Reservation (Preservation Series) (32 page)

We hadn’t exactly taken things slow since the night we re-united, but I knew that official vows, a ring, and a marriage certificate represented the ultimate trust hurdle for Kate, and that was one thing I refused to rush. She set the pace, just as I’d wanted her to, and I didn’t object when she decided she wanted us to move back in together during the fall. We’d moved into the cabin on Orcas Island and settled in nicely, taking a trip into Seattle here and there whenever Kate needed to meet with Simon and Warden, and I’d found my groove working at home, running my own small indie press. Not only had I been able to self-publish my own novels under the press, but I’d also just begun taking new writers under my wing, and it turned out to satisfy a need in me in a way I never knew needed to be fulfilled. Now, after all of this progress, the day that defined it all was here.

And it had to be perfect.

“Your song will play,” Kari said confidently. “You have my word.” She smiled warmly and turned on her heel, snapping her fingers to get her assistant’s attention, wasting no time in directing her next move. They disappeared through the kitchen doors and I took a deep breath before following their path, scanning the perimeter for Kate the second I stepped into the restaurant.

She wasn’t hard to find.

The dress she’d picked out over a year ago clung to her body like a glove as she chatted near the bar with Dean, Crystal, Carter, and his date from Florida, a girl named Whitney. Her pale skin was glowing, her cheeks and eyes bright. Everything I needed was right there, wrapped in that dress. Carter and I hadn’t spoken since he moved away last fall. I doubted he’d ever want to be friendly with me again, but I could live with that, and I understood it completely. I was just grateful he flew into town to be here for Kate. She missed him, and the adjustment to his absence over the past year hadn’t been an easy one.

“Hey you,” I said, sneaking up behind her, slipping an arm around her waist. I kissed her temple and nodded to the others, surprised when Carter held out his hand.

“Good to see you, Ryan,” he said. “Congratulations.”

Dean chimed in, extending his hand next. “I second that, chap. Congrats.”

“Thanks,” I replied, accepting both of their handshakes gratefully. I’d seen plenty of Dean since Kate and I got back together, but much like Carter, Dean took a while to warm to me again. His reception of my reemergence in Kate’s life had been pretty frosty in the beginning.

I greeted Crystal and Whitney and thanked them for coming, my attention swinging to the main doors as more guests trickled in.

“It’s about damn time,” Whitney laughed, turning to smirk at the couple strolling through the door. The guy I recognized as Jackson, Dean’s roommate, but I’d only ever heard of the girl on his arm. I’d never actually met her. Carter and Dean turned to clap hands with Jackson, and Whitney lassoed the girl into her arms, fluffing her hair. “Emma, where have you been?

“You really have to ask that?” Jackson shot her an indiscreet grin, releasing Carter’s hand to rejoin Emma’s side.

“Seriously, you two?” Whitney rolled her eyes. She swung around to face us, her cheeks flaming. “I’m so sorry Ryan and Kate, I can’t invite these two anywhere.”

Carter chuckled, punching Jackson in the shoulder. “Well, technically I invited them, so the blame’s on me, Whit.” Jackson laughed, faking an ‘ow’ before punching back. They launched into a full-on scuffle and Dean pretended to break it up, leaving the rest of us shaking our heads in amusement.

“Come on, ladies, let’s ditch these fools. I’m starved!” Whitney grabbed Emma’s and Crystal’s hands. “Kate, would you like to join us?”

Kate glanced up at me and winked, leaning on her tip toes to kiss my cheek. “Sure, I’d love to. See you in a bit, Ry.”

“You girls behave, you hear me?” I smiled, watching as they pulled Kate from me, breaking our link.

“That’s right, Emma Pierce!” Jackson shouted as Carter continued to fake tackle him, Dean still playing referee. “Behave. No swearing, invading personal space, or forgetting your p’s and q’s. All that shit!”

Dean joined in, his voice muffled. “You too, Crystal, don’t go picking up any British chaps behind my back, lady! Come on, Carter, your turn, chap. Tell your woman to mind her manners.”

“Hell no, dude. Whitney will have my balls if I order her around like that.”

“Fine, suit yourself,” Jackson said, kicking at the back of Carter’s ankle to trip him. Next I heard a big
oomph
sound, and Jackson was flat on his back, lying on the floor in a heap while Carter and Dean restrained him. The three were laughing like a bunch of maniacs and I smiled at the scene, glad to see Carter happy.

Persistent fingers tapped at my shoulder, and I swiveled around to find Sam, with Jess right at her side. They both beamed at me, their funky, matching blazers showing just a hint of their tattooed arms. Ivory roses were pinned to their jackets’ lapels, signifying their bridal status.

“How are my Best Women?” I grinned, leaning in to kiss them. “You ladies hungry? Looks like the food is being served.”

