Surrendering to chance, p.12
Surrendering to Chance, page 12
“Damn straight we would.” He pulled her closer. “What you’re feeling means you’re a loyal friend. Once you give someone your heart, it’s theirs forever.”
“That’s true.” She nuzzled his neck. “It was true about you, too, you know.”
Grayson was certain his heart would burst. He had the ring. He’d had it since this morning when he and Addison had gone into town with the excuse of Emmett needing something for the wedding. Addison had helped him choose it, and he prayed Valerie would love it. It would be so easy to go and get it now and ask her, but this wasn’t the right time. He wanted his proposal to be something special. Something they’d both remember for the rest of their lives.
His heart overflowed with love for this extraordinary woman as they sat there, holding each other. He’d lost her once, and by some miracle she’d given him a second chance. He would not lose her again. Not until one of them was dead. He vowed to spend the rest of his life making her as happy as humanly possible.
She was everything he’d ever wanted, and everything he could ever want. He knew that now. Finally, he knew that.
Chapter Seventeen
Valerie gasped as Liane came down the aisle, holding onto Ace’s arm, who was giving her away. She glowed. There was simply no other way to describe her. Even with the veil over her face, her radiant smile shone through. Her dress was satin with tiny flowers sewn into the edges and along the hem. Strapless, it showed off her smooth skin and hugged her curves perfectly. It was the most exquisite wedding dress Valerie had ever seen.
Fifteen bridesmaids, accompanied by fifteen groomsmen—eleven of whom were Weathermen—came next. Angela was with Dominic, Julianne accompanied Kane, and Sela walked next to Damien. Harper was at the end of the line, since Ace was currently with Liane. There were even flower girls and a ring bearer.
As Valerie listened to Liane and Emmett exchange vows, she recalled her conversation with Grayson the evening before. He saw this in their future. A wedding, and one day, children. She could still hardly believe it. Each time he caught her eye during the ceremony, he gave her a quick smile or a wink, and she was certain her soul could not contain one more ounce of joy.
She’d loved this man from the moment she met him, two years ago. Even when he’d broken her heart last year, she had never gotten over him. Something about him called to her. Maybe a piece of her knew that he simply needed time to figure out what he wanted. She didn’t know. She only knew she had him now, and nothing in this world or another would convince her to give him up.
****
The reception was held at a place called Tara Banquet Hall, and it had been designed in the same style as the home called Tara in Gone With The Wind. That was a movie from the early part of the twentieth century, set in what used to be Atlanta, Georgia, during the Civil War. Valerie had never seen it, but Grayson had, and briefly explained the basic plot to her as he made sure she had a seat close to the bridal party table.
She was seated with Nadine and Rissa, and the three had fun watching everyone and admiring the clothes they wore. This was the most upscale wedding Valerie had ever been to. Emmett and Liane had spared no expense.
There were two bands, and they alternated sets, playing everything from waltzes to rock, country to hip-hop, and the latest techno-punk mish-mosh that everyone in the crowd under twenty years old seemed to recognize immediately.
The food was to die for, and there was more to eat and drink than ten times the people at the wedding could consume. When Ace, also the best man, stood to give yet another toast, Valerie noticed Harper held a glass of water, not champagne. She also noticed Harper looked pale and a bit shaky.
Valerie leaned over to ask Rissa if she knew whether Harper was all right, and Rissa grinned. “You didn’t hear? Barclay told me last night. It’s supposed to be a big secret because Harper didn’t want the news to overshadow the wedding, but she recently found out she’s pregnant with twins!”
“Oh! How exciting!”
“It is, but apparently she’s been sick as a dog, poor thing.”
“She looks a bit unsteady.”
“Barclay is already talking about having kids.”
Valerie turned her attention from Harper to face Rissa. “Don’t you want them?”
“Not for a while yet.”
“I’m terrified to be pregnant,” said Nadine. “Well, not to be pregnant I guess, but to give birth.”
“I imagine everyone is,” said Valerie. “At least the first time.”
