Unexpected Mr. Right (23 page)

Kaylee pulled away, “Shut up and go get dressed. You have a man to win back.” Kaylee's smile told her she didn't give a damn about the ruined bachelorette party. She wanted her friend to be happy and for the first time in a long time Tabby knew her dream floated within her grasp.

The cab pulled up in front of Nico's apartment at 11:32 PM. They'd made a pit stop at an ice cream joint and made it to Nico's in record time. Tabby tossed a wad of cash at him, not caring how much she overpaid him before jumping out of the car and closing the door with a slam. She raced to his door, her flip-flops flapping as she ran. She hadn't cared what she put on to come over here. Her hair was a mess. She had on a loose fitting pair of sweat pants, a black bra with a white tank. She knew she broke all kinds of fashion laws but right now that didn't matter. With a heavy fist she banged on his door impatiently.

A couple seconds later she did it again. When he opened the door she pushed her way inside and closed it. He'd been asleep. His jaw had a light dusting of stubble, his hair ruffled in a delicious mess of raven black locks on his head, and he wore a pair of gray boxer briefs and nothing else. If she didn't have something important to tell him she would have jumped him right then and there. “I'm not giving up on you. In my heart I know you didn't do anything with Cindy and if you did, then that woman is going to have a fight on her hands because you're mine and I'm not willing to let you go."

There. What do you have to say about that?

"Tabby I—"

She cut him off before he could finish. “I love you Nico and I know you love me to. I heard you tell me the other night and even if I hadn't I can see it in your eyes. In the way you treat me. Maybe I've been blind until tonight but I'm telling you right now I can see."

A minute passed before a half smile tugged at his mouth.

"You're right, Tesoro. I do love you. But I don't know if we can fix this. You have no faith in me. From day one I've had to trick, beg and plead you in some way or another just to spend time with you. I've tried to be everything you want and the fact is no matter how much I try I don't know if you'll ever be satisfied with me. The first chance you had you ran from me. You assumed the worst and didn't trust me enough to give me the benefit of the doubt.

"I've done everything I can to make you see how much you mean to me. I broke all my own rules, asked if we could make our relationship official, introduced you to my family, fell in love but it wasn't enough for you to believe in me. I'm just not that knight in shining armor type that you want and I'm not willing to be anything different than who I am. Just like I'd never expect you to be anything different than who you are.” He leaned against a table by his front door.

His words hurt but she knew they were true. At least the parts about her were. She hadn't believed in him like she should, never gave him the benefit of the doubt, didn't see him as more than the ladies man she'd always thought him to be even when he showed her he was so much more. “You're right. I had so many things I wanted that I failed to give you what you deserved. I put blinders up because I thought you weren't who I thought I wanted and that is wrong. And the fact is you aren't what I wanted, Nico, you're so much more.

"You know how to love better than any man I've ever known. You know how to make everyone you love feel like the most important person on the world. You'd never shaft your children because you have enough love for everyone. You're honest, loyal, and passionate in love and life. I have fun with you, can share anything with you, and even though I don't deserve it I'm asking you to give me another chance because you're it for me.

"Even though I dreamed about love, preached about it to my friends, and wished for it in reality I never thought it would happen for me. Never thought I'd find that one person who could be everything, who would love me for me and when I did I didn't love you for you. I didn't expect to find love, Nico. I pushed the only true shot I had away and I'm sorry about that. But I'm telling you now I couldn't find anyone more right for me than you are. I can promise you I'll never doubt you again."

Her heart ached, the muscle thumped, felt like it might explode in her chest. She'd done wrong by him. She knew that. If he didn't forgive her it would be her own fault but God she hoped he did. She wanted to laugh with him, cook with him, grow old with him, love him. But the longer he sat there with an empty stare, the black depths of his eyes boring a hole in her heart she began to realize that she might not get to do any of those things. She may have lost him forever.

Never in a million years did Nico expect her to lay out her heart for him the way she just did. Her voice spoke with sincerity that even if he wanted to doubt he couldn't. And he didn't want to doubt it. No matter how pissed he'd been at her he had to forgive her. She was his and holding out these past couple days had been hell on him. He wanted her forever, to stake claim on her, to wipe all doubt out of her mind as to who he wanted in his bed and his heart for the rest of his life.

