Despite his words, Rainey could feel the heaviness in his limbs. She rolled into him so that he moved onto his back and she draped herself across his body. Jacques heaved a great sigh, his arms settling around herwaist.
“Rest,” sheordered.
She felt him nod, and in a matter of seconds, his breathing evened out. When she was certain he was asleep, she reached across to her nightstand, picked up her phone, and set a two-hour timer so he wouldn’t miss his flight. And then she settled onto him again, the solid warmth of his body the most welcoming of beds. She lay wide awake, feeling the rise and fall of his chest and listening to his breath, doubtful that sleep would return before her alarmrang.
He had come to her. Just as he’d said hewould.
And based on his account of the evening, he’d come as soon as he could. Jacques had chosen her over sleep. With a day full of travel ahead ofhim.
Rainey rested her hand on his chest and felt the beating of his heart. His true, loving heart. And sleep tookher.
* * *
She awoke to full sun,a hungry and impatient Archie, and an otherwise empty bed. Frowning, Rainey picked up her phone. It held two texts from Jacques. The first was received at 4:07 a.m. The second at 6:30a.m.
Jacques:You are so beautiful. I can’t bear to wake you, but I promise, I did kiss you goodbye. I loveyou.
Jacques: Just landed in Houston. Our flight to L.A. boards in 40 min. I’ll text when we land. Loveyou.
Her phone toldher it was five minutes to eight, so chances were his flight had already taken off, but she replied just incase.
Rainey:You are a scoundrel for not waking me up so I could kiss YOU goodbye. I’ll forgive you this time. Have a good flight. I love you,too.
To Archie’s obvious relief,she flung the covers aside and followed him downstairs to his foodbowl.
A shower and a cup of coffee later, Rainey tackled the job of placing the catering order for Saturday night and finding a florist who could do a bridal bouquet, a handful of boutonnieres, and a few arrangements for the house on short notice. The first florist told her he couldn’t possibly squeeze them in for Saturday, but the second was only too happy to oblige. She even directed Rainey to the shop’s website where she could choose her design and place her order. So, Rainey and Holi spent an hour doing justthat.
“Ash already bought the rings,” Holi said when they were done. She sat on the couch next to Rainey, her eyes turning wistful. “I justwish…”
Rainey’s ears perked. “You just wishwhat?”
Holi shook her head. “It’s notimportant.”
“Um, Holi, if it’s about your wedding, then it’s important.” Rainey said, allseriousness.
Her sister studied her for a moment, seeming to debate whether or not she’d share what was on hermind.
Rainey let out an impatient huff. “Would you tell me,already?”
Holi stared at her, both startled and amused. “Something’s different about you,” she said, narrowing her eyes at hersister.
It was Rainey’s turn to look startled. “What do youmean?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Holi said, the corners of her mouth turning up in a smile. “It’s like you’re gone for a few days, and you come back ready to kick ass and takenames.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, like yesterday, when I told you Ash and I were going to have a simple ceremony. No cake. No flowers. No nothing,” she said, her smile growing. “You wouldn’t hear of it. You were like a woman possessed, laying out plans, ordering a cake, getting a stylist to come to the house Saturday to do our hair andmakeup—”
“Well, you’re getting married,” Rainey defended “You deserve to shine on your wedding day. If you feel like I’mmeddling—”
Holi’s hand closed over hers. “Idon’tfeel like you’re meddling. I feel like you’re taking charge, and I love it.” Holi’s eyes were wide and clear, and she held Rainey’s gaze with unyielding focus. “I don’t know what happened to you on that road trip. I don’t know if it was admitting to yourself that you’ve fallen for that hunka-hunka-hotty-rock-star or if it was you swooping down on Dad and telling him what a sack of shit he is, but something about you has changed. And it’s changed for thebetter.”
Rainey could only swallow. If she’d changed, shouldn’t she feel different? Did she feeldifferent?
“I don’t know, Holi,” she hedged. “I still feel likeme.”
Holi studied her for a moment. “Maybe it’s too soon for you to see it,” she said gently. “But I see it, and it’s a welcomesight.”