The Bachelor Pact (78 page)

"Come on; there's a surprise up here." He pulled her around to the staircase, then up the steps. She smiled when she saw him bend to pet her cat. Jazzy barely snarled this time. Her cat must be getting used to Lance. Would Jazzy miss him, too, if things didn't work out?

Was she getting her hopes up that they would?

"We added some things to your bath," Lance said.

"Oh, my gosh." Sophie halted in shock. The Jacuzzi was working, but it was the big walk-in closet that caught her eye. She'd never mentioned a walk-in closet, thinking there wouldn't be room and that she couldn't afford it. She stepped inside, amazed at the customized shelving he'd designed.

"This is wonderful, Lance. What made you think... How did you know?" Then realization struck. "You saw my show? The one with my mother?"

Lance nodded.

Sophie's throat closed, tears burning her eyes. "Lance, I didn't go on TV to get sympathy."

He winced at her biting tone. "I realize that."

She jutted her chin upward. "You're not giving me discounts because of it either."

"That's not what this is about. I... I made the changes because I want you to have the dream house you always wanted."

"But—"

"Shh." He pressed his lips to hers to silence her, then captured her hands between his and guided her down the stairs. "There's one more thing."

"No, there can't be; this is too much."

He guided her to the backyard. Tears filled her eyes when she spotted the white gazebo with built-in seats he'd added. A small round table sat in the center, draped with a tablecloth and candles, which were shimmering with soft light.

"Lance..."

"I didn't have time to build the fish pond yet, but"—he paused and gestured toward the left side—"it can go in right here, and we can add a flower garden and brick steps that lead out to the gazebo, and maybe a tire swing—"

"We?" Sophie clutched his hand and stared into his eyes, certain she'd misunderstood him.

"Oh, sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself." He dropped to his knees, took her hand in his, then lifted it and pressed a kiss to her fingers. Sophie's breath caught when he removed an antique diamond ring from his pocket. "I love you, Sophie. This ring belonged to my mother. I want you to have it because she would have loved you, too, and I know you like antiques, but if you want a new ring, we can shop for one—"

"The ring is beautiful, perfect, special." A small laugh escaped her. "But what did you say before that?"

He hesitated, then slid the ring on her finger and pressed her hand to his cheek. "I said I love you, Sophie. I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?"

Sophie fell to her knees, threw her arms around him, and knocked him over as she kissed him. "Of course I will." When she came up for air, she was breathless, her fingers beginning to toy with the buttons on his shirt. "Now can I have that shirt back, please? I'm sleepless without it."

Lance laughed and dared her to take it off, and Sophie gladly obliged.

Of course, she lost her own in the process...

Epilogue

As a prelude to Sophie's June wedding series, she and Lance were married the first week of June. Although her producer wanted her wedding to air on the show, Sophie refused, opting for a small private ceremony with friends and family. She'd also turned down both job offers, as she intended to build her life with Lance in Savannah with the home they'd restored together, surrounded by family and close friends.

Deseree and Lucy and Maddie bustled around her bedroom, fluffing her dress and veil.

"I want you to have these; they belonged to my mother," Deseree said. She placed a strand of pearls around Sophie's neck and hugged her.

"Did you know Mom enrolled in night school?" Lucy said.

Sophie gripped her mother's arms. "Did you really?"

"Yes, I thought I'd try my hand at cosmetology." Deseree lifted her big hair. "The dancers in Vegas always need classy hairstylists. And I can make a fortune doing wigs for the drag queen show over at Cafe Risque."

Lucy and Sophie laughed. The music started and they rushed down the stairs, straightening dresses and whispering. Sophie and Lance had both agreed to get married in her backyard in the gazebo. Lance had hired a crew to landscape the yard, and add the fish pond and a rose garden in honor of his mother. Reid and Chase had confiscated white wooden chairs and set them up, and Maddie and Lucy had decorated them with white ribbons and flowers.

Deseree hurried ahead and let Peter escort her to her seat. Maddie and Lucy, her two bridesmaids, were dressed in simple dark green cocktail dresses and carried fresh red roses. Sophie's assistant, Eden, sang "I Will Always Love You" to piano music supplied by the show's band, which had set up a stage in the yard.

Sophie followed, hanging on to Peter's arm as she walked toward Lance. Chase and Reid both stood beside him, but Sophie's gaze latched on to Lance's. His dark eyes sparkled with hunger, the kind that she trusted would never die.

Peter handed her over and the ceremony began with a simple prayer. "I believe Sophie and Lance have written their own vows," the minister said.

They nodded and Lance cradled her hand between his. "Sophie, I'm honored to be standing in front of you today, especially since you once told me you wouldn't go out with me if I were the last man on earth."

