Page 65 of Always a Bridesmaid

“Jane Pearce,” he began, and she could see the nervous uncertainty in his gaze. “Would you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”

“But it’s only been a month. Are you sure?” She was certain he was her person, but she wanted to make sure he was in this all the way.

“When you know, you know. And I know that you are it for me. I just hope I’m it for you.”

“Yes,” she said. “I’ll marry you.”

Applause broke out and that’s when Jane realized that everyone had been awaiting her answer. Including the crowd who had been watching this unfold on the jumbotron.

Henry stood and pulled her into his arms and kissed her until the stewards told him he had to go weigh in before the podium ceremony. And as he’d taken the trophy, she’d beamed with pride for her man and decided he was right.

When you know, you know. And she’d known he was the one that day at the vineyard, she’d just been too afraid to admit it.

But she wasn’t afraid now. In fact, she told him every chance she got. Not only was her love for him limitless, it grew stronger every day.

It hadn’t taken them long to realize that long distance wasn’t going to work, so they split their time between Austin and Monaco. Jane was no longer a bridesmaid for hire. Her role-playing days were long behind her, and she was living her dream of running what would soon become a multi-million-dollar company. She now managed over two dozen bridesmaids, her event calendar was full, and Bride Buddies had even made the cover ofBridemagazine.

Jane glanced in the distance as the sun was setting over the horizon, casting pink and orange hues over the Mediterranean.Yachts bobbed in the crystal-blue waters, and brilliantly colored flowers speckled the near distant town.

They’d decided to get married in Monaco at Henry’s private estate with just close friends and family. Bright purple wisteria clung to the trellises and giant cyprus trees jutted toward the sky in the space surrounding the garden. In the center stood a white altar covered with thousands of blush-colored peonies and roses. Matching petals made a pathway for her to follow that would lead her to her love and forever.

Their home was private, secluded, and the perfect spot for their wedding. Their courtship had been so public, they wanted this part of their love story to selfishly be just theirs.

As she reached the altar, Henry mouthed,“I love you.”

“I love you,”she mouthed back and nearly lost it when his eyes moistened with unshed tears.

Jane turned to give Roxy her bouquet and her friend grumbled under her breath. “I still can’t believe you made me wear a dress.”

“At least she picked the one with pockets,” Georgia whispered.

“Where else would I put my pocketknife?”

Jane smiled at her two friends, her family, then turned back to the man who was about to join that sacred circle. He took her hands into his and electricity and something much deeper sparked at the contact.

“You okay?” he asked with concern, because he knew how much she’d wanted her dad to be there.

She glanced at the portrait of her father that Henry had commissioned and given her as a wedding present, and then gave him a watery smile. “I am now.”

He brought her hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “Me too.”

The officiant began the ceremony, and as they exchanged their written vows, she fell even deeper in love with him. Never in her life had she imagined love could feel this way.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant said. “You may kiss your bride.”

“Thank god,” Henry said, and the crowd laughed. Then his mouth covered hers in the gentlest of kisses that seemed to defy time and space. It ignited her heart, love traveling through her body until she was sure it lit up the room.

When they finally broke apart the officiant announced, “May I introduce Mr. and Ms. Norris,” and everyone went crazy with hoots and hollers.

“My wife,” Henry proclaimed, then picked Jane up in his arms and carried her down the aisle.

“I think you’re confusing this with the threshold.”

“Since you decided to follow tradition and sleep in your own bed last night, I’ve been dying to get you in my arms. Now that you’re my wife, I’m never letting go.”

Jane wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. He walked straight down the aisle, past everyone clapping, down the hallway, and into his changing room, kicking the door shut behind him.

Then she was on her feet and his mouth was on hers and it wasn’t gentle at all. It was wild and passionate. Jane ate it up, kissing him back as if they’d been apart for an eternity. By the time they broke apart, her lips were swollen, his were covered with her lipstick, and the zipper of her dress was halfway down her back.

---