7 months later

Tessa was going to kill him.

Zach stood at the curb of LAX’s passenger pickup and pressed the back of his hand to his eye. Even before he pulled it back, he knew what he’d find. Sure enough, blood streaked his skin.

“Shit.” He pulled a tissue from his pocket and added pressure to the stitches he’d received late last night in the ER. Then to the still-oozing scrapes along the side of his face, wincing at the pressure against the bruises. Then to his swollen lip. A small price to pay for the starring role on Hawaiian Heat, but the timing of it was just plain cruel.

Rubi’s convertible Aston Martin took the corner toward him about twenty miles per hour too fast and cut across two lanes of traffic, stopping so close to the curb, Zach had to step back to keep from getting clipped with the bumper.

Wes put the car into Park and stood from the driver’s side, rounding the trunk. “Welcome home, bud.”

“Dude,” Zach said, starting toward the back of the car. “You almost took me out at the knees.”

“Eh. All the required plumbing is way above the knees.” Wes rearranged a few things in the trunk to make room for Zach’s carryon. “You’ve got the girls in a tizzy. Should have seen Tessa’s face when she found out you weren’t getting in until this morning. Turned white as a sheet. I thought she was going to hit the deck—”

He straightened and focused on Zach’s face. His smile fell into shock. “What the…?”

“Shut up,” Zach said in advance, knowing exactly what would happen next. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Wes didn’t disappoint him—his friend started laughing. He laughed and laughed and fucking laughed. He laughed so hard, he stumbled backward with an arm over his belly.

“Jesus, Wes.” He couldn’t help but smile, which hurt like a bitch and killed his humor. “Stop it. I need to get to the house. Did my family make it?”

Wes planted both hands on his knees and caught his breath. “Yeah, yeah. I’m not sure which woman is more nervous about your late arrival—your mother or your bride.” He straightened and planted his hands at his hips. Shaking his head, he spoke through more laughter, “Oh my God. Your wedding pictures are going to be fucking epic.”

Pictures. Zach’s eyes closed, and he hung his head. “Jesus Christ. I forgot about pictures. I was too worried about how my mom and Tessa were going to react.”

“As long as Tessa’s still a hot-shot contract attorney to the stars when you put the ring on her finger, you’ll be okay. You know your mom likes Tessa and Sophia way more than she likes you, right?”

“Yes, I know. But thanks for reminding me.”

“Just keeping it all in perspective.”

“Come on, guys.” A traffic cop approached. “Save your fun for another time. Move out.” He took in Zach’s face and grimaced. “Get some ice on that shit, dude.”

That kicked off another laughing fit for Wes. “He’s way past ice.”

Even the traffic cop laughed. “Come on. Move it.”

“I can’t wait to hear how all that happened,” Wes told Zach on the way toward the driver’s side. He opened the door and looked at him across the convertible. “Just let me get behind Tessa before you show your face. I want to be there to catch her. Maybe you ought to reschedule the honeymoon. You ain’t making any magic with those injuries. Take my word for it.”

Zach grimaced as he eased himself into the passenger’s seat. “Fuckin’ prick.”

* * *

“I’ve never seen anything this gorgeous, Lexi,” Tessa told the woman fussing with her hair in preparation for the veil. Lexi had designed a wedding gown just for Tessa, a stunning gown beyond her wildest dreams. She’d also created the bridesmaid’s dresses—all six of them, all different to fit each woman perfectly—Lexi, Rubi, Rachel, Grace, Ellie, and Brook. Even Sophia had a matching flower girl’s dress. And Lexi had done it all as a wedding gift for Tessa and Zach. “I know you told me to stop saying thank you, but—”

“Don’t do it.” Rubi’s voice came from the doorway leading to the deck off the living room of Jax and Lexi’s Malibu home. She wore a rich blue, sleeveless dress that hugged her perfect body like dipped paint and made her eyes look more blue than green. “Or you may end up looking too much like your groom.”

Tessa’s first reaction was joy. “He’s here? He’s physically standing on this property? Like right now?” Then the rest of her meaning registered and concern wiped out her happiness. “Wait, what do you mean—?”

“Daddy’s here!” Sophia ran in, wearing a dress too gorgeous to be adorning a child, in the same beautiful ocean blue as Rubi’s. “Mommy, Daddy has a—”

Rubi caught Sophia around the waist and pulled her back against her, covering her mouth with her free hand. “Oh, no, you don’t, monkey.”

Sophia squirmed and giggled.

“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” Rubi asked.

