“What are you talking about? When did they do that?”
“During the bigamy trial, it all came out. That’s not all. I have proof that divorce papers were drawn up for me and Courtney a month after you and I met. She was supposed to sign the papers and file them with the court, but she didn’t. I thought I was divorced before we fell in love and before I proposed to you,” Michael said, reaching for Mena’s hand.
Mena jerked away from him. “That’s not what she told me after she showed up at my doorstep with a gun and a rag doused with chloroform. If she believed her marriage was over, why the hell did she kidnap me and try to kill me for sleeping with her husband?”
“You know better than anyone how unstable Courtney is. She didn’t want to accept the fact that we were over. That I’d met you and found true love. She didn’t want us to be happy. Don’t forget that I was your first hero. I risked my life to save you from that crazy bitch because I love you. Don’t you remember how good we were together? How much we meant to each other and the life we were building? We can have that again. It’s not too late.”
Mena jabbed her fingers into Michael’s chest, pushing him backward. “I don’t want to be with you! I am in love with someone else. Julian Montgomery. Do you hear me? He’s the man I’m going to marry.”
“You can’t marry him,” Michael said, pain in his eyes as he reached for her.
“The hell I can’t. I feel nothing for you, Michael. Anything I felt for you died the day Courtney showed up on the doorstep of our home,” Mena said.
“Then I guess you’ll be the bigamist, not me,” Michael said, walking away from her toward the opening of the cabana curtains.
“What does that mean?” Mena asked, stomping after him.
“You can’t marry Julian because you’re already married. Once I won the case of the criminal charges for bigamy, that means our marriage was valid. You never filed for an annulment or a divorce—”
“That’s because our marriage was void based on the statutes of the state of Florida. I didn’t have to file anything for a marriage that was never valid in the first place,” Mena said, stalking over toward him.
“Except our marriage wasn’t void. The court ruled that I wasn’t a bigamist and that means …”
“No, that can’t be true,” Mena shook her head, her body trembling with anger.
“It is true. Mena, based on the laws of the state of Florida, you are still my wife.”
Epilogue
Easing the motorcycle into the curved entrance to the Queen Palm hotel, Julian guided to a stop and stared over at Mena waiting under the expansive portico. The wind whipped through her hair as she absently spun the bracelet around her wrist, smiling back at him.
Mena rushed over to him. His mouth found hers and he parted her lips with his tongue, desperate to taste her after being apart from her for the past eight hours.
Breaking the kiss, Julian said, “Hey beautiful.”
“Hey,” Mena said, breathless. “So, this was your top-secret errand?”
“I knew it would take all day to get the ferry over to St. Basil, grab the bike from Kendrick’s house and return to St. Killian,” Julian said. “You like the surprise?”
“I love it,” Mena said as Julian pushed his body back along the bike seat.
The small jewelry box secured into the pocket of his cargo pants pressed firmly against his thigh. This wasn’t the only surprise he had in store for Mena. He hoped she meant it when she told him she was “all-in.” He loved her more than he thought was fathomable and it was time for them to make the ultimate commitment to one another.
“Ladies first,” Julian said, allowing her to get in front of him. Mena straddled the bike. He loved the strength and confidence she exuded when she was in command of the Harley Road King. But with one arm in a sling, she wouldn’t be able to steer the bike. Slipping his arms underneath hers, Julian gripped the bars and revved the engine.
“It’s too early to leave for my Dad’s house. What are you up to?” Mena said.
“On the ferry, I heard about this magical place on the island. It’s on the way to Caleb’s and I thought we could stop there first,” Julian said.
“Magic? Seriously?” Mena asked.
“Stop being a skeptic and roll with it,” Julian said, kissing her cheek. Adjusting the kickstand on the motorcycle, he peeled out of the driveway and onto the open road.
Twenty minutes later, he brought the bike to a stop along a deserted stretch of tropical road. Julian swung his leg over the bike, then lifted Mena off. Her eyes danced with excitement at the breathtaking view that stretched in front of them.
He was so lucky to have her. The woman who’d made life worth living again with her unconditional love and acceptance of him, his flaws, and all the mistakes he’d made in the past. He’d trusted her with his deepest, darkest secrets and had gotten compassion and understanding in response. A liberating act that had changed his life forever.
“You think that’s beautiful,” Julian said tipping his head toward the light turquoise waters of the inlet. “Wait til you see what’s down there.”
