I pull up to the Dixon’s house to find Kelly and Mitch waiting on the front porch. This isn’t surprising, considering Kelly has called twice today to make sure our plans haven’t changed. My phone rings, and the display reads Dr. Andrews’s personal cell. I hit ignore and shoot him a quick text that I’ll call him in a while.
When I get to Kelly, she launches herself in my arms, hugging me warmly and cupping my chin with a twinkle in her eyes. Mitch isn’t quite as affectionate but holds my handshake a little longer than necessary.
“We’re glad you’re here.” Kelly slides her arms through mine and ushers me into the house. “Cocktails and dinner are on the back patio tonight. I’m afraid my dining room is a bit of a mess.”
We pass through the dining room, and it’s exactly as Claire described it—a chaotic mass of wedding paraphernalia. Magazines, binders, silk flower arrangements, and swatches of fabric clutter the surface.
“I’m not sure why this is such a formal affair. We usually sit at the kitchen table anyway,” Mitch grumbles.
“It’s not formal, it’s classy, and you know exactly why it is,” she shoots back, dropping her arm from mine.
I press my lips together to keep from grinning when I see the patio set up. Mitch is right; it is formal compared to our usual dinners.
“Mathis, beer?” Mitch offers.
“Yeah, great.”
I take in the large backyard, noticing it’s been freshly mowed and all flower beds are bright and colorful. Beyond the pool and outdoor kitchen is another large span of grass leading to the intercoastal with a dock and boat lift. It’s a beautiful property with an incredible view. I’ve always admired it.
“You know, this backyard holds a lot of dear memories. I always wondered if we’d add Claire’s wedding reception as one of those memories,” Kelly tells me softly.
“Sorry to squash that thought, but I promise we’ll add celebrations over the years,” I assure her.
“Can we get this show on the road? Kelly hasn’t slept since she got your call two days ago and asked her to keep this dinner private.” Mitch passes me my beer and jerks his head to the table.
I follow him, wait until they’re seated, and reach inside my jacket to pull out the large manila envelope folded in the pocket. “Before I hand this over, promise me you can keep this quiet for a few more days.”
“Of course!” she says a little too eagerly, reaching for the envelope with such excitement, I’m not sure she clearly understands.
“Kelly?”
She raises her eyes to mine.
“Only two people in the world know what’s in here. Me and the personal wedding planner that will be the main point of contact.”
“Claire doesn’t know?”
“Not yet.”
“When do you plan to discuss it with her?” Mitch asks.
“This weekend. She works tonight and tomorrow night. We both have Sunday off.”
Understanding dawns on him and relief fills his face. The night he came to dinner and insisted we go out for drinks, he was not happy and made this known. He is a traditionalist and wanted assurances our living together was the first of many steps. “Certainly took you long enough,” he rumbles.
“I agree, but there was a holdup.” I don’t elaborate that I had the diamond reset three times before it was perfect.
“Can you please put me out of my misery and hand over that damn envelope?” She’s losing patience.
I hand it over, and she rips the papers out, shrieking. “Oh my God, the Bellagio?” Her eyes sweep rapidly over the page.
“Terrazza Di Sogno… full dinner reception… bridal day spa services…” She pauses and gasps, “July twenty-seventh!”
“July twenty-seventh,” I confirm.
“But that’s so soon! How can I possibly plan a wedding in less than nine weeks?”
“Easily.”
“You can’t know that. There is too much to do! Claire is going to stress out!”
I sit up, locking eyes with Kelly, my mood shifting. “No, Kelly, she’s not going to stress because I’m not going to let it happen. Rachel, the wedding planner, is at your beck and call. She’s been given strict instructions to contact me if there is even a hint of stress on Claire. Bizzy flipped out in her planning, and Grace planned a huge event in another state that almost drove her insane. That’s not happening with Claire.”
“You have no idea how this goes. You’re a man.” She huffs, completely flustered.
“Here’s what I know: You and my mom both have your dresses already. Bizzy is working on bridesmaids’ dresses. Brayden and Brinley have their outfits. My dad, brothers, and myself all own tuxes. The invitations are chosen, waiting on the location, date, and time. You have that now. Claire and I have decided on an intimate guest list that equals about fifty people, so invitations shouldn’t be a problem. We can work on the local celebration details after all the wedding plans are done. When you and Claire decide on flowers and colors, you call Rachel, email her your wishes, and she will have it ready. No questions. There’s a block of rooms already saved for RSVPs. I’ve arranged for Claire and me to fly into Vegas a few days early, and we will sit down with the executive chef to plan our menu. The cake as well. Rachel will be working with me on the band and music choices.”
“What about the extras? Your registry, the showers, the parties? We can’t fit all that in.”
