Happy Ever After

Chapter 22

"Thank you," she whispered when she could catch her breath. His head rested on her breasts and she could hear his heart pounding.

His grin was swift as he lifted his head to give her a quick kiss. "It was my pleasure. Literally."

She couldn't help laughing at that. They were miles from land, but the Sound wasn't a deserted body of water. There were other boats in the far distance, and she knew someone looking their way with binoculars would have gotten an eyeful. She hugged him and riding on emotion said the three little words she hadn't known were inside her.

His reaction was quick and she noted the pleasure in his eyes before he kissed her again. "Alana," he said with wonder. "I love you."

It was so different from the first time she'd said it. Then she'd been scared, a little terrified, until he'd said those words back. With a girl's single-mindedness she had accepted that her love was returned and never wondered why he'd hesitated.

The woman now could look back and understand how overwhelming that love must have been to a boy unused to love. And she could almost forgive him for the carelessness with which he'd thrown it away. Almost.

-----

The day had started with rain, and later she wondered if that had been omen of things to come. The last couple of weeks had been difficult. The funeral for Matt's father had taken place over a week ago. Since then he'd been busy, meeting the family's lawyers, staying in the city to go over his father's business affairs. She missed him. They'd been spending the weekend at his family's beach house in Florida when word had reached them about his father's death. They'd flown home immediately.

She knew her love was hurting and all she wanted was to comfort him. She'd held his hand throughout the endless flight and in the days that followed. For once Mimi hadn't said anything and let Alana be with Matt as much as she could. His mother hadn't been helpful at all, spending all her time either drinking or cursing fate for leaving her widowed so young. Alana had always found her a vain woman. Instead of supporting Matt she'd dumped all the troubles on his young shoulders.

He tried to be strong, but after the funeral he'd broken down in Alana's arms. She'd held him, letting him know without words that she loved him. When grief had turned to need, she'd opened her body to his, letting him spend himself in her without care for her own pleasure. The next morning he'd left for the city and she hadn't seen him since. He'd called once to apologize for what had happened and she'd almost cried thinking of what he was going through. She told him that she loved him and would be waiting for him.

The rain had stopped earlier and the sun was breaking through the clouds. Alana was waiting for Matt at their special place, a rocky outcrop on the edge of the beach between Mimi's place and the Delaney mansion. He'd called from the road and said that he would be there shortly. He'd sounded so serious and a bit grown up. She waited, anxiously pacing back and forth. He would need to step into his father's shoes, but she would be by his side. They would get through this, through thick or thin. And when things had settled down, they'd get married the way she had always dreamed of.

She looked up when she heard him shout her name. Happy now that her love was here, she ran to him and jumped into his arms, inhaling the scent she'd missed. She was puzzled when his arms didn't wrap around hers and when he didn't return her kiss. She'd missed him so and wanted more than anything to see him smile again.

He stepped back, putting more distance between them as Alana looked up, surprised and a bit hurt.

"I came to say goodbye."

Just like that her heart was torn. "Why?" she asked in a small voice, tears swimming in her eyes as she watched him close him off from her, from them.