by Taylor Hart
She did, and the light stung, but she saw her mother and father, and she saw him.
“Kade.” She coughed. Her throat was dry and parched and hurt.
She cringed.
Then the bed was moving up. “She needs a swig of water."
Her eyes fluttered again, and Kade was next to her mother, smiling. “Hey."
A nurse shoved some ice chips into Kade’s hand. “Give her these.”
Kade obediently put one in her mouth.
It tasted so good. She was confused. She felt this heaviness on her chest. “Mom?" She looked at her mother.
Her mother had tears on her face, but also a smile. “You have a new heart, sweetie. You’re going to be fine.”
Shock coursed through her. “How—” She broke off coughing.
“Mr. Kincaid.” Her mother said.
She looked at Kade.
“My dad.” Kade shrugged. “He got you a heart.”
Completely floored, she felt like she wasn’t understanding properly.
Her father patted her other hand. “You’re going to be just fine.”
A million questions went through her mind, but then all she could see was Kade’s face, and she knew, somehow, he’d saved her.
Taking her hand into his, he leaned forward and gently kissed her. “Welcome back.”
She didn’t understand what had happened. All she knew as she saw the hope in her father’s eyes and the happiness on her mother’s face and the warmth in Kade’s eyes was that maybe things would be fine.
Because, it all felt different than before.
Kade gently kissed her cheek and pulled back, searching her face.
She tried to smile. “Hey.” Her throat was still killing her, and there was a huge heaviness in her chest. She winced.
Putting a hand on her hair, he smoothed it back. “Your body is accepting the heart.” Tears filled his eyes.
Still confused, stunned, shocked by everything, she shook her head. “How?” She choked out the word.
A soft smile filled his face. “My father had you put on a list the day we went out on our first date.”
Complete surprise filled her, then understanding. Tears filled her eyes.
“Don’t cry,” he said as his own eyes filled with tears, and he leaned down, gently kissing her lips. “Cause I have a question for you.”
The laser-like intensity made her feel more awake. She waited.
He got onto his knee. “Will you come live in the castle with me forever?”
She couldn’t stop the tears from flowing out.
He stared deeply into her eyes. “Don’t bail on me now, Song. This is the final play of the championship game. This is the one that counts.”
More tears filled her eyes. He couldn’t be asking what she thought he was asking. “I…surgery.”
His smile widened. “I know. No time like the present to win the game.”
Her eyes fluttered, and she couldn’t imagine what she looked like, but warmth rushed into her. Love washed over her.
“Will you marry me, Song?” he asked again.
Her mother covered her face and cried.
Turning, she locked eyes with her father, and she saw that hope again.
Felicity turned back to Kade Kincaid and knew she finally had a shot at a real life with a real prince, and she wasn’t going to waste another minute without him. “Yes.”
Epilogue
The ocean breeze fell across Kade’s face as he stared back at the Castle, waiting for Felicity to join him at the makeshift beach altar.
He felt his brother’s hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, bro. She’s coming.”
Kade turned to look at Anthony, and satisfaction filled him. It had been a rough year of intense physical therapy, but Anthony was walking and even running and passing a little. He still talked about playing football, but Kade doubted any team would touch him with his complicated neck status.
“The best day,” he said happily in response to Anthony, not doubting whether or not Felicity would walk down the aisle, but—okay, he would admit he was a bit nervous. He loved this woman more than life itself, and if she bailed on him, he didn’t think he’d ever recover.
His brother winked at him. “This is what life’s all about, bro. Putting it all on the line, throwing the Hail Mary, and praying someone will catch it.”
“There’s only one person I want to catch it.” The football analogy annoyed him, which he knew Felicity would find funny since he used so many football analogies of his own.
Soft, soothing music played, and Kade stared at the crowd of people in the audience and was grateful he and Felicity had insisted on a small wedding on the beach. He stared out at his father, proudly perched in the front row. His grandmother was next to him. It made him happy she seemed like she was doing well.
X and Ace and their women sat next to her. He’d attended their weddings over the past year and was insanely happy for them.
X made a cheesy gunfire gesture at him and winked.
He rolled his eyes and smiled.
A couple of other players from his team were attending with their dates too. James Knight, the owner of the Titans, was here with his wife. Mr. DaVinci was in attendance as well as a couple of people Felicity had grown close to in therapy.
After the surgery, Felicity had been through a year of ups and downs, but finally, her health had leveled off over the past three months, and she was doing amazing. Every day, she got stronger and feistier. She was even feistier than before, something he never hesitated to tease her about.
It had been a miracle to get that heart that day, a miracle he would never forget and would always be grateful for.
Felicity appeared at the end of the red carpet covering the hundred yards from the castle to the beach.
Seeing her now reminded him of the first time he’d stepped into his music room at his home and had seen her sitting in white at the piano. This creature was mythical, beautiful. He would never have guessed a woman like her existed. A woman with incredible passion and more concern and love and grace than he ever could have thought possible.
A woman who had taught him about grace. A woman who had been the catalyst to restore peace and love in his relationship with his brother and his relationship with his father.
