Broken Love (31 page)

AFTER FILLING MY parents in on everything that had happened since we got to Paris, I was exhausted. Ava and I had been going non-stop since we landed in France. Between finishing up the deal for Kate’s designs, and then Michael offering Ava a position, things were insane.

Ava had called Jackson to let him know also. We had talked one other time since dinner that first night. I had asked him why he was still single and the only thing he said was no one had moved his heart like Kate enough to make him fall again. Ava was hell bent on making sure Jackson moved on and found happiness again. So much so, she and my mother planned a dinner where they invited a shit load of people, many whom were young and single. Jackson wasn’t interested though. He spent most of the night talking to Jennifer.

The water in the bathroom turned off as I made my way in. Ava was soaking in the tub. She had never looked so beautiful.

“So? What did Maurice say?”

She kept her eyes closed. “Well, after he called me a bitch about six times, he told me he was proud of me and that his little secret weapon would have gotten noticed sooner or later.”

I smiled and made my way over to her and sat on the edge of the giant tub. “You look tense.”

“I’m getting married tomorrow. I am tense.”

Moving my eyes to the faucet, I couldn’t help but notice the shower head was a hand held.

“Then I think it’s time to relax you.”

Her eyes opened as a smile slowly grew across her face.

“What did you have in mind?”

I stood and quickly got undressed and joined her. Lifting the shower head, I turned it on and adjusted the temperature.

“Spread your legs apart, Ava.”

Her mouth parted open as she did what I said. Placing the jetted water up to her clit, she gasped.

“Touch your breasts.”

She quickly did what I said. My dick was so hard it was throbbing as I watched her pull and twist each nipple.

“Ryder! Oh God!”

Her body trembled as she came. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Turning off the water, I watched her come down from her orgasm.

“Shit,” she mumbled.

“Feel relaxed now?”

Her eyes moved down to my rock hard cock. When she gave me a wicked smile, I knew my day was about to get even better as we made our way to the bed.

Crawling on me, she slowly sank down until I was balls deep inside of her. Our lips pressed together as she slowly moved up and down.

“Faster, Ava.”

It didn’t take long before she called out my name and I did the same, pouring myself into her felt better than ever.

She stayed on me while we both caught our breaths.

“Is it just me, or is sex in Paris better?” Ava asked, still sitting on me with my dick jumping inside of her.

“Sex with you is better each time no matter where we are, baby.”

Rubbing her nose against mine, she giggled. “Good answer.”

“How about we spend the rest of the day taking in the sites?” I asked.

With a huge smile, Ava nodded and jumped up. “Yes! Let’s get dressed. There is so much I want to show you!”

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Paris. Ava showed me all of her favorite shops and we went to one that had the most amazing dresses in Paris.
Ava’s words not mine.
“Kate’s designs will be in this store.”

I shook my head. “It’s bittersweet.”

Lacing her fingers with mine, she smiled weakly. “I know, but it’s also amazing at the same time to know your sister’s dreams are coming true. And that a scholarship is being made in her honor. Her life lives on and y’all should be so proud of her.”

Choking back tears, I nodded. “I am. I still wish she was here to see it all.”

Ava reached up and gently kissed me. “She sees it, Ryder.”

I cupped her face within my hands. “Thank you. Thank you for making this all happen, buttercup.”

A tear fell from her eye and slowly made a path down her beautiful face. Wiping it away with my thumb, I stared into those baby blues of hers.

“I wish I had known her. I think we would have been good friends.”

“She would have loved you and you would have loved her.”

Ava smiled bigger. “So … you sure you want to marry me?”

Throwing my head back, I laughed. “I’ve debated it all day today.”

Hitting me on the chest, we made our way back to the hotel. Ava ordered room service and we spent the rest of the evening wrapped up in each other’s arms.

I STOOD AND stared at myself in the mirror.

I’m in Paris.

I’m getting married.

I’m freaking out.

My cell rang on the side table. Quickly walking over to grab it, I saw his name and debated answering.

Nate.

“Hello?”

“Are you sure about this, bro? The whole ball and chain thing? It’s not too late to back out.”

Rolling my eyes, I let out a frustrated sigh. “What in the hell are you calling me for? It’s like three in the morning there.”

“I’ve been at your bachelor party! It was fucking amazing! The stripper we hired … holy shit, dude. She fucked me until I swear she broke my dick.”

Pinching my eyebrows together, I replied, “Wait. You had a bachelor party for me … without me there?”

“Yeah, well it’s not my fault you ran off to France to get married.”

“Asshole, I would have been in the Bahamas today so I still would have not been there.”

The line was silent. “All right, well whatever; we celebrated your dick being owned by one woman for the rest of your life. How does it feel knowing that? God … my body just trembled thinking about it.”

“Someday, Nate, there is going to be a girl who is going to change you.”

