Desperately Entwined (Touched By You 8) (7 page)

He caught her just as she rounded a huge oak tree. He caught her around the waist and she struggled to get free. She turned her face away in an attempt t
o hide her tears. Tanner held her to him, one arm behind her back, the other pressing her head into his shoulder.

“Stop baby. It’s okay. Whatever it is, we will work it out. Tell me what happened,” he said.

He released his grip, and she stepped away, wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing as if she were cold.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

Natalie felt like
her heart would burst. She couldn’t go back and act like nothing had changed. There was no way he could understand. She didn’t even really understand, but knew it was true. It was impossible to fight against the strength of their love. Life did not exist without him. But she couldn’t continue the way things were, and felt perilously close to the edge of sanity. An edge she might fall over, and plummet to her death, as death it would be to give him up.

Tanner stood
, helplessly waiting for her to say something.

She
covered her face with her hands and choked out, “I’m just….so in love with you. I’m sorry.”

Stunned by her response, he reached out and took her hands in his. “You should never
be sorry about that. I love you baby, and count your love as one of the greatest blessings of my life.

I don’t know what happened at the cottage, and you don’t have to explain right now. I’m here whenever you want to tell me. But if you are feeling bad ab
out loving me, then something is terribly wrong.”

Natalie withdrew the photo from her poc
ket and held it out for Tanner. He gazed at the representation of his mother’s love, reminded of how much she’d meant to him. He slipped the photo into his pocket.

Sobs still making it hard to speak, Natalie managed to choke the words,
“This morning…I found the picture….in a jacket pocket…one of your mother’s.

I’m just…
ashamed of myself. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you love me. You’ve given me so much, and I don’t mean material things. If having you meant giving up everything else, I’d do it. You’re all I care about.

Something just broke inside me when I saw that picture of you with your mother. You, the wonderful man I love, and always will love.

Why can’t you….be mean or something? When I met you, you said you were bad for me. Well….be bad…please. Stop being so….so….unnervingly romantic. You leave me defenseless. You’re not fair,” she said, her grief and shame turning to simmering resentment.

Natalie looked down at the ground and sighed. It was all too much, and
she knew he couldn’t possibly decipher her emotional ramblings. It barely even made sense to her. Nothing made sense.

“
Despite the passion you’ve shown me, I always want more. It’s never enough. And I’m sorry but I can’t help myself. I wish I could.”

Tanner looked at her, so emotionally fragile, and for all the wrong reasons. “Yes, baby, I gave you passion. It’s what I had to give, and you’ve blossomed into a devastatingly sexy woman, more than I could
have ever hoped for.

But you gave me more.
You think I was wealthy before I met you, and I was, if you speak of money and what it can buy. Yet….I was poor. My life was empty of love. I didn’t even know I was missing it, so used to sexual pleasures I’d become. I thought that was all, and was sure that’s what I had to offer.

From the first time we looked into each other’s eyes, you saw in me, something no one else ever had. You had an idea about
my real nature that I dared not believe. For so long, I was convinced that you’d be better off without me. Sure, that you’d made a bad choice.

You’ve shown me something that only you could, because you are the only woman I’ll ever love. You’ve shown me I can be loved,
that I’m worthy of being loved.

I loved you from the first moment I saw you, but in an effort to save you from me,
never showed how I really felt. I couldn’t face the strength of my love for you. I was….afraid…..of love….of hurting you.

Finally….finding the courage….
I professed my love, thinking that was everything. However, it was only the beginning. Loving someone, or saying you love someone, is the easy part. As hard as that was, to open my heart to the love I have for you, it was even harder to….”

Tanner rubbed his forehead and ran his fingers through his hair. He
sighed deeply, and looked off in the distance.

“Come here,” he said in a low voice, his eyes soft, his shoulders slumped.

Natalie wrapped her arms around him, and they stood silently under the shadows of the huge trees, hearing only the rustle of the leaves and each other’s breathing.

