Page 87 of A Sweet Mess

“Your restaurant?” She gasped beside him, placing a hand on her belly. “When? How?”

“When I decided to bring you home, or die trying, I knew I had to stop running away from what matters most to me. I’ve been looking for a restaurant space since then.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you needed more time to take the leap, and I didn’t want to pressure you by asking about your plans.”

“I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure I could really do this. But when I saw this space, everything fell into place. I am doing this.” He grasped both her hands in his own. “What do you think? Do you like it?”

She spun in a slow circle, taking in the spacious open kitchen and the intimate but not-too-crowded seating area. “Is that a garden out back?”

“Yeah, and I’m going to section off a part of it for an outdoor dining area.” Eager to show her, he tugged her toward the garden, turning on the outdoor lights. “Remember the restaurant in Cambria? It won’t be elaborate as that, but I loved the feeling of being surrounded by nature while we ate.”

“Of course I remember. That sounds wonderful.” Aubrey paused, and he waited for thebut,unable to breathe. “But are you sure you don’t want to start off somewhere hipper? Like Santa Monica or Venice? That crowd would line up around the block to trytheLandon Kim’s cooking.”

“I don’t want to cater to that sort of crowd. They would treat the restaurant like a reality TV show. Can the food critic actually cook? Or will he eat his words?” He cringed with distaste. “I want to run a restaurant here for the locals. But most importantly, I want to be close to you and the baby. Close to home.”

“Oh, Landon.” Aubrey held his face between her hands and rose on her toes to kiss him. “This is perfect. I’m so proud of you.”

He pulled her into his arms, grateful for her love and support, but he needed one more important answer from her. Holding her gaze for strength, he knelt down on one knee.

“You’ve already given me so much happiness, but I can’t help but want more. Will you make me the luckiest man in theworld and be my wife?” She stared open-mouthed at the engagement ring he held out to her. Panic ran across his heart at her silence. “It doesn’t have to be right away. We could wait as long as you need. I could hold on to the ring until you’re ready.”

“You have much to learn, Grasshopper,” Aubrey said, her smile tremulous and radiant. “We’re having the wedding next week if I have my way. Your bachelor days are so over.”

He stayed kneeling, holding the ring in front of him like an idiot.Is that a yes?

“Landon Kim, I love you. Yes and yes, a thousand times over. I’ll marry you.” She guided his hand to place the ring on her finger and tugged impatiently at his hands. “Now, please stand up and kiss me.”

They decided to wait four months to have their wedding. The moms didn’t want a hurried, slapped-together wedding, and Landon was already hers in every sense of the word. Aubrey wasn’t in a rush.

Morgan, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as patient. Their dark-haired, wide-eyed daughter arrived two weeks before her due date. And she was perfect. She stole their hearts and sleep, and the first three months of her life passed in a blur of exhaustion and joy.

Now, a week after her hundredth-day celebration, it was time for Mommy and Daddy to declare their love and dedication to each other in front of their beloved family and friends. And Aubrey was having a hard time adjusting to being the center of attention after so long.

“Do you think he’ll like the dress?” Aubrey asked, twisting around in front of the mirror.

Aria and Tara had convinced her to wear a shape-hugging wedding dress that emphasized her fuller figure. She had to admit it was good advice. Her new curves totally rocked the dress. Copious amounts of exquisite lace and appliqué covered the spaghetti-strap dress that dipped to the small of her back and a skirt that fell in a slim tapered line to her toes. The only things demure about the dress were the square neckline that housed her full breasts and the long fishtail train that swooshed behind her. It was a daring and stunning wedding dress, and she was nervous as hell.

“If you’re fishing for a compliment, I’ll humor you.” Tara circled her slowly and then came to a stop in front of her. “The dress is incredible, and you’re the loveliest bride in the whole wide world.”

Aubrey grinned at her maid of honor. “I think you overshot it a bit, but it did the trick.”

“I meant every word,” she said without a trace of teasing. “You’re so beautiful and I’m so happy for you, Bree.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Don’t you dare cry. You’ll make both of us ruin our makeup,” Tara warned huskily. “Are you ready?”

Aubrey beamed at her. “Hell yes.”

Tara helped her out of the pantry they’d been using as a bridal suite, and Aubrey stood ready at the top of the stairs to walk down the aisle. The restaurant’s beautiful outdoor garden overlooked the Kern River, and the changing colors of spring made it all even lovelier.

When Landon had gotten down on his knee and proposed to her, she’d known his restaurant would be the perfect place for their wedding. The interior needed some finishing touches before it opened next month, but Aria had done an amazingjob transforming it into a breathtaking venue for their intimate wedding.

Arrangements of lavender hydrangeas, white calla lilies, and champagne-colored peonies filled the rustic ceramic vases lining the aisles. The circular wedding arch was overflowing with the colors of spring, covered with glossy green leaves and rich vibrant blossoms. It glowed with the promise of a union and of steadfast devotion. Its beauty and meaning stole Aubrey’s breath. The circular arch brought home how this day—their wedding—was a symbol of their forever.

“All right, babe.” Her best friend winked at her. “See you on the other side.”

As her maid of honor, Tara also had the honor of carrying the flower girl down the aisle. Morgan, in her cream satin dress dotted with pink bows, looked like an angel in the arms of Auntie Tara, who looked stunning in her crimson, mermaid dress. Happy tears stung Aubrey’s eyes at the breathtaking sight of her favorite girls gliding toward the altar.

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