All You Need Is Love (17 page)

Nathan slid his arm around Julia’s shoulders as they both gazed up at his father. Knowing that they were going to be spending the night sleeping in separate beds, he was especially anxious to touch her as often as possible, hating the thought of being parted even for such a relatively brief period of time.

Michael continued on with his welcoming speech. “It’s been a pleasure for our family to meet Julia’s relatives these past few days, and also to enjoy this beautiful area. I can certainly see now why Natalie and Robert would never consider living anywhere else.”

Julia’s parents acknowledged Michael’s words with smiles and nods. Her Uncle Malcolm – Robert’s younger brother who lived in nearby Monterey with his longtime girlfriend Talia – was also here tonight, along with Aunt Madelyn, Angela, and her boyfriend Dwayne. In addition to Nathan’s parents and maternal grandmother, both of his brothers and their significant others were here as well as several aunts and uncles. Nathan had been thrilled and touched when his middle brother Jared – who was a professional baseball player – had made arrangements to skip two games in order to attend tonight’s rehearsal dinner and the wedding tomorrow.

“I know I speak for all of our family here tonight when I say how crazy we all are about Julia,” Michael said warmly, giving his future daughter-in-law a wink. “She’s already a part of the family and we are very happy that she’ll officially be an Atwood by this time tomorrow. Welcome to the family, my dear.” He raised his glass in a toast, drinking a sip of the very fine Merlot before resuming his speech. “Last, I want to congratulate my son on his excellent taste in women and wish him and his bride-to-be many, many years of happiness. Now, everyone eat – and drink – up!”

A vigorous round of applause followed Michael’s heartfelt words, and then everyone resumed their meal, the sound of conversation rising around the room.

After all the chaos and craziness of the past few months, it was a huge relief to Nathan to realize that they were close to reaching the end of the road. By this time tomorrow evening, he and Julia would be officially married and he’d be impatiently counting the minutes until he could carry her out of the reception to their suite. He was still not the least bit happy about having to spend tonight apart, but he knew better than to argue the point any further – especially when both Robert and Lauren would be sure to take Julia’s side in the matter. And while he didn’t mind sparring with Julia’s sister once in a while, there was no way in hell he would ever defy her father. Julia had teased him about that more than once, claiming it was because he hero-worshipped Robert and would never dream of going against his wishes. Nathan could admit that was part of it – he’d admired and emulated the famed architect since his freshman year of college and had been awestruck when he’d realized that Julia’s father was
the
Robert McKinnon.

But, all things considered, Nathan genuinely liked both of Julia’s parents and the rest of her family as well – even her pain in the ass twin sister. Her family wasn’t as large or boisterous as his, far more on the artistic than the athletic side as his was, but he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them.

Nathan rarely allowed himself to imagine what his life might have been like if he’d wound up married to Cameron, his former – and now deceased – fiancé. He’d been newly engaged to Cameron when he had met – and fallen in instant lust/love – with Julia. But he’d been so determined to do the right thing and honor his commitment to Cameron that he’d wound up breaking the heart of the woman he’d truly loved.

Nathan knew for damned sure that he wouldn’t have been anywhere near this happy being married to Cameron, that his life with her would have been a constant whirlwind of social events and obligations, and that her overbearing parents would have insinuated themselves into their lives at every opportunity. Julia’s laidback, completely unpretentious family were light years removed from the stuck-up, domineering Tollivers.

He grinned now as he observed his mother clutching Julia’s arm and talking her head off as usual. But Julia never seemed to care, and in fact adored Alexis. The two women had hit it off famously the first time they’d met, a fact that should have alerted Nathan that Julia was the only woman for him. After all, when a guy’s mother developed a mad girl crush on the same girl you lusted after, it was a sign – and one that should never be ignored.

And of course his father and brothers never failed to point out what a lucky bastard he was to have landed someone like Julia. Just tonight, when he and Julia had greeted Jared and his wife Brooke, his brother had jibed, “Hey, babe, there’s still time to back out of this, you know. There’s a pitcher on the team who just signed a new contract extension worth about fifty million. You only have to say the word and I’ll fix you up with him. He’d be all over you in a second.”

