“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter anyway,” Kade dismissed. “I’m not exactly known for my self-restraint, which is how we find ourselves sitting here.” He indicated the yacht.

I thought for a moment. “Kade,” I began carefully, “would you have ever said anything to me if Blane hadn’t made you play bodyguard when he was working that case?”

Kade didn’t answer for a moment. “I wanted to stay away, not come back to Indy. Being around you while you were with Blane was torture.”

“Is that why you were so mean to me?”

His smile was bitter. “It was easier if I could make you hate me. But then you had to go and almost get yourself killed . . . and I couldn’t make myself be cruel to you. Not after that.”

I pulled my feet away, crawling over to settle on my knees next to him. I looped my arms around his neck and smiled. “I’m glad,” I said, pressing my lips to his.

“Mmm,” Kade murmured. “You smell like coconut.”

He still wore the white shirt, only now no buttons were fastened. His chest was warm from the sun, our bodies touching and sliding from my suntan oil.

I abruptly sat back. “Coconut,” I said. “That sounds good. Do you think Andrew has any?”

Kade slid his sunglasses down to peer at me over the top. “You want coconut? Just coconut?”

I nodded. “Yeah.” My stomach growled.

Kade grinned. “I’m on it.”

He returned shortly with a bowl of shredded coconut and insisted on feeding it to me. I didn’t mind. My head in Kade’s lap while he teased me and fed me coconut was the stuff dreams are made of—my dreams at least.

A few hours later, I was standing in our bedroom, surveying myself in the mirror, dressed in what would become my wedding gown.

I’d never gotten to wear the dress I’d bought in Vegas, instead stashing it in the back of my closet when I’d gotten home. It happened to be made of a floaty white chiffon, with little straps that went over my shoulders, then crossed and tied behind my back. The sweetheart neckline dipped low between my breasts, meeting an empire waistband of rhinestones and crystals that wrapped around me to another deep V in the back. The chiffon skirt fell all the way to the floor. The dress wouldn’t have worked for a regular wedding, but for this setting, it was perfect. And it seemed fitting that Kade had unknowingly ended up buying my wedding gown.

My peacock-blue stilettos winked at me from my suitcase. I slipped them on. That took care of my “something blue.” I added the diamond bracelet Kade had given me in Vegas. It was a few months old, I supposed. As for “borrowed”—well, I guess I’d just have to go without.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I said.

Jennifer stepped inside. “I hope you don’t mind my intruding,” she said with a smile, “but Mr. Dennon had mentioned you might want to borrow these.” She held out her hand. Two diamond stud earrings lay in her palm.

“That’s perfect!” I exclaimed in delight. “Thank you so much! I was just thinking how I didn’t have the ‘something borrowed.’”

“Glad to help,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “This is for you, too.” This time she gave me a small bouquet of deep purple flowers, then she left, closing the door softly behind her.

It seemed Kade had thought of everything.

I put in the earrings and studied my reflection. My hair was in waves down my back, the way Kade liked it. We’d docked on the far westward side of Oahu, and it was a lot less windy there than on the open sea, so I thought my hairstyle would be okay. My tan had deepened today and the white dress was a really nice contrast against my bronzed skin.

My wedding dress. Tears stung my eyes and I had to hurriedly blink them back, not wanting my mascara to run. I held the bouquet in front of me, the diamonds at my wrist, ears, and finger sparkling in the mirror.

I was getting married.

There was a deep pang inside. I was sad that my parents weren’t here, to see me happy and marrying the man I loved. But it seemed like I could feel them, looking down on me. I closed my eyes.

“I miss you so much,” I whispered. “But I’m happy, and loved, and I know that’s all you wanted for me.” A sense of peace came over me, soothing the lingering melancholy, and my heart lifted.

It was time.

When I appeared on the deck, I gasped in surprise and delight. It appeared the crew had been hard at work while I was getting ready. Flowers that matched my bouquet were everywhere, wrapped around lines that stretched overhead, covering the rails at the edge of the deck. Everything was lit by strings of lights, their soft glow intermixed with the flowers twined among them. I caught sight of Taylor adding a final few blooms to a railing.

Music floated softly through the air. Someone must have found the yacht’s sound system. It was lovely, but I couldn’t place the tune.

Then my gaze landed on Kade.

He stood at the far end of the bow, the setting sun a blazing shimmer of red and orange behind him, making him a stark figure limned in gold. He was speaking to Captain Hugh and laughed at something Hugh said. Glancing up, he caught sight of me, and his whole body went still.

At that moment, everything faded away and it seemed it was just him and me. I was only aware of Kade, our gazes locked together.

He began walking toward me, his steps sure and unhurried. I couldn’t move, my heart so full of emotion it seemed incomprehensible that I could feel so much for this man. Surely my body couldn’t contain all the love inside.

Kade stopped in front of me and I knew I would remember the look in his eyes for the rest of my life.

“My bride,” he murmured, his voice edged in awe. His hands drifted lightly down my arms. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

My face split into a smile. “Likewise,” I said, my voice a bit breathless. The way he looked was enough to take my breath away. Now that he was close, I could see the tuxedo he was wearing. The lines were classic, the fabric expensive and tailored to fit him perfectly. The white of his shirt was blinding, a stark contrast to the deep black of the jacket. He’d even tied the bow tie.

“What’s this?” I teased, reaching up to tug a bit at the tie. “Another attempt at a tie?”

“Well, I went all out,” he said with a shrug, the corner of his lips tipping up. “Took me forever to get it right, and if Taylor says he had to help me, he’s lying.”

I laughed. “You look amazing, but it’s not . . . you.” I tugged on the tie until it came loose, then undid the top two buttons of his shirt. “That’s you,” I said with satisfaction, pressing the silken tie flat as it dangled on either side of his collar.

Kade wasn’t even looking at what I’d done. His gaze was fixed on my face, a small smile playing about his lips.

Taking my right hand, he threaded it through his bent elbow, resting my palm on his left arm.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded. I was more than ready.

Glancing up, Kade gave Taylor a nod. The crew assembled near the bow, Captain Hugh at the head and all of them facing us. They looked glad to be there. It seemed everyone really did love a wedding.

Kade walked me slowly toward the bow and the setting sun, the music drifting around us. I could smell the heavy perfume of the flowers mixed with the salt of the ocean. The lights above us danced in the breeze and gave everything a fairy-tale quality.

“You wore the shoes,” Kade said softly as we walked.

I glanced down. The toes of my blue shoes peeped from underneath my gown with each step I took.

“They’re my ‘something blue,’” I replied, glancing up at him with a twinkle in my eye. “Plus, I seem to remember you telling me a while back what I wouldn’t be wearing the next time you saw me in them.”

Kade gave a low groan. “I love you.”

I grinned. “I know.”

It seemed like I shouldn’t be smiling so much for such a solemn occasion as my own wedding, but I couldn’t help it. Kade had always made me smile, no matter the circumstances.