To Breathe Again by Dori Lavelle Page B

Kelsey hugged Rachel in the front hall. “I’m so happy to have met you. You did an amazing job with your sons.”
    Rachel laid a hand on Kelsey’s cheek, tears in her eyes. “You make my son so happy. You make me happy. I look forward to you officially being a part of our family.”
    Kelsey’s eyes welled up too and she pulled Rachel in for another hug.
    Just as Shaun appeared at the top of the stairs carrying Kelsey’s luggage, the front door burst open and Dustin filled the doorway wearing a suit and tie rather than his usual working man’s clothes. “Ready?”
    Shaun placed the suitcases at the foot of the stairs. “Ready for what? I’m just about to drive Kelsey to Madison.”
    Dustin closed the door. “That’s not necessary. There’s an even faster way to get there. Hop in the car, both of you. Sam will drive us to my place. My jet will fly you to Madison.”
    “You don’t have to do that, Dustin,” Kelsey said. “We don’t mind.” Kelsey was touched, but she had looked forward to spending a few extra minutes with Shaun before they were separated for another month or two.
    “Come on, the jet is already waiting.” He hugged Rachel briefly. “And I’m coming with you. I have a business meeting in Madison.”
    “Okay.” Kelsey shrugged and gave Dustin a peck on the cheek. “Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you.”
    “Only the best for my future sister-in-law. Now, come on. Let’s get going.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Twenty-Six
     
    Dustin’s private jet was like an Italian luxury hotel, and a romantic one. Bouquets of white roses were everywhere, and on shiny tables were boxes of chocolate and champagne chilling in buckets of ice. Soft classical music filtered in through hidden speakers.
    Shaun turned and slapped Dustin on the back. “This is perfect. Thanks, man.”
    Kelsey placed her purse on a leather couch and turned to both of them with a frown. “Why do I have the feeling you guys are up to something again?”
    Shaun wrapped his arms around Kelsey’s waist and kissed her. When he moved his lips away from hers, she was breathless. “I don’t want you to leave like this,” he said, his eyes glistening. “I don’t want you to go with just a promise.” He pulled her closer. “You don’t want to wait, and I don’t either. This is just an idea. You can say no, but I thought… How about we just do it now, just us. We could do something bigger later with everyone else.”
    “But how? Do you have a little chapel reserved in Madison?”
    Shaun grinned. “It’s simpler than that.” He looked at Dustin. “My brother happens to be a wedding officiant. He could marry us right here and now. You only need to say yes, and we will be husband and wife. Dustin and his secretary will be the witnesses.” A woman hovering in the doorway, who Kelsey had assumed to be a flight attendant, gave a little wave.
    “Why wait?” Dustin added. “You two were made for each other. What does it matter when and where you get married? I’m ready to help you take the leap.”
    A grin spread across Kelsey’s face and her heart leapt to her throat. If she said yes, she’d be Shaun’s wife right now. The only thing standing between them was her word. Kelsey thought back to everything they had gone through together—their start in Dreara, the tears and joys that followed, him saving her life, them coming to Serendipity.
    “I like it,” she said. She reached for his hands and held them tight. “Let’s do it right now.” She leaned into Shaun. “I want you to be my husband so badly.”
    Shaun brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead.
    Everything moved fast after that. Kelsey handed her documents to Dustin’s secretary, and Shaun took her to a luxury bedroom where she found a box on the bed. “What’s that?”
    “A present from my mother. I hope you’ll like it. I’ll be waiting outside for my future wife.”
    “Shaun,” Kelsey said before he walked out. “Are