightly. “Shit, baby, don’t ever scare me to death like that again.”
His thumb caressed my lower lip. “Look at me,” he whispered.
I lifted my eyes to his.
“You’re my world. You know that?”
I gave him a slight nod.
He curled his fingers under my chin and tilted my face toward his. “It’s me and you, babe, and I will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.”
He touched his lips to mine tenderly as his tongue teased me. When I opened to him, he kissed me hungrily, like he was stranded in the desert and I was his water.
His hands roamed my body as he felt every curve, every dip, and he broke the kiss only long enough to pull off my shirt and toss it in a discarded heap. His palms rubbed across my smooth, satin bra, and he skillfully unhooked it with one hand and tossed it to the side.
Tugging at the hem of his shirt, I pulled it over his head, and my palms slid along his hardened muscles.
Lying back, he pulled me into a seated position on top of him, his thumbs tracing tiny circles along my inner thigh. “You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispered as his thumbs dipped beneath the edge of my shorts. “I think I’m gonna have to get out my stethoscope.”
Chapter 3
Stone
My hand rested on Dara’s lower back as she lay on top of me, her body pressed against mine. The room had darkened as the afternoon slipped away, and I knew she’d fallen asleep by her deep, even breathing. Damn, it amazed me just how precious she was to me. I lay still, listening to the television in the background, as my fingertips glided beneath the hem of her shirt, caressing the small of her back.
I pressed a kiss to her hair, breathing in her scent. I had a month to go until she was my wife, and part of me knew that it’d probably be the lon
gest four weeks of my life. But I had waited so long to make her mine, to claim her in every way that a man claims a woman. A few more weeks wouldn’t matter.
As much as I didn’t want to think about the problems revealed from last night’s meeting, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I had pondered whether to tell Dara, but in the light of day, the answer to that question was much clearer. I wouldn’t tell her, not even if I had to lie to her. She’d been through too much already, and I would not be the one to cause her more pain. On the contrary, I would protect her from the truth at all costs.
I mulled it over in my brain while she continued to slumber peacefully. This was supposed to be the happiest time in our lives, and I needed to ensure that it was—for her, at least.
How the hell was I going to solve this problem?
She squirmed, and the soft little groan that she made in the back of her throat melted my heart. I pushed away my problems and concentrated on her, on feeling her soft, warm skin, on smelling her faint fragrance.
Slowly, she stirred until she lifted her head and smiled at me. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on top of you. I’m sure that was very uncomfortable.”
“I liked it,” I said, my voice low as I watched her.
She coyly shifted her eyes away from my face as she rose to a seated position, her body still between my legs.
She folded her arm and propped it on my bent knee.
“So what do you want to do now?” I asked. “You sure you don’t want me to take you somewhere? Out to dinner? Dancing? This will be the last time we’ll be celebrating the anniversary of our engagement.”
“I like just hanging out here with you.”
“Me, too. I’m a pretty awesome guy.”
She lifted her arm to pummel me, but I grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her. “Kidding,” I laughed. “I think we’ve already been over the fact that not only are you my favorite person in the world, you are my world.”
“Spoken like a man who knows he’s about to get his butt kicked.”
“I like it when you’re feisty,” I teased her.
A twinge of pain shot through my leg jest below the hem of my boxers. “Shit! What’d you pinch me for?” I asked, laughing as I scooted a good foot away from her and rubbed my inner thigh.
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