Love, Again, page 19
Cole leaned over and kissed me, his lips warm against mine. “I never thought I’d get one either, sunshine. But we got one and I’m not going to waste it.”
Bennett poured everyone a shot of whiskey, while Emilia poured apple juice into a glass for me. Everyone held theirs up. “To second chances,” Cole said.
We clinked our glasses together and drank. I set mine down and smiled at them all. “And also, to new beginnings.” Things were about to change.
Chapter 30
Aubrey
CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas day had finally come. It was time for the wedding, the day I said I do to the one and only man I’d ever loved. To keep with wedding tradition, I’d stayed in my own home last night with Emilia, while Bennett stayed with Cole.
Emilia stood before me with tears in her eyes. She looked amazing in her deep red bridesmaid dress and her blond hair in curls down her back. So much had happened since Thanksgiving. Emilia and Bennett had left for California so she could film her movie. Luckily, the cast had gotten a break so they could spend the holidays with their families. During that time, Emilia and Bennett had grown closer. So close that Bennett had popped the question. They planned for a fall wedding so I could be included, since Cole’s and my baby was due in June.
Emilia’s ring glittered on her finger as she straightened my veil. “You make a beautiful bride, Bree. You’re practically glowing. What they say about pregnant women is true.”
“Thanks, Em.”
I was twelve weeks pregnant with a tiny baby bump. The dress was made to where it flared out from my waist down. No one would be able to tell I was pregnant. I didn’t want anything flashy, just a little bit of beading on the top portion of my sleeveless dress. It just so happened that the press already knew. Cole and I had visited California for one of Emilia’s parties, and it was hard not to miss the bump with the dress I was wearing. It was Cole’s first taste of the Hollywood life and tabloids. He actually thought it was entertaining to see himself in the magazines. Not to mention all of the celebrities he got to meet.
Emilia walked over to the window, and her eyes widened. “There’s a lot of people out there. Looks like paparazzi. Maybe I shouldn’t have posted on my Instagram.”
“It’s okay,” I said, giggling. “I’m pretty sure Cole’s walking on clouds right now, especially since you got Evan Townsend and Derek McLaughlin to come.” Cole was a big football fan, and those two were some of his favorite NFL players.
Emilia brushed off her shoulder. “Just consider it his wedding present.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Regina snuck in, dressed in a dark purple, shimmering gown. Her mouth gaped, and she gasped when she saw me. “Oh, Aubrey, you look stunning.”
She hugged me, and I kissed her cheek. “So do you. You look amazing.”
With tears in her eyes, she grabbed Emilia’s and my hands. “I can’t believe that I’m about to have two daughters. It’s about time my boys did something right.”
Emilia and I both hugged her at the same time. “Thanks for welcoming me into your family,” Emilia said to her.
Sniffling, Regina let us go, then stopped at the door to tap her watch. “You have three minutes before show time. It’s time to walk down.”
Emilia handed me my bouquet of red roses, and I followed behind her and Regina to the hallway. The guys at the station had outdone themselves. Every single doorway was decorated with lit spruce, Christmas garland, and red ribbons. When we turned the corner, I could see the Christmas lights from the main room glowing into the hall. Cole’s father waited at the end of the hall for us. I’d asked him if he would walk me down the aisle. He was the closest thing to a father I had.
Once Bennett escorted his mother to her seat, it was time. Emilia took her place in front of me, and gave me the thumbs-up before she started her march down the aisle. The sound of the harp filled the air. All I wanted was a harpist to play Christmas music while I walked, and that was exactly what I got. It sounded beautiful. I had yet to see all the people in the crowd, but I could tell it was a lot by all the people standing in the back.
James held out his arm. “Ready?”
I nodded and took his arm. “Ready.”
The harpist began playing “Silent Night,” and I took a deep breath. James patted my hand, and we were off. Turning the corner, my mouth gaped at the sight before me. Everyone from the town was there, including all of Cole’s and my old friends. There were tons of people, but that wasn’t what took my breath away. The room was filled with Christmas trees, all decked out with lights and ornaments. One of my favorite scents was pine, and that was all I could smell. I was in heaven.
Down front, Cole stood in his tux, looking as handsome and sexy as ever. He’d gotten a fresh haircut, but I made him keep some of the stubbly hair on his face. I’d grown to love his beard when we were in Turks and Caicos.
It was a surreal feeling walking down the aisle. I’d seen people in the movies do it all the time, and I’d even filmed a few wedding scenes, but nothing could compare to the way it actually felt. James stopped at the end of the aisle and kissed my cheek before passing my hand to his son.
Cole pulled me close with both hands, and touched his forehead to mine. He breathed me in, and blew his breath out slow.
“You’re not getting cold feet, are you?” I whispered.
His eyes met mine. “No.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. It just hit me when I watched you walk down, that today you’ll officially be mine. There’s no greater feeling than knowing that.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I smiled. “I love you, Cole. I’m ready to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I love you too, sunshine. Merry Christmas.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Merry Christmas to you too.”