Nathan had longed to give his sibling the finger but was conscious of the presence of his very young nephew Damian, and merely glared at Jared instead.

Julia, meanwhile, had just laughed merrily and clutched Nathan’s arm, assuring Jared that there was no possible way she was going to change her mind. She’d pressed a little kiss to Nathan’s cheek before murmuring, “He may not have fifty million dollars but he’s got everything else I’ll ever need.”

The evening came to an end much too soon for Nathan’s liking, and the inevitable couldn’t be delayed a moment longer. Their group was just about the last to leave the restaurant, with Julia and Nathan bringing up the rear, holding hands and reluctant to say goodnight.

He’d offered to drive her to the McKinnon home in Carmel Highlands, even though it was out of his way, but she’d gently refused.

“It’s pretty late, honey,” she told him, unable to stifle a yawn. “And even though the wedding isn’t until three, my day is going to start awfully early.”

Nathan sighed. “I know. And I’m aware it’s going to be less than eighteen hours until we see each other. I just - ”

Julia wound her arms around his neck and rested her forehead against his. “I know. I feel the same way. But you’re right – it’s only a few hours until we can spend the rest of our lives together. So why don’t you kiss me goodnight so I can get my beauty sleep?”

He grinned. “I can’t imagine you getting any more beautiful. But you never have to ask me twice for a kiss.”

It was a long, leisurely kiss, their tongues tangling lazily. He heard the little moan she made beneath the increasing pressure of his lips, and he yanked her even closer against his fully aroused body. Nathan would have kept on kissing her, might have even ignored her wishes and taken her back to the hotel with him, if a very annoyed voice hadn’t announced impatiently, “Jesus, you two are like a couple of horny high school juniors. If you can manage to pull your tongues out of each other’s throats, I’d like to head home now.”

For the second time that evening Nathan had to stifle the urge to flip someone off, though with Lauren that particular urge was a regular thing. Reluctantly, he lifted his head from Julia’s, breaking the kiss and stepping away slightly. Sliding an arm around her waist, he turned to glare murderously at her sister.

“Do you mind?” he asked through gritted teeth. “We were just saying goodnight since we’ve got to go our separate ways.”

Lauren shook her head. “The way you were kissing her one would think you’re going to be parted for eighteen months instead of eighteen hours. Jeez, come on, Jules. I saw your schedule for tomorrow, and if you really plan on getting my ass out of bed at seven-thirty, I insist we get to sleep soon. Real soon.”

Julia sighed, leaning her head on Nathan’s shoulder. “Fine. And when did you see my schedule anyway?”

Her sister stared in disbelief. “You’re joking, right? You drag that damned binder around with you everywhere. I’m surprised it hasn’t fused to your hand by now. You left it sitting open on the dining room table and I might have glanced at it. Did you really have to schedule your day in fifteen minute increments? That’s starting to enter OCD world, Jules.”

“You should have seen her last month,” replied Nathan dryly. “Fortunately she ran out of post-it notes. But as much as I hate to admit it, we all need a good night’s sleep.” He pressed a quick kiss to Julia’s lips and grinned. “Sleep tight, baby. The next time I see you it will be to make you my wife.” He whispered in her ear. “So get lots of rest because it’s going to be a hell of a wedding but, more importantly, a hell of a wedding night.”

Julia smiled, caressing his cheek. “I love you, Mr. Atwood. And I’ll be counting the minutes until I’m Mrs. Atwood.”

Lauren, who’d overheard her sister, snickered. “Yeah, well, you can count the time off in fifteen minute blocks using that stupid planner of yours. Now, let’s hit the road, okay? Oh, Nathan, you’ll probably have to help her up into my car. Tight skirts and high heels make it a little tough to climb into a Jeep.”

***

But despite the twins’ vows to get some much needed sleep, they wound up changing into their night clothes and sitting out on their parents deck to watch the stars.

“It’s almost a full moon,” noted Julia wistfully. “Just a couple of more days. Too bad it hadn’t coincided with the wedding.”

Lauren shrugged. “Better that it doesn’t happen on your wedding day. Enough shit can go wrong tomorrow, you don’t need the extra complication of a full moon to make things crazier.”

