Ten Days Later

You’re both supposed to have your eyes closed. Are they closed?” I giggle as I walk backward in front of Decker, pulling his hands while he completes a zombie-walk down the upstairs hallway.

“Why do my eyes have to stay closed?” Decker’s voice is full of delight. His long lashes flutter against his cheekbones and he squeezes my hands. His face is completely alight with thrilled anticipation.

“Because.” Jeremy feigns gruffness. “It’s a weekend of surprises, remember? Yours is today, your mom’s is tomorrow.”

He stands behind Decker, guiding his shoulders. “Just a few more steps.”

I back into Decker’s bedroom, my heart still leaping at the sight of everything we’ve done.

After taking a few days to recover from the ordeal in the mountains, Decker went back to school and I went back to work at the start of the week. Today is Friday and Jeremy and I took the day off in order to decorate Decker’s room.

My peace of mind was in rock-solid shape when, the day after we returned to Wilmington, we were informed that both Wagner Horton and Mason Teague were being brought up on multiple felony charges for their wrongdoings. And Jacob’s connections at the FBI let him know that the federal government had enough evidence stacked against both men to make the charges stick.

Eventually, there would be trials for both of them, and we’d have to deal with reliving the experience again then. But until that day comes, I’m happy knowing that my family is safe.

An emergency meeting of the board at Teague Industries unseated Mason Teague as the CEO of the company, instead placing the current president of the corporation as the acting chief executive officer. There’s been some shuffling of executives at the top level, and Jeremy was called in for the board meeting. When the board offered him a seat, he accepted. When I asked him why, his answer was simple:

“Just because my grandfather is an asshole and I want to see him live the rest of his days in prison doesn’t mean the company should crumble. Peoples’ jobs are at stake, good people, people who had no idea how despicable he’d become. If I can do something to help, I want to. Maybe putting on a suit and tie and heading to the office every day isn’t in the cards for me, but I’d like to have a say in what goes on with the company that bears my name. My son’s name. It could be his future, if that’s what he wants. I don’t hate the company, Rayne. If my grandfather had stepped up all those years ago and proven he cared about me more than what I could do for him, then maybe I would have actually wanted to learn the ropes at the company. Now, Decker has a choice. If he wants it, Teague Industries is his.”

I’d squeezed him tight, trying to pour all of the love and respect I had for him in that moment into the fiercest embrace I could manage.

“Okay, bud…you ready?” Jeremy leans around Decker, his mouth curving into an enormous smile.

My heart falters for just a moment, watching him. Being in this house with Jeremy, spending time with him every day both at work and at home, falling into a routine of parenting together…it still blows my mind that we made it here. That after everything we endured in our past and over the last few weeks with Wagner Horton and Mason Teague, we ended up strong and resilient and together.

His eyes flick to mine, and the understanding I see there tells me that his thoughts are similar to mine. He turns and squeezes Decker’s shoulders.

“This is your new room, Deck.”

Decker’s eyes fly open, and he pulls in a thrilled breath. He spins around slowly, and I follow suit, trying to see the room through his eyes for the first time.

Jeremy and I have painted the walls Carolina blue. There was a brick-red dresser and an entertainment console complete with the newest video game system. It was something I told Jeremy I’d never spent money on in the past, and he insisted on buying one that he and Decker could share. Jeremy handmade the headboard, a chalkboard framed with antique white wood. He’d drawn Xs and Os all over the board, just like a football playbook.

The room is littered with Decker’s stuff that arrived with the shipment of our things from Phoenix a few days ago. He had a box overflowing with his toys and stuffed animals, some of which I know he’ll be outgrowing soon.

“Wow.” When Decker’s awed whisper reaches me, I focus my attention on my little boy standing in front of his dresser. He’s holding up a framed picture. “Dad? Is this you?”

The utter reverence in his voice as he gazes at his father’s high school football photo tells me something I already know to be true: Decker worships Jeremy. He finally has a father figure in his life, but not just any father figure. His dad. And Jeremy has become his hero.

He places the photo down and picks up another frame. The one with Jeremy and me snuggled together during our high school prom. Decker’s eyes are still wide as he takes it all in.

My eyes well with sentimental tears, and I turn toward the window so I can let them fall. I listen as Jeremy shows Decker some of the sports-themed knickknacks that fill the room and how we’ve organized all of his clothes and shoes in his closet. I bite my lip on a smile when I hear him explain to Decker how we expect him to keep his room clean and take care of all of his things. Decker’s serious “Yes, sir” in response almost pulls a sob from my chest.

“Hey, Deck. I think Night needs some more work on that trick you were trying to teach him. That dog isn’t gonna learn to jump through a Hula-Hoop overnight. Why don’t you take him into the backyard to work on it, and your mom and I will be out in just a minute.”

