Waiting for You (29 page)

“
Mi niña hermosa
. I love you so much.”

Karise made her way down the line for hugs before introducing
everyone. Pablo’s reception of Aidan was infinitely warmer than Devon’s
had been, much to Aidan’s relief.

“I bet you have pixies here, too,” Zoe leaned in and whispered to Karise as they walked through the garden leading to the house.

“Just wait until you see the roses. You can’t tell me he doesn’t have a pixie or two in those greenhouses.” Karise’s noisy whisper earned her a curious glance from Devon. Pablo and Lucia exchanged an amused look.

The rest of the day flew by in a happy haze of tours, food and a dip in Devon’s favorite swimming hole, which even had a waterfall.

Karise remembered something he’d said to her back in Napa. “Is this your waterfall?”

Devon nodded, looking thoughtful. “I spread her ashes over there.
We had a bit of a talk, first, though.”

“Have you forgiven yourself yet for being human?” She reached out to rub his shoulders.

“I’m working on it.”

“Victoria and I had a bit of a chat in the poppy field, too,” Karise admitted. “I had to let her off the hook for being human. Apparently this humanity thing is a family trait or something.”

“Which means you share it, too.” Devon turned to her, the corner
of his mouth curling up slightly.

Karise shook her head. “Nope. I somehow missed that flaw. I’m the perfect one.”

He guffawed at that before throwing her in the water. She came
up sputtering and grabbed his leg, pulling him in, too. That triggered
an all-out splashing war that spread through the entire family. She
was laughing so hard her sides hurt; laughter surrounded her. Her new
world blended in easily with her old, and Karise tucked the memories
away in her heart.

That night, after the house was quiet and everyone was in bed,
Karise slipped out of her room and padded down to Aidan’s. She
tapped softly on the door.

He opened the door and cocked his head. “You’re determined to get
me in trouble with your brother, aren’t you?” He let her in with a grin.

She reached up to kiss his cheek on her way by. “At this stage of the
game, I can’t imagine you’d be in too much trouble, but I’m not staying.”

“Too bad. I’ve missed you. I think we could both use a little trouble.”
He gathered her in his arms, placing kisses along her jaw.

She shoved him away playfully. “You’ll have all the trouble you can stand in a couple of days. But right now, I was thinking more along the lines of a back massage.” She produced massage oil from her robe pocket.

He raised his eyebrows at her. “We could get into trouble with that.”

Karise took his fingers, loosely tugging him over to the bed. “Nice
try. You look exhausted; you have for a while now. I think you need a
backrub and sleep more than you need trouble.” She pushed him back
onto the bed.

“If I’m ever too tired to make love to you, shoot me.” He rolled
over as commanded, gathering his pillow under him.

“I’d rather not.” Karise straddled his rump.

His only response was a happy moan when she began to work the
oil into his skin. Karise had intended the massage to be an act of kindness,
something sweet she could do to help him relax. But she found herself
enjoying the touch as much as he. Aidan had delightful lines, and she
loved exploring them. As she worked his tired muscles, she could feel
them start to relax and the knots loosen. Despite his protests, it didn’t
take long for his breath to even out, its steady cadence telling Karise
he was asleep. She stroked his back once more in appreciation, placing
a gentle kiss on his cheek and brushing his hair back before covering him with a blanket and letting herself out.

Alex’s family arrived the next day. Zoe was beside herself to see
Lani again. Karise spent the bulk of the day immersed in girl time. She
supposed it was close enough to call it her bachelorette party. Devon took Aidan, Daniel, and Gavin out for guy time.

That evening, the two groups came together for dinner. Zoe
soaked up every possible bit of attention from her new grandparents.

“Look.” Jane put a stack of pictures in front of Karise’s face. “In all the excitement, I haven’t shown you our pics from the last trip to Guyana.”

“Are these your children?” Karise lit up, flipping through the stack. “
Tell me all about them!”

Jane didn’t need further encouragement. She sat down next to
Karise and spent the next twenty minutes filling her in on every detail.

That night, the tap was at Karise’s door. She opened it to find Aidan
looking delectable in his white button-up and jeans.

“Have you come looking for trouble?” She moved so he could pass her by.

A grin twitched the corner of his mouth. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I
came to reciprocate. I’m not the only one who’s been working late nights
these days.”

This time it was his turn to lead her to the bed and gently push
her back. He didn’t wait for her to roll over but took it upon himself to flip her. She giggled, wiggling into a more comfortable position.

“Wiggle like that again and there will be trouble.” He hovered
closely over her, not quite touching. His deep voice rumbled so near
she could feel it, making it incredibly tempting for Karise to wiggle one
more time.

She didn’t get the chance because he was moving again, peeling
her clothes away. He kissed the small of her back, sending shivers
shooting out in all directions. And then he was working the oil into
her skin. His large, work-hardened hands somehow made her feel like
the most precious thing to ever exist.

Karise was in that blissful place between asleep and awake when he whispered words of love in her ear and left her alone in her room.

The next morning dawned bright and beautiful. Kate, Jane, and
Alex descended on her before she’d even had a cup of coffee, readying
her for the wedding. Zoe flitted in later, declaring her the most beautiful
mommy ever, before Lucia found her. The woman who’d been a mother
to Karise stopped short at the sight of her.

“She’s right. You are beautiful.” Lucia took Karise’s hands in hers.

Karise kissed the woman’s cheek. “I knew I had a lot to thank you
for, and I’ve always loved you, but having Zoe in my life gives me a whole new appreciation for you. You’re an amazing woman, and I’m lucky to have you for a mom.”

