As he blows a raspberry on his daughter’s cheek, he heads inside with a laugh that matches her giggle. I want what he has. I want happiness. Belonging. Permanence. Hell, other than Becca, I never thought I wanted anything except corporate climbing and money. I lived for the kill. Now I’d do anything to have my bride look at me the way Nia looks at my best friend—with pure, unshakable love.
When I turn to find Sloan again, Bruce Rawson hovers nearby, and my wife looks pale and shell-shocked. When our eyes meet, it’s obvious she’s not okay.
But when I break away to reassure her, I feel a gentle hand on my arm. “Son?”
It’s not great timing, but I turn to my mother with a smile. I’ll only have a few hours with her before Sloan and I retire together until tomorrow. Mom’s flight arrived hours late, so she barely slept before she had to wake for the ceremony. She must be exhausted and jet-lagged, but she’s here, looking proud and happy.
I hug her close. “It’s great to see you, Mom. Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” She smiles, not merely like she’s happy to see me but with pure maternal love.
Why did I forget how much her steady affection means to me? “Do you want to meet Sloan?”
Evan, Nia, and half the Reed clan have clustered around her. Bruce Rawson can’t get near her now, thank goodness, but she’s clearly unnerved by his unexpected presence. In fact, the old man stares holes through Sloan.
I don’t know what he wants, but he better not upset her today.
“Please,” Mom says. “She’s so beautiful.”
“She is.” I lead my mother toward my wife. “She’s incredibly smart, too. That was the first thing I loved about her.”
“How long have you two known each other?”
My mom is traditional. She’ll think we haven’t known each other long enough to get married. Hell, maybe she’s right. But I refuse to believe I’ll ever regret making Sloan mine.
When I reach her side, I wrap an arm around her waist and guide her and my mom to a quiet corner inside the gorgeous bed-and-breakfast before making quick introductions.
Sloan’s smile is nervous but gracious as she offers her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Shaw.”
My mother tsks and holds out her arms. “It’s Daphne. How wonderful to meet you. I hope you don’t mind a hug. We’re family now.”
When Mom scoops Sloan into her embrace, my wife sends me a surprised glance. I can’t explain the big, super-close family I had growing up, but when my mother squeezes Sloan in a maternal embrace, her eyes brimming with happy tears, I hope my wife understands.
Mom looks my way. “I would have liked to meet her sooner, Sebastian.”
“Sorry. The ceremony was really spontaneous, so all the things I would have done if we’d had more time—”
“Did you rush to the altar because she’s pregnant?” my mother asks hopefully.
“Mom…no. We just didn’t want to wait. When you know, you know, right?”
She gives me a worried frown. “Sometimes people change their minds.”
Like my dad, who suddenly decided he didn’t want to be a family man anymore. She doesn’t want me to go through the horrible heartbreak she endured. But I will when Sloan serves me with divorce papers on our first anniversary.
No. I don’t want that. I’ll do whatever I have to so that doesn’t happen. I have a year to change her mind. I need to use it wisely.
Suddenly, my mother gives me a smile. “But I hope things will be different for you. You deserve happiness. Your sisters wanted to be here today.”
“To attend the wedding? Or because it’s warm in Maui all year?” I tease.
“Well…” Mom’s grin turns impish. “They definitely hated not seeing you get married…but they wouldn’t turn down the weather, especially after our hellish winter. And spring hasn’t quite sprung yet back home.” She scans the yard, leading to the beach and the ocean beyond. “It’s absolutely beautiful here. And I enjoyed catching up with Evan. He has a lovely wife.”
“Nia is great. They make a good team both in the office and at home.”
Mom turns to Sloan. “What do you do, dear?”
“My employer recently promoted me to VP of Finance,” she says cautiously, giving me a sideways stare full of questions.