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 Sam and his brothers had said goodnight to Leanne and her sisters after the wedding reception, then headed to the tiki bar by the pool at the resort along with Prince Marcos. They lounged in chaises where they could kick back and loosen their ties and remove their sport coats. They had even gone so far as removing shoes and socks and rolling up the pant legs of their tuxes.
“Fantastic wedding.” Prince Marcos Sayid of Madain Saleh held up his glass of Scotch in a toast. Sam had already tossed back a couple of glasses, as had his two older brothers, Liam and Lyle. Their youngest brother, Jacob, was not yet eighteen and was sipping a soda. He raised his glass as well. “I’m glad it’s over,” Liam grumbled. “I haven’t gone that many hours without a drink in years.” He downed another large glass of Scotch and laid his head back on the lounge chair, eyes closed and probably not long from needing an escort to his suite for the night. Nicholas and Adele had decided not to serve any alcohol at their wedding because Liam had made a complete fool of himself at Lyle’s wedding less than a year ago. But when the bride and groom snuck away, presumably to head up to their hotel suite, they left the rest of the bridal party to fend for themselves. By eleven-thirty, the guys headed out back to the tiki bar near the pool. Since Nicholas was upstairs doing what Sam wished he could be doing, he’d better not fault the guys for having a little fun of their own. Sam was eyeing the pool and its promise to wash away the oppressive heat that never seemed to dissipate in the City of Dubai. That would require the removal of his tux and that would require traipsing all the way up to his suite. Way too much work just to cool off. He downed the last of his Scotch and a waitress handed him another. She also handed a drink to Prince Marcos, who was completely oblivious to her flirting. He’d been ignoring women the whole evening and never seemed to dance with any of them more than once. The young prince, who had been Nicholas’ best friend for years, had nearly upstaged the groom because he was required to wear his crown while attending formal social events. The way traditions had been explained to Sam was if the occasion warranted a tux, it required at least a simple band of gold around his head. To his credit, Marcos had grown out his hair a little in an attempt to hide the crown. It hadn’t worked. The effect just made him look like a rock star in a tux with a crown. He could probably have his pick of the single women in this outdoor bar. If Sam hadn’t already been in a relationship with Leanne, he might have been jealous of his younger brother’s best friend. As it was, Sam couldn’t care less how many girls fell at Marcos’ feet. Or into the pool. A blonde in a little black dress had locked eyes with Prince Marcos and had become so distracted that she walked right into the pool and landed with a giant splash. Sam fought the impulse to laugh and pretty much lost the fight, along with his brothers, when Marcos jumped in after her, fully clothed in his tux and crown, presumably to rescue her. Although the pool was shallow enough for her to touch the bottom, Marcos wrapped his arms around her waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Sam couldn’t hear what they were saying from out on the pool deck, but they were obviously enamored with one another. After flirting incessantly for several minutes, Marcos carried her out of the pool and set her on the patio right in front of Sam and his brothers. He heard Marcos call her Lyla, then he asked a pool attendant to jump in and fetch Lyla’s shoes from the bottom of the pool. They stood there dripping wet for a few moments then left after making plans to meet back here after getting dried off and into something more comfortable. Lucky prince. They’d been at the bar less than an hour and he already had a date with a pretty girl. Not that Sam couldn’t spend the night in the arms of a pretty girl. If he wanted to push the issue, he could have Leanne join him at the pool as well. She left with her sisters at the end of the reception, claiming her feet were sore. He’d complain also if forced to wear heels with two-inch spikes. He was just fine right here with a glass of Scotch and his brothers. They wouldn’t stay too much longer. Just long enough to get Liam inebriated so that he’d stay in his hotel room when they tucked him into bed. He’d caused enough trouble at their brother Lyle’s wedding that the guys were determined not to let that happen at Nicholas’ wedding. Before any of them could think of leaving the bar, a very frantic Prince Marcos hurried over to them wearing jeans and a T-shirt. “My brother, Jared, was in a terrible motorcycle accident and I need to fly home.” Marcos handed a folded sheet of paper to Jacob. “Please make sure Lyla gets this note. You’re the only one sober enough who I can trust.” “I promise to get this to her,” Jacob said, taking the note. “Hope your brother’s okay,” Sam said. “Thanks, man. They said he doesn’t look good.” Marcos reached out for a quick fist bump then hurried out to the back of the resort where a helicopter was just landing. “Crown Prince Jared?” Liam asked with a sneer. “The same guy who dated Ruth Ashish when he was already married to that princess from Tayma?” “Yep, Jared is Marcos’s older brother,” Sam answered. “Excuse me—” The beautiful blonde named Lyla stood beside them in comfortable clothes that looked suspiciously like pajamas, with fluffy pink slippers. Her wet hair had been combed out and she’d washed off the smeared mascara. “Was that Marcos?” She pointed to where the helicopter was lifting off the back lawn of the resort. “He asked me to give you this.” Jacob rose from his lounge chair and handed Lyla the folded note. Lyla read it with a crease in her brow then glanced longingly in the direction of the retreating lights and fading whir of the helicopter blades. “I hope his brother will be okay.” “Me too,” Sam said. “Or your prince charming is about to become the future king of Madain Saleh.”  Note from Author: Sam’s story picks up where his older brother Nicholas’ story ends, so I’m going to share the last chapter of Nicholas’ story first. You will NEVER read Nicholas’ story on the Chapter-A-Day blog because chapter one will give away every clue to the entire “Top Secret Project” now known as the Sayid Family Saga.
