Protecting Lulu (Global Protection Agency) (39 page)

He
opened his mouth, but Lulu held up her hand. She leaned over and kissed him.

“What
are your friends going to say?” Noah asked when they parted.

“Three
of the five people who matter to me most, think you’re absolutely wonderful. Belle
is going to fall in love with you five minutes after she meets you. Grandma
Penny is going to adopt you.”

“Benningtons
don’t marry people like me.”

Smart
ones do, she thought. She smiled. “Benningtons marry whoever they please. It’s
a rule.”

“I
can’t--”

“I
love everything about being Lulu Bennington, but it would be nothing compared
to being Lucinda Callahan. You know you adore me. I know I adore you. If you
insist on me chasing you, I will. I warn you. I’m Lulu Bennington and I get
what I want and I want you. Now just put on your big boy boxers and accept the
ending. We’re going to get married, have a ton of babies and live happily ever
after. We’re going to be so happy together.”

“I
don’t think I know how to be happy.”

Lulu
covered her mouth for a second fighting back the tears. “I’ll teach you.”

“Lucinda--,”

“Let
me finish. For a long time, I didn’t think I would ever move on with my life. If
I could just have had five more minutes with my mother, playing in her closet. She
loved playing dress-up with me. Or just to spend another afternoon with my
father listening to him read to me. I would have given up every nickel I have,
but I can’t have them back. I have had to work at being happy, but with you, I
don’t have to work anymore. I just am. I just want to make a life with you.”

Noah
let out a long breath. “I’m scared. What if there’s something hiding inside of
me that’s like my father, just waiting to get out?”

“I
think something like that would have shown itself by now. I’m taking a chance
on you because you’re strong enough to be my husband.”

“You’re
strong enough to be my wife.”

“Of
course. She patted his hand. “It’s all settled then.”

He
opened his mouth one more time, but she laid her finger across his lips. “Stop
now. Nothing you say is going to change the future. The only thing that should
come out of your mouth now is how much you love me, because I love you. I love
you so much, I hurt.”

He
took a deep breath and smiled. “I love you, Lucinda Bennington.”

She
smiled, “I love you, too Noah Callahan.”

His
eyes had glazed slightly as the painkillers worked on him. Slowly his eyes
closed and he went back to sleep.

Music
flowed through the open window of Lulu’s bedroom. Lulu stood in front of the
mirror while Aiden adjusted her train. He was muttering under his breath.

“Stop
it,” Lulu ordered.

“Can
you blame me? Four months to plan a wedding! How could you? If you’d given me a
year, I could have planned a wedding that would have made Will and Kate’s look
like a backwater country affair.”

Lulu
patted her stomach, feeling a slight flutter inside her. “I have a bun in the
oven. No time to wait.”

Aiden
sighed. “Lulu Bennington, baby mama. Where did I go wrong?”

He
fussed a bit more and stood back to sigh at the sight of her. 

“What,”
she asked.

“I
don’t know if I should tell you know or wait until after the honeymoon.”

Lulu
hated when Aiden was all mysterious.  “Just tell me now.”

“Mark
found something on Noah’s sisters. It’s not much, but he’ll be following
through while you two are on your honeymoon.  I thought you would like to know.”

Lulu
smiled. “Thank you, Aiden.  And  thank Mark, too.”

“Yeah,”
Aiden said in a dreamy voice. “I’m not having a four month rush on mu wedding.”

Lulu
tried not to laugh. “When you and Mark get married, we’ll plan a grand affair.”

“I’m
going to be the bride,” Aiden said, his eyes half closed in ecstasy.

“Let’s
get me married first.” Lulu looked out the window. The chairs had been set up
across the lawn. Julia’s gardens were in bloom and the fragrance hung over the entire
area. People milled about as they were shown to their seats. Aunt Julia and
Grandma Penny stood in front of the gazebo, their laugher ringing out. The
gazebo had been decorated with lots of tulle and flowers.

A
knock sounded at the door and it opened. Wilder peered around the jamb. “Are
you ready yet?”

“Almost,”
Aiden chirped.

Wilder
entered and stood looking at her, admiration in his eyes. “You’re beautiful,
Lulu.”

“Thank
you,” Aiden replied as he gave one last twitch to her train.

“Sweetie,”
Lulu said, “we need to get started.”

“Oh
my God, we’re running off schedule.” He threw up his hands and ran out of the
room.

Lulu
watched her brother come into the room. He looked so handsome in his tux. A
tiny bit of lipstick smeared across the corner of his mouth. Lulu picked up a
tissue and dabbed at his lips. She looked at the tissue. “Cherry red,” she
mused. “Not Candace’s color. But then you haven’t seen Candace in months and
cherry red is E.J.’s favorite color.”

Wilder’s
cheeks turned ruddy. “Detective work is not your forte. Dad should be the one
walking you down the aisle, not me. Mom should be crying buckets of tears like
every other mother giving away her daughter.”

“You
can’t change the past. I think if mom and dad were here, they’d be angry at
you.”

“For
what?” He drew away from her.

“For
living in a box. It’s time for you to go out and find your own happiness. You
will always be my hero, but you don’t need to protect me anymore. Find a woman
who is strong enough to be Mrs. Wilder Bennington.”

He
leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll think about it.

The
day was beautiful with a cloudless sky, seagulls soaring on the air currents
and the faintest hint of surf hitting the beach below the bluff.

Noah
stood nervously in front of the gazebo. Music floated across the lawn from the
small orchestra set off to one side. Harrison stood next to him while his wife
and three children sat in the second row. Dante stood behind Harrison
fidgeting.

On
the other side of the gazebo stood Aiden as Lulu’s maid of honor and next to
him was Isabelle, Lulu’s friend. Isabelle wore a silk dress of navy blue while
Aiden wore a matching tuxedo. Harrison, Dante and Noah wore vests of matching
blue. Dante continued to fidget. The rest of Noah’s friends sat in the first
row smiling encouragingly at him.

The
music swelled and a door from the house opened. Wilder stepped out and held out
his hand. Lulu stepped gracefully from the door and Wilder escorted her to the
center of the lawn.

As
she stepped down the aisle between the chairs, Noah’s heart swelled. How had he
managed to score such a gorgeous, loving woman? He was going to make a life
with her. He glanced at her stomach. He was making a family with her.

Harrison
nudged him. “Stop thinking so hard.”

Noah
just grinned at him. “Says the man who just won enough money to put his kids
through college.”

“I’m
enjoying the moment.”

Lulu
stepped onto the white runner and Noah saw her dazzling smile. Yes, this was
what he’d always wanted for himself and never thought he’d ever get.

Lulu
walked slowly down the aisle, her bouquet in one hand, her other hand tucked
around her brother’s elbow. Noah’s throat went dry wondering what she saw in
him. Then she smiled at him, and he knew.

Wilder
stopped in front of the minister.

“Who
gives this woman in holy matrimony?”

“I
do,” Wilder said quietly. He leaned over to kiss Lulu on the cheek. “Be happy,”
he said. He turned to Noah and put Lulu’s hand in his.

Noah
couldn’t take his eyes off her. She held his hand as he turned to the minister,
aware of the warmth of her skin on his and the scent of her perfume wafting
over him.

He
wasn’t going to just enjoy the moment, he was going to enjoy the rest of his
life.