I step inside, and take off my sand-covered sandals. The marble tile is cool on my bare feet as I move across the floor. When I turn the corner into Gabe’s bedroom, I spot him on the terrace that overlooks the ocean. His white dress shirt has been unbuttoned and untucked, while the breeze flowing around him causes the tails to whip around. His large hands grip the railing as he stares off into the sea, lost in deep thought. He doesn’t move when I step outside next to him, and I study him. There’s a frown on his face, and there’s sadness in his eyes I’ve never seen before, and it scares me.
I don’t want to lose this man.
18
Gabe
It took all my power not to tear that motherfucker Ryan right off of Maggie and ruin his pretty face when I saw them kissing. He deserved it, that’s for damn sure, but then I stopped myself. Told myself that she has a choice and that she’d made it. Remembered there were investors at my engagement party and that Vivi was just waiting for me to fuck up and make a scene so she could blab to the world I’m the same man I’ve always been—reckless and wild.
I’d planned to go back to my hotel and lick my wounds, let Maggie explain to her family and friends why the wedding wasn’t happening, but then one of my old teammates had stopped me.
Asked where my blushing bride was.
So I told everyone to go home.
It wasn’t my most subtle move, and it probably fucked everything I was hoping to accomplish by just quietly retreating, but the image of Ryan with his tongue jammed down my fiancée’s throat was still fresh in my mind. And I’ve never been the best at sharing … or being subtle.
My only plan for the rest of this evening is to drink until I can’t picture the two of them together anymore. I have things I want to say to her—that’s for damn sure—but I’ll leave that until tomorrow when I’m level-headed and not so goddamn angry I could tear the railing I’m clutching right off the balcony.
But then, she speaks up and I go still. “Gabe … let me explain.”
I swallow down the growl that builds in my throat. My staff had explicit instructions not to let her in, and yet here she is, in my suite. Giving me some bull about explaining.
I look over my shoulder and the look in my eyes makes her retreat slowly back into my suite. “You don’t understand what happened.”
I let go of the balcony and step back inside, swiping my whiskey off my desk. “You want to explain?” I demand. She sucks in a deep breath as I throw back the drink. She crosses her arms over her chest when I stalk over to stand in front of her. “You know, Maggie, I’ve done some fucked up things in the past, but I figured you would have at least been able to get through our engagement party without falling all over your ex.”
“Gabe—” she starts, but I’m not about to let her speak. She came looking for me before I was ready and now she’s going to listen to what I have to say.
“He cheated on you. For fuck’s sake, Maggie, we both caught him coming out of a guest suite with a maid—after he’s spent the last several weeks sniffing around you. And then you go off with him during our engagement party? Since I’ve had you out on that beach, I can only imagine where his hands were after I left and you—”
She cuts me off. With a blow to the jaw. I haven’t been hit in a while, and my eyes go wide and I just stare at her. She’s shaking, her nostrils flared, and for the first time since I walked over to her seeing nothing but fury, I notice her eyes are red.
“You stubborn son-of-a-bitch,” she growls through gritted teeth. “If you could keep your mouth shut for thirty seconds, you would know that Ryan followed me. He kissed me. And I absolutely didn’t reciprocate. And if you would have stuck around on the beach instead of storming off like a big fucking man baby, you’d also know that right after he kissed me, I shoved him away and told him what would happen if he ever touched me again—when he did, I followed through on my promise. I am not a cheater, but most importantly, I want to be with you. I was excited about being with you and actually looking forward to marrying you. The fact you think so little of me makes me want to strangle you with my bare hands.”
She’s clenching her hands in front of her now, but the only thing I can focus on is what she just said. That I misjudged the situation. That Ryan pursued her. Dragging my hand over my face, I release a breath. “Did he hurt you?”
She sucks in her cheeks. “No, and like I said, I took care of it.”
“Maggie, I’m—”
“Save it,” she spits out, whirling on the heels of her bare feet and heading toward the door. I stop her before she manages to take two steps. “Honestly, I’ve had enough of handsy shitheads tonight, so I’d appreciate it if you let me leave.”
“Not yet.”
She looks up from the floor, narrowing her eyes. “Should I hit you again?” When I laugh, a frustrated sound tears from her lips. “You think this is funny?”
“I’m laughing at myself,” I admit just as she opens her mouth to say something else. She snaps it shut and tilts her head to one side, waiting for me to elaborate. “I’m sorry.”
“Keep going.”
“I’m laughing because I was so insecure that I acted like a—” I clear my throat before I continue. “—big fucking man baby, as you put it. I’m laughing at how stupid I was and how close I came to making the biggest mistake of my life.”
She holds a finger to my lips, stopping me. “The last I heard you cancelled the wedding.”
“That was a mistake, but nowhere near as big as the other.” I kiss the tip of her finger and her breath catches. “Thinking I could let you go.”
“Just because you realized that you behaved like an ass doesn’t mean that everything is okay.”
“Maybe, but it does mean I won’t stop trying.”
