Page 80 of Sizzling Nights

Effie stood back and held the door open as she announced. "Petal Pushers is here. I like that name. Why is it most of the businesses in town have names like The Bookkeepers? The Insurance Agents? I swear there's no imagination here."

Izzy entered the room with two white boxes stacked on top of each other and Margo rushed to help her. Izzy thanked Margo, then turned to Effie. "I didn't get to name my business because my father did when he started the business. But, it keeps people from having to guess as to what your business is, doesn't it?"

"I suppose." Effie seemed to shrug it off and moved to open the boxes of flowers. Izzy opened the second box and pulled out Theresa's bouquet. It was stunning. A water drop shape held white roses, blue daylilies, carnations, and blue ribbons. Effie's bouquet was a small cluster of white roses and blue daylilies with shorter blue ribbons. The men's boutonnieres were blue roses. Marco's was a white and blue rose. They'd purposely kept things simple and sleek, and she was happy. There wasn't a flurry of preparations after their engagement last month; they simply invited Marco's family because Theresa didn't have anyone left in her family. They also invited their friends here in Blossom Springs. Simple. Elegant. Private.

Izzy picked up the box of boutonnieres and stepped toward the door. "I'll go find the guys and get their boutonnieres pinned on. Where are they?"

Margo directed Izzy to the office downstairs. The women had taken over the private room upstairs to dress and get ready.

Theresa wasn't sure what to do from here. She checked her watch and saw they had ten minutes to go. She was afraid to sit down because her dress would wrinkle. She felt fortunate to have found this dress on short notice. She and Margo went shopping and as if it were meant to be, they found this stunner on the rack. It was a figure-fitting white dress with lace overlay. Sheer sleeves and lace embellishments. And she felt beautiful in it. Her hair was pinned up on her head with a few curls framing her face. Her diamond ring had to be taken to the jewelers this week to have the wedding band soldered to it and she felt naked without it all week. She'd grown fond of looking at the glittering ring on her finger.

She inhaled deeply and Margo chuckled. "Soon."

"I know. This waiting is the worst. If he's ready, we should get on with it. We can stand around for the rest of the day."

Margo laughed and pulled her phone from her purse. "Hey, handsome. Are the guys ready? The bride is."

"Okay. I'll tell her."

"The men are ready and for the record, Marco's sick of standing around too."

Theresa grinned.

Effie clapped her hands. "Okay, let's go get my brother a wife."

Theresa and Margo both laughed, and the ever-exuberant Effie hustled out the door without waiting for instructions.

Margo stared at the back of the door for a moment, then asked, "How old is she?"

Theresa chuckled. "She's a lot, isn't she? The house has been incredibly busy this week. She's twenty-seven."

"And none of the brothers are married?"

Theresa shook her head. "Nope. They seem great, but they have a family tendency to be loners. Except Effie. She says she's just picky. Her exact words are pickier than shit and I have big-ass brothers who won't let me take crap from any man."

Margo laughed and Theresa shook her head. She'd been hearing this all week. She told Marco that one day Effie would meet "the one" and that would be the end of it. She'd be head-over-heels, and those big-ass brothers would need to deal.

Izzy stepped back into the room with a pretty smile on her face. "It's time."

Margo nodded to Theresa. "Ready?"

"Yep."

Epilogue Marco

Marco listened to his older brother, Brock, tell a story about a time when he was in Fallujah clearing a house. He'd heard this story before and right now, he wanted to focus on marrying Theresa, but his younger brother, Devin, seemed completely interested in the story, so Marco politely listened. His mind wondered what Theresa looked like right now.

Jace entered the room. "The bride is ready. How about the groom?"

Marco nodded. "The groom is also ready."

Jace nodded. "Perfect, let's go get you married."

Marco chuckled and followed Jace from the office. Brock and Devin were behind him, still chatting about his mission. He loved his siblings. They didn't see each other often, maybe two or three times a year. But he sure was ready to have their house back and quiet again. And he wanted Theresa to himself. Effie badgered her constantly about everything. What did she do all day while Marco worked? Did she like dogs? Did she think they'd have kids? What would they name them if they did? It went on and on every day. Theresa was exhausted and he felt bad for her. He'd sprung his family on her and she never complained. But the wear was beginning to show. Tonight, they were heading to a hotel where they'd spend their wedding night quietly and he'd get to enjoy his new wife.

They ascended the stairs to the upper dining room and walked out to the upper deck. Theresa had asked to be married where Marco had proposed. Mason and Carley married up here and she thought it was a beautiful setting. He agreed with her. They asked Jace and Margo, who were eager to have the wedding at the Sandbar, and what a beautiful wedding it would be.

He stepped onto the deck and took in the view. Izzy Payton from Petal Pushers had wrapped the railing in white and blue flowers. The tables had been moved away for the ceremony and would be brought back for the reception. He and his brothers took their places at the front of the deck, where the minister stood. He looked out onto the small intimate crowd they'd gathered to witness their wedding today and his heart filled with appreciation for their presence. Sid and his wife Grace were here. Quinn and Hanna. Mason and Carley as well. Their counselor, Devin came with his wife. Of course, his brothers and sister were here. That was all he needed.

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