Epilogue

J udd laid down his camera and strolled over to his subject, rearranging the folds of her dress.

"Stop fussing. We've got loads of shots." Abby swatted his hand away as he slid it under the skirt's silky folds and caressed his wife's shapely calf.

"Can you blame a guy for wanting to look back on this day and remember it?"

She rolled her eyes, stilling his hand with a playful slap as it crept past her knee. "I thought it was the bride who went to extremes on the big day. And don't forget we've done this before."

"The fake shoot on Sapphire Island doesn't count, and as I recall I didn't take any photos that day." He trailed his fingers over her thigh, enjoying the widening of her eyes, the slight glazed look that flitted across her exquisite face, relishing her passionate responses to his touch. "Unless you count the ones I took when you were naked on our fake wedding night."

"You didn't." She sat bolt upright before leaping to her feet, horror replacing the look of desire he'd glimpsed a few seconds earlier.

He laughed and swept her into his arms. "You're right, I didn't. Had you fooled for a minute, didn't I?"

"You're a very bad man." She wrapped her arms around him, her eager touch showing how quickly she'd forgiven him for his risqué joke. "First you leave me pining for you for eight years, then you strut back into my life and turn it upside down. The least you can do is give me a break and stop teasing me."

"Like that's ever going to happen. It's a part of who we are." He kissed her, relishing the slight tremble that shot through her body as she moulded against him. "I almost forgot your present."

She touched his face, her eyes glowing with love. "I already have it right here."

He dropped a kiss on her nose. "Thanks, but you must see this. I got it especially for you."

He took hold of her hand, trying desperately to keep from laughing as he steered her towards the back of the farmhouse. They'd returned to the quaint farm where they'd reunited for the ceremony and intimate party so their guests could share in their joy.

It had been a lovely day, with a few close work colleagues mingling with ease, while Tom and Tara, their witnesses, did their best to appear nonchalant while glued to each other's sides.

"My present's in there?" She cast a suspicious glance at him as they neared the barn.

"Sure is." He threw open the barn door and pulled her close. "Seeing as you've had a thing for me since high school, I thought you might like to revisit some old memories. Particularly graduation night?"

Abby laughed as he tugged her towards an old sedan, an exact replica of the one he had as a teenager.

Running her hand over the gleaming red paint, she ducked around the bonnet and sent him a coy smile. "Okay, so I had a thing for you back then. Though if memory serves correctly, you kissed me that night?"

Her eyes glittered with sass as he strode around the car, pinning her against it with his body. "Insignificant details. What's important is that we didn't get further than that kiss and I think it's time to remedy that. Care to take a ride to Pier Point before jumping in the back seat with me, Mrs. Calloway?"

Laughing, she reached up and wound her arms around his neck. "You're such a romantic."

She kissed him, and he revelled in the knowledge that this woman— his best friend, his lover—was now his wife.

His head descended, blocking out the filtered sunlight as he brushed her lips in a kiss that promised forever.

"And don't you forget it."