“You have four women, five if you include Sharon Monroe, to help plan these things. I’ll talk to Claire about the registry, even though I don’t think we need much.”
“Her China! Her silver! What about her crystal?”
“For shit’s sake, Kelly. Give it a rest. You got this; we all know you got this. Hand me those.” Mitch snatches the packet out of her hand and scans it, flipping through the contract. “I don’t see costs anywhere on here.”
“I’ve got it covered.”
His face heats up, and he shakes his head at the same time Kelly inhales sharply. “No, Mathis, you don’t. This is my baby girl, and we’re paying for her wedding.”
“Not up for discussion.” I’ve been preparing for this argument since I made the decision to get married in Vegas.
“We have money. We are paying.”
“I know you have money, and I appreciate the offer. But this is all me. You want to pay for something, I suggest getting ready for the price tag on the dress Claire’s eying.”
“Dammit, Mathis—”
“No, Mitch, listen to me. I respect your—”
“We’ll pay for the local celebration in Miami.” Kelly cuts me off and places her hand on his. “It’s going to be a huge party, here at the house, and it’s going to be extravagant. Extensive guest list, catering, open bar, wait staff, dance floor, huge band—everything we’d do if you got married in Miami. We pay for that and get to give it to you both.”
“I can deal with that.” I agree. “But we’ll need to discuss security. Shaw’s going to insist on background checks on the staff you hire. There’s a chance, besides my brother, we’ll have some highly popular athletes attending.”
“Done,” Mitch barks, handing the packet back to Kelly. “For your information, I own a tux as well.”
“Good to know. Another item handled.” I sit back, taking a gulp of my beer. “We good?”
He glances sideways at her then back to me, his color back to normal. “Considering my daughter is getting a dream wedding and my wife gets to plan the party of the year, I guess we’re good.”
“I have to call Maria right away.” Kelly reaches for her phone, and thankfully, Mitch seizes it first.
“Don’t you understand the meaning of secret?”
Her face falls. “I can’t discuss with Maria?”
“No one until after he talks to Claire.”
“Shit, this is going to be torture.”
“I suggest you get organized because, when Monday comes around, you are going to have your hands full,” he reminds her.
“Yes, you’re right.” She sits straighter, focusing on me. “Big picture planning. I can do this.”
“I’m counting on it.”
She finally looks pleased and leaps out of her seat. “I’m going to refresh our drinks and finish dinner.”
I open my mouth to offer to help when my phone rings again and the screen displays Dr. Andrews again. “I’m sorry, I need to take this.” I walk to the other side of the patio. “Hello.”
“Mathis, I know you’re busy, but this couldn’t wait. There’s a mandatory staff meeting tomorrow morning.”
“On a Saturday? What’s happened?”
“More information will be available in the morning. In the last twelve hours, three cancer centers have reported a massive theft in drugs. DEA is involved.”
“Cancer drugs?”
“Class-A, narcotics, low-dose painkillers, multiple class opioids… the reports are coming in.”
“Fuck.” I squeeze the bridge of my nose.
“You have no idea. First estimates are that a million dollars worth of drugs are roaming the streets right now.”
“What does this have to do with our department?”
“DEA is investigating the cancer center connections. They don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“What about the staff?”
“Right now, no one is a suspect, but that doesn’t mean we can relax.”
“Why’s that?”
“This is about to blow up, and it’s going to rock the city. The story of theft has been leaked to the press. The theory is this is going to initiate some heavy heat on the drug community, which can cause escalations in the gangs.”
“What does that have to do with us? This kind of shit is everyday news.”
“Not three prominent cancer centers getting infiltrated in the same day.”
“Claire’s working tonight. Is she in danger?”
“Not that I know of. DEA is sending in people to poke around now.”
“If you even suspect trouble, I want to know.”
“That’s why we’re having a meeting tomorrow. There will be more information on how to proceed.”
“You’re not making me feel good here, Andrews,” I growl, anxiety spiking.
“I’m not feeling too good myself considering the stakes. Some fucked up nut job is stealing from cancer centers, and I have over one hundred people on my staff who work in Oncology and Hematology.”
“I’ll be there by six in the morning. Let me know if you need me before then.” I hang up and feel the heat on my back. When I turn, Mitch is close.
“What’s happened?”
I give him a brief explanation and watch his expression grow hard. “Is Claire in danger?”
“Unlikely. Code red with our hospital means uniformed officers are at every entrance and roaming each floor. With DEA onsite, the protection and manpower are heavier than ever.”
“Are you going to tell Claire?”
“Yes, the news is about to break, and the story will be public.”
