Wheels of Fire

By the time the last week of filming for Ocean Ave starts, it’s time to set new plans in motion. The show’s been picked up for another season, so I only have a few months to work with. It hasn’t escaped my notice that Mallory’s turned down all offers to work over her summer break.

Maybe she knows what I have planned.

Mallory

“Bye.” Madeline hugs me in front of my car. “I’m going to miss you! We have to get together and have lunch or something, okay?”

“Sure. You have my number.”

“I’m filming up in Canada, but I’ll definitely call you when I get back.”

She hugs me again before taking off. I’d been offered a small part in the made-for-television woman-in-peril movie Madeline was starring in but turned it down. I can’t shake the feeling that I somehow abandoned Chaser when he needed me by starting filming so soon after Jacob’s death. He’s never hinted that he feels the same.

It seems like Madeline stars in one of these low-budget films every couple of months, so I’m sure I’ll have another opportunity. If not, that’s okay too.

Some things are just more important.

Chaser’s bike is in the driveway. A grin the size of California stretches across my lips. I shove the car door open and jump out.

He steps outside to meet me, grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s that look on your face?” I call out, running up the sidewalk so fast, my feet barely touch the concrete.

Without answering, he sweeps me into his arms, smashing his lips against mine. “Missed you today,” he murmurs. “How’d it go?”

“Great.” I open my mouth and fake a wide-eyed, shocked expression. “We left it on a cliffhanger. Will they or won’t they leave sunny San Diego and move back to Nebraska?” I gasp and pretend to bite my nails.

Chaser’s rumbling laughter warms me all over.

“I kind of feel bad for our fake dad,” I continue. “He has this great job opportunity back home and all my ‘brother’ and I did was nag him about staying in L.A. to work on our tan lines.” I scrunch my nose. “It was shameful.”

“Can’t wait to see it.”

He’s vibrating with an electric energy I haven’t seen in months. Once we’re inside the house, he can’t contain himself any longer. “Pack your bags.”

“Why? Where are we going?”

“You’re done filming, right? Today was the last day?” Concern creeps into his questions.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He picks up an envelope off the entryway table and hands it to me.

Slowly, unsure of what’s happening here, I pull open the envelop and slide two tickets out. My heart pitter-patters. “Kapalua?”

“White sand beaches, sparkling blue water, exceedingly private.” He hands me a brochure featuring stunning photos of everything he described. “Will you run away with me? Vow to love, honor, and fuck me until the day I die?”

“Yes!” I give his rock-hard shoulder a little shove and the corners of his mouth twitch.

“I’m sorry to spring it on you, but I couldn’t wait. We can pick up a bathing suit and whatever you need when we get there.”

It’s time for my own sly smile. Disengaging from our embrace, I hurry into the bedroom. Quickly, because Chaser’s bound to follow me in here, I pull out the pink satin pouch tucked at the back of my top dresser drawer and peek inside. The fanciest swimwear I’ve ever seen, let alone owned is neatly folded inside. I’ve been saving it in anticipation of our beach wedding. Hopefully, I’ll be able to figure out how to get myself into it without Chaser’s assistance.

“Ready?” Chaser asks from outside the doorway.

I jump and shove the pink pouch into my suitcase.

Curiosity piqued, he strolls into the bedroom. “Whatcha hiding?”

“Nothing.”

I stop him with a hand against his chest as he reaches for my suitcase. “It’s rude to go through your wife’s clothes, Chaser. Let there be some mystery.”

A smirk flirts with the corners of his mouth. How I’ve missed his playful, teasing expressions. He curls one hand over my hip and tugs me closer. “No mystery. No secrets between us.”

“I want you to be surprised. When I walk down the aisle, I want your jaw to drop so hard, you’ll have a mouthful of sand.”

He chuckles. “Doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. I’m always in awe of you.” He tilts his head. “Wait, you already have your wedding…whatever?”

“Yup. I’ve been ready whenever you were.”

His expression softens. “I’m sorry it’s taken so long.”

I loop my arms around his neck and reach up to kiss him. “This is better. We have the whole summer together. How long are we staying in Hawaii?”

