Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (30 page)

“
Aiden,
”
I say, stopping to compose myself, then repeating the words he said when he asked me to marry him.
“
You and I are like a promise. A wish. Proof that luck and fate bring people together. Proof that true love can survive the kiln. I promise to be patient, to continue to build a strong foundation with you, and to live a life unscripted.
”

His green eyes lock with mine, pulling them in with those tractor beams of his, and making me feel like we
’
re the only two people on the planet.
 

“
Keatyn,
”
he says,
“
I promise to never pretend punch your head, to watch a million sunsets with you, to love you with everything I am, and to share our love that is utterly, breathtakingly beautiful.
”

We exchange rings, and the officiant declares us husband and wife.
 

“
I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Aiden Arrington.
”

After we make our way down the aisle, Aiden and I lead the processional down to the cocktail hour on the brick terrace. Once everyone has gathered, we
’
re pulled aside to go back to the altar to take some photos. I definitely want some as the sun is starting to set.
 

“
You know the tree with our initials carved into it?
”
he asks me in between smiling for the camera.
 

“
Yeah.
”
 

“
On our way down to the reception, we need to stop and carve our wedding date in it.
”

“
I love that idea, Aiden.
”

“
So do I get to see these boots?
”

“
Of course, they
’
re amazing. Like the ribbons in the trees, they are pretty much the story of us. My grandparents had them made.
”

I pull the skirt of my dress up and show off the boots.
 

“
Wow. They thought of everything. The boots are incredible, just like my wife.
”

“
Your wife. That sounds so cool.
”
 

He kisses me.
“
That
’
s because it is. I realized when I saw you coming down the aisle in a dress with golden embroidery that our wedding was like your dream.
”

“
Yeah, I had such a clear vision of marrying you that day. I couldn
’
t imagine my wedding any other way.
”

“
Well, when you have an epic love story like ours, you had to know everything would turn out perfectly.
”

“
Thanks to Ariela for bringing my vision to life and to Knox. Because of him we didn
’
t have to worry about the paparazzi. By the time we do the press release, we
’
ll be somewhere on our honeymoon. Where are we going again?
”

“
I haven
’
t told you yet.
”

“
Just a hint, please.
”

“
We
’
re not staying in one location. We
’
ll be moving around.
”

“
Oh,
”
I say, a little disappointed.
“
I was kind of looking forward to checking in somewhere and relaxing.
”

“
Do you trust me?
”
he asks, taking my hand.

“
Of course, I do.
”

“
Then let
’
s go celebrate.
”

“
I have something I want to give you first,
”
I tell him.
“
Come in the house for a sec.
”

We sneak into our bedroom where I have a wrapped present sitting on the bed.
 

“
What is this?
”

“
Something I
’
ve been saving for this day for a really long time.
”

He rips open the wrapping revealing the bowl I made in ceramics class at Eastbrooke.
 

“
Our love survived the kiln,
”
he says.

“
It sure did,
”
I reply, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him.

Shelby
’
s Bungalow - Sunset Boulevard

SHELBY

Although I had fun going to Bam
’
s room with him last night, he left town with nothing more than a promise to call me when he comes back.
 

Needless to say, I
’
m not holding my breath. Guys
always
say that.

Whatever, I
’
m bored, and Riley has been gone for long enough. It
’
s time for me to put an end to whatever is going on with my competition and get him back here where he belongs.

While I was lying by the pool and sipping champagne this afternoon, I had a brilliant revelation about Riley. Although he can be swayed by sex, I seem to get what I want more when I appeal to his emotional side.
 

And that will be the way to get him to marry me
—
by appealing to his heart.

Now, what can I do to guarantee that Riley hops on that pretty plane of his and gets his ass back to me as fast as he can?

I smile to myself when I come up with the perfect answer.

Asher Vineyards
—
Wedding

KNOX

I
’
m dancing with Keatyn under the twinkle lights of her reception when I notice a pretty girl with an amazing rack wandering off the dance floor toward the bar.
 

