J

Lisa's escape from celebrity life only lasted so long. She'd stopped looking at scripts and considering multimillion-dollar roles, which worried me more than she could have ever realized. I knew her career, her A-list status, could only take so much before it would be too late to revive. Fortunately, the premiere for the second Seaside film, Day of Dawn, sucked her right back into the spotlight.

It was almost as if she'd never left. I didn't realize how much I'd come to miss her hectic lifestyle until we didn't have it anymore. I missed Mike and Hyunji even more, and I was grateful that Lisa had another junket to get through so we could all be together again.

I was so glad that the premiere was in L.A. It made making secrets deals that much easier. While Lisa was occupied with the press, I met with two influential producers and negotiated a two-hundred-thousand-dollar purchase. I had to sell all of my family's vested interests in the wineries to do it, but investing in Lisa's future was worth it.

Everything had gone off without a hitch.

Things continued to look up two weeks later when we were in Berlin. Mike had stormed into our room, Hyunji tight on his heels, a grin the size of Texas plastered on his face.

"You will never believe this shit," he announced, holding out his phone. "I just got a message from my buddy, Nix, who does security out in L.A. If this doesn't brighten your day, I don't know what will."

I'll never forget the smile on Lisa's face when she heard Nix say in his message that David Ardazzio, forty-five, was arrested today and charged with possession of 3.5 grams of cocaine.

Justice had been served. We were all able to put that horrible incident behind us.

But that was four weeks ago. I was now looking out at the breathtakingly beautiful blue water from the lanai of our gorgeous beachside villa in the Maldives, getting prepared to make my final walk as a single woman. My soon-to-be-wife was off in her parents' villa, probably feeling just as nervous as I was.

"Your hair looks awesome," Hyunji said, spraying to hold it in place. She had twisted my hair into a loose ponytail, fluffing it out to make it look even thicker.

I lightly swatted at her. "Not too much spray. I want Lisa to be able to touch it without it breaking off or getting her fingers stuck."

Tammy had my sandals in her hands, smiling as if she had a secret. "Shoes or no shoes?"

"You've got to go barefoot, Jennie," Janelle answered. "It's the only way."

Tammy smirked. "Well, you may choose not to wear them, but you have to at least read them."

Read them? "What are you talking about?" She was really excited when she handed over my brand new Stuart Weitzman strappy bridal sandals. I turned them over, seeing a handwritten note penned on the bottom of one of the shoes.

You're my best friend,

You're my love,

You're my life.

I can't wait to

make you

my wife!

Love, Lisa

My breath hitched as her message sank in. I covered my mouth, holding back from sputtering. I had envisioned the one I would marry one day, and Lisa had transformed that image into an unbelievable dream. I wasn't nervous anymore. I knew with absolute certainty that my Lisa wanted me just as much as I wanted her. Tears dripped down my cheeks as I handed the shoe over to Ellen so she could see her daughter's sentiment. Tammy was already reduced to a pool of tears, spurring me to cry harder while I was reprimanded for ruining my makeup.

A few minutes later, Lisa's mom uncovered my dress. It was white silk and had a thin ribbon crisscrossed over the open back. I received four nods of approval when I first tried it on but my teeth chattered now as I shimmied into my dress.

Janelle unwrapped my three solitaire diamond necklace—my "something new" wedding gift from Lisa. I had my mother's beaded hair comb that she wore when she'd married my dad, tucked into the top of my loose braid—my something old. As much as I wished my parents could have been alive to see me on this special day, I knew that they were looking down on me. They were be in the sunrays that cracked through the clouds and the warm breeze that tickled my skin.

Jill had a small box in her hand. "This is from Joe and me. Thank you for letting us be a part of your day, Jennie. It means the world to your father and to me that you've included us."

I hugged Jill, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for being here."

She touched my face and smiled. "Go on. Open it."

My fingers fumbled opening the lid. I gasped when I saw the exquisite sapphire bracelet. "Oh my God! This is beautiful!"

"It's your something blue," she said happily.

"Thank you so much! Would you help me put it on?"

Leave it to Janelle to yank me back into reality with her humor. "We have to go soon This is the easy part. Not killing her when Lisa ticks you off is the hard part."

I gaped at Ellen as she was nodding her head. "You're telling me there are times you want to kill Lisa's father?"

"Oh yes," she admitted. "It's not often—maybe three or four times a year—but it definitely happens."

I looked over at Tammy.

She agreed. "I threatened to kill Fred on the flight over here."

