Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
marlowe
T wo weeks later, we return to Kauai for a spontaneous getaway to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Winter is the rainy season, so it showers most of our first day on the island. This gives us the perfect excuse to stay in bed cuddling and making love to the sound of falling rain from the open balcony doors.
When morning dawns bright and clear, we grab our snorkeling masks and flippers and set off for Poipu Beach on the South Shore. We hold hands underwater, sharing grins as we explore the breathtaking world of tropical fish and sea turtles.
After snorkeling for a few hours, we shower and change and have lunch at a cozy little spot encircled by jagged cliffs. Afterward we take a helicopter back to Gunner’s property on the North Shore.
During the ride, I ooh and aah over the spectacular aerial views of the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and the crater of Mount Wai‘ale‘ale. I feel like a giddy little kid, turning excitedly toward Gunner and pointing out the window. He smiles tenderly and kisses my shoulder, enjoying my pleasure more than the scenery porn.
“I’m so glad we came back here,” I say as the helicopter dips over the sea and heads toward his clifftop estate. “Our first trip was totally amazing, but three days isn’t nearly enough time to see and do everything.”
“That was my thinking,” he murmurs against my skin. “Have I told you how fucking happy I am to have you all to myself for the next eight days?”
“You may have mentioned it once or twice.” I grin at him. “And ditto.”
A few minutes later, the helicopter lands on the cliff and our pilot opens the door. Gunner climbs down and lifts me out, kissing the tip of my nose before lowering me to the ground.
As the helicopter lifts off, I fling my arms out and twirl in circles, laughing as the wind from the whirring blades tosses my hair around and whips my white gauze dress against my body.
“God, I love this island,” I gush breathlessly. “All those waterfalls crashing down those cliffs. Aren’t they the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen?”
“Hmm. Not quite.”
I stop mid-twirl to look at Gunner. He’s standing there watching me with his hands tucked in the pockets of his khaki pants, the wind molding his white linen shirt to his muscled chest.
As I stare at him, he moves in close and tips my chin up, locking his gaze with mine. “ You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Nothing else even comes close.”
I melt. Freaking melt .
He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, staring into my eyes as he kisses my fingers one by one. “You never wear much jewelry,” he observes softly. “No bracelets. No rings. You don’t like pretty, shiny things?”
“I do,” I say, smiling. “I just . . . well, it’s never been a big deal. Though I definitely love those diamond earrings you gave me the last time we were here.”
His eyes glimmer. “Maybe I should start a tradition.”
“I . . . holy shit,” I breathe when he reaches inside his pocket and withdraws a little black velvet box. Instantly my eyes start welling up with tears. “Gunner . . .”
“I had no idea I needed you in my life until the night I met you. But it was right here, standing in this very same spot watching you twirl around, that I finally admitted to myself how I really felt about you. You turned my world upside down and made me a better man, and I’d give anything to have you for my wife.” Without taking his eyes off my face, he drops smoothly to one knee and thumbs the box open. “I love you, Marlowe Somerset. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, my God, Gunner . . .” I stare at him through my tears, my heart pounding with hope and joy, no fear or doubts whatsoever. But I hear myself whisper, “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”
I beam. “Then hell yes , I’ll marry you.”
He grins the biggest grin and slides the biggest rock on my finger. The huge square diamond could have been mined from the depths of a nearby volcano. It sparkles brilliantly in the sunlight and takes my breath away.
When Gunner stands up, I throw my arms around his neck. I’m laughing and crying, tears streaming down my face as he literally sweeps me off my feet and crushes me to his chest. This just might be the most romantic moment of my life, one of many unforgettable moments this man has already given me.
When his mouth slants over mine, I can feel the strength of his love, and I soak up every bit of it.
Loud cheers pull us out of our little world.
Turning toward the sound, my jaw drops at the sight of my mother, sister, aunt Nora, Lilith, Quinn and Valeria walking across the lawn. They’re accompanied by Gunner’s family members, his friends and their plus ones, his assistant and the senior executive team, along with Mrs. Calder, Mr. Leland and Trace.