After the toasts, the band played another set, and by this time Grayson was finally done with the obligatory dances as one of the groomsmen, and was thus free to dance with Valerie.
“Are you having a good time?” he asked, whispering in her ear.
“Yes,” she whispered back. “Did you know Harper was pregnant?”
“I heard that a few moments ago. Giving you ideas?”
She giggled and slapped at his arm. “No, it is not.”
He pulled her closer and led her around the dance floor like he’d been born to do it. “I don’t think there’s any place as nice as this in NorthWest to host a wedding reception.”
“You all should think about having the future weddings in Central. It would make it easier for everyone to travel.”
He pulled away slightly to gaze at her. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. Trains every half hour from each city, and plenty of hotels with large ballrooms.”
“See? It’s perfect.”
****
Valerie had assumed they were leaving the morning after the wedding, but Grayson had arranged for them to stay a few more days. He wanted to show her the city, but they spent most of Sunday sleeping.
Monday morning, they walked around the city and then ate lunch at the same place where the guys had gone for their night out before the wedding. As they were leaving, Grayson’s phone rang, and he took the call outside. She gathered from his end of the conversation he was talking to one of his administrative assistants, and when he got off the phone he smiled. “All is well on our end with the hacker team.”
“That quickly? Dante believes the reason Hallee left is real?”
“She told him herself Saturday morning. Put on a big show with tears and everything. He’s at work now, telling everyone how much he misses her already, and that he might follow her to be with her.”
Valerie frowned. “Well, that complicates things.”
Grayson laughed. “No, it doesn’t. She’ll put him off and gradually stop talking to him. Once we find the other two hackers and have them all, Hallee will simply cease to exist. That way Dante won’t become suspicious before we nail the others.”
“Well, aren’t you all just too clever. What about Mindy and Dirk?”
“I’m waiting to hear.”
He didn’t have to wait long. Tuesday morning, which was to be their last day in SouthEast, Grayson had a video chat with the other Weathermen that ended with Barclay telling them Dirk had pretended to break up with Mindy the afternoon before, at work with the rest of the hacker team watching, before he left.
He also addressed the things Mindy had found in his fake background, telling her he didn’t like to get too tied down to any one woman, so he lied about things to each of them and then when things got too clingy, he left.
They didn’t have to worry about him keeping up pretenses with her until the others were found because Mindy now hated him and had told everyone if she never heard his name again, she’d die happy.
When the call ended, Valerie asked Grayson if he felt comfortable with the way things had played out between Dirk and Mindy, and between Hallee and Dante.
“I wish we hadn’t had to pull them both at the same time, and so suddenly, but I think they each did what they could under the circumstances. It doesn’t sound like we need to worry about Mindy digging further because it sounds like Dirk covered his bases well enough.”
“What about Dante?”
“If Hallee can string him along just enough for a while longer, we’ll be all right.”
“Do you really think you’ll find the other two hackers that soon?”
“Yes. I really do.”
****
Even after they’d showered together and spent a couple of leisurely hours making love on Tuesday afternoon, Grayson was jumpy and distracted. She assumed it had to do with Dirk and Hallee, and asked him if that’s what still had him so rattled.
He gave her an expectant look. “No, it’s not. I have a surprise planned for you later and I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
They ate dinner in the apartment. He’d had food brought over from a restaurant that featured hard-to-find seafood, and Valerie told him it was as close to the taste of fresh seafood she remembered from the first time she’d visited New England as she’d had since moving underground.
“You should have tasted the salmon in Seattle,” he said. “Nothing like it ever, above or below ground. But this is good. Very good.”
He still seemed nervous, which had her puzzled. “I love the surprise, Grayson. Thank you.”
“Oh, this is only part of it.”
“Did I forget my own birthday or something?”
His laugh was a bit too loud. “I hope not because if you did, so did I.”
“Then what is all this?”
He gave her a fake pout. “Can’t I treat the woman I love?”
“Of course you can. I just wish you’d calm down. Maybe you didn’t get enough sex earlier?”
She brushed her hand up his thigh, and he let out a soft, sexy moan. “Stop tempting me. We’ll be late.”
