“I will leave my office cave for family dinner.”

  Mae grinned. “Excellent. Maybe you and your sister will actually manage to have a conversation.”

  “Yeah, and pigs will fly across the dining room table tonight, too.”

  Honor and Mae got down to work putting the finishing touches on this weekend’s weddings, which took her mind off having to sit at the table with her sister. By the time they were finished, it was close to dinnertime. Mae left to tidy up her own office, and Honor headed upstairs to freshen up. When she started back downstairs, she paused, then frowned.

  Was that Owen’s voice she heard? Her heart did a small leap.

  No, it couldn’t be. What would he be doing here?

  She inched down the stairs, and then, like she had when she was a child, she peeked between the stair slats.

  Sure enough, there was Owen, standing in the dining room, beer in hand, talking with Jason.

  And Erin.

  And everyone was smiling. Erin wasn’t even stabbing Owen with a knife.

  Had she fallen asleep upstairs and this was all a dream? Had she stepped into an alternate universe?

  The only way to find out is to actually go into the room, girl.

  She wrinkled her nose and mentally shushed her internal voice, which was, of course, right as usual. She stood and walked nonchalantly into the dining room.

  “Oh, Owen. You’re here.”

  Way to be obvious, Honor.

  She and her inner voice were going to have a harsh conversation later.

  “Yeah. I got an invite and who would want to miss seafood boil night?”

  “Right.”

  She wanted to ask who invited him, because as far as she knew no one in the family was speaking to him. Except everyone in the family was speaking to him, apparently. Her mom smiled at Owen as she brought the plates in. And Dad had chimed in on the conversation Jason and Erin were having with him.

  And then Brenna and Finn walked in.

  “Hi, all. Sorry we’re late,” Brenna said. “Hey, Owen.”

  What in the seventh level of hell was going on here?

  Honor went to the sideboard and poured herself a very large glass of sangria, took several swallows, then turned to face the group gathered there.

  “I have a question.”

  “What’s that?” Brenna asked.

  “Why is Owen here?”

  “Oh,” Erin said. “I invited him.”

  What? Had she lapsed into a coma and missed a year of her life or something? Except Erin was very obviously pregnant so she didn’t think that had happened. “You invited him. Excuse me but what did I miss?”

  “Well, if you’ll let me explain, Owen and I talked last night and got some things figured out. So I thought it might be nice if he came to dinner. And maybe you two could work some things out, too.”

  “Oh, is that right? How nice of you to make all these arrangements without my consent, Erin.”

  “Honor, I—”

  She held up her hand to silence Owen. “You and I are not speaking. And last time I looked, Erin, neither were we. So it would be really awesome if someone filled me in.”

  “Well, maybe if you wouldn’t spend all your time hiding in your office and ignoring requests for meetings, someone might just be able to have a conversation with you.”

  Honor gaped at Erin. “Hello, pot. Meet kettle. Who’s the one that’s been cold-shouldering me, refusing to speak to me, for, I don’t know how long? And you’re mad because I spent the day locked up in my office?”

  Erin started to argue, then blew out a breath. “You’re right. My bad. Can we please talk?”

  “Fine.”

  Erin motioned for Honor to come sit at the table. Warily, she complied. She thought maybe everyone else would leave, giving Erin and her some alone time. But, no, true to form for her family, everyone else took a seat, too.

  Including Owen. She didn’t know what to make of him being there. Or of the fact that he and Erin were now on speaking terms.

  “Owen and I had a conversation last night. One that was long overdue and cleared some things up for both of us. For me, especially.”

  “How—” She pulled back the snarky comment, deciding it was best to listen. “Go on.”

  “I realized that when I saw you two kissing, and then you told me you were dating, and eventually you told me you were married, I was upset. Not because you were together, but because the closure I thought I had gotten when Owen and I had talked when he was sick wasn’t the closure I needed.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “Because Owen was sick, and I couldn’t get mad at him. And I really needed to be angry with him. I was angry. And hurt. Only I didn’t get a chance to let that out.”

  Now the lights were coming on. “Oh. You were holding all that in because of Owen’s cancer treatments.”

  Erin nodded. “Yes. So seeing him with you brought all of that back—don’t ask me why. I guess because it was you, and I was being protective in my own screwed-up way. I didn’t want to see you hurt. Only I did end up hurting you—the last person I would ever want to do that to. I’m so sorry, Honor. The way I treated you was unforgivable. If I’d known what was going on in my head, if I hadn’t been so confused about my feelings, this never would have happened. I can’t apologize enough for my horrible behavior.”

  Her heart squeezed. “It’s okay.”

  Erin shook her head. “It’s not okay.”

  “She said she feels so bad about it that you could choose our baby’s name,” Jason said.

  Erin pinned Jason with a look. “I never said that.”

  Jason smirked.

  Honor laughed. “Well, that’s totally unnecessary.” She squeezed Erin’s hands. “I’m sure that was a very confusing time for you. And I forgive you. We’re sisters.”

  Erin’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you, Honor.”

  “I love you, too.”

