I stare at this gorgeous man in front of me with my mouth agape as his warm breath puffs against my lips.

He cups my face as he gazes into my eyes. “I love you, Maggie. I know it’s crazy. Trust me. It took the thought of losing you to someone else to wake me the fuck up and realize this thing between us is more than business. My feelings for you are real. I need you in my life and I went fucking crazy when I thought that wasn’t possible.”

I lick my lips slowly as I digest everything he’s just said to me. Falling in love again is scary as hell because I don’t want to be hurt again, but with Gabe—he makes me want to open myself up. I could stand here and pretend I don’t reciprocate his feelings, but I’ve already admitted the truth. To myself. To Lani. And now I need to tell him.

He smirks. “Now’s not the time for that smart mouth of yours to go quiet.”

It’s terrifying to take the next step and bare my soul, but the look in his hazel eyes is so sincere, and makes me trust him with my heart.

“I love you, too,” I tell him.

A huge grin stretches across his face before he crushes his lips to mine. I melt into him as he pulls me against hard chest. His hand slides up my back and the tips of his fingers graze the bare skin on my back, causing me to shudder.

When he finds the zipper on the back of my dress, tugging it down, I giggle. “I guess this means you aren’t calling off our wedding tomorrow?”

“If you’ll have me, Maggie, this means I’m never letting you go ever again,” he says before walking me backwards, towards his bedroom. “And just so you know, we can get married tomorrow or a year from now. As long as you’re mine.”

My toes curl as he hoists me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he devours my lips on our way to his bedroom. He kicks the door shut behind us, and lays me down on his massive king-sized bed. His strong hands caress my shoulders before he slides the material of my white dress down my arms. I lift my hips and help him as he tugs the material off my body. I lay there, exposed for his viewing pleasure in nothing but a pair of white lace panties.

He shrugs out of his dress shirt, allowing me to feast my eyes on the work-of-art that is his body, while he unhooks his belt. My eyes zero in on the massive hard-on he’s hiding behind his slacks as he unbuttons and then unzips his pants. The moment his cock springs free, I lick my lips in anticipation.

I sit up to taste him, but he holds me back and shakes his head. “Not this time, baby. It’s my turn to do some apologizing. Lay back and spread your legs for me.”

I do exactly as he commands and just as I’m about to ask if I should slip off my panties, he reaches down and rips them off my body.

He twirls the lacy fabric around like a helicopter and grins.

I scrunch my nose. “I liked those.”

“Panties are overrated as far as I’m concerned.” He tosses the lace down on the floor along with my dress before he turns his warm gaze on me. “I prefer you like this. Naked and ready for me. You’re the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

Laying there before him, I should feel self-conscious, but I don’t. I want him so much, the only thing I can think of is having him inside me.

Gabe drops to his knees and hooks his arms under my legs and drags my ass to the edge of the bed. He kisses a trail along the inside of my thigh before he pushes my legs open wider. He dips down and when his tongue touches my clit, my hips buck because it feels amazing.

He stares up at me as he tongues my most sensitive numb. “You taste so damn good.”

I moan, loving the fact he enjoys giving me pleasure. This seems to excite him, because he throws my legs over his shoulders and goes to work sucking my clit. Warmth spreads over my entire body, and when he slips a finger inside me.

I explode, coming hard.

“Oh, God, Gabe. Yes!” I cry out, gripping hands full of his hair.

I open my eyes to find him watching me intently. “That was fucking sexy.” He climbs on top of me and kisses me deeply. The taste of me still lingers on his lips. “I’m going to have to do that again, but first…” The tip of his cock slides against my folds. “I think I’ll make you come while I’m deep inside you.”

“I like that idea,” I say as my hands find their way to his bare ass.

He thrusts his hips forward and buries himself inside me, and my fingers twist in the sheets. “Fuck. You feel so damn good. Jesus, if I move too much, I’ll come, and I want to make this last.”

I arch up and lick his top lip. “Please, move. Please, fuck me.”

“Shit,” he whispers. “Talking like that, beautiful … it just makes me want to give you exactly what you want.”

His lips crush into mine, and this kiss is hungry, like he’s ready to ravish me. He pulls his hips back and then plunges his cock back inside of me. Sweat slicks our skins, and we’re panting as we both search for own release. It doesn’t take long before a familiar tingle erupts within my core, and I come again.

A moan slips past my lips and Gabe’s movements become rougher as his own release peaks and he comes inside me while releasing a string of curses.

He collapses next to me, both of us staring at each other, trying to catch our breath.

“I love you,” Gabe says to me causing me to laugh.

