He laughed like I’d just said a funny joke but then quieted down and said, “Good, because her and my aunts and uncles, all saying they don’t want to ever marry just made me sad.”

  “Uncles?”

  “I guess they are my mom’s cousins, but I call them my uncles. Mom said they are like her brothers because at one point they all lived together when they were little.”

  Cousins and siblings would be nice. I’d never hadany. Her parents’ deaths were clearly hurtful for her. Hopefully in time, the wedding was a dream for both of us and not just about the money for her. I knelt down despite the pins and said, “They said that and you heard?”

  The tailor tugged for me to stand but I only moved when Jeremy started talking and staring like I’d just started a revolt. “Yeah. They said they’d never be like my grandma and die without living. I don’t want my mom to be sad and lonely, when I go to college one day.”

  College had been fun, where I’d finally signed for recruiting into a farm system. I finished my degree online during my rookie year, and why I’d gone to the Bahamas to celebrate. Then I met Georgie so it was part of the cycle. I tugged my ear and then the tailor tapped that he was done. I beamed with pride as how handsome Jeremy was when I said, “Thanks for sharing. She mentioned a little, but I hadn’t thought it ran that deep.”

  Tuxedos were done and alterations had taken an hour. Hotel security guided us to a jewelry shop and mentioned Georgie was now in the spa.

  I suspected she’d be on time.

  The diamonds were big but Georgie was my princess so I went with one of them and a simple gold ring that I’d have to match but I asked my son, “What do you think of this one?”

  “It’s cool,” he said. “Mom said she loved my Aunt Stephanie’s ring and that was way smaller.”

  That was all I’d get. I paid and we headed back when the wedding staff took us back to the store. Time was flying today. We only had ten minutes now. We rushed in the tux shop, where I said, “Then let’s get dressed. It’s time to meet your mom.”

  We dressed and staff helped us with our hair for two minutes. Mine was short so there wasn’t much to comb. I went down to one knee and asked, “Do you want to cut those sides so you can see the ball better when you play?”

  “I heard you talking to mom at the game. You think my hair is why I can’t catch well?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do it.” He nodded at me and stood like a soldier.

  I took the clippers from the girl and shaved the edges myself and then handed it back for her to finish his cut.

  As she finished, Jeremy stared up at me. I patted him on the back and said, “You’re even more handsome now.”

  He beamed at me like I’d just given him the biggest gift out there.

  Jeremy walked beside me and again I saw my father in his face. we made it to the bridge and saw the lineup for the gondolas. The wedding staff directed us to a side entrance, and toward a waiting boat with a minister.

  “Is this a boat?” Jeremy asked as we jumped in.

  He put his weight back and forth to shake the boat and then as I reached him, he put his head over the side and checked that there was water or something. He sat in his seat like he was fine a moment later.

  I leaned forward. “Your mom said she wanted to get married on the gondola. She wanted privacy.”

  He took his phone out of his pocket and asked, “Can I take a picture to send to my aunts and uncles?”

  “Yeah,” I said. The wedding staff was moving. Finally I’d have the only woman in my heart as mine for a lifetime. This was good. I stood in the boat and saw the silk and lace and then locked gazes with Georgie’s brown eyes. “Your mom is breathtaking.”

  She was a vision as she came toward me and my chest was tight. As she reached the boat, she held her hands out and asked, “Can you two help me step down?”

  “Absolutely.” I reached past her poofy dress at the bottom and glanced at her now white jeweled figure on display as I held her to get her down.

  She fixed my bowtie and then our son's. “You both look great. Nice haircut.”

  “Michael did it.”

  “Jeremy agreed and we discussed it.”

  “We did.”

  I helped her to her seat as she slightly rocked the boat.

  “And you’re beautiful Georgie.”

  “It’s the makeup,” she said and glanced away.

  “No, it’s you. You’re beautiful.”

  Her face had a blush, but she didn’t argue.