Tessa pressed a hand to her stomach. “No. No bad news on my wedding day.”

“Okay, we’ll start with the good news,” Rubi said. “Zach is here, standing on this property, like right now.”

Tessa let out a breath of relief. As long as he was here, she could handle the rest.

“And the bad news is…” She uncovered Sophia’s mouth. “You’re on, cupcake.”

“Daddy has an owie.” Sophia said. “A big owie.”

Tessa pulled a sharp breath, meeting Rubi’s gaze. “Is he okay? What’s wrong?”

“He’s fine.” Rubi gave Sophia a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and said, “Go tell your daddy to get to the altar.”

Sophia turned for the deck and sang, “Daddy’s home, Daddy’s home, Daddy’s home” all the way down the stairs to the yard.

“What happened?” Tessa asked, pressing a hand to her temple. “Please don’t tell me he’s wearing a body cast.”

Lexi snickered. “No. I’m sure Jax has that one reserved.”

“He can’t.” Rubi cocked her hip, planted her hand on it, and gave Lexi that sassy look. “You haven’t said yes.”

“Don’t start,” Lexi warned against anyone harping on her about marrying Jax. “And neither have you.”

“I’m waiting for you. And Wes is getting as impatient as Jax.”

“Everything is perfect the way it is,” she said, adjusting a comb in Tessa’s hair.

“Then a ring and a piece of paper won’t ruin anything, will it?”

“Why don’t you go first and let me know,” Lexi quipped back.

“You’re not helping out my stress level here, girls,” Tessa interrupted the familiar discussion of Lexi’s irrational fear of marriage. “What happened to Zach? Is he okay?”

Rubi waved a hand. “These guys are tough. Zach hit a reef yesterday at the end of the shoot.”

“A reef?” Her stomach squeezed. “Oh my God.” She’d watched Zach surf waves the size of buildings over in Hawaii during filming. And she’d seen those walls of water pound him into the surf when he took a fall. The thought of him hitting a reef terrified her. “He didn’t tell me—”

Tessa started toward the doors, but Rubi blocked her path and closed her hands on her arms.

“He’s okay, Tess.” Her voice was smooth, sure, and compassionate. “I’d never keep you from him if he wasn’t. And don’t you dare cry. You’re going to ruin my perfect makeup job.”

Tessa blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. “Should we postpone the ceremony and take him to the ER?”

Rubi laughed. “I think he’d shoot us if we tried. Besides, he spent enough time there last night.”

Tessa closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her cheek. “Oh my God.” She refocused on Rubi. “Promise me he’s okay.”

“He’s. O-K.”

She took a deep breath and let it go. “All right.”

“He’s just…” Rubi added with her sassy smirk, “you know, not his normal pretty self.”

“Oh God. His face?”

Rubi winced. “Among other places. So unless you two are into S & M, consummating your marriage may have to wait a day or two.”

Lexi lifted the veil to Tessa’s hair with another sarcastic laugh. “A few broken bones and stitches never stopped Jax.” She rocked another comb—this one holding the veil—deep into the bun on the back of Tessa’s head. “Or Wes either, according to you.”

Rubi smirked and lifted a shoulder. “True.”

“Zach won’t be any different.” Lexi stepped away and rounded in front of Tessa, her gaze scanning her hair and veil. And she smiled, a brilliant, white smile that sparkled in her eyes. “Especially not when he sees you.” She met Tessa’s eyes. “Ready to meet your Prince Charming?”

Tessa’s stomach fluttered with excitement. She pulled in a breath and covered her stomach with one hand. “How can I be so nervous about something I want so much?”

Lexi started laughing. “Sweetheart, you are asking the wrong woman.”

She blew out a long, slow breath. And smiled. “Okay. I’m ready.”

* * *

Zach was cleaned up, dressed up, dosed up, and standing up at the arbor along with Tucker. The sun was setting on Malibu Beach, and fifty of Tessa’s and Zach’s family and friends filled rows of chairs lining the sand. A soft wind blew, ruffling the flower petals and ribbons decorating the arbor and the center aisle. The surf gently washed the shore a few hundred feet away.

The setting couldn’t have been more perfect for his wedding. Lexi’s Advil-Tylenol cocktail had him feeling like himself again—even if he didn’t look like himself. Troy’s girl, Ellie, was sitting on a stool near the arbor, strumming a soothing melody.

Still, Zach couldn’t settle. He hadn’t seen Tessa or Sophia in a month, but he’d gotten a good dose of his daughter as soon as he’d arrived from the airport. And he wouldn’t feel right until he touched Tessa again.