Hyunji was finishing trussing up my dress when I caught a sparkle on her hand. Her fingers were bare when she was putting on my makeup.

I spun so fast I almost fell over. I grabbed her hand. "Oh my God! What is this?"

Hyunji smiled coyly. "Mike proposed to me last night!"

I was so elated; it was hard to contain myself. Could this day get any better? I hugged her fiercely.

"How? When?"

Hyunji giggled. "Last night. He took me for a walk on the beach and told me that he's never felt this way about anyone and he can't imagine living life without me."

I think I screamed. I definitely know I was tugging hard on her left hand, taking in the huge rock on her finger.

"He then said he didn't want to wait to ask; he didn't want me to think that he was motivated by your wedding or anything."

I hugged her again, whispering my words of congratulations. This was a big step, but I knew no matter what happened, I'd always have her in my life. After all, her three-bedroom house was physically attached to mine—separated only by a breezeway.

Hyunji gave me a smile. "What say we go get you married? Lisa Manoban is waiting."

There was a gentle knock on my door before I saw my birth father, Joe, peek around the corner.

"Everyone dressed and ready?" he asked.

I smiled at his awkwardly innocent expression. Lisa had flown Joe and his family here for me as a surprise. They may not have been my parents growing up, but without Joe, I wouldn't have this moment, and that meant a lot to me.

The sun was just starting to set when I walked on shaky knees down the beach. I held Joe's arm as he steadied me.

I felt instant relief when I saw that Lisa was in fact standing next to the man who would be officiating our union.

As soon as I saw her there with her hands clasped in front of her, her hair gently tussled by the ocean breeze, that breathtaking smile she wore just for me—nothing else mattered. This person was my everything.

She'd been there for me through thick and thin, through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our vows on silly napkins were framed and mounted above our bed for us to always remember and never take for granted.

As soon as Lisa took my hands in her, all of my nervous worry drifted off into the breeze.

--

I woke with a smile to tiny kisses peppering my shoulder. I think I actually fell asleep with this same smile on my face. I rubbed my hand over her arm so she'd know I was awake.

"Good morning, Mrs. Manoban," Lisa said while kissing my neck. It tickled.

"Good morning, wife." I glanced at the clock. "More like, good afternoon, wife." I rolled over and nuzzled into her chest. "Do you think they'll miss us if we skip out on dinner, too?"

Lisa laughed softly. "I have no desire to get out of bed. That's why they invented room service."

I drifted my fingertip around her new platinum wedding band; my vow of "Yours Forever" engraved inside. I was hoping that this all wasn't just a dream. "I never gave you your wedding present."

Lisa smiled and kissed my forehead. "I think that thing you did last night when you were on top and riding me was a wonderful gift."

I nudged her. "Smart-ass. Hang on." I crawled out of bed.

"Gift number two—my wife completely naked."

I wrinkled my nose at her, retrieving the thin box I had wrapped in gold foil.

She flipped the box over, inspecting both sides. "What's this?"

I crawled back under the blankets. "A dream."

Her eyes narrowed. "A dream?"

"Yep. Dreams only come true if you point yourself in their direction."

She fingers combed her hair back. God, that was so damn sexy. I hoped I'd never lose my appreciation for it.

She slid her leg over, tapping me in the foot. "Is that so?"

I fluffed the pillows under my head and nuzzled back into her side. "Yep."

"Well then, I guess we're tossing your birth control pills in the garbage."

She caught me off guard. "You ready for all of that?"

She shrugged. "I'm ready for whatever life throws our way."

"Good. Now open your gift already!"

Lisa slid her thumb under the edge of the paper, tearing it off. "Gold paper, eh?"

"Yep. That's what it is. Inside is your golden ticket, too."

She shook the box, separating the lid. A tinge of panic seeped through me when she frowned at my gift.

"A script? You bought this?"

"Yep. TLC Productions owns it."

She examined it again. "This is that script you were so adamant about me pushing. Jen, no one wanted to back it."

I shrugged. "That was then. We have a meeting with Jeff Westfield at Universal whenever you're ready to put on pants again."

Lisa was astonished. "You got producers on board?"

I grinned proudly. "Yep. Anna Garrett's in on it, too. Word on the street is that several big-name directors are interested."

She grinned at me. "You were a busy girl."

"Yes, I was. Sneaky."

She pursed her lips. "You really want me to act again? After all we've been through?"

I rubbed my hand over her heart, noting the subtle change of pitch in her voice. "Yes, I do. It's who you are. It's what feeds your soul. The rest . . . the rest is just details."