Laurel Heights: Return To You Part 27

"I've carried it with me ever since you threw it back at me." He wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger. "Lurch was right. I've been an idiot. I was an idiot eleven years ago. And then I was given another chance and I blew it. Big time."

She nodded. "Yes, you did."

"I wanted to tell you"-he drew her to him-"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. For what I did and everything I said. I was a p.r.i.c.k. And I wanted to tell you that I love you."

Her head wasn't as easily pacified by the words. What did they mean really? He supposedly loved her before but he still left her. "What do you want, Michael?" she asked again.

"You." He kissed her lips-a b.u.t.terfly kiss-and looked into her eyes. "I want us to start again. Fresh. I miss you, Olivia. I went back and nothing was good without you. I had what I thought I wanted, only I discovered I wanted the wrong thing." He touched his forehead to hers, his eyes blazing into hers. "I want my best friend back. I want you in my life forever."

She squeezed her eyes shut, afraid to hope. There was no guarantee he'd stay. He may talk big now, but when the next too-tempting project came along how was she to know he wouldn't be out the door? As she fully expected him to be.

She felt the gentle pressure of his lips on her eyelids. "Say something."

She reluctantly opened her eyes. She needed to see his when he answered her question. "What about your work? You can't give it up."

"You're right. I can't. But I can be picky about the projects I accept. And I can take you with me. If you'll go." He gazed at her, part hopefully, part warily, unsure of her reaction.

She narrowed her eyes. "You'd live in Northern California? You hate it here."

"I thought I hated it here. But it's changed." He grinned sheepishly. "Okay, maybe I've changed. I'm willing to compromise, or commute, or whatever. As long as I can be with you."

"I'm leaving," she blurted out.

He blinked. "What?"

"I'm going to Paris. For a few weeks. Vacation. I needed to get away." She frowned. "I don't know why you thought I couldn't leave here. I love it here, but I don't need to be here all the time."

His grin was large and relieved. He pulled her against him. "Maybe I could meet you there," he whispered against her lips.

She shrugged, pretending to be casual when her pulse was beating triple time. "Maybe."

His hands tightened on her waist. "Maybe we could go together."

She bit her lip as his mouth grazed her neck. "Maybe."

He nibbled her before looking her in the eyes. "Maybe it could be our honeymoon."

"Maybe." Her grin was swallowed by a slow, thorough kiss.

Epilogue.

Parker reclined on the settee and smiled. "You're going to wear out your soles before the ceremony if you keep pacing like that."

Michael swiped back his hair. "Easy for you to say. You already claimed your bride."

Parker's smile widened. Yes, he had.

"No need to gloat." Michael's scowl deepened. "When is this wedding going to start?"

"Nervous?"

"Are you kidding? h.e.l.l no." He dropped onto a chair and crossed his legs. "I think I've been waiting all my life for this moment."

Parker relaxed. That was what he wanted to hear. As much as he wanted to repair the rift between his daughter and himself, it hadn't occurred to him that he could be pus.h.i.+ng her in a direction she wasn't prepared to go. Elaine had had to point that out to him.

He smiled, thinking of all the ways Elaine had made a difference in his life. He was content. He shook his head. He'd never been content before. In those early years with Lily he'd been driven to make Parker Pictures succeed. He'd been happy, of course, but now he felt settled. As if he'd arrived exactly where he belonged.

He still couldn't believe how blind he'd been in regards to Elaine.

He c.o.c.ked a brow at Michael, who tapped his fingers rhythmically on his thigh. "You aren't acting like a calm man."

"What do you expect? I haven't seen my fiancee in several weeks thanks to your insane post production schedule."

Yes, that was unfortunate but it couldn't be helped. "You didn't see her yesterday when you arrived?"

Michael snorted. "You know how those women are."

He did know. The day before he and Elaine were wed he almost broke the door down to get to her, which earned him a severe scolding from Mae. That wasn't an experience he cared to repeat.

The door opened and Elaine popped her head in. "Everett, we're ready."

Michael jumped up. "Thank G.o.d. I'll go wait on my spot." He practically mowed Elaine down on his way to the altar.

