Worth Any Cost by Brenna Aubrey

  I jutted my chin out at her. "Tonight. Wear easy-access underwear." She flung the Speedo right at my head, and I dodged. "Or better yet, go commando."

  "So full of talk."

  "Oh, I'm making it happen. Just you wait."

  But for the moment, we had an agenda to follow, and I would have protested the goddamn agenda were I not the person who had created the shitty thing in the first place.

  Chapter 20

  Mia

  "Making it happen" was easier said than done. What I'd realized hours ago, after the sailboat tour of the bay--and what Adam was coming to realize only now, in the middle of the rehearsal dinner--was that the day before a destination wedding, the bride and groom are never left alone. It was like some secret, unwritten rule.

  For all that they'd be bending over backward to give us our privacy on our wedding night and during our honeymoon, our friends and family were having none of it right now.

  The girls wanted to get together for appetizers before the rehearsal. The guys had made it to the bar for beers and dude talk--which apparently included a surprise dunk of the groom in a hotel swimming pool.

  Fortunately, he'd been able to change into dry clothes quickly, so that he wasn't dripping all over the wedding rehearsal. Afterward came the quiet, intimate rehearsal dinner with our tiny wedding party: Heath, Jordan, my mom, Peter, and the two of us.

  The good part? Dinner was intimate and quiet and really rather nice.

  The bad part? Dinner was intimate and quiet and nearly impossible to slip away from long enough to go have a quickie in the bathroom.

  While we awaited dessert, Adam nudged me hard under the table and began to excuse himself for a restroom break. I folded my napkin, planning to follow suit when Peter stopped Adam, saying he was about to make a toast to us.

  Well, shit. How could we miss that?

  With a stony face, Adam raced off to the bathroom and returned in a few minutes. His dark eyes found mine, and I shrugged at him. Despite his grumpiness, he looked good tonight, even with the last-minute clothing change. His dark, damp hair had been slicked back, and he was freshly shaved. He wore a light blue, exquisitely tailored button-down shirt, chinos, and deck shoes.

  I smoothed my cute floral cotton frock across my lap, all too aware of the barely there, "easily accessible" panties I'd worn underneath. All he had to do was stared at me, like he was doing now, and they grew damp. I squirmed in my seat as Peter cleared his throat and took up the fresh flute of champagne the server had placed before him--as he had done with all of us.

  We all mirrored his action. "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your lives, and this step you're taking will be the most important. Adam, I've known you your whole life, and since you were a small boy, I've watched you overcome obstacles that would have stopped men three times your age. You have grown into the strongest and most determined human being I've ever met. You're at once a man I admire and, also, part of my pride and joy. I can't tell you what it means to me to see you so happy. Mia completes you, and everyone who knows and loves you knows that."

  I stole a glance at Adam, and he was already watching me. My cheeks flamed as I suddenly felt coy and a bit ashamed of plotting our escape from these wonderful people who loved us so much. I swallowed a lump and turned my eyes back at Peter, incredibly moved.

  "Mia, who'd have known that when you'd enter Adam's life, you'd change so much?" he said, taking my mom's hand with his free one. "You've made this family whole in so many ways. Like your husband-to-be, you are a fighter. You're his match in every way, and I'm certain that, together, you'll be an unstoppable force. Just remember to always talk to each other. Even when what you're talking about makes you vulnerable or afraid. Keep your hearts open to each other, but shored up against anything and anyone else that stands in your way.

  "These words of advice are not so eloquent as I'd like them to be. From a humble man who has recently gotten a new lease on life. And I can't wait to see what mischief the two of you get up to. I have a feeling that, in your own ways and using your own special gifts, you're both going to change the world. To the wedding couple."

  "Cheers," chimed Mom.

  "To Adam and Mia!" Jordan toasted as we all sipped. Then, once we had, he added, "Damn. Topping that toast tomorrow night is going to be a bitch." We all laughed. "I guess 'Down the hatch, grab some snatch' is out?"

  "Unless you want your ass handed to you," replied Adam, mildly amused. The rest of us snickered.

