***
The next day, we’d arranged for a photographer to take our official family portraits at the Dallas Arboretum. The tulips were in bloom and the landscape simply incredible. Each family had their own photos taken, and then we had one large group photo. Even Cooper and Mark got in on the action.
Al Morrison joked and teased about Cooper being the son he’d never had. It was a sweet sentiment, and it made Alex very happy. Cooper beamed at Al’s acceptance; something he’d never got with his own family.
We took our families, which was more like a posse, out to Al and Gretchen’s home at the lake. Grayson and Harrison took over the grill, while Alexandra and I sat out by the pool and visited, both of us holding baby monitors.
“Did you ever think it would be like this?” she asked.
“I never knew I could feel like this. My heart is busting at the seams. I’m truly blessed.”
“I’ll second that,” Harrison said, while handing a glass of wine over my shoulder.
The evening was warm, and we welcomed the opportunity to dine outside. Who could pass up such a beautiful view?
Al took the honors for the first toast of the evening. “I never dreamed my lovely daughter would give me so much pleasure with so many friends. Each of you I’d be honored to call my own. Happy birthday to Grayson, the best son-in-law a father could ever dream of and to Harrison, a wonderful old friend, now a new extension of my family. I love you both like my own sons. Cheers!”
I never knew that meeting Cooper on a photo shoot two years ago would change my life in so many ways. Alexandra was my sister in every way. Harrison and Grayson couldn’t be more different and yet so alike. When it came to taking care of their families, their love ran deep. Zoe was the perfect balance to keep her brothers straight. I would’ve loved to have met their mother. From the stories they all tell, Zoe is her, reincarnated.
Harrison leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Hey, what’s got you all smiles?”
“The chocolate cake coming out.”
“What?” Harrison paused and turned to Alexandra. “Why chocolate? Can’t I get white? Don’t I matter?” He teased her.
“You’re complaining when you don’t know what you’re complaining about. Brat!” she spouted off.
Alexandra sat the cake down, and low and behold, it was perfectly halved, white and chocolate. The table roared with laughter.
Harrison turned to me and shrugged. I couldn’t help myself.
I leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Family and all the love and banter…that’s what has me wearing a smile. I love you.”
“Ditto.”
EPILOGUE
I looked at my wife, wearing the red gown I’d requested and could only think of one thing…watching it slowly peel away from her silken skin. I instantly wished I hadn’t committed us to attending the party. I didn’t want to share one precious breath with anyone other than her.
I casually watched her with the other partygoers and reflected on the last year with and without her. It had been the best of the ups and downs any man could handle. I knew what it was like to find the best and to lose it along with my sanity.
I’d set out to find myself. I thought I’d done that years ago, but she showed me that clearly, I hadn’t.
Who was I?
Who was Harrison Brooks? Some dude who made a few good moves on the stock board and played well with the rich and famous? Or even someone who could turn the stakes on a game of pool into luxury cars and houses? A guy who couldn’t keep from looking in the mirror every available opportunity, who had a string of girls willing to be a wealthy playboy’s arm candy for the evening?
Definitely not the family guy or the settling type. Hell, his own family couldn’t stand him, even if it was for miscalculated reasons.
Meeting Alexandra and watching how happy she was with Grayson had given me hope. It also rekindled my relationship with him, maybe even making it better. Sharing a despicable tragedy with them rocked my world, but because of it I met Monica, the love of my life.
From the moment she fell off her fancy shoes to take a concrete dive only to laugh about it, I knew she was the one for me. Every breath she breathed was like pure oxygen for me. Her thick chestnut hair flowed in layers around her shoulders and partially hid her creamy white skin. Every time she smiled, her dark eyes would dance with mystery. I’d never met a woman who could communicate with her eyes the way Monica could. I loved her spunk; she wasn’t a pushover. Yet, she was charming, caring, and a true believer of all that was good in the world. Her views weren’t jaded in comparison to mine; she fought to see the realness in people.
I craved her laughter, her sweet spirit. It made me lighter, left me floating on air.
Monica was her own woman, and the only woman I’d ever met who wasn’t in love with me for my status or power. She created and owned her own business that was successful in every way. She’d made herself.
Her love ran as deep as an abyss, and I knew the moment I fell in love with her I’d fallen harder than tumbling from Niagara Falls.
I should’ve married her in Bora Bora when I had the chance, but I’d thought back then that settling down was more than I could handle, and I let it scare me out of my shoes. The first opportunity to break us up came quickly, and I took it, hurting her more than she ever deserved and cracking our perfect world into scorched earth.
The months apart I spent wallowing in self-pity, gave me time to reflect, reasons to learn and showed me the gift of love and life. It wasn’t happenstance that I was in Logan’s that fateful night; it was meant to be.
Kaci was like a daughter to me, and I was able to give her a life she deserved. I was able to give back to Charlie, a faithful friend. Funny how it came back full circle, but Luke is perfect for her.