“Okay!” Decker’s arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I suck in a deep breath and squeeze his little hands as hard as I dare. “Thanks, Mom.” His lips land on my back in a kiss before he dashes out of the room.

Then, bigger, stronger arms pull me against a broad, hard chest. I relax into Jeremy’s grip and lay my head back against him.

“Everything okay?” He drops a kiss on my hair.

Breathing him in, his deep ocean-air scent, I nod and wipe my eyes. “It’s just a lot sometimes. Things have worked out so beautifully for me and Decker, and he loves you so much. I…I don’t know where we’d be without you. I’m thankful.”

Jeremy turns me around to face him, and his eyes zero in on mine. “You and Decker belong to me. I’m not going anywhere, Rayne, and neither are you. This is our family. It took awhile to get here, but now we’re here and I’m not wasting any time. You get that?”

Nodding, I try not to get lost in the depths of his jade-green eyes. When my tongue darts out to lick my lips, his gaze tracks the motion and go dark.

When he returns to my eyes, his hands move to my face, his thumbs stroking gently while his hands cup me like something breakable.

“I love you, Rayne. And it’s not just because you’ve grown into this strong, amazing woman. And it’s not because your beauty steals my fucking breath every time you walk into a room. It’s sure as hell not because your sexy mouth needs to be washed out with soap. It’s a combination of all of those things. It’s the fact that I was made to love you.”

Oh, God. I can hardly breathe through the lump forming in my throat. A big ball of teary emotions that I can’t swallow and can’t put into words. Except for the most important three.

“I love you, too.”

His eyes flash with desire and love and need, and he dips his head low to kiss me. It’s not a gentle kiss; it’s rough and rugged and full of promise of all the things that are to come. It’s a Jeremy kiss, and there’s never going to be any other kind for me.

The following afternoon, Jeremy and I are getting the backyard ready for a barbecue while Decker and Night run around playing catch. Jeremy scrubs the grill while I add the brand-new cushions to the outdoor lounge and patio table set that Jeremy already had. The colors are bright and cheerful, the perfect addition to a backyard that Jeremy has already put his talented touch on.

With a happy sigh, I drop down onto a chaise lounge and close my eyes. A few minutes later, the lounger sinks under Jeremy’s weight, and his ocean-spray scent washes over me.

“Hey.” His deep, warm voice sends tingles of pleasure dancing all along my skin. Opening my eyes, Jeremy’s face blocks out the sun, but it’s a welcome interruption. He leans over me, two strong arms caging me in.

“Hey.” I smile up at him. “Beautiful day.”

“Mm-hmm. I think you should go upstairs and get ready for the barbecue.” I gasp as his nose draws a path across my jaw. His lips land lightly on mine before he pulls away.

I snuggle deeper into the lounger. “I have a little while yet.”

He shakes his head, causing the bristly hair on his jaw to lightly scratch my face. “Come here, darlin’.”

He pulls me up off the lounger and then looks out into the yard where Decker and Night play. He gives a low whistle, and both boy and dog freeze. He waves a hand. Decker and Night race over to meet us.

“Is it time?” Decker’s excited voice brings a smile to my lips.

“Someone’s excited about the last barbecue of the season,” I tease, ruffling my son’s dark hair. It’s getting long; usually I’d have taken him to get a cut by now. But I suspect he might want it to grow a little longer than usual, more like his dad’s.

And that’s more than okay with me.

Whipping a bandanna out of his pocket, Jeremy’s entire face transforms into one of his larger-than-life smiles. “It’s time, Deck.” Crooking a finger at me, he holds out the bandanna. “Come here, Rayne.”

“What the hell?”

Both Jeremy and Decker roll their eyes.

“Swear jar!” Decker tries to make a stern expression, but the happiness radiating out of him makes it difficult.

Jeremy just stands there, waiting, until I walk forward and stand expectantly in front of him. He wraps the bandanna around my head, covering my eyes completely.

“I told you this is a day of surprises,” he whispers in my ear before I hear his steps back away. “Don’t move, darlin’.”

I stand frozen in our backyard, trying my damnedest to figure out what they’re doing based on sounds, but it’s like they’ve practiced whatever they’re about to do and have got the process silently down to a science. I hear the birds chattering in the trees, I can feel the early fall breeze lingering on my skin. The jingle of Night’s collar sounds not too far away, and a quiet, directive whisper from Jeremy reaches my ears, but none of that gives me a clue as to what’s happening.

What have my boys been up to?

