Turn Me On (23 page)

Epilogue

Six Months Later

“We’re hideously late.” Lissa stopped outside the entrance to Papa
Niko’s where a large notice declared ‘private party’ and smoothed down her
skirt. She glanced up at Reed and reached for his hand. “Thank you for today.”

“You already thanked me.” He grinned as he slipped his arm around her
waist. “Which is why we’re hideously late.”

He pulled her in for a kiss, and she smiled against his lips as his hand
slid down to grab her ass. “You promised me you’d behave.”

“Surely I can be forgiven for wanting some up-close time with my wife,
especially since Beth and Marco decided to hold their engagement party on the
very same day we renewed our wedding vows.”

With some regret, she placed her hand over his and eased it away from
her backside. “I suppose it’s our fault for keeping our plans quiet. Marco only
proposed to Beth last week.”

“Even so.”

Reed tried to slip his hand around her again, but she stepped back.
“I’ll reward you again later, seeing as you went above and beyond your duty as
a nephew-in-law today. She really loved it.”

“And I really love her. I’m pretty fond of her niece come to that.”

Lissa stroked the diamond wedding band Reed had given her that morning.
“Do you think she knew what was happening?”

“The vicar was probably a give away.”

She touched her lips to his. “It was perfect, Reed.”

The simple ceremony to renew their vows at the pretty church attended by
Jack, her aunt, and a handful of close friends had been wonderful. Reed had
exchanged her diamond ring for a circle of smaller diamonds, and in return she
had slipped a plain gold band onto his finger. Then he’d arranged for the
wedding party to enjoy lunch on a chartered yacht, which sailed majestically
along the calm waters of the south coast as they ate.

Her aunt had looked so pretty in her favorite blue suit. When they’d
collected her from the nursing home early that morning, Reed had pinned a
corsage of aquilegia, her aunt’s favorite flower, to her lapel and received a
flirtatious smile in return. Her aunt had taken to Reed the instant they met
six months ago, and since then the two people Lissa loved most in all the world
had become firm friends.

It always surprised Lissa how vital her aunt seemed to be whenever Reed
was around. He never missed an opportunity to lavish his aunt-in-law with
affection, flowers, and lunches out every week. Sometimes he took them all to a
fancy restaurant, but often they enjoyed a simple dish at the fish diner on the
seafront, when her aunt would smile broadly as if remembering other times she’d
visited with Lissa in the past.

“I’ve got some great shots of you both,” Lissa said, unable to resist
slipping her arms around Reed’s neck. “There’s a gorgeous one where you’re
standing at the railing and showing her something out at sea. I’m going to have
that framed. Which reminds me, you need to sign off on those proofs for the
hotel so I can get them developed and framed for the opening. Do you still want
them displayed in the foyer?”

“No business talk on our wedding day,” he reprimanded with a soft tap to
her nose. “Or rather our renewal-of-wedding-vows day.”

“My, the heavens may just open and suck us into oblivion, Reed. Did I
hear you right? No business talk?”

He narrowed his eyes in mock threat. “Shaky ground, sweetheart.
Especially with what I have planned for our wedding night, phase two.”

She grinned up at him. “Is it anything like our wedding night, phase
one?”

He shook his head. “No mirrors this time, although there may be
implements.”

She gave a low hum in her throat. “Sounds…enticing.”

His eyebrows drew together and he tilted his head toward the bar. “Do we
have to stay long?”

“A couple of hours should do it, especially if there are implements
waiting for us at home.” She glanced toward the entrance door. “We shouldn’t
say anything about renewing our vows this morning.”

“Why not?”

“It’s Marco and Beth’s night.
 
I
don’t want to steal their limelight in any way.”

“My amazing wife,” he said seriously as he drew her tight against him.
“You were trying not to steal another couple’s limelight the first time I met
you, remember?”

How could she ever forget? The moment had changed her life. “This time I
don’t have to hide behind trees.”

“And I don’t have to pretend that I don’t want to strip you naked and
have my way with you.”

“Seems we both got lucky.” She met his kiss, indulged herself by
tweaking his ass the same way he did hers, then drew away. “We should go in.”

He returned her smile, then pushed the door open.

The noise was deafening inside Papa Niko’s; music blaring, people
chattering, glasses clinking. Across the room, Beth and Marco stood with their
arms around each other as another couple admired Beth’s engagement ring.

“Hey, guys.” Lissa turned as Ethan and Amber walked up to them, Ethan
taking the opportunity to snag two extra flutes of champagne from a passing
waiter. “You’re late.”

“Things to do,” Reed said as he took the flutes Ethan offered and handed
one to Lissa with a wink.

“What’s this?” Lissa almost spilled her drink as Amber grabbed her left
hand. “When did you do it?”

“Do what?” Lissa’s cheeks heated as Amber continued to stare at her new
wedding ring. “You already know we’re married.”

“For which I have still to forgive you, seeing as we were never
invited.” Amber’s sharp green eyes turned to slits as she looked between Lissa
and Reed. “You’ve done it, haven’t you?”

Lissa glanced at Reed whose mouth tugged up at the corners. “We’ve been
rumbled, sweetheart.”

“Am I missing something?” Ethan asked his wife as Lissa continued to
stall in the hope Amber would let them off the hook. She really didn’t want any
fuss, especially not during Marco and Beth’s party.