“
Who
’
s the chick in the red dress?
”

“
That
’
s my friend, Katie. We were on dance team together in high school.
”

“
How is it that I
’
ve never met her?
”

“
I don
’
t know.
”

“
What does she do? And who
’
s the guy with her, her little brother?
”

“
No, that
’
s her date,
”
she says with a chuckle.
 

“
She run a daycare?
”
I quip.

“
No, but she does tend to date younger guys. She
’
s a teacher.
”

“
I bet she could teach me a thing or two.
”
 

“
Knox!
”
Keatyn exclaims and gives me a playful slap on the forearm.

“
Is she normal?
”

“
As in not crazy? Yes, she is. In fact, she
’
s been dying to meet you. She calls you Foxy Knoxy.
”
 

“
You
’
ve been holding out on me?
”
 

“
You were in a relationship with makeup girl and then were dating Jennifer.
”

“
That
’
s over.
”

“
I heard. Thank you for handling it well.
”

“
She
’
s been flirting with your friend, Troy.
”

“
Aww, really? They
’
d be cute together. The actress and the world-famous DJ and rockstar.
”

“
Oh, look, the kid just went to the bar. You need to introduce me.
”
I grab Keatyn by the elbow and lead her off the dance floor to where Katie is standing alone.
 

“
Katie,
”
Keatyn says,
“
I want you to meet Knox. It
’
s hard to believe that two of my best friends have yet to meet.
”

Katie doesn
’
t say a word, just has her mouth open, staring at me.
 

“
Hi,
”
I say, trying to make her feel comfortable. I mean, I
’
m used to women getting flustered around me. I am Knox Daniels, after all.

When she doesn
’
t reply to my greeting, Keatyn says,
“
Katie has a question for you, Knox. One she doesn
’
t understand why no reporter has ever asked you.
”

“
No, I don
’
t!
”
Katie snaps, her eyes getting big and looking embarrassed as Aiden whisks Keatyn back out on the dance floor. Oh, Katie, don
’
t be shy with Knox.

“
Aww, come on. Tell me,
”
I encourage, suddenly feeling desperate to know the question. Katie has a shy, fresh-faced, girl-next-door look on a killer, curvaceous body
—
just my type.

She flashes a glare in Keatyn
’
s direction then slams her drink, takes a deep breath, and says to me,
“
Fine. You know how your character in
Trinity
is known for his lip biting?
”

“
Yes,
”
I say, curious as to where this is going.
 

“
I wondered if you yourself use that technique.
”

I react by giving her a long kiss, nipping her lip to end it and expecting her to fall into bed with me.
“
So, what do you think?
”

She frowns. Why is she frowning? I’m an amazing kisser.

“
That was nice and all, but it
’
s not what I meant.
”
 

Shit. Now I feel stupid for kissing her.

Her demeanor changes from shy and innocent to bold and daring as she puts her hand on her hip, smirks, and leans closer to me.

“
What I really wondered is if you do it when you kiss somewhere
lower.
”

Now I
’
m the one with my mouth hanging open.
 

Just for a minute.
 

Oh, I like this girl.
 

I recover quickly.
“
Well, sugar, would you like to find out?
”

She glances at her date who is back on the dance floor grinding on a group of women.
 

I wave a thumb in his direction.
“
How old is he?
”

“
He
’
s legal.
”
She laughs.
“
Actually, he
’
s twenty-two.
”

“
That
’
s pretty young.
”

“
You
’
re one to talk. How much younger is Jennifer than you?
”

“
Keatyn said you always date younger guys? Why?
”

“
I suppose because they
’
re readily available.
”

“
How are they in bed?
”
 

“
Hmm,
”
she says, adorably chewing on her lip while she thinks.
“
I
’
d say younger guys, like him, are good for fun and intensity, but not big on finesse.
”