“That’s a lot of effort for a fake fiancée,” she says, but she takes a step closer to me. “There are thousands of other girls on this island, Gabe. Girls who don’t have crazy exes who piss you off and girls who’ll do this with you without expecting anything in return. Why would you—”
“I’ve told you before. I don’t want any of them, Maggie, and honestly, nobody else fucking exists when you’re in the room. Why do you think I was so pissed off? Any other woman and I would’ve followed through with our arrangement, got what I wanted, and then we would’ve went our separate ways. I can’t do that with you, though.”
“Why not?” she whispers.
“Isn’t it obvious?” When she shakes her head, I dip my mouth to hers. She lets out a whimper against my lips. “I love you, beautiful.”
19
Maggie
I stare at this gorgeous man in front of me with my mouth agape as his warm breath puffs against my lips.
He cups my face as he gazes into my eyes. “I love you, Maggie. I know it’s crazy. Trust me. It took the thought of losing you to someone else to wake me the fuck up and realize this thing between us is more than business. My feelings for you are real. I need you in my life and I went fucking crazy when I thought that wasn’t possible.”
I lick my lips slowly as I digest everything he’s just said to me. Falling in love again is scary as hell because I don’t want to be hurt again, but with Gabe—he makes me want to open myself up. I could stand here and pretend I don’t reciprocate his feelings, but I’ve already admitted the truth. To myself. To Lani. And now I need to tell him.
He smirks. “Now’s not the time for that smart mouth of yours to go quiet.”
It’s terrifying to take the next step and bare my soul, but the look in his hazel eyes is so sincere, and makes me trust him with my heart.
“I love you, too,” I tell him.
A huge grin stretches across his face before he crushes his lips to mine. I melt into him as he pulls me against hard chest. His hand slides up my back and the tips of his fingers graze the bare skin on my back, causing me to shudder.
When he finds the zipper on the back of my dress, tugging it down, I giggle. “I guess this means you aren??
?t calling off our wedding tomorrow?”
“If you’ll have me, Maggie, this means I’m never letting you go ever again,” he says before walking me backwards, towards his bedroom. “And just so you know, we can get married tomorrow or a year from now. As long as you’re mine.”
My toes curl as he hoists me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he devours my lips on our way to his bedroom. He kicks the door shut behind us, and lays me down on his massive king-sized bed. His strong hands caress my shoulders before he slides the material of my white dress down my arms. I lift my hips and help him as he tugs the material off my body. I lay there, exposed for his viewing pleasure in nothing but a pair of white lace panties.
He shrugs out of his dress shirt, allowing me to feast my eyes on the work-of-art that is his body, while he unhooks his belt. My eyes zero in on the massive hard-on he’s hiding behind his slacks as he unbuttons and then unzips his pants. The moment his cock springs free, I lick my lips in anticipation.
I sit up to taste him, but he holds me back and shakes his head. “Not this time, baby. It’s my turn to do some apologizing. Lay back and spread your legs for me.”
I do exactly as he commands and just as I’m about to ask if I should slip off my panties, he reaches down and rips them off my body.
He twirls the lacy fabric around like a helicopter and grins.
I scrunch my nose. “I liked those.”
“Panties are overrated as far as I’m concerned.” He tosses the lace down on the floor along with my dress before he turns his warm gaze on me. “I prefer you like this. Naked and ready for me. You’re the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
Laying there before him, I should feel self-conscious, but I don’t. I want him so much, the only thing I can think of is having him inside me.
Gabe drops to his knees and hooks his arms under my legs and drags my ass to the edge of the bed. He kisses a trail along the inside of my thigh before he pushes my legs open wider. He dips down and when his tongue touches my clit, my hips buck because it feels amazing.
He stares up at me as he tongues my most sensitive numb. “You taste so damn good.”
I moan, loving the fact he enjoys giving me pleasure. This seems to excite him, because he throws my legs over his shoulders and goes to work sucking my clit. Warmth spreads over my entire body, and when he slips a finger inside me.
I explode, coming hard.
“Oh, God, Gabe. Yes!” I cry out, gripping hands full of his hair.
I open my eyes to find him watching me intently. “That was fucking sexy.” He climbs on top of me and kisses me deeply. The taste of me still lingers on his lips. “I’m going to have to do that again, but first…” The tip of his cock slides against my folds. “I think I’ll make you come while I’m deep inside you.”
“I like that idea,” I say as my hands find their way to his bare ass.
He thrusts his hips forward and buries himself inside me, and my fingers twist in the sheets. “Fuck. You feel so damn good. Jesus, if I move too much, I’ll come, and I want to make this last.”
I arch up and lick his top lip. “Please, move. Please, fuck me.”
“Shit,” he whispers. “Talking like that, beautiful … it just makes me want to give you exactly what you want.”
His lips crush into mine, and this kiss is hungry, like he’s ready to ravish me. He pulls his hips back and then plunges his cock back inside of me. Sweat slicks our skins, and we’re panting as we both search for own release. It doesn’t take long before a familiar tingle erupts within my core, and I come again.
A moan slips past my lips and Gabe’s movements become rougher as his own release peaks and he comes inside me while releasing a string of curses.
He collapses next to me, both of us staring at each other, trying to catch our breath.
“I love you,” Gabe says to me causing me to laugh.