“No freaking way!” I squeal, clapping both hands over my mouth.
Gunner chuckles warmly and whispers in my ear, “Surprise.”
I laugh as the crowd swells forward to congratulate us. The next several minutes are a blur of smiling faces, tearful hugs and exuberant handshakes.
I’m introduced to both sets of Gunner’s grandparents, who are as different as night and day. The Ransoms are a salt-of-the-earth couple in matching Hawaiian shirts, Bermuda shorts and sandals. They compliment my hair and call me a pretty little thing who looks “nice and fertile,” drawing a mortified gasp from Gunner’s mother.
Her parents, in stark contrast, have the refined bearing of old Southern blue bloods, and I’m not entirely convinced that they approve of me. But Gunner must have warned them to behave, because they smile kindly enough and welcome me to the family.
At some point, Gunner is drawn into conversation with his dad and both grandfathers. Seizing the opportunity, my mother pulls me aside with Aunt Nora, Ember, Quinn and Valeria.
I can’t remember the last time I saw her so happy. She gives me another fierce hug and whispers in my ear, “Your father would be so proud of you. And he definitely would’ve loved Gunner.” She draws away and cups my cheek, a sentimental smile softening her face. “I’m so happy for you two. You really are perfect for each other.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I give her a watery smile. “I’m glad you’re here to celebrate with us.”
“Wild horses couldn’t have kept me away. When Gunner called to tell us his plans, my suitcase was packed before I even hung up the phone.” Her expression turns humble. “I thanked him for allowing me to take part in your special day. After everything I’ve put you through, God knows I don’t deserve to be here.”
“Let’s not think about the past, Mom,” I say quietly. “Not today.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just . . . I just wanted you to know how grateful I am.”
I nod and smile.
She smiles back. “The rest of our family will be at the wedding, of course. I didn’t want to overwhelm you this weekend. That’s also why Gunner invited a limited number of his relatives. He has a big family on both sides, and he says they can be quite a handful.” Her eyes twinkle. “He’s so protective of you, darling. And you weren’t exaggerating about his romantic streak. What a proposal.”
“Totally swoonworthy.” Ember hugs me from behind and rests her chin on my shoulder. “I’m glad he finally came to his senses. I was giving him one more week before I flew down to Texas and kicked his ass.”
“Sure you were,” I tease.
We both laugh.
“Darling,” Mom sighs, looking around in awe. “This estate is simply breathtaking. When we arrived this morning, we were absolutely blown away.”
“Absolutely,” Aunt Nora and Ember confirm.
“Check out the size of that rock on her finger,” Quinn exclaims.
They make a big fuss over my diamond ring until Gunner joins us, and then they fawn over him until I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or amused.
The fawning is blessedly cut short when Gunner’s mother comes over to introduce me to her date. He’s attractive, deeply tanned and independently wealthy. He’s also ten years her junior. She likes younger men and there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as they treat her well and aren’t after her fortune.
“This is the special young lady who did what no one else ever has: won Gunner’s heart.” Tabitha gives me a meaningful smile and squeezes my hand.
I return her smile, gratefully accepting the peace offering.
By the time we get through the preliminary greetings and introductions, an army of caterers has almost finished setting up tables under a big white tent. Linen cloths, china, silverware, wineglasses, flowers. The works.
When I stare incredulously at Gunner, he gives me a lazy grin. “It’s our engagement party and New Year’s Eve bash rolled into one.”
I shake my head wonderingly at him. “I’ll never get enough of your surprises.”
“And I’ll never get enough of you ,” he murmurs, kissing me softly. When cheers and whistles erupt around us, we laugh against each other’s mouths.
The party gets under way with a live band and circulating waiters serving cocktails and canapés. Gunner and I walk hand in hand through the crowd, laughing and socializing with our guests.
