She reached out and brushed his cheek again. “I’m not. Remy, I’m happy we’re together. I’m just sad I missed our wedding.”
A huge sigh of relief escaped his throat.Of course. She wanted a wedding with the white dress and to walk down the aisle. Their wedding ceremony by proxy had been awful, but a do-over was already being planned. He smiled at her. “Gigi is planning a repeat next week, where you’ll be the bride. We can make it as big or as small as you want.”
She nodded, her eyes wide. “I’d like for everyone to see that I chose to marry you and this wasn’t because of a business deal, like Lucinda and everyone thinks, where you are stuck marrying the nerdy girl who works at the palace.”
He relaxed and traced her leg now wearing his gray gym shorts that lay between them, and noticed the goosebumps in his trail while her face turned pink. “Fair enough, but only if you kiss me.”
She lowered her leg to his lap and scooted closer to him. “Remy, I’ll be kissing you for the rest of your life.”
“Starting right now.”
Her lips then met his and he forgot everything else. She was here and in his arms, right where she was supposed to be.
Chapter 18
Cassidy saw the well-painted gate of her new home and closed her eyes. She was right where she belonged and would stay for the rest of her life. Remy was her husband and he’d try to be the best he could be. Despite his pranks, they’d always been friends.
The limo stopped at the front step and Fari opened her door. She waited for Remy to walk beside her and they entered the house, as one. They went straight into the blue room.
Gigi stood from the couch she sat on with Chelsea beside her and immediately said, “Cassidy, we’re glad you’re back.”
Gigi’s cheeks were flushed and her hair done. Even her face was brighter and she looked ten years younger than when Cassidy first moved in. Cassidy went to her and hugged her. “Gigi, you look amazing. We thought we were going to lose you—but no longer.”
Gigi ended the hug and pointed to Chelsea beside her and the spread of coffee, tea and cakes. “Your sister helped us with the desserts. She wants to speak to you.”
Chelsea seemed subdued, so Cassidy waved her into the library and her sister followed. She held the door for her and once her sister passed, Cassidy closed the door. “Chelsea? How could you?”
Chelsea hugged her waist as she glanced up and met her gaze. “Cassidy. Look, I’m really sorry I believed Lucinda’s lies. I had no idea she’d hurt you. You and I might not get along always, but I’d never let anyone hurt you if I had a say.”
Cassidy let out a huge breath. Chelsea was vain like their mother, but not vicious, so Cassidy hugged her with forgiveness. “Chelsea, you’re being mature. What changed?”
Chelsea’s eyes welled as they stepped out of the hug. “That you were kidnapped and I believed the wrong person.”
“It’s okay,” Cassidy insisted. She’d not always been the best sister as she ran away to college or work, leaving her sister to deal with their parents. She motioned for them to sit on chairs. “I haven’t always been there for you.”
Chelsea smoothed her powder blue skirt as they took their seats across from each other. “Are you joking? You’re the best—working to make sure we all have a roof over our heads. I’m the bad one.”
Cassidy reached over and brushed her sister’s arm. “Don’t. No one is bad or good in our family.”
“What about Dad?”
“He means well. He has an addiction problem, but we all know he loves us.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes and stared at the white ceiling with the high crystal chandelier. Each glass drop glittered brightly. “I thought I could be like Mom and help our family by marrying well—and in the process I became spiteful toward the only sister I have.”
Perhaps they needed to work together and learn to trust each other again. It had been years since they’d tried to be friends. Chelsea was one of the most fashionable women she’d ever met, like their mother. What career might interest her? Cassidy didn’t voice her question and instead asked, “Maybe you can help us plan the repeat wedding next week? I actually want to say I do so no one thinks I was forced into anything.”
Chelsea’s beautiful face brightened as she smiled. “I’ll plan the best wedding possible. Mom will help too. We talked to Gigi already and she said it would okay as long as you agreed. I didn’t think you’d ask me, but I’d love to truly help.”
Her mother had zero sense when it came to money, and two weddings were expensive. She’d have to talk to Remy about this and really think hard. She probably didn’t need the wedding. They were married already, but she wanted people to see that this was her choice, her life. She stood. “Well, let me sleep on the budget, okay? Don’t sign any contract without running the numbers by me first.”
Chelsea stood and adjusted her white shirt to ensure no sign of sitting was on either of them. “Fair enough. Mom and Dad are the opposite of frugal, but I swear my checking account has never been negative. I saw how hard you’ve worked.”
Cassidy laughed. At least Chelsea saw the issues within their family as they were. “Good. Neither one of us should be like them.”
The door opened. Chelsea walked with her. “Agreed. Your husband is peeking in the door. Please tell him I didn’t put a knife in your back.”
“Remy is just protective.” Cassidy reached for the door and walked right into Remy’s waiting arms. He smelled familiar and good. The fly in the ointment was that he’d never bein lovewith her.
