One to Keep (One to Hold 2)

He rocks me a few more times until at last we’re gasping and trembling, collapsing into each other’s arms amazed and oh, so satisfied. It takes a few moments to come down.

“I love waking up in your bed,” he says at last, and I can’t help laughing as his strong arms go around me, pulling me to him as we fall back.

“My bed or our bed?”

Patrick started out with his own place in Wilmington. I think his reason was to be sure we weren’t rushing into anything. That lasted about a week before he was living in my condo full-time.

“Can I say our bed now?” his brow creases.

“It’s been five months, and we’re engaged.” Bending my elbows, I prop up beside him. “I think you’d better.”

He smiles and slides my hair off my shoulder before leaning up quickly to kiss it. “Fine. Our bed.”

Pushing completely up, I kiss his lips then head to the bathroom to turn on the shower. “What are you doing today?” I call out, holding my hand under the water.

“Meeting Derek. He’s forcing me to wear a suit. A beach wedding, and I have to wear a suit.”

That makes me laugh. As handsome as he is, Patrick would wear jeans and polos everywhe

re if he could get away with it. “Their wedding is going to be gorgeous.”

I step into the shower, but I move quickly. Knowing my fiancé, I’ll never leave the house if he decides to join me, and while that isn’t a terrible prospect, I’ve got to meet Melissa. I’m out with a towel around me, and as I suspected, he’s already at the door wearing his bad boy grin.

“Shit,” he says.

I kiss him as I pass. “No time to play, Mr. Knight, I have to meet Melissa to taste cakes.”

“What! How did I draw the short straw?” He follows me back to the bedroom, sitting on the bed, watching as I dry off and dig through my underwear drawer. Finally, I throw my towel at his head, but he catches it.

“It’s not polite to stare.” I pull on a thong and fasten my bra, and I see that little gleam in his eye. Heat simmers low in my stomach. “Stop looking at me that way. I’ll be late.”

“Melissa won’t mind if you’re late.” The tone in his voice has me moving faster before my resolve wavers.

I drop the filmy sundress over my head and step into my wedge heels. “She will, and she’s got Aunt Bea here especially for today.”

He exhales dramatically. “So I get to try on suits and you get to eat cake.”

“You’ll get to sample our top three picks, and Derek has to choose his groom’s cake.” I lean down and kiss his forehead, skipping back before he catches me. “Tonight.”

“Pick one with bubblegum in it,” he calls after me.

“You’re still not using that word right!” I shake my head as I grab my keys and push out the door. He knows very well how Melissa is about being on time. She’s as bad as that Marine she’s marrying.

* * *

The stout little lady walks around Melissa’s gourmet kitchen as if she’s in heaven.

“It’s an error in justice that you have a kitchen like this and you don’t even cook,” she pretend-scolds.

“Aunt Bea” drove in from Baltimore just to spend the day with Melissa, discussing cake options and decoration choices. She’s practically Mel’s long lost fairy-godmother. The two have been close since before my best friend left Maryland, and Mel’s entire pregnancy, she’s sent her surprise cupcake care packages.

“Baking never interested me,” Mel sighs, leaning against the bar, her pregnant belly a basketball under the tight black dress she’s wearing.

Pressing my lips together, I can’t help but think of Kenny. She’s due to have Patrick’s baby any day now, and as much as I want to be okay with it, it still stings. My change in demeanor is not lost on my friend.

Melissa pushes off the bar right into my face. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head and attempt a smile. “Nothing! What are you talking about?”