  The officiant then pointed toward me and her as he said, “You two take that seat. Jeremy, sit next to me while I get your parents married.”

  And in a dream, a few minutes later, I said yes and we were married.

  We had a shot at forever now if she’d let us.

  Chapter 9

  Georgie

  * * *

  “You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant said and my eyelids fluttered closed.

  I forgot my son was watching when Michael claimed his kiss. Goosebumps grew on my arms, and I ran my fingers through his hair.

  This was a sweet moment, and I hardly heard my son’s groan or the gondola driver’s singing.

  I was Michael’s, forever.

  No tears, not now. I needed to be calm and this wasn’t it.

  Back in the Bahamas, I’d imagined him as my husband, but that dream had disappeared until now as his kiss ended.

  Now the dream was visceral and staring me in the face. And my gaze got misty.

  A memory of sitting at my mom’s funeral where my sisters, cousins, and I all swore that love and happily ever after were lies that we’d never believe again. Everyone agreed, and I’d swore with my sisters to never love any man so much that I’d want to stop living if something happened to him. My cousins probably had other reasons for agreeing, as it had been my dad that took them in at some point in our lives.

  All of us made a pact, though Stephanie broke the bond first when she announced she was getting married.

  The tension in my back like I betrayed my sisters only made my face heat.

  And Michael, maybe he didn’t count as I’d been with him before the vow and our wedding wasn’t about love. It was about keeping Jeremy’s future secure, forever.

  The gondola docked and he held my hand and helped me get off the boat as I wiped my eyes and said, “This was beautiful.”

  He had his hand on my back and Jeremy’s to lead us through a small walkway as he said, “Don’t cry. We have lunch.”

  Tears came out like marrying Michael was wonderful, and I said, “Don’t comfort me. You don’t make me calm at all and I’ll cry more.”

  I don’t even know why, and I couldn’t analyze it. The staff directed us to follow them to a room. He massaged me and said, “Let’s change fast.”

  We were brought to a hotel room where our clothes were bagged up, and boxes were laid out. Jeremy picked up his and said, “Mom, Michael bought me a new outfit.”

  Like he’d done for me too. The dress hadn’t been cheap, not that any wedding dress was. But I let Michael unzip me and my spine had a zap of awareness as Jeremy said, “My aunts and uncles all agree you were beautiful.”

  My son’s voice was like cold water tossed in my face as I asked, “You told them?”

  Jeremy’s eyes widened and said, “I took a video and put it in the group chat.”

  My heat clenched. Everyone knowing was like little stabs in my heart.

  I couldn’t breathe.

  I tried and reminded myself peace came from within, right? I’d never let Jeremy know he hurt me. I‘d never be like my mom.

  I hung the dress on a hanger and zipped it in the bag as Michael said, “We can stream the whole thing, so you can share the high def video.”

  I’d call tomorrow in the group chat as I’d planned though Jeremy already told them with one video. I nodded at him and said, “Okay. I’ll call them later.”

  Jeremy and Michael were dressed, and I was still in my all white slip.

  I finished packing the dress and went for the package as Michael said, “Time is speeding up. Right now we have a flight to Tulsa as I have a game tonight.”

  Time flew. I opened the white cotton dress and said, “I’ll finish fast. We can skip lunch as I’m not hungry.”

  He confirmed something on his phone as it beeped and he said, “No problem.”

  I took my pins out of my hair and let my hair fall behind my ears and neck. Then I gave them both a thumbs up and said, “Done.”

  He kissed my palm as he directed us out of the room and said, “Sorry about the speed of the day.”

  We ran toward the limo where the driver already loaded our bags, as I said, “It’s fun to have all these places to be.”

  Once we were heading back to the airport, that we could already see without touching the champagne as I just caught my breath. Michael then said, “I had my maid clean up the guest room for Jeremy tonight.”