“Rayne…” I turn my head toward Jeremy’s voice. He sounds like he’s standing just to my right. “Even though I didn’t know it, I’ve been waiting for you to walk back into my life since the day you left. I was getting everything ready for you…a career that could support a family, this house, a lifestyle that could include you and Decker thriving by my side. When you two finally arrived, it was the best day of my life. And now, it wouldn’t be worth living without you. Either of you.”

The backs of my eyes sting as I fight to keep the tears at bay. But the emotions curling in my chest, rising in my throat, they won’t be denied. I love this man, and our son, and our brand-new life together. Everything I have right now is more than enough. More than I thought I would get from this life.

“Open your eyes, Rayne.” Jeremy’s voice, strong and brimming with love, comes from behind me.

I slide the bandanna up over my head and blink a few times to clear my vision against the now-harsh light of the afternoon. There’s no one standing in front of me.

Scanning the yard, I find Decker first. He’s kneeling down in the grass, his gorgeous smile nearly splitting his face in two. I smile back, and he points to the ground in front of him.

Where there are big, wooden letters painted white, spelling out one word.

My stomach flips over and I bring my hands to my mouth. They’re trembling, but it’s nothing comparing to the tremors in my heart.

Night barks, and I turn my head to find him on the opposite side of the yard. He’s being a good dog, sitting exactly where his master told him to, in front of another word made from the white wooden letters. My hands fly to my mouth with a soft cry.

“Rayne.”

Jeremy’s voice, low and earnest, pulls me around. Turning to face the house behind me, he’s also kneeling, right behind the last two words spelled with wooden letters. My eyes lock on his face. Serious. Strong. Intense love shining out of his eyes.

My hands still covering my mouth, my head already nodding before I read the words, my eyes dart down to the letters.

When my eyes light on Jeremy again, there’s a little white box in his hands. His hands, always so strong and steady and sure, are shaking just as badly as mine are.

“Say yes, Rayne. Say yes and our future starts right now.” His voice is raw with emotion, thick with love.

Dropping to the ground with him, I rocket into his arms. He catches me, like I knew he would, and we both go down into the grass. My face is a mess of tears and laughter and a happiness I thought only heroines in movies and books got to experience.

“Yes!” I want to scream the word, but all that comes out is a raspy whisper. “Oh, my God! Yes.”

Then Decker and Night have landed on top of us, and we’re all a laughing, rolling mess of arms and legs and hugs on the ground. When the dust settles, and I really take a good look at what I’m getting out of this deal, I’m filled with the most peaceful sense of contentment I ever could have imagined.

Rolling onto his back on the grass, chest heaving to catch his breath, Decker glances at Jeremy. “She said yes, right, Dad?”

Jeremy clears his throat, rolls onto his side, and pulls me against him. “Yeah, Deck. She said yes.”

I sniffle.

“So.” Jeremy’s voice is casual. “Why don’t you go on upstairs and get ready for a wedding?”

Going still, I attempt to wrap my head around those words. “Wait…what?”

Standing, Jeremy reaches down to pull me to my feet. I might as well be floating on air, I can barely feel the ground. Jeremy glances at his watch.

“There’s about two hours until our wedding. Give or take.”

Mouth agape, I just stare at him. Now that I’ve said yes, Jeremy doesn’t have a care in the world. His face belies his control, although his eyes are sparkling with excitement.

“I don’t have a dress!”

Really, Rayne? You get engaged five seconds ago and your fiancé, the father of your child, informs you that the wedding is today, and the only thing you can think about is the damn dress?

But I stand by my statement. “I don’t have a dress” is code for: We aren’t ready for anything remotely resembling a wedding.

Decker laughs, and Jeremy winds his arms around my waist and winks. “Head on upstairs to our room. I promise you, I’ve got this covered.”

I look up into his eyes, utter disbelief filling me up. “You must have been pretty confident I’d say yes.”

Dipping his head, he brushes his lips across mine twice. “Hopeful.”

As hard as it is to turn away from them, I do and once my feet hit the wooden floor, I’m running. Breathless, happy, excited, I burst into our bedroom.

And pull to a stop in the doorway. My heart explodes.

“Olive!”

My sister, a blue-eyed, auburn-haired beauty, stands from the bed. “Well, hey. I heard you’re getting married today.” She gestures toward the ivory garment bag stretched across the bed. “Thought you might need a dress, so I brought one with me from Paris.”

Now there’s no possible way for me to control the sob that breaks free as I launch myself at her. We hold on tight, because it’s been a year since Olive was last in Phoenix to visit Decker and me. So much has changed since then.

When we finally break apart, she pulls me to sit down beside her on the bed. Pulling her legs up under her, she grins.

My sister is my opposite. Reserved, demure, and driven by her career, she never has a hair out of place. She’s flawless and in perfect control, because she’s never been comfortable any other way. While I was the one who questioned our parents raising us so strictly, rebelling when I could, she catered to it and observed every rule with due diligence.