“Dude,” Tucker said at his side. “Chill. Your fidgeting is driving me crazy.”

Zach sucked in a deep breath, stretching his lungs until the stress ebbed, then blew it out nice and slow.

“There you go,” Tucker said.

“You got the ring?”

“That’s the eighteenth time you’ve asked.”

“What’s your point?”

“I have the ring.”

Zach cleared his throat, scanned the guests, breezing over his mother and father sitting up front. His mother was talking with the woman next to her. His father was scanning his phone. Zach was glad they’d come—for Tessa and Sophia. Nothing had changed between him and his parents, but they’d happily welcomed Tessa into the family and were both absolutely bowled over by Sophia. And as long as they treated his girls like gold, he’d let them.

“Did you sign the contract for next season yet?” Tucker asked.

“I’m going to talk it over with Tessa first.”

“If you don’t take it, would you pimp me out?”

Zach laughed. “I didn’t say I wasn’t taking it.” He shrugged and gave Tucker a sidelong look. “But I’ll still put in a word for you—as my understudy.”

Tucker’s laugh carried on the wind. “You fuckin’ big shot.”

Ellie finished a song, slipped off the stool, and handed her guitar over to a young woman sitting in the front row. While Ellie made her way across the sand and disappeared around a bend, the other woman started strumming Here Comes the Bride.

Zach’s blood pressure shot skyward, along with his excitement.

The minister cut his conversation with a guest short and met Zach and Tucker under the arbor with a warm smile. “Beautiful night for a beach wedding.”

“Perfect night,” Zach agreed—to begin the best days of his life.

A collective gasp from the guests pulled Zach’s gaze to the end of the white carpet that had been laid over the sand. Sophia started down the path with a basket in one hand, the other throwing crimson rose petals along the carpet. Zach knew Rubi had gotten her hands on the girl the second he’d seen the elaborate curls tucked into a silver tiara. But he had to admit, her bright smile as she traipsed the carpet made Zach stand taller and smile wider. His heart spilled with joy. This was truly the very best day of his life.

The first couple turned onto the carpet—Lexi and Jax. Followed by Rubi and Wes. By the time Rachel and Ryker fell in behind them, Sophia had reached him. Zach settled his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face the aisle just as Lexi and Jax parted, Lexi turning left and taking up residence on the bride’s side, Jax turning right and standing beside Tucker.

The couples continued to stream down the aisle and part, forming lines on either side of the arbor. After Rachel and Ryker, Grace and Josh started down the aisle, followed by Ellie and Troy, and finally Brook and her ready-to-pop-any-day-now belly accompanying Keaton.

No more than ten minutes had passed since the music had started, but Zach could have sworn it took them half a damn hour to get down the aisle. Sweat collected under his tuxedo shirt and stung the cuts on his face.

The music paused a moment while Ellie took her place on the stool with her guitar. She started singing a song from her latest platinum album, something Tessa had chosen and a song Zach loved, but he couldn’t focus on anything other than Tessa as she stepped onto the end of the carpet where Zach’s father met her and offered his arm.

Her gown was sleek, simple, and sleeveless, with lace from the waist up, dipping in a deep vee between her breasts. Her hair was up, and a fluffy veil spilled out behind her. Christ, she looked beautiful. Radiant. Stunning. A familiar ache churned deep in his heart.

She smiled at his father, and they shared a few words before Tessa looked up and found Zach. He felt the moment their gazes met with a flutter in his gut. The closer she came, the faster his heart beat, until the surf had faded and the music barely registered as a distant hum. Tessa’s smile held strong, even as the shock of his appearance registered in her eyes. And by the time she stood face-to-face with him, she was giggling.

“I know,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry.”

She shook her head. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

His father lifted Tessa’s hand and offered it to Zach. When Zach took it, his father sandwiched Zach’s and Tessa’s between his own and met Zach’s eyes. “I know I don’t say it, son, but I am very proud of you. I wish you and Tessa and this little angel”—he tapped the end of Sophia’s nose—“all the happiness in the world.”

Zach’s throat swelled with emotion. While he’d made peace with the distance between himself and his family long ago, he couldn’t deny the warmth that surfaced now, proving that he would always be his parents’ son, no matter how old he got.

“Thanks, Dad. And thanks for being here. It means a lot to us.”

He nodded, kissed Tessa on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”

“Thank you.”

And he ran a finger across Sophia’s perfect cheek. “You too, muffin.”

Sophia giggled. “Thanks, Granpa.”

