Beautiful Dreams (The Beautiful Series) (20 page)

“I absolutely love it so far,” I said, meaning every word. “I finished unloading my heaps of boxes last Friday. It feels great to finally be rid of them.”

“I can imagine, dear,” she said in understanding. “Have you started working again?”

“Very little,” I confessed. “But I’m hoping now that moving is out of the way, I can get back into my groove.”

“Make sure you give yourself a break to get settled in to your new home. Those things don’t happen overnight. You need to have time for you and Kyle, too,” she said.

Her motherly way made me smile. I glanced over at Kyle to see the same expression on his features.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Jason cut in. “They spend
lots
of quality time together.”

If he were within reach, I would have smacked him. Kyle covered his mouth and coughed to hide his chuckle. Of course, my face flushed beet red as I narrowed my eyes at my charming cousin.

“It’s wonderful, Lily, that the two of you make the effort to spend quality time with one another,” Aunt Lucie said, thankfully not catching Jason’s double meaning. “Lord knows are schedules are busier nowadays. I’m so happy that your Uncle Dan finally decided to retire this fall.”

“That’s great news, Aunt Lucie,” I said, feeling excited for them. “What do you guys plan on doing once he stops working?”

“We are hoping to do some traveling. I have always wanted to visit an island, maybe in the Caribbean or something, and then I’d like to go to a few states we have never been to,” she said dreamily.

“Make sure you add California to the list.” I grinned. “Kyle and I would love to have you.”

Kyle chimed in, smiling at Lucie, “We have plenty of room, too.”

“Thank you. I’ll have to start chatting with Dan about possible dates,” she said, glancing between the two of us with a smile that radiated across every inch of her face.

I suddenly felt a pang of nervousness, realizing I had yet to tell Aunt Lucie of our engagement. I silently prayed she would be as excited as I felt. Just then, someone walked in through the front door. Assuming it was her husband, Aunt Lucie called out to let him know we were in the kitchen. Sure enough, Uncle Dan emerged in the room.

I rose to greet him, and so did Kyle.

“Lily! What a pleasant surprise!” Uncle Dan greeted me. “I’m so glad you decided to stay with us while you are in town,” he said while embracing me. After letting me go, he then shook hands with Kyle.

“Of course. I’ll always come to visit my favorite aunt and uncle,” I teased good-naturedly.

Dan kissed Lucie on top of her head. “Hello, wife of mine.” He paused to inhale the scent coming from the Crock-Pot on the counter. “Mmm, I could smell that fresh pork as soon as I walked in the door.”

“Hello, dear,” she said while rising to her feet. She kissed her husband quickly on the cheek. “I’ll make you a plate.”

Dan nodded and then took the empty seat to my left. “So, I heard the house has been sold,” he said to me.

“Yes, we are closing on it tomorrow morning,” I responded.

“That must be a nice weight off your shoulders,” he said.

Lucie set down his plate in front of him, and it was filled with two big sandwiches. I wondered how he could eat so much food in one sitting.

“It is. I’m relieved to know that a family will get use out of it again. It’s sat empty for far too long.”

Dan agreed with a simple nod. “I’m proud of you, Lily, for making the right decision and letting it go,” he said before changing the topic of conversation. “Kyle, so I hear you and two of my boys have some big plans in California?”

“Yes, sir,” Kyle answered. “We made an offer to purchase a corporate building not far from my home. The three of us plan to have it remodeled and opened by next spring.”

“That’s a mighty fast turnaround,” Dan replied. “I’m sure you boys will be busy.”

“That’s the only way to work.” Kyle smiled.

“You got that right. Go big, or go home.” Dan chuckled. He tilted his head in my direction. “You sure did pick yourself a winner.”

He winked at me, and Aunt Lucie snickered. I let out an anxious laugh as I gathered the strength to announce my engagement. I knew I wanted to tell Aunt Lucie before she saw the ring, which would only be a matter of time.

I looked up at Kyle and cleared my throat, swallowing my nerves, before I turned to face my aunt and uncle. “So…” I started, redirecting everyone’s attention.

