The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (170 page)

“You won’t find him, he’ll find you.  I guarantee it.”

“Now that you and Evan are back on track, have you picked a new wedding date yet?”

“Who has time?  Seriously, Reese.  In less than a week, I’ve been arrested for a crime I didn’t commit, made my first appearance on a talk show, accepted a free trip to Hawaii, and been cleared by the police.  I’ll bring it up to Evan soon, I promise.”

“Bring up what?” Evan comes toward me, pressing his body close to mine.  All I can think about is how I’d like nothing more than to curl up in his arms under the covers at home in our bed.  He wraps a hand around my middle and softly kisses the exposed skin of my neck.  He drives me mad!

“Reese was just asking about our wedding,” I tell him.

He reaches for my hand and examines the beautiful ring he placed there.  “We have all the time in the world.  I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you, Running Girl.”

“The last thing I want right now is to do anything that will get the press poking around in our lives again.  Things are just getting back to normal.  It’s been so long, I can hardly remember what normal feels like,” I admit.  “Who knows, maybe we’ll just live in sin.  I think I like the sound of it.”

The more I think about it, the less I like the idea of a big wedding.  I can envision all the photographers and reporters trying to sneak in just to snap a picture of Evan in his tuxedo.  His fans would be trying to get in too.  Party crashers and paparazzi.  Not my dream wedding.

Evan gets a phone call and excuses himself from our conversation.  I watch as he slips out the back door onto Derek’s deck.  The moon lights Evan’s frame from behind, creating the most amazing silhouette of the perfect male physique.  The short-sleeved shirt he’s wearing shows off his strong, muscular arms.  His broad chest accents the slim cut of his waist.  He has his back to the window, and I can’t help but stare at his ass.  Oh, how I long to slip my hands into his back pockets.

He turns and catches me staring, but I’m not embarrassed.  I can see him smile at me as he finishes his discussion, motioning for me to come out and join him.  So I grab my coat and meet him on the deck to find out what’s so important that he’s willing to miss all the fun.

“What’s up?” I ask, shivering from the cold.

“Not much.  Do you remember Alyssa Dunham from the Community Relations Office?  She was calling to confirm our flight tomorrow.  You ready for our first official vacation?” Evan asks, his crystal-blue eyes locking with my green.

“Do you promise it’s not going to be two weeks of nothing but football, Evan?  I want to do it all.  I want to see a volcano.  I want to go to a luau, learn how to hula, and maybe even take some surfing lessons.  Maybe we could go golfing together too.”

He smiles and shows the slightest hint of dimples.  “We can do it all, just so long as you don’t make me put on a grass skirt and do the hula with you.  There are some things I will not do, not even for you.”

O
ur hotel suite is draped in shadows, the only light coming from the moon shining on the ocean and reflecting onto us.  

Considering our plane from Newark just landed an hour ago and we were driven straight from the airport under the darkness of night, I have barely seen Honolulu. After spending a few hours salaciously canoodling on the plane, our first order of business was to strip each other bare and make mad, passionate love in this luxurious tropical love nest.

He wraps my hand in his, and I weave our fingers into an unbreakable bond.  There’s something enormously pleasurable about being held firm by strong hands.

His other hand travels and wraps itself in my hair, gently tugging.  I reach up and feel his face.  His stubbly five o'clock shadow is prickly under my fingertips.  I run my fingers over the short hairs, savoring the sensation.  When he releases a low growl, I whisper in his ear, “I love the noise you make when I do this.”

Evan’s mouth tenderly caresses the base of my neck as he whispers, “I love you.”  He laces his fingers around my hips, holding them steady as we settle into a synchronized movement. Time stops and there is only movement and heat.

My heartbeat quickens.  I struggle to control my breathing.  A sudden zing of electricity spurs my muscles to tighten around him.  My body quivers and my eyes flutter closed. His muscular back arches and his hips roll and push one more time, making me tremble and quake.

