Billionaire's Second Chance (sam, bella and Kate Book 2) (16 page)

With a throaty chuckle she released the clips of her dress allowing it to swish down to her feet enjoying the fire which sprang to his eyes, her tone purring
, “Oh, I do like the way you think.  Like they say, practice makes perfect”, his hands grabbing her and hauling her to him as he growled his approval.

Waking later in the afternoon, they showered, Bella taking him to meet her father.  The older man had pulled his daughter in for a hug, his eyes
assessing as they swept over Philippe as he shook the younger man’s hand firmly, a thoughtful look on his face as he questioned why, when he had only said goodbye to her a few days ago, she was already home, Bella looking warily at Philippe.

“I wanted you to meet my fiancé
”, she finally managed, a wicked grin coming to her eyes.  “Besides I wanted to try out his plane”, her father’s eyes crinkling in amusement, a pleased expression crossing his face.

“So
, you are the man who wants to marry my little Bella.”

She rolled her eyes, her voice full of embarrassment as she flicked a look at Philippe, “Dad
, I’m not twelve anymore.”

He winked over at Philippe as he smiled adoringly at his girl, “You will always be twelve to me Bella
.”

Philippe grinned, hoping that he would be the same kind of father to Lucy as Bella’s father was to her, liking the older man very much.  As the three drank tea, Bella and Philippe made plans to return to New York the next day.
  Philippe’s lips twitched as the older man fixed him with a sombre look, his voice more stern as he made it clear that he would not be sharing a room with Bella that evening.  She blushed at just the thought of her father saying the words, Philippe however assuring the other man that he had a hotel room, her father nodding with approval. 

With a smile, Bella offered to show him around the small cosy home
.  Philippe rose quickly, desperate to have her back in his arms, even for only a few minutes.  The house was a traditional three bedroom detached home, comfortable and well maintained, but not taking long to look around, Bella not even wanting to draw comparisons to his.  The last stop in the short tour had been her bedroom, Philippe finally able to pull her into his arms and kiss her, a soft sigh escaping her lips as the two silently lay on her bed together.

Leaning over her
, he grinned, “I like your father, I like him very much”, seeing the warmth that flooded her eyes as she gave a small chuckle.

“Don’t let his gruffness fool you.  He likes you too
, or you would not have been allowed to come up here.”

He inclined his head, “Well I am truly honoured then”, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice as she smiled lovingly up at him.  His eyes flicked to a large teddy bear close to her bed, a small gasp leaving him as he sat up in the bed.
  “Is... Is that?...”  Bella blushed once more as she lifted the large bear, wearing the dark t-shirt she had taken off him the first night they made love, a small nod leaving her as he groaned softly, such heat in his eyes.  “You kept it all these years?”

Looking back over at him
, she nodded softly, “How could I not?  I think I loved you even then.”

Philippe gave a long moan as he pulled her back into his arms.  “I loved you too Bella.
  For so many years I missed you.  I told myself I was over you, but the moment that door opened and you were stood in front of me, I knew that I had and would always love you.”

Bella gave a small sob, her hand reaching up to caress him, “I used to read about you online”
, his surprised expression widening her smile. “When your wife died, I wanted to call you but it seemed so wrong to do that.”

His eyes widened as his mouth curled sadly, “I considered the same Bella
, but I couldn’t face the thought of you rejecting me.  And I couldn’t blame you for doing it either.”

“Oh Philippe”, her eyes
held a sad light, “We have wasted so many years.”

He nodded softly before a large smile covered his handsome face.  “Well Miss Smith
, I for one do not intend to waste another day”, her return smile reason enough for his head to drop, his kiss full of love.

A year later Bella stood nervously at the makeshift aisle.  Beside her Samantha and Kate sorted the long train of her wedding dress, both smiling and waving happily over at their husbands. Kai held their two children, while Dante stood with the groom.  Lucy looked cute in her flower girl dress, her hair in small ringlets as she laughed up at the three women, “Mummy, Aunty Kate, Aunty Samantha”, she called them, the three women looking down at her with big smiles.

“I peeked
– daddy is there with Uncle Dante”, her voice carrying along the rows of guests, most laughing at the small girl’s words as she ran back to the top of the carpet, waving to her daddy as he and Dante both laughed at the other end of the walkway, both waving back to the small child. 

