Page 65 of Queen of Diamonds
He did hear his permission to kiss his bride. He’d meant to make it a brief kiss, but kiss and brief where she was concerned was impossible.
“Dude, enough tonguing my sister,” Alex muttered, making his brothers chuckle.
“Yuck, they’re kissing,” one of Nate’s daughters exclaimed, causing every adult in attendance to laugh.
Rand pulled his mouth away from Kinsey’s, then touched his forehead to hers. “How do we make them all go away?”
“Time for the last photo ops before the sun is gone,” the photographer said.
He groaned.
Later that evening, after a delicious island-themed dinner with their families, Kinsey slipped her hand into her husband’s as they walked onto the dance floor for the bride and groom dance. Their after-wedding party was taking place in a cordoned-off section of the resort’s pool area. The ocean was visible, the moon full, the night magical.
“Mrs. Stevens, I believe this dance is mine,” he said, stopping them in the middle of the floor. They’d only taken a few steps when he slid his hand to her wrist and wrapped his fingers around the necklace. “Thank you for this. You have no idea what it meant to me when I saw you wearing it. It felt like she was here with us.”
“I think she was.” The idea had come to her when she’d been going through her jewelry box, deciding what pieces to bring with her. She’d debated wearing it, then decided because of the sapphire stone in the heart, it would be her something blue. When she’d put it on her arm after getting dressed, she’d told her sisters-in-law the story behind it. With tears in their eyes, they’d each agreed it was a perfect way to honor Zoe’s memory.
“If I told you that I have one more wedding present for you, what would you guess it was?”
She leaned her head back and looked up at him. “You already gave me a pair of gorgeous diamond earrings. That’s more than enough.”
“You’re going to love this one even more. I’ll give you a hint. It’s something you once told me you’ve never done but wanted to.”
After a moment of thinking, she said, “We’re going to skydive?”
“Actually we are.” He smiled at her. “I’ve made arrangements for us to do that this week. But that’s not it. Guess again.”
There was only one other thing she’d said the day he’d asked his question, and she gasped. “No way.”
“Yes, way. We’ll be attending the Paris Fashion Week.”
“That is a very pleased-with-yourself smile on your face.” And oh God, she was really going to the biggest fashion event in the world.
“I’ll admit to that. Are you surprised?”
“Stunned might be a better word.” She trailed the tips of her fingers across the back of his neck, thrilled when she felt him shiver. “I’ll have to find a way to thank you later.”
“I might have some ideas about that.” He pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “How lucky am I to have the most beautiful bride in the history of the world? That dress is gorgeous on you, Sunshine, but I’m dying to take it off. When can we blow this joint?”
She laughed. “Patience, husband. They’re all leaving in the morning. We’ll have a whole week to ourselves. You can spend it taking off the clothes I put on.”
He chuckled against her neck, sending shivers of pleasure down her back. “Trust me. I plan to keep you naked for the next seven days.” He stepped back, spun her under his arm, then pulled her back to him. “And that’s a promise, Mrs. Stevens. One of many I plan to keep.”
“Kinsey Stevens,” she said. “I love how that sounds.” A year ago she’d been alone. Now she had a husband, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews… a whole new amazing, wonderful life. In her deepest desires she’d never dared to wish for so much.
“What are you thinking?” her husband asked.
“That I’m blessed.”