The preacher cleared his throat, trying his best not to laugh. “Are you two ready?”
Cole and I smiled, and I nodded. “Way past ready. Let’s do this.”
Chapter 31
Aubrey
Since we only had three days before the New Year, and for Cole to start his new position at the station, we decided to spend our honeymoon in Malibu at my other house. Cole was a little worried traveling out of the country with me being pregnant, so we decided to stay in the States. That way, I’d be comfortable and I could show him more of my Hollywood life. He said he wanted to get to know that side of me, and I was excited to do so. I wanted him to see how much I enjoyed making movies. Starting very soon, he was going to see me in action back home.
Annalisa had agreed to let me film her book in Oklahoma. It wasn’t the exact setting that took place in her story, but we were going to make it work. During filming, she was going to stay in my family home. Luckily, it all worked out. Once we got back into town, we were going to start casting.
“Aubrey?” Cole called out. Hurrying out of the bedroom, I tightened my bathrobe. My bathing suit had been dripping wet and cold when I came from the pool in to get a drink, so I decided to surprise him by taking it off all together. Cole peeked his head through the door, and saw me in the kitchen. “There you are. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You’ve been gone a long time.”
“I’m fine,” I said, winking. “I was cold, so I put my bathrobe on. Then I got a craving for a daiquiri.”
He shook his head. “You and your cravings. They change every day.”
“The joys of being pregnant,” I said happily. When I had a craving for a certain food or drink, it was like heaven when I finally got it. Every sensation and taste was heightened. I finished blending the last of my virgin strawberry daiquiri and topped it off with a spoonful of whipped cream and extra strawberries.
Cole went back outside and jumped into the heated pool. I could sit there and watch him all day long. What was it about men and wet skin that was a turn-on? When he hopped out for the final time, I stared at him through the window, at how his swimming trunks hung low on his hips. Everyone was right when they said that being pregnant made you excited all the time. I couldn’t keep my hands off him. By the sly grin on his face, he knew exactly what I was thinking. Grabbing my daiquiri, I headed out to the pool and sat down on the hanging bed I had on my deck. The night was a little cool, but it felt amazing. The moon glowed beautifully over the ocean.
Cole dried off and winked. “Thought you got lost in there.”
Shrugging, I tried my best not to stare at the shape of his cock through his wet shorts. “Lost in thought, I guess. I was thinking about everything that’s happened the last month.” Once he was dried off, he lay down beside me. There were many times I’d dreamed about him while sleeping on my hanging bed.
Cole placed a hand on my stomach. “We’ve been through a lot in such a short amount of time. We got married, my brother is engaged to a famous actress, my wife is about to direct another movie, and we have a baby on the way.”
“Living the dream,” I said wholeheartedly. I truly felt like we were. I chugged down a gulp of my daiquiri and sighed.
Smirking, Cole beckoned me closer. I leaned down toward him, and he kissed my lips, licking off the whipped cream. “Sorry, had to do it.”
“I’m starting to think I should’ve brought the whipped cream out here,” I quipped. “I can think of other places you can lick it off.”
He bit his lip. “Don’t tempt me, sunshine.” We both laughed, but I was deadly serious. By the hungered look in his eyes, he was too. My body tingled in all the right places. Just the thought of something deliciously dirty was a turn-on. “Want to know what I’m really excited about?” Cole said.
“What?”
He nodded toward the window where you could see all of my awards in the showcase. “I’m excited to see how you work. I don’t know the first thing about directing a movie. It takes a lot of talent and creativity. From what you’ve told me about your next project, I think it’ll make a great movie.”
I set my drink on the patio table, and snuggled in close to him. “It will. It’ll be fun to put a lot of our friends in as extras.” For the past couple of weeks, once everyone heard about the movie, everywhere Cole and I went there was always someone who asked to be a part of it; at no charge too.
“Does this movie have any love scenes?” Cole asked, sliding a hand inside my bathrobe.
The feel of his touch tickled my skin. “Not like you’re thinking. It’s pretty much PG rated.”
His fingers traced along the side of my stomach, and when he didn’t feel a bathing suit, his eyes flashed with need. “What do we have here?” He slid his fingers down my thigh and in between my legs. Groaning, he felt how wet I was for him. “That is so fucking hot.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? You got me all hot and bothered watching you in the pool.”
Ever so slowly, he untied my bathrobe, and moaned when he saw nothing but naked skin. “Think we can act out a little R-rated footage?”
“Thought you’d never ask.” I slid out of my bathrobe and unbuttoned his swimming trunks. His cock bulged against them, but he stopped me before I could slide them off. I loved the anticipation of feeling him inside me. Grabbing the back of my neck, he pulled me down to his lips. He thrust his tongue in deep, and I moaned into his mouth.
“Lie back, sunshine.”
I did as he said, and the bed swayed with our movement. It was going to be interesting trying to make love on it. He slid off the bed and stood before me to lower his shorts. His hard cock was thick between his legs, and when he noticed me staring, he palmed it and stroked himself. My breasts grew heavy and all I wanted was to feel his touch.