Lucy and Maddie giggled, along with the visitors.

"The truth is, I fell in love with you the moment I met you. But I had lost a part of my family when I was young, and I was afraid to love and lose again." He stroked her fingers with his and gently kissed them. "But even though I pushed you away, you stayed with me. Without you I couldn't eat, I couldn't think, and I was completely sleepless. In fact, you taught me not to be afraid, because life without love isn't really living.

"I love you, Sophie with all my heart, now, tomorrow, and always."

Tears burned the backs of Sophie's eyelids, but she blinked them away. "Lance, I dreamed of having a home when I grew up, a Victorian house full of antiques with a walk-in closet, a white picket fence, a gazebo in my backyard, and a pond. But I never dreamed I would find someone as wonderful as you.

"You gave me all those things I'd dreamed about in my house, but when I thought I'd lost you, I realized that a house was just four walls with things that didn't really matter. It wasn't a home until you added the loving touches with your own hands, until you stood inside with me." She kissed his fingers as he had hers.

"When I first met you, I sensed we were soul mates. Then I got to know you, and I knew I was meant to love you. I give you my heart, today and forevermore."

They exchanged rings and the minister offered a simple prayer; then it was time to kiss the bride.

Lance swept Sophie into his arms and claimed her mouth in a kiss so tender and erotic that Sophie felt faint when she pulled away. Maddie was crying and blowing her nose, but rushed to congratulate them. Lucy and Deseree hugged and squealed, then embraced her and Lance.

"You will be good to my sister, won't you?" Lucy asked.

Lance grinned. "Yes, of course I will. And I'll be your big brother if you let me."

Lucy twisted her mouth in thought. "As long as you don't boss me around too much."

Sophie and Lance laughed, while Peter came forward to congratulate them both. Chase pounded Lance on the back, and Reid looked oddly emotional. Then the party and celebration began. Everyone enjoyed the appetizers and champagne and wedding cake, then danced.

Lance dragged Sophie into his arms. "Were you really thinking about going back to Vegas to perform?"

Sophie nuzzled his neck. "No. Why, do you want me to dance?"

"Maybe later, for me. In private."

"I think that can be arranged."

Lance kissed her. "I hope so, Sophie. And if you want to take that job in L.A.—"

"We're not moving," Sophie said. "I love the show I'm doing now, Lance. I love Savannah and Maddie and you and our house. I don't need anything else."

Lance pressed her hands to his heart. "How about a family... someday?"

Sophie smiled. "Well, yes, I would like
that."

"Do you think Lucy's really okay with us getting married?"

"I think so, but your brother looked kind of upset. Maybe we should check on them." Hand in hand, they maneuvered through the crowd.

"Where are they?" Sophie asked.

"I don't know. I hope they're not off arguing somewhere." He pulled her inside, and they searched the house. They were just about to give up when Lance heard a squeaking sound from the attic.

"Is there a ghost up there?"

"No." Sophie darted up the stairs and they tiptoed into the room to find Reid and Lucy kissing. "Oh, my gosh," Sophie whispered, grateful they were still dressed.

"Reid?" Lance stammered.

Lucy and Reid pulled away, their faces flushed, hair tangled, clothes disheveled.

"Lucy, I thought he was the most infuriating, exasperating, sexist pig you'd ever met," Sophie said.

Lucy grinned, her arms still looped around Reid's neck. "He is."

Lance quirked a brow. "And I thought she was a kook?"

Reid shrugged and tightened his hands around her back. "She is."

"Did you cast a spell on him?" Sophie asked.

Lucy shook her head, curls bouncing.

"It doesn't matter," Reid said in a goofy voice. "Because I think I love Lucy."

"Ahhh..." Lucy threaded her fingers through his hair. "I think I love you, too."

* * *

As soon as the guests left, Sophie and Lance raced up the steps to change. Seconds later Sophie emerged in a black G-string and pasties made of chocolate drops.

Lance's throat went dry. He'd thought the Virginal Vampiress was sexy; Sophie in this amazing getup was an orgasm waiting to happen.

"What exactly is that thing called?" he said in a thick voice as she began to slowly gyrate to the jazz music floating through the room.

"Item number sixty-nine from Lucy's Sleepover catalog. Chocolate kisses, the edible wonders." Sophie wiggled her fanny and dipped her shoulder so the chocolate kisses covering her nipples swayed. "Now, honey, you can have dessert."

Lance licked his lips and went to make his wife happy, something he intended to do the rest of his life. As he took the first bite, he feathered his fingers along Sophie's thighs. "Maybe your sister should hold on to that business," he whispered. "After all, we have anniversaries to come, and Valentine's Day..."

Sophie threw her head back and groaned. "Honey, I'll make sure we get a lifetime supply."

The End