Sedonia—who brought Luca as her plus one—regales me with stories about her college days with Gunner and Maverick. She fondly refers to them as the craziest white boys she’s ever met, which makes her “crazy by proxy” for agreeing to join their company. When Gunner humorously threatens to fire her, she lets out a throaty laugh and tells me to call her if I ever need backup. We’re definitely going to be good friends.
Halfway across the lawn, Gunner’s other college buddies swarm us, joking and slapping him playfully on the back. When they wink at me and promise to keep his bachelor party PG-13, Gunner wastes no time leading me away, setting off a roar of raucous male laughter.
Swept up in the revelry, people flock to the dance floor. Gunner and I join them, gazing into each other’s eyes as we relive memories of the night we waltzed under the stars. Though the classical music has been replaced by pop tunes, we still get caught up in a sort of dreamy spell. We dance together like no one else is watching, holding each other close whether the song is fast or slow.
When it starts raining, we’re the last ones to dash for cover under the large tent, laughing as we wipe water off each other’s faces. We grin all the way through the five-course dinner and congratulatory toasts.
By the time dinner is over, the sun is setting and the rain has stopped. Twinkling lights and paper lanterns strung between the trees give the lawn a magical, romantic glow.
As the dancing and revelry resume, Gunner and I retreat into the shadows of a massive banyan tree, kissing and nuzzling and whispering sweet nothings to each other.
“Get a room, lovebirds.”
Without lifting his mouth from mine, Gunner flips his brother off.
Maverick laughs. “Is that any way to greet your best man?”
“If he’s intruding on a private moment,” Gunner grumbles, “then yeah, it is.”
I laugh and turn to smile at Maverick. “Enjoying yourself?”
“What’s not to enjoy? Great party. Beautiful scenery. Momentous occasion.” He tweaks my nose and claps Gunner on the shoulder, chuckling at his scowl. “Not to blow smoke up my own ass, but I deserve a lot of credit for bringing you lovebirds together. I mean, I’m the one who chose to meet for drinks at The Jaded Zombie that night. And if it weren’t for my perpetual lateness, I would’ve been sitting at the table with you when Marlowe arrived. Which means she wouldn’t have mistaken you for her date.”
I grin at Gunner. “He has a point.”
“He does,” Gunner concedes.
Grinning harder, I stand on tiptoe and kiss Maverick’s cheek. “Thank you, fairy godfather.”
“Yeah. We owe you one.” Gunner slings an arm around his brother’s neck and loudly smooches his cheek, laughing when Maverick groans and tries to squirm away. Their affectionate bond gets me every single time.
“That’s the last kiss you’ll ever get from my woman,” Gunner asserts, placing himself squarely between Maverick and me.
Grinning companionably, the three of us stand there watching the dancers and partygoers, several of whom have already had too much to drink.
Notably Quinn, who’s clutching a cocktail glass and gushing breathlessly to Trace. He’s nodding and sipping his drink, seemingly amused by her take-me-now smiles. She tends to get super flirty when she’s drunk, and despite having a boyfriend, she still drools over Trace every time she sees him. He’s in a relationship and he doesn’t strike me as the cheating type. But I’ve watched enough reality dating shows to know that anything can happen during a tropical island getaway.
My amused gaze drifts to where Ember sits with Lilith, Valeria and Veronica. She’s talking and laughing, the ocean breeze blowing her hair around her face like a golden halo.
Lilith took an instant liking to my sister. A little while ago, I overheard her telling Ember about all the blue chip law firms in Austin. She’s obviously trying to lure her away from Pittsburgh, an endeavor I wholeheartedly support.
As Gunner nuzzles my hair, I look toward the dance floor and break into a grin. My future father-in-law is showing off his moves, twirling Mrs. Calder under his arm and making her dress flare around her knees as she giggles like a schoolgirl.
“Dad’s gonna propose any day now,” Maverick predicts.
“Probably,” Gunner agrees.
