Page 8 of Father of the Bride

“I don’t wanna overwhelm you,” she said, “but I’ll need you for a few things. My final fitting is tomorrow morning. My bridal shower is tomorrow evening. Oh, and the prayer breakfast Friday morning. It’s a tradition on my mom’s side. And Saturday morning, we have the bridal breakfast.”

Sunny blinked at the rapid fire delivery. “I’m gonna need to write all that down, but yes, ma’am.”

Brooklyn laughed. “I’m sorry. There’s a whole itinerary, actually. But those are just the ones I need you at. Dav talked to you, right?”

“He did. So I’m gonna need you to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy this weekend. It’s gonna be okay.”

“I know. You’re right. Thank you.” Her eyes shifted to someone behind Sunny. “Oh! Here comes my dad.”

When Sunny turned, time stood still. That had always seemed like a cliche to her, but it felt real now that it was happening to her.

The air thinned. Her pulse quickened. Heat spread through her veins. Static filled her ears. The man Brooklyn called father had walked up behind her, but a long time ago, in another lifetime, Sunny had called him something different, and he’d called her something different, and they’d shared something pivotal and formative. Her mother called it puppy love, because that’s what people always call it when your age still has the wordteenanchoring it, but Gayla Johnson was speaking on things from hundreds of miles away. She didn’t have the details.

As he walked toward her, Sunny began to remember those details.

The confidence in his gait. The broadness of his shoulders and the sexy expanse of his muscular chest. That smile, the one that always made him look like he had a secret to tell. His skin was still smooth, his salt and pepper hair and beard the only clues to his age. When his dark eyes landed on her face, Sunny would have sworn something passed between them. She felt it in her heart. In hersoul.

Between her legs.

The light of recognition shone brightly in his eyes, but he was just as lost for words as she was. He stopped in front of them, swallowing hard, staring intently at his past lover and future in-law. It was Brooklyn’s cheery tone that finally broke the silence.

“Ms. Sunny, this is my father, Mark. Daddy, this is Ms. Sunny. Davion’s mother.”

Will we, or won’t we?

There was no time to discuss the matter. Their mouths opened at the same time, but he spoke first, allowing four little words to say it all.

“Nice to meet you.”

Relieved, Sunny answered with a tight smile. “Nice to meet you, too. I, um…ahem, thank you for having us. Your home is lovely.”

His eyes flickered over her again, faster this time. “It’s my pleasure. I want you to make yourself at home. Anything you need…” he trailed off, his eyes locked on hers.

A few seconds passed before Orion cleared his throat in the most obnoxious way possible.

“How you doin’, man? I’m Orion.”

Mark’s eyes finally shifted off of Sunny. He and Orion shook, then Brooklyn continued the introductions, and he didn’t hear a word.

His focus was completely shot, and as a surgeon, that was the thing he was best at maintaining. Cici had done it again, just like she always had. He was blown away.

Aside from a little extra weight in her hips and thighs—grown woman weight—she looked exactly like she had the night he first saw her. Beautiful dark brown skin, high cheekbones, full pouty lips, and the sexiest, most sultry eyes he’d ever seen on a woman. Almond-shaped and lined in black, with lashes that could bring a grown man to his knees. He’d never been a match for her when she locked him in with her stare, and she knew it, too.

“My people will show you to your rooms,” he announced. “Please feel free to freshen up, take a nap, go to the kitchen for a snack, whatever. I want you to feel like you’re at home. At six, we’ll have a welcome cocktail party, and then we’ll go from there.”

Mars and Cannon rushed to do their jobs, while Mark tried to come up with some kind of plan that would allow him to spend some time with Sunny—alone. But none came to him.

He watched them all disperse, staring as she walked away from him, only this time, there was no sense of dread. No burgeoning regret.

This time, it didn’t feel like the end.

This was just the beginning.

Chapter 5

Afterhisguestshadfreshened up, Mark invited the guys, including his sons, to accompany him to his man cave. That had been Brooklyn’s idea. He’d have rather invited Sunny to accompany him to his bedroom, but it didn’t seem appropriate.

Yet.

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