“Welcome to Hawaii,” he says softly, rolling the tip of his tongue up the length of my neck, tasting me before covering my lips with his again. I want to hug myself, I’m so happy.  I find myself grinning goofily at him, and when he glances down at me, his mouth draws into his famous half smile with full dimples.

My last coherent moment is Evan wrapping his huge body around mine and pulling me to him.  I am cocooned in Evan.  I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I wake early the next day, tangled in Evan’s arms and legs, the sun shining through the shaded window, casting a warm orange glow onto our bed.  The room he selected for us is bathed in soft, willowy fabrics that drape in a canopy over our bed, and golden tones of the wooden floors and furnishings.  Tropical flowers are all around, and a light ocean breeze floats in through the open windows.

I gaze at him while he still sleeps, looking so serene and beautiful. I don’t want to disturb him, but I can’t resist the temptation to place a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose. He doesn’t flinch at my touch, so I kiss him on the forehead this time, deciding to have him join me in consciousness. He stirs a little, his brow furrowing.

I stare at his sweet lips and choose them as my next target, letting them softly meet mine. This rouses him from slumber completely, like Snow White to Prince Charming, and he returns my kiss.

“I love waking up with you,” he says between kisses. He wraps his arms around me completely, pulling me closer to him as I nestle myself in his arm, soaking up the warmth of his body and the softness of his skin.

Holding him tight, returning his embrace I say, “Me too.  I wish we didn’t have to get out of bed.”

“Who says we have to?” Evan replies with a mischievous laugh.

“I'm serious,” I say.

“I know you are,” Evan mocks as his hands glide down my body. “I like the sound of that, actually.”

“You do?” I ask teasingly.  We kiss slowly, deeply.

“Oh, yeah.”

“It's nice to be like this.”

“Naked?” he asks.

“No, happy.”

Evan pulls me up to him so that our eyes meet.  “We are happy, aren't we?”

“I am.” I smile, and truly mean it.

“I am too.” He smiles.

“Good.”

“Good,” he repeats back to me.  “You have my undivided attention for the next forty-eight hours.  The draft isn’t for two more days, and the press won’t be here until then.  Is there anything special you want to do?”

I think for a moment and answer truthfully, “I don’t care what we do.  As long as I get to spend time with you, that’s all that matters.  As far as I’m concerned, we can stay locked up here in our suite for the next few days and order room service.”  Our oceanfront suite is resplendent, with a double garden terrace balcony with a whirlpool spa and direct views of the Pacific Ocean.  Why would I ever want to leave?

“Well, you may not want to leave, but I strongly suggest we get dressed.”  Evan walks over to the walk-in closet and opens the doors, revealing a full and complete wardrobe. 

Suddenly more aware of my surroundings, I take a closer look around the room and notice for the first time that the flowers that adorn our room are all similar yet different.  Each vase I see contains a variety of white flowers.  Some are small and delicate stars with bright yellow stamens.  Others have full double blooms with deep green leaves.  “Evan, are all these gardenias?” I ask.

He smiles.  “They are.”

Evan steps into the closet.  I can hear him moving around a few hangers, and when he emerges he’s carrying a large white dress bag.  Gently and with much care and reverence, he lays the bag on the bed at my feet.  “Is that my wedding dress?”

He smiles.  “It is.”

I can feel my heart beating wildly in my chest as he returns to the closet.  This time when he returns, he’s carrying a black garment bag, which he places on the chair beside our bed.  “Evan, what’s in that bag?”

He smiles.  “My tux.”

A million thoughts go racing through my mind, and I begin to ramble them off, mostly incoherently.  “Evan, I can’t get married here.  My mother. 
Your
mother.  Our family.  Our friends.  They’d be furious.  Auggie will never speak to me again.  Who will be our witnesses?  This is nuts.  You’re nuts.  What were you thinking?”

“Slow down,” Evan tells me as he sits beside me on the bed.  “They’re all here, and unless you want my mother to walk in and find you buck naked, I suggest you put some clothes on.”

“Wait, who’s here?  Your mother’s here?  She’s staying with us?  I don’t understand.”

