“What makes your hospital equipment different from the competition?” Mr. Moreau asks, looking at us skeptically.

“Quality. Reliability. Service,” Tyler says in an unflinching voice. I sit back and smile as I watch my husband do what he does best.

If we close this deal, Mr. Moreau will be Hospitech’s biggest client yet. He is looking to purchase diagnostic and biomedical equipment for seventy-eight hospitals in France.

Tyler is a natural at making people want to buy from him. He speaks with so much passion and authority as he explains how Hospitech has an advantage over our competitors because our equipment is American made, and we don’t skimp on the quality in exchange for larger profits.

It’s not long before Mr. Moreau is eating out of his hand. The deal is as good as signed.

My pulse races as I watch Tyler, just like it has done for the past five years. We had our share of difficult times in the beginning when we first took over the company together, but once we found our groove, we became a formidable team. I took over the big picture planning and optimization of the factory, while he handled the employees and the day-to-day running of the company. After the first year, we moved Hospitech from the sixth largest hospital equipment manufacturer to the fourth. We’re currently at number two, but if we close this deal, we’ll be number one.

“It all sounds delightful,” Mr. Moreau says, frowning as he looks at the contract. “But the price. It’s ten percent higher than Medi-Ward.”

“It is higher,” Tyler says, leaning forward. “But think of the long-term savings. Broken machines, service repairmen, the inefficient running of the hospitals—those are all things you’ll be facing if you go with a lower quality company like Medi-Ward. Not to mention the loss of lives that faulty equipment will inevitably create.”

Mr. Moreau’s face softens as he listens. We have the best running equipment in the world because we’re all about quality.

After a few more minutes of convincing, Mr. Moreau shakes our hands and tells us we have a deal.

“You’re amazing!” I say, staring at Tyler with pure admiration after our newest and biggest client leaves with a signed contract.

“You’re amazing,” Tyler answers with a smile. “I was only able to sell it because of our quality rating, and that’s all thanks to you!”

“We’re both amazing,” I say as he walks over and gives me a kiss.

“Together we are,” he says, holding me tight. “We’re a good team.”

“The best!”

It’s the end of the work day on a Friday, and it’s such a beautiful summer day that we decide to leave early to celebrate.

“I guess that makes Hospitech number one,” Tyler says as I shut down my computer.

“It’s about time,” I say with a grin. It’s been a lot of work over the past five years, but we’ve grown the company, added departments, and have developed three new pieces of equipment, including a new and improved electrosurgical unit that saves hundreds of lives every day. It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding, and it’s fun because Tyler is by my side.

“Where is everybody?” I ask, looking around as Tyler walks into his office next door to shut down his computer for the weekend. It’s eerily silent for four o’clock.

I walk to the large window that looks out onto the floor of the factory and frown when I see that everyone is gone and that all of the machines have been shut down.

“I told them they could leave early,” Tyler says as he closes the door to his office. “Everyone has been working so hard lately and it’s a nice summer day, so I let them enjoy it with their families.”

I can’t wait to enjoy the rest of the day with my family.

Our three-year-old daughter Mia is at home with her nanny, and I can’t wait to see her.

We close up the factory and grab our bikes to ride home when I finally crack. It’s our five-year wedding anniversary today, but Tyler has been so preoccupied with our meeting with Mr. Moreau that he’s forgotten. He hasn’t mentioned a thing all day. I knew he forgot, but I didn’t want to distract him and make him feel guilty before the big meeting. But now that it’s over…

“What’s the date today?” I ask as we climb on our bikes.

“Friday,” he says, pedaling away from me.

He’s lucky he treats me like every day is our anniversary or I’d be really pissed.

I catch up to him, and we bike down the road side by side. The sun is out in full force, warming our faces, but the refreshing breeze is there to cool us off.

“I feel like today is significant for some reason,” I say, hinting pretty hard.

He doesn’t take the hint. “It is. Today Hospitech became the biggest manufacturer of life-saving hospital equipment in the United States.”

I sigh as I look for a hidden present in his bike basket or a big lump that could be a jewelry box in his pants, but there’s neither. It’s not like him to forget.

He turns left on Willow Street when we’re supposed to turn right to get back to our home. “Are you lost?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “I know that Summerland is huge with its ten streets, but you have been living here for five years.”

He doesn’t respond as he bikes beside me, keeping his eyes ahead of him.

I smile as I pedal beside him. Maybe he didn’t forget.

