Page 89 of Damien
Shaking my head to regain focus, I stammer, “You… Look…” Words, you fool. “Amazing. No…” Shaking my head. “That’s not right, you look breathtaking.”
Julia pipes in, “You look pretty, Momma.”
Blushing, Vanessa looks to her sandal-covered feet and murmurs, “Thanks.”
This just won’t do. Stepping closer, I cup her chin to look at me. “Vanessa, you’re gorgeous, mouthwatering, and even though we’re getting photos to remember this occasion, in this moment, you’ll forever be etched in my memory.”
Leaning in, I kiss her chastely, keeping in mind my audience, yet at the same time, unable to stop myself.
Not only is it the day I’ve told her daughter I’d be her daddy, but it’s also the day I realize I need a plan to make my fantasy from earlier become a reality.
31
Damien
When we arriveat Luke’s, Dani’s nowhere to be found. According to Luke, she’ll be ready shortly. After introducing Vanessa and Julia to Luke’s family, the photographers they’ve hired gather us to get started without Dani.
Maybe it’s the unexpected amount of people here, but from the moment we’ve arrived, Vanessa’s been unusually quiet. Of course, I don’t get much time to worry about it because I’m quickly pulled into a photo with all of my brothers and Luke.
I’ll admit, we’re gonna love these photos as the sun pops in and out of the high clouds. With the view of the sound and Mt. Rainier in the background, the backdrop is phenomenal. To my surprise, Dani and Luke have gone all out, with three photographers as well as a videographer. Maybe they’re doing some PR for Dani’s books or the team with Luke, and they’ve forgotten to mention it. Dani said she wanted to do a photoshoot for our parents’ anniversary, but this is overkill—even for her.
Not wanting to miss this opportunity, between one of the shots of us guys and Luke with his family, I ask one of the photographers if they’d mind taking a few shots of Vanessa and Jules together as well as the three of us. She happily obliges and pulls us aside to get the job done.
At first, Vanessa’s apprehensive, but the minute Jules joins us in the photos, she finally relaxes into my arms and enjoys herself. When the photographer asks to photograph Jules alone, I lean into Vanessa’s ear and ask, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” But it’s a little too rehearsed, so I’m not buying it.
“You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?”
“There’s nothing wrong. Relax,” she commands. “It’s nothing.”
I may not have been in many relationships, butit’s nothingclearly means thereissomething. But given the fact we’re in a large crowd, I grant her wish and drop it… for now.
When she reaches up on her toes to kiss me, my worries are soon forgotten.
Apparently, the photographer focuses her attention on us because she asks, “Can you do that again? I’d like to capture that on camera.”
I don’t need an excuse to kiss Vanessa again, so of course, I oblige.
When we break apart, I notice a few more people have joined us. I’m not sure why Stacey Gardner, Dani’s personal assistant, is here but obviously, she’s helped orchestrate this.
Seeing Mike Townsend, the owner of the Rainier Renegades, Tony Marcelli, the team’s general manager, and a few coaches like Brandon Michaels and Sean Peters all arrive as if on cue with a handful of players, I realize this elaborate ordeal must have something to do with the team. I thought this was a family photoshoot.
What the hell is going on?
Davis must be wondering the same thing as he hollers, “Where‘s Dani?” across the beach to Luke. “She’s made all the pomp and circumstance, but she has yet to show her face.”
Stacey answers quickly, “She’ll be right here. Luke, can I talk to you for a minute?”
After a few minutes, one of the photographers shouts, “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
Turning to see what the fuss is about, my jaw drops in complete shock.
Holy shit. Is this happening?
There’s my sister in a long white dress, billowing in the light breeze.
Her hair’s done professionally in one of those up-dos, and she’s wearing a tiara with a veil hanging from somewhere in the back. She looks absolutely stunning.
