The Truth of the Body (Templer Series) (10 page)

Suddenly, the study door swings violently open. Mia launches her across the room heading in the direction of the bathroom. As she flies past, she throws an angry scowl at Jake. “Pig!” She snarls at him before locking herself in the room.

We all look anxiously at Jake. He shrugs, throwing his hands in the air.

Tilly slowly walks out of the study, a wide smile on her face. She reaches across to Drew, wrapping her arms around his waist. She turns slowly to Jake, her face serious but her eyes are laughing. “Oh, you
have done it now, Jake. You are in big trouble.” She laughs, poking a finger towards him.

“What the fuck have I done now?” He runs a hand through his hair.

Mia unlocks the bathroom door and walks out slowly. She is still scowling at Jake. Her face is pale, her eyes watery. She slides up to him, her hands firmly on both hips. “So this was the plan, eh? Make me fat?” She grumbles at him.

I throw a hand up to my face suddenly realising what she is about to say. Tears of joy prick at my eyes. I look towards Tilly who is also desperately trying to hold her composure. Her eyes are also filled with tears.

All three men exchange glances, dumbfounded. Jake shakes his head. “Make you fat? What are you talking about my crazy sexy woman?” He pulls her into his chest, planting a kiss on her lips.

Mia smiles a watery smile. She lifts her chin up to face him. “I’m pregnant, Jake. You’re going to be a daddy……and I’m going to get fat!”

Jake stands still, his face frozen with his mouth slack and open. There is a momentary deafening silence in the room as he takes in the information. His eyes slowly grow very wide as tears fill them. His mouth breaks into a huge smile. He hugs her tight, lifting her high off her feet, swinging her in circles. “I love you, Mia Fox. I love you so much. And I’m going to be a father!” He bellows at the top of his lungs as we all rush towards them, showering the pair with our cheers of congratulations.

Chapter Twenty

Logan lifts his bottle of beer and clinks it against Drew’s outstretched token of cheers.
Jake nods his cheers from across the table lifting his beer in salute. I look at the men, and sigh out my contentment. Although they still have not told me the result of their earlier discussion this morning so I’m aware of nervousness deep in my stomach.

Mia is sat with Jake wrapped tightly around her. He has
not stopped smiling or kissing her all day.  Despite her mock grumblings, she is now glowing with happiness. Tilly is sat snuggled into Drew’s side, his arm draped loosely around her shoulders. Logan pulls me into his lap planting a soft kiss on my nose.

“I suppose it is time to make the announcement.” Drew drawls slowly. “We
have kept these ladies in the dark long enough”

I sit bolt upright. “At last! I’m fit to burst here.” I eye Logan nervously. He shakes his head, laughing.

Drew gently unwraps himself from Tilly and stands purposely. A silence passes as we watch him smile at each of us in turn. Finally, he speaks. “Jake and I would like to welcome onto the Board of Directors at Templer Industries, our new Director of Global Security, Logan Grant. Please raise your glasses and beer bottles in a warm welcome and toast!”

We all raise our glasses cheering. I hug Logan tight around his neck kissing him all over his face. He laughs, pulling me away. “You
are stuck with me now, baby.”

“I think I can handle it.” I smile, kissing him again.

“I’m glad you said that. Because that is not the only announcement Drew has to make. Go ahead, Drew. I’m ready” Logan nods to my brother.

I glance between the two men. Drew remains standing ready to speak again. “Well, little sister. It seems Logan really is here for the long haul. Before Jake and I had a chance to offer our proposal to him, Logan proved that he is totally honourable by formally asking our permission to
ask for your hand in marriage when the time is right. And, of course, we accepted. You are so happy and in love, we could not ask for a better man for you. So again raise your glasses to our new Director and to another member into our family.” Drew beams, raising his beer bottle before stretching to shake Logan’s hand.

***

I am sat watching, open mouthed, as those I love around me shout and cheer in celebration. Suddenly, a sob catches in my throat. So much has happened today, I can’t seem to take it all in. A tear spills onto my cheek. I look around me as they all quickly become quiet, looking in my direction. Logan squeezes me into him, concerned. “You ok, baby?”

I nod and smile before speaking through gentle sobs. “You really asked for my hand in marriage? You want to marry me? And you are going to join my brothers on the Board of Directors?”

“Yes, baby. Yes to all of it. You will marry me one day, won’t you? You
have got me worried now!” He holds my chin firmly, looking concerned and intensely in my face.

I jump out of his lap, laughing. I plant my hands firmly onto my hips defiantly facing him, a mock scowl playing on my face. “Oh, so you ask my brothers for my hand in marriage but you didn’t think to ask me, Marine Man?” I poke a finger in his chest.

He smiles broadly as he slowly lifts his large frame out of the chair, humour dancing in his eyes. He stalks towards me as I back away laughing. “If I catch you then I take it as a Yes, Amber Templer!” He growls playfully.

I make to run before he stretches one long arm grabbing me around the waist, lifting me onto his shoulder. I squeal and wriggle as I see the others laughing and clapping.

“Well?” He booms, spinning me around. “What is the answer? Will you marry me, Amber Templer?”

“Yes! Yes, Major!”

And I throw a playful salute.

Epilogue

One Year Later

Lusty Glaze Beach is a magical place surrounded by spectacular scenery on the north Cornwall coast
located on the outskirts of Newquay. A place where the land meets the sea creating a spectacular horse-shoe shaped cove with white sand and clear blue sea.

I could have chosen to get married anywhere
in the world. But here is where we both wanted to hold our wedding. A few short miles from the Templer family home in Mawgan Porth surrounded by close friends and family on a summer evening on the beach. The wedding party and Logan are waiting for me at the cliff top venue while Drew and I are the last to leave the house at Mawgan Porth.

