Every Time (Brush of Love 3)

“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that,” I said. “I might be an artist, but I couldn’t care less if the napkins were cream

colored or eggshell.”

“What?” he asked. “An artist who doesn’t care about color? I’ll be damned.” I giggled at his sarcasm before I pressed a kiss to his chest. “So, what should we do?” I asked. “Whatever we want,” he said. “So, if I said we should get married this weekend, you’d just roll with it?” “Why? Are you wanting to get married this weekend?” I took a step back from him and sat on the stool, beckoning him toward me as he slid his strong body in between my legs. “I mean, we could elope. It would be small. Simple. All we’d need is a magistrate of some sort and a license.” “Drew and Anna could be our witnesses,” he said. “Then we could all do something small, like go to the diner for dinner or something.” “Then we could plan an epic honeymoon of some sort,” I said. “Would you be willing to step away from the gallery like that after being away for two months?” he asked. “Well, I sort of already had the honeymoon planned. In a way.” “Oh, really? Do tell,” he said as he rushed his hands up my arms. “I will once I talk to Ramon,” I said. I watched his face fall, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Why do you have to talk to Ramon about our honeymoon?” “Do you trust me?” I asked. “With all my soul,” he said. “Then trust me. Ramon will have a hand in the best honeymoon ever.” I could feel him tense up as I slid my arms around his body, and it only served to boost my amusement of the situation. I’d given things a lot of thought, and while Bryan and I continued to discuss our future plans, it simply made sense. Why not combine our honeymoon with my European art tour?

“Just make me one promise,” Bryan said.

“Anything, my love.”

“Don’t let Ramon officiate our wedding.”

I threw my head back and laughed before I pulled Bryan down to my lips for a kiss.

“I promise,” I said.

Chapter 27

Bryan

E ven though the wedding was going to be quick and painless, I wanted Hailey to have the best dress she could’ve ever imagined. I talked to Anna after the gallery party and told them of our plans this weekend, and she was absolutely thrilled. Drew clapped me on the back and congratulated me while Hailey broke the news to her parents, and that’s when I threw my plan into order. I told Anna it was her responsibility to drag Hailey out dress shopping. I took Drew with me to get us fitted for tailored suits. We smoked cigars and drank scotch and spent a day to ourselves, and I gave Anna my card and told her to treat Hailey to a glorious day out. Anna booked them an entire spa day, complete with hair and nail appointments. Then, they spent the next two days running around trying to find Hailey a wedding dress. I thought she was going to kill me by the time it was all said and done. But now, we were all at the courthouse. I was in a tailored suit standing next to Drew while Anna was in a beautiful little dress that I knew caught my best friend’s eye. Hailey was walking into the courthouse room now while the magistrate smiled at us, and like always, she took my breath away. Her wedding dress was strapless, boasting of her beautiful bosom while it hugged her entire torso. The dip in her waist was accentuated by a ribbon of pink, symbolizing her strength throughout the entire ordeal we had just gone through. The fluttering of the gown around her legs was absolutely stunning, and instead of wearing a scarf around her head, she simply allowed her bald head to shine. She hadn’t grown to like the shape of her head, but she did enjoy the strength her scars reminded her of. I held my breath while she walked up the aisle, her shoulders rolled back and proud. I tried to keep my tears at bay as she came and stood next to me, her hands clutching the small bouquet of flowers her mother had purchased for her that morning. “By the way?” Anna said. “That bouquet cost more than her dress.” “Wait, seriously?” I asked. “Yeah. Mom’s still a bit upset at the quickie wedding,” Hailey said. “But it’s wonderfully cost-effective.” Everyone had a decent chuckle at that little joke before we both turned toward the magistrate. “Who gives this woman away?” the magistrate asked. “We do.” Hailey’s head whipped around at the sound of her parent’s voices, and she took off running for them. I smiled broadly as her father wrapped his arms around her, holding her close while her mother cupped her head. She eyed me closely before she walked past her daughter, approaching me at the front with something shiny in her hand. And when she presented it to me, I couldn’t believe my eyes. “This was mine when I was Hailey’s age. My fingers are way too big now after having two children, but I had it tailored to fit the ring you got her. It’s beautiful, by the way.” She placed the wedding band in my hand and I curled my fingers around it delicately. “I recognize this,” I said. “It was in one of Hailey’s paintings at the party,” she said. “Thank you,” I said as I embraced her. “Thank you for being here.”

