Looking across the table at Kellie, I noticed her demeanor changed almost immediately. "You did?"
"Yes. It was glorious. I'm happy. I want this. None of us knows what the future can bring."
"I know that as well as anyone," my father said, clearly referencing how he lost my mother unexpectedly.
"But I know Hunter. I probably know him better than any of you. I know his heart and it is pure and it's good and he loves me. And we are getting married. And I hope that you will all be there even if it's in Vegas."
I let out a laugh wrapping my arm around her and kissing her head.
Kellie left Ryan's side and came over to us. She hesitated for a moment, but then she put her arms around Natalie. "I just want you to be happy. I can see that you are."
In the back of her mind, she was probably wondering how long it would last, but I figured I'd have every day for the rest of my life to prove to her that I’d love Natalie forever.
Epilogue
Natalie
Whoever said that best laid plans go awry, never married Hunter Strong. True to our natures, which lacked patience, we married quickly, as soon as we could arrange it on the beach behind Hunter’s father’s house.
We coincided the wedding with finishing the final proofs for the European marketing campaign for the expansion that Ryan had started several months ago. Someone needed to take the proofs to Europe and run them through a few focus groups, for which Ryan suggested that Hunter and I go as part of our honeymoon.
I reminded Ryan that I didn’t work for him anymore. Even though Hunter and I had reconciled and I was willing to be a sounding board for him, now that I had a lovely studio, my interests were back on my art.
I wasn't sure what would happen with my career, especially when it came out I was marrying Hunter. Everyone would probably completely dismiss my art as an indulgence from my rich husband. But when I was in the studio Hunter created for me, I got lost in my work, and it didn’t matter. Well, it mattered a little bit, but Hunter mattered more. Plus, as the work on creating artists studios downstairs started, I found a new passion in working with Hunter on his vision for the building.
Hunter balked at the idea of having a working honeymoon. "I plan to be making sweet love to you the entire time I'm there. A focus group doesn't need to see that."
I grinned. "One thing's for sure, you’ll get rave reviews if you show up naked."
In the end, I talked him into it because it involved a complete tour of Europe and I was able to expand the time we’d need from two weeks to four. A month in Europe with Hunter exploring all the art and history was a dream come true and Hunter said he wanted to give me my dream. I worried that he’d think that’s why I was with him, like his ex was, but he assured me that he could tell the difference between my love and hers.
After our wedding, Hunter had me on a private plane heading to Europe. Not only did we consummate the marriage, but he also initiated me into the mile-high club.
The first stop of our honeymoon was Barcelona, and while it was hard to beat San Diego for the weather and the beach, I couldn't deny that Barcelona was stunning. All the old architecture was gorgeous. Even things not designed to be art, looked like art to me. There was so much to take in, and I was pretty sure I hadn't brought enough sketchbooks. Hunter found a little art store and bought me several more. He said if I used those up, he’d buy me more. I worried about running out of space in my suitcase, but he said he’d buy me another one of those too, or arrange to have my sketch books shipped home. He really was the best husband ever.
It was our second day in the city, spending the first day in our room, in bed more specifically, but now we are out touring the city finding a little café to have a delicious Spanish meal. A bowl of calamari sat in front of us and Hunter reached over, grabbed one, and popped it into his mouth, winking at me as he did. I pulled out my mini sketchbook and began to draw him. He was so relaxed and handsome, and every time he smiled, it was that wide gorgeous one that always took my breath away.
"I don't know if I should keep buying you sketchbooks, if all you're going to do is draw pictures of me,” he said, amused by my constant sketching.
"Well, if you would stop being so sketchable, maybe I would."
After our meal, we walked through the city, taking in the sights and shopping, and then at the end of the evening, we went back to the hotel going up to the terrace on the top floor that gave us a grand view of the city at twilight. We sat at a table ordering drinks.
"Have you ever thought about buying something here?" I asked him.
"Do you want me to buy something here?"
I shook my head and laughed. It was nice that he wanted to buy me the world, but I didn't need that. Everything I needed sitting next to me at the table.
His phone rang and he cursed as he looked at the caller ID. "What does Ryan want now?" He put the phone up to his ear. "I'm on my honeymoon. This better be good."
"Where are you?" I heard Ryan’s voice on the other end.
"I'm in Barcelona on my honeymoon. Now leave me alone."
"I mean, where are you? Are you at the hotel?"