I take one last look at my reflection in the mirror. I have chosen the
Oscar De La Renta embroidered guipure strapless gown with pink silk
taffeta draped bow. The men are outfitted in summer linen Armani suits with matching pink silk taffeta ties. Casually formal and understated is how the wedding planner, Emma, referred to my choice.

A gentle tap on my bedroom door breaks my thoughts. Drew enters, and instantly his face crumbles with emotion. “You look so beautiful, Amber” He pinches a finger across his
eye to capture a singular tear. “Dad would have been so proud of you.”

I rush into his arms squeezing him tight. “
I miss him every day, Drew. But he is here with us today. I know he is. And I will be so proud to have you walk me up the aisle today in his place.” I dab away a tear, take a deep breath, and pull up my big girly pants. “Is everything ready? How is Logan? I can’t wait to see him.”

He holds me at arm’s length, a wide smile growing across his face. “Well, Jake rang me a few minutes ago. He said that Logan is pacing the beach waiting for you. He’s sick with nerves, excited, anxious and eager all rolled into one. Jake
gave him a shot of bourbon to calm him down. Tilly still has backache and I hope to God the baby does not choose to arrive during the ceremony! But all is well, I think.”

I laugh planting a kiss on his cheek. “I don’t mind if your baby chooses to arrive at my wedding
. Well, as long as I get to say I do first. Come on, let’s go and get me a husband!” And with that, I wrap my arm around his.

He halts for a moment. “Just one more thing before we leave.” He reaches into his pocket producing a small black box. “Logan asked me to give you this.”

I look down at the velvet box in my hand. “What is it?”

“Well, open it and see.” He gestures to me, shaking his head.

I pull open the box to reveal a small platinum key encrusted with pink diamonds. “It is beautiful.” I gasp. I notice there is a tiny note tucked into the lid of the box. I gently ease it out and read it.

Amber,

You have the key to my heart. You took it that day I turned around from the window at the hospital and saw you for the very first time. And you will have it until the day I die. I love you.

Yours Always,

Logan xx

P.S Hurry up and get here and marry me x

***

There are 368 slate steps to the beach below into the sheltered cove surrounding the beach.
I curl my arms around Logan’s neck tighter as he carries me down each step, waving to our guests who are cheering and whooping above us. The ceremony was wholly all that I had dreamed, however, this very private moment with my new husband is the most special. I nuzzle into his neck inhaling my favourite scent. Him.

I feel him breathing harder as we near the bottom of the steps. “I had it all planned.” He g
roans. “I was going to kiss you senseless when we reached the bottom but now I think I’ll just have a heart attack instead!”

“It was your dumb idea to carry me, husband!” I laugh. “And you have to get me back up the steps later.”

We reach the bottom but he doesn’t put me down, instead he runs towards the water’s edge. Suddenly, I feel panic rise in my chest as I sense what he is about to do. I wiggle and struggle in his arms but I cannot contain the laughter filling my lungs. Above I can hear shouts of encouragement from my brothers. “Do it, Logan!”

I wriggle
more in his arms as the water looms towards me. “Logan Grant, don’t you fucking dare!” I shout at the top of my lungs, consumed by giggles.

“Oh, you dare me now, Mrs Grant?”
He roars out, laughter shaking through his body.

He
begins a slow walk into the depths of the gently lapping waves. I can feel the cool water edge up my dress and legs. I squeal and struggle harder against him. Instead, he slides me down his body, kissing every inch of me as I slip down the length of his frame. He presses his mouth hungrily against mine, claiming me as his. He kisses every breath from my body, his words of love vibrating against my lips.

As I begin to weaken against him, he pulls me away to hold me at arm’s length, his eyes intense on mine and wet with emotion. He gulps a sob before speaking. “I had to have this moment. Just you and me. I love you, Mrs Grant.”

“I love you, husband.”

***

Bloody mobile phones! Logan and I have sneaked out of view into a smaller cove.
“Don’t answer it, damn it!” I cry out as his tongue licks and laps up my inner thigh. My sex is pulsing with need as I arch and rock myself against his mouth. The rings stall before immediately starting again.

“Fuck’s sake…” He growls, snatching his phone from his pocket. He hands it to me as he continues making his way, teasing me with his tongue, higher, reaching my folds. He plunges into me as I gasp.

I glance at the mobile screen as I moan out my pleasure. It is Mia. “This had better be good, Mia…..” I gasp breathlessly down the receiver.

“Tilly’s waters have broken
and she’s in labour. We are all heading to the hospital……oh, are you and Logan….?” She laughs.

***

Well, what a sight we all look. A wedding party, complete with bride and groom, all surrounding the new parents in the small private room on the maternity ward of Treliske Hospital. Billy (William, really, of course) Andrew Templer entered the world at 01.20am with his little fists clenched, ready
to take on whatever life throws at him. And is the image of his father, Drew.

Billy’s little cousin, Tahiti, wriggles and squirms in her father Jake’s arms before crying out a
warm welcome of her own.

I wrap myself tightly
around Logan as Drew carries his new son across towards us to have our photographs taken. I giggle nervously as he hands this precious bundle to Logan.

I watch as Logan bends to plant a soft kiss onto the baby’s forehead. He sighs deeply, his voice cracked with emotion. “I think we should have a few of these
, Mrs Grant. Let’s start soon”

I raise an eyebrow, cocking my head to the side. I look around the room at all the people I love before dissolving into laughter.
“And that is exactly what we were doing……before we were interrupted by this one’s arrival!”

Logan grins, handing little Billy back to his father. He winks at both brothers. “Well, if you will excuse us everyone. I have a job to finish!”

He launches at me, hoisting me across his shoulder. As we exit the room, I hear the sounds of my family full of laughter and love.