He let out a roar of laughter. “Fuck. No. I like the way my life is, thank you very much.”

“What was her name?”

“Who?”

“The stripper.”

A loud crash came from the background as Nate mumbled something about not being able to find the lights. “Hell, I don’t know. Candy. Misty. Rock my world. I have no clue what her name was. All I know is she could fuck.”

I shook my head. I knew this was not the life Nate wanted. He just hadn’t met the right girl to tame his wild ways.

“Listen, I’ve got to go. Nate? Are you okay?”

“Me? Hell yeah. Drunk as hell from that awesome as fuck bachelor party I threw you.”

With a moan, I replied, “Well, glad it was fun. I’ll talk to you when we land in the US.”

“Tell Ava I said hi. And Ryder, I really am happy for you. Ava is a great woman and what she has done for Kate … well, just tell her I said thank you.”

My heart warmed. I knew deep down inside my brother wasn’t a total asshole. “I will, bro. Talk soon.”

After getting off the phone with him, I took one last look at myself and made my way downstairs. The wedding was being held here in the hotel in one of the private ball rooms. When I walked in, I smiled. The room was filled with white and pink roses. Ava would love it.

Straight ahead was a balcony that overlooked the garden. Making my way out I noticed Karen, the wedding consultant Michael had hired, making some last minute touches. She turned to me and spoke in French.

I had no clue what she rattled off. “It looks beautiful. Very beautiful.”

She smiled and gave me a pat on the arm before heading back into the room.

Looking out over the garden I took in a deep breath and slowly blew it out.
“I’m getting married. Holy shit I’m getting married,” I mumbled.

A young girl was walking through the gardens that caught my eye. I didn’t pay too much attention to her until she turned and looked up. My heart stopped and my chest grew tight. Wrapping her coat tightly around her body, she stared up at me.

She looked exactly like … Kate.

I closed my eyes tightly and re-opened them. Lifting her hand, she waved. I mindlessly did the same as I tried to get a better look at her.

“Are you ready?” Renee asked as she stepped up next to me.

There was no way I could pull my eyes away from the girl. She stood there looking up at me while I tried to figure out how I could see her face … yet I couldn’t make it out.

“Ryder? Are you okay?” Waving her hand in front of me to drop my gaze, I turned to her.

“Yeah. Um … that girl down in the gardens. She looks so familiar to me.”

Renee turned and looked out over the gardens and frowned. “What girl?”

Snapping my head back forward, my heart dropped.

She was gone.

“She was right there,” I said pointing.

Renee shook her head. “Did you drink too much last night? There was no one standing there when I walked out here. Are you sure you saw someone?”

I continued to stare in the spot I saw the girl. Turning around, I fought to regain my composure.

“I’m fine. Must be nerves.”

With a bright smile, Renee nodded. “Must be. At any rate, Michael is upstairs fussing over Ava’s gown. I think we’ll be ready to start in the next few minutes. Do you need anything?”

“A drink. Something strong.”

She laced her arm in mine as we headed out of the room and made our way to the small bar in the hotel. Even though Renee was from Texas, she spoke perfect French … at least it sounded to me like she did. Speaking to the bartender, he looked at me and chuckled.

Before I knew it, two glasses of ice water were placed in front of us.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned in my life, the only thing to calm a person down is deep breaths and a nice chat.”

With a chuckle, I took the water and drank it. “That’s good advice; I’ll have to remember it.”

“Ryder, I’m glad I had a chance to speak with you in private. I wanted to take a moment to just tell you your sister was amazingly talented. I’ve only ever met one other person who had crazy talent like that and you happen to be marrying her.”

My heart slammed against my chest. The different emotions I felt were like a tornado in my body. I was happy … sad … scared … excited. All of it balled up into one.

“I’m a lucky guy, believe me I know.”

Renee looked at her phone and then over to me. “So, are you ready to get hitched? Ava’s about to come down.”

Swallowing hard, I finished off my ice water and stood. “Never been more ready.”

MICHAEL BLANCET … ONE of the most famous designers of my time … was standing behind me gazing at me in the mirror.

“This has to be one of the most stunning gowns I’ve ever seen. I cannot believe it was made in Montana! I must hire the seamstress and make her mine!”

Giggling, I let my eyes roam over the gown I had designed. The beaded Queen Anne neckline added the perfect amount of elegance. The sheer V-back bodice gave the gown that sexy look I was going for. The scalloped hem lace was breathtaking and came just short of my ass I swear.

Michael lifted the lace-trimmed chapel-length train and let it free fall. “Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. The use of the misty tulle, diamond tulle, and this delicate allover lace just screams elegance. We will have to lift poor Ryder’s tongue off the ground when he sees you in this.”

With a wide smile, I took another look at myself in the mirror. The gown fit my body like a glove. I wasn’t sure how she was able to get this dress made in time, but I was going to have to give her a bonus for the exquisite job she did.