Jason gave me a small smirk that told me he knew what my intentions were.

“I wanted to be the first to tell you both,” I said, looking between Aunt Lucie and Uncle Dan, “that Kyle and I are engaged.”

Lucie’s and Dan’s eyes widened for a split second with shock, and then they both smiled affectionately.

“Oh my gosh, Lily!” Aunt Lucie jumped out of her seat to hug me. “Dan! Did you hear that? Lily is getting married!”

“Yes, Lucie.” Dan chuckled at his wife’s reaction as he rose to embrace me. “Congratulations, sweetie. We couldn’t be more happy for you,” he said in my ear before pulling back.

Dan walked over to Kyle and shook his hand for the second time today. “Welcome to the family, Kyle. Take care of our Lily now, won’t you?” he said, lifting a brow.

“Thank you, sir. Your blessing means a lot to us,” Kyle said to Dan. “And of course I will.”

“Good man,” Dan said in acceptance before returning to his seat.

Lucie’s eyes shimmered with utter bliss. “We have to start planning right away,” she muttered more to herself. Then, she shifted her eyes to me. “What dates do you have in mind, dear?” She paused for a fraction of a second.

As I opened my mouth to answer, she continued, on a roll, “How about a spring wedding? You always did love flowers in bloom. However, summer is your favorite season. How about next June?”

All the men at the table laughed fondly. Kyle’s eyes never left mine as he gave me one of his handsome smiles. His eyes emitted sheer happiness and increased my already over-the-moon expression.

“Um, Aunt Lucie…” I stalled, wondering the best way to break a one-month countdown to her. “We are getting married on August thirty-first—”

Before I could say the year, she cut in, unable to contain her enthusiasm. “I love it! That gives us plenty of time to plan a beautiful wedding!”

“Of
this
year,” I finished.

Aunt Lucie’s face was priceless. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was gaping open. “As in
thirty
days from now?” she asked with bewilderment. “How in heaven’s name are we going to plan a wedding so quickly? There is so much to do!”

“Actually, Aunt Lucie, I was thinking of something small,” I said while letting myself dream of it for the first time. As images flashed through my mind, one after another, I barely heard when Aunt Lucie asked me her question.

“Small?” she said quietly with a hint of disappointment.

“Yes.” Knowing this is what I wanted, I smiled shyly between her and Kyle. I had not even had the chance to tell Kyle of my thoughts yet. “I was thinking of only inviting my family, just you five, and Kyle’s family of five, plus the baby,” I added, remembering Kate’s round belly, and hoping that she would be comfortable in a bridesmaid dress and low heels while still pregnant. “And maybe a few close friends. But I don’t want a big wedding…I’m want it to be small and romantic.”

“Plus the baby?” Aunt Lucie exclaimed with a smile that was ten zillion miles wide. She was nearly having a heart attack right in front of my eyes.

“No! No! No!” I shook my head. “Not me! Kyle’s sister-in-law is pregnant with a baby girl, but she isn’t due until September,” I said, clearing the air.

I carefully kept my eyes off of Kyle. I was too terrified to see his expression. We had not talked about babies. I was surely not ready for
that
since I was still adjusting to the weight on my left finger.

“Oh!” Aunt Lucie laughed. “I was going to say…I think it’s a bit soon to be thinking about expanding.”

“Definitely,” I agreed.

Then, I changed the subject to a safer topic by congratulating my Uncle Dan on his upcoming retirement in a few months. My intentions did not go unnoticed by him, but he humored me anyway. Aunt Lucie quickly jumped on board, explaining their ideas to me in greater detail. The married couple bickered over where to travel to first. I sat back in my seat and smiled lovingly at the two exchanging words back and forth.

After visiting and catching up for another hour, Jason informed us that he needed to head on out to finish up some work for the day. We all planned to go out on the town for dinner tonight, so we could get out of the house. Jason said he would ring Damon on his way out and let him know the details.

