The wedding would be a simple ceremony in a nondenominational church right down the street from the small beachside restaurant where we’d have our reception dinner. I loved the sound of everything being quiet and intimate. Just our closest friends coming for a nice meal while we laughed, ate, and watched the sun go down. I mentally blocked out the fact some press would be lurking outside. I would simply pretend they didn’t exist. Nothing would ruin this day. Because when I stepped back and reflected, the fact that this man, whom I loved so much, loved me back, well…I still couldn’t quite believe it. Not that I didn’t have anything to offer him, but he literally could have almost anyone. Hot model, gorgeous actresses—pretty much anyone with a pulse who was into men would at the very least consider him.
“Please, stop staring. It’s making me feel self-conscious,” Max said with a grin from the seat next to me as his private plane touched down in the small Santa Barbara airport. I tried not to let this lifestyle go to my head. None of it was really important at the end of the day.
“Sorry, I can’t help it. None of this feels real.” By tomorrow evening, we’d be husband and wife. Maxwell Cole and Lily Snow. My ex-boss and the girl who’d never had a kiss until she met him.
He ran his thumb over my bottom lip, beaming at my face. “No, it does not.”
“How did you see yourself getting married? In a big church in Italy or on a yacht?”
He chuckled. “What in the world makes you think I ever wanted to get married?”
Oh. “You didn’t?”
“No. I had my company to keep me occupied.”
“And you had women like Adeline to keep your bed warm,” I said.
He made a noncommittal shrug. “I was a declared bachelor and had no interest in anything serious with anyone. Least of all Adeline. But then I met you, Lily.”
His words made me feel all toasty and gooey inside.
He continued, “I’m not sure the exact moment it happened, but I realized that life could be better with you in it. I could be successful and happy.” He shook his head. “I never thought happiness would be in the cards for me. There was only moving forward.” He kissed me, and the velvety softness of his lips made me melt.
Then it made me super horny.
I leaned into him, deepening the kiss. I placed my hand on his thigh and slowly ran it up to his groin, where I found a very hard and long something wonderful.
He pushed my hand away and broke the kiss. “Uh-uh. Not until the wedding night.”
“What?” I protested. “Who set up that rule?”
“I did. Otherwise, I doubt we’ll ever get through the actual ceremony. Or the dinner.”
“Come on. The bathroom’s right there.” I pointed to the teeny room. “We can totally fit.”
Meanwhile the plane had completely stopped.
Max unfastened his seatbelt and adjusted himself. I could only stare hopelessly at the magnificent part of his body he’d just denied me.
“So I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” He pulled my carry-on out of a small closet near the front exit and set it down.
“Yes.” I pouted. “And tell Mark no hookers, strippers, or too much scotch. I need you disease-free and hangover-free tomorrow.” Mark Douglas, the guy who had been my mentor and was Max’s friend, had planned some sort of private bachelor party thing at a posh club in L.A.
I stood and walked over to Max, taking one last look at him. He was so beautiful, more now than ever because I loved him so much.
“All right now.” He scooted me toward the door, which had been opened up by the copilot.
I suddenly felt nervous, my stomach knotting, my pulse racing, my brain scrambling to keep me from feeling like something was going to go wrong.
“What?” Max gripped my shoulders, probably noticing my extremely pale face.
I took a breath and closed my eyes. Breathe, breathe, breathe. The sensation started to subside. “Nothing, just a little woozy from the flight, I think?” I made a little circle on my stomach.
“You sure? I’ll cancel the party if you need me to stay.”
How sweet. “No. I’m good. I promise.” I stepped toward the door, doing my best to hide what was really going on. Horror. Crippling horror. That voice inside my head telling me that something would get in our way, that I’d ruin it. I didn’t deserve him, and sooner or later, he’d come to realize it, leaving me with nothing but a giant broken heart.
Stop it. Cold feet, you idiot. Perfectly normal. I went to my tiptoes and gave Max a peck on the lips. “I love you, Mr. Cole. Have fun tonight, but not too much fun.” I winked and descended the staircase.