A Mile High Wedding Read online

  Steamy Short Stories by Cassidy Coal

  A Mile High Romance: The Complete Collection

  An Undeniable Attraction: The Complete Collection

  A New Year’s to Remember

  * * *

  Sweet Short Stories by Cassidy Coal

  writing as C. Coal

  Puppy Love: Volumes 1 to 13

  * * *

  Novels by Cassidy Coal writing as C.K. Carr

  Something Worth Having

  Something Gained

  A Mile High Wedding

  Cassidy Coal

  Contents

  A Mile High Wedding

  About the Author

  A Mile High Wedding

  Sarah took a bite of the chocolate croissant and closed her eyes in pleasure, savoring the way the buttery layers dissolved in her mouth to mingle with the bitter chocolate hidden inside. She opened her eyes to see Tyler watching her from across the table with that sexy half-smile she loved so much.

  She still forgot to breathe sometimes when she looked at him. He was so beautiful, with his jet-black hair and intense green eyes and that damned dimple in his chin. And so perfectly built—not too muscular, but not skinny either.

  She knew now, after a couple months of living with him, what it took to maintain that physique, and she was glad he didn't care whether she shared those particular activities. Two hours a day in the gym and meals that normally consisted of fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and protein shakes.

  She shuddered at the thought of giving up her croissants, cheeseburgers, and coffee loaded with creamer.

  "Want a bite?" She offered him the croissant.

  "No." He patted his stomach. "Lunch today at the club with my parents. I need to save room."

  Sarah looked away so he wouldn't see the fear in her eyes. His parents hated her with a vitriolic passion that most people reserved for serial killers and pedophiles. How dare a little piece of trailer park trash steal their perfect upper class boy's heart?

  Like it was her fault that she and Tyler had fallen in love.

  "Can I tell them we've set a date?" he asked.

  She chewed on her nail and refused to look at him. That was the tenth time this week he'd asked her about setting the date for their wedding.

  She didn't know how to tell him she was never going to.

  It wasn't that she didn’t love him; she loved him with all her heart and being. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her and she didn't want to lose him.

  But how could she marry him when his parents so clearly despised her and most of his social circle did, too? Right now his parents assumed he'd wake up, realize his mistake, and leave her. Soon. And maybe they were right.

  So why say vows if that was going to happen?

  Not that she doubted his love for her. But…

  Love only conquered so much. And definitely not the hatred of parents and shunning by your friends and peers.

  "Sarah? Earth to Sarah."

  She shook her head. "Sorry. I know you want me to set a date, but with the business just getting on its feet I just…I need my focus to be on that. We're doing so well right now, I don't want to get distracted."

  Tyler clenched his jaw, but he didn't say anything. He turned his attention back to the Wall Street Journal and they finished their breakfast in silence.

  * * *

  An hour later, Tyler stood in his walk-in closet wearing just his boxer briefs as he decided what to wear. Sarah walked up behind him and ran her hands down his arms as she kissed the back of his neck. She went up on tip-toes to whisper in his ear. "Time for a quickie?"

  She trailed kisses down his neck and wrapped her arms around his waist, one hand drifting downward from his rock-hard abs.

  He pulled her hands away and stepped forward.

  "What? What is it?" she asked as he continued to peruse the rows and rows of suits and slacks.

  "I don't have time for this."

  "Tyler?"

  He glared at her for a second. "Don't you have something to handle for your business? Wouldn't want you to get distracted."

  She bit back the nasty comment she'd been about to make and turned to leave.

  No.

  No, he was not going to get away with that kind of passive-aggressive crap.

  No.

  She turned back and grabbed his arm, spinning him around to face her. "Out with it."

  "Out with what?"

  "Out with whatever the hell is bothering you."

  He laughed—a short, sharp sound. "What's bothering me? How about what's bothering you? I want to marry you, Sarah, but…" He shook his head.

  "But, what?"

  He crossed his arms and glared at her. "I'm not so sure you want to marry me."

  Sarah closed her eyes against the pain and fear she saw in his eyes. "Of course I do."

  "So set the date. Tell me when we can get married."

  She chewed on her lip.

  "Sarah?"

  "I can't." She met his eyes, begging him to see that she did love him and care for him, but…

  "Why not?"

  "Because your parents hate me! How can I marry you when your parents think I'm no better than the scum on the bottom of their thousand-dollar shoes?"

  He opened his mouth to reply, but there was nothing to say. His parents hadn't been exactly subtle.

  "And your friends? Or peers or whatever they are? I've never met them. Not one. How can you marry me when you don't even feel comfortable introducing me to your friends?"

  He stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like some sort of fish. "I…"

  She crossed her arms and glared at him.

  He took her hands in his, gazing down at her with those emerald green eyes that always made her melt. "I don't have a lot of friends, Sarah. And they're spread all over the world, so it's not so easy to just call one up and suggest dinner. I'm not hiding you from them, I promise."

  "And your parents?"