A woman who was everything to him. Who dished out tough love, and demanded it as well.
Her mother walked out in front of her and took a seat on the other side of the front row.
Anticipation, excitement, and nerves washed through him. Here he was, again, sweating. No other woman could make him sweat. Overwhelmed with the love he had for this woman, he felt his eyes moisten.
His brother nudged him. “Keep it together, Kincaid.”
He let out a light laugh and smiled, so grateful for so much more than just this day. So grateful for this moment, for this life. He was humbled by all that was being given to him as he heard the music change to the wedding song.
The crowd stood, and Felicity, holding her father’s arm, started walking toward them.
Felicity had insisted Kade not see the dress before the wedding, and he wasn’t disappointed. Her beautiful red hair was in soft curls around her shoulders, and she had a little veil that fell over the satin, off-the-shoulder dress. It had an empire waist and fell in waves of tulle down her legs.
“Incredible,” he muttered, anticipation and love swirling through him.
Felicity had insisted on waiting for intimacy until the wedding night, and he’d agreed, but he wouldn’t lie—he’d dreamed about this night a thousand times. After the small reception, he had a flight plan already in place to take them to Paris. It was what Felicity wanted, and he just wanted to be with her, so he honestly could care less where they went. He just regretted having to do the whole reception and wedding lunch before they took off.
Her father beamed proudly as he stopped when they got to Kade. It had been amazing to watch the remarkable transformation her father had gone through
as he’d helped Felicity regain her strength. Kade and her father had become more than friends. They truly were family. He winked at Kade and sat next to her mother. Felicity had told him her mother had said she thought they would remarry, but wanted to wait until after this wedding.
Felicity stood in front of him, looking vulnerable and happy and like a mirror image of his excitement. She reached for his hand, and he gladly took hers.
The preacher started into the ceremony, and Kade honestly didn’t hear much of it as he stared into Felicity’s eyes and she stared into his. All he could think about was their now, their future, their everything.
When it got time to say I do and kiss the bride, he took her and kissed her, dipping her deeply.
The crowd laughed and clapped.
Felicity laughed too, reaching up and putting her arms around his neck.
The flowery smell of her surrounded him, and once again, he felt so in love and so immersed in this woman.
“You ready for the biggest game of your life?”
Grinning, he pressed his lips to hers gently, forgetting everyone around them.
She laughed and pulled back. “I’m going to have to insist we skip out on the party and get started on the honeymoon. After all, we hung out with them last night. Let’s just be spoiled, bratty billionaires and go off on our own.”
Fire sparked through him, and he bent and swooped her off her feet. “I like this entitled version of Mrs. Kincaid!”
The crowd cheered, and he smiled at them and began walking toward the helicopter. “Thanks for coming! We’ll see you all later!”
The crowd cheered louder.
Happiness fell through him as he stared into Felicity’s eyes. “Already starting with the bossiness, are we?” He got to the helicopter and put her down, opening the door for her.
She smiled at him and gently touched his face. “It’s called tough love, Kincaid.” The sweet smile was anything but tough as she said, “Get used to it.”
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The Christmas Boyfriend
“I’ll be home for Christmas, Dad. Don’t worry. I’ve just been so busy with the Christmas performance, I haven’t made my ticket yet.” Lacey Hamilton rushed across the CSU Fort Collins campus, making haste for her performance in the fine arts building. She wore her dance tights, and her hair was up in a tightly stretched bun. Ms. Palomino didn’t mess around when it came to the Christmas performance—she wanted professionalism, and Lacey was ready for it.
“Okay. Clock is ticking, sweetie. Let me know when you need me to pick you up at the airport. Your mother has been putting in lots of time at the flower shop; there’s lots of weddings this time of year.”
Lacey thought of her mother’s Flower Girl shop, nestled on Main Street in Snow Valley, Montana. She thought of all the Christmas activities that would be going on in town—tree lightings, Christmas caroling, the 5K and pancake feed, and most important … Oliver. Her heart fluttered. She hadn’t been home since last March for spring break. That was when Oliver, her boyfriend of four years, dumped her. She’d been heartbroken, but tried not to think about him. She didn’t have to see him when she was home.
“Yeah, if you could pick me up, that would be great, Dad. I’ll let you know.” Technically, her father wasn’t her real dad, but her biological father had passed away when she was twelve. Her mom married her stepfather later. Lacey loved him, pretty much adored him.
“Sounds good. Send me your itinerary later. Oh, sweetheart, that reminds me … uh …”
It wasn’t like her father to dawdle with words. She swung open the door to the fine arts building. “Yes, Dad?”
“I ended up inviting the Hastings family to Christmas this year. It just kind of happened, and I wanted to let you know because I know it was rough when you and Oliver broke up.”
Stopping in middle of rushing bodies, Lacey was hit from behind by another student, making her drop her phone and almost fall over. “Sorry,” the kid said without pausing, clearly in a hurry to avoid being late to his next class.
