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He smoothed his fingers across the one word, telling himself the tightness in his chest was solely excitement, but he knew some of it was nerves. Not because he doubted Lucy, her commitment, or her ability to put on a spectacular event, but because after talking to Brianne, he knew who else had been on the invitation list, and he didn’t want anything or anyone to put a damper on the joy of evening. Lucy had invited not only his immediate family and her mother and father, but their families’ family and friends. Hell, even Gretchen and dickhead David had made the list. And Rachel and Michael, when as far as Jamie knew, the only time she’d met them was at that one disastrous encounter at the café on Coronado Island.
The driver pulled up front and Jamie stepped out of the car. The exterior of the ranch house was rugged and well maintained, but there were no fussy trappings announcing an engagement party was taking place inside. When he opened the door, however, he could see the outdoor patio and how it had been transformed…
“Oh, my God,” he said in a breathless voice.
From behind him, he heard Lucy say, “Is that a good, ‘Oh, my God,’ or an “I want to run back outside’ one?” she asked.
He turned around to face her. “I’d say that is the best, “Oh, my God,” I’ve ever uttered, but it’s not true.”
Her beautiful eyes flashed with worry. “It’s not?”
“No. Because I hadn’t seen you yet.” He twirled his finger so she’d spin around.
She looked glorious.
She’d put her nose piercing back in and wore a black and fuchsia dress that reminded him of a pin-up girl. The neckline was cut low, but not plunging, and it maintained a scalloped pattern all the way around the back. The silky material ended just below her upper thighs, where about two-inches of orange petticoat peeked out. Her shoes were orange, and her bag was a plaid of black, orange, and fuchsia. She’d colored her hair red again, and she’d pulled the sides back and pinned it with a bright orange flower.
Jamie didn’t know much about fashion, but he suspected most women couldn’t pull off such a dramatic, intensely-colored look.
His Lucy did it beautifully.
“Now that I’ve seen you,” he said, “Oh. My. God. Words can’t express how wonderful you look to me right now. And I’d say that if you were wearing a raggedy tarp.”
The worry left her eyes, and they sparkled with joy. “Right back atcha, Professor. Now…” She held out her arm. “The guests haven’t arrived yet because I wanted you to see it all first. But they’ll be here soon. May I escort you outside?”
* * *
As Jamie hooked his arm through hers and they walked outside, she saw the party decorations as if for the first time through his eyes. The colors around the room matched the invitation—black, white, fuchsia, and bright orange. Market lights had been strung up, and at sunset they would transform the party from an evening cocktail party into a magical nighttime dance in the wilderness. All the linens and chairs were black, grounding the vibrant outdoor space. The cardboard vases used to create the centerpieces were also black and blended in with the tabletop so that the color of the vibrant pink and orange roses, dahlias, and daisies, popped right off of the table.
There was a fully stocked bar, and waiters in black uniforms and orange and fuchsia ties passing appetizers on trays. The appetizers were classy, but playful—things like dirty martini skewers, crackers with pesto tapenade, spicy stuffed mushrooms and French fries served with spicy ketchup.
One table was covered with orange paper cones filled with strawberry cotton candy and the bar was serving a special drink made of vodka and orange cream club. The dessert table was filled with handmade cookies decorated in matching colors with some even bearing the monogram “JL.” There were orange and pink cupcakes with sugar flowers that matched the fresh ones on the tables.
A wooden dance floor had been set up in one corner with orange and pink planks interwoven into the brightly polished wood. The band had set up on a black stage adorned in orange and pink flowers and ribbon.
“Will the fairies be coming out when the sun goes down? Because this is all so magical, I wouldn’t be surprised at all. But there’s two thing’s missing.”
“What’s that?”
He slipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out the engagement ring. She immediately held out her hand and he slipped the ring on her finger. She stared at it for a moment, admiring the beauty of the ring that Jamie had picked out for her.
Because she knew without having to be told that he’d picked it out for her specifically.
He took her hand, lifted it to his mouth, and kissed her palm. Then he said, “You haven’t kissed me yet, sweet thing.”
“Well, we need to take care of that…”
Lucy stood on her toes, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him, putting every drop of love and happiness and excitement she felt into the act. By the time she pulled away, they were both breathing heavy. Jamie’s hands wandered her back and the top of her ass, and he leaned his forehead against hers. “You sure the guests will be here soon?”
No sooner did the words leave his mouth than they heard Brianne shout, “Oh, my God! Lucy, it came out even more beautiful than I expected!”
They turned to see Brianne, Jamie’s parents, Gabe, Ryan, Cole, and Luke stepping on to the patio. Brianne had insisted she send Eric an invitation, but he’d never even RSVP’d, which worried Lucy. From everything she’d heard about him, neither his actions on his wedding day nor the ignored party invitation fit who he was. But she wasn’t going to bring that up now. Maybe later…
After that, the guests began arriving in droves. Lucy greeted them warmly whether she knew them or not, or whether she liked them or not. Tonight was about celebrating her and Jamie, but it was also about proving to him that she was willing to do whatever it took to fit into his world without changing who she was.
At one point, she looked up to see Rachel and Michael approaching. Jamie didn’t look at her, and he didn’t say a word, but the way he squeezed her hand let her know that he was one hundred percent there for her if things got ugly.
“Jamie, what a quaint little place to have a party. Was this your idea?”