“Absolutely, my man. But hold the champagne for Jess.” Sam slid her girl a sly glance, then directed it at me, waiting for my reaction.

“No,” I laughed. “No way!”

“Yes way,” Jess squealed. “I’m due in the fall.”

“Holy shit, get out of here, woman!” I moved in and tackled them both in a massive bear hug, my joy explosive. “I marry my girl and get this news on the same day…oh yeah, this deserves a toast. Come on,” I took Jess’s hand, “you can have water.” I towed them both over to our table and we took a seat with my parents, toasting and digging into our meal while Kate continued her gab session with the other girls.

Before I knew it, Kari was informing me it was time for the dance, and at the sound of the first infectious strum of the guitar, I stood from my chair and grabbed Kate, dragging her out onto the floor. Kari winked as I folded Kate into my arms, and I mouthed a “thank you” before giving my bride my full attention. The shimmy of the tambourine mixed with the folksy vocals and filled the room with intoxicating energy.

“Is this our song?” Kate asked, beaming up at me.

“I think it should be.”

“I think you’re right.”

“Kate Parker, are you actually surrendering without a fight?”

“Oh, there’ll be a fight.” She pressed her lips to my chin as we swayed back and forth. “When you see the other entertainment I have planned for the evening.”

My brow arched but I didn’t comment, instead dipping her and then spinning her on a twirl, reeling her back into my arms to the rhythm of the music. We continued to get lost in the earthy beats, mouthing the words to each other as we moved. I motioned for the others to join us, smiling in satisfaction when Jackson pulled Emma out on the floor, followed by Carter and Whitney, then Dean and Crystal. Sam and Jess were next, and the rest of the song was spent twirling our loved ones around the dance floor, with a few off-key shouts of “hey” and “ho” thrown in between the chorus.

When the song was over, Carter and Dean hurried over to the small stage near the cake table, and out came two guitars and mics. A drum set was set up near the back, and a drummer I immediately recognized as a member of The Hellions appeared to take a seat and position himself with his sticks. The next thing I knew, I was being shoved up on the stage with them by Kate. Emma, Whitney, and Jackson were hooting and hollering as they cheered us on.

“What’s this?” I asked dizzily.

“Our very own karaoke session, hosted by my favorite musicians. And you get the first song.” Kate smiled deviously, darting away before I could object, returning only to hand me a beer. “Here, baby. You’re going to need this.”

“Kate Parker,” I warned.

A faux British accent boomed from beside me, drowning me out. “Good day, ladies and gents. We are The Hellions, and we’d think it quite lovely if you’d give it up for the one and only Mr. Campbell!” Our friends erupted into laughter and cheers, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Jackson jumped up on stage with me, grabbing a spare mic.

“You hate this spotlight shit, don’t you man?”

I nodded.

“No worries. I got your back. Let’s hope I know whatever song they pick. Just make me look good for my girl, okay?” He found Emma in the crowd and winked at her, rustling his wild dark hair with his free hand. She blew him a kiss and he pretended to catch it, tucking it into his shirt.

“Deal,” I said, tightening my grip around the mic handle.

The sound of a Nirvana cover started to fill the room, and Jackson and I jumped in, giving the lyrics all we had, while everyone continued to clap and bob their heads to the music. My gaze gravitated to Kate near the front of the stage, and there was nothing but certainty in my eyes.

We belonged together, and she was my sweetheart.

THE END

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D
ECLARATION
B
OOK 3 OF
T
HE
P
RESERVATION
S
ERIES

Featuring characters from Love and Relativity.

Carter Montgomery spent most of his life blending in, and he liked it that way. It was always better to be seen, not heard. And while a theatric streak and friendly demeanor might have fooled most people, he knew the truth—he was the shy one. The quiet kid most people forgot about. Some might have considered that a bad thing, but those people all wanted to be in the spotlight.

The only place Carter didn’t mind attention was on stage, with The Hellions. Once content in his comfort zone in Seattle, Washington, he only knew three things: confrontation was to be avoided, keeping the peace was priority, and the moment he lost Kate Parker to Professor Ryan Campbell, he had no clue what to do with his life. Playing gigs, working at Pike’s Place Market, and watching BBC after the love of his life sailed off into the sunset just wasn’t going to cut it anymore.

Desperate to escape his rut, he takes a cue from Kate and chooses a random place to relocate—a small island across the country, where no one knows his name and memories of unrequited love aren’t found at every turn. Just when he thinks he’s found the perfect place to unwind and sink back into the shadows, in bursts Whitney Sinclair, a saucy firecracker who loves life and refuses to settle for second best. Full of contagious energy, she dares him to be brave, convincing him that it might finally be time to tell the world what he wants.

It might be time to make a declaration.

C
OMING 2013

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