Part 27 (2/2)
As if she could read his mind, her cheeks flushed and her gray eyes melted. Her body swayed into his. In her high heels she fit perfectly against him. ”Everett, there's no time now.”
He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her clean scent that drove him crazy. He whispered in her ear, knowing how it affected her. ”I want to see you in nothing but your stockings and shoes.”
Her hand snaked between them to check how aroused he was. She looked up at him mischievously. ”Olivia's waiting for you.” With a squeeze, she turned and slowly sashayed out the door.
He adjusted himself. Later she'd pay for that little bit of teasing, and they were both going to enjoy it.
He strode down the hall to Olivia's room. As he opened the door, he was a.s.sailed with feminine laughter.
Eve raised her champagne flute. ”To everlasting love and eternal happiness.”
The pixie one-if he remembered correctly her name was Gwendolyn-lifted her gla.s.s. ”To hot men who know what to do with chocolate sauce.”
The women guffawed and tinked their gla.s.ses together.
Parker cleared his throat to let them know he was there. There were just some things he didn't need to know about his daughter. ”Excuse me. I believe it's time.”
Gwendolyn gave Olivia a thumbs up. ”Break a leg.”
Eve rolled her eyes. ”Come on, Gwen. We should take our seats.” She squeezed Olivia's hand and smiled at him as she dragged the other woman out.
His first un.o.bstructed view of his daughter rendered him speechless. For a moment he was back thirty years and seeing Lily coming down the aisle to him. Only now, the memory was full of joy instead of pain.
Olivia fingered the simple tulle skirt. ”It's mom's dress.”
”Yes, and you look as beautiful in it as your mother did.” Like a fairy princess, Lily would have said. ”She'd be so happy for you.”
Olivia tipped her head and studied him. ”For you too I think.”
Yes, he imagined. Lily, the incurable romantic, would have been thrilled on both counts. If he were whimsical, he might even believe she orchestrated the whole affair from beyond.
He walked to Olivia and brushed his fingertips along her jaw. ”Ready?”
”Is Michael out there?”
”He should be under the canopy waiting impatiently as we speak.” Parker smiled wryly. ”He practically ran down Elaine.”
She grinned. ”Let's go put him out of his misery then.”
He tucked the hand she offered him into the crook of his arm. They walked outside, down the path someone had lined with rose petals, to the open field beyond Mae's gardens.
There was a sea of people and at the end the lacy canopy where the minister and Michael waited.
Parker and Olivia paused at the crest, waiting for the wedding march to start. Everyone turned around, beaming, and the hum of conversation stopped.
Parker glanced at his daughter. Elaine may believe he meddled in their lives, but he couldn't feel sorry about it. In fact, he felt d.a.m.n satisfied.
The music started. Olivia squeezed his arm. ”Thank you, daddy,” she whispered, her eyes trained Michael.
He smiled, patted her hand, and walked his little girl to her man.
About Kate.
When Kate was a little girl, all she dreamt about was moving to France and living in a stone castle while painting the Provencal countryside. To prep herself, she studied French, stocked up on berets in every color, and practiced her shrug for hours in front of the mirror.
But then, because indentured servitude seemed more attractive than eating baguettes and drinking wine, she took a detour into the world of high tech. Mostly, she worked as a lackey for companies like C
NET and ClearStation/E*TRADE. Eventually, that insanity wore off and she decided to try something more stable. Writing seemed the logical choice.
Now she lives in San Francisco. Unfortunately Kate doesn't own her castle yet, but she holds out hope that one day soon she can pull her berets out of storage.
Visit Kate at .
Other t.i.tles by Kate Perry.
Close to You.
Perfect for You Playing Doctor.
Project Daddy Project Date.
Marked by Pa.s.sion.
Chosen by Desire.
Tempted by Fate Return to You.
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