The Billionaire's Island Bride (South Shore Billionaires 3)

“Remind me to give her a raise,” he said, hugging her tightly.

“She and Dan are keeping Marvin while I’m here,” she replied. “You blew into my life with your big real estate offer, but I ended up with two new friends, too.”

Cole leaned back a little and looked into her eyes, then kissed her. A “Welcome home” kiss, a “Thank God you’re here” kiss, an “I love you” kiss. Nothing had ever felt so good, so beautiful, so very right.

And when he let her go, she put her hands on either side of his face and smiled at him, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. “I want to stop being afraid. I want to make you proud and fit in, but I don’t want to lose myself. You can understand that, right?”

“Of course I can.” He put one of his hands over hers. “I’ll tell you something Jeremy and Bran don’t know. When I had my breakdown, I started seeing a therapist to help me navigate my way out of the darkness. If you’re willing, we can get you some help, too. Your fears are real, sweetheart. But you don’t have to figure it out alone.”

She nodded, so very, very touched, particularly that he’d made himself vulnerable, too. “I did some counseling after the robbery, and it helped, but it wasn’t enough. I’ve always known that, deep down.”

“Then I’ll support you with whatever you need.” He squeezed her fingers. “And that is not contingent on us being together, okay?”

He was such a good person. To think she’d thought him an arrogant billionaire flaunting about in his helicopter. He was so, so much more.

Then he kissed her again. “To be honest, if you hadn’t shown up here, I was going to head back to the island soon. I know I left in a huff. I wanted to try again, to talk, to see if we could find a way through it. But I’m not complaining that you beat me to it.”

He smiled again, then led her to the sofa and they sat. “I think if you’re up to it, you should have a nice visit here for a week or two, and then go back to the island. You’ll be missing Marvin, I’m sure. And I’ll be joining you a week or so after that.”

“You will?” She was thrilled.

“My mother is getting married, and I’ve convinced her to spend a few days with Edward at the house. That is, if you don’t mind me bunking in with you.”

Of course she didn’t mind.

“They’re honeymooning in Nova Scotia in November?” She faked a chill and laughed. “How’d that happen?”

“Oh, don’t be silly. They’re spending a few nights there. Then they’re off to Italy for three weeks.”

“And you’re okay with the new man?”

Cole nodded. “I’ve known him my whole life. It’s a long story, but it explains so much of my childhood. She came to see me, and she really talked to me for the first time. I’m starting to let go of a lot of my resentment. And it made me miss you even more. My parents didn’t have warmth in their marriage, but I feel it every time we’re together. We have something special, Brooklyn.”

“We do,” she answered. “More than I ever dreamed possible.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

FOR THE FIRST time since the island had been settled, there was a wedding on its shores. The May sun was shining, the gulls were calling, and the waves were sending little frothy fingers over the sand as Brooklyn walked barefoot toward Cole, holding a bouquet reminiscent of wildflowers—baby pink roses, marguerites, baby’s breath, purple clover. It was as wild and simple as sh

e was, perfectly suited for an island bride on her wedding day.

He was waiting, in a suit the color of the sand beneath her feet, his brilliant blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled at her walking down the “aisle.” Her dress flowed softly around her curves, the silk caressing her skin as the breeze off the ocean fluttered the fabric around her legs. She’d anticipated the wind, so she’d left her hair mostly down in tumbling waves, except for a little from each side pulled back to anchor the frothy veil now billowing behind her.

For a simple look it had cost a fortune, but Cole’s mother had insisted on taking her shopping in New York. She’d invited Brooklyn’s mother along, as well, and while Brooklyn had been apprehensive about it, the two had gotten along just fine.

It seemed that Brooklyn sometimes erected barriers when there were none.

Now she was nearly to Cole, her heart bursting, wondering how on earth she’d got this lucky. Raelynn had preceded her up the aisle in her own dress of blush pink that matched the pale tea roses in their bouquets. Branson was Cole’s best man, while Jeremy had performed usher duties and Dan was in charge of Marvin, who wore a white bow tie for the occasion.

Nearly there now, where the officiant waited. Past Jen and Delilah from the yarn store, past Branson’s new wife, Jessica, who was expecting their first child, past Tori and Jeremy and her family and Cole’s mother and her new husband.

And then she was there, standing beside him, reaching for his hand.

She’d moved her engagement ring to her right hand, and he toyed with it now, turning the stone in his fingers—a whopping two-carat cushion cut with a diamond-encrusted band that had nearly blinded her when he’d opened the box.

And then she met his gaze and was lost. Everything disappeared—the guests, the wind and the gulls and the ocean and there was just him, loving her, and her loving him, and the person in front of them, joining them to each other forever. Her lower lip wobbled as she said her vows; his voice was strong and clear as he made his promises. He slid a wedding band over her finger, and she did the same, pushing the platinum circle over his knuckle until it nested perfectly where it would remain. And then they kissed, and her veil whipped around her head, enveloping them in a curtain of tulle as a cheer went up from the small assembly.

Marvin barked at the commotion, and Brooklyn hadn’t believed until this moment that it was possible to be this happy.