“Late for what?”
He glanced outside, where the fake sun was setting. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
“Go where?”
“You’ll see.”
They walked to the large park in the center of the city, and Valerie gasped at the display of lights inside it. “Wow. It looks like Christmas only it’s June.”
“I was told they keep it lit like this all year and change the light colors for each season.”
“This is amazing. Thank you.” She linked her arm in his as they walked toward a booth where old-fashioned carriages pulled by horses were parked close by. “I had no idea anyone had horses underground still.”
“A few here and there, but they’re scarce.”
“Are we going for a ride?”
“Yes.”
Valerie squealed in delight as Grayson first spoke with the woman in the booth, then led her to one of the carriages. A man in livery opened the door for them, smiling wide, and then they settled in against the plush velvet seats. There were even Victorian coach lamps inside, plus a chilled bottle of champagne and two plastic glasses.
“You set this up ahead of time.”
“Of course I did, my lady. That’s why we stayed a few extra days. It took some time.”
The carriage began to move and Valerie was transfixed by the display of lights in the park. She couldn’t take her eyes off them until Grayson tapped her on the shoulder. She glanced at him to find he held a tiny wrapped present.
“What is this?”
“Part of the surprise. Open it.”
She did, and drew in a sharp breath at the sight of three thimbles resting on dark satin. “Where on earth…”
“Do you like them?”
His voice was filled with pride and uncertainty at the same time, and she wondered how in the world he had expected her not to like them. She took out the first one. It was solid gold with the image of a wheat field etched into the side. The date etched into the other side was January 29, 1861.
“It’s from Kansas,” he said. “In commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of Kansas becoming a state. Addison said they were very rare, even in the twentieth century.”
“He’s right.” She looked into Grayson’s eyes. “You had Addison find this for me?”
“He emailed me from a bunker when he was on the surface a couple weeks ago, telling me how he’d found these three thimbles in one place, and asked if I knew whether you had them already. I took a look at your collection one day while you were at work and let him know that as far as I could tell, you did not.”
“Oh my goodness.” She removed the other two, which were both identical. These she also knew had existed, but she’d never seen them in person. They were a pair of only several hundred made featuring a china pattern that was from seventeenth century England. She’d wanted a pair since she’d started collecting, but they were impossible to find.
“Grayson, I don’t know what to say.” She swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “You have no idea how much these mean to me.”
“I think I do, love. And you are very welcome.”
“Thank you for this. All of this. I’m overwhelmed.”
He grinned, and then he tapped the roof and the carriage stopped and she heard the driver climb down from his seat. “It’s not quite over yet.” He took her hand as the driver opened the door. “Come on.”
Once outside in the park, he led her to a bench near a group of trees featuring gold, red, and orange lights, then asked her to take a seat. He pulled another small box out of his jacket pocket, and got down on one knee in front of her.
Valerie began to cry all over again when he opened it to reveal a stunning gold ring with a huge diamond, surrounded by tiny emeralds.
“To match your hair and eyes. Valerie, I love you with my entire heart and soul. If you hadn’t given me this second chance, I would have kept pursuing you until the day I died anyway. You are the only woman I have ever loved, and the only one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?”
“Oh, Grayson. Yes. A thousand times yes!”
He slipped the ring on her finger, and of course it fit. She’d had no doubt it would. He stood and she did as well. Then he hugged her until she could barely breathe. She’d lost him and then found him again, and now she would be his wife. This sexy, charming man who spoke to her soul and made her happier than she’d ever been.
“I love you so much,” she said. “I don’t know what to say right now.”
He beamed down at her with so much love and joy on his beautiful face she imagined if all the lights in this park went out, his happiness would be enough to light up the entire city. “Don’t say anything. Just always love me this much.”
“Always. Forever.”
He twirled her around in slow circles, and Valerie laughed and cried at the same time, knowing she would spend the rest of her life, making sure Grayson had no doubt how very, very much she loved him.
The End
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Ravenna Tate, Surrendering to Chance