“I think I’ve known for some time where our relationship was going
…where I wanted it to go. Still I waited…. however misguided my thinking….wanting it to be special, to be the right time….for both of us. Maybe I was wrong. I shouldn’t have delayed.”

Natalie wasn’t exactly sure what he was talking about, but he was deeply moved and more emotional than she’d ever seen him. She hugged him tight, not needing for him to explain, just wanting to love him and nothing more
. That’s all she needed, his love. She knew that now.

Tanner seemed suddenly aware of something, and pulled back from her to look at his watch.

“You’re on a schedule?” She teased.

“Come, there’s something you’
ll want to see. I hope, anyway,” he said, urgency in his voice, and she had a sense of time running out.

He guided her out of the trees to the open meadow. The warm sun felt good
on her skin, and she looked at the endless blue sky above. Tanner walked a bit further, continuing to look up after every few steps. He seemed to want to find a good position for something.

He stopped in the center of a clearing
, holding her hand, glancing at her and then back to the sky. Natalie was puzzled. Was there some natural phenomenon in the skies of England that she’d not previously heard about?

“Just wait,” he said, holding back his excitement for the
mysterious thing he waited for.

She stood looking at the vastness of the sky, reli
eved to be holding Tanner’s hand, and in knowing that it wasn’t over between them. At least not yet, and maybe never, she hoped.

A small plane appeared, heading toward them. It would fly right over them if it kept
on its current path. She watched it, wondering what it would be like to be up there, in the plane. Someday she’d like to see the scenery from above.

White smoke came from the plane’s exhaust, only not in a straight line. The plane started doing some clever swoops and swirls, and Natalie was glad she wasn’t in the plane, unable to tolerate flying upside down or riding out the circular motions.

She watched as the plane wrote a message in the sky. She dared not guess until she saw all the words. In thick white puffs of smoke, across the blue sky of England were the words written in script:

“Will You Marry Me?”

The words hung in the air, visible for miles. As she gazed, spellbound at the message, fireworks exploded in the sky, launched from the plane. At first, she thought she’d imagined them. Shards of purple and gold sprayed out in wide arcs, and blooms of silver burst into glitter and slowly faded away.

Natalie couldn’t believe what she’d seen
, or that Tanner had set up such an elaborate display, just for her. It was everything she’d hoped for, and feared would never happen. It took her several long seconds for it to sink in that Tanner’s question, written in the sky in white smoky script, was real. As the plane disappeared, her heart pounded and she trembled.

Ta
nner moved beside her. He dropped to one knee and looked up.

“I love you, baby.
I want to spend my life with you…I think I have always known that. I want you to be my wife. Please….will you marry me?”

She looked at his gorgeous face, and could see the trepidation he felt. Didn’t he know that being his wife was what she wanted
most, that she loved him so much it hurt, that there was no chance of her refusing him?

In one hand, he held up
a brilliant round diamond, set in platinum. Natalie’s cheeks were wet from tears and her throat tight with emotion.

Tanner repeated the question
in an earnest tone, “Will you marry me?”

Sh
e nodded, unable to speak. Feeling a surge of ecstatic joy mixed with relief, he stood and pulled her into his loving embrace.

At last, sh
e took a breath, and through tears of joy said, “Yes, I will marry you. Yes. Yes.”

He put the ring on her
finger, his eyes gleaming with moisture. He said through heavy emotion, “You’ve made me a very happy man. I love you baby.”

“I love you too. I’ll always love you,” she said
without hesitation. Looking at the ring - sealing the bond between them, the circle a symbol of eternity - she smiled.

And
Tanner broke into a huge grin.

Epilogue

Ms. Natalie Christine Baker & Mr. Steven Tanner Clarke request the honor of your presence at their wedding…..

