My Chance (Chance #2) (21 page)

“Yeah, I know. I’m sure he does.” He stared at the headstone. “Mom and El, this is Aubrey.” His voice cracked. “She’s going to be my wife. I wish you both were really here to meet her. She’s an amazing woman. She’s courageous, loving, smart, beautiful, and she’s all mine.”

I looked at him, and a tear left the corner of his eye. I didn’t know what to do or say. I cleared my throat. “It is a pleasure meeting you both. I’m sorry you’re not here too. Alex has made me the happiest I’ve ever been. He gives me courage and strength, but most of all, he gives me love. The same love you gave him.” I looked at Alex. He was smiling. “I want you to know I’ll take care of him for the rest of my life. I’ll hold his heart with tender hands. I’ll encourage him no matter what. He’s a successful man, but his greatest success is who he is; everything else is secondary. I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I’ll love him for the rest of my life. I want you both to know that.” I kissed my fingers and touched the stone.

We heard twigs snapping, and we turned to see Jack behind us.

His eyes were watery. “I’m sorry to intrude. I think I left my hat when I was here earlier.” He walked past us. It was on the ground not far from the orchids. He put it on and turned to us. “Aubrey, that was beautiful. I’m sorry for upsetting you when you came to see me. I see how much you love my son and how much he loves you. I just want you both to be happy.”

I was stunned. I knew in my heart that Alex’s mom had sent him. I had been worried about what sign she would send, but it was wonderful. I hugged him. “Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you. I’m surprised you didn’t walk away that day. If it isn’t too late, I’d like to welcome you to the Logan family. I’m pleased that you’ll be my daughter-in-law.” He smiled at me and looked at Alex. “Son, I’m sorry for how I acted. I hope you can forgive me.”

Alex looked as stunned as I thought I did. “Thank you, Dad. I’m glad that you understand that Aubrey comes first to me.”

His father nodded. “That’s how it should be. I should have put your mother first, and I didn’t. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. How different things could’ve been. I lost them and you at the same time. If I could change the past, I would, but if it’s okay, I’d like to focus on the present and the future with my son back in my life.”

Alex hugged his father.

I looked at the headstone and then to the sky. I mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Aubrey and I are going to go to lunch. Would you like to join us?” Alex looked like a young boy.

Jack smiled. “I think that would be great. It’s my treat. It’s the least I can do.”

Alex and I walked back to the car to follow Jack to a steakhouse he liked near Rockefeller Center.

Alex started the car and looked at me. “Well, that was unexpected.”

I smiled and nodded. “Yes, it was. Sometimes the best things are unexpected. You were unexpected.”

At the restaurant, we valeted the car and met Jack at a table. He ordered a bottle of wine with a pensive, nervous look. “So what’s new in the wedding department?”

“Actually, Aubrey and I are having an engagement party next Sunday. I was going to call and invite you. We hope you can come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Thank you. Have you two picked a date?”

“Aubrey did, and I think it’s a great choice. Tell him, sweetheart.”

I looked at Alex and then at Jack. “We agreed on December twenty-first.”

Jack looked at me and smiled, and I saw his resemblance to Alex. “I can’t think of a better date. Angela would have loved you, Aubrey. To think that I was pushing you both away… It’s funny because I wasn’t planning on going to the cemetery today. I was going to go yesterday, and I got busy. This morning, something told me to go.”

I looked at Alex. “It was your mom.”

He looked at me and then at his dad. “My mom?”

“Ever since you told me you wanted to go to the cemetery, I’ve been nervous. Like something was going to happen. Naturally, I thought bad things. I was hoping your mom would send some sort of sign, and then your dad showed up. I think that your mom sent us all there on the same day.” I took a sip of my water.

“I think you’re right,” Jack said. “I think it was Angela. I can see why Alex loves you; you’re easy to love.”

After lunch, Alex told his dad we’d see him next week at our party. They shook hands, and Jack gave me a hug good-bye.

Alex threw his arm around me. “Are you ready for your surprise?”

I turned and walked backward out of the restaurant so I could see his face. “Yes, what is it?”

He spun me around and whispered in my ear, “You’re always trying to get things out of me. When are you going to learn that I won’t tell you? Before your surprise, I need to go to the club and pick something up.”

“Then can I get my surprise?” I was practically bouncing. The day had been weighing on me, but it had become one of the best days ever, and I still had a surprise coming.

“Yes, Miss Impatient, then you can get your surprise.” He chuckled.

“I have patience.” I crossed my arms and pouted.

“Yeah, you have patience. That look will not make me tell you what I have planned, so forget it. Now, get in the car so you don’t have to wait anymore.” Alex winked as he opened my door.

We pulled away, and I felt at peace with everything that had happened so far that day. We pulled into the club’s parking lot, which was empty except for a couple cars that I assumed were the cleaners’.

“Come on, babe.”

Alex and I walked into the club and saw a few people sitting at the bar.

Mike came out from the back. “Hey, boss. Everything is all set.”

Alex turned to me. “Surprise, baby.”

He looked so pleased with himself, and I was beyond confused. “Um… thank you?”

Laughing, he brought me over to the people at the bar. He pointed at an attractive woman in her forties. “Aubrey, this is Mary. She works with Rob and Chelsea.” He motioned toward the much younger couple.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” I looked at Alex. “I don’t understand.”

“You told me that when you were younger, you wanted to be a ballroom dancer. Rob and Chelsea are professional dancers, and they’ll be teaching us some dances. Mary is their wardrobe designer. She has clothes for you that go with the dances.”

I stared at him. “You did this because I told you I wanted to be a ballroom dancer? What if I’d told you I had wanted to be an astronaut?”

“I’d have bought you the moon.”

I threw myself at him. My legs went around his waist, and I kissed his face.

