Plus One

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sophie sat on the cabin's elevated porch, staring down at the gorgeous stretch of the Tate resort's private beach. Her legs were propped on the railing and she had a cup of decaf coffee in her hand. She was exhausted, a happy tired that left her feeling almost high. Jenna's wedding the night before had gone off without a hitch. She looked beautiful in her custom Vera Wang, in utter bliss as she said her vows to Gael. Then there had been the food—an endless stream of delicious Thai dishes—followed by dancing until the dawn sun was peeking over the horizon. She rested her hand on her belly, which was actually starting to show now that she was three months along.

She saw movement at the end of one of the palm-lined paths running through the resort—Ian, coming back from a swim. He wore nothing but board shorts, his firm, muscular body moving with casual grace as he made his way back to their cabin. She indulged, letting herself brazenly stare at him: those chiseled features, the thick dark hair—he was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His shoulders were thrust back, head held high: he exuded confidence—this was a man that other men listened to.

As he got closer, she waved her hand and he waved back, quickening his pace.

"Hey, handsome," she said as he came up the stairs.

He grinned. "I missed you down there. I'm dragging you in next time."

"I don't know how you can have so much energy after last night," she said.

"It's because I'm so manly," he said with a grin.

He leaned against the railing and grabbed her foot, gently massaging it.

"I didn't know my plus one for the wedding had so many wonderful skills," she said as he picked up her other foot and massaged it.

"Oh, yes. I have many hidden talents. Did you know I can juggle?"

"Can you really?" she asked, laughing.

"Next time we have some oranges lying around remind me and I'll show you." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "We have to get down to the champagne brunch soon. Want to take a quick shower?" he asked.

"Only if it's with you."

He pretended to look offended. "Is there any other way to shower?"

Sophie giggled as Ian picked her up out of her chair and brought her into their spacious cabin, a lavish suite second only to the one Jenna and Gael were staying in.

The champagne brunch was held in a large outdoor patio that overlooked the turquoise and pale green ocean and the expanse of perfect white sand dotted with palm trees and white umbrellas. The wedding guests milled about, eating from the buffet, drinking and laughing. The spread was a mix of Western and Thai food--fluffy croissants, cups of curry, fresh tropical fruit, muffins. Ian wore a beige linen suit and Sophie wore a blush pink drop-waisted dress with gold sandals. Ian couldn't keep his hands off her slight bump.

"Don't you two make quite the pair," Jenna said as they arrived.

Ian smiled. "We promise we won't steal the show."

"Are you still on cloud nine?" Sophie asked.

"Oh, yes. And our room is to die for, Ian—thank you so much."

"It's my pleasure."

Jenna shooed them away. "Go drink and have fun—although I guess you have to go easy on the drinks, Sophie. Doesn't it suck I can't drink at my own wedding? I feel like a child bride."

"I promise you loads of champagne after you have the baby," Sophie said with a laugh.

Waiters flitted throughout the crowd, trays full of champagne lifted high on their fingertips. Instead of the usual black and white attire, they were barefoot and wore traditional Thai sarongs.

"One glass," Ian said, "that's all you get. And in the interest of solidarity, I'll only have one too."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Are you trying to make me fall more in love with you every day? Because it's working."

"I think we must have the same secret strategy, then."

A waiter came by. "Champagne, Sir? Miss?"

Sophie turned, reaching for a flute of champagne. Then she stopped. Looked closer at the glass in front of her. Instead of champagne, it had a diamond ring in it. She gasped and looked at the waiter. He was grinning broadly.

"Ian?"

He pointed to the flute. "I think that one has your name on it," he said, his lips turning up.

She picked up the flute, her hand shaking, and he smiled down at her, his gaze at once exultant and tender. The waiter flitted away, but Sophie barely registered his presence, unable to take her eyes off of Ian. He slowly went down on one knee.

"Will you marry me?" he murmured.

Sophie's eyes filled and she nodded.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes. YesYesYes."

His smile became a grin as he stood up and kissed her, hard, neither of them caring that they were at a party, that there were people around. He slowly drew back and took the champagne flute from her hand, tipping it over. The ring toppled onto his palm—the most magnificent one she'd ever seen. A large circular diamond surrounded by smaller ones, the band white gold. He slipped it onto her finger, where it seemed to catch and hold the light.

"It was my mother's," he said softly. "Is that okay?"

"Are you kidding me? I love it. It's..." She held her finger out and stared at the ring, speechless.

He laughed quietly. "That was the reaction I was going for."

"I can't believe that just a few months ago I'd be the one passing out champagne at this party—no I wouldn't have even been at this party."

"And if I hadn't gone to that gallery opening, who knows where I'd be? Probably drunk and lonely somewhere."

"We really should send Sasha Eldermoore a thank you note," she said, wrapping her arms around him. "And Angel City Caterers."

"Maybe we'll let them do our wedding," he said. "I hear their catering staff is top notch."

"So I guess this means I'm your plus one forever," she teased.

"Damn right," he murmured against her lips.

They'd fought so hard to get here, to this place where his ring was on her finger, his baby in her belly, his heart in her hands. She wanted to take Ian's picture right then, capture this perfect moment with the sun and ocean behind him, his eyelids heavy, a love drunk smile on his face. He drew her to him in a kiss, the moment gone, a firefly blinking in the night.