Zach’s father had mellowed significantly over the years, and with Tessa’s and Sophia’s help, he thought he and his parents might just be able to develop a relationship again.

When his father turned toward his seat, Tessa lifted a hand to the injured side of his face with a look of horrified amusement. “Does it hurt as bad as it looks?”

Zach burst out laughing, then immediately regretted it and groaned. “Only when I laugh.”

A wave of soft laughter traveled through the guests.

Tessa leaned her forehead against Zach’s and murmured, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too, baby. Me too. You look…I don’t even have words.”

He lowered his head to kiss her, only to have someone yank on his jacket sleeve.

“Uh-uh,” Tucker said. “None of that before you’re married.”

And more laughter peppered the group.

The minister welcomed everyone to start the ceremony, and Zach released Tessa’s hand only long enough to pick up Sophia before clutching Tessa’s hand again. And while the minister spoke about the wonder of marriage, Zach couldn’t take his eyes off Tessa. Couldn’t stop reveling in the perfection of the moment, surrounded by the people that meant everything to him, to Tessa, to Sophia. He’d never imagined a life so rich or so joyful.

“Zach,” the minister drew his attention. “Would you like to share your vows?”

A pinch of panic burned his gut.

Vows. Right. They’d agreed on short and sweet.

He fully faced Tessa and squeezed her fingers. God, she was so damn beautiful, inside and out.

He cleared his throat and brought up the words he’d practiced.

“Tessa,” he started, slow and deliberate, hoping all the emotions he felt for her came through in his words, his voice. “I love you. I love you for all that you are, all that you have been, and all that you have yet to be. I take you to be my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love.” Her mouth quivered into a smile. Her eyes glistened with tears. “I promise to honor and cherish you always and in all ways. In sickness and in health, in laughter and in tears, in good times and in bad, in failure and in triumph, I vow to love you with everything I am, all the days of my life.”

The minister nodded and turned his smile on Tessa. “Tessa?”

She sniffled and smiled. “Zach, with my whole heart, I take you as my best friend and my husband. I promise to be faithful and supportive always and in all ways. I promise to always make our family’s love and happiness my priority. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness, in health”—she smiled, huffed a laugh, and lifted her hand to cup his damaged cheek—“and in injuries.” Zach laughed along with the guests. “I promise to dream with you, celebrate with you, and walk beside you through whatever our lives may bring. Throughout this life and into the next.”

His vision blurred with tears, and he closed his eyes, turning his head to kiss her palm. Zach could have never imagined this level of love or fulfillment before Tessa. Before Sophia.

The minister tied up the ceremony, Sophia slid their wedding bands onto their fingers, and Tessa kissed his torn lips gently. Then they both kissed Sophia’s cheeks to a rowdy round of applause.

Zach held Sophia close and wrapped his other arm around Tessa’s shoulders as they accepted hugs and congratulations, then started back toward the house for the reception.

As the guests headed into the house where a catered seven-course dinner awaited, Zach lowered Sophia to the ground so she could run ahead with the other kids. He stopped on the sand and wrapped his bride in his arms, holding her close. “God, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I want to squeeze you so hard, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Squeeze me. It will be worth it.”

She laughed and tightened her arms around him, and Zach let out a groan of both pleasure and pain. He whispered at her ear, “I love you so much. This is, hands down, the best day of my entire life.”

“Same, baby.” She pulled back, looked into his eyes, and smiled. “Same.”

Zach kissed her, giving her a gentle taste of his passion. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”

She laughed. “Big words for a man in your condition.”

“Don’t even. You know what happens when you challenge me.”

“Hold that thought. We still have a long night of friends and family ahead.”

“Yeah, about that…” He pulled papers from his inner jacket pocket. “Before we head into partylandia, I wanted to give you this.”

She took the folded papers but only scanned his face. “What is it?”

“Your wedding present.”

She gave him that sweet puppy-dog look. “Oh, Zach…”

He rolled his eyes. “Look, look.”

Laughing, she unfolded the sheets and skimmed the adoption papers Zach had drawn up over the last few weeks. She sucked a breath and pressed her fingers to her lips. “Oh…” Tears gathered in her eyes, and her watery blue gaze jumped to his. “I thought we were going to wait. Until things settled down…”

“You’ve been her mother from day one. These only put that fact into writing.” Zach cupped her face in both hands. “Today, you gave me a whole, complete, amazing family. You’ve brought me more love and more happiness than I’ve ever dreamed of having. I want this day to bring you the same joy.”

Tessa whimpered and threw her arms around his neck. “It already has, baby. It already has.”