Elaine grinned. "Eager, isn't he?"

Parker's chest tightened. d.a.m.n, she was so beautiful. She wore a dusky rose silk sheath. It was what she had on underneath that intrigued him. Lace the same color as her dress and thigh high stockings.

He fingered a strand of her hair that had come loose from the intricate twist. Later he was going to take great pleasure in slowly letting her hair down.

As if she could read his mind, her cheeks flushed and her gray eyes melted. Her body swayed into his. In her high heels she fit perfectly against him. "Everett, there's no time now."

He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her clean scent that drove him crazy. He whispered in her ear, knowing how it affected her. "I want to see you in nothing but your stockings and shoes."

Her hand snaked between them to check how aroused he was. She looked up at him mischievously. "Olivia's waiting for you." With a squeeze, she turned and slowly sashayed out the door.

He adjusted himself. Later she'd pay for that little bit of teasing, and they were both going to enjoy it.

He strode down the hall to Olivia's room. As he opened the door, he was a.s.sailed with feminine laughter.

Eve raised her champagne flute. "To everlasting love and eternal happiness."

The pixie one-if he remembered correctly her name was Gwendolyn-lifted her gla.s.s. "To hot men who know what to do with chocolate sauce."

The women guffawed and tinked their gla.s.ses together.

Parker cleared his throat to let them know he was there. There were just some things he didn't need to know about his daughter. "Excuse me. I believe it's time."

Gwendolyn gave Olivia a thumbs up. "Break a leg."

Eve rolled her eyes. "Come on, Gwen. We should take our seats." She squeezed Olivia's hand and smiled at him as she dragged the other woman out.

His first un.o.bstructed view of his daughter rendered him speechless. For a moment he was back thirty years and seeing Lily coming down the aisle to him. Only now, the memory was full of joy instead of pain.

Olivia fingered the simple tulle skirt. "It's mom's dress."

"Yes, and you look as beautiful in it as your mother did." Like a fairy princess, Lily would have said. "She'd be so happy for you."

Olivia tipped her head and studied him. "For you too I think."

Yes, he imagined. Lily, the incurable romantic, would have been thrilled on both counts. If he were whimsical, he might even believe she orchestrated the whole affair from beyond.

He walked to Olivia and brushed his fingertips along her jaw. "Ready?"

"Is Michael out there?"

"He should be under the canopy waiting impatiently as we speak." Parker smiled wryly. "He practically ran down Elaine."

She grinned. "Let's go put him out of his misery then."

He tucked the hand she offered him into the crook of his arm. They walked outside, down the path someone had lined with rose petals, to the open field beyond Mae's gardens.

There was a sea of people and at the end the lacy canopy where the minister and Michael waited.

Parker and Olivia paused at the crest, waiting for the wedding march to start. Everyone turned around, beaming, and the hum of conversation stopped.

Parker glanced at his daughter. Elaine may believe he meddled in their lives, but he couldn't feel sorry about it. In fact, he felt d.a.m.n satisfied.

The music started. Olivia squeezed his arm. "Thank you, daddy," she whispered, her eyes trained Michael.

He smiled, patted her hand, and walked his little girl to her man.

About Kate.

When Kate was a little girl, all she dreamt about was moving to France and living in a stone castle while painting the Provencal countryside. To prep herself, she studied French, stocked up on berets in every color, and practiced her shrug for hours in front of the mirror.

But then, because indentured servitude seemed more attractive than eating baguettes and drinking wine, she took a detour into the world of high tech. Mostly, she worked as a lackey for companies like C NET and ClearStation/E*TRADE. Eventually, that insanity wore off and she decided to try something more stable. Writing seemed the logical choice.

Now she lives in San Francisco. Unfortunately Kate doesn't own her castle yet, but she holds out hope that one day soon she can pull her berets out of storage.

Visit Kate at www.kateperry.com.

Other t.i.tles by Kate Perry.

Close to You.

Perfect for You Playing Doctor.

Project Daddy Project Date.

Marked by Pa.s.sion.

Chosen by Desire.

Tempted by Fate Return to You.