“But I love big splashy weddings,” Mia exclaimed. “And I really want to go to both of yours.”
Laughing along with everyone else, a woman whom Grace instantly recognized from her shopping trip earlier in the week as the owner of Indulgence said, “That’s why we’re having a big splashy reverse bachelorette party for you today.”
Seattle had seemed so big, and she’d been so busy holed up with her computer and baby, that Grace hadn’t been sure she’d ever really meet any women with whom she could connect. But now, all because of Dylan, she finally felt like all the pieces of her life that had been ripped apart were coming back together. Not only because she was finally letting herself relearn the pleasure of being part of a couple, but because these women were rounding out the other part of her life that had been so lacking since she’d left her friends behind a year and a half ago.
Grace had often wondered if starting over had been the right choice. Now, it looked like it was. Like she could leave her past behind and finally move on…into a new life that was so far beyond her wildest dreams that she knew she’d be pinching herself for a really long time, just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
* * *
A little while later, Mason half-walked, half-crawled over from the group of children and reached for her. “Are you tired from all the playing, sweetie?” she asked as she lifted him into her arms. Compared to Megan’s new baby, who had felt so small and light, Mason was an armful. One she never got tired of holding.
He laid his head on her shoulder and put a thumb into his mouth by way of an answer. She figured he’d probably take a little nap in her arms and then wake up starving. They could share a piece of Mia’s delicious vanilla and raspberry cake, Grace decided.
She thought she saw a couple of camera flashes in her direction and assumed it must be Nicola still taking pictures as Mia moved beside her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I am, too. And I have to tell you, again, just how beautiful your wedding was. The best I’ve ever been to.”
“The tabloids are freaking out about how we could possibly have gotten married without anyone knowing about it,” Mia said, clearly happy about thwarting the paparazzi. “And since we were having sex twenty-four seven and didn’t come out of our suite in Hawaii, they couldn’t get any shots there, either.”
“I can’t imagine how hard that must be.”
“It’s not always fun. But if pushy journalists are the worst thing that comes with being with Ford, I’ll take it.” Grinning, she said, “Speaking of awesome journalists, Ford and I both read a bunch of your work in Hawaii. You’re really a great writer.” Before Grace could thank her, she asked, “How’s the story about my brother going?”
“It’s getting closer.” At least, she hoped it was, given that her editor needed to see something soon. “We’re going sailing a week from this Sunday when he gets back from Australia. He’s convinced that will put the missing pieces into place.”
Mia raised her eyebrows. “He never takes the women he’s seeing out on his boats.” Dylan’s sister looked extremely pleased by this information. “That’s how I knew he was never serious about any of them. Because he never wanted to share the most important part of himself with a woman until now.” She smiled at Grace. “Until you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
All the next week, though the demands of his round-the-clock racing and the time difference meant that Grace and Dylan had continued to miss connecting over the phone, she still felt happier than she could ever remember being. Even the fact that Mason had been fussier than usual, because yet another new tooth was working to push through his gums, wasn’t dimming the goofy smile she’d been wearing.
Ever since she’d realized that she was in love with Dylan, her work on the cover story had begun to flow. Better, at least, than before. The challenge now was for Grace to write about him without her piece sounding like a love story—something she was struggling with enough that she’d continued to hold off on sending her editor anything yet—especially given all the sweet surprises he’d sent her and Mason during the week he’d been away.
On Monday, she’d come home to find a package with Mason’s name on it waiting on her doorstep. Inside was a brightly colored toy sailboat, perfect for bath time. Mason absolutely loved splashing around with the boat, and something told her she had a little sailor on her hands. To celebrate Mason’s new tooth. Give the little guy a kiss for me. Love, Dylan was all the note that came in the box said, but it spoke volumes to Grace about the amazing bond that Dylan already had with Mason.
Tuesday, another package came, this one filled with homemade chocolate-chip cookies and chocolate truffles. For extra writing inspiration, my mother’s homemade cookies and Brooke’s truffles. Love, Dylan. She was beyond touched that he’d remembered her saying that chocolate always helped her with writer’s block.
On Wednesday, she received a call from a nearby theater letting her know that there were two tickets waiting for her and Mason for a children’s concert that she’d wanted to attend but that had been sold out for ages. Of course, they were the best seats in the house, and Mason had positively glowed with happiness as he baby-danced and clapped to the fun songs.
Thursday, she opened a beautifully wrapped package to find the silkiest, sexiest lingerie imaginable. His note—To replace the pair I tore off. Love, Dylan—made her feel hot and tingly all over.