Hitched (18 page)

Above us a chandelier casts lights off the walls and showers us with fragments of that light reflecting off of crystals.

The first person I meet is his little sister, Clara, who comes running in and throws herself into her big brother's arms. "Sebastian! It's so good to see you."

He drops his suitcase and wraps his arms around her, swinging her around like a child. "You too, kiddo. Sorry it's been so long."

She steps out of his embrace to look at him, and I take the moment to study her. She's beautiful. More petite than her brother with fine bones and pale skin contrasted against dark shoulder-length hair and large hazel eyes. She wears glasses perched on her nose as if she's been reading and forgot to take them off.

When she turns to look at me, I tense, worried this lovely elf of a girl will find me wanting in some way, not good enough for her amazing brother.

Instead, she smiles warmly and moves in to hug me.

I'm used to PDA with Tate and Vi, so this doesn't bother me at all, and I return her hug enthusiastically.

"It's so good to meet you," Clara says. "Sebastian couldn't stop talking about you last time he called to let us know he'd be bringing you."

I eye Sebastian, unaware that he'd been talking me up to his family. I guess it makes sense though. He couldn't just bring me unannounced to a wedding. "It's nice meeting you too," I tell her honestly. "Sebastian sings your praises as well."

She beams and grabs my hand. "Let me show you around while my brother takes your luggage upstairs."

Sebastian scowls. "Stealing her away already?"

"We need girl time to get to know each other. Mom and Dad aren't home yet from their errands, but it shouldn't be too much longer."

"And Matt?"

She frowns for the first time. "You know Matt. We'll be lucky if he deigns to honor us with his presence at all this weekend." She makes shooing motions at him. "Now go!"

Sebastian looks to me as if to ask if I'm okay. I nod and smile, confident that Clara and I will get along just fine. He leans in, takes my face in both of his hands, and kisses me. "I'll miss you," he says in a husky voice that makes me weak in the knees.

Clara giggles as Sebastian takes the stairs two at a time, suitcases in both hands.

I hate to be away from him as well, but I link arms with Clara and wonder if this will be my chance to get the inside scoop on the sexy doctor who is coming close to stealing my heart.

***

The house is tastefully decorated in shades of off-white with black accents everywhere. I love it. But when we go outside and explore the stables, I nearly die.

Horses. I loved horses when I was a child—what little girl doesn't?—but I rarely got to ride one, despite growing up in the farm land of Mansfield, Ohio.

Clara hands me a carrot to give to a beautiful white filly, who eats it greedily from my palm.

"Does Sebastian like riding?" I ask, trying to imagine him on one of these horses.

She grins. "Loves it. Hard to imagine, right? Mr. Big Shot Doctor astride a horse, but he's been riding since he was old enough to walk. You should have him take you for a ride while you're here."

I pat the horse's nose as we move on with our tour. "Maybe I will."

As we walk through manicured gardens with a variety of plants, trees and flowers, Clara turns to me. "Sebastian said you two got married."

Damn him. He should have warned me they knew. "Yes, in a manner of speaking. But it will be annulled soon. I've already sent in the paperwork."

"I've never seen him like this with anyone else," she says softly.

"Like what?" My heart is aching.

"Happy," she says simply.

We sit on a bench and watch the light around us change as the sun begins to set.

"Try not to break his heart," she begs, her eyes wide and earnest. "He's already had that happen once."

"Was he happy with her. Before?"

Clara pauses, thinking, before she shrugs. "He had moments where things were okay, but they never seemed a fit, you know? The pregnancy gave them the illusion of closeness. Gave them a reason to make it official, I guess. But, she… she's so calculating and cold. I could never imagine them together forever. And then the baby died, and she showed her true colors."

"I know what you mean. The few times I've met her she's been… a bitch."

Clara laughs. "I was trying to be delicate, but yes, you've nailed it on the head. She's a world-class bitch. I'm glad she'll never be my sister-in-law."

She gives me a look that says she hopes I
will
be, and I don't know what I'm feeling.

Instead I change the subject. "This house, these grounds, they are impressive. Sebastian never mentioned what your father did for a living."

"He teaches sixth grade English at the local high school," she says.

I stare at her. "Seriously?"

She nods.

"But… " I don't know how to ask my next question without sounding shallow.

"How do we afford all this?"

I give a nod. Exactly. How?

"I'm surprised Sebastian didn't tell you. This isn't from my dad. Our mom is a dot-com billionaire."

Suddenly everything is cast in a different light. And I realize how incredibly sexist my assumption was. "Your mom? I'm sorry, I must sound like a complete ass."

"Don't worry; it's a common misconception."

"Did she do all this before having kids?" There are so many more questions buried in that one seemingly innocuous question.

"Nope. They started out lower middle class, and she did programming while we were little. I'd just been born when her big success happened."

"That's… incredible. She truly managed to have it all."

Clara nods. "That's what I love most about her. That she didn't sacrifice her dreams and goals to have us, and she didn't sacrifice us to accomplish her dreams."

***

When we arrive back at the main house, Mr. and Mrs. Donovan are sitting in the living room having a drink with Sebastian. He stands when he sees us come in, and once again takes a moment to brush my lips with his. Clara is nearly beside herself with glee at our public display.

He takes my hand and turns to his parents. "Mom, Dad, this is Kacie Michaels. Kacie, this is Sylvia and Robert Donovan. The people who made me." He grins like a fool, and I love him for it.

I let go of his hand to shake theirs. "It's nice to meet you both. Thank you for having me this weekend. Your house is absolutely lovely."

