My dad holds his hands out and looks down at the floor. “I'm just saying. He was a stud all those years ago, but now, well, she might have to peel them off him instead.”
“Dad,” I say, drawing out my words with a giggle.
Knock knock.
The door pops open a little, and the wedding planner pokes her head in. “They're ready for you,” she says with a grin. Stepping inside, she picks up my bouquet and hands it to me.
The pink roses are all bundled up in the center, with a silver ribbon holding them together. A row of white orchids drapes down the front and covers my hand. She adjusts my train, fixing it to make sure it's fanned out properly.
My dress is fit tightly around the bust, with crystals running across the trim, and a glittering belt around my waist. The bottom bells out, and the crystals create sweeping designs across the back and down the train.
“You look beautiful, Perri,” my father says, bending his arm for me to take it.
Slipping my arm in his, I smile brightly. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Kent's a lucky man. I'm really happy you chose him. I know it took me some time to adjust, but in the end, I know he's going to treat you like the princess you are.”
“Dad—” I start to say, but he cuts me off.
“Let me finish.” I nod for him to keep going, and his mouth turns up into a soft smile as his eyes well up. “I wasn't the father you deserved, and I'm sorry for that. I promise to do better, I'm going to support you, and whatever you decide to do with your life. I'm proud of you, Perri, I haven't told you that enough.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Kissing his cheek he wipes his eyes.
“All right, enough of this mushy stuff, let’s go give you away.”
We head to the door, and I can hear the music lower as it changes. The violins start to play, the music is floating through the air, and following the wind. My father follows the wedding the planner, and she takes a step to the side as we reach the aisle.
I can see the back rows of people as they stand and turn my way. Looking down the aisle, every face around me goes blurry, as my eyes meet Kent's.
I suck in a salty breath of air. He looks so handsome.
He's standing at the alter on the beach, dressed in a white tux, with a black button up and white tie. Barefoot in the sand, his gaze is set on me, and his smile erupts, making me warm from head to toe.
My father leads me down the aisle, and as he releases me from his arm, he takes Kent's hand and shakes it firmly as he leans in and gives him a hug. My father whispers something into his ear, and gives his shoulder a hearty squeeze. Kent smiles, tipping his head to show his respect before turning his attention to me.
Taking my hand, I step to his side as he looks me up and down. “Wow,” he says, a single tear trickling down his cheek as his smile widens. “You look amazing.”
“So do you.” I smile back and the tears are already streaming down my face.
The pastor begins the ceremony, but I can't take my eyes off of Kent. He's perfect. There's no person I would rather spend the rest of my life with than him.
We say our I do's, and the pastor says, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Kent instantly wraps his arm around my waist, dipping me low, and kissing me with more passion than I've ever felt in his lips before.
I wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him back.
The beach explodes with cheers and applause as everyone stands in celebration.
It's a perfect day. A perfect wedding. A perfect life.
I finally have my happily ever after.
Epilogue
Perri
One Year Later
I groan as my alarm clock blares by my side, and reach out my hand to swat it off. I strike through air several times before I groan and sit up. My eyes adjust to the bright sun and I find my alarm, silencing it before it can scream at me again. No matter how early I go to sleep these days, it’s never enough. This last month of pregnancy is kicking my ass. Just as my mood is about to turn sour, I hear the stairs outside my bedroom door creak, and I know Kent is on his way up with coffee. My hero.
“Rise and shine, Mama,” he calls out right before he appears in the doorway. Oh, he is a better alarm clock than anything. “How’d you sleep?”
He sits on our bed beside me and hands me the steaming mug. I take a greedy gulp before I can answer him. “I slept nine hours and I’m still tired. How is that even possible?” I complain, dropping my head on his shoulder. I take a few deep breaths, feel his steady body beside me, and stare out at the ocean. Slowly, slowly everything starts to feel better..