Lucia wiped her eyes and hugged Karise. “I’ve always loved you as if you were my own. I’m so thankful for you and your father.”

After a warm embrace, Lucia ushered Zoe out of the room while
Jane set about repairing Karise’s makeup. When she was finished, Karise
stepped back to look at her reflection. The satin dress was both simple
and elegant; its gracefully sweeping lines reminded Karise of the wind
blowing across her poppy field back home.

“It’s time.” Kate handed her a bouquet of warmly colored poppies.

Jane and Alex each hugged her carefully and wished her well
before leaving to take their seats. Karise was bubbling with emotion, though she hoped she was managing to look poised on the surface. Like moving through a dream, she was aware of Kate fussing over
her dress. Pablo took her hand and whispered how lovely she looked.
Music was playing. The faces of those she loved most were around her.

And then time fell away the instant she saw him standing there in a morning dress tuxedo under the arbor of roses Devon had made for this moment. They were the only two people in the world as she obeyed the magnetic pull that drew her down the short aisle until she stood before him, her hand in his, their eyes locked.

Karise wasn’t sure how she managed to recite her vows. She wanted
to weep at the sweetness of his, as he declared before all that she was his only love, the one he had been waiting for.

The ceremony was short and simple, exactly what Karise had
wanted. And just like that, Karise McAlister became Karise Donnelly.
For the first time in her life, she didn’t care nearly as much about the name she left behind as the one she’d gained.

Later that afternoon, after the meal had been served and the cake
had been cut, she found herself twirling around the dance floor in
Aidan’s arms. He was strong and steady, something Karise needed to keep her upright as a heady mixture of love and desire threatened to overtake her. His eyes shone brightly as he looked down at her, adoration written all over his face. She hoped he could see the love written on hers as well. She knew she could spend the rest of her life trying and never fully convey what was in her heart.

She never could have foreseen the path her life had taken, but then
she was beginning to realize that life’s unexpected journeys were often
the sweetest. She held Aidan a little tighter, wondering what trails lay
before them. Whatever they were, she knew she’d follow him anywhere.
Not only were the good things worth waiting for, they were worth
holding on to.

“
YOU’RE EXCITED TO MEET ME,
aren’t you?”Aidan was bent over
Karise’s stomach, his hands placed on either side of her ever-expanding
belly as he talked to his children.

“And you are going to get them all riled up again,” Karise teasingly
protested, reaching out to stroke his hair.

“I can’t help it. I want them to know me when they’re born.” His face shone brightly as he looked back up at her.

“How could they not know you? You’re the best daddy ever. They
can just ask their big sister if they need references.” Karise resituated
herself on the couch; one of the twins was pushing a bone that wasn’t
designed for doing handstands on. “Speaking of big sister, when will Zoe be home? I’m dying to show her the room.”

“Gavin just texted. Jonathan woke up from his nap, so they’re loading up now.”

“Then I’d better hurry and put the finishing touches on.”

“Sweetheart, hurrying is one thing you do not excel at these days.”
Aidan kissed her stomach and then moved to kiss her mouth.

She kissed him back before chastising him for not being nice. He kissed her again and she forgave him.

“I can’t believe we actually got the house finished in time.” Aidan
stood and offered Karise a hand.

She
used the
outstretched
arm to heft
herself
off the couch, wondering
if she’d ever be skinny again. “Just barely, I think.”

“Because they’re excited to meet me,” Aidan circled back to the
original conversation.

“For someone who likes to remind me the best things are worth
waiting for, you are terribly impatient.” Karise waddled towards Zoe’s
room. She never got tired of looking at it; everything had come together
perfectly. Zoe’s new room was a child’s wonderland, and the house was
now sporting two additional rooms and a bathroom. For entertaining
space, Karise had added to the outside of the house with a patio and an outdoor kitchen.

Aidan leaned against the doorframe of Zoe’s room, admiring Karise’s
handiwork. “It’s amazing. You’re amazing. And you and the children,
you’re definitely the best things in life.”

Karise rested against his chest, relishing the steady feel of his
heartbeat behind her and the thump of stretching babies in her belly.
In that
moment, she was completely and totally surrounded by love. It was a memory she wouldn’t have missed for the world.

I have many people in my life I’m forever grateful for. God’s blessed
me by surrounding me with some pretty fantastic friends, family and
readers. I can’t thank you all enough for being part of my world.

Erica Fitzgerald – you are a phenomenal editor and even better
friend. If not for your encouragement, I would never have finished that
first book when I picked up my pen again after a decade of silence. I value your friendship and opinion more than you’ll ever know.

Jennifer Gilbert, Sophie Weeks and Loretta Matson – you are all three incredibly talented women and I’m so thankful you were part of this project. I’m even more thankful you didn’t reach through the
computer screen to thump me when I habitually missed deadlines. Your
professionalism and patience is forever appreciated and is surpassed
only by your creative talent. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Becki Brannen, Pamela Hargraves, Dan Litvak, Cassie Beattie,
Megan Bermel, Holli Wright, Megan Stevens, Denise Hodge, Alison
Scheppel, Kasey Andruski & Stefani Berislavich-Hill – whenever I
begin to wonder how I can possibly find the time to write another book,
you remind me why I started down this path in the first place. Every day, I’m thankful for the chance to know such amazing people. You are more than my readers; you are my friends.

Ties that Bind
(Contemporary Romance) Kate has moved to San Francisco and gotten herself hired by the man she suspects to be her dad. Soon, she will have to confront the decisions of her past to find out whether she can love the man who gave her up, the man who loves her, and even herself.