"Not a bit of it came from my heart. It was all technique." She chose her words carefully, pulling the pieces together as she spoke, trying to get it exactly right. "Preparing for that audition should have been the most exciting work I"ve ever done, but it was drudgery. I didn"t like Helene, and I hated the dark place she took me to. All I wanted to do was escape with my camera."
He c.o.c.ked an eyebrow, beginning to look more like himself. "Exactly when did you figure this out?"
"I guess I knew it at the time, but I thought I was reacting to how messy everything had gotten with you. I"d rehea.r.s.e for a while, and when I couldn"t stand it any longer, I"d pick up my camera and pester Chaz, or go interview a waitress. With all my talk about reinventing my career, I didn"t understand I"d already done it." She smiled. "Wait till you see the footage I"ve shot-Chaz"s story, street kids, these amazing single mothers. It doesn"t all fit in the same film, but figuring out what goes where is going to teach me so much."
He finally came around from behind his desk. "You"re not just saying this so I don"t feel guilty?"
"Are you kidding? I love you guilty. It makes it easier for me to wrap you around my finger."
"You"ve already done that," he said huskily. "Tighter than you can ever imagine."
He seemed to drink in her face. She"d never felt more cherished. They gazed into each other"s eyes. Into each other"s souls. And neither one offered up a single wisecrack.
He kissed her as if she were a virgin. The tenderest meeting of lips and heart. It was embarra.s.singly romantic, but not as embarra.s.sing as their damp cheeks. They held each other close, eyes shut, hearts hammering, naked in a way they"d never been. They knew each other"s flaws as well as they knew their own, and each other"s strengths even better. That made the moment all the sweeter.
They talked for a long time. She wouldn"t hide anything, and she told him about her call to Mel Duffy and what she"d almost done.
"I wouldn"t have blamed you if you"d gone through with it," he said. "And remind me not to ever let you have a gun."
"I want to get married again," she whispered. "Really married."
He kissed her temple. "Do you now?"
"A private ceremony. Beautiful and intimate."
"All right." His hand wandered to her breast, and the l.u.s.t that had been simmering between them erupted. It took all her effort to pull back. "You can"t imagine how hard this is for me to say." She drew his hand to her lips and kissed his fingers. "But I want a wedding night."
He groaned. "Please don"t let that mean what I think."
"Do you mind so much?"
He thought it over. "Yes."
"But you"ll agree anyway, right?"
He cradled her face in his hands. "You"re not going to give me any choice, are you?"
"I am. We"re in this together."
He smiled and curled a hand around her bottom. "Poppy has exactly twenty-four hours to put together the wedding of your dreams. I"ll take care of the honeymoon."
"Twenty-four hours? We can"t-"
"Poppy can."
And Poppy did, although it took her forty-eight hours, and then they banned her from the ceremony, which she didn"t like at all.
They were married at sunset on an isolated stretch of beach in a sandy cove. Only five guests stood with them: Chaz and Aaron, Paul and Laura, and Meg, who"d come alone because they wouldn"t let her bring a date. Sasha and April couldn"t make it back in time, and Bram refused to wait for them. Georgie wanted to invite Rory, but Bram said she made him too nervous, which caused Georgie to hoot with laughter, which in turn forced Bram to kiss her breathless.
They asked Paul to perform the ceremony. Georgie said it was the least he could do after burying her. When he pointed out that he wasn"t ordained, they brushed him off. The legalities had been observed months ago. This wedding was a ceremony of the heart.
A Crayola box sunset framed the beach that night. Bouquets of larkspur, iris, and sweet pea spilled from simple galvanized pails tied with ribbons that floated in the warm breeze. Although Georgie had forbidden Poppy to erect a bridal bower or paint hearts in the sand, she"d neglected to mention building a sand castle, so a six-foot seash.e.l.l-and-flower-bedecked replica of the Scofield mansion rose up near the bride and groom.
Georgie wore a simple yellow cotton dress with a spray of flowers in her dark hair. Bram went barefoot. The vows they"d written spoke of what they knew, what they"d learned, and what they promised. After the ceremony, they sat around a bonfire to feast on crab and Chaz"s cream-filled chocolate cupcakes. Paul and Laura couldn"t take their eyes off each other, and as the fire snapped, Laura briefly left Paul"s side to approach Georgie. "Do you mind about your father and me? I know it"s too fast. I know-"
"I couldn"t be happier." Georgie hugged her as Chaz and Aaron wandered off, side by side, down the beach.
Bram watched his wife"s beautiful face glow in the flames from the bonfire and realized that the panic that had been his silent companion for as long as he could remember had disappeared. If a woman as wise as Georgie could accept him, flaws and all, then it was long past time he accepted himself. wife"s beautiful face glow in the flames from the bonfire and realized that the panic that had been his silent companion for as long as he could remember had disappeared. If a woman as wise as Georgie could accept him, flaws and all, then it was long past time he accepted himself.