  When we stood, Mom came around the table, kissed and hugged Adam, and then turned to me. "Have a great night, baby girl. You're going to be a beautiful bride tomorrow. I can't wait." She held my face in her hands and kissed both cheeks, tears brimming her eyes.

  "Thanks, Mom," I whispered.

  Adam's hand was on my elbow, steering me toward the way out. He whispered in my ear, "We have time to hit the suite before--"

  As we exited the restaurant, there stood the group of girls--Alex, Jenna, April, and Kat, with Heath in tow. They pounced. "This is a bride-napping. She's ours tonight."

  Adam's hand tightened on my elbow, telling me he wasn't about to give up when we were so close to our goal.

  I faked a big ol' yawn. "I'm, um, feeling really tired. Thought I'd go get some beauty sleep."

  Kat's eyes narrowed. "You can sleep in tomorrow. The wedding isn't till sunset. C'mon. You two are going to be stuck alone together for the next three weeks. This is your last chance for girl time."

  Stuck with Adam alone for the next three weeks sounded like heaven to me.

  "We have to go over some important paperwork," Adam bullshitted. Was that his new euphemism for hot monkey sex now--paperwork?

  Kat scoffed at him. "You're totally going to shag her. Don't think I don't see through that. Back off, dude."

  Adam stiffened next to me, and I could feel the frustration running off him in waves. I turned to Kat. "Give us a sec?"

  I pulled Adam aside and hugged him, kissing his cheek. "I think we'll have to save the consummation for our wedding night."

  His gaze hardened and flicked to the side. He was trying to curb the feeling and go with the flow, but it wasn't going so well. "You know, for two people bound to 'change the world,' we sure are having an inordinately difficult time sneaking off for a few minutes to hook up. This is ridiculous."

  I put my hand on his smooth cheek. "Think how amazing it will be tomorrow. And--uh oh, I see Jordan loitering at your six o'clock. I bet he's going to drag you off for some guy time." I put my arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. "Now go. Have a few drinks. Have fun with the guys."

  "I want to have fun with you." His arms encircled my waist. "Alone time fun."

  I smiled. "Unless you've packed our mystery honeymoon with an obnoxious schedule, consider that our preferred activity for the next three weeks."

  Stepping away, I released his hand and followed the girls out. We climbed to the topmost deck of the resort. There, beside a shimmering azure pool and our own private bar, we had our girl time. People grouped up in clumps, and I flitted from one to the next with a drink in my hand, taking care not to have too much. While they all got smashed, I was only pleasantly tipsy. Perhaps I'd be able to slip away and find my groom tonight after all.

  In fact, I was scoping out a possible escape route on the back stairway when I ran into a couple ferociously sucking face.

  Stumbling, I stepped backward up the stairs, but they heard me, pulling away from each other. When the light hit them, I let out a breath. "Get a room," I told Jenna and William with maybe more snark than was necessary. Well, at least someone was getting some action tonight.

  "We have a room," William replied happily. Jenna's cheeks were flushed, her blouse untucked--as if he'd had his hands up her shirt. His shirt was halfway unbuttoned. I cleared my throat and averted my gaze as they made themselves decent.

  "Maybe you should use it, then," I grumbled.

  Jenna came up the stairs with a radiant smile on her face, and
William abashedly followed her. "This setting and all these wedding events are so damn romantic. And you two are such an awesome couple. Let's just say we were overcome, victims to passion," Jenna beamed.

  William frowned at her overdramatic, and somewhat comical, admission. I counted at least three hickeys on his neck. Damn, Jenna..."overcome" or "in heat"? If it were anyone else, I would have pointed them out for optimal mocking purposes, but I could only imagine how much that would mortify William.

  "I can't wait to see you in your dress tomorrow. You are going to be the most beautiful bride. This wedding is going to be unforgettable." Jenna hugged me then stepped aside. She was not entirely sober and wobbled where she stood. Fortunately, William was entirely sober. He put a large hand on her tiny waist to steady her.

  Then he turned to me, and, to my surprise, he bent and kissed my cheek. "I'd say 'Welcome to the family,' but you're already my stepsister, so that isn't necessary." I laughed--I couldn't help it. William, as impeccably logical as always. "But I'm so glad that Adam is finally getting married. If anyone needed to find the right partner, it was him. And you are definitely the perfect one for him."