  "Sarah." He pulled her closer. "I've told you. They don't matter. You do. And I want to marry you. I don't care if they never speak to me again. I don't care if they disown me."

  He took her chin in his hand to keep her from shaking her head side to side in denial. "I. Don't. Care. Sarah. All that matters to me is that you and I are together."

  She wanted to believe him. She wanted to so bad. But…

  Would he still feel that way when he was broke? When he couldn't just have anything and everything he wanted at the mere thought of it? He had no idea what he was walking away from. None.

  She did.

  "Do you love me, Sarah?" The way his voice quavered as he asked it, he sounded like he really wasn't sure of her answer.

  She stroked the side of his face. "Of course I do."

  "Then marry me."

  He kissed her, soft at first, like a gentle caress, and then with more urgency as she responded to his lips on hers. She let herself fall into the feel of his body against hers, the taste of his skin, the scent of his crisp, clean cologne, the sound of his breathing as he reacted to her exploration of his body, the sight of his beautiful green eyes staring into hers with adoration.

  She drowned in him, forgetting everything except the way he made her feel and the way she made him feel.

  This. This was what mattered.

  Them. Together.

  The way they flowed together so perfectly, each touch, each caress, just right. Each sigh and gasp. That soaring feeling she felt as they came together at last, their bodies vibrating as one like some unheard symphony.

  This was all that mattered.

  She clung to him after, trying to keep that feeling, that certainty that they could overcome anything and everything if only they were together.

/>   But…

  She didn't know. She just didn't know.

  * * *

  Sarah sat at the same wooden table she'd sat at when she was a child, her fingernail tracing all the nicks and scrapes in the surface that four young children can create. Her mother's home might be a trailer, but it was still her safe space—the place she ran to when she was out of options.

  She glanced up at the fake-wood paneling, her eyes roaming over the pictures of her brothers and sister and her over the years. There they all were, the four of them, arm in arm in front of the trailer, like little stairsteps. And next to that, pictures of each of them graduating from high school surrounded by family. And there, pictures of each of her siblings and their spouses and their kids and her so proud at her college graduation.

  Family. It was the core of who she was. It was what mattered the most.

  Her sister, Mary, watched her from the other side of the table, sipping at her beer, but not speaking.

  Her mother finally sat down and dropped a plate of freshly-baked cookies in front of them. Chocolate chip made from the recipe on the back of the Nestle Tollhouse bag. Her favorite. She'd tried to make them for herself once, but it just hadn't come out the same. They needed a mother's love to taste just right.

  "So, spill. What's wrong?" Her mother took a sip of iced tea as she waited for Sarah to speak.

  "I…I don't think I can marry him."

  Mary about fell out of her chair. "What? You're engaged to a beautiful man with more money than God and you don't think you can marry him? Why?"

  Sarah chewed on her fingernail. Damned thing was almost bloody she'd been chewing on it so much. "His parents hate me."

  Her mother waved that away. "They'll get over it."

  "No they won't! They think I've ruined him and their reputation because he's marrying a low-class whore, as they see it."

  Her mother sat up a bit straighter. "Whore?"

  "Yeah. His mom called me that."

  "To your face?"

  Sarah nodded. She hadn't seen her mother this angry in a long time. Her lips had thinned to the point where they were almost invisible and her eyes were flat with fury. If she'd still been smoking she would've been stamping out her cigarette butt right now.

  "No one talks to my daughter like that. Especially not some botoxed, nipped and tucked, piece of elitist shit. I don't care who she is."

  "Mom." Sarah grabbed her mother's arm. "I wasn't telling you this so you'd get involved. I just…I don't know. I love him, I do. But…I'm not sure it's enough."

  Her mother snorted at her. "Of course it's not. Marriage is hard work. Oh sure, it's fun to jet around with your fancy boyfriend, but if you want things to last long-term there's a lot that goes into that. A lot."

  Sarah felt tears welling up in her eyes. She'd known it. She'd just known it. But she didn't want to lose Tyler.

  Mary leaned forward, the table shifting dangerously under her weight. "Sarah. Look at me."

  Sarah glanced up at her and wiped the tears from her eyes, but more just kept coming.

  "I've seen you two together. I know what he's given to be with you. And, yeah, Mom's right. Marriage is a shit-ton of work and there are some dark, ugly times where you wonder what the hell you were thinking. But, Sarah…I've seen you two together. You can do this. You guys are good together. You will make it through as long as you don't let other people and their stupid nasty attitudes pull you apart."

  Sarah stared at the table. Was Mary right? She wanted to believe so, but…

  Sarah's mom squeezed her hand. "It's true. I've watched you guys like a hawk because I want you to be happy and I was so worried he'd turned your head with his money and trips around the world. But I think he's actually good for you and you're good for him."

  Sarah crossed her arms and rocked softly. What should she do?

  "How close is he to his family?" Mary took one of the cookies and started eating it.

  She shrugged. "Not very. They were pretty distant when he was growing up. He talks about his nanny with more affection than his mom."

  "So who cares what she thinks?"

