She's the One (Lowcountry Lovers Series Book 2) (15 page)
Read She's the One (Lowcountry Lovers Series Book 2) Online
Authors: Kim Boykin
“Can I have this dance?”
Shane had sat in the back rows at the ceremony, until Pearl sat in front of him, effectively blocking Melissa’s view. But when Melissa saw he was alone, her heart had flipped over in her chest.
Strange, after everything, how he could still have that effect on her. Must have been the black suit, or the periwinkle blue shirt he looked so delicious in. Maybe it was the way he was looking at her now, asking for permission to cut into her dance, her life.
She nodded slowly. He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. And while Jack and Savannah were demonstrating the shag, the state dance of South Carolina, Shane had his arms around Melissa’s waist, holding her close.
He smelled like some kind of sexy cologne and the ocean, and the combination was intoxicating. He pulled back just enough to see her face. When he smiled at her, her heart opened a little more. “I’ve missed you so damn much, Melissa.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“I’m not going to be the guy who spends the rest of his life with Cassie. I don’t care what the stars say or whether the universe thinks she’s right for me. This,” he held her a little tighter, “this is right for me.”
It was right, but so was Mitzi. Love was scary. Maybe that was what made Melissa find a match for everyone but herself. It was safe, orchestrating, sitting on the sidelines. The fear of failing, of getting hurt, made her feel like she was fourteen again, made the loss of her dad so fresh she trembled in Shane’s arms, and he pulled her close again.
His lips were just above her ear. “I choose you. Every damn time. I don’t even have to think about it; I choose you,” he whispered.
She looked into his face. She wanted him. She loved him.
“I’m doing a shitty job, Melissa, but what I’m trying to say is I love you.”
The song ended and when they pulled apart she felt like she’d lost a piece of herself. Her heart. He reached for her hand. Eyes smiling, pleading.
“Please, say something.”
Melissa closed her eyes. In her mind, she could see Auntie’s mocha-colored skin, hear her silky voice, the words always in Gullah. “Hunnuh must tek cyare de root fa grow de tree.”
You must take care of the root for the tree to grow.
Why wouldn’t giving herself and her heart away take care of the root? Why wouldn’t loving Shane with her whole heart make the root grow? Auntie had had it all wrong.
“I am the root,” she whispered. She threw her arms around Shane and kissed the stuffing out of him. “
I’m
the root.”
“Not sure I understand what you mean, but I like the way you’re saying it.” He crooked a finger under her chin and smiled at her.
“It means I love you, Shane. I have for a long time.”
T
he bride’s room was in the back of the small church on Melissa’s island. Mitzi shook the white illusion to fluff up the vintage veil. True to her word, she’d come out of retirement to plan and direct Melissa’s wedding, with Mama’s help. “You still want to go old school?” Mitzi asked referring to Mama’s veil.
“You don’t have to wear it, Melissa,” Mama zipped Melissa into the gown she’d worn when she married Daddy. “You won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t.”
“Would it be okay to wear it, but not over my face?” she asked Mitzi.
“It’s your wedding, honey, you get to do whatever you want.”
With the veil in place, it was time to go. Mama took Melissa’s arm. “I wish your daddy was here, but I’m so happy to be giving you away to Shane. He’s such a good man.”
Mitzi dabbed at Mama’s tears and then Melissa’s. “Don’t y’all make me redo your makeup,” she warned playfully, swiping at her own tears.
The music floated softly into the vestibule, the last bridesmaids headed down the aisle. The sanctuary was packed with friends and relatives. Flowers that matched her bouquet were everywhere. The prelude began, everyone stood, and turned to see the Melissa. So many couples she had brought together, smiling at her on her day. A very pregnant Savannah Johns stood beside her husband, alternating between grinning at Melissa and then looking adoringly at Jack.
But nothing prepared Melissa for the way Shane looked at her with such love, such devotion. She would remember that look for the rest of her life.
At the front of the church, Mama kissed her cheek. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, Mama.”
Shane took Melissa’s hands and it was like they were the only two people on the planet. “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered.
“I love you, Shane.” She was vaguely aware of the music, of what the pastor was saying.
“Shane and Melissa have prepared their own vows. Shane, you may declare your vow to your bride and to all those present.”
He took one long moment just to look at her. “Melissa, you are the best part of me. I love you, not just for who you are, but for who I am with you. Every day we are together is the greatest day of my life, and I promise to always give you the best of my love.”
Shane cupped her face in his hands and brushed away her tears, and started to kiss her.
“Not yet, son. You’re getting ahead of yourself,” the pastor said, and everyone laughed. “Melissa, you may declare your vows to Shane and to all those present.”
“Shane, when I met you, I believed there was a match for everyone but me. But you are my very best friend, my perfect match, my soul mate. Thank you for loving me, for not giving up on me. I promise to be the best person I can be, to grow with you, to love you completely, now and forever.”