Nicholas Cohen is mentioned throughout the rest of the series, including the most recently shared story, Billionaire Hero. In the epilogue of Monroe’s story, Nicholas is mentioned as having died. He is also mentioned as being Monroe, Henry and Aaron’s great-great grandfather. This story chronologically takes place years prior, but Billionaire’s Sons is actually the final book in the Sayid Family Saga. You should also know that the entire Sayid Family Saga is written in the Contemporary genre. That means they all have cell phones and private jets and superyachts. Even though the saga spans multiple generations, each story is designed to take place in modern day. None of the stories are historical fiction or futuristic. For any similarities to actual historical events, I have taken extreme artistic liberty. Send me an email when you figure it out! -Julie Epilogue to Nicholas Cohen’s Story: They planned the wedding in Dubai, at the Cohen’s largest newly acquired resort so Adele’s friends and family members could come down to attend the wedding. After months of hiding, there was no hint that anyone was searching for the person or persons who had been responsible for Landon’s death. While in Jerusalem, Nick helped his father quietly sell most of his land holdings and business ventures. They made preparations to leave Israel, presumably forever. Nick knew his father was working on other business ventures in Dubai, but he was unwilling to even ask until after returning from his honeymoon. Nick had one thing on his mind; planning a wedding so he could be with Adele forever. His older brothers teased him mercilessly about his unwillingness to be alone with his bride until after the wedding. He wasn’t taking any chances. He was already tempted nearly beyond restraint by the woman he’d loved since they were teenagers. Adele planned a simple wedding that got out of hand. A girl could not marry the son of a billionaire and avoid having dignitaries from all over the world invited. The guest list was beyond their control, but she insisted on simplicity in her dress and flowers and pageantry, and a meal without drinking and partying. Nick was completely fine with that. He didn’t want anything—or anyone—ruining her special day. The wedding party was nearly identical to that of his brother and Adele’s sister. The biggest change was the order of the lineup, and one additional brother: Nick’s best friend, Prince Marcos Sayid of Madain Saleh. The simple crown he wore was tucked within purposely shaggy hair, grown out just a little for the occasion. In his sorry attempt to conceal his royalty, Prince Marcos instead took on the appearance of a rock star in a tux with a crown. Every eligible woman in the room batted her eyelashes. The large garden to the back of the resort, where Adele had first told Nick she loved him on the night before their siblings’ wedding, was the perfect location for her to walk down the cobblestone path to meet her groom. Nick waited in anticipation, his brothers by his side, his father and very pregnant mother sitting in the first row of seats, and his friends and family nearby, for his bride to descend the path and come join her life to his. The music shifted and Ruth began her descent, followed by Rachel, then Miriam, her dress altered to beautifully showcase her growing belly, and last was Leanne. Again, there was a change in the tune emanating from the grand piano that had been carefully transported and placed in the garden, and the members of the audience stood. Nick wished they hadn’t. His view was impeded. He broke from his place of honor and stepped to his right, standing instead directly before the aisle where Adele would appear at the head of the path. He wanted to be the first to view the elegant woman who would descend unto him. Tears ran unabashedly down his cheeks as Adele appeared on the arm of her father, Daniel Ashish. He held back his desire to run to her, sweep her into his arms and carry her the rest of the way, demanding the officiator hurry with their vows so he could be forevermore her husband. Painstakingly slow she walked forward, cobblestone step by step by step, until she stood by his side and Daniel handed over his daughter for safekeeping to the boy he had forbade enter his home a few short months prior. Nick broke his gaze from his bride for a few brief seconds to look his new father-in-law in the eye, man to man, conveying with every fiber of his being that he would protect and cherish this woman whom they both loved. With no further fanfare, Daniel released Adele’s hand and placed it into Nick’s, then ducked away to go and sit beside his wife in the front row. “Can I kiss you now?” Nick whispered, gazing into Adele’s eyes. “Nope,” she whispered back and winked at him. “Marry me first.” He gently pulled her forward, never releasing her eyes and stood before the man who prompted their vows and rituals that would bind them together legally. Nick barely registered the words he repeated, yet he felt them to his core. He was promising everything to Adele and more. He was promising forever, if that existed. As hurried as he’d been to get to this moment, when the officiator pronounced them husband and wife, time slowed. He closed the distance between them and lifted her face delicately, lowering his while maintaining eye contact until the