  Sarah sighed. "I do."

  Mary laughed. "Well, get over it. Weren't you the one who told me that there was no fucking point trying to play a game you knew was rigged against you just because of where you were born and what you look like?"

  Sarah nodded.

  "Well…how's this any different? Just because she's Tyler's mom doesn't make her any less of a mean girl than those girls you went to college with."

  Sarah nodded again. They were right. It didn't matter what Tyler's parents thought of her or what anyone else thought either. What mattered was what was between her and Tyler and whether they worked together to face any challenges that threatened them.

  Sarah's mom clapped her hands together. "Well, now that that's settled. Can we talk wedding details? I was thinking we could have the rehearsal dinner at Marco's."

  Sarah's stomach dropped. Marco's was the local Italian place that her mother loved. She'd been going there for thirty years. And it did have amazing food.

  But there was no way Tyler's parents would approve of some local Italian place with plastic tablecloths and glasses for the rehearsal dinner for their son's wedding. This was supposed to be one of the society events of the year.

  Just when she thought she had it all figured out, another problem arose to kick her in the teeth.

  Shit.

  * * *

  Sarah paced back and forth on the plush rug in Tyler's living room, anxious for him to return from lunch with his parents. It was already three o'clock, just how long a lunch were they going to have?

  Finally, she heard his key in the lock and turned to face the door.

  The minute Tyler saw her face, he rushed forward. "What's wrong? What is it? Are you hurt? Is everyone okay?"

  She nodded. "It's fine. Everyone's fine. I just…"

  He stared at her, waiting.

  "I do want to marry you."

  He tilted his head to the side, clearly confused. "Yeah. I thought we'd settled that when you said I do."

  "Um, yeah. We had."

  He stared at her more closely. "Were you thinking of calling it off?"

  She nodded and watched his eyes grow as wide as saucers. "Seriously?"

  She bit her lip. "I wasn't going to break up with you, I just wasn't going to marry you." She continued in a rush, "Your parents were so opposed to the wedding and I couldn't see going through with it if they were that against it."

  "So when were you planning on telling me?" A little line formed in the center of his forehead as he frowned at her.

  "It doesn't matter. Because I talked to my mom and sister about it and…"

  "You told your mom and sister before me?"

  She grabbed his shoulders and shook him slightly. "Tyler, listen. That's over. I had to talk to them because they've both been there, done that, and would know whether something like having your parents absolutely hate me would ruin our chances at a happy marriage."

  The frown line disappeared, but he was still clearly unhappy.

  She rushed on before he could think too much about it. "Well, we talked and they said that they think we have what it takes to make it."

  "Oh well that's a relief."

  She glared at him and he looked away, slightly abashed.

  Sarah took a deep sigh. "So, I thought it was all settled. We'd set a date, we'd get married, life would be perfect."

  He smiled. "It will."

  "But…"

  "What now?" He crossed his arms and rocked back and forth on his heels, clearly annoyed.

  She chewed on her lip as she met his eyes. "My mom wants to have the reception at the local Italian place down the street from the trailer park."

  He flinched. "No."

  "I know it's not…"

  "No." Tyler pulled away from her and started pacing the room. "I mean no disrespect to your mother, Sarah, but no. It's…No."

  "I
know. I…I realized that as soon as she said it. But, how do I tell her that without insulting her?"

  He shook his head and kept pacing. "My mother was just talking about renting out the Clifford Hotel. The entire hotel. All five ballrooms. Her guest list includes fifteen hundred people already."

  Sarah couldn't breathe for a minute. "Fifteen hundred?"

  Tyler nodded and she collapsed onto the couch. She didn't even know fifteen hundred people.

  "Tyler…"

  He sat down next to her. "I know."

  Sarah leaned her head on his shoulder. "Can we elope?"

  Tyler laughed. "No chance in hell. If you really do care one bit about what my mother thinks, we need to have a real wedding with all that entails."

  "What are we going to do?"

  He squeezed her hand and kissed it. "Don't worry. We'll think of something."

  * * *

  Sarah awoke to the feel of Tyler's body spooned against hers, one of his arms draped around her in casual possession, his breath softly moving her hair against her shoulder as he slept on in the deep sleep of perfect happiness.

  She didn't want to open her eyes to face another day. She just wanted to hang suspended in this moment with him, cocooned and safe. She slowly pressed her body back against his, deepening her breathes so her body gently stroked his from shoulder to toes with each inhale.

  Slowly she felt him stir against her, his breathing stuttering as he came closer to wakefulness.

  She wiggled against him just a bit, hoping to wake him completely. He nuzzled her neck, his nose tracing a lazy little trail to the tip of her shoulder and back, his breath hot against her skin. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, her leg entwining his as she turned her head to capture his mouth with hers.

  The kiss was soft, tender, both of them still half-asleep as Tyler's hand moved to grasp her breast, his thumb moving in soft little circles around her nipple. She moaned softly against his lips and reached down to guide him inside her, sighing in contentment as he filled her to completion.