  "Thank you, William. Maybe you two are next."

  William turned and gazed at Jenna, who appeared flummoxed. "Maybe we are."

  I leaned forward and returned William's kiss on the cheek, and the two of them headed up to the deck to sit beside Alex at the poolside. The darkened stairway was now free and clear and led straight down to the walkway in front of my room.

  I sent Adam a few texts, letting him know what I was planning. He didn't immediately reply, which led me to believe that the guys had him tied up. I was determined that if I had to make like a ninja and kidnap him from his bachelor gathering, I'd do it to get him alone for thirty measly minutes.

  Those best laid plans, however, were blown out of the water when I encountered Heath. He wasn't far from the darkened stairway, lying alone on a lounge chair and staring up at the stars with a half-empty bottle of beer in his hand.

  I walked over to check on him.

  Without looking at me, he said, "You should make a run for it now, so you can hook up with him before midnight."

  "How did you know we were trying to hook up?" I sat beside him on the lounge.

  "Because it's your wedding and you haven't seen each other in almost two weeks? Two plus two is always four, doll."

  I reached out a hand and smoothed his rumpled hair. He closed his eyes and turned his head toward me. Pulling my hand away, I put it on his chest. "If I could make any wish at all right now, I'd wish for a way to mend your broken heart."

  His free hand went on top of mine, and he smiled sadly. "Time will do the magic you seek. It always does."

  I blinked back the sudden urge to shed tears. "Heath, you deserve to be happy."

  He shrugged. "We don't always get what we deserve. If we did, Miley Cyrus would be arrested for her crimes against fashion. But...it does my heart good to see that you are getting what you deserve. May he always make you as happy as he does today."

  I bent down on the lounge, giving him a big hug and laying my head on his chest. "Who'd have thought we'd end up on such adventures, huh? To think it all started with me roping you into helping me with that crazy virginity auction."

  "It's been a wild ride," he agreed.

  "Thank you for being the bestest friend a girl could have."

  "Dollface, for you, I couldn't have been anything less." He stroked my hair, and we stayed like that for a long time.

  But before I could make my getaway to the stairs, the girls found me, wanting more drinks, more chat, more prying of the details of tomorrow's ceremony. It took me an hour to beg off. By that time, it was simply too late in the evening to find Adam. In any case, they all walked me to the door of my room as if we were enacting some ancient bridal ritual. "We posted Heath as a lookout to make sure the groom isn't lurking around the corner. Don't want any bad luck," Kat said.

  "I think she's safe to see him before midnight. We have forty-five minutes till then. But she should definitely not see him after that until the ceremony tomorrow. That's some seriously bad juju." Alex nodded.

  "Not even a goodnight kiss?" I pouted. Eighteen hours. I only had eighteen hours left as a single person, and the one person I wanted to see and spend time with most was being barred from kissing me goodnight.

  "No," insisted Kat. "Keep that man far away. You'll have plenty of time together soon. You don't want to screw it all up with bad luck. Okay, girls, line up and give the bride your advice and best wishes."

  And as if they were forming a line waiting for the hopscotch court in grade school, all the women complied. I stood before the door to my room, and one by one, they approached with their kernels of wisdom.

  April stumbled up on her heels and took both my hands in hers, looking into my eyes solemnly. "My advice is...always use lube if he wants to go in the back door," she slurred, punctuating with a hiccup.

  My jaw dropped before I started laughing hysterically. I muttered that someone had better make sure she returned safely to her room, because she was tanked. Lucky Jordan. At least someone would be getting some hot monkey sex tonight, provided she didn't pass out.

  Jenna came next, kissing my cheek and murmuring, "Rumi said that lovers don't finally find one another. They are in each other all along. You and Adam have been eternally circling one another and have finally drawn into each other's orbits." She placed her hands on my cheeks. "May that gravity hold you together forever."

  I thanked her with a hug, vowing to aim my bouquet at her tomorrow.

  Next was Katya's turn. She gave me a bear hug before whispering in my ear, "May all your pain be champagne and all your tears be tears of joy."