He glances over his shoulder to the kitchen, where Kelly is at the oven. “Can you do me a favor? It’s a big night for Kelly. She’s been thrilled about this for days. Do you think we can get through dinner and pretend things are as they were before you got the call? I don’t want to ruin her excitement.”
“Absolutely, not a problem.” I don’t hesitate, knowing I’d feel the same way.
“Appreciate it. Now, I think you got where I was coming from earlier when I told you it had taken long enough.”
“Caught your meaning loud and clear.”
“Gotta say, I’m torn between envying you and pitying you.”
“Want to explain?”
“A part of me envies the journey you are about to embark on with Claire. She’s her mother’s daughter through and through. The best day of my life was the day I met her.”
“Where does the pity come in?”
“She’s her mother’s daughter through and through, which means you’ve got a lifetime of staying on your toes. Get ready.”
“That’s a challenge I accepted a long time ago.”
“I can’t speak to experience with having sons, considering Claire is my only child, but I suspect Shaw would agree with me. Having a daughter is a different kind of love. Even though Claire has been grown a long time, she will always be that little baby they placed in my arms. I promised to love, protect, and cherish her the best I could.”
“Now, you’re not alone.”
“I expect you to take care of her, give her the world.”
“Consider it done.”
He stares at me for a moment, silence in the air, but his eyes say it all. He is giving me his blessing.
An unexpected warmth sweeps through me. I hadn’t realized how much his approval meant until now.
I quietly strip out of my clothes, drop my pants at the end of the bed, and crawl in behind Claire, wrapping my arms around her. She stirs, turning partially into me and placing her hands on mine.
“Hey, sweetie,” she murmurs blearily. “I tried to wait for you to come home, but I fell asleep.”
“It’s over. The man who confessed to stealing the drugs is in DEA custody. The bad news is that drugs are gone. Last I heard, he’s not talking. However, the hospital is no longer under code three. The missing supplies are still in question.”
“Did the guy say why he did it?”
“Not sure of any details. Dr. Andrews will work with new protocols.”
She snuggles closer. “Glad it’s taken care of.”
“Claire?”
After last night and this morning, I made a decision. No more of this shit. I reach back, switching on a lamp. “Claire?” I repeat.
“Hmmm?” she hums.
I roll her to her back, shift my hips, and slide between her legs. She blinks a few times until her eyes are clear.
“Are you okay?”
“No.” I hunch back on my knees, lifting her with me and curling her body around mine. Like most of the time when she sleeps, she’s wearing one of my old shirts and nothing else. I pull it over her head, tossing it to the side.
Her body goes solid, and I lean in, brushing my mouth along her collarbone, her neck, and stopping when I feel her pulse against my lips. “I love you.”
Her heartbeat accelerates and she reaches to bring my face to hers, scraping her nails through my hair. “I love you, too.”
“You are the only woman I’ve ever loved. One look and I knew I was ruined. One night and I knew there would never be anyone else. I want to kick my own ass for all the time I wasted. Saying I love you will never properly explain how deep my obsession goes. You’ve given me much more than I deserve, and I’ll never take advantage of that.”
My hand skims up her back, stopping in the middle and pressing her until our chests are touching. “Last night, I went to see Mitch and Kelly.”
“Why?”
“I had this all planned out, but I’m done fucking around. It’s time I give you something.” I shift us slightly, reaching into my pants behind me, and then pull her hand from my head. Her breath hitches, and I watch as understanding washes over her face. She nibbles on her bottom lip, her eyes brightening. Slowly, I slide the ring onto her finger, holding her stare. “On July twenty-seventh, I’m going to give you the wedding of your dreams. The people we love most in this world are going to witness me finally doing something I should have done years ago. ”
“July twenty-seventh?” she barely whispers.
“Yes, your mom has strict instructions. I don’t have many stipulations, but I’ve made it clear that you get everything you want.”
“Everything I want,” she repeats.
“Without stress,” I add.
“I won’t stress.”
“Nurse Evie has a request sitting on her desk requesting three weeks off, starting July twenty-second.”
A small smile plays on her mouth. “Of course, she does.”
I dip my face, running my lips along hers. “I swear to God, I’m going to work every day to give you a lifetime of happiness.”
“That’s a huge responsibility, considering you already do.”
“You’re going to be my wife?” The statement comes out more like a question and she picks up on it.
“I didn’t realize it was a multiple choice question.”
“It’s not.”
“I’ll say yes anyway.”
That same warmth sweeps through me as when her father gave me his approval. Her tongue darts out, tracing my lips at the same time she wiggles her hips, rolling against my already hard cock, her wetness now coating my length.
“You haven’t looked at your ring.”
“I want something else right this second.”
“Gladly.” I grip her hips, aligning us, and sink in one thrust.
