Truly Madly Deeply Boxed Set(194)

Visiting Max had been his way of bridging the past and the present. Now he waited for Nikki and hoped she’d give their future a shot.

By the time Janine’s cream-colored car pulled up in front of the small house owned by the man who would marry them, Kevin’s sense of relief was palpable. His palms were even damp and he felt like a damn kid asking a girl on a first date. He refused to question why his emotions rode him so strongly. Yes, he wanted the best for his baby and marriage would help provide it, and yes, he needed to know he’d have the opportunity to be there for both Nikki and his child. But at some point marrying Nikki had become important to him for more personal reasons. Reasons he didn’t want to deal with at the moment.

She was here and that was all that mattered.

She stepped out of the car and Kevin’s breath caught in his throat. By mutual agreement they hadn’t planned an elaborate ceremony and he hadn’t given much thought to details. Obviously, she had.

Her cream-colored suit contrasted with her jet-black hair and offset her skin. As corny as it sounded, she glowed. He started toward her and realized her cheeks were a bright shade of pink. He wondered if it was the pregnancy or the wedding that had her so flushed.

He stopped in front of her and met her gaze. Those violet eyes were wide and if he wasn’t mistaken, she was as anxious as he. Over her shoulder, he saw Janine standing by the car. Obviously she wanted to give them time alone, but Kevin could have used her distraction right about now.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

She reached out and brushed a hand over his one and only suit. Weddings, funerals, command performances—this suit had seen it all. “You look pretty good yourself,” she said softly. “Kevin...” She bit down on her lower lip. “Are you sure about this? You could walk away and I wouldn’t think any less of you.”

“But maybe I would.” He grasped her chin in his hand. “Are you sure?”

She let out an uncertain laugh. “I wouldn’t want these flowers to go to waste.”

He glanced down, noticing for the first time the delicate bouquet of white flowers she carried in her hand. He cursed himself for not thinking of that kind of thing, for not knowing the little things that would make her feel special. “Is that the only reason you’re going through with this?” he asked.

He knew his reasons for the marriage or at least he thought he did. Seeing Nikki now, realizing how deep his fear went that she’d back out on him, he wasn’t so sure there wasn’t more involved here than obligation and responsibility. And that scared him. Because when he let her down—and given his history, there wasn’t a question that he would—he’d lose much more than he’d ever imagined. So he needed to know her reasons, and he needed them badly.

She touched his cheek with a shaking hand. “I have many reasons,” she murmured. “None you’d be comfortable hearing. But I’m here and I’ll do my part to make this work. As long as you do the same.”

He nodded. It wasn’t the answer he’d hoped for and yet she was right. Anything more and he’d be in deep trouble.

He’d thought of Nikki in a variety of ways over the years. First as Tony’s sister, then as the woman he couldn’t forget and lately as the mother of his child. He stared into the eyes of his soon-to-be wife. “I’ll do my best,” he promised her.

He wondered if, like him, she questioned his ability to manage even that.


* * *

Nikki stood at the doorway to Kevin’s house. Behind her, she felt his solid presence. Her life had changed yet again and this time it was for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, till death us do part. A chill shook her and she trembled.

She felt Kevin’s hands on her shoulders, steadying her. To his credit, he’d been just as steady and sure from the moment he’d linked hands with her outside the small house and throughout the brief ceremony. He’d anticipated her emotions and squeezed her hand when she thought of the people who weren’t at her wedding—Tony and her parents. He was a good man and the sooner she could get him to realize that the stronger their chances were at making the marriage work.

“Second thoughts?” he asked.

She shook her head. “None.” And she meant it.

“Then you’re waiting for me to carry you over the threshold?” he asked, amusement in his voice.

“I’d like to see you...” The rest of her sentence trailed off in a shriek as he swept her off her feet and into his arms.

“Never dare a man, Nicole.” Laughter lit his eyes, but so did banked desire.

She knew. She understood. Because she felt it too. And when they came together this time, they would be husband and wife. Considering the significance she was amazed at his lighthearted banter. If this was his way of trying, she appreciated the attempt.