“You’re part of this family now, whether you like it or not,” she said, grinning. “And I’m so lucky Hailey found a good man like you.” I hugged her close, wishing my own parents could’ve been here. They were off traveling to some place or whatever, but they did send their regards in the form of a very expensive reception. Instead of eating at the diner like we all had planned before, my parents made us reservations at the single hardest restaurant to get into during the year. They already had our menu tailored and paid for, so all we had to do was arrive, sit, and enjoy. I had to come to terms with the fact that my parents simply had a different way of expressing their love for people, and I was thankful for the time they put into arranging that for us. “So, I take it no one objects?” the magistrate asked. We all chuckled to ourselves as I beckoned for Hailey to come stand next to me. “Are we ready?” the magistrate asked. I looked over at Hailey, and she nodded her headlightly. “Yes. We’re ready,” I said. “I’ve been told the couple has their own wedding vows planned.” “Yes,” I said as I drew in a deep breath, “and I’ll go first.” Hailey’s eyes were trained wholly on mine as I took both of her hands and wrapped them in my own. “From the moment I saw that purple hair of yours in that bar, I knew you were someone special. I didn’t know who you were, and I didn’t know why you were there, but the mere fact that you were among strangers and paying homage to someone who was so near and dear to me, it told me everything I needed to know about you.” Tears rose in Hailey’s eyes while I tried my best to continue. “Your artistic journey parallels your own life journey, the struggles you faced and the death you were exposed to, the seedy underbelly of this world you were thrust into by someone you wanted to help and the past you were running from. We walked through the mire before we even knew one another, and when the time came for us to join forces, I was the one who walked away.” Now, tears were rising in my eyes, and I wasn’t sure how to stop them. “I promise you, Hailey Ryan, I will spend the rest of my life showing you exactly what it means to stand by your side. I promise you I will work endlessly to prove to you I will never walk away from you again. No matter what befalls you and no matter where our paths take us, there will never be a moment where I won’t reach out for your hand. Even when you hate me and even when I can’t stand you, there will never be a moment where I don’t reach for you.” A tear made its way down my cheek as Anna sniffled behind Hailey’s body. “And I can promise you, my beautiful bride, that I will spend every last breath my body has making sure you understand you are not just my bride. You are not just the love of my life, but you are the foundation and

the cement that holds me together. You fixed me, Hailey Ryan, and I will spend the rest of my days thanking you for that.” Hailey brushed a tear away from her eyes before I slid her mother’s wedding band onto her finger. Then, the magistrate turned his head. “Miss Hailey?” he asked. “Bryan, from the moment I saw you in that bar, the image of you had been forever cemented into my memory. The love you showed on that stage with the darkness of the bar surrounding you was more powerful than any image I could’ve ever conjured on my own. Then, when you knocked on the door of that rickety shack I now call my gallery, I almost sucked my own tongue down my throat.” A small chuckle ricocheted through the room before Hailey continued. “We made mistakes, so many mistakes with one another. But the true testament is the fact that we’re standing here right now with one another. We learned how to forgive, and we’re learning how to communicate. We’re learning to lean on one another and trust one another in ways I don’t think either of us is used to. We’re traveling this new road with a revived sense of vigor and life, and there’s no one else I’d rather travel it with.” She squeezed my hands tightly before she took a step toward me, my own wedding band held between her delicate fingers. “Here is my promise to you,” she said as she slid it onto my finger. “I will never give up on you, I will never toss you away, and I will never allow anything to become any more important than our relationship with one another. I will never betray you, hide from you, or cower away from you ever again. From now until the end of time, you are my partner, my best friend, my soul mate, and together, we will conquer the world.” She slid the ring on my finger and looked up into my eyes, and I saw my entire future. I saw the gray hair that would line my temples while I smoothed my hand over her bald skin. I saw the artwork that would hang on the walls of houses all over the world. I saw the foundation I would work for and the people whose hands I would take to pull them out from the darkness and into the light Hailey and I owned. I saw the children we would have and the vacations we would take, the fights we would have and the nights I would tell her how sorry I was between the folds of her legs. I saw myself kissing every single wrinkle and licking every single stretch mark her body would acquire over the years. And then I saw myself holding her hand while I passed. Just a few seconds before her, so I would never have to live another moment of my life without her in it. “By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you man and wife. Bryan, you may kiss the strongest bride I’ve ever known to live.” I gathered her up in my arms and crashed my lips on hers. Our tongues found one another’s in a dance of passion and fire, and immediately, my hands rounded the swell of her ass. Her arms linked behind my neck, her bouquet falling to the ground, and she jumped and wrapped her legs around me. I sunk to my knees, holding her body as close as I could get it, and it wasn’t until Drew cleared his throat that I realized where we still were. We pulled away and looked around the room, clocking all the blushing faces before Hailey giggled into the crook of my neck. “Now that’s what I call a kiss,” the magistrate said. I picked Hailey up and sat her back down on her feet while everyone clapped their hands for us. Hailey and I took the time to sign the marriage license, and then we handed it off to the magistrate before we left. Hailey’s parents had a limo waiting outside to take all of us to the restaurant my parents had booked for us. My stomach was growling. I had been so nervous all day that I hadn’t bothered to eat, and Hailey shot me a curious look before she started giggling. I still couldn’t believe I’d get to listen to that sound for the rest of my life. “Hungry?” she asked. “Don’t worry. So am I.” “I still can’t believe your parents got us into 1500 Ocean,” Drew said. “It’s practically impossible to get a reservation there unless you know someone who knows someone.” “What’s 1500 Ocean?” Anna asked. “An absolutely decadent place to eat, that’s what it is,” Drew said. “I’m honestly surprised you know it,” I said, grinning. “Hey, man, just because I surf and do tattoos doesn’t mean I don’t know food,” Drew said. “Oh, so you’re in the tattoo business?” Hailey’s mother asked. “Drew actually built my construction company with me before he branched off this past year,” I said. “He was my business partner for almost nine years.” “Why the switch?” Hailey’s father asked.