Shane didn’t wait for permission to kiss her, and before she knew it, her feet weren’t touching the floor. The kiss ended and she slid down his body.
“Forever,” he whispered.
Forever.
The End
D
arcy Vance tried not to notice the hot guy parked beside the marsh that bordered the last property of the day Melissa Bliss was showing her. He had some plans spread out across the hood of his Jeep and appeared to be deep in thought until he lowered his shades and nodded. For a moment, Darcy almost forgot about her mission to find the perfect place to open her B&B. What was she thinking? She was officially immune to insanely good looks that always came with an easy smile and a world of heartbreak.
And then he unleashed a sexy grin. At her? He was far enough away that she couldn’t tell, but her heart took off. Even from a distance his looks were lethal to her resolve; she had no doubts the man attached to that body was lethal too. She pinched herself good and hard as Melissa pulled into the driveway of what could be the perfect Charlestonian mansion. With a lot of elbow grease. This place was definitely the most gorgeous money pit Darcy had ever seen.
“I’m in love,” Darcy blurted out.
Melissa had shown her twenty homes or existing B&Bs, but this grand old Magnolia Bay home spoke to Darcy. From the outside, it really was perfect with huge porches on both floors. She didn’t know how she felt about the pink exterior, but, with its white trim and columns and Charleston black shutters, even slightly dilapidated, the house was welcoming. “Crazy in love.” Hurrying up the walkway, Darcy felt like a kid. “How many bedrooms?”
“Twelve?” Melissa squeaked.
“Really? Was it a hotel when it was built?” Darcy felt the board give as she took the first step. Actually, all of them felt like they might give way if she’d weighed an ounce more.
Steps
. That would be the first thing she’d fix.
“I know it’s more house than you wanted to take on. It’s going to require way more work than the other potential B&Bs we looked at in Charleston, but I really wanted you to see it.” Melissa sighed dreamily. “Magnolia Bay is the hidden jewel of the Lowcountry. It’s got adorable B&Bs but nothing as opulent as this home. The quality of shops and restaurants is every bit as good as Charleston. I absolutely adore it.”
“Sounds like a good place to live.”
“It’s the only place I’d consider living if I could tear myself away from the Isle of Palms. And I’ve always adored Mimosa House.”
“Mimosa House.” The words tripped off Darcy’s tongue as she followed Melissa up the stairs. “I love it. But you never answered my question.”
“The house is over a hundred and fifty years old, young by Lowcountry standards. Even with all the work she needs, she’s still gorgeous.”
Darcy followed her across iffy-looking boards of the grand front porch while Melissa went on about the house itself but not the history, which was always a huge selling point with homes like this. She could picture her guests, sitting there in the evenings enjoying a drink and good conversation.
“And to answer your question,” Melissa said. “It was a brothel.”
“Brothel?”
Darcy barely got out the word before her foot pushed through one of the rotten boards. Melissa apologized all over the place, helped her pull her foot out of the hole, and then stared in anguish at Darcy’s brand new Stuart Weitzman boot that was now ripped across the toe. But Darcy didn’t care. “Tell me more about the house.”
Still visibly wrecked over the boot, Melissa proceeded to share the history of the house. “Mimosa House was built by a shipping tycoon in the mid 1800s as a present for his mistress, who happened to be a madam.”
“So you weren’t kidding about the house being a brothel.” Darcy laughed. That would certainly be an interesting B&B marketing point. During her research Darcy had met a Dallas woman who’d really played up her property’s history as a cathouse, but Darcy wasn’t interested in that. Mimosa House was like an elegant grande dame, and Darcy wanted to keep her that way.
“Not kidding. And it was a busy one with twelve bedrooms.”
Twelve rooms in this quaint little seaside town? It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. One hour after walking the house and the property, after planning and dreaming big, Darcy had made her decision. “I’ll take it, Melissa.”
Darcy was so excited, she’d almost forgotten the hot guy who’d just gotten in his Jeep and was driving off. She pinched herself, double reinforcement to keep her mind on
her
dreams, not some dream date.
“That’s wonderful, Darcy.” Melissa hugged her, then whipped out her iPad and started tapping away to let the listing agent know she’d be sending an offer soon. “Before we even pulled into the driveway, I knew the two of you were perfect for each other!”
Darcy grinned from ear to ear as they tread carefully across the rotten porch back toward the car. She was doing it. She was making her dream happen. She’d finally found her perfect match.
––––––––
If you enjoyed
She’s the One
, you’ll love the rest of Kim Boykin’s series...
Available Now
––––––––
Sweet Home Carolina
––––––––
Flirting with Forever
––––––––
Just in Time for Christmas
––––––––
Caught Up in You
Kim Boykin
is a women’s fiction author with a sassy Southern streak. She is the author of The Wisdom of Hair, Steal Me, and Palmetto Moon. While her heart is always in South Carolina, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, 3 dogs, and 126 rose bushes. For more on Kim’s books, visit her website at
http://kimboykin.com