  They reached for each other, and it felt so good to hold Erin against her again. She’d felt so lost without her all this time.

  “Good God, I’m glad that’s over,” Brenna said. “You two are exhausting.”

  “Brenna,” her mother warned.

  “What?” Brenna asked. “We’re all thinking it.”

  Honor ignored her, continuing to bask in Erin’s warm embrace. When they pulled back, Honor asked, “Did you get the closure you needed?”

  “I did. It was actually Owen who suggested I had pent-up anger and hurt. We talked it out—mainly I vented and ranted and he sat and took it. Now it’s firmly in the past, where it belongs.”

  Honor looked over at Owen, who was watching her intently.

  “And speaking of bright futures . . .” Erin looked over at Owen, who stood and moved into the center of the room.

  “Right. Honor, can you come over here so we can talk?”

  She wasn’t sure she was ready for this conversation, especially in front of her family. They’d both said terrible, hurtful things. Rehashing those would be painful. And she wasn’t certain of the outcome. Was he here to tell her that he wanted the divorce? Her heart couldn’t take it if that was the case. Maybe that was why he wanted to do it with her family here, to help ease the blow.

  One way or the other, it would all be over tonight. Finally.

  Except she didn’t want to lose him. Her heart belonged to him. How was she going to make him see that before it was too late?

  She got up and walked over to him, feeling exposed and vulnerable and more than a little bit on display. But when he took her hands in his, everyone else fell away and it was just the two of them.

  “You were right when you accused me of walking away from you. I never should have done that, because since the day you became my wife, I’ve been by your side, and that’s the only place I ever want to be. Walking away from you was by far the biggest mistake I ever made, and one I don’t ever intend to repeat.”

  She took a deep breath.

  “There’s a lot I have to be sorry for. First to Erin for the way everything went down between us. She and I have talked it through, but I’m going to apologize to the family again. I didn’t just hurt Erin. I hurt all of you, and I’m sorry. I know you said you forgive me, but I hope you mean that, because I’m in love with Honor.”

  He turned to Honor. “You are the one I want, the only woman I will ever love with my entire heart. And now I’m going to stop apologizing for the way I feel because how I feel when I’m with you, Honor, is like magic. I feel like I’m whole again. You and I were meant to be, and maybe all this had to happen so we could be together. Unconventional? Sure. A little crazy? Definitely. But it’s been fun and I wouldn’t change a thing about you and me.

  “I want to stay married to you. I want to be married to you for the rest of our lives, if you’ll have me, because I love you.”

  Honor’s heart was beating so fast she was afraid she might faint. He’d said everything she’d hoped he’d say. And oh-so-much more. She was so filled with love for this man.

  “I love you, Owen. I should have said those words the last time we were together, in front of my family, and I’m sorry I didn’t, because my love for you has been clear in my heart for a very long time. And there’s no excuse for why I didn’t, other than a little bit of panic, fear of hurting Erin more and the eyes of my entire family on me. I wanted the I love yous between us to be a private moment, but you know how the Bellinis are. Always in each other’s business.”

  “Hey,” Brenna said. “You’re right, of course, but hey.”

  Honor laughed. “It’s okay. At least Owen knows how we are. Anyway, if you’ll have me, Owen, I would very much like to continue being your wife.”

  She thought maybe he’d kiss her and then the family would celebrate. But he surprised the hell out of her by getting down on one knee and producing a velvet box.

  “I don’t even remember where those cheap wedding rings came from that we got in Vegas,” he said, opening the box and revealing an incredible diamond-encrusted wedding band that took her breath away. “But you deserve much more than that.”

  He took the ring out and placed it on her finger, then stood. “Will you be my wife, Honor Bellini?”

  She pulled him close. “I am your wife, Owen Stone. Forever.”

  And then he kissed her, a hot, passionate, curl-her-toes kind of kiss, right there in front of her whole family, who might have been clapping or cheering or throwing food at them for all she knew. But she was so wrapped up in Owen that she was blissfully unaware of anything other than kissing her husband.

  There really were such things as happily-ever-afters.

  Who knew?

  EPILOGUE

  SO, YOU FINALLY showed up for a wedding.”

  Owen slanted a look at Jason. “Funny. And I did show up to marry Honor the first time. Though the details are a little fuzzy. Besides, I couldn’t get married—officially married—without my best friends standing up for me.”

  And they all had. When Honor’s mom asked if they wanted to do an official wedding ceremony, they’d said no at first. But then Honor suggested that maybe it wasn’t a bad idea, since no one had been present at their first wedding—including themselves, since they’d both been so toasted neither of them could remember anything. So they decided to do a family-and-close-friends-only event, and to keep it simple.

  Of course, with the Bellinis involved, simple and wedding didn’t fit in the same sentence. Which was why Owen currently waited in the grooms room wearing a tux.

  “At least you know we’ll make sure you’re sober for this one,” Clay said.

  Finn came in with a bottle of whiskey and a handful of glasses. “Who wants shots?”

  Owen groaned. “Definitely not me.”

  “Oh, come on,” Finn said, lining up the shot glasses on the table. “One shot only, to toast to your future.”

