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Jessica didn’t care. She’d never met the guy. But to make her mom happy, though she wasn’t sure why she bothered, she said, “I think you’re right and it would have been cool to meet him, but he never showed up here.” Unless he’d stopped by while she and Sed were lost at sea, but there was no way she’d mention that potential disaster to her mother. Jessica was certain Mom would use their misadventure against her. Or worse, use it against Sed.
“Enrique and Zach were supposed to spend a couple weeks in that beach house before Zach went to Europe on the tour, but the two of them broke up.”
“I’m honeymooning in a break-up house?” Jessica blurted.
“They didn’t break up there. Enrique kicked Zach out of his Beverly Hills mansion, but he was nice enough to offer Zach the rental.”
Nice? What was nice about that?
“Mom, can you imagine how hard it would be to stay in a romantic place like this—alone—after you were dumped?”
“That’s what Zach said. Then he said I could stay there if I wanted because it was just going to waste, but since I forgot to confirm your reservation at the Malibu Inn, I figured you and Sed could put the place to good use.”
“Well, thanks for thinking of us on our honeymoon,” Jessica said, unable to keep the snide tone out of her voice. She really should be thanking Zach. Or apologizing to him for her mother’s completely thoughtless interrogation. The poor guy.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. And if Enrique shows up, tell him I said hello and that Zach said he’s staying with his friend Steve Abes.”
“Steve Aimes,” Jessica corrected, shaking her head. Steve Aimes was far more famous than Enrique Sanz ever hoped to be, but her mother had never been a music fan.
“Whatever. Enrique can do much better than some musician, anyways.”
Was that a dig at Jessica for marrying some musician?
“Sure, Mom. If you say so,” Jessica said, suddenly unable to get off the phone fast enough. “Sed needs something. I’ve got to go.”
She hung up and tossed the phone to the center of the bed.
“How did that go?” Sed asked. “You weren’t screaming at each other, so it must not have been all bad.”
He changed his mind once she told him how her mother had gotten the rental house for them.
“Poor Zach,” Sed said. “The guy can’t catch a break. First his band gets dropped from the tour, then his boyfriend dumps him, and then my mother-in-law rubs salt and lemon into his wounds.”
Jessica glanced around the comfortable bedroom and hugged herself. “Now I feel bad for liking this place so much.”
“Zach wouldn’t want that. He’s a great guy.”
“I’ll send him a thank-you note and some cookies or something.”
“Are you planning to bake those yourself?”
“Of course.”
Sed covered his mouth with his fist and coughed. “Maybe you should send him a nice fruit basket instead.”
Her jaw dropped. “Is that a cooking insult?”
“Well, you do want to thank him, not kill him.”
She tried to be angry over Sed’s slight of her cooking skills, but she could only laugh. He was right. Sending Zach her homemade cookies wouldn’t properly express her gratitude. She should send some to her mother instead.
They talked well past midnight; she just wasn’t tired after her nap. Sed fell asleep first, his head resting on her thigh. She watched him for a long while, grateful to have this time with him, even if he was asleep. Sinners was heading to England in a week to kick off the European leg of their world tour with Exodus End. And with Trey’s big fat Vegas wedding monopolizing their last weekend in the States—followed by the chaos of final preparations for the tour—she knew she wouldn’t be able to steal this kind of time alone with Sed for months. The next few hours were precious. She vowed not to squander a single moment and to be grateful for every second they had alone. Once the baby was born, they’d have even less time to spend as a couple but more time as a family. She looked forward to those times as well.
A while later, Sed rolled over on her lap and his face bumped up against her belly. He blinked against the low light of the lamp beside the bed.
“You’re still awake?” he murmured.
“Not tired of looking at you yet. This is the second night in a row you haven’t had a nightmare.”
“Going out on Dad’s boat helped, I think.”
“Are you ready to talk about it?” At his questioning look, she clarified. “About the dream that was haunting you.”
He licked his lips. “You’ll think it’s stupid.”
“I promise I won’t.”
“I was dreaming that I died,” he said, “and I was in a coffin, and I could hear you crying above my grave and tossing dirt on the coffin lid.”
His face blurred through her sudden rush of tears. “That’s terrible, sweetheart. But why do you think it’s stupid? Lots of people are afraid of being buried alive.”
“Being buried alive is not what I’m afraid of. I’m afraid of you grieving me. I don’t want you to ever have to grieve for me like that, Jess. I don’t want to hurt you. Not ever. Our time together shouldn’t end with grief.”
Tears streaked down her face. He was more concerned for her feelings than being buried alive? “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, Sedric Lionheart.”
“I told you you’d think it’s stupid.”
“A love worth having is worth grieving over. But the grief doesn’t last forever. Eventually it turns to bittersweet memories. Isn’t that what you feel when you think of your dad?”
“Well . . . now, yes, but at first it was all pain. And Mom is still in pain.”
“Of course she is. But do you imagine she’d trade all the love and happiness she had with your father to save herself a little grief?”
He squinted at her. “No?” He actually sounded unsure.
“Of course not. I doubt she’d willingly give up a single precious memory or one I-love-you or even some dumb argument between the two of them even to save herself an eternity of grief.” She ran a finger over his brow, smoothing the worry line there. “Do you know why?”