“Are you sure it isn’t just the sex you love?” I tease.
“Oh, it’s good, beautiful, don’t get me wrong.” Gabe shakes his head and pushes a lock of hair out of my face. “But I’m positive. It’s you, Maggie. It will always be you. I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
I bite my lower lip. “Good.”
“How about tomorrow? Five o’clock?”
I sigh. In relief. In love. “It’s a date.”
It’s a few minutes before five and I stand beside the palm trees that separate the Elite from the beach and wait for my cue. After the display from Gabe yesterday where he told everyone to go home, not many guests stuck around for today’s event, but that’s okay. Everyone I care about is here. I spot my mother down on the front row. And behind her is Kale, here with his grandparents.
I was worried about getting dad’s wheelchair down there, but Gabe made sure to put a wood walkway down on the sand to make it possible for him to roll down there while he walks me down the aisle. Just another reason I’ve grown to love the man. He’s really gotten a bad rap, but he’s nothing like what I expected when I first met him. He knows how much it means to me for my father to be able to give me away.
“Are you ready for this?” Lani asks as she pulls the veil over my head so it covers my face.
“Yes,” I answer with confidence. “I’m so ready.”
“I’m so happy for you, M.” Lani smiles and her eyes well-up with tears. “It’s time something good happened to you for once.”
I wrap my arms around her. “Oh, Lani, don’t cry. No sad faces today.”
She sniffs as she pulls back. “I know. It’s just that you’re like a sister to me and I know you’ve been through so much shit, and now here you are. Looking all beautiful. These are happy tears, I promise.”
I wipe her tears and then kiss her cheek. “I love you, L. Thank you for being such a good friend to me through all this.”
She smiles. “I’m here for you any time—always—just say the word and I’m there.” She stands up straight up. “All right. Let’s get this show on the road and make you a married woman.”
We walk hand-in-hand to the landing where my father is waiting patiently for us. I’ve never seen a smile on his face so big as the one he’s wearing right now. “You look absolutely stunning, Maggie.”
I lean down and he lifts my veil high enough to kiss my cheek, and then I kiss his right back. “Thanks, Dad. You look pretty spiffy yourself.”
I right myself and he grabs the lapels of his jacket and straightens them a bit. “I do, don’t I?” he teases. “It’s been a long time since an old beach bum like me got dressed up for anything, but the day my only daughter gets married calls for such an occasion.”
I smile at him, and I don’t think my heart has ever felt so full before. “I love you, Dad.”
He grins up at me. “I love you, too. Now, let’s get this show on the road.” He grabs my hand and Lani takes her maid-of-honor place in front of my father’s chair so he can roll down the aisle next to my side.
I take a deep breath as Lani heads down first, and Dad gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. I’m a bundle of nerves, but for the best possible reason. I can’t wait to marry the man I love and become Mrs. Gabriel Carter.
The string quartet Gabe hired begins playing the Wedding March, and the only person I can focus on is my soon-to-be husband, whose blue-eyed gaze is locked on me like I’m the only other person on the planet other than him. It doesn’t matter that the gossip reporter is here, or potential investors. This all may have started as a façade for those individuals, but this moment is now solely for us, and a way for us to commit to our love for one another.
Gabe’s never looked more handsome, and the white dress shirt he’s wearing with the pink lei around his neck is perfect for our Hawaiian beach wedding.
Butterflies flutter in my stomach the moment I stop in front of Gabe, and the pastor asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“Her mother and I do,” Dad answers, his voice hitching.
I lean down and hug my father
before Gabe takes a step toward us. He extends his arm toward Dad, and they clasp hands.
“Take care of her,” Dad tells him.
“I’ll make her the happiest woman in the world. You have my word on it,” he answers without hesitation.
Dad gives a curt nod, and when he releases Gabe’s hand, he fiddles with the control to back his chair up so he can take his place sitting next to Mom.
Gabe threads his fingers through mine, and he smiles as he leads me in front of the pastor.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful, Maggie,” Gabe whispers in my ear. “I can’t wait to call you Mrs. Carter when I have you in my bed tonight.”
I stare up at him, and I make no attempt to stop the grin stretching across my face. “I look forward to that, Mr. Carter.”
Gabe licks his lips slowly and I know that if we were alone right now, we wouldn’t be able to keep our hands off one another.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If there is any reason these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The word forever rings in my mind. As I stare at Gabe, he mouths the words, “I love you,” to me while the preacher continues on with the ceremony, and I know without a doubt, our love is the forever kind.
Epilogue
Gabe grasps the over-sized scissors in his large hand as he leans into the microphone to address all the staff, press and investors who have joined us for this momentous occasion.
“This restaurant and spa has been a dream of mine since I bought this hotel over six years ago. I’m excited to cut this ribbon and open up this amazing place to all of you. Since O’ahu Elite merged with Hawaiian Bungalow last year after I married my beautiful wife…” He pauses to glance over at me and give me a dazzling smile before he winks. “Our resort campus has doubled in size, making our Elite Hawaiian Resort the biggest on the island, and we couldn’t be more proud to bring you another amazing addition.”