last possible second. He hesitated and hovered inches from a kiss and waited for her to lift onto her toes and meet his lips, sealing their love for one another. This was only their second real kiss as adults, and might has well have been their first with how sacred this felt. When they pulled apart an inch or two, Nick pressed his forehead to Adele’s and whispered, “Thank you.” Adele threw her arms around Nick’s neck and kissed him again, a combination of humor and passion, then pulled away and laughed lightly. “I love you!” “I love you too.” Nick laughed along with her, lifting her off her feet playfully. Setting her back down he whispered for her ears only, “Am I allowed to admit I’m terrified right now?” “Good, I’m not the only one.” She giggled. “How about this? Let’s go eat a little food, dance the obligatory number of dances, then go upstairs.” “Sounds good to me,” Nick said a little louder than he should have. Adele grabbed Nick’s hand and held it up triumphantly, calling out to the crowd, “Finally!” Everyone laughed as Adele playfully tugged her groom up the cobblestone steps to the grand ballroom inside. Nick allowed himself to be pulled along, unable to deny his new wife one moment of this new excitement. Nick had no idea how long it took the rest of the wedding party to ascend the path from the garden, but by the time anyone else arrived in the ballroom where the tables were situated around a small dancefloor, awaiting the meal, he and Adele were alone on the dancefloor holding one another close, swaying to dinner music played softly by the string quartet in the corner. They eventually allowed others to pull them apart just far enough to sit at the head table and eat a little food. They were dragged around the room greeting the myriad of guests, dancing and dancing and dancing, cutting cake, posing for a million photographs, and hugging many friends and family. “Look at Sam and Leanne,” Adele said from where they stood on the other side of the ballroom. Nick glanced over to the dancefloor where she pointed, and his heart warmed. They were dancing together, cheek to cheek, both of their eyes closed in a bliss he understood all too well. “Reminds me of a few months ago when you and I held each other the same way at Lyle and Miriam’s wedding,” Nick said, pulling Adele closer. “Maybe a few months from now we’ll be celebrating another wedding.” “If he can get her out of the library long enough to date,” Adele said. “Maybe we should warn him about the uphill battle he’ll fight.” “Nah, I don’t want anything interrupting this moment. I remember what that was like.” Nick kissed the top of her head. “Besides there are a few other things I’d like to do right this minute.” “Yeah?” Adele turned away from watching the dance and Nick caught her in his arms, loving the silky fabric of her wedding dress beneath his hands. “Do any of those things involve you finally taking me up to your suite?” “Our suite,” Nick whispered. “From now until forever, what’s mine is yours.” “All I’ve ever wanted from you was your heart.” Adele gazed into his eyes, passion replacing humor. “You have my heart.” Nick pulled her closer and his breathing increased. “Would it be okay if I give you the rest of me too?” “Only if I can give you the rest of me,” Adele whispered. The purr that emanated from somewhere inside him came out as a soft growl. “Mrs. Cohen, I would very much like to escort you upstairs to our suite.” “I’ll follow you anywhere, Mr. Cohen.” With no other formal invitation or goodbye to friends and family, they ducked out the nearest door and Nick swept Adele into his arms, carrying her up the stairs. Prologue to Sam Cohen’s Story: “You’re not going to lose your cell phone and run off and ignore me for weeks like your brother did to my sister, are you?” Leanne asked, her deep blue eyes vulnerable and haunted. The sparkling lights from the disco ball turning above the dancefloor cast shadows and glitter across her face. “I have my phone right here,” Sam told her. He released her gently from his arms, immediately missing the feel of her silky bridesmaid dress. The music from the string quartet continued from the corner of the room. “And your phone number is at the top of my contacts list, see?” He swiped open his phone and showed her the screen. “Leanne Cohen?” She raised her eyebrows. “You seriously paired my name with yours? Isn’t that a bit presumptuous?” “I’d call it ‘hopeful’ rather than presumptuous,” Sam answered, slipping his cell phone back into his pocket and puller her back into his arms. “I promise not to get down on one knee and hold a ring in front of you until we’re both ready to take that step.” “What if I’m never ready?” she asked. “I find that unlikely.” Sam lifted his chin in mock superiority. “Again,” Leanne said. “Presumptuous.” “Just don’t run off on me like Adele did to Nicholas,” Sam said. “We saw how that turned out.” “Well, I’d say it turned out okay in the end, since they are now married.” Leanne turned her wrist to view her non-existent watch. “As of an hour ago.” “The road to the altar was bumpy to say the least,” Sam said. “Good things come to those who wait,” Leanne said. “And to those who are persistent.” Sam twirled her around and then pulled her close again. “I know how to be patient.” “We’ll see.” |
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