“I didn’t see myself doing construction for the rest of my life,” Drew said. “So, I liquidated the assets I had in the business and used it to open my own parlor.” “He’s really good,” Anna said. “He did all of Bryan’s tattoos.” “He’s the one who did your tattoos?” her mother asked. “He is,” I said, smiling. “Then you’re very talented, Drew. Congratulations,” her mother said. Anna was beaming with pride while she gripped Drew’s hand tightly. I saw Hailey’s gaze turn up toward me while the limo wound us across town, and I knew exactly what she was thinking. She was wondering if I’d taken Ellen up on her job offer since everyone was talking about Drew’s new path in life. But all I did was look down at her and wink. There would be plenty enough time to discuss the fact that I was going to take that job. Right now, all I wanted to do was bask in the beauty of my wife, who happened to also be the strongest woman I’d come to know. “I love you,” I said as I bent down and kissed Hailey. “I love you, too,” she said “Welcome to this highly dysfunctional family,” Anna said. “Drew, you’re next,” I said, winking. “Oh, and the pressure’s on!” Hailey’s father exclaimed. “Just to let you two know, if you hurt my daughters, I know how to surgically remove your main arteries.” Hailey and Anna threw their heads back and laughed while Drew’s face paled a few shades. “He’s only kidding,” their mother said, “but if he were telling the truth, I’d also know how to keep him out of jail.” I looked down at Hailey, whose head was thrown back in laughter, and I simply reveled in the sight while she tucked her body closely into mine. This woman who I thought was dying not two months ago was now strong, vibrant, and full of so much life. She nestled against the

side of my body while the rest of the family continued talking around

us, but we had already slipped into our own little world.

Yep. This was where I wanted to be for the rest of my life.

One Year Later T he wind grazed by the skin of my head while the beauty of the

Mediterranean Sea swam by us. The boat pierced the crystal waters, parting its shards while the waves yielded to our presence. The cultures were soaked in the salty wetness of the oceans they sat on while we cruised around, experiencing people I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams I could ever touch with my art. Bryan and I spent countless nights making love to one another underneath the stars of a different country sky, listening to the sounds of foreign lands waft over us while we panted each other’s names up to the sky. I painted in the windows by day while looking out over the people of the countries we were visiting, and at night, I was holding galleries Ramon had set up and attending functions where my work was being auctioned off at alarming rates. After wrapping up in Italy, we were now all seated around a table outside on Ramon’s massive boat. We munched on decadent fruits and savory shrimp while he talked to us about where we were headed next, and all I could do was soak up the moments with Bryan at my side. This eight-month tour was more than I ever could’ve expected, and every country we docked at welcomed me with open arms. The people of Spain embraced me wherever I went, and the people of France wouldn’t stop taking pictures. The people of Italy wanted to feed me until Iburst, and the people of Egypt wanted to bless the life that was growing inside me while they begged me for autographs.

