Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
After everyone had enjoyed a slice of cake, Smith Sullivan came over to where Mila was standing beside Arch and Tessa. He said, “Great job on keeping the ceremony on the down-low. I noticed the well disguised security outside the house, but it wasn’t needed. The ruse worked.”
She was glad he didn’t mention that he and Valentina might have been followed. It didn’t matter now, and besides, it was probably just a fan who’d caught sight of Smith and decided to follow him. As she knew from her famous brothers, fans did stuff like that all the time.
Arch nodded with pride. “The decoy wedding worked. Between Crystal being a brilliant planner and everybody who came today keeping the secret, right down to the caterers and servers, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Are you going to have a honeymoon?” Smith wanted to know.
He nodded. “We’re going to Damien’s island in the Bahamas.” He turned a teasing glance on his bride. “It’s gorgeous, right on the beach, and fully staffed. Tessa’s not sure about the butler and the servants, but I think she’ll get used to them.”
Smith laughed. “I know you’re going to have a great time.”
Tessa said, “Then we’ll have our Scottish wedding. But I won’t mind the fuss, because I’ve already had my perfect backyard wedding. And also, I can’t wait to see Scotland.”
“You’re coming, right?” Arch asked. “There’s not a schedule clash with filming?”
Smith put his arm around Valentina and looked down into her face to find her nodding. He tightened his grip slightly and said, “We’re hoping to, but Valentina’s been a little under the weather the past few weeks.”
“You’re not sick?” Arch started to say in alarm, then saw his best man’s huge grin.
“You don’t mean—are you—”
“Pregnant?” Valentina said. “Yes.” She raised her champagne flute of sparkling water.
Arch grabbed her for a hug, being gentle, as though she might break. Then he gave Smith a big hug too. “I didn’t think I could be any happier on this day, but this is the best wedding gift I could hope for.”
“This is just wonderful,” Tessa said. “And if you’re not up to the Scottish wedding, of course we’ll understand.”
“I’m having a maternity wardrobe made,” Valentina admitted. “I definitely plan to be there.”
After the bride changed into a gorgeous pale pink dress, she and Archer said their good-byes, and everybody clapped and cheered as they left the house. They’d spend what was left of the night at their house in Carmel, and the next morning, they would jet off by private plane to Damien’s island.
Smith and Valentina left soon after, holding hands.
Herschel and Mila continued dancing until she couldn’t take it any longer—she just wanted to be alone with Hersch.
They left the house hand in hand. Hersch said, “That was amazing. One of the best weddings I’ve ever been to.”
“I’m so happy they pulled it off,” she said. “And I agree. I almost felt that my brother deserves Tessa, and most of the time, I don’t think he deserves anybody.”
Herschel chuckled. “Spoken like a sister. He’s a good guy. And she’s a wonderful woman. If there were ever two people who deserved to be happy, it’s Archer and Tessa.”
She looked at him. “You should have made that speech. It would have made a great toast.”
He shook his head at her. “There were plenty of toasts. Nobody needed mine.”
“I hope it wasn’t too Davenport-family for you?” she asked.
He seemed to think about her words. “It was plenty Davenport-family, but I happen to like the Davenports. Even Howie’s brothers and their wives.”
“Even if my dad put you to work?”
“Especially because your dad put me to work. It made me feel like I was one of you.”
She was delighted he’d figured that out. Because the truth was, it had been Howie’s way of letting Hersch, and probably her, know that he felt Herschel fit right in. Subtle her dad wasn’t, but he was the most loving, bighearted man you’d ever meet. She didn’t say any of that to Herschel, just reached out and took his hand. Then she said, “Your place or mine?”
“I don’t care, so long as we’re together.”
She made a sudden decision. “Let’s go to my place. Closer to the beach.”
He gave an exaggerated groan. “You never give up, do you?”
“Herschel, you’re getting more confident every day. I don’t want to break this winning streak.”
“Good thing I left some board shorts at your place, then,” he said. “I had a feeling I’d be needing them.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A beautiful full moon hung low in the sky as Hersch and Mila drove back to her place. He jumped out and ran around the car to open the door for her, which charmed her. Perhaps it was because they were still all dressed up, but there was almost a little formality to the way they treated each other. He opened the gate and held it for her to go through, and when she slipped the key into the lock and opened the door to her house, she held it politely for him to enter.