Danielle Steel - the Wedding (2000)

Yeah, me and my sloppy kisses. We had fun then, everything was so simple.

It's simple now, Jeff said easily. It's only complicated when it's wrong, and this isn't. This is completely right, and you know it.

Is it? she asked, looking up at him, and with that he rolled closer to her and kissed her even harder. I get so scared sometimes, she confessed in the dimly lit room with the fire going near them.

Of what?

Of doing the wrong things, or being with the wrong person. I don't want to screw my life up, like ‘ like people who marry the wrong man and regret it for the rest of their lives or almost kill themselves trying to change it. I never want to have to do that.

Then you won't, he said matter-of-factly. You haven't yet, why should you start now?

I've been too scared to do the wrong thing, or the right one. And as he listened to her, he knew what was right for them, and what they both needed. It was time, there was no point torturing themselves any further. And very gently he picked her up, in her white jeans and her red sweater, and carried her into his bedroom. He laid her down gently on the big four-poster bed made of logs, and hung with denim. It was a comfortable place to be, she knew she was safe with him, and she made no move to leave or move away from him. She just lay there and looked at him, with her big green eyes, and then she responded instantly when he kissed her. And bit by bit, he stripped her clothes away, and looked at every inch of her and held her and kissed her. His tongue and his hands and his eyes feasted on her, and she on him, and they lay together and made love for hours, and she slept like a baby in his arms when the sun came up in the morning.

He got up and cooked breakfast for her, and brought it back to bed on a tray, and then he woke her gently with kisses all up and down her back, as she stirred and looked at him with a long, slow smile of pleasure. It had been a night she would never forget. He had been right. It was their time now.

She had breakfast with him, and they talked for a long time. And then they got up, and shared a long, lazy bath in the Jacuzzi, and then she walked on the beach with him. And in the distance, they could see Carmen and Alan. But before they were seen, Jeff and Allegra went back to his house and made love again. They spent a lazy Sunday afternoon in each other's arms.

And in Alan's house, Carmen was insistent.

I know I saw Allegra this morning, walking with Jeff.

They went back last night, Alan corrected her, already sounding like a husband. Allie wouldn't do that. Not yet. She takes her time about things. And I think she's still scared after Brandon.

I'm telling you, I saw them. She was sure of it, and when Jeff drove Allegra past their house late that afternoon, on their way back to town, Alan and Carmen were outside in the garden, and Alan looked surprised when he saw them.

See! Carmen said, as the pair in the car waved to them and sped past on the way back to the city.

Well, I'll be damned, Alan said, watching them. He wished them well. Jeff seemed like a good man. And Allegra deserved the best life had to offer, as far as Alan was concerned. He loved her like a sister.

Maybe we'll make it a double ceremony in Vegas, Carmen said, and she laughed as they went back inside again. But that, Alan wisely doubted.

Chapter 10

Allegra's workload was enormous at the beginning of February. She had Bram's concert tour to set up, Carmen's new movie deal, several other movie offers to negotiate for a variety of clients, and an assortment of smaller, more mundane projects to take care of for the firm. But she seemed to be smiling all the time, and Alice thought she had never seen her as happy.

Jeff dropped in to see her sometimes when he took a break, or had an appointment nearby, and whenever possible, he'd take her out to lunch. Sometimes they even disappeared mysteriously to her house in Beverly Hills at lunch time. And when she'd return to the office afterward, she had to force herself to look serious and concentrate on working. All she could think about was Jeff. She had never been this happy. They seemed to be perfectly suited to each other, they liked the same things, the same books, shared many of the same ideas and interests. He was always kind and flexible, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

And after their first week of bliss, most of which they spent in Malibu at his cozy house, Allegra suggested he come to dinner at her parents'. She still hadn't told them about breaking up with Brandon.

Are you sure? He looked somewhat cautious. Jeff was crazy about her, but he didn't want to push things. He knew how close she was to her family, and he was afraid that his appearance with her might be viewed as an intrusion.

Don't be silly, my mom loves us to bring friends. She always had, from the time they were kids, until they were adults. They liked having their children's friends around and always made them feel welcome.

They're awfully busy people. He felt hesitant and a little nervous about getting their approval. Meeting parents had never been one of his favorite pastimes, and at his age, it made him feel a little foolish.

And I know they'd love to meet you, she said warmly, and eventually, she talked him into coming to dinner on Friday night, despite all his apprehensions.

He was wearing a blazer and slacks when he picked her up, and he looked very much the way he had when she'd met him in New York. Conservative and respectable, and very handsome. And she smiled at him as they drove to Bel Air. He actually looked nervous.

Is this because of who my father is? she teased, or just because they're my parents? It was kind of like being sixteen again and it actually amused her. She knew they were going to love Jeff, even more so since they'd hated Brandon. Her father had been indifferent to him but her mother had really disliked him. She had seen right through him.

Jeff smiled at her as they drove through Bel Air. I keep remembering how I felt when I sent my first book to him. What if he thinks that's why I'm back? Jeff looked like a kid as she laughed at him, and gave him directions.

I think he'll be able to figure it out. If not, my mother will explain it to him. She's pretty savvy.

It was an apt description of her, and Blaire was poring over the plans for the new kitchen when they arrived. They were spread all over the living room floor, and she was on her hands and knees, explaining them to Simon.

Blaire looked up, with a pencil in her hair, and smiled warmly at her older daughter. And then she looked surprised when she noticed her escort, but she made no comment.

Hi, darling, I'm showing Dad what the new kitchen will look like, she said, smiling up at Allegra, and then she stood up as Allegra introduced Jeff. She had said she was bringing someone to dinner with her, and Blaire had just assumed it was Brandon. Blaire carefully hid her surprise, but she was obviously curious about Allegra's companion and dying to ask her about him.

Simon stood up and kissed his daughter with a woebegone grin. She's showing me what the hole in our backyard will look like for six months, and the empty room at the back of the house where we used to have breakfast. It's going to be a disaster here this summer. And then he introduced himself to Jeff with a casual look of interest. He liked the fact that Jeff had a warm smile and a powerful handshake.

We met a year ago, Jeff explained. You were kind enough to see me about a screenplay I wanted to write from a book I'd written, Birds of Summer. I'm sure you see so many you can't remember, he said, looking unassuming and pleasant.

Actually, I do remember. Simon nodded his head pensively and smiled. Your ideas for the screenplay were very good, but the outline needed more work, as I recall. What book doesn't?