“Bit of an extreme way to go about getting extra attention, honey bee.”Lia offered a wry smile as she walked into the room with Pixie and Dred.She dropped a vintage cream suitcase and matching makeup case next to the bed.“There’s a silk kimono wrap in there, which is way sexier than that horrible blue tarpaulin you’re wearing right now.”
“Thanks,” Harper said, the words seeming woefully inadequate.The idea of changing out of the scratchy hospital gown was heaven.
“Yeah, well, the number of people who have ever seen me without makeup has just quintupled, so you owe me,” Lia said as she sat down on the end of the bed.She looked so much younger, her face scrubbed clean of the winged eyeliner and red lipstick she usually wore.
Pixie smacked Trent’s hand to loosen the grip he had on Harper’s, forging a way to her down the other side of the bed.Her eyes were red rimmed.“Holy…” Pixie blew out a short breath and squeezed Harper’s arm.“You scared us,” she said before turning and smacking Trent across the top of the head.
“Ow.”Trent scowled.“What the hell did I do?”
“Squealed out of the parking lot like an extra fromBullitt.”Harper had vague recollections of Trent picking her up once the police had arrived.How had he gotten there?How had he known where she was?She couldn’t even begin to think through how scared Trent must have been.
“That wasn’t me,” Trent said in an injured tone.“Cujo drove.”
Harper let her head fall back and the plastic liner inside the white, starched pillowcase rustled.She could feel her eyes getting heavy as her friends continued their banter around her.
“We should split, let Harper get some rest,” Dred said from the foot of the bed.He gave her the slightest of nods.
What had happened to bring this amazing group of friends to her life?Harper was humbled.Each of them gave her once last kiss or hug, offered words of encouragement until there was only Trent left.
“You should go home and get some sleep,” Harper said drowsily, letting the pain medication help take her under.
Trent stood up, lowered the head of the gurney, and lifted Harper’s head to fluff the pillow before gently lowering her back down.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Harper said, refusing to acknowledge the fear she suddenly felt at being left alone.The light went off in the room and Harper’s heart started to race.She needed the light on.
The mattress sagged as Trent sat down on the side of the bed.She felt him lean forward and heard him kick off his shoes.He pulled his legs up onto the single gurney and lay down on his side, carefully putting his arm around her.The warmth of his breath behind her ear, the sweetness of his lips against her skin eased the pressure she’d felt building inside.
“Yeah, you will, darlin’.I’ll be right here.”
Epilogue
Three months later
Harper stood on the deck of their perfect hut above the turquoise-blue waters of the South Pacific Ocean.Green mountains surrounded the bay of their hotel, a lush backdrop for the vacation they had started the previous evening.The sun was slowly rousing itself from sleep, and not a single soul could be seen anywhere around the resort.
For the first time in four years, she’d traveled as Taylor Kennedy.It felt strange to be called Taylor.The name belonged to a person and a life that was no longer hers.She was going to legally change her name to Harper.Harper Andrews, to be precise, when Trent made good on his promise to make her his wife.
She looked down at the spectacular engagement ring that Trent had put on her finger yesterday just before they’d left their apartment for their flight.The beautiful round stone was surrounded by twelve smaller diamonds that threw off rainbow-colored stars when it caught the sun.He’d designed the ring just for her, the twelve stones matching the XII on his arm.
Rolling her shoulders back, Harper gave silent thanks that no permanent damage had been done.The wound in her shoulder had long since healed, and the scar was small.Harper had embraced the whole experience as one giant closure on the last four years.Nathan was back in prison awaiting his new trial date, his bail request denied.This time she would have the courage to face him unflinchingly in court, her new husband by her side.
Husband.Just the word made her smile.When they got back, she’d have a wedding to plan.And an engagement party to attend.Both Drea and Cujo had wanted to organize the party for them—and had even agreed to work together to make it happen.What Harper wouldn’t give to be a fly on that wall.She gave it five minutes before they started to kill each other.
Their idyllic, ten-day vacation was the perfect respite in the middle of Trent’s filming schedule storm.The producers were really excited about the reception the show was receiving from test audiences.He had completed filming in four cities across the Midwestern and Northeastern states.He’d even had dinner with her parents when they’d recorded in Chicago, sending her a photo of him, Dred, and her mom, outside her favorite pizzeria.
Hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her close.“Morning, darlin’,” came Trent’s voice, gravelly and deep from sleep as he rubbed his nose behind her ear before kissing the side of her neck.
“Hey.”She smiled as he nipped her softly.
“What’s got you out of bed so early?I didn’t fly halfway around the world in a metal bucket to wake up alone in paradise.”He reached for her hair and tugged it gently to the side, causing her to shiver.
“It’s so beautiful and quiet.I didn’t want to miss a minute.”
They stood together, his arms around her middle, her arms over the top of his, as they watched the ripples sparkle in the water as far as the eye could see.
“I have a really good idea,” Trent whispered huskily.His hands went to the front of the short, black silk robe she had thrown on and started to untie the sash holding it together.
“Mmm,” she murmured as he pulled the two lengths of silk apart.“And what would your great idea be?”