Sylvia wears a classy beige suit. Robert is dressed more casually in khakis and a polo shirt. They are a handsome couple, both dark haired and clear skinned. Sebastian gets his blue eyes from his mother. Robert shares Clara's hazel.

"We're so glad you could come, Kacie," says Sylvia.

Robert offers me a glass of wine, and I accept and sit next to Sebastian across from his parents.

"Sebastian was just telling us about the business you own, planning bachelor parties," Robert says.

I'm never embarrassed by what I do, but sitting there with this family, all of whom have accomplished so much, I wonder if they'll think I'm good enough for their son. "My twin and I co-own it," I clarify.

Robert nods. "What made you decide on that path?"

"We always knew we wanted to have our own company and work for ourselves. It's why we went to business school after graduation. We didn't expect this exact business, but when one of our friends in college got married, he asked us to plan his party, and we got creative. We discovered not only a talent for it, but also a passion for it as well. That's when our idea for Hitched started to solidify."

Sylvia smiles. "That's wonderful. I applaud anyone who pursues their passion and follows their heart."

"I agree," Robert says. "An entrepreneurial spirit is important for success in this world, but only if you love what you do."

Their attitude is so refreshing I almost cry tears of relief. I expected judgment, criticism, or at least silent condemnation, and instead I've been received with smiles and open arms. I can see why Sebastian loves his family so much.

I'm starting to love them too.

***

The wedding isn't until Sunday with the rehearsal dinner on Saturday night. So when we wake the next morning, I'm excited to spend the day with Sebastian and his family before everyone arrives tonight for the festivities.

Robert is making breakfast for everyone when we go downstairs. I'm dressed casually, per Sebastian's request. Jeans and a t-shirt it is until it's time to dress up for the dinner tonight.

I'm surprised to see his dad cooking, though. "You don't have someone who handles the cooking?" I ask Sebastian before we reach earshot of his dad.

"We do, but my dad likes cooking, so he usually does the breakfasts and weekend meals."

I'm more and more impressed with his family.

We sit at the bar in the spacious kitchen as Robert hands us each a plate and serves up omelets. "I hope you like eggs," he says.

"I do!" With the first bite I know where Sebastian learned to cook.

Robert joins us, and I ask about Clara and Sylvia.

"They're out shopping for tonight," he says. "Though I can't imagine what else we need. Sylvia has been planning every detail of her brother's wedding for months. I'm pretty sure she's paying the wedding planner just to run errands."

I laugh, then realization dawns. "Is there going to be a bachelor party tonight?"

Sebastian shakes his head. "They did that last week. They didn't want this weekend to be so busy."

"A lot of couples are choosing to have their parties early for that very reason," I inform him. Noticing that everyone is done with their food, I get up and collect the plates.

Robert tries to stop me, but I insist. "You cooked. You shouldn't have to clean as well." Growing up my mom did all the cooking and the cleaning. It never seemed fair.

Sebastian dries as I wash, and Robert turns on music, a light jazz, and sits down with a book. "What are you two kids up to today?" he asks.

I look to Sebastian, since I don't know what he has planned yet.

He smiles mischievously. "Horseback riding. I want to show her the lake."

"That sounds fun."

"We're going horseback riding?"

He nods and leans in to whisper in my ear. "While I'd prefer you ride me, I think this could also be fun."

I blush and remember last night. We made love with his parents in the house, which felt naughty and forbidden, and I tried to be very quiet despite Sebastian's assurance that no one would hear us in this huge house.

As if he can tell what I'm thinking, he brushes his lips against my neck, his tongue flicking ever so gently against my skin as the warmth of his breath tickles me.

I melt against his broad chest as his arms encompass me.

"Ready to have some fun?" he asks.

"Depends on what you have in mind?" I'm imagining us naked, sheets tangled around us as our bodies rub against each other.

But he guides me outside to the horses, and I see he's got an entirely different fantasy at play here. Which is fine. This probably isn't the time for sexy. Unfortunately. Because this man, this fucking man, makes me want him all the fucking time, and it's driving me nuts.

He stops by the horse I fed yesterday. Winnie. She's beautiful, and it seems as if she remembers me as she pushes her head against my hand. "Sorry girl, I didn't bring treats this time."

Her soft lips explore my empty hands before she settles for me petting her as Sebastian saddles her for a ride.

"Who's riding her?" I ask.

"We both are," he says as he finishes up.

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow at him. This isn't what I'd been expecting.

"Really. Hop on, my dear."

I'm not as graceful as I would like, but I manage to mount her without too much embarrassment. Sebastian eases himself up as if he's spent his life doing this. Which, I guess he has. His chest is pressed against my back, cock stiffening against my ass. I snuggle in against him as he takes the reins and clicks his tongue at Winnie.

The day is hot, which isn't surprising, but the breeze from riding cools me, and I enjoy the feel of the wind in my hair as we gallop over acres of his family's property.

When Sebastian slows the horse, I think we're stopping, but instead he frees one of his hands and wraps his arm around my waist, his mouth at my ear. "I want to make love to you under my favorite tree by the lake," he says as his hand slips into my jeans and below my panties.

Our thighs are pressed together, our bodies connected as his finger finds my clit and rubs it. When he moves his hand lower, sliding one, then two fingers into my pussy as he continues his attention on my clit with this thumb, I moan, leaning back into him. "You're bad," I tell him breathlessly.

"You make me want to do bad things, Ms. Michaels," he says.

The movement of the horse under us pushes his fingers deeper. His teeth bite into my neck, not roughly, but enough that the shock of it combined with his fingers forces my body into a coil of nerves and tightly contracted muscles looking for release.