Bella’s face glowed as she threw her arms around her two best friends, the three girls hugging as they held back the tears.  Kate was the first to break the huddle, her finger held up in warning, “Don’t do it.
  Do NOT cry.  Last thing you want to do on your wedding day Bella, is to look like a panda.” 

Bella shook her head, a grin on her
lips, “I am a wedding planner Kate.  Give me some credit – this mascara is waterproof.”

Sam dabbed her eyes, as she chuckled, “Now you tell us
.”

The bride sighed dreamily, “Everything has worked out so well”, the other two nodding as she took her bouquet.  “It is almost like fate brought us together.
  Like it was meant to be.”

Sam smiled, an enigmatic and secretive smile, her eyes flicking to her husband.  “Oh you shouldn’t put too much belief in fate Bella
.”  Dante gave her a questioning look, seeing the way his wife smiled at him from afar.

Kate laughed. “And what does that mean Mrs Durant?  Don’t you believe there were strange forces at work bringing Dante and Philippe into our lives?”, her lovely eyes sparkling brightly.

Sam dropped her head to hide the grin, “Oh there were forces alright”, her head rising once more as she winked at Bella, “Just perhaps not the ones you are thinking of.”

Flicking a look at Kate, Bella shook her head, “I am still shocked at how you and Kai met”, Kate
shrugging as she blew a kiss to her husband.  She and Sam had been stunned to discover that rather than the two meeting while she worked for Kai, he had been instrumental in saving her from a kidnap attempt years earlier, Dante and Philippe hiring him to protect Kate, the reason the two met in the first place.

With a thoughtful pause Kate fixed her eyes on her two friends.  “You know
, maybe fate was working for us”, the other two nodding softly. 

“OK girls.
  Hate to break up this moment, but I don’t get to eat until this one gives herself away to some other man, so move it ladies.”  The women laughed as Bella’s father led Lucy back to the small group.  As her father took her arm, leading her down the flower-strewn aisle, he once more squeezed her hand. Bella had given him a large grin seeing the way tears rose in his eyes as he fought to control the emotions of the day, delighted to see his little girl happily settled as, with a smile, he placed her hand into Philippe’s, winking at the Greek he had grown to care for as much as any son.

In the background, Anna hovered around the periphery, ensuring that all moved smoothly.  Bella had gotten Philippe to call her when
, after eight months together, they finally decided on a date, knowing that she would enjoy being right.  The two had become great friends with Anna becoming her partner as the business grew, this enabling her to spend more much time in Greece, with Philippe and Lucy.

Finally stood before Philippe, he turned to look at the woman he loved, giving Lucy a large grin as she tugged on his trousers.  “OK daddy, I got her here
.”

The loud laughs from their friends and family made the two look at each other with such love as Kate and Samantha gently
took the small girl to the side.  Finally stood alone, Philippe smiled lovingly at her as he moved forward to whisper in her ear, “You look beautiful”, her smouldering look back making his mouth dry.

As the two exchanged vows, everybody smiled seeing the love they shared, both reciting words they had written themselves, before being announced man and wife, Philippe taking her into his arms and kissing her deeply, Kate and Sam brushing tears away as they joined in the applause of the crowd.

The reception was held in the garden of their home on the island the two had met so many years ago, the area transformed with fairy lights and a large tent, a band playing both traditional and chart music.  With darkness covering the area, Karen finally took the young Lucy to her bed, her eyes closing as she gave her parents a good night kiss.  Bella felt Philippe’s hand grab hers as he pulled her over to the side of the house, his arms moving around her the way they had done so many years ago, both looking at the large moon which hung beautifully in the sky. 

“I still think that you have the best view of the moon”, she whispered as he turned her in his arms, his head moving slowly to gently kiss the lips of his wife, repeating what he said the first time they stood on the hillside together.

“I promised you the moon”, his sensual voice whispering against her, a look of complete love filling his eyes, “And I promise never to fail to deliver.”

A
small chuckle left her lips as she whispered huskily against his mouth, “Good to hear Mr Tremour because our daughter is NOT getting a puppy.”  She was silenced as he kissed her with a passion which once more made her head spin.

Visit the author website:

www.romancemarie.com

Marie Kelly

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