Natalie was finally the bride and she couldn’t be happier. The invitations, embossed gold lettering on cream parchment, went out not long after they returned from London. Their official engagement party was early in the year at Jazzy’s Modern French Bistro, which had opened with flair and was doing quite well. With the gourmet talents Ellis possessed, and Jazzy’s charm, Natalie was confident in their success.

Natalie and Tanner were married the following spring. Amazing as it was, Natalie didn’t stress over the details of the wedding arrangements, although she increased the frequency of her yoga exercises to help her stay relaxed and fit. As far as she was concerned, marrying Tanner wouldn’t be anything but perfect. She left everything to her talented wedding planner, who came through in grand style, up to and including the wedding rehearsal and dinner.

She expected a prenuptial agreement, and Tanner did present her with one. However, it wasn’t what she expected. The only two stipulations were that Clarke Foundation For Young Orphans, a non-profit entity, would remain independent of any settlement. And that Natalie Baker Designs would be solely owned by Natalie, in the event of a separation.

She couldn’t bear to think any such event was possible, but details did have to be spoken about in advance. Tanner concluded the agreement with a,
what’s-mine-is-yours
clause, meaning that as his new wife she shared his wealth. In private, he told her that she was his life. She meant more to him than material things, and he was proud of the faith they’d placed in each other.

For business reasons, she made the decision not to change her name to Clarke, and Tanner didn’t object. Once the restructuring of her company had occurred under the umbrella of Clarke Luxury Brands, the team had marketed her designs in New York and business had really taken off. She realized she’d done it backwards. Most American designers sell in New York first, and then venture into international territories. But due to circumstances, she’d done the opposite.

After considering several venues for their wedding, they settled on the upscale Tribeca Rooftop with views of the Hudson River, Soho, and downtown Manhattan. The landscaped rooftop was the ideal outdoor setting for their wedding. The floor below was spacious enough for the dinner and reception following the ceremony, including a cherrywood dance floor with an abundance of natural light from a magnificent skylight.

Tanner liked the fact that there was a private ground-floor entrance, with two elevators to reach the actual venue location on the twelfth floor. Natalie discovered on the first trip up that the elevator ride gave her head quite a rush. Security at the event location was tight, to ensure only invited guests were allowed entrance. Ushers accompanied guests in the elevators
and escorted them to the event.

As a result, only one private bodyguard was hired to attend the wedding as personal protection. Natalie was pleased to see Tanner had chosen Andre
LeBeau, the guard she’d first met in Paris. Since the engagement, he’d become their personal security.

The wedding turned out to be quite a party, starting with cocktails as guests arrived. Close personal friends and business associates were invited, including Ellis’ new business partner, the chef at Artisan, Paul
LaRoche and his wife, Amanda. Suzanne from Dumond Boutique in Paris, and Q.Thomas Hawkes from Couture By Thomas in London, both flew to New York for the wedding. Dr. Gene, Tanner’s uncle and Emma’s current doctor, attended with his wife, Carina.

And Natalie invited Sara Anderson, their cook in New York. She would continue to cook for them in their new home. Having become friends over the past months, Sara confided that she had a crush on Andre, making Natalie all the happier that he would b
e with them on a regular basis.

An arbor covered in white roses curved high overhead where Natalie and Tanner exchanged their vows. The Wedding Song played while guests found their seats. The music shifted, and
Dani walked Natalie up the aisle, just as he had her sister. Tanner had also chosen him as the Best Man. Cheryl was the Matron of Honor, and Jazzy the Bridesmaid. They wore elegant, floor-length champagne-colored one shoulder dresses. And Ellis completed the picture, standing in attendance next to Dani, in his fitted tuxedo.

Natalie chose a design by Carolina Herrera, a strapless white dress with a softly-pleated bodice. The satin dress flowed to the floor, wrapping around Natalie’s slender figure with a feminine ruffle from waist to hem, angling along the front. The white gold necklace, with a freshwater pearl and diamond pendant, plus matching diamond-stud earrings, were the perfect accents. She chose a bouquet of white peonies. Her dark hair was done in a tight twist bun, giving her a sophisticated look.

