As soon as I march inside my bedroom I rush toward the famous balcony that instigated my little romance with Liam Darcy. My cheeks turn scarlet at the sweet memory upon seeing the next balcony of Liam's bedroom.

Damn, those were some good times despite the odds lacing them.

A soft sigh escapes my lungs, and I tug my bottom lip between my teeth. Is this happening for real? Could it be another one of my old dreams or something? No, this is definitely happening, and to prove it, my cellphone rings and it's a call from Liam.

His mere phone call makes me giddy like a high school girl, always.

"Hey, my love?" Liam responds from the other end.

"Hi," I utter softly, sitting my tired ass comfortably on the bed.

"Peter told me you're home, is it true?" Liam asks with excitement. I chuckle at his excitement. "What's funny?" He chuckles along.

"Do you think Peter is lying to you, Mr. Darcy?" I tease his patience, and soundly I get to hear his soft breath of contemplation. "Okay, I'm sitting in the same bed I slept in the last time I was here, and I'm happy to hear your sexy voice, Sire." I lie down facing the ceiling, rubbing my feet together.

"Really now, Ms. Jones?" Liam quips, sounding quite elated with the news.

"Yes, baby." I laugh again, something twisting in my stomach. I want him so badly. "But we haven't seen your mother yet." I try diverting my thoughts.

"Yes, I heard that. But she'll be back soon; I spoke to her some minutes ago," Liam tells me. "Hey, why don't you use my bedroom instead?"

I expected this much.

"I'd love to, Mr. Darcy," I answer, blushing.

"So, is it a yes?" Liam sounds hopeful.

"No, I'll use this one until you come here. I want you with me when I sleep in yours," I say in a coquettish voice that comes naturally from all the things he does to me by being far from my reach.

"Ms. Jones, what kind of games are you playing with me now?" That condescending tone of his voice returns—mildly and intoxicating—and it makes me miss him even more.

"I'm not playing any games." I laugh lightly, biting my bottom lip. "I'm just saying that I'm missing you too much and you should hurry up, Liam. When are you coming?" I don't realize I'm playing with my nipple over the fabric of my blouse until I feel it hard.

But jeez, two months is a long time, isn't it? I ponder inside and my subconscious huffs with rolling eyes.

You're just a sex monger and your hormones are getting way impatient by now! She nastily recoils.

"It depends," Liam answers coolly.

"On what?" I ask curiously, scowling.

"Only if you accept that we get married in two weeks," Liam repeats his previous request, and I roll my eyes at the sound of it.

Marrying him in two weeks? Is he serious? I can't decide so easily on this one. I mean, isn't it too short of a time to prepare for a wedding?

"Okay, come soon and we'll get married in two weeks." I smile while rolling my hair with my index finger.

"Really?" Liam sounds excited uttering this.

Of course not, baby. I just want you here fast so . . . I'm lying plainly.

"Yes, Liam, let's do it." I giggle, imagining Liam's happy face glowing like a child's. "So are you coming?" I'm undeniably desperate to see him again.

"Yes. I shall be there in four days," Liam answers.

I grin from ear to ear. Four days? Much better.

"And Malik? Is he still in Riyadh?" I inquire about my fiancé's best friend, who's more like a loving brother to me.

Boy, I can't wait to see the handsome Arab and hear all of his mischief.

"He's in Jeddah, and I'm waiting for him so that we can leave together."

With a big smile, I get up from the bed. "Okay, I'll be eagerly waiting for you, Mr. Darcy."

"Really now?" Liam is excited, too. I can tell from his deep yet cheerful voice.

"Yeah, so eagerly," I whisper, my voice salacious.

"Are you seducing me now, Ms. Jones?" Liam asks softly. "Because I feel like abandoning everything and fly over there. That body of yours is all I'm thinking of right now."

Holy Moly!

"Well, I can't say I'd mind," I say truthfully, aroused at the thought. "It's very cold here. I'm barely holding myself right now." Our conversation from this point is something I'd rather no one hears.

***

"I'm not going to eat that much! Do you want me to get fat or something?" Sam complains, seated on the kitchen barstool with a plate of brownies.

"Are you seriously thinking of going on a diet in your condition? You must be out of your mind!" I snap, serving her the mac and cheese on another plate. "You are eating it all, and you're stopping eating the brownies!" I add.