Julia frowned. “What makes you think something is going to go wrong tomorrow? Oh, God, please tell me you re-confirmed with everyone like you promised.”

“Relax, would you?” asked Lauren impatiently. “I already told you – three times now – that I confirmed with all the vendors. They all got the message loud and clear – be there on time and don’t screw up or they’ll get a hundred scathing reviews on Yelp.”

Julia blew out a very tense breath. “Sorry if I’m acting a little paranoid. And you’re right – nobody would dare risk pissing you off so I’m sure everything is going to be fine.”

Lauren winked. “That’s the attitude, baby sis. And you’re even going to have great weather for your big day. It’s supposed to be even warmer than it was today. Considering that it could just as easily have been foggy and cool this time of year, you lucked out big time.”

Julia grinned at her sister. “I’ll bet you arranged for that too, didn’t you?”

“Absolutely,” agreed Lauren. “No way would I allow the weather to be anything less than perfect for your wedding. You deserve it, Jules.”

Julia laid her head back against the Adirondack chair and closed her eyes. “I still can’t believe that by this time tomorrow I’ll be married. You know, as many times as I organized my Barbie doll weddings and designed my own wedding gowns, somehow I never envisioned myself getting married at this point in my life.”

Lauren arched a brow. “That’s not what you said when you were sixteen and the only thing you could talk about was how much you loved Sam and how the two of you were going to get married as soon as you both graduated from college. You were going to be a football wife while still running your own design firm.”

Julia gave her twin a sheepish look. “God, I forgot about all that. It seems like such a long time ago, you know? Why do we always think our first love is going to be the one that lasts forever?”

Lauren fell unnaturally silent at her sister’s hypothetical question, and merely stared out at the ocean, listening to the steady, soothing rush of the surf as it broke over the rocks. She was quiet for so long that Julia wasn’t sure what startled her more – the fact that Lauren could actually be silent for more than five minutes or what she said when she finally spoke.

“Sometimes it does,” was all Lauren replied, but those three words spoke volumes as far as Julia was concerned. Her sister was unsmiling, a haunted look in the green eyes that were exactly like Julia’s, and it seemed as though Lauren was a million miles away.

“Are you speaking from personal experience?” asked Julia lightly, trying to cajole her twin out of whatever uncharacteristic funk she’d slipped into.

Lauren remained silent for several more seconds before staring directly at Julia. A wistful look had come over her face.

“Would that be so hard for you to believe, Jules?” she asked with a sad little smile. “That I’d ever really been in love?”

Now it was Julia’s turn to fall silent as she stared at her sister, stunned. “Have you?” she murmured in wonder. Lauren never talked about the men in her life, had never, to the best of Julia’s knowledge, ever brought one home to meet their parents. And as close as they were, despite the natural bond they’d always shared as twins, Julia knew this was the first time that Lauren had ever willingly brought up a subject as taboo as her love life.

Lauren hugged her knees against her chest, her gaze returning to the water as she replied in a slow, almost unnaturally calm manner. “Once. The summer I was twenty. Mom and Dad were on that trip to Scotland and the British Isles, and you were still in New York – must have been the year you interned at Donna Karan. I was staying in Big Sur, as usual, and had the dogs with me.”

“Is that where you met him?”

Lauren nodded, the long fall of her hair partially concealing her face. “Yes. He was visiting the coast, kind of a working vacation. We spent ten days together – the ten best days of my life. I was crazy about him, Jules. Out of my mind crazy in love. I had never believed I could feel that much, especially so quickly.”

“So what happened?” probed Julia gently, sensing instantly there was a great deal more to this story.

Lauren shrugged. “He left. Just took off and left one morning. No note, no good-bye, no attempt to contact me ever again.”

“And he broke your heart.”

Lauren’s head snapped up, her eyes blazing emerald fire. She opened her mouth to protest vehemently before closing it again. Instead, she scrubbed a hand over her nose and mouth, and Julia could have sworn she saw the faint shimmer of tears in her eyes.

“Yeah,” admitted Lauren roughly. “The lousy, lying bastard broke my heart into a million fucking pieces. I was furious when I woke up to find him gone, was all set to chase after him, hunt him down like the dog he was, and kick his ass.”