Accidental Shield (Marriage Mistake #6)(116)

She kisses me again.

“Love you, too, Val. More than anything.”

We share a long smile before the light weight shifts in my hand.

“Uh, want to actually see the ring?” I ask, realizing I’m still clutching the box.

She laughs. “Oh, right.”

I lean back and hold it out to her.

“Oh my God. You didn’t. Another turtle?”

I’m laughing because she just noticed its shape.

“You’re too special, you know that?” She bites her bottom lip in this adorable smile.

“No shit,” I say. “I fell in love with you, woman. Found myself something far more special than black pearl.”

I wait while she flips open the box, exposing two bands made of white gold with more black pearls and diamonds matching her original ring.

“Wait. Two rings?” She looks up.

I nod. “To go above and below the one you’re wearing. The bigger one symbolizes my love for you, and the smaller one, that’s from Bryce. He insisted I throw something in because...you know. You’re mom to him now.”

Her pretty face tightens, and the tears fall down her cheeks. “Oh, Flint, that’s so, so perfect.”

“That’s what our whole life’s gonna be.”

I pull her close. Hug her. Kiss her.

We don’t stop until a sound behind us has me turning.

Ma. She has a hand over her mouth, and tears are sliding down her face. Bryce stands by her side, smiling sheepishly, waving me over.

Taking Val by the hand, we walk over, and I wrap an arm around my mom first, setting off a chain reaction of hugs.

A short time later, we find a nice shady spot where we can see the turtles, and then dive into our first picnic lunch as a real family.





23





Turtle Magic (Valerie)





I can’t believe how much life can change in just a few short months.

It’s almost as hard to believe how fast my mother and Beverly whipped up a wedding of this magnitude. There are people here I haven’t seen for years, flown in from the mainland.

Plus tons of extended family and new friends from Flint’s side. I’m so happy to have so many with us here on this glorious day.

The day that’s about to bind us together inseparably.

Okay, so I know it’s just a ceremony.

It’s just some legalese and grandeur making us a wedded couple.

But it’s also a celebration of our love. That’s the overwhelming part.

Everything about today reminds me how freaking much I love Flint Calum and his adorable son, and how much they love me right back.

The morning couldn’t have been more perfect, or the location. The private beach on the North Shore, where Flint and I first watched sea turtles together.

The same place where we’d shared our first kiss.

I’d thought I was his wife that day. Today, I’m becoming Mrs. Flint Calum for real.

Total. Emotional. Overload.

Cash stands off to the side as best man, wearing an almost brotherly look for Flint.

Bryce grins as he brings Flint the rings before the minister pronounces us man and wife. You already know the words.

I’m not sure I could repeat them if I tried, because what really sticks in my mind is that kiss.

The instant our ceremony ends, Flint seals it with a growling, overflowing, heartfelt scream of a kiss I’ll never forget, sweeping me back in his arms.

Then Bryce joins us front and center for the flurry of photos while the crowd congratulates us. I can’t stop freaking smiling, knowing I’m now officially his mother as well as Flint’s wife.

The festivities run on until after sundown.

A large luau, full of feasting and music and dancing. There’s a ravishing sunset at the end of the day, like the whole island wants us to know we did good.

“The booze is only half gone. This is sure to go on for hours,” Flint whispers in my ear as we leave the dance floor.

“Oh, yeah. My brother hasn’t even gotten into the schnapps yet.” I lean against my handsome husband all decked out in a black tux to die for.

“So you’re ready to escape?” The shimmer in his eyes makes me smile and wonder.

“Escape?” I start laughing. “What do you have up your sleeve?”

He points to the sky. There’s a tiny light growing closer and closer. So does the sound of the helicopter blades.

“What’s that?”

“Our limo driver,” he jokes. “Did you really think I’d be that predictable?”

“Where are we going?” I ask, breaking into a smile.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’d go to the moon with this man, and the way he surprises me is pretty great, too.

“Only one way to find out,” he says, grabbing my hand with a devilish grin.

The crowd erupts with cheers as the helicopter shines a purple spotlight on the party before it lands in the grass behind the beach.

Flint leads me through the crowd, pausing now and then to accept more congratulations and tell our families we’ll see them in a few days. Then we board the chopper.

The pilot lights up the waving crowd again as we ascend, and then we’re flying high over the water. The headphones smother most of the noise.