Free Valentine's Dates by Rhian Cahill

them over and pinned her beneath him for another long kiss. As always with him, a kiss turned to more and it was a few hours before they made it downstairs to clean up.

Epilogue
    The sun streamed in through the open French doors. The first thirteen days in February had been unseasonably wet and cold, but not today. Today the clouds had floated away and the sun shone on the yard below. Vee didn’t look down; she didn’t want to spoil the wonder of walking out of the house later, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the view of the harbour.
    “Are you ready? Wade’s starting to pace. I think the fact Brent isn’t is making your brother worse.”
    Vee smiled at the reflection of her sister-in-law in the mirror. “I’ve been ready for this date my whole life.”
    Emily skimmed her fingers over the strip of lace on Vee’s shoulder. “You know I loved my wedding dress, but I have to admit this one is the most gorgeous creation I’ve ever seen.”
    “It turned out exactly as I pictured it.” Vee admired the exquisite dress in the mirror.
    Emily laughed. “I honestly didn’t think you were going to convince the designer to make it.”
    “He caved when I threatened to find a first-year design school student if he wasn’t capable of making the dress to my specifications.” Vee smoothed a hand down the front of the form-fitting lace bodice. From the waist up, the dress was an intricate weave of white lace over a gold satin backing. The designer’s initial protest that it would look like his grandmother’s doilies sewn together held merit, but she hadn’t allowed it to deter her from getting what she wanted. And the end result had turned out far more stunning than Vee had imagined. With the A-line skirt in the same white as the lace, the dress had a hint of old, but was thoroughly modern and suited her figure perfectly. “Nothing works better on a man than his own ego.”
    “Too true.” Emily picked up the delicate rose bouquet Wade had the gardener make from their mother’s prized roses and handed it to Vee. “I can’t believe my husband thought of using your mum’s flowers for the bouquets.”
    “Me either. Or that he’d suggest Brent wear Dad’s engraved cufflinks.” Vee felt the sting of tears and breathed deep, willing the urge away. She didn’t want to ruin her make-up. “He never would have thought about any of that before you.”
    “Don’t be silly, of course he would have. He loves you and wants you to have a little piece of your parents with you on your special day,” Emily argued.
    “No, before you he was dead inside, just going through the motions. Then he met you and you brought him back. You gave me back my brother and I can’t thank you enough for that. Or the rambunctious little devil who’s drooling on his suit.” Vee indicated the sleeping Davie on the bed behind them.
    Emily smiled and grasped Vee’s hand. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m not risking mucking up that dress or your hair or your make-up. Or mine.”
    Vee laughed and, taking a deep breath, said, “Let’s get this Valentine date started.”
    Brent stood under the rose covered arch and waited for his bride. He wasn’t nervous. It never entered his mind that she might not show up. A grin spread across his face.
    “Hey.” Wade elbowed his side. “You’re not supposed to smile like that until the bride arrives.”
    He turned to face his best friend and future brother-in-law. “I’m not allowed to be happy waiting at the altar?”
    “Hell no! You’re supposed to be shaking in your boots, tugging at your collar, and sweating buckets with the fear she won’t show.”
    “Not a chance of that happening,” Brent said. “It took numerous bribes to get her to wait this long. I wouldn’t be surprised if she walked down the aisle with bells on like she threatened.”
    “Oh God, I hope not.” Wade glanced over his shoulder to the end of the red carpet runner. “Then again, it sounds like something Vee