Alex laughed. “I take it you like this surprise?”

I leaned back and looked at him. “Are you kidding? This is awesome! I can’t believe you did this! I hope I can learn the steps.”

He kissed me. “If I don’t put you down, the only thing you’re going to learn is how to have sex in front of people.”

I giggled, and he set me down. He swatted my butt as I scurried off to his office with Mary. She informed me that the first dance we would learn was the jive. Mary pulled out an adorable blue dress covered in sparkles. It ended above my knees and had little cap sleeves. I slipped it on behind a makeshift changing wall. She handed me a cute pair of low-heeled nude dancing shoes. I put them on and twirled.

“Very nice. Mr. Logan will be pleased,” Mary said.

I walked down the stairs and saw Alex sitting at the bar with Rob and Chelsea. He inspected me from head to toe.

I spun around. “You like?”

He put his arms around my waist. “Like? I love! Let’s do this.”

Rob and Chelsea danced the jive once for us so we could see what it was like. It was really fast, and I pictured myself falling on my ass. Alex gave Mike, who was in the DJ booth, a thumbs up, and “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars played. We followed Rob and Chelsea as best we could while laughing between twirls. Alex even picked me up and tried to toss me around, but I couldn’t contain my laughter, so it didn’t work. We danced over and over again and I think by the twentieth time, we had it. Dancing was a lot harder than I’d thought.

“Okay, go with Mary and change for the next one.” Alex was either excited or he wanted to get it over with.

“How many are we doing?”

“Two more. Now go,” he said.

The next dance was the rumba, and I had on the skimpiest outfit. The dance was slow and seductive. I’d never do it with anyone else. Our hips moved together, and my panties could reveal my excitement. Chelsea told us we needed to think of making love when we danced the rumba. It was no wonder the rumba was easier for us than the jive.

For the last dance, I ran up the stairs and found Mary waiting for me with a long, flowing ball gown. It was cloud white and stunning. When I slipped it on, I felt beautiful. I walked down the stairs to the dance floor, and I saw that Alex had changed into a tux. We looked like a bride and groom, and I got goose bumps all over.

He brought my hand to his lips. “You’re stunning, future Mrs. Logan.”

I held my skirt out with my left hand and curtseyed. “As are you, Mr. Logan.”

“Shall we?”

He walked me to the center of the dance floor for the waltz. Rob and Chelsea showed us the basic steps, but I was familiar with the dance. Alex nodded to Mike, and Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” came on.

I didn’t move right away. I just looked at Alex. “Our song.”

He grinned. “One of many.”

We danced and held each other. I didn’t hear Rob or Chelsea, and the music stopped, I think. But we kept moving.

Alex twirled me and pulled me into his chest. “I love you.”

I felt as if my face would burst with my feelings. I was sure I was glowing because I was so happy. I looked at my handsome man. “I love you. I thought we were broken, and I’m so glad we aren’t.”

“No, we’re not.” He kissed the tip of my nose.

“Thank you for making my dream come true.”

He dipped me and pulled me into a searing kiss. We separated, and he looked into my eyes. I thought I would melt into a puddle on the dance floor.

“You’re my dream come true every day,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to show you how much you mean to me, but I promise to spend my life trying to.”

He smiled. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

We went up to his office. I took off the dress and hung it on the rack. I didn’t see Mary though.

“Did Mary leave? I need to give her back these outfits,” I said.

“No, you don’t. They’re yours.”

I was stunned. “You bought me all of these?”

“I’ll buy you the world if it makes you as happy as you are right now.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want the world. I just want you.” I put my regular clothes back on.

Alex was already in his street clothes, and he had a mischievous glint in his eye. “Baby, we need to hurry because I thought of one more thing I need to give you.”

“Really? What would that be?”

He took my hand and put it on the zipper of his pants. “Any questions?”

“Let’s go.”

Alex told Mike to lock up, and we were out the back door faster than ever. We got in Alex’s car, and he drove us to his apartment. We practically raced into the building. The elevator opened, and an older couple and their Pomeranian got out. We got in, and Alex pressed me against the wall. The door was still open.

I panted, “Alex… the… door.”

He pushed a button. The door closed, and before I knew it, my shirt was off. I stood in the elevator in my bra and jeans, and I couldn’t have cared less if anyone else got in. We were in utter bliss in a world of our own.

The door opened at the twentieth floor, Alex’s floor. He picked me up, and my legs wrapped around his waist. He didn’t fumble with the key, and we landed on the couch. Alex unbuttoned my jeans and pulled them off, along with my thong. He shed his clothes and lowered himself on top of me. He pushed my hair off my face, and his palm rested on my cheek. My legs wrapped around him as he slid into me. I wasn’t expecting it, and the move made my back arch. A cry flew out my mouth.

He turned us so his back was against the back of the couch and I was on top of him. “Let’s rumba.”

I didn’t say anything. I just moved my hips in a circle, back and forth and up and down. My hips met his with every move, and his hands went from the small of my back to my hips while his lips found mine. When I picked up the pace, his tongue did as well. The kiss was more forceful than any kiss I could remember. I felt my legs shake, and his hand went into my hair. I shattered around him. We stopped kissing so I could catch my breath. I felt as if I was panting. I dropped my head to his shoulder and he held me.

Walking into the office, I felt as if I was still on a cloud. I peeked around my cube at Julie’s office and noticed the door was closed. I’d thought about calling her while I was on my way to work, but I didn’t. I felt guilty about being so happy while she was so sad. I fired up my computer to check my schedule. I heard a knock on my cube wall, which always made me laugh. I looked over and saw Mark. He looked hung over and held a cup of coffee.

“Please don’t tell me you and Val are having issues. I can only deal with one best friend being sad, and I’m not even dealing with that very well.” I smiled at him, but he didn’t return it.