The European tour Ramon had scheduled for us was more than I could’ve ever imagined, and it would put us getting home with just enough time for me to rest and relax. After all, I’d be due four weeks after we landed back in the States. “Italy absolutely adored you,” Ramon said. “Are you ready for the numbers?” “Ramon, I already told you. I don’t want any of the numbers until this is done. Right now, I want to paint, travel, and rest.” Bryan’s hand migrated to my protruding stomach in time to feel our little girl kick. The smile that crossed his face was one I would always commit to memory, no matter how much those kicks hurt. She was a powerful one, that was for sure. But every time I winced with her kicks, Bryan would place his lips upon my stomach like he was doing right now and chant the words I’d come to know by heart. “You get your strength from your mother,” he whispered into my skin. “Another kick?” Ramon asked, grinning. “If my bladder comes shooting out between my legs, I hope you know a good doctor,” I said. “I’ve got a doctor in every area we are stopping in. It’s why I called Ramon for the itinerary a couple weeks before we left,” Bryan said. “Yeah, but you could’ve saved impregnating me for later,” I said, groaning. “Did you not like making love in Barcelona?” Ramon asked. Bryan shot him a look, and all I could do was shake my head. We figured out I was pregnant right as we were leaving Italy. We spent two months in Spain, traveling all over the country before ending up in Barcelona for a month. From there, we took Ramon’s massive boat over to the Italian coast, but not before Bryan and I rejoiced over the fact that I was pregnant. It didn’t take long for Ramon to put the pieces together just so he could embarrass the shit out of us both.

“I’ve seen the canvas painting. The two of you are filled with passion. Spain only magnetizes the passion already there. It’s a beautiful place to conceive a child. I am very happy for the two of you and honored to watch this wonderful transformative process happen in one of the greatest artists of our time,” Ramon said. “Ever the flatterer,” I said, sighing. “He’s got a point,” Bryan said. “You do look stunning pregnant.” “I might look stunning, but I feel like a beached whale,” I said. “Then I suppose cruising through the Mediterranean Sea doesn’t help,” Ramon said, grinning. All I could do was throw my head back and laugh before I reached for the tantalizing juice that had been freshly squeezed for me. If there was one thing I enjoyed about this entire trip, it was all the food I could eat. I’d come to appreciate the simple idea of eating food after not being able to keep down much of anything during my battle with cancer. Spicy foods were a hit in the beginning, but as my body was morphing, so were my tastes. Now, all I wanted to do was suck down shrimp, drink juice, and munch on pineapple. “Do you need anything?” Bryan asked. “Yes. I need to know where we’re headed next. Will I have some time to paint? I didn’t have any of that kind of time in Italy, unfortunately,” I said. “All the more reason to come back and visit,” Ramon said. “Already planning another art tour?” I asked. “Wait until you finally let me tell you the numbers,” he said. “You’ll be ready for another one, too. And to answer your question, we’re headed to Greece. We’re docking a couple days early, so you can spend the entire time painting. I won’t book up your time.” “Thank you. I appreciate it,” I said. “So, Bryan. How is your work at the foundation going?” Ramon

asked.

“It’s going well. I’m taking a few weeks off completely to enjoy some of this time with Hailey, but even when I’m working, we’re still in the stages of making connections and garnering project plans.” “Which is perfect work for traveling around the world,” Ramon said. “Exactly. Ellen was very supportive of me coming on this trip with Hailey from beginning to end.” “Now, what happens to your construction business?” Ramon asked. “Yes, my business. Well, for right now we’re partnering with the foundation. I promoted one of my foremen to oversee things while I wasn’t there, and I think he’s going to do a wonderful job.” “Foreman Duke?” I asked. “Foreman Duke,” he said, grinning. “I take it this Duke is a good man?” Ramon asked. “The best,” Bryan and I said together. “Well, that is wonderful. I shall send up congratulations on behalf of his promotion. But, on to other topics. The two of you know it’s a beautiful baby girl, yes? Any names yet?” Ramon asked. “We’re bouncing around a few, but we haven’t landed on one yet,” I said. “Will there be any more children in the future?” he asked. “Can we get me through this hellhole first before planning my next one?” I asked. Bryan chuckled and kissed the side of my face while Ramon simply reclined back and grinned. “The two of you are an inspiration. Us commoners can only wish to aspire to be what you two are,” Ramon said. “Well, how are things with Jennifer?” I asked. “The two of you are still together, right?” “Oh, I c