Seeing her tonight confirmed his feelings for her. She'd put her heart out there, entrusted it to him and he'd be damned before he bruised it much less let it break. She looked so sweet, so rumpled, so damned sexy that he couldn't hold himself back anymore. Nico took three long strides forward to stand in front of her. Hungry to touch her he reached out and took her face in his hands before he lowered his mouth to kiss her. More like devour her.

Tabby gave just as deeply as she took as their tongues mated in a kiss that rocked his world. Oh yeah. This was his woman, his treasure and he planned to keep her. He pulled away from her delicious mouth to say, “It took you long enough, Tesoro."

Pure happiness exploded in her eyes. Damn he loved seeing that look on her face. Loved even more that he is the man who put it there.

"You know you can trust me, baby. I love you.” He realized that he'd only spoken those words to her one other time besides tonight. Even then she'd been asleep. Because they felt so good he opened his mouth to say them again, “I love you, Tabby. I could get used to saying that.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he peered down at her.

"I can get used to hearing them. I love you too, Nico."

"What's that?” he asked tilting his head toward the bag.

"Ice cream. I wanted you to know I can be rocky road but only for you, Nico."

"Damn baby. I've known all along you were rocky road.” He kissed her. “But you're right. Only for me."

"I love you so much, Nico."

"You just love me because I can cook for you.” Man he enjoyed giving her a hard time. “But you know we're going to have to get a little more serious about those cooking lessons. A man needs a day off every now and again."

She playfully pushed him away. “You just want me barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.” Her eyes widened like she regretted what she said. “I didn't really mean that. Not pushing you into the whole baby and marriage thing."

He bent down dropping a swift kiss to her lips. “No? That's the second time you've mentioned barefoot and pregnant to me."

"I was joking. I'm really not pushing anything on you, Nico."

"Guess I'm going to have to be the one pushing you then."

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Tabby rocked to the slow beat of the music while Nico held her tightly in his arms. People danced all around them but to her, they were the only two people in the room. His hand slowly caressed the open back of her pale yellow maid of honor dress as if savoring the feel of her. His hard body molded against her like they were meant to be like this, in each others arms, becoming as close as two people could be.

"Remind me again why we have to stay for the whole reception.” His voice whispered low into her ear. “I want to ravage you."

Tabby let out a slight giggle. “Because you're the best man and I'm a maid of honor?"

"Damn. See what we get for all the hard work we put into this wedding? They're holding us hostage so I can't take you home and rip that sexy yellow dress off you."

He bent and nuzzled her neck. Tabby reveled in the feel of his warmth against her neck before she replied. “I think that might have been his plan all along. Maybe the whole wedding is just a farce to keep you clothed and sexless."

"I think I've created a monster, Tesoro. Since when did you get such a good sense of humor?"

"Since you.” She pulled away so she could look in his eyes. He meant everything to her. This is what love was. Not her parents, not any of the other relationships she'd had in the past. This man standing in front of her embodied what the word love was all about.

"You keep that up and I'm going to get a big head."

Nico dipped his face down to hers and kissed her. A slow, passionate kiss that matched the beat of the music. Just as he pulled away the song ended. Kaylee and Luciano's day would soon be over but their lives were just starting. As was hers. The ceremony had gone off without a hitch. Kaylee made the perfect bride, and Tabby was blessed to walk down the aisle with the man she loved. It wasn't her own wedding but she didn't care. She had Nico and that's all that mattered.

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Kelley Nyrae has loved writing for as long as she can remember. From the moment she won her first writing contest in the second grade she knew writing was her passion. Her plan had always been to write children's books but for one reason or another it never worked out. In 2005 she became a stay at home mom for the first time. That's when she picked up her first romance novel and fell in love. She knew that writing romance books is what she was meant to do and her life hasn't been the same ever since. All her dreams have come true!

Kelley has been blessed with a wonderful, supportive husband and two beautiful children who always bring a smile to her face. She resides in sunny Southern California.