"Ugh! But I want to eat the brownies," Sam cries.

"No! You need real food, Sam!" I rebuke.

"I love that you're feeling at home, you two." Someone interrupts our banter with a light chuckle.

Whirling my head around with a big, startled smile, I find my future mother-in-law standing at the door.

"Eleanor!" I rush fast toward the gorgeous brunette woman, whose sweet smile could light up the entire universe.

I love her.

"Honey." Eleanor scoops me into a warm embrace as a mother would hug her daughter. We do it for a good while. "I'm glad you are here and in one piece. How was your flight?" she inquires gently as we pull apart.

"Well, it was fine . . . and . . . we're sorry for the invasion." I shrug and Sam arches her eyebrows with a big grin while gobbling her mac and cheese—finally.

"Don't be silly. I'm happy to hear some noises in the house." Eleanor waves her hand dismissively and strides toward Sam. "Come here, you charming blonde!" She pulls Sam for a nice hug and laughter fills the air.

"I'm going to use that as my nickname," Sam remarks, seemingly happy to be hugged as warmly as that. "Thank you for accepting me being here." Her voice turns softer, her head on Eleanor's tummy.

"Oh, come on," Eleanor says while fixing the strands of Sam's hair. "This is your home, too, so feel comfortable. And I'm happy to have you once again, dear." Sincerity laces her endearing voice.

"Thank you." Sam hugs her once again, and I think now she understands why I love this woman so much.

Eleanor truly exudes tenderness that makes me wish she was indeed the mother I don't have.

"Okay, now that I'm back . . . I'm going to take charge of this kitchen while you tell me about Los Angeles and all your plans for the wedding," Eleanor says and at the same time Peter walks in holding several grocery bags.

I take a seat. "Well, I don't think I have anything planned for the wedding yet," I reply with all honesty. After all, it's Liam's idea that we get married as soon as possible and I've got no clue on where to begin.

"No need to worry, Kira." Eleanor gazes at me and smiles. "I can tell you're getting stressed but we'll start off somewhere."

"That's all I needed to hear because it's driving me insane," I confess and the wedding plans become the topic.

Later after eating Eleanor's special baked salmon and grapefruit salad for dinner—which was filled with good talk and laughter—I decide to tell Sam about the beginning of my relationship with Liam. Honestly speaking, it isn't something I want to talk of, at least not with Sam.

"Yeah, that's all, Sam. We just realized that we fell for each other, and I couldn't bring myself to tell you a thing," I say, Sam's eyes tentative at my every word. "Believe me, it wasn't easy for me knowing that he's the same man you were crazy about."

"So you two just kept bumping into each other . . . unplanned?" Sam asks with a small smile, licking the ice cream spoon with a small bowl on her lap.

Well, more or less.

"Sam, let's not talk about this anymore," I plead softly.

"Fine . . . what a bummer." Sam sighs and her cellphone rings at the same time. She scowls as takes a look on the screen. "It's him again! Tell me what I should do to get rid of a stalker boyfriend," she mumbles.

"He's cute." I steal the ice cream from Sam.

Rolling her eyes, Sam answers the call. "Baby, I really love how much you care, and you know that . . . right? But I need to breathe," she tells Jonathan, and then she smiles at whatever he says on the phone. "You miss me already? I thought you said you're tired of my childish tantrums, no? Or don't tell me I've grown up overnight just because you can no longer hold this gorgeous body of mine."

"Sam!" I laugh loudly and make my way toward the built-in bench at the window.

I sigh heavily as my eyes wander onto the front yard. The garden is filled with darkness, but it still looks resplendent through the stars shining from above the sky. I take a spoonful of chocolate ice cream into my mouth, my mind thoughtful of the upcoming wedding.

I think the wedding talk with Eleanor in the kitchen has made me moody out of the blue.

It's a bit of a pressure for me, for some unknown reason, but I know it's going to work out fine. Maybe I'm a little nervous, and perhaps it's normal. Or maybe I need Liam's presence the most—at least then I'll be able to take it easy. I sigh heavily at the thought.

Thinking of my not so clean conversation with Liam earlier, I find my smile again.

Eleanor pops into the room after a single knock, dressed into a silky, floor-length nightgown. She looks very excited, holding her cellphone in her ear as she finishes talking to someone. Both me and Sam eye her expectantly, smiling at the beautiful suspense she's successfully created.