The huge park comes into view, and I gasp when I see it full of people. “What did you do?” I ask, forgetting to pedal. My bike slows to a stop and Tyler turns around with a knowing grin on his face.

He hops off his bike and walks up to me with his stunning eyes shining brighter than ever. My knees weaken when he drops to a knee in front of me.

“Dahlia,” he says, reaching into his pocket. He pulls out a huge diamond-encrusted wedding band and presents it to me. “Will you marry me?”

“You’re five years too late,” I say with a grin. “I already married the man of my dreams.”

“Maybe you’re right,” he says, looking up at me with soft eyes. “But you didn’t get the engagement or the wedding you deserve.”

I glance up and see the entire town waiting and watching in the park. My heart starts beating faster.

“And you’re missing a wedding ring to match the one on your finger,” Tyler says, holding it up. “So, what do you say?”

I’m breathless as I stare down at the gorgeous ring that’s shining in the sunlight and the beautiful man holding it.

“Yes,” I say without a second of hesitation. I would marry Tyler every day if I could.

He looks thrilled as he jumps up and slides the ring on my finger. The crowd in the park cheers and claps as Tyler holds my hand up over my head. “We’re getting married!” he shouts, and they all cheer even louder.

Kirsten comes walking over, holding Mia in her arms. “Mama. Papa,” Mia shouts when she sees us. Kirsten puts her down and our daughter comes running over on wobbly feet. She’s wearing a beautiful little white dress that makes my heart melt.

Tyler scoops her up off the ground and we both swallow her up in a group hug, breathing in that sweet toddler smell.

“Mama pineapple, pineapple,” Mia says, pointing excitedly to the party.

“Oh, no,” I laugh when I see the huge ice sculpture in the shape of a pineapple. “Where did you get that thing?”

Tyler laughs. “You should have seen the guy’s face when I ordered a pineapple ice sculpture. He thought it was a prank call.”

“I can’t imagine why,” I say, playfully rolling my eyes.

“Come,” he says, taking my hand. “Let’s go get married.”

“Right now?” I ask, staring up at him in shock. I’m wearing a gray pantsuit, which is still an improvement on my last wedding outfit since it’s not soaking wet and covered in dirt, but still.

Emily comes rushing over dressed up in a light blue bridesmaid’s dress. She looks beautiful.

“Let’s get you out of this thing,” she says, grabbing my wrist as she looks down at my outfit. “This time you’re going to look like a bride in a romance movie and not a horror movie like last time.”

“You got me a dress?” I ask, staring at her in shock.

“Not me,” she says, shaking her head.

“You picked out my wedding dress?” I ask Tyler. Oh, my God, I love this man.

He shrugs. “It wasn’t hard to beat the last one. This one will cover both boobs.”

Kirsten comes walking over, holding her arms out for her granddaughter. “Go get dressed,” she says with her happy eyes locked on Mia. “I’ll take care of her.”

Mia runs into her grandmother’s arms and gives her a big hug. Kirsten always looks so happy with Mia by her side. I’m really happy I could give her the grandchild she so desperately wanted. They look like best friends as they wander over to the park to play.

“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Tyler says with a grin.

“Isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?” I ask, teasing him.

“I think those Lucky 7 drinks got rid of our bad luck forever. I haven’t had any since you walked into my life.”

He leans in to kiss me, but I put my index finger on his lips, stopping him. “Seeing the bride, I can let slide,” I say with a laugh. “But you’re going to have to wait for a kiss.”

“Let’s go already,” Emily says, rolling her eyes as she drags me away. “We’re on a tight schedule. That dreadful pineapple ice sculpture is starting to melt.”

I give Tyler one last look before I’m whisked away through the excited crowd. I’m surrounded by smiling faces and shouts of ‘good luck’ as Emily drags me to a high tent set up near the maple trees.

Wow. Tyler really went all out for this. There’s an archway set up near the lake with folding chairs set up for everyone. There are flowers and wedding decorations everywhere, and the whole thing looks like it’s out of a dream.

“You snagged yourself a good one,” Emily says, nodding in approval. “You couldn’t be luckier, and he couldn’t be luckier too.”

“Thanks, Emily,” I say, giving my maid of honor a hug.

“Congrats on the engagement, cuz,” Jason says, popping out of the crowd.

I wrap my arms around the boss of McMillan Worldwide Inc. and my favorite of Tyler’s cousins. “Thanks, Jason,” I say, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I can’t believe you flew out for this.”