But one thing about us that never wavered? Our friendship. Our sisterhood. Olive is and always has been my best friend.

“You look gorgeous,” I tell her. “All France-ey.”

Her pert nose wrinkles. “France-ey? Is that a compliment?”

I nod. “Absolutely. Did you really bring me a dress from Paris?”

I glance at the garment bag again, curiosity and elation buzzing in my fingertips as I stroke the bag.

Her expression turns knowing and she brushes her long, sweeping bangs out of her eyes. “Jeremy called.”

Narrowing my eyes at her smugness, I point a finger at her. “You got me a job at the place he worked on purpose.”

She tries to fight her smile, but one corner of her mouth pulls up anyway. “It was time to stop the secrets. He needed to know what he was missing out on when it came to you and my perfect nephew. I just opened the door for you two. But I’m glad it ended up like this.”

Worried eyes run the length of me before she takes my hands. “Are you okay? After everything that happened?”

Not even the gloom of what Wagner did to me can blacken this day. “I’m absolutely fine, Olive. I swear. I can’t believe you’re here! You’re not supposed to be back for another month!”

A shadow crosses her face, obscuring her happiness for just a second before it’s gone. “I decided to come home a little early. And I’m really happy to be here.”

Studying her, I poke a little further. “Everything okay?”

Offering me a bright smile, she hops off the bed in one graceful movement and grabs the garment bag. “Ready to see your dress?”

I know my sister better than anyone. And even though she’s going to try to keep everything pent up and controlled, something isn’t right. I want to probe further, and I will, but it’s my wedding day, apparently. So it’s time to get ready.

There’s a knock on the door, and Macy pokes her head around.

“Macy!” I rush toward her, my arms open.

After she hugs me, she pulls back and gives me a sunny smile. “I heard someone was getting married today.”

My face threatens to split open from my continuous grin. “Jeremy called you?”

Macy’s eyes crinkle at the corners as she smiles. “He sure did. And I wouldn’t miss this for the world. God, you look happy, Rayne.”

“Did you guys know that they surprised the shit out of me with this wedding?” I bounce on my toes as Olive unzips the garment bag.

“I did. And normally, I wouldn’t have been able to get a designer dress on such short notice. But I designed a château for Amelia Bourchard, so there are perks.” Olive pulls out the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen.

My sister inspects it. “It’s perfect for a backyard wedding. Not too formal, but it’s going to be so elegant on your long limbs. Let’s do your hair and makeup first. Then we’ll put it on.”

Another soft knock sounds at the open bedroom door. I whirl around, ready to rip Jeremy a new one for peeking, but instead of Jeremy there’re two unfamiliar women standing there.

“Hey, Berkeley!” Olive brushes past me, hangs the dress up on the bathroom door, and pulls the blonde into a hug. “I’m back!”

Berkeley, who I’ve only spoken to on the phone, pulls away and hold my sister at arm’s length. “Hey! I didn’t know you would be here. Greta and I wanted to see if Rayne needed help getting ready.” She glances around Olive and gives me a warm, friendly smile. “Jeremy told the guys what was happening today, and Dare spilled the beans.”

“Don’t ever ask those guys to keep a secret that isn’t top clearance. They’re worthless.” The tall, leggy brunette saunters toward me. Her face is beautiful and sweet. Her blue eyes sparkle as she holds out her hand. “I’m Greta, Grisham’s fiancée. We’ve heard so much about you, and I can’t believe the first time we get to meet you is the same day you’re marrying Jeremy!”

Berkeley embraces me next and then holds me out in front of her as she scrutinizes my face. “God, you’re gorgeous.”

Greta interrupts. “Of course she is, who else could have reeled in Jeremy Teague but the drop-dead gorgeous mother of his kid?”

Olive rolls her eyes as Berkeley laughs. “Truth.”

Releasing me, Berkeley opens the bag she brought with her. “A smoky eye for sure. Let’s do this, ladies!”

Later, when I’m scrubbed, polished, made up, and wearing a beautiful Parisian gown, I glance at my reflection. The vision of the dress slams into me first. Long, flowing, and ivory-colored, the delicate spaghetti straps border a deep, plunging neckline. The natural waist is sheathed with a thin line of glittering, studded lace. The simplicity of the dress whispers beauty and grace, layers of chiffon flowing around my legs covering the dainty golden strappy heels on my feet.

“Wow.” I try to breathe, turning slightly to admire the detailed back.

When I turn to face the girls, I’m greeted by four sets of shimmering eyes.

“Wow is right, little sister.” Olive swipes at her eyes. “Now, let’s go marry the man you love.”