Tanner looked impossibly sexy in his black Armani tux with his auburn highlights gleaming in the bright, open rooftop space in the late afternoon. His breathing hitched when he saw Natalie enter on Dani’s arm, walking toward him in measured steps in her white satin pumps. She looked like a goddess, her beauty not of this earth, and the thrill of taking her as his wife hit him with full impact. He made an effort to keep a strong pose, yet he quivered inside as she approached the altar.

The lovely couple exchanged vows, glowing in the radiant sun, emotions raging, their hearts swelled with love and commitment. The touching ceremony seemed like a dream, and when Tanner heard the words, “You may kiss the bride,” relief and joy swept over him. He lifted her light veil, and kissed her long and passionately, leaving the audience spellbound, but caring only for his new bride.

Natalie turned, beaming, her cheeks flushed. She saw Emma in the front row, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. Tanner took her arm to steady her, and guided her back down the aisle, grinning and nodding to those he recognized as they passed by. Setting the tone for the party to come, “I’m Feelin’ Alright” played as the guests filed out. The lighted staircase guided them down to the dining floor.

Candles in all the huge windows made the chic, sexy room sparkle. The dining hall oozed intimacy and relaxation. The room was decked out in roses of red, pink and white. Flowers were everywhere, even hanging in baskets from the ceiling. The bar stayed open throughout the reception, plus there was a good wine selection, and lots of it. A small band played a variety of tunes and took requests.

Tanner took special care in choosing the champagne, picking Armand de Brignac, handcrafted using old-world techniques by a staff of eight people at a house established in 1763 in Chigny-les-Roses, France. Details like that intrigued Tanner. Actually, Natalie found she was interested when he filled her in on the background of the prestige cuvee, having been introduced to good wine and champagne from the beginning of their relationship.

Glasses were filled with the rare champagne, and
Dani stood to make a toast. “May they live happily ever after,” he ended with. Despite the familiarity of the phrase, it hung in the air creating a magical moment, until everyone broke out in applause.

Cheryl toasted, wishing eternal love for her dear friends, making Natalie’s eyes water. She held back her tears, trying not to ruin her makeup, just yet.

Tanner and Natalie stood together, making a toast in celebration of their marriage and letting everyone know how much they appreciated them. And on the heels of the toasts, the band started up again.

For the first dance, Christina
Perri’s “A Thousand Years” played, and Tanner guided Natalie around the classy dance floor in elegant style. The band flowed into the next song, and others crowded out to join the bride and groom.

The Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked, and Natalie enjoyed the brilliant flavors. She nibbled at hers, too keyed up to have much of an appetite. Tanner and some of the guests raved about the steak au
poivre, and she was pleased the food was delicious. Dessert came with huge chocolate covered strawberries, her favorite, and a selection of petit fours.

Everyone had a wonderful time. Guests flowed upstairs to see the panoramic scene of Manhattan, and breathtaking views of the water. Natalie wanted to capture the sensations and emotions of their special day to remember forever. The photographer spent time taking
pictures of Tanner posing with her in the low light of the late afternoon with the stunning backdrop of the skyline.

She would put them in her wedding album along with the ones of the pre-ceremony, the walk down the aisle, the vows, and the kiss. She hoped he’d captured the vision of Tanner’s face as she’d walked down the aisle. But even if he hadn’t, she’d never forget how amazing he’d looked, vulnerable yet strong.
And so much in love.

The wedding cake was layers upon layers of yellow cake with strawberry mousse filling. Ornate designs were molded into the white frosting. And a wide stream of edible, red, pink and white roses, cascaded in an arc from the top of the cake to the bottom, with a riot of flowers piled on the top layer, spilling over. It was too pretty to eat. Nevertheless, Natalie cut the cake and the newlyweds stuffed yummy, fluffy bites in each other’s mouth, the camera flashing to capture the shot.