When Nadia came in to the bar injured, my soul withered, watching her in so much pain. I learned what it meant to unconditionally love a stranger. She and Kaci gave me a reason to exist and helped me find the good in myself again.
When Monica came in to the bar the first time, I wanted to profess my love, but fate intervened, and I chose to act like a jackass. When she came back the second time, I knew I had one shot at making it right, and I took it. No regrets.
Paris came from a crazy whim, but it worked perfectly. I carry the key to our lock on my key ring along with our house key. A daily reminder of my public promise to her. The photo she gave me for Christmas was hilarious. Normally, I could figure anything out, but the bike…that was a total topper, and I’d cherish it forever.
Marrying my beautiful bride was the best decision I’d ever made. She made me whole in every way. When I touched her, I felt the welcoming response from her body.
I’d recorded everything about her to memory. Her likes, her quirks, the way she loved white chocolate to the way she hated green beans. I could close my eyes and recall everything about her, the way she smelled, the sweetness of her taste, and the way wine lingered on her ruby lips.
I watched her from across the room, the red silk softly touching her skin. Her sweet smile emerged while she casually listened to stories from the partner’s wives. She looked beautiful with her hair piled in soft curls on the back of her head. One curl had slipped out, hanging down the center of her back. I craved to feel it, to undo the rest of them and have them fall into my face with her on top of me. When she turned, I got a glimpse of her breast, covered to the world, but perfect when bared to me.
I approached her slowly and came to rest close by her side. I slid my left arm around her waist. She tucked her right hand into mine at her waist and interlaced our fingers. That move represented us as a couple…interlaced. We fit in perfect compliment. We knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses by heart.
On the way home, she rested her head on my shoulder. It was all I could do to keep from making her mine in the car. When we walked into the house, I had to hide my laughter when she kicked off her shoes and added them to the pile by the back door. I’d watched he
r do it so many times and was curious if she was even aware of it anymore.
I hummed one of my favorite tunes as I climbed the stairs. I hung my jacket on the door bar and looked around. Music, candles, and the perfect water temperature called out to me. I was lost in my thoughts when I noticed she had come upstairs.
My lover made me remember with her pure heart, and with her touch, she made me forget. With her, I found out who I was supposed to be. With her, I could love unselfishly and be loved graciously. With her, I could make my confession and receive unconditional love.
With her, I became the man I was supposed to be.
Love always,
Harrison
Acknowledgments
I am in awe of so many people who have supported me and my writing. Without readers, there would be so many untold stories.
I’m truly grateful to a great group of gals on my street team who answer crazy questions, pimp me like nuts to their friends, and request stories such as this one. Monica, KK, PJ, Debbie, Abbie, Annetta, Becca, Beth, Brandy, Carrie, Chris, Debbie, Deborah, Heather, Jamie, Stephanie, Taneesha, Jennifer, Julie, Kame, Karren, Katia, Shari, Staci, Kimmie, Mercedes, Nancy, Phyllis, Rana, Renee, and Lisa…THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
A special shout out to Kim E. for the plot suggestion and reminding me that I need to use ‘links’. I adore you!
To my editor, Andrea, you rock!
To the sweet MG who served as my muse, thank you for character inspiration. I miss ya!
They say that covers sell books, and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had the pleasure of working with awesome models for my covers and with the eye of David Quisenberry Photography capturing the perfect shots. I’m thrilled with the outcome. Thank you Benton, Alexa, and Ryan for modeling and perfecting my muse.
A special thank you goes out to my hubs. You’ve been there supporting me and cheering me on as I continue to find my place in the writer’s world. I love you.
Stay tuned for a follow up to Chasing Air, Chasing Hearts and Chasing Redemption, a new series titled Vintage Secrets and more to come in 2014.
XOXO,
D
About the Author
I'm your typical working wife and mother. When I'm not at work on my day job in the medical field, you'll usually find me either on the phone networking or typing away on the keyboard. I suffer from laptopitis!
Writing is a passion and it's nothing to find me sitting at the desk at 3am. An avid cook, reader and cross-promoter, I love to keep my options open, cookie dough included.
After 30 years in the medical field, I found that something was missing. While finishing a Masters Degree, I received advice from my professors that I should follow my passion in writing, but this time do it for myself, not academically.
Releasing my debut novel, Running To You in early 2012, I found my missing ingredient in life. I've released four novels and a boxed set, with eight novels planned through March, 2015.
I love to hear from readers, so please reach out to me: [email protected]
Stay tuned and keep reading,
DeLaine
Follow DeLaine:
Twitter: @delaineroberts
www.facebook.com/delainerobertstheauthor
www.southerncomfortromance.com
http://delaineroberts.blogspot.com
http://smartgirlsreadromance.blogspot.com
Thank you to David Quisenberry, photographer and some of the crew who’ve modeled for me.
The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3 Page 62