ould never give up a spicy woman like her,” he said. “She breathes new life into me whenever I see her. Strong. Independent. Knows what she wants. A hell of a fighter and such a beautiful pair of legs.” “All right, all right. I take it things are going well,” Bryan said, chuckling. “Very well,” Ramon said, “and I have Hailey to thank for introducing us.” “Don’t thank me. She’s the one who asked to be introduced to you that night.” “And suddenly, it all makes sense,” Ramon said, smiling. “That sounds more like my Jennifer.” “Bryan?” I asked. “Yes?” “Do you ever wonder if we’ll make the same mistakes our parents did with us?” “And I believe that’s my cue,” Ramon said. “We’re still about six hours from the coast of Greece. Enjoy your time, and there’s a room below deck if the two of you get tired.” “Thanks, Ramon,” Bryan said. “For everything.” “Only the best for the best,” he said. “Now,” Bryan said as he turned to me, “what’s rattling around in that head of yours.” “I’m just scared, I guess. People always say we turn into our parents eventually. What if we make some of the same mistakes?” I asked. “Well, then let’s talk about how we can avoid those mistakes,” he said. “First off, if our child wants to indulge in art, then let them. It’s a wonderful creative outlet.” “But if she likes music, we should let her do music,” I said. “However she wants to release herself creatively, we’ll simply step back and smile.” “And no pressuring her to take a certain path. I don’t want to pressure her to be an artist any more than I want you to pressure her to get involved with the homeless community.”

“It is a good cause,” he said. “But it’s a cause you found on your own. She deserves that same respect,” I said. “Fair enough. But I would like to start family traditions where we go down to the homeless shelters and help out during the holidays. Or maybe one weekend a month or something. Being in the community outreach profession, I wished my parents would’ve done something like that with me instead of only donating money while we stayed home with the nanny.” “That’s fine. I actually like that,” I said, smiling. “Well, on the other side. What if she likes something we know absolutely nothing about?” he asked. “Like accounting or something like that?” “Yeah.” “Then we’ll just buy her the best calculators and bookkeeping study materials on the market,” I said, smiling. “How do you want to help her reach her full potential, though?” Bryan asked. “I mean, in their own twisted way, that’s what our parents tried to do. And epically failed at it.” “I think it starts by convincing her she can do anything. We tell her she’s smart and intelligent, and that she can truly be whatever she wants to be. We teach her that doing something to the best of her ability is what draws people in, not a specific profession but a passion,” I said. “See?” he asked. “And you were worried we’d make our parents’ mistakes.” “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.” I allowed my hand to rest on my stomach while Bryan slipped his arm around me. He pulled me close to him on the bench. The wind whipped through our hair, and we sat and watched the ocean pass us by, an expanse of water jutting out in every direction that boasted of life and vegetation beyond our wildest dreams.

And we were sailing through it, like visitors exploring a newfound land. “What if the doctors are wrong?” Bryan asked. “Huh?” “About the gender of the baby. It happens, you know. They’re telling us it’s a girl, but I know you want to keep the nursery neutrallycolored because you’re scared of the same thing,” he said. “Like you said, it does happen.” “But we aren’t tossing around baby boy names,” he said. “Because we don’t have to,” I said. “Why not?” I turned my head to look at the most beautiful man I’d ever known. His eyes were curious, and his grip was tight. Our child was kicking the ever-loving shit out of my bladder while I swam in his intense gaze, and all I could do was raise myself up and plant a loving kiss on his lips. “Because if it’s a boy, we’re naming him John,” I said. It was a no-brainer. We had a ton of different girl’s names we were tossing around, but if it was a boy, I wanted to name him after the man who’d brought us together, the man I’d saved from the corner who’d ultimately saved my life and had wanted to make his brother proud by following his own passions and dreams—just like Bryan had done with his life. I wanted to name him after the man who’d spent the last sober months of his life doing nothing but bringing beauty into a world that had constantly tried to swallow him whole. That was the kind of strength and legacy I wanted to imbue our child with, and naming a baby boy after someone who modeled that exact aspect was a wonderful place to start, in my opinion. I sat back down in my seat, but then, my entire body was resting on the bench. Bryan’s lips were peppering my neck with kisses while his hand slid up the inside of my legs, and I could feel his fingertips sliding my panties to the side while my breaths came in short pants. “I love you so much, Hailey McBride.”

His fingertips grazed my sensitive bud, and immediately, I captured his lips with mine while my legs parted to accommodate his body. “And I love you, Bryan McBride. Heart and body. All of me is