  Weddings seemed dreamlike but this rushing around was fun. As the limo pulled into the spot, Jeremy said, “Must be nice to have a maid. Are we rich now?”

  Michael checked us in first class where there was no waiting. Then he said, “We have money to pay for what you need.”

  As we went to security, we were practically waved through as Jeremy said, “How about a nice car when I’m old enough?”

  A small chuckle came out of my mouth and I shook my head. Money wasn’t a reason to agree to everything. My son’s bargaining was funny, but I’d not laugh, as Michael said, “I think we can handle that.”

  Once we passed the guards, and I had my dress in my hand, I said, “We’re not talking about money anymore Jeremy, and don’t bring the topic up with your friends.”

  “Yes, Mom,” Jeremy said but then took his seat in first class where a flight attendant was getting him a juice.

  I put my seat belt on.

  I’d have to watch to make sure he didn’t get too spoiled.

  The plane finished loading and he said, “So in Tulsa I need to go to practice but you two can meet me and tomorrow I have the day off so we can celebrate without having to board planes.”

  Good. Life was great. We held hands and the flight was fast.

  I went into a dream state for a while as I stared at my ring. The princess cut was a few carats from the size and weight of it. Honestly, I never expected to marry or have a ring of my own. I wasn’t sure what to say. I blanked out for a while. I knew we landed, and I knew we were safe in a car Michael drove. But I’d stop believing in ever getting married. This moment seemed unreal.

  My bubble burst when we drove into a large gated estate home and Michael frowned as he said, “This is my…house. Georgie, Jeremy, it seems my parents came unexpectedly today.”

  Parents. I had pins and needles in my arms now, but I swallowed and said like everything was under control, “It will be nice to meet them.”

  He parked his car in his garage that had three more cars.

  I glanced around to see everything and noticed the cowboy hat on the coat rack near the door. We stepped into a foyer and an older woman with curls in her hair and a man who was slightly balding version of Michael stood. His mother wrapped her arms around me and said, “So this is the girl you’ve been pining for.”

  “Mom!” Michael said and sounded a little like Jeremy in that moment, which made me laugh.

  If my son grew into Michael, we’d need that gate to keep out the girls. His mother let me go but hugged Michael as she said, “It’s true. My son has been talking about you for years.”

  Sweet. I checked my dress didn’t have a wrinkle and said, “Well that’s nice to hear.” And then I offered my hand to shake his father’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Georgiana.”

  Michael held my waist and said, “Georgie, this is my mom, Sarah, and my dad, Tom.”

  The family resemblance was uncanny with that strong chin of theirs. I shook and said, “Nice to meet you both. How was the wedding?”

  They knew then. My face heated. “Beautiful.”

  Michael then put his hands on Jeremy’s shoulders while he said, “Mom. Dad. This is your grandson, Jeremy.”

  My son then held his hand out to shake as well when he said, “Nice to meet you.”

  Sarah went down on one knee and threw her arms wide open as she said, “Come here. We’re huggers.”

  My son hugged her, and everyone seemed complete. Sarah then glanced at me and said, “Your dad wants to know if we can treat Jeremy for an ice cream.”

  I nodded to Michael it was fine and then my lips pressed together. My mother would have done exactly this.

  “That sounds fun,” Jeremy said. “Michael promised ice cream in Vegas, but we ran out of time.”

  “We can make up for that. All the men in the family love chocolate syrup on ice cream,” Tom said and patted my son who had his profile, on the back as he said “We’ll be back in two hours, and we can all go to the game together.”

  The nose was clearly a family hand me down from Tom to Michael and now to Jeremy as I glanced at the profiles. We walked them to the front door and Michael asked his parents, “How long do you plan on staying in town?”

  His mother said, “Our tickets are for tomorrow. We’re staying in a hotel.”

  So, we were to be alone. I sucked my breath as that was rude. This house seemed huge unless the extra rooms were all game rooms, baseball memorials, libraries, indoor pools, tennis courts, or something. I hadn’t inspected to know, I met Michael’s gaze and his face was red as he said, “You don’t have to.”