She gasps, her muscles clenching tight, and I throb inside her. “You are fucking perfect.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
She rocks leisurely, keeping her mouth on mine, torturing me with her slow movements. My hands glide down to her ass. Desire, craving, and need scorch through my veins. I fight for control, letting her set our rhythm until we’re moving in sync. Our sex life has always been explosive, each time memorable and off the charts. This morning is no exception. Making love to her, feeling every inch of her flesh wrapped around mine, and knowing she’s finally wearing the symbol of my promise takes on a whole new meaning. I surge forward, gently laying her back. Our lips remain touching, and in this position, I can see her eyes clearly. They’re bright blue, glowing with love, and I know in my soul this moment will burn inside me forever.
“Tell me you love me.”
“You are the only man I’ve ever loved. One look and I knew I was ruined. One night and I knew there would never be anyone else. I want to kick my own ass for all the time I wasted. Saying I love you will never properly explain how deep my obsession goes. You’ve given me much more than I deserve, and I’ll never take advantage of that.” She repeats my exact sentiments from earlier, ending with a small kiss.
Something inside me erupts, and primal instinct takes over. I move faster, thrusting into her until she breaks eye contact, arching her back and moaning sharply. The sound fuels me, my hands shifting her hips, my mouth dropping to her throat.
Her ankles lock at my back, and her hands fist in my hair. The room fills with our heavy breathing. The trembling of her thighs tells me she close. I decrease my speed, rotating my hips with each withdraw, knowing the exact spot to hit. She writhes under me, panting. I remove my arms from under her, bracing on my elbows to watch. She arches her body and back, crying out as she flies apart.
My dick aches, growing thicker at the vision.
“Fucking gorgeous. Next time you come with me.” I try to remember my quest to take it slower, draw this out, spend hours worshipping her body wearing nothing but my ring. But a savage ferocity takes over. I drive faster, each stroke hitting as deep as possible.
She tugs my head forward, crushing her mouth to mine. Our tongues tangle, and my heart thunders in my chest when my own panting begins. I tear my mouth from hers, laying open-mouth kisses along her jawline until I reach her ear. The pressure builds, my dick swelling and straining for release.
“Baby, I need you—”
“Oh my God…” she shrieks, clenching her pussy so tight I explode with her, momentarily seeing spots as the orgasm rips through me. My chest tightens, and the adrenaline rush boils in my bloodstream with the most powerful energy I’ve ever experienced.
With the rest of my strength, I twist, going to my back and pulling her on top of me, staying connected. She’s trembling. Her face falls to my chest, our hearts are racing together. We stay like this until we regain our breath and she sighs loudly.
“I’m pretty sure we’ve been doing that a while, and you’ve been holding out on me.” She speaks into my skin.
I can’t help the laughter that vibrates in my chest as I wrap my arms around her. “Are you complaining?”
“Not at all. How am I supposed to work tonight?”
“You better rest up. We have all day to recreate that.”
She rises, pressing her hands to my chest in a semi-sitting position. Her face is flushed, cheeks stained pink, lips swollen, and eyes glassy. I get a quick look before something grabs her attention, and her eyes fall, growing wide, and her jaw drops.
“Mathis! Holy shit!”
Satisfaction hits, knowing she’s spotted her hand. I didn’t fuck around. Finally, after sneaking around for weeks, I met my diamond broker one morning and found the perfect stone. Then the real search began to find a jeweler able to put my vision together. It’s over the top, ostentatious, and worthy of royalty—perfect for Claire.
“You like?”
She raises her left hand, the diamonds on the ring sparkling, but the center stone is radiant. Her eyes glimmer and shine. Then I know as it happens; the right hand against my chest trembles, her wrist pressing down and her pulse racing.
Racing in a way I’ve come to know well… she’s about to lose it.
I knife up, curving around her as the sobs roar through the air. She mutters incoherently into my skin, her own body going crazy.
She claws at my chest to get space and inhales sharply to get air. I move back an inch and try to catch my own breath at the expression on her face. She’s beaming. Even through tears, she’s glowing so bright, I swallow hard to control the emotions spreading through me.
“You like,” I say more as a statement.
She tries to regain her composure, nodding until the tears stop flowing. “It’s incredible.”
“You’re incredible.”
“You have to stop this from happening to me. I can’t be this soft, squishy, weepy girl. Make it stop.”
“Never.” I move my lips over hers.
“You know you’re still inside me right? I can cut you off if you don’t agree to fix me.”
“I’m well aware I’m inside you.”
“Fix me.”
“Why would I fix perfection?”
This brings a fresh round of sniffles, and she nuzzles into my neck. “You’re going to have a hell of a time topping this,” she teases, her voice hoarse and thick with emotion.
“Dare accepted.”