He’s such a busy man with running Mack’s old company, so it means a lot that he came. He’s done an amazing job as the leader, and the company’s profits have never been higher. The best part is that he’s managed to do all that without closing down any departments, factories, or laying off any employees.

His brother Nick is out of jail after serving six months in a minimum-security prison for stealing just over three million dollars from the company. He found God while behind bars, returned the money to Mack, apologized to everyone, and has been living in Ghana ever since, volunteering his time to help set up hospitals.

“I would never miss this,” Jason says. He glances at Emily and smiles. “I’m really glad I came.”

Emily squeezes my arm as her cheeks turn red. “I have to get the bride into wardrobe,” she says, smiling at the handsome millionaire in front of her. “I’ll see you on the dance floor.”

Jason never takes his eyes off her. “I can’t wait.”

She pulls me away and squeals when she’s out of his earshot. “He’s so cute!” she says, glancing back over her shoulder. “He’s still looking at me!”

“It is a wedding,” I say, grinning as I see hearts in her eyes. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

At that moment, I see a thick cloud of smoke drift out from behind the library in the distance and then Mack comes shuffling out with my parents behind him. Yup. You never know what’s going to happen. Especially when my parents are at a party.

“Mom! Dad! Other Dad!” I shout, waving at them. They spot me and hurry over, trying to act like they’re not stoned, which makes them look even more stoned.

“Dahlia!” Mack says, giving me a hug. I’m happy to say the man has loosened up in his retirement and is having a lot of fun. He comes and visits along with Kirsten every few weeks, and we’ve gotten really close. He’s always good for a laugh or an interesting conversation, and his business advice can’t be beat. “I hear you’re marrying my son!”

“I always wanted to marry rich,” I say with a playful shrug. “It will probably last one week before I divorce him and take all of his fortunes.”

“One week with you, my dear, is worth all of the fortunes in the world,” he says with a warm smile.

“Ahhh,” I say, giving him a hug. He really is the best father-in-law.

“I’ll let you get ready,” he says, letting me go. “I want to get a front row seat.”

I smile as he hurries away, and my parents step up to congratulate me next. I’ve been seeing them a lot more lately, and it’s actually been nice. They helped me see that I couldn’t keep pushing away love for a career, and I’m so glad they did. Having Tyler and Mia is better than any career in the world.

“Will you two walk me down the aisle?” I ask, getting choked up as I ask them.

I’m going to be the talk of the town if I get walked down the aisle with my father wearing that tie-dye shirt and with my mother in her burlap skirt, but I don’t really care. I want them to be a part of this.

“Of course,” my father says with a smile. “We’re not missing Burning Man to sit in the crowd.”

“We just have to go change first,” my mother says, pulling my father away with a grin. “We’ll see you at the start of the aisle.”

Get changed? It must be a wedding miracle.

I head into the tent with Emily and shake my head in disbelief when I see my wedding dress hanging inside. It’s stunning. A beautiful white sheath dress with a deep v-neck that is delicately detailed with lace and delicate beads.

“It’s gorgeous,” I say, taking it in my hands and running the long flowing skirt over my trembling fingers. “He knows me so well.”

“He sure does,” Emily says. “I tried to help him pick it, but he insisted that he knew exactly what you would want.”

“Well, he was right,” I say, swallowing hard. I try it on and it fits perfectly.

“Wow,” Emily gasps when she sees me wearing it. “I think I’m a lesbian now.”

“I think I’m going to marry this dress instead of Tyler,” I say, staring at it with unblinking eyes. “It’s perfect.”

“I still like your first wedding outfit better,” Emily says with a chuckle, “but this is a close second.”

“Think Tyler will like it?” I ask, turning around with a gulp.

“I think he’ll love it,” she says with a wide smile. “Now let’s do your hair and makeup.”

“All of the guests are waiting outside,” I say, feeling a flutter in my stomach. “We don’t have time.”

“This is me you’re talking to,” Emily says, pulling out a box full of hair and makeup products. “I sleep in until twenty minutes before I have to come to work. I’m a master at doing hair and makeup ridiculously fast.”

Ten minutes later, I look like I should be on the cover of a wedding magazine. Emily heads out to let Tyler know we’re ready, and I just stare at myself in the mirror, so thankful that I have a man who would do all of this work just to make me feel special.

Tyler makes me feel special every day of my life, and I don’t want to know where I’d be without him.