As the sun dipped in the sky, the party drifted up to the rooftop to see the sunset. The sun lowered over a perfect day for the bride and groom, the bright orange and red colors like fire. Tanner stood behind Natalie, his arms around her waist, smelling her feminine scent, impatient to have her alone.

Gifts were piled on a huge table under the staircase. It would take hours for the couple to open them later, probably after their honeymoon. Guests had received a card with their wedding invitation, letting them know if they wished to give a wedding gift but didn’t know what to choose, they could make a donation of any size to Clarke’s Foundation
For Young Orphans. Natalie and Tanner were honored by all donations. And each donation was acknowledged with a box of special chocolates and a thank you note.

In fact, as a wedding gift to each other Natalie and Tanner made a large donation to the foundation. The exact amount wasn’t mentioned, just noting it was sizable, and leaving the dollar figure to the imagination. A letter describing the gift was framed and placed on
the table with the other gifts.

Privately, Natalie had nearly fainted when she discovered that her nine-carat diamond engagement ring had cost 1.83 million. “Yes, dollars,” Tanner confirmed. “You mean everything to me,” he’d said. “And I want you to have a ring that’s perfect and beautiful.”His sentiment touched her, and the ring was beyond perfect. The beloved ring was the only wedding present she needed. It took very little convincing for Tanner to agree to the donation, wedding gift idea.

Being able to go anywhere she wanted on her honeymoon, made it hard to decide. There were so many choices. The list of possibilities included: a private island in Seychelles, St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora, a Mediterranean cruise, Tahiti, or even Maldives where she’d heard about an underwater restaurant. And, of course, Cheryl had raved about her honeymoon in Greece. So that was a possibility.

After much deliberation, she settled on Sardinia, a secluded island off the coast of Italy, complete with cobbled
lanes and romantic coastal walks. The peaceful, old-world setting was synonymous with romance.

As soon as she saw the pictures of the limestone cliffs and white sandy beaches along the crystal clear blue water, she knew it was where she wanted to go. The mountainous interior could be navigated on foot. After seeing the hillsides thick with dark green trees, and the beauty of Lake
Fluemendosa, she looked forward to venturing out for long walks and hikes.

Ramazzino
Hotel was built into a hillside, a staggered stark white structure with clay tile roofs. It was on the beach with a view of the sea. They would get to Sardinia by ferry, and explore the island by motorbike. With fabulous beaches, chic restaurants, and beautiful countryside, all topped with unique Italian flair, it was hard to imagine a better honeymoon paradise.

The unparalleled accommodations included gourmet food with a wide variety of local flavors, and world-renowned spa services. She knew they’d be staying in the lavish luxury of their room a lot of the time, and she smiled at the sexy lingerie she’d splurged on, for an unforgettable honeymoon. Having Tanner alone for weeks, all day long, was a delicious prospect. But when they did venture out, she knew the seductive coast with its cashmere beaches would not disappoint them.

The wedding reception continued, and Natalie slipped away with Tanner to change into travel clothes. They’d be away for three weeks, and Tanner had arranged for their luggage to be transported to the airport for them. And he’d hired a moving crew to move all their belongings, while they were away. They’d live together in their new home upon their return.

Laughing and hugging everyone, the newlyweds said goodbye. Natalie hugged her mother extra long, feeling especially grateful to her on this day for so much. She held her wedding bouquet in one hand. Backing away toward the door, she flung the white peonies as high as she could. Several feet away, a hand raised the bouquet above the crowd, and she recognized Sara’s smiling face. Natalie giggled, and threw her a kiss.

Whisked off to the downtown heliport, they made the connection for the helicopter ride over the city Tanner had arranged. They’d be spending their first night in a lavishly-appointed suite at the Ritz-Carlton in New York, before leaving the next morning on their private jet, piloted by Jonathan. Alicia would be serving them on the flight, and Andre would keep them safe.