This exquisite, caring, smart, wonderful creature was his. Maybe he should be afraid of failing her, but he wasn"t. In every way that counted, he would always be there for her.
As night settled in, Georgie finally noticed a dinghy approaching from a yacht anch.o.r.ed offsh.o.r.e. "What"s that?"
"My surprise," he whispered against her hair. "I wanted our wedding night to be on a boat. To make up for the first time."
She smiled. "You did that long ago."
Their guests saw them off with a shower of organic brown rice Meg had brought along. As they rode out to the yacht, Bram held his wife tight. He wanted their wedding night to be perfect. Lance had given her a carriage with six white horses, and Bram couldn"t stand the idea of falling short.
As soon as they were on board, he led her through the quiet ship to the largest stateroom. "Welcome to your honeymoon, my love."
"Oh, Bram..."
Everything was just as he"d arranged. White pillar candles nesting inside hurricane shades cast a shimmering light across the warm wooden paneling and luxurious carpets. "It"s beautiful...," she said in a way that convinced him she"d forgotten all about the carriage and horses. "I love it. I love you." Her gaze moved past him to the bed, and she burst out laughing. "Are those rose petals scattered on the sheets?"
He smiled against her skin. "Too much?"
"Way too much." She threw her arms around him. "I love it!"
He undressed her slowly, kissing all that he uncovered: the curve of her shoulder, the swell of her breast. He went to his knees and kissed her belly, her thighs, knowing he was the luckiest man on earth. She undressed him just as slowly, and when he couldn"t endure it any longer, he drew her to the bed, and the rose petal sheets.
Which had seemed like a good idea, but...
He pulled a petal from his mouth. "These suckers are everywhere."
"I"ll say. Even here." She eased open her thighs. "Do something about it, will you?"
So maybe the rose petals weren"t such a bad idea after all.
The boat rocked beneath them. They made love again and again, coc.o.o.ned in their private, sensual world, vowing with their bodies everything they"d promised with their words.
The next morning, he awakened first and simply lay there, with his wife cradled in his arms, breathing in her scent, giving thanks...and thinking about Skip Scofield. You"re going to need to help me out, pal. I don"t have as much practice being a sensitive guy as you do. You"re going to need to help me out, pal. I don"t have as much practice being a sensitive guy as you do.
You could start by losing the sarcasm, Skip replied. Skip replied.
Georgie wouldn"t recognize me.
At least pick your moments.
That he could do. Georgie nestled closer, and he curled his hand over her hip. I"m finally one up on you, Skipper. There you are, stuck forever with little Scooter Brown. And here I am... I"m finally one up on you, Skipper. There you are, stuck forever with little Scooter Brown. And here I am... He kissed his wife"s soft hair. He kissed his wife"s soft hair. Here I am with Georgie York. Here I am with Georgie York.
She finally stirred, but she wouldn"t let him kiss her until she"d brushed her teeth. As she stepped naked out of the bathroom, he took in a withered rose petal clinging to her nipple and held out his hand. "Come here, wife," he said softly. "Let"s get you pregnant."
She shocked him by waving him off. "Later."
He eased up against the pillows and eyed her warily as she pulled her video camera from one of the suitcases delivered to the yacht. "Chaz warned me about this," he said.
She smiled and positioned herself at the footboard of the bed so she was facing him. The morning sun sliding through the portholes b.u.t.tered her dark hair. He leaned against the pillows and watched her raise the camera.
"Start at the beginning," she said. "Tell me everything you love about your wife."
He could see that she was teasing him, but he wasn"t playing her game. Instead, he leaned back against the headboard, cradled her foot in his hand, and did exactly as she asked.
Epilogue.
Iris York Shepard was as unhappy as a four-year-old could be. She stood in the middle of her backyard, with her arms crossed over her flat chest, her small foot tapping ominously in the gra.s.s, a scowl stretched across her adorable little lopsided face. Iris didn"t like it when the attention shifted too far from herself, and even her adoring grandparents had moved away to talk to Uncle Trev. York Shepard was as unhappy as a four-year-old could be. She stood in the middle of her backyard, with her arms crossed over her flat chest, her small foot tapping ominously in the gra.s.s, a scowl stretched across her adorable little lopsided face. Iris didn"t like it when the attention shifted too far from herself, and even her adoring grandparents had moved away to talk to Uncle Trev.
Bram spotted his daughter from the veranda and grinned. He had a fairly good idea what was coming. So did Georgie, who"d noticed Iris"s mutinous expression from the other side of the yard, where she was chasing their toddler son. "Do something," she called out over the heads of their guests.
He thought about it. He could sweep Iris up in his arms and tickle her, or swing her upside down from her heels, which she loved, or even have a little talk with her-something he was getting surprisingly good at-but he didn"t. It was more fun to let events take their natural course.