We moved into this house a few months after I found out I was pregnant. The baby wasn’t a surprise. Kent said he’d never considered being a father until he met me, and once the idea took root in his head, it’s all he could think about. By the way he talks about it now, it seems like he wants a big brood. So we started trying soon after the wedding and after a couple of months, I got two pink lines on a home test. The night I told him was one of the happiest of my life. I put a little bowtie on Blaze that said Big Brother. When he walked (well, more like dragged) himself into the living room when Kent got home, it was time for his surprise. Kent scooped him into his arms to nuzzle him hello. It took him just a second to notice the bow tie, but once he understood, his face transformed. He’s always doing romantic and surprising things for me. That was my turn to do something for him, and I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect moment. Ever since that day he’s been treating me like I’m a queen.
The house, well that was a surprise. I had decorated a few of my father’s properties, as a consultant, not as his employee, when he came to me with a special project. This house. Right on the beach, in a less touristy neighborhood that’s streets are lined with sweet boutiques and a farmer’s market. There’s even a school down the block. I couldn’t really understand why my father thought this would be a good vacation rental, but he usually has good instincts. And ever since my single stint managing properties for him, he keeps his business to himself, and lets me manage my own design business. He gave me instructions to decorate it however I thought was best. Spare no expense, he told me. The house was already beautiful, and in two months I’d furnished it, and it was perfect. The day the final pieces were delivered and placed, Kent and my dad met me at the house. Apparently they’d been up to their old scheming again, but this time I didn’t mind.
“It looks beautiful, Perri. Great job,” my dad said, walking around the living room, looking over the freshly painted cabinetry and carefully chosen throw rugs.
“I don’t know, Bryce,” Kent said. “This picture here, it just doesn’t look right.”
My dad and I joined Kent at the front door. I was really surprised. I’d never heard Kent criticize my taste before. He was pointing to a perfectly pretty picture of hydrangeas.
“I think you’re right, Kent,” my dad said, although he could barely keep a straight face.
When I looked back at Kent he had something in his hands, wrapped in brown paper. He handed it to me and I opened it. Inside was a framed picture from our wedding day. I looked up at Kent confused, and he was taking down the hydrangeas picture. “Go on,” he said to me. “Hang it up. I know you’re the one with the eye for design, but I think a couple needs at least one picture of themselves in their home.”
Their home?
Kent bought me a house. He bought us a house, and he and my dad made an elaborate plan to surprise me. And I was shocked. And elated. Even though I’d picked out every single piec
e of furniture in the house, I spent hours there that day, looking over every detail again and standing at the back deck, looking out over the view of the ocean. I couldn’t believe it was ours! And of course I went to one of the bedrooms and started planning the nursery for our little girl.
Today the nursery is complete, and in just a few weeks we’ll have the finishing touch on this perfect picture. But she can’t get here soon enough. I let out a groan as I feel her kicking me in my ribs. Kent laughs at my side, so I poke him in the ribs and then throw myself down into the bed again and shut my eyes. He takes my mug from me, right before I spill coffee everywhere, and puts my foot in his lap and starts rubbing.
“Have I told you lately that pregnancy looks beautiful on you?” he asks. I don’t answer because I’m lost in the bliss of what his fingers are doing to my foot. This man knows my body from head to toe.
“It never hurts to hear it again,” I say, opening one eye, catching him looking at me with lust in his eyes. It’s impossible to me that he still finds me sexy. When I’m not out of the house, I practically live in this roomy white linen nightgown. I feel like I’m as big as a whale, and my breasts are so huge it’s almost comical. Yet Kent’s desire for me hasn’t changed. If anything it’s just grown stronger.
He rubs his thumb up and down the arch of my foot, and it feels so good. “Mmmm,” I exhale. I feel Kent’s dick stir under my foot, so I make the noise again. “Mmmm, Kent, that feels so good.” I know what I’m doing, and I can see it’s having the desired effect. Kent’s lips are parted as he watches me, his tongue darts out and licks his upper lip, and his hand is now rubbing my ankle.
“You deserve it, Perri,” he says, a huskiness in his voice now. “And you know it’s hard for me to keep my hands off you.”
His hands are moving higher now, massaging my calves, finding knots there I didn’t even know I had. His fingers tickle over my kneecaps, and then he lays both hands flat on my thighs, rubbing hard, long strokes over my tired muscles, waking up every nerve along the way. He lies down beside me, propping himself up on his elbow, and keeps rubbing me with one hand. He reaches down and grabs the hem of my nightgown and lifts it up until my slit is exposed.