  I frowned at her. "You stole that from a greeting card, didn't you?"

  "Totally." She nodded.

  Alex stepped up last and dramatically threw her arms around my neck. She spoke to me in melodically lilting Spanish. "Que seas bendecido con la fuerza, la compasion, la fe, y sobre todo el amor profundo que dura." She smiled. "It's a Mexican wedding prayer."

  I returned the smile and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, guapa."

  I waved my key card in front of the lock, and the light went green. The girls turned to leave as soon as I opened the door and stepped inside.

  "Goodnight," I called down the hallway to them. Glancing down at my phone to check for any replies to my "goodnight" text to Adam, I was disappointed when I saw none. Maybe he would swing by and say goodnight in person after all? It was only eleven-thirty.

  But there definitely would be no "one for the road" illicit hookup. My easy-access lacy panties had been for naught.

  Damn. I still had a raging case of the hornies.

  Sighing, I crossed the room toward the bed in order to flip on the bedside lamp. It was a temporary disappointment, really. In less than twenty-four hours, we'd hopefully be retiring to our honeymoon suite to kick off our own private sex-fest as man and wife. Could. Not. Wait. Hopefully the honeymoon afterward involved going somewhere with no cell phones, no computers and no--

  Before I could reach the bed, movement in the dark near the bathroom almost stopped my heart. What the--fuck?

  "Hello? Who's there?" I called, taking a step toward the door. The shadow moved, again--very quickly. I only knew a few people who moved that fast.

  The figured approached, and I sucked in a breath of shock. Backing against the door, I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand smothered my cry. I saw his face and smelled him at the same time.

  I reached up and slapped Adam's face.

  "Ow. Shit. What was that for?" he whispered harshly.

  "For scaring the crap out of me!"

  "Sorry...I was trying to be sneaky. Jordan kept trying to keep me longer for 'one last night of hellraising.' I tried to find April to get her to distract him."

  "She's shitfaced. It wouldn't have worked."

  "I'm not interested in raising hell with Jordan. I'm going t
o raise it with you..." Suddenly, his hands were all over me in the dark. "I think you and I have some...unfinished business, don't you?" His mouth devoured my ear as his hard body smashed mine against the door. Every point, from my neck to my nipples to the place between my legs, pulsed with sexual excitement.

  His mouth covered mine, his thumbs already working diligently to tease my nipples to taut points through the thin material of my dress. "You've gotta go..." I mumbled only semi-committedly when his mouth freed mine in order to speak.

  "What?" he protested, refusing to remove his mouth from my skin, kissing his way down my throat.

  I swallowed. Hard. His hands and mouth were turning me into molten goo. "It's almost midnight."

  "Is your carriage about to turn into a pumpkin, Cinderella?" Now his palms were rubbing across my breasts, his touch deeper, more insistent. More convincing. Oh yeah, he knew exactly what he was doing. And I knew that it wouldn't be easy to convince him otherwise. I closed my eyes as his hands slid lower.

  "It's almost our wedding day," I rasped as his hand cupped the inside of my bare thigh.

  "I'm well aware..."

  "Are you?" I questioned archly. "'Cause you almost missed it. I almost had to find a stand-in so you could marry me by proxy."

  "I wouldn't have missed it if my plane were on fire."

  "Well, unfortunately, you got here too late for us to catch up on fooling around before the wedding." His mouth had not stopped sliding across my skin. Now his tongue was lining the inside of my collarbone and simultaneously turning my bones to jelly. "I'm afraid all future conjugal relations will have to be within the bounds of marriage rather than illicit fornication."

  His mouth found the spot below my ear--that spot he knew drove me insane. My toes curled of their own accord. "What?" he asked. "We've got eighteen hours till the wedding. We can do a lot in eighteen hours."

  "We're getting married at sunset. We're not allowed to see each other on our wedding day until we're at the ceremony."

  He huffed. "Silly superstitions."

  "Adam." I nudged him. "You're going to make marks on my neck. I can't have hickeys in my wedding pictures."

  "That's what makeup is for," he replied without budging, continuing to nip at my throat.