“The pain is worth it.” His face tightened, making her think he didn’t quite believe what he was saying.
“It’s not only worth it, but such a sacrifice wouldn’t be necessary. Grief is not eternal, but love is. No amount of grief can ever erase love.”
Sed scowled. “It’s such a cruel way to end a happily ever after.”
She pressed a hand to the center of his chest, relishing the feel of his heart thudding beneath her palm. “My husband . . .” She sighed and turned her gaze to the ceiling. “Such the romantic. So why can’t he see that his dad’s passing isn’t the end of their ever after?” She lowered her eyes to stare into Sed’s worried face. “Your mom still loves him and the most important thing he left behind.”
“His boat?”
She shook her head. “Sed.”
“I know what you’re getting at. His children.”
She took his hand and placed it over the still-small bulge of her lower belly. “And his grandchild.”
Sed closed his eyes and took a deep shaky breath, his hand cradling the love they’d passed down to the next generation.
“Now stop worrying,” she said, “and let me keep loving you like you’re never going to die.”
There was unexpected wetness in his eyes when he opened them to look at her, and then he croaked, “Okay.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “And I’ll love you like each day is my last.”
“That sounds wonderful.” She blinked out a few tears before wiping her eyes on the corner of the sheet. “I’m glad we’re equally sappy, or this outpouring of emotion might be embarrassing.”
“I’m way sappier than you are, wife.”
“You are not.”
Sed snorted. “You’re not even close to being as sappy as I am.” H
e poked her in the ribs, making her jerk to one side. “Promise you won’t tell anyone. It will ruin my badass rep.”
She stared down at him, thinking he was the silliest, most wonderful husband who’d ever lived. Stroking the soft, short strands of his dark hair, she smiled. “Your secret’s safe with me, Badass Tenderheart.”
She squealed when he grabbed her wrist and tumbled her to the bed in front of him. He spooned against her back and wrapped both arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“That’s Lionheart,” he murmured, his warm breath stirring the hairs near her ear. “Badass Lionheart.”
He might tell himself that, but she knew the truth.
She lay there for a long moment, enjoying the feel of him behind her, but she still wasn’t the least bit sleepy. “As comfy as this bed is,” she said, “I miss our time out on the water staring up at the stars.”
“We can see the stars from land, you know.”
“Are you sure?”
He crawled out of bed, dragging the covers with him, and tugged until she rolled out of the way.
“What are you doing?” she asked, watching him head for the patio door with his armful of blankets.
“Making love to my wife under the stars.”
She clasped her hands together beneath her chin and sighed dreamily. “That sounds so romantic.”
They spent the final few hours of their honeymoon on a blanket in the yard, staring up at the stars and making love as if time wasn’t a consideration and their mortality was an abstract concept. They had all the time in the world. Fate would never be cruel enough to tear them apart.
“Look,” Jessica said, pointing at the sky. “Another shooting star! Make a wish.”
“Our unbulky life-vest wishes never came true,” Sed grumbled. “I think those shooting stars are faulty.”
“I wished that time would stand still for us, and we could stay like this forever. You don’t think it will come true?”
“I thought you were excited to go to Europe. That list we made of things to do and see is pages long.”
“I am excited to go to Europe and to see all of our friends again and explore the world with you,” Jessica said, though she knew he’d be busy with the tour and that they’d have to save some of their planned worldly adventures for a later date. “But I wish we could stay here like this at least a little longer. Tonight has been incredible. Just me and you together. No worries.”
“I’m sorry the entire honeymoon wasn’t like this.” He kissed her lips softly. “Our ocean voyage wasn’t exactly carefree.”
“If we can get through something like that together, we can get through anything.” Jessica touched his face, her heart reaching out to him through her fingertips. “So I’m glad we got lost at sea.”
“I’m glad I’m lost in you,” he murmured as he shifted onto his side and stared down at her. He stroked her hair from her face, his gaze locked with hers. “Forever lost in paradise.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As always, I’d like to thank my editor, Beth Hill. We really went back and forth on this one, and it’s a much better story because of it. I’d also like to thank Cyndi McGowen, whose insightful comments after reading the second draft is what generated most of the back and forth for the third draft. Thanks to all my devoted readers who stick with me through my rocky patches, and to my new readers who I hope will stay on my rock ‘n’ roll tour bus for more adventures. You rock!
WHAT’S NEXT
The next Sinners in Paradise novella will be about Trey’s honeymoon and is called Three’s Paradise (spoiler alert!). If you missed Trey’s wedding, which was mentioned in Lost in Paradise, the ceremony occurs in the second Exodus End book, entitled Outsider. And if you’re wondering who the heck Zach Mercier is, you get to spend a lot of time with him and Steve in Exodus End 3, Staged. I might write a book about Zach in the future, but I’ve got two more Sinners honeymoon novellas, and two more epic-length Exodus End books to write first. (including Dare’s book up next!) And of course, if you read my other series, One Night with Sole Regret, I have those last few to finish up as well. So many fictional rock stars… The tour bus in my brain is getting crowded. See you next time!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock 'n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction—first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. She currently resides in Illinois.