  He could do that. After all, he had his boys with him, and they’d never let anything bad happen to him.

  He picked up the glass, remembering that night that seemed like an eternity ago, when in reality it hadn’t been all that long.

  “To Owen,” Finn said. “The luckiest son of a bitch I’ve ever known.”

  Owen grinned and they all took their drinks.

  Finn was right about that. Owen felt incredibly lucky. He’d survived cancer, had accidentally married the woman of his dreams, and despite all the drama and misunderstandings and total fuckups, he got to marry her again today in front of her family and his.

  Could life get any better? He didn’t think so.

  There was a knock on the door and Mae popped her head in. “Five minutes, guys.”

  “Thanks, Mae,” Owen said.

  He was ready. More than ready to step into his future with Honor.

  * * *

  • • •

  “YOU ARE SO beautiful, cailín leanbh.”

  Honor took in a deep breath and smiled at her mother. “Thanks, Mom. I feel like I might faint.”

  Her mom grasped her by her shoulders. “No, you will not faint. You are strong, in love, and you’re about to walk down the aisle to your husband.”

  “Right.” She nodded, needing that pep talk.

  “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like this is a big deal. We’re already married. And I’ve done so many weddings before. I could do this with my eyes closed.”

  Erin came up behind her and smoothed out her hair. “But this is your wedding, Honor. Trust me, I know. The feeling is different.”

  She’d wanted to go small scale. Just a little garden thing, with a barbecue after. Just the immediate family, to make Mom happy. That was the way the planning had started, but then things had escalated, and then one day when she’d been out shopping with Mom, Erin and Brenna, she’d found the prettiest dress in a store in Oklahoma City that would absolutely not go with barbecue. Her sisters insisted she try it on.

  It was a strapless silk taffeta. Not super fancy or anything, but it was beautiful, needed only minimal alterations. The moment Honor put it on, she wanted to burst into tears. The fact that she could tell her mom and sisters were also holding back waterworks told her all she needed to know.

  This was her dress. And Mom had told her that Grandma’s pearl necklace would look amazing with it. That sold her completely.

  Today she stood in front of the full-length mirror, her hair pulled up, Grandma’s necklace around her neck for something old, the beautiful sapphire blue earrings Erin had bought for her for something new, Brenna’s bracelet adorning her right wrist for something borrowed, and the blue garter surrounding her thigh for something blue.

  She was so ready to go marry her guy. The one she’d spent the past six weeks living with at his home—now their home—with their dog. It had been idyllic and perfect and she couldn’t be happier.

  Now to make it official. Well, it was already official, but it would be nice to remember this wedding.

  “I can’t believe you’re getting married while I’m pregnant,” Erin said, running her hand over her now very obvious belly.

  “Yeah, but you’re glowing and beautiful,” Brenna said. “First trimester might have sucked for you, but you’re rocking the second like a champion.”

  Erin beamed and pulled Brenna in for a squeeze. “Thank you. I feel amazing. And thank you, Honor, for choosing the most beautiful bridesmaid gowns.”

  “They are quite lovely,” Mae said. “You have an eye for color, Honor.”

  Honor grinned. “Hey, I know what you all look good in. And God knows we’ve all seen plenty of hideous dresses.”

  “Amen to that,” Brenna said.

  Since they all had different coloring, with Erin having midnight-black hair and Brenna being a redhead, she chose a dark-burgundy-colored dress for her sisters. There was one thin shoulder strap, and another with ruched fabric. The flow of the dress was amazing, especially the slit partway up. Both her sisters looked like goddesses.

  “You’re all beautiful,” Mom said. “Now let’s go get married.”

  Honor laughed. “Okay, Mom.”

  She met her dad outside, his eyes sparkling with happiness. “You are beautiful.”

  “Grazie, Papa.” She kissed his cheek, the photographer took pics and they were off to the arbor.

  Her stomach knotted with nervousness as music started to play and she waited while Erin and Brenna made their way down the aisle. Mae was in charge of the wedding today and she was doing an impeccable job.

  “Okay, Honor,” Mae said, giving her an easy smile. “Time to go.”

  Now it was her turn. As soon as she saw Owen at the arbor, all the tension in her body fled. He looked tan and tall and gorgeous standing there in his tux, and all she could think was how the stars had aligned and somehow she’d gotten lucky enough to have this man as her husband.

  Her dad handed her off to Owen, and they stood in front of the pastor and said their vows, the ones where they promised to take care of each other, to love each other forever. And she realized at this moment just how important this wedding was to her, because it made their marriage feel real.

  Sure, she knew they were legally married. She had the piece of paper from the chapel in Vegas to prove it. But now they were really married. They’d said the words, sober and from their hearts and souls. And that meant everything.

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss each other.”

  Her heart did a little leap when Owen cupped his hand around her neck. He paused, gave her a smile.

  “Forever, my only love,” he whispered.

  “Forever,” she whispered back.

  He pressed his lips to hers and sealed the deal.

  And then there were cheers and applause and they turned to face their families and friends.