Lacey grabbed her phone, her hands shaking. “You invited Oliver and his parents?” Oliver was an only child. Of course he would come if his parents did.
“Lacey,” her father said into the phone. “Are you okay?”
“Why would you do that?” Her voice was a whisper. She slowly started toward class again, only dimly aware of each step she took. She didn’t know if she could handle seeing Oliver.
“Sweetheart, Oliver’s dad told me they were alone for Christmas. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Oliver’s mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer.”
“Oh no.” Oliver’s mother’s kind face flashed through her mind. “Really?” She wondered how she hadn’t heard about this.
“Tom says they haven’t told a lot of people, but you know he brokers a lot of deals for me, so I found out when I was in his office last week.”
Oliver’s father was her dad’s realtor. Had been for the past twenty years. Her heart sank as she thought of how her mother had gone through her own battle with cancer. Sometimes Lacey still worried her mother’s cancer would return. She thought of Oliver and felt awful for him. Even though he’d broken her heart, they’d been best friends since they were little. “How is Oliver holding up?”
Her dad sighed. “Tom said he’s taking it hard. There’s something else I need to tell you.”
She bit her lip, anxious about what else there could be. “What?”
“Oliver asked Linda to marry him.”
“What?” Even more flustered, she arrived at her classroom but paused at the door, sagging against the wall. “Marry him?” Linda had been two years younger than them in high school, so none of them had hung out or anything.
Another long pause from her father. “Hey, sweetheart, I know all of this is a lot to take in, but that’s what happens in life. Life throws stuff at you. All you can control is how you respond. Remember—”
“I don’t need a life lecture right now, Dad.” Her father was famous for his “Life Lectures by Michael Hamilton.” It was a joke between her and her brother. Her dad was very successful, but borderline annoying when he chose to use a current issue to make a point on how to live life.
“Sorry, sweetie.”
Her mind whirled with thoughts of Oliver. Part of her felt horrible for him because she knew he and his mother were close. The other part of her reeled with the knowledge he was already engaged to another girl. It had been less than nine months since they’d broken up. Anger and nausea warred in her gut.
“Hey, Lace, why don’t you bring that new guy you’ve been dating—Rhett, right? The guy getting his MBA? Bring him.”
“Huh?” Lacey blinked past the dizziness. She’d made up Rhett to get her parents off her back about moving on and getting over Oliver.
“Yeah, your mom and I want to meet this guy you’ve been sharing practically every meal with.”
Her cheeks burned with shame. “Dad, it’s last-minute. He’s staying in Colorado with his family.” Lacey held on to the wall for a second longer before pulling in a long breath. “Okay. I have to go. I have a rehearsal right now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, bye, sweetheart. Ask your boyfriend!”
Lacey pushed the end button on her screen. Nervous butterflies rushed through her, and she held her hand against her stomach to quell the angst.
“Lacey!” She heard Ms. Palomino’s sharp-edged voice through the doorway.
Breathing hard, Lacey turned to the door and stumbled inside.
Ms. Palomino frowned at her and looked at her Apple watch. “You’re lucky you stepped in, or I would have given the lead to the understudy.”
Five exhausting and exhilarating hours later, Lacey staggere
d into her apartment and dropped her school bag and dance bag onto the floor. The final performance had been amazing, but it hadn’t been as satisfying for Lacey tonight. She just felt tired and stretched from head to toe.
She shut the door to the apartment and kept her sweater wrapped around her. The apartment was chilly. She went to the thermostat and turned up the heat from sixty-eight degrees to seventy-two.
Going to the kitchen, she peered into the fridge. There was some leftover takeout Chinese food from last night, but the idea of eating it made her feel sick. There were a couple of yogurts, protein shakes, and apples. Opting for the apple, she pulled it out and took a big bite.
The cat brushed her foot. She bent and pushed a hand into his thick, soft fur. “Hey, Rhett. How’s my boy?” Slipping an arm beneath him, she walked to the oversized couch and flounced down on it, tucking him against her side. “You want to go to Snow Valley with me for Christmas?”
Well, at least she hadn’t lied about having dinners with Rhett.
Rhett snuggled into her and dropped on his back, demanding a belly rub and purring like a motor. She complied with a teary-eyed smile. “If only there was a man named Rhett.” She sighed. It had never occurred to her that her little white lie for the past six months—to get her parents off her back—would come back to bite her in the butt.
“Hello!” The door flew open, and her roommate burst into the apartment. Ellie was a vibrant theater student, and Lacey found her own dramatics usually paled in comparison to whatever Ellie had going on in her life. It had been nice for Lacey to have Ellie these past two years. She always brought laughter and joy and made Lacey feel better about life in general.
“Hey.” Lacey looked up from Rhett’s belly and took another bite of apple. She had hardly eaten at all today and was feeling a bit of a sugar rush from the fruit.
Ellie had short, perky brown hair and a petite frame. She was only four-eleven, almost a foot shorter than Lacey. She twirled into the living room and extended her left hand with a flourish. “It happened,” she said in a singsong voice.