“We’re ready for you, Mrs. McMillan,” Emily says, popping her head into the tent. “Ready to get married?”

“This time, yeah.”

I should be nervous, but I’m not. Marrying Tyler is nothing to be nervous about.

Soft music starts playing through the park as my parents meet us at the tent.

“No way,” I say with my mouth hanging open. My mother is in a beautiful red cocktail dress, and my father is wearing a slick tuxedo. “You guys look so… normal,” I say with a laugh.

“I wanted to get dressed up for my daughter’s wedding,” my father says with a smile. He points to his bow tie, which is made from tie-dye material. “But I still have to keep a little bit groovy.”

“I love it,” I say with a nod. Really, I do.

“Beautiful dress, Mom,” I say, admiring her dress. She looks stunning in it. I’m guessing she didn’t make this one.

“It’s so tight,” she says, squirming around. “But I’m glad you like it.”

“I love it,” I say, offering them my arms. They hook their arms around mine as Emily brings us to the aisle.

The entire town is here, sitting on the chairs, standing on the grass, sitting in the trees, but I only have eyes for Tyler. He’s looking ravishing, standing under the flower-covered archway dressed in a tuxedo. My chin trembles as we stare at each other with pure love in our eyes.

The music changes, and for the first time, I notice the string quartet playing by the huge weeping willow tree. He thought of everything.

“I’ll see you up there,” Emily says, giving me a wink as she starts walking down the aisle.

Jason is up there too, standing next to Tyler as his best man. I’m sure Emily notices him looking because she starts swaying her hips a little more as she approaches them.

All heads turn to me and everyone stands up as the quartet begins playing the Bridal March.

I take a deep breath, holding onto my parents as we start walking forward. I never take my eyes off of the man I love, so it comes as a surprise when I arrive under the archway and see Drunken Asian Elvis standing there ready to marry us for the second time.

He’s wearing his rhinestone-covered onesie and looking odd without a bottle of alcohol in his hands.

“This is incredible,” I whisper to Tyler when I arrive. “You are incredible.”

“You deserve this every day,” he whispers, staring into my eyes. “You’ll never know how much you’ve changed my life for the better, and how much I love you.”

I already know because I feel the same way.

“You even got Drunken Asian Elvis,” I whisper, smiling up at the man who married us the first time. I didn’t think this guy was allowed to leave Vegas.

“Just Asian Elvis now,” he says with a nod. “I’ve been sober for a month and a half.”

I nod back at him. “The King would be proud.”

Just as Asian Elvis is about to start the hunk of burning love ceremony, Mia explodes out of Kirsten’s arms and darts up to us.

“Hey, Baby,” I say as Tyler scoops her up and holds her in his arms.

“Mama, you look pretty,” she says, but she pronounces pretty as preeetty. She’s so adorable.

She’s a real Daddy’s girl, and I can see why. She has Tyler’s stunning smile and his bright green eyes. The two make a beautiful pair, and the three of us make a perfect trio.

Tyler holds her for the rest of the ceremony while Asian Elvis sings Can’t Help Falling in Love in a thick Chinese accent and then marries us for the second time.

“Do you, Rainbow Solstice the First, take Tyler McMillan to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“You bet your rhinestoned ass I do,” I say, making everyone laugh.

Asian Elvis turns to Tyler. “Do you, Tyler McMillan, take Rainbow Solstice the First, to be your—”

“Yes, yes. A million times yes,” he says, looking ready for the kiss.

“I now pronounce you the first couple to get married at The Pineapple Chapel who stayed married for more than three months,” Asian Elvis says. “And I also pronounce you husband and wife, again. You may now kiss the bride.”

“Your Daddy has business to take care of,” Tyler says to Mia before handing her over to Kirsten’s waiting arms.

He comes back and takes me in his arms and gives me a deep kiss that has the crowd roaring. My legs go weak, but lucky for me, Tyler’s strong arms are there to hold me up.

“Mmmmm,” I moan as he kisses me like he’s ready to suffocate before he comes up for air.

For some reason, Emily’s words pop into my head: some people just can’t handle Vegas.

I’m so glad that I’m one of those people.

* * *

Want more Tyler and Dahlia?

Bonus Chapter: Dahlia and Tyler get into more trouble as they go tearing through a Casino on their drunken night!

* * *

I love to hear from my readers. You can email me at [email protected]authorkimberlyfox.com