Kyle and I went outside on the back patio for some needed fresh air. I sat down while Kyle took the seat next to me. Wearing my navy blue tank top and white shorts, I could not resist the idea of stretching out my legs in front of me on an empty chair to soak up the warm sunrays. I tipped my head back and closed my eyes while sinking deeper into my chair. It had been way too long since I’d just enjoyed the quietness of the outdoors.

Kyle picked up a newspaper off the patio table and started reading it for a whole five minutes before breaking the silence. “So…” he said, folding up the newspaper, making crinkling noises.

I slowly gazed over at him. He looked completed uninterested in the current news as he set the paper aside. I had a good idea where this conversation was leading.

His expression was somewhat neutral. “I couldn’t help but notice your reaction to the misunderstanding about us having a baby.”

I bit my lip, uncertain what to say. “What was your reaction?” I asked, suddenly realizing I did not even know his feelings on the subject. Things had been so busy since we met, and it was not a topic that had come up.

His face softened. “I was thinking about five…” he said, trailing off deep in thought. His tone was a mixture of longing and uncertainty and affection, maybe even a little fright.

My eyebrows lifted. His answer was so unlike him.

“Five?” I asked in astonishment, feeling dizzy even though I was sitting down. “My mother always said, ‘Once you outnumber yourself, you are doomed.’ ”

Kyle chuckled, releasing a deep throaty sound filled with warmth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean five kids, Lily,” he corrected. “What I meant to say was, I have five different ideas about us having a family.”

Oh…

The way he’d said
family
made my heart skip a beat.

“And those are?” I asked, desperately wanting to know now. I sat upright in my chair and placed my feet on the ground.

Kyle scooted his chair closer and maneuvered himself until his left knee was resting in between my legs. He leaned forward and rested one elbow on his own knee for leverage. His other hand lowered to my thigh and caressed it fondly. My heart leaped into my throat, and I held my breath.

“The first,” he said while tipping his head up at me, “is not to have any kids for a long time…so I can have you all to myself.”

That was all it took for the air to leave my lungs. I could not hold in my laughter. That had been such an alpha thing to say, and it was so my Kyle.

“What?” he asked softly with bewilderment.

“You,” I stated simply. “Gosh, I love you,” I added, feeling the need to say it.

He let out a shy smile. “I love you, too.”

Gathering my wits, I said, “Okay, continue on with your four other possibilities.”

“Another is to start a family soon after we get married since I’d like to have them all grown by the time I’m fifty-five.”

I raised my eyebrows at his math. He was only approaching twenty-nine, but I guessed it was possible if we spaced them out a few years. “Okay, I can maybe work with that one.”

“Or we could enjoy our early thirties, vacation around the world, and plan to start a family when you’re about thirty-five.”

If I kept raising my brows at all his ideas, I was afraid they would stick like that permanently. “I think we can scratch that one since I’m the one who would have to lose the baby fat past my prime,” I teased.

Kyle chuckled. “The fourth idea is that we can have twins and be done in one round.” He smirked.

I shook my head, my eyes now filled with sheer panic. “Oh no! As a teenager, I babysat for two-year-old twins once, and they always ran in opposite directions, tag-teaming me. I’m definitely vetoing that option!”

He grinned. “Sometimes, you don’t get a choice in the matter, you know.”

“True. But let’s hope they come one at a time.” I snorted, ignoring Kyle’s eyes that were now twinkling with an abundant amount of humor.

“Well then, I get to veto the fifth, and that’s having no kids at all,” he said sincerely, still rubbing my knee with deliberate tenderness.

“I agree,” I replied. “I know that I want kids. I just never thought about the when part.” I stared into the depths of those gorgeous brownish-green eyes that I loved to the stars and back.

Kyle’s lips tugged into a sexy grin. “Actually, I have one last idea…”

He paused as did my breathing.

“We could always start right now.”

My mouth gaped open.

Kyle grasped his hands on both of my hips and pulled me into his lap. I wound my hands around his neck, snuggling into his warmth.