He shrugs. “We have the resort for the week. We can go island hopping. Whatever you want.”

When we arrive, we’re whisked into a car and driven about an hour from the airport. “Everything’s so beautiful.”

“We’re not doing the spend the night before our wedding apart thing, are we?” he asks.

“Seems kind of pointless.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You can’t see me before the wedding, though. You’ll have to get dressed somewhere else.”

His lips twitch. “Fair enough.”

“You’re sure…” I glance at our driver who doesn’t seem to be paying any attention to us. “No one will find out?”

“I was assured absolute discretion. They’re not even going to be fully staffed to minimize the risk. But they do this sort of thing for celebrities all the time they told me and never had an issue.”

“Chaser, it must have cost a fortune.”

“Nothing’s too good for my girl.”

The tang of sea-salt greets us at the resort. We’re shown to our room. Soft, white curtains billowing in the breeze frame a picturesque ocean view.

“I love this.”

“I thought you might.” He nods to our suitcases. “You want to unpack? Day after tomorrow’s the big day.” He slaps his hand over his eyes. “I promise I won’t peek.”

“It’s bad luck, so you better not.”

The playful expression vanishes. “We’ve had enough of that.”

Chapter Sixty-Five

Chaser

The morning of our wedding, I slip out of bed early to check on everything. Lush flowers decorate the bannister of the staircase. Mallory said she wanted pink and purple flowers and that’s what they are.

“Perfect,” I mutter.

“Are you trying to escape?” Alvin greets me downstairs.

“Fuck, when did you get in?” I give him a quick hug. “I was worried you weren’t going to make it.”

“Just now.” He cocks his head toward the door. “Audrey and Doug just got here too.”

“Great. Mallory will be so excited.” I slap his chest. “Come check the wedding site out with me?”

The officiant with the hotel is a kind man with a genuine smile. He shakes my hand and gives me a few encouraging words as I inspect the area.

“Do you have a ring?” Alvin asks.

I pat my pocket. “Yup.”

“You want me to hang onto it?”

“Nope.”

“If you’re keeping this a secret, aren’t people going to notice a wedding ring?”

“Nah.” I pull out the small blue velvet box and show him the slim diamond band. “It should fit right under her engagement ring. I’ll buy her a matching one to stack on top when we do the big, public thing.”

Since we’ve spent so much time together over the last few months, Alvin knows all the details about Mallory’s father and why this secret wedding is so important to us. Mallory and I trust him not to share that knowledge with anyon

e.

A path down to the beach has been marked off by large green palm fronds, seashells, and pink flowers. No chairs. The ceremony won’t be long and the guest list is short.

On the way back, we run into Doug and Audrey.

“Thank you for coming.” I hold out my hand to Doug and give Audrey a quick embrace.

“Where’s the bride?” she asks.

“Still sleeping.” I nod to the beach. “I wanted to check on all the stuff I asked for.”

“You planned this?” Audrey searches my face. “By yourself?”

“I didn’t plan much. I paid them a lot of money and told them what we wanted.” I shrug. Thank you, Mitchell Howard, for asking me to play on three more songs for your new album. Even if he never uses them, at least the checks cleared.

“Mallory finished filming, so I whisked her away.”

“Wow, Chaser. I never would’ve pegged you as such a romantic when we first met.”

I shrug again, uncomfortable with the turn our conversation’s taken. “Had no reason to be before Mallory.”

Mallory

Waking up alone isn’t how I thought I’d start my wedding day.

There’s a note on the pillow next to me.

Beautiful Bride,

“No bad luck today. Everything will be sent to your room. I’ll meet you at the altar.

Love,

The Groom

“Chaser,” I whisper.

First, breakfast is brought to my room.

While I’m finishing that, someone knocks and opens the door. “Hey, Bride!”

I blink and almost explode with happiness when Audrey walks in. “Oh my God! What are you doing here?”

“We happened to be at the resort next door.” She squeezes me tight. “What do you think? We’re here for your wedding!”

“Thank you.” Tears sting my eyes. “When did you get here?”

“This morning. Don’t worry. We’re not crashing your private honeymoon. Doug’s taking me to Lanai tomorrow to look at a property he’s thinking of buying.”