“Are you sure it isn’t just the sex you love?” I tease.

“Oh, it’s good, beautiful, don’t get me wrong.” Gabe shakes his head and pushes a lock of hair out of my face. “But I’m positive. It’s you, Maggie. It will always be you. I can’t wait to make you my wife.”

I bite my lower lip. “Good.”

“How about tomorrow? Five o’clock?”

I sigh. In relief. In love. “It’s a date.”

* * *

It’s a few minutes before five and I stand beside the palm trees that separate the Elite from the beach and wait for my cue. After the display from Gabe yesterday where he told everyone to go home, not many guests stuck around for today’s event, but that’s okay. Everyone I care about is here. I spot my mother down on the front row. And behind her is Kale, here with his grandparents.

I was worried about getting dad’s wheelchair down there, but Gabe made sure to put a wood walkway down on the sand to make it possible for him to roll down there while he walks me down the aisle. Just another reason I’ve grown to love the man. He’s really gotten a bad rap, but he’s nothing like what I expected when I first met him. He knows how much it means to me for my father to be able to give me away.

“Are you ready for this?” Lani asks as she pulls the veil over my head so it covers my face.

“Yes,” I answer with confidence. “I’m so ready.”

“I’m so happy for you, M.” Lani smiles and her eyes well-up with tears. “It’s time something good happened to you for once.”

I wrap my arms around her. “Oh, Lani, don’t cry. No sad faces today.”

She sniffs as she pulls back. “I know. It’s just that you’re like a sister to me and I know you’ve been through so much shit, and now here you are. Looking all beautiful. These are happy tears, I promise.”

I wipe her tears and then kiss her cheek. “I love you, L. Thank you for being such a good friend to me through all this.”

She smiles. “I’m here for you any time—always—just say the word and I’m there.” She stands up straight up. “All right. Let’s get this show on the road and make you a married woman.”

We walk hand-in-hand to the landing where my father is waiting patiently for us. I’ve never seen a smile on his face so big as the one he’s wearing right now. “You look absolutely stunning, Maggie.”

I lean down and he lifts my veil high enough to kiss my cheek, and then I kiss his right back. “Thanks, Dad. You look pretty spiffy yourself.”

I right myself and he grabs the lapels of his jacket and straightens them a bit. “I do, don’t I?” he teases. “It’s been a long time since an old beach bum like me got dressed up for anything, but the day my only daughter gets married calls for such an occasion.”

I smile at him, and I don’t think my heart has ever felt so full before. “I love you, Dad.”

He grins up at me. “I love you, too. Now, let’s get this show on the road.” He grabs my hand and Lani takes her maid-of-honor place in front of my father’s chair so he can roll down the aisle next to my side.

I take a deep breath as Lani heads down first, and Dad gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. I’m a bundle of nerves, but for the best possible reason. I can’t wait to marry the man I love and become Mrs. Gabriel Carter.

The string quartet Gabe hired begins playing the Wedding March, and the only person I can focus on is my soon-to-be husband, whose blue-eyed gaze is locked on me like I’m the only other person on the planet other than him. It doesn’t matter that the gossip reporter is here, or potential investors. This all may have started as a façade for those individuals, but this moment is now solely for us, and a way for us to commit to our love for one another.

Gabe’s never looked more handsome, and the white dress shirt he’s wearing with the pink lei around his neck is perfect for our Hawaiian beach wedding.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach the moment I stop in front of Gabe, and the pastor asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

“Her mother and I do,” Dad answers, his voice hitching.

I lean down and hug my father before Gabe takes a step toward us. He extends his arm toward Dad, and they clasp hands.

“Take care of her,” Dad tells him.

“I’ll make her the happiest woman in the world. You have my word on it,” he answers without hesitation.

Dad gives a curt nod, and when he releases Gabe’s hand, he fiddles with the control to back his chair up so he can take his place sitting next to Mom.

Gabe threads his fingers through mine, and he smiles as he leads me in front of the pastor.

“You’ve never looked more beautiful, Maggie,” Gabe whispers in my ear. “I can’t wait to call you Mrs. Carter when I have you in my bed tonight.”

I stare up at him, and I make no attempt to stop the grin stretching across my face. “I look forward to that, Mr. Carter.”

Gabe licks his lips slowly and I know that if we were alone right now, we wouldn’t be able to keep our hands off one another.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If there is any reason these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

The word forever rings in my mind. As I stare at Gabe, he mouths the words, “I love you,” to me while the preacher continues on with the ceremony, and I know without a doubt, our love is the forever kind.