“They’re all here.  I put them up in the hotel next door,” he explains patiently.  Evan moves an errant lock of hair behind my ear and grins wickedly at me.  “Today is our wedding day.  Everything is taken care of.  The girls will be up shortly for your spa day.  The boys and I are going golfing.  The next time you see me, I’ll be waiting for you at the altar.  Are you ready to become my wife, Juliette?”

“Are you sure about this?” I ask.

“Juliette, when I tell you I love you, it’s more than just words to me.  I say it to remind you that you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.  If I could turn back time and start all over again, I’d still choose you – every single time.  I’d weather any storm, suffer any terrain, so long as it brings me right back here with you.” 

I wrap my arms around him and press myself tightly against his chest.  Through bleary eyes and with a shaky voice, I tell him, “There’s still a part of me today that can’t believe that I’m the one who gets to marry you.”

“Well then, what are we waiting for?  Let’s get hitched,” he teases.

I’m rummaging through the dresses hanging in the closet when there’s a persistent knocking on our door.  Evan kisses me sweetly and answers the door, calling out to me, “It’s for you!”

I slip on a simple pink sundress and a pair of sandals, then hurry to see who’s arrived.  I stop dead in my tracks when I see him. “Auggie!”  More joyful tears spring free as I run to him, nearly tackling him to the ground.  “What are you doing here?  Why aren’t you in L.A.?”

“Yeah, that was little bit of a fib.  Lucas and I flew out here with your mom and Jill a few days ago to plan your big day.  Lucas was offered the part without a screen test.”  He takes me by the hand and leads me to the lanai.  I take a seat, and for the first time drink in the beauty and splendor of Honolulu. 

Waiting for us there are two glasses of orange juice and a bottle of Champagne.  “Mimosa?” Auggie asks.  I nod and he tops off our glasses.

After we toast to new beginnings, I ask for an explanation.  “So I feel like I’ve arrived late to my own party.  Care to fill me in on the exact details of my wedding day?”

“Nope.  Sorry, Jette, my pet, but you’re going to have to trust me.” 

I take a sip of my drink and think about what he’s telling me.  “So you won’t tell me anything?  Nothing at all?”

“Nada.  It really doesn’t matter – it’s too late to change anything.  The guests are on their way, the caterers are getting ready, and the flowers have been ordered.  This way, there’s no chance of you becoming a bridezilla.”

I gasp.  “Seriously, Auggie?  Do you really think I’d do that?”

“Micromanage everything?  Worry about every small detail?  Agonize over every choice and option?  Nah – not
you
!  Never,” he teases.

“Point taken.  So what’s first on today’s agenda?”

Before Auggie can answer, there’s a knock on the door, followed by a loud, high-pitched commotion.  “I believe that would be your wedding party now.”

In a flow of chaos, in sweep Emmy, Reese, Camilla, and Callie, all carrying large dress bags and totes of all different sizes and shapes.  Some carry shoes, others carry makeup and accessories.  Everything is placed in the second bedroom, the place where we’ll all get dressed for the ceremony. 

It’s finally explained to me that for the remainder of the day, the girls and I will spend the day at the spa.  Evan has reserved the bridal spa just for us.  “Auggie, what about you?  Aren’t you joining us?”

“Not this time, Jepetto.  The boys and I will be taking in a round of golf at the Turtle Bay Palmer Golf Course.”

“Come on, Jette, let’s go,” Emmy demands.  “Massages first, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait.  They have a special pregnancy table and I’ve had a backache for a month straight.”

I kiss Evan goodbye and join my girls.  The five of us make the short trek to the spa, which is in another building across the property. 

Upon arrival, we are ushered into the Hoonanea Bridal Suite, where relaxation begins the moment we step in the door. Crossing the threshold, we are immediately transported to a tropical oasis. Crisp and clean hues of white cover the walls and floors. Scattered throughout the spa are large-leafed tropical plants, delicate orchids, and earthy bamboo sticks in tall jade vases.