She pulls out of the embrace and tugs on my arm. Leading me away from the front door to the back of the building. That’s when I see the crowded patio area, people streaming out of the outdoor area down onto the beach. Some in uniform, and others in civilian clothing. My mom comes up, a huge smile on her face.
“Oh, finally!” she exclaims. “I wasn’t sure you would do what you were supposed to!”
“Mom,” I say, embracing her. She’s shaking. “I almost always do what I’m supposed to do. Why are you trembling?”
“I’m so happy for you,” she mutters.
Dad pulls both of us into his big arms. “My girls,” he says. “Welcome to your engagement party, Aara. That man went through a lot of trouble to make this happen. On a weekday. He was adamant, though. I respect his gumption.” I lean away to look into his eyes. “I’d ask if you are happy, but it’s so evident I don’t even have to hear you say it.”
Engagement party?
“Dad, I’m so happy. I found myself within him.” Mom has tears leaking down her cheeks. Dad brushes them away and returns his focus back to me. “He’s my person. I can be me. He guards my heart fully.”
“There’s something to be said about a man who guards your heart and also America at the same time. I’m just glad it’s not the fucking rocker with the bad haircut and sappy songs.”
I chuckle. “Dad, it was never going to be Durnin. Though he seems to be figuring his life out now.” I haven’t seen or heard from him since I stormed out of his dressing room, leaving him with Chantal and Chase.
“Thank God,” Mom whispers. “I’m so glad our PR contract is almost up. Honey, I’m happy you’re happy. There’s someone else here who is happy for you, too.”
Shane comes from around the corner, his long hair tucked behind his ear, wearing his super mod glasses that make him look like a scientist slash model.
I run to my brother and hug him tighter than I realized and he makes a fake choking noise. “Easy killer. I’m a friend, not a foe.”
I pull away and look him in the eye. “God, Shane I’ve missed you so damn much. How are you doing?”
“Not as good as my big sister who is literally dominating in every area of life. Seriously, sis. I’m proud of you. Do you know how many chicks I score when I tell them who my sister is?”
I raise one brow. “I’ll take that as a compliment, I think.”
“It is.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “It’s been pretty sad being away for such a long time. I might need to transfer back to the west coast. Don’t tell Mom and Dad, though. Not yet.”
I put a finger on my lips. “Secret’s safe.”
“Your boyfriend, man friend, husband?” Shane muses, looking at the ring on my finger. “He’s a big ass dude.” He chuckles, and it warms my heart. He’s had this happy-go-lucky laugh his entire life. At age two when he belted it out for the first time, I think my heart melted a little bit. “He’s also insanely in love with you. I guess he put this whole thing together a while ago. I was going to surprise you with a visit this week anyway, and the timing worked out perfectly. I think your whole team is here. In the middle of a workday?”
“Where is he?” My heart leaps at the prospect of seeing Luke. “I want to catch up and hear everything about your life later on.”
“Mom says you have plenty of guestrooms at your new mansion by the sea.”
I shake my head. “That’s Luke’s.” I remember the Mondial parked nearby. “But I did drive a Spider here today.”
His eyes widen. “Shut your filthy mouth!”
I press my lips together. “It’s nasty in all the best ways. We can drive it this weekend.” I hug my brother. “Shane, I can’t believe you’re here. There were a million times when I wanted to hug you and you weren’t here.”
“I’m sorry about the shit time you had. Mom told me the cliff notes version of everything. It read like fiction, I have to say.”
I exhale noisily. “It led me here, though. What can I say? If I had to take the same path to have this outcome, I’d do it over and over again. The sweet balances the suck.”
I release my brother when my dad calls him over to meet someone. “That car and I have a date later,” Shane calls out, aiming a finger at me.
I nod as someone taps me on my shoulder. I know it’s Luke because my body responds with a rush of goosebumps the second his skin meets mine. A visceral response to his presence. I turn and he’s all dimples and ocean eyes.
“There you are,” he growls, leaning down to kiss my lips. “God, I missed this mouth.” This kiss is brief and filled with passion, his tongue dipping into my mouth, his hands on each side of my head before he pulls away.
“What did you do?” I ask. “All of this? You went through all of this trouble for me?”
Luke’s gaze flicks to the crowd, then back to me. “This wasn’t anything. People love you, Aara. Getting this together last minute was easy. Come inside. I want to talk to you quickly. There’s someone here I want you to meet.”