A wistful sigh escapes me. “I couldn’t be more thrilled for them. But the house won’t be the same without Mrs. Calder, and I might have to give up custody of Sansa.” I brighten after a moment. “Maybe they could just live with us?”
Maverick snorts. “You wanna risk walking in on them fucking?”
“Jesus.” Gunner punches his brother’s shoulder and scowls. “Thanks for the visual, asshole.”
Maverick’s rumbling shout of laughter draws admiring stares from every woman within earshot. He’ll definitely have no shortage of bed partners this weekend.
He whispers something in Gunner’s ear that has him shaking his head in amused exasperation. He grins and playfully slaps Gunner on the back, then winks at me. “Save a dance for me later.”
“Like hell she will,” Gunner growls.
Maverick laughs devilishly and saunters off, leaving us alone again.
Leaning back against the banyan tree, Gunner pulls me against him with his arms encircling my waist and his chin resting on top of my head. We’re silent for a while, feeling the pounding surf below us as we enjoy the ukulele music coming from the stage.
“They’re good,” I say appreciatively. “Local band?”
“Yeah. David Kapono recommended them. They’re indie.”
I nod, swaying to the infectious rhythm. “If I owned a record label, I’d sign them in a heartbeat.”
Gunner pushes my hair to one side and kisses the curve of my neck. “Maybe I should buy you a record label.”
I laugh. “Gotta keep diversifying that portfolio, huh?”
“Sure. Why not?”
Turning around, I loop my arms around his neck and press my breasts against his chest, wringing a soft groan from him. As residual beads of rainwater fall from the leaves above us, I open my mouth and catch a few drops to share with Gunner, moaning as our tongues dance wetly.
“So damn hot.” His voice is a rough rasp, his cock throbbing against my stomach.
I smile, nibbling his lips. “We’ve got a lot of celebrating to do, don’t we?”
“Hell, yes.” Eyes glinting rakishly, he skims a hand down my back and squeezes my ass, whispering in my ear, “You’re not getting any sleep tonight.”
Delicious heat floods my body as I whisper back, “What else is new?”
He grins and holds me tighter as a soft breeze blows through the branches of the banyan tree. I close my eyes with a blissful smile, wondering if it’s possible to die of happiness.
After a few minutes, I say quietly, “I was so moved by your father’s beautiful toast at dinner. He said the sweetest things.”
“He meant every word. He’s always been in your corner, Marlowe. He adores you, says you’re the daughter he never had.” Gunner’s lips brush my temple. “Do you want to get married here? Or somewhere else?”
“Are you kidding?” I say, lifting my head to stare at him. “This place is perfect, Gunner. It’s a tropical paradise, and it already holds so many special memories for us. I can’t think of a better place to start our new lives together.”
“I agree.” He touches my face, his gaze gentle. “I was thinking maybe you could walk down the aisle to your father’s song, ‘Blue Wish.’”
My heart swells with so much emotion that tears sting my eyes. “That’s a wonderful idea,” I whisper past the lump in my throat. “Thank you for thinking of that.”
He strokes my hair and smiles down at me, his eyes glowing with love and the promise of a million tomorrows.
As the evening stretches toward midnight, the servers pass out flutes of champagne. On the cusp of a new year, there’s a palpable excitement and buzz in the air. People in the crowd start counting down from thirty as the band’s lead singer shouts the numbers into his mic.
“Twenty-nine!”
I smile up at Gunner, my heart beating faster.
“Twenty-eight!”
He clasps my face between his hands, his eyes searing into mine. “Happy New Year, sweetheart,” he says above the growing noise.
I grin. “Technically, the clock hasn’t struck mid?—”
He lowers his head and claims my mouth. Everything inside me rejoices at the rightness of this moment. The rightness of this man.
Our lips are still locked when the first burst of fireworks explodes across the sky and celebratory cheers erupt from the crowd.
I smile into my Prince Charming’s eyes and whisper, “Happy New Year.”
His smile is tender. “The best is yet to come.”