Twenty-five of Bram and Georgie"s closest friends had been invited to their annual backyard anniversary party, this one marking five years since their beachfront wedding. So much had happened in those years. Tree House Tree House had been a modest hit with audiences and a monster hit with critics, which had led to half a dozen juicy acting roles for him. Then, with Rory"s backing, he"d produced his own screenplay. Audiences had loved it, and his career was set. had been a modest hit with audiences and a monster hit with critics, which had led to half a dozen juicy acting roles for him. Then, with Rory"s backing, he"d produced his own screenplay. Audiences had loved it, and his career was set.
As for Georgie...She was still interpreting the world through her camera lens and doing a d.a.m.ned fine job of it. Each of her three doc.u.mentaries was better than the last, and she was starting to pile up some major awards. But as much as they both loved their work, not even filmmaking gave them as much joy as their family.
Chaz began weaving her way through the crowd. As Bram took in her shiny dark bob, cherry red sundress, and silver sandals, he could barely remember the desperate girl he"d picked up outside that bar so many years ago. Even the angry young woman who used to rule his kitchen had mellowed. Not that Chaz had lost her sa.s.s-she and Georgie could still go at it-but they were all family now-he and Georgie and their kids; Chaz and Aaron; and, of course, Paul and Laura, who"d gotten married in this very backyard.
Their wedding had been Chaz"s first job after culinary school. Instead of working at a high-end restaurant as she"d always planned, she"d surprised them by deciding to open a catering business. "I like being in people"s homes" was how she"d explained it.
She stopped next to him. "Iris is getting ready to lose it. You"d better do something fast."
"Or I could just stand here and watch her drive Georgie crazy." He sampled a canape and gestured toward the pool area, where Georgie"s former P.A. was engaged in an earnest discussion with April and Jack Patriot. "When are you going to put Lover Boy out of his misery and marry him?"
"After he"s made his second million."
"I hate to break the news, but I think he"s already done that." Aaron had started his own video game company and hit it big with a game called Force Alpha Zebra. With his toned physique, air of command, and surprising emergence as something of a male fashionista, he"d changed even more than Chaz. Bram grabbed another canape. "It took the two of you long enough to figure out you were in love."
"I had some growing up to do." Her eyes softened as she gazed at Aaron. "I"ll marry him one of these days, but for now, I"m having too much fun keeping him on his toes."
Paul finally spotted his unhappy granddaughter and broke away from his wife, but he was too late. Iris had already chosen her table, a wrought-iron one located in the exact center of the crowded backyard, and begun to climb on top.
"Iris!" Georgie tried to move, but a swing set and their wriggling son kept her trapped. "Iris! Get down."
Iris pretended not to hear. Instead, she carefully stepped around someone"s discarded drink, threw her arms wide, and addressed the crowd in a commanding voice far too big to come from such a small body. "Listen to me, everybody! I"m going to sing!"
Aaron put his fingers to his lips and whistled. "You go, Iris!"
Skirting the crowd, Bram made his way to Georgie"s side and took their son from her just as Iris opened her tiny mouth and let the music rip. By the time she reached the first chorus of her vigorous and tuneful rendition of the opening number from Annie, Annie, neither Bram nor Georgie had the heart to pull her down. neither Bram nor Georgie had the heart to pull her down.
"What are we going to do with her?" Georgie said on a sigh.
"I guess we"ll eventually have to hand her over to Grandma Laura." He kissed his son"s sweaty head. "You know Laura and Paul are dying to see how Iris will audition."
"We know how she"ll audition. She"ll be fabulous."
"She really is good, isn"t she?"
"Not a bad note. She was born to perform. And we don"t need another child star in the family."
Bram set their squirming toddler on the ground. "The good news is, she"ll never feel as though she has to perform to earn anyone"s love."
"True. There"s more than enough love here to go around."
They were too wrapped up in smiling at each other to notice their son plop down on his bottom and begin clapping in perfect rhythm to his sister"s song. Bram"s voice grew husky, the way it so frequently did when he came face-to-face with his blessings. "Who could have imagined a guy like me would end up with a family like this?"
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "Skip couldn"t have done any better." And then she winced. "Oh, dear...Here comes the tap dance."
"At least she"s keeping her clothes on."
But he"d spoken too soon. A little floral sundress floated into the roses.
"She gets that from her mother," he whispered. "I never knew a woman so eager to take off her clothes."
"Not my fault. You"re very persuasive."
"And you"re irresistible."
Skip Scofield chose that moment to tap Bram on the shoulder. Who"d have imagined it? You"ve turned into a family man after all. Who"d have imagined it? You"ve turned into a family man after all.
And what a family, Bram thought, gazing around him.
Iris bowed and moved on to her next number. His son rolled over in the gra.s.s. And his wife, his very own wife, rose on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. "This is the best reunion show ever."
He couldn"t have agreed more.
Author"s Note All of my fictional characters exist in the same creative universe, so astute readers will have noticed the reappearance of some familiar people: April Robillard and Jack Patriot from Natural Born Charmer; Natural Born Charmer; Fleur, Jake, and Meg Koranda from Fleur, Jake, and Meg Koranda from Glitter Baby Glitter Baby. I can"t resist revisiting old friends and plan to keep on doing it.