He crawled across the bed and started at my ankles, kissing his way up my body. When his mouth found my nipples, I tilted my head back and moaned. While kissing his way up my neck to my lips, he spread my thighs and rubbed my clit. A deep rumble of satisfaction sounded in his chest. I was about to explode. But before I could, he grinned and lay down beside me.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and turned me so his body pressed against my back.
“You have no idea how happy you’ve made me this week,” he murmured in my ear.
I smiled and tilted my head to the side. “Probably as happy as you’ve made me.”
Getting into position behind me, he slowly slid a finger inside me, making sure I was still ready before gently pushing into my opening. He gripped my thigh and spread me open, so he could go further, deeper. Gently, he pushed in the rest of the way and made love to me slowly.
“I love you,” he whispered gruffly in my ear. His breathing picked up the harder he thrust.
“I love you too.”
He hooked my leg over his and brought his hand to my center, working his fingers fast. My insides clenched as I shuttered with an orgasm. With a few more thrusts, he followed behind me, shooting his release with a loud grunt. His breath was warm against my neck when he pulled out and turned me around to face him. He rested his forehead against mine and kissed my lips, parting them with his tongue. My eyes started to burn and the tears fell.
“It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago we were estranged and I was told I was going to die. So much has happened in such a short time.”
Cole nodded, his gaze serious. “If your doctor didn’t fuck up, do you think you ever would’ve come back to me?”
“Eventually, yes,” I admitted truthfully. “There were so many times I wanted to, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. If my doctor hadn’t screwed up, I’m afraid I would’ve been too late. Some way, somehow there would’ve been a good woman to cross your path.”
He shook his head. “It’s always been you, sunshine. I never would’ve loved anyone the way I love you. What we have is so much more. I can’t even begin to describe it.”
Seeing his eyes glisten made mine tear up even more. After he brushed the tears off my cheeks, I kissed him. “I know how you feel. So much so that I want to share it with everyone.”
His deep chuckle made me smile. “Oh yeah, and how’s that?” he asked.
I bit my lip, feeling the excitement race through my body. However, a part of me was worried that he wouldn’t want our lives on display. “I’m going to make our movie.”
The look on his face was priceless. It was a mix between fascination and outright surprise. “You mean, our life story?”
“Yep,” I said, grinning nervously. “I already have a film crew, and a whole town of people willing to help. All I have to do now is find the right actors.”
He cupped my cheek and kissed me. “It should be interesting.”
“Are you okay with it? If you aren’t, I won’t do it.”
“No,” he murmured, resting his forehead to mine. “I want you to.” His lips spread wide. “Just make sure you get someone good to play me.”
We both laughed, and I nodded. “I promise. And who knows, this movie might get me another Oscar or a Golden Globe.” Out of everything I’d accomplished, winning an award for our movie would be the ultimate gift.
“You can do it, Aubrey. And I’ll be right there to help you. You’re my wife, the mother of my child, and my reason for existing. I’m going to spend the rest of my life taking care of you.”
Tears fell down my cheeks again. Damn pregnancy hormones. “And I’m going to spend the rest of mine making you happy. I don’t want to ever lose you again.”
“Wherever you go, I go, remember? We’re in this together.”
The pain of leaving him once before still left a scar on my heart. It would probably never go away, but it was there as a reminder. You can follow your dreams, and you don’t have to do it alone. Those who truly love you will always be by your side, no matter what. I just hate I didn’t believe in that before. Now I knew never to doubt again.
Epilogue
Aubrey
FOUR YEARS LATER
Filming As I Am had been a success and a box office hit. It took a little over a year to get it completed, but it was worth every cent I put into it. It’d even earned me another Golden Globe. I wasn’t expecting it to take off the way it did, considering it was my first solo adventure…but it did. It’d opened up a whole new set of doors for me.
But now, the time had come for the one movie that meant more to me than anything.
“Ms. Reynolds, can you take a look at this for me? I think we’re good to go.”
Ethan, my film editor, waved me over to his monitor, and I hurried over. He replayed one of the scenes I’d told him to edit. Usually, edits weren’t done until postproduction, but I had to make an exception for one life-altering scene. It was the part where my character was on the phone with the doctor when he told me I didn’t have much longer to live. I watched the scene and felt the emotions all the way down to my soul.
I clapped a hand on Ethan’s shoulder and smiled. “Perfect.”
It was still early and we only had one more scene to film before we wrapped up for the evening. It was the emotional scene outside of the bar where I first talked to Cole. The actress I found to play myself was an up-and-coming star. Her name was Sydney Fairchild. Even though she hadn’t been in any major films, I knew she was going to be huge…and I planned on helping her get there. She reminded me so much of myself that I had to cast her. As for Cole’s character, he was the spitting image of him, a complete heartbreaker. His name was Noah Garrett, and a new actor as well. I loved finding new talent. With directing and producing my own films, I could pick whoever I wanted.