  His mother ‘pfft’ and shook her head as she said, “We’re giving you both space. It's your wedding night! Maybe tomorrow if Jeremy likes us and the ice cream then you can let us have breakfast with our grandson.”

  Jeremy gave a thumbs up as he headed into the car with them. There was a booster seat in the back they must have rented.

  “I’m happy to have grandparents,” Jeremy said.

  “See you soon,” I said and waved them off.

  The rented SUV drove off but we stood on the driveway until the car was out of sight. Michael pressed his hand on my lower back. “We’re alone.”

  I walked beside him and as the door closed, I laughed and said, “It is our wedding day.”

  His blue eyes had a twinkle in them as he glanced up and down my body. My skin was alive and well aware of him, though I ignored the feeling. “True, and you are wearing too many clothes.”

  Well my instinct was right on, but I shrugged like I didn’t understand and said, “My dress is all packed up. Vegas was pretty fun. I’d never been there.”

  He swept his hands on my sides and unzipped me a little. “Don’t distract me, Georgie.”

  I batted my eyes a little too much and asked, “What do you want?”

  He guided me to walk backward into another room in his house as my dress draped open on the side as he said, “You… me… one time before they get back. Two hours is not that long and I have a game tonight.”

  I nodded and stopped pretending. I wanted this too. Michael and I made sense physically as he was the only one that made me see the stars. “So, where is your bedroom?”

  He tugged the shoulders of the dress to get it to fall off. “Oh you and I aren’t getting that far. My couch is near the fireplace.”

  I laughed and decided not to play coy anymore. I tugged on his t-shirt and he helped peel it off as I asked , “So, that’s what you want?”

  “I just want you. My mother told you the truth.”

  My heart pounded in my chest and goosebumps grew on my arms. Michael Irons must have had his pick of women. Yet he was here, with me, married like were in love. I swallowed and hoped I sounded light as I said, “That you missed me.”

  He then pressed his forehead to mine and didn’t move. “That I didn’t want another woman in seven years so I’m rearing to go again with you.”

  This was mutual and sexual hunger. I held him tighter and closed my eyes as our breaths mixed between us. “I didn’t want another man to be honest. The one guy who kissed me was boring and I never even invited that.”

  His face grew grave like I’d just told him someone beat me as he asked, “Who was it?”

  I shook my head and said, “A widower with six children. He was just so happy some Church women babysat and gave him the night off.”

  “I’m still jealous.” Michael unzipped his pants and my heart beat faster as he asked, “Who watched Jeremy?”

  “Olivia,” I said as his pants dropped to the ground.

  He tugged my bra free and then stared at me once it fell and his perusal made me hot as he said, “Now this is how I like to remember you.”

  He then kissed me, and steam rose through me. His hand pressed against my thigh, including his new colder gold ring he wore. I couldn’t think straight as he led me to the couch as I asked, “Will the ring interfere with your game?”

  “None of the other guys complain. I’ll let you know,” he said and then the last bit of our clothes came off as he tasted me everywhere and sent me straight into a heavenly orbit where all that mattered was more of this. Us together, forever.

  This was ideal. I never wanted love, and in time I’d figure out how to be cal near him. Then we’d be perfect and for now I had this, with Michael.

  Chapter 10

  Michael

  * * *

  The game went fast and then it was time to head home, to my wife I had to leave in our bed.

  Granted I saw her with my parents and son in the stands, but I’d had no chance to see them.

  Georgie’s body still rocked my body like gravity meeting a meteor. She burned through me, but I needed every part of her for more.

  I’d probably never be satisfied, and I didn’t care. She was my wife now.

  We’d won, and I raced out the second I could.

  The moon was high in the sky when I drove into my house and joined Georgie in bed.

  I dozed the second I curled beside Georgie and she smelled sweeter than roses to me.