“Only that they went ahead and renewed their vows without telling us.”
Amber shook her head, then pushed gently at Reed’s arm. “Well, if you think
that will get you off the hook as far as throwing a party is concerned, you’re
very much mistaken.”

“Planning one as we speak,” Reed said with a smile. “It’s all in hand.”

“It had better be.” Her frown turned into a smile and she grabbed first
Lissa and then Reed for a hug. “Oh, congratulations, you two. Everyone will be
thrilled for you.”

Ethan stepped forward and drew Lissa into an embrace. Over his shoulder
she looked at Reed, who gave her a knowing smile and a sexy wink.

For the past six months, Reed had gone out of his way to prove that he
meant everything he’d said that night when he’d first told her he loved her.
He’d continued to do business with both Ethan and Marco. He and Lissa had
accepted, and reciprocated, supper invites from both couples; they’d attended
various functions where they all sat together and enjoyed themselves.

Her mind slipped back briefly to that first awkward gathering, when it
had taken Amber to suggest that while they were all aware of the past, it was
time for them all to move on and enjoy life. Without a word, Reed had stood and
walked out into Amber’s kitchen. As Lissa died a thousand deaths, her heart dropping
to her knees, Reed came back in with a bottle of wine and proceeded to top up
everyone’s glass. He suggested they toast the future and the wonderful women
they had found to share it with.

“We don’t want to say anything,” Lissa said as she watched Ethan
congratulate Reed with a firm handshake. “This is Marco and Beth’s—”

“Oh no you don’t. You don’t get to always worry about everyone else’s
feelings and ignore your own. This is cause for celebration. Ethan, get Marco
and Beth.”

“No.” Lissa touched her hand to Amber’s as Ethan strolled off. “Really,
I don’t want to make a fuss.”

“Well, tough. Because a fuss is what you’re going to get.”

Lissa looked at Reed, who raised his eyebrows in a gesture of ‘nothing
to do with me’ before taking a swig of champagne.

Beth came bustling over, followed closely by Marco, and mirrored what
Amber had done by grabbing Lissa’s hand. “I can’t believe you weren’t going to
say anything. Oh, it’s so beautiful and goes lovely with your other diamond.”

Surrendering to the certainty that neither Amber or Beth were about to
let her news pass by unacknowledged, she reached for Beth’s left hand. “Let me
see yours.”

As the women continued oh-ing and ah-ing over rings, Reed stood with
Ethan and Marco and watched.
 
“You
needn’t think you’re getting away without throwing some kind of party, buddy,”
Marco said with a nudge to Reed’s elbow. “Once those three get together
there’ll be no escape.”

“Like I said, all in hand.” Reed turned to Marco and extended his hand.
“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thanks.” Marco continued to clasp Reed’s hand. “Congratulations on your
marriage.”

Reed nodded and the three men stepped back to survey the women who had
now moved on to admiring each other’s shoes.

“They make some picture,” Ethan said as he sipped his drink.

“Best ever.” Marco saluted the women with his glass.

“No argument from me.” Reed slipped one hand in his pocket and touched
his thumbnail to the wedding band he wore. He’d never felt so damn happy in his
life.

As he grinned to himself, Lissa came over and slipped her arm through
his. “What are you smiling at?”

He glanced down at her. He’d never imagined it was possible for a man’s
heart to swell so large and still remain contained in his chest, or hold so
much inside it that it didn’t burst. “Looking at my beautiful wife has that
effect on me.”

“Good answer. Want to dance with your beautiful wife?”

“Only if it’s a slow dance and I get to hold you close.”

She gave that low throaty laugh that never failed to set his pulse
racing. “I remember the last time we slow danced. We couldn’t leave the dance
floor for the best part of fifteen minutes. Remember?”

“I remember, as does my cock, which is currently wondering what time we
can leave.”

She laughed again and squeezed his arm. “I think the newly engaged
couple will excuse us if we slip away early. Seeing as it’s our wedding night,
phase two.”

“Now you’re talking my language. Let’s go.”

“Not yet.” She pulled him back as he pretended to head out, and tapped
his hand in admonishment. “We have to enjoy ourselves, mingle for a while.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips against her temple. “You’re the only
person I want to mingle with.”

“Same here.” She turned slightly and touched her mouth to his. “I love
you, Reed.”

“I love you, sweetheart.” He kissed her until the tempo of the music
changed to something slow and smoochy. “How about we hit that dance floor? I’ll
do my best not to disgrace myself this time.”

He linked their fingers and led her onto the small square area that had
rapidly filled with swaying couples. Reed wrapped his arms around her and
pulled her close. As Lissa wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed herself
tight against him, he groaned.

Her low chuckle vibrated against his ear. “Maybe I should talk about
cold showers, would that help?”

“Not much.” He tilted his head so he could look at her. “I’d only
imagine you in there with me heating it up.”

“Then it seems we’re destined to stay on the dance floor. Just the two
of us.”

“Just the two of us.” He gathered her even closer, not caring about his
rapidly escalating hard-on. “Now that sounds pretty damn perfect, sweetheart.”

The End

www.fayeavalon.com

Other Books by Faye Avalon:

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