"Girls, that was the wedding planner," she announces jubilantly, her eyes glowing. "Liam says you want a simple wedding, right?" she asks me casually.

"Yes, that's what I want," I reply with a smile, my heart beating fast somehow. God, am I going to get used to this excitement? "I can't believe he remembers this," I mutter to myself, flushing.

"Very well," says Eleanor while taking a seat next to me on the bench. "So would you like it done in a specific venue? A hotel . . . maybe?" she continues, and now Sam lifts a single eyebrow, looking amused.

"Um . . ." I flush again. "I think I prefer to have it right here. Yeah, we have a great garden here; I can't see anywhere better."

"Great, I love the idea." Eleanor flashes a bright smile. "Okay, we are going to discuss other details tomorrow. I'm sure you must be tired from the trip and all, so have a good night, my beauties."

"You, too," Sam and I answer in unison.

Thinking of the wedding, I start feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was so excited while I was in L.A, but now I feel like I'm walking on thin ice and it's nerve-wracking. Back into my bedroom I change my clothes at a snail pace until I finally push myself into bed after a warm shower.

Immediately I dive under the cozy comforter and try to get some sleep. However, it doesn't work at all—now I begin thinking of Liam even more. But given the time difference, he's probably asleep. Either way, stubborn me decides to give him a call without moving an inch from my bed.

"Liam," I utter after several discouraging rings. "I'm sorry if I woke you." I hug my pillow tight.

"It's okay." Liam's sleepy voice mutters and guilty mops over me. "I'm exhausted; it's been a very long day. Did you call long?" He yawns.

"Not really," I say softly, finding his voice very comforting.

"What's wrong? You sound very strange," Liam questions, and it seems like I'm an open book after all.

"Nothing, I just miss you." I don't know why I'm turning into a crying baby. What the heck! "You're coming in four days, right?" I really need him for this wedding planning.

"Yes, I'll be there soon so hang on a little while, my love," Liam tells me. "And don't cry, please. What's happening, Kira?" I think he's getting up from his bed.

"I'm not crying," I argue, wiping the stupid tears from my eyes.

"Are you sure, Ms. Jones?" Liam's tone is appeasing.

"Hmm. I just need my Mr. Darcy." I roll over, hugging my pillow tighter.

"You'll have him soon, and he will not be anywhere you are not," Liam says reassuringly, and I beam with heartfelt delight.

We talk for a little while about the meeting with the wedding planner.

"Okay, I'll let you sleep now. I still have a meeting with Grace in the morning." I yawn loudly as my eyes turn heavy.

"Okay, my love. I'll call you tomorrow," Liam acquiesces. "I love you, Kira. Please don't stress too much about the wedding and we don't need to be married in two weeks," he adds smoothly.

I smile with love and relief. "I love you, too." Nostalgia overfills me as we end the call. "Be here soon, please." I shut my eyes and call it a day.

The morning comes and I decide to enjoy the autumn strolling around the ranch. Each second that ticks, I keep feeling like I'm approaching the unknown. This wedding thing is really not what I had imagined. I'm supposed to be ecstatic, but why am I feeling some kind of gloominess?

Disappointment washes over my face when I don't find Charlie at the usual place. I was really looking forward to seeing him. However, there's a new white horse inside the fence and she's quite beautiful. I stop near the wooden railings and my smile widens at the sight of this horse.

"Hey, Pretty," I mutter.

"Miss Kira?" a familiar voice snaps from the barn entrance, and my brighter smile is guaranteed.

"Julian!" I regard the stable boy approaching my way. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. And you, ma'am?" Julian asks.

Why is he so well-mannered today? I squint my eyes.

"Ma'am? Are you really fine? Because I don't think this is the Julian I know?" I tease him.

"Um, well," Julian stutters, running a hand through his jet black hair. "I think I have to be this nice because . . . well—"

"Oh please! You don't need to address me as 'ma'am' to be nice, you know. Just continue to be the crazy Julian . . . without calling me dumb, of course." I laugh at the memory.

"Okay," Julian replies with a smile.

"New horse?" I inquire about the white beauty.

"Yeah. She was bought last week," Julian answers.

"She's so beautiful," I murmur, my eyes enchanted by that body of a snow-like unicorn, the hair long and fluffy.