“There,” she said, giving his tie one last tug. “You look handsome.”

“I don’t like this tie. No one else has to wear one.”

“That’s not true. Uncle Oz and all his friends are wearing them. So is…Elliot.”

“Elliot is wearing one, too?”

“Yep.”

Tyler thought about that for a second and then nodded his head. “Okay, then.”

Lena gazed thoughtfully at her son. She didn’t know how much to discuss with him. He was only six. But if Elliot was going to be a part of their lives, she needed to find out how Tyler felt about it so she’d at least have a heads-up if there were going to be issues.

“Hey, Ty,” she said, squatting down so she could look into his eyes. “How do you feel about Elliot? Do you like him?”

Tyler’s little face lit up. “Yeah! He’s really cool. Can we visit him after we go home?”

Lena smiled at her son and grabbed him for a quick hug. “I don’t know, sweetie. We’ll see, okay?”

Tyler’s grin filled his face, and he gave Lena two big thumbs-up.

It surprised her, since he usually assumed “we’ll see” meant no. Maybe he could tell the difference in her voice… Because this time, she meant exactly what she said. She couldn’t promise him anything before speaking to Elliot. But she was hopeful.

Elliot paced back and forth in the elevator, impatiently waiting for the floors to tick down to Lena’s. Hopefully she hadn’t left for the ceremony yet. He’d planned on waiting until after the wedding to talk to her, but he couldn’t wait anymore.

New plan. He was going to find Lena and kiss her until she agreed to give them a shot. Hell, he’d beg her if he had to. Follow her to North Carolina and camp out on her lawn. Do whatever it damn well took to convince her she could count on him, that he was exactly what she and Tyler needed in their lives.

To hell with his parents. All he needed was her. And not just for the foundation, though he had no doubt that they could start a foundation without them. After all, he was the master fundraiser. He still had his connections. They’d be able to get a foundation off the ground. He just needed her, plain and simple. Her and Tyler. He knew they could make it work. And he would do anything it took until she believed it, too.

The doors dinged and slowly slid open. He pushed through before they’d finished opening all the way and hurried down the hall to where the ladies had taken over a suite of rooms. He burst in and a gaggle of women in mint green dresses turned to stare at him. Cher peered around their shoulders, her eyes wide in surprise.

The urgency spurring him on took a momentary pause while he took in the vision of loveliness that was his sister.

“Wow,” he said, coming toward her.

She glanced down at her dress, fluffing it out a bit. “Do you think he’ll like it?”

Elliot had to swallow past a suddenly tight throat but managed a nod. “You look so beautiful.” He kissed her forehead and pulled her into a hug, being careful not to crush or smear anything.

She let him hold her for a second and then pulled away, reaching for a tissue that one of her bridesmaids held out.

“Thank you,” she said, dabbing delicately under her eyes. She took a deep breath and flashed a brilliant smile at him. “Now, while I am happy you stopped by for a visit, I doubt you came crashing in here like a madman just to check up on me.”

Elliot ducked his head, a little ashamed that he hadn’t come by to check on her. She was his twin sister. He should have been thinking about her on the most important day of her life.

She laughed and patted his cheek. “It’s okay, Elliot.” She leaned in so only he could hear. “Tyler was getting antsy, so Lena took him to the courtyard a little early.”

Elliot’s gaze shot to hers, and she pulled him in for another quick hug. “Go get her.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his nervous excitement kicking into overdrive.

He ran out of the room, not stopping until he hit the courtyard. The wedding planner, his parents, and most of the guests turned startled eyes to him. He ignored all of them, his eyes searching for Lena.

“Elliot!” Tyler came running up to him.

“Hey, little man. You look spiffy.”

Tyler pulled at the vest beneath his tux jacket. “Mommy says all the men have to wear this.” He looked Elliot up and down. “I look just like you!”

Elliot laughed and ruffled Tyler’s hair. “Yes, you do. Very handsome.”

Lena turned the corner and came to a stop when she saw him talking to Tyler.

“Hey, Tyler, do you mind if I talk to your mom for a second?”

Tyler nodded with a huge grin on his face. “You sit right here and don’t go anywhere, okay?” Elliot said, plopping him onto one of the seats that had been set up for the ceremony.

He walked toward Lena, his gaze locked on hers until he stood just a breath away. They stared at each other for half a heartbeat. And then Lena was in his arms and his lips were on hers, kissing her with a desperation he’d never dreamed he’d feel. His hands moved up to cup her face. She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him as though he were the very air she needed to breathe.

There was an outraged gasp, probably from his parents, but Elliot ignored it and continued worshipping the woman in his arms until she clung to him with a quivering sigh. He finally pulled away so he could look into her eyes, tracing his thumbs across her cheeks. Lena turned her face into his hands to cuddle against him. She kissed his palm and gazed back up at him with such a look of heat and happiness that his heart almost stopped.

“Lena,” he moaned, leaning his forehead against hers until he caught his breath. “God, you’re beautiful.”

She smiled, gentle and sweet, and he caressed her face again, forcing a breath past the nervousness running rampant through him. “I want to try and give this a shot. You and me. If you’re willing.” His eyes searched hers. “Do you want this? Want me?”

She gazed up at him, and he held his breath. If the way she’d kissed him was any indication, he was good to go. But just because she kissed him didn’t mean she wanted anything more than that. Trying to make a relationship between them work would be tough. She might not want to risk it, especially with Tyler.

Lena reached up and stroked his cheek, then leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Yes.”

His heart leaped, and he looked into her eyes to make sure he heard her right. “Yes? You want me?”

She kissed him again. “More than anything I’ve ever wanted.”

He pulled her to him, kissing her hard and fast. “Good! Come on.”

Elliot grabbed her hand and pulled her farther into the courtyard.

“Elliot!” she said, laughing. “Where are we going?”

“To talk to my parents.”

“Your parents?” He felt a slight resistance in her hand, but she didn’t pull away from him. “Why?”

“I’ve got something to say to them.”

Before Lena could ask any more questions, Elliot pulled her up the aisle to where his parents stood in front of the arch of foliage Cher and Oz would wed under. His mother had paused, while instructing one of the staff members to tack back some of the ribbons that trailed from the display, to stare at them in astonishment. The look intensified when he and Lena barreled up to her. His father came to stand beside his mom, his face already set in disapproving lines. Typical.

“Mom, Dad, I know you don’t approve of my plans to expand the charity. But I’m going to go ahead with them, anyway. I’d like to share our plans with the rest of the board and get their input. I know you like things the way they are, but everything could be run much better, and I intend to see it done. You put me in charge of the charity, so let me truly run it. And if you and the board all vote against me, then Lena and I will start a foundation without your backing. It would be better to expand on what is already there, but this idea is good. It’s worthwhile, and with Lena’s brains and my contacts, I have no doubt we can make it a success.”