Page 30 of Her Inconvenient Wedding Date

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laugh so freely before,” he remarks. “I didn’t mean to stare; I couldn’t help it. I blame your beauty,” he adds with a sappy grin. “You’re so beautiful when you laugh.”

“Are you stealing my lines now?” I mean to sound lighthearted and funny, but my voice comes out soft and breathy. It’s all because of Hunter. He’s turned me into a sappy mess.

For the first time, I understand what romance authors mean when they write things likemy knees grew weakorthe whole world faded away and all I could see was him. My heart races while my vision zones in on the sweet and handsome man before me.

One side of his mouth curves up as he responds, “I think it’s only fair since you stole my heart.”

“I… what?” I’ve never stolen anything before, least of all a man’s heart! “I might need you to repeat that.”

“You stole my heart, Lil. Ever since the first day we met, I’ve kind of been in love with you. It started out as a crush, but the more I got to know you—and yes, my bugging you every day was me trying to get to know you better—the more I liked you. This idea of yours to have a marriage of inconvenience couldn’t have worked out better for me if I’d planned it myself. And I mean inconvenience in the sense that I’ve fallen for you, and you likely don’t feel the same for me. But I’m taking a chance and putting myself out there. Something about seeing you laugh like that made me realize how much I’d be missing if I didn’t tell you how I feel.”

His grip on my hand tightens as his voice grows husky. “The truth is I couldn’t be happier to be your husband. And Iwant nothing more than for you to be my wife today, tomorrow, and all the days the Lord has for us. I know this is a lot to digest, and I don’t expect an answer right now, but I hope you’ll consider what I’m saying and let me know what you think when you’re?—”

The last of Hunter’s words gets muffled, caught between my mouth and his. Yes, I waste no time in letting him know how I feel. It’s a soft kiss, more like a brush across his lips, but it’s enough to make him speechless. His eyes grow big, and his ears turn red, the reddest I’ve ever seen them. He chuckles softly, his warm breath caressing my skin. “I was going to say, ‘Let me know what you think when you’re ready.’”

“Hmm,” is all I manage to squeak out.

NowI’mthe one who’s speechless. Everything Hunter said was exactly what I needed to hear. It’s more than I ever thought possible, and I want him to know that we are on the exact same page. I’m so on board that if I were Rose and he was Jack, I’d make room for him on that floating piece of wood without hesitation.

Myman would know that I’d never let him go.

He must get my unspoken message because he’s the one kissing me now. One of his arms wraps around my waist and presses me to his firm torso. His other hand gently strokes my cheek, leaving warm tingles along my skin with every touch. His lips are eager but polite as if he’s dipping his toes into the pool to test the temperature before going in. I’m done treading water, though; I’m ready to dive all in. I deepen the kiss and invite Hunter into that bottomless end with me. It’s new, uncharted territory, but I have faith in his heart and in the strength of his character that he will keep me safe.

I lift my arms and encircle his neck so I can run my fingers through his thick hair. He leans me back into the cushion and continues kissing my mouth, then along the sideof my neck. Every part of me feels his care and adoration as if I’m a porcelain vase from a long-ago dynasty that he holds in his hands. It doesn’t matter if I feel obtrusive or outdated or gaudy; to Hunter, I’m priceless. I see this truth in his eyes when he stops to look at me.

“Is that all?” I ask breathlessly, feeling like a puddle of happy, melty goo. “I don’t mind if you kiss me some more. And for the record, I like you, too, a lot, in case you weren’t sure.”

He cracks a smile. “I think that kiss clued me in on how you feel. And I do want to kiss you more, but I need to get these contacts out first. I’m afraid they’re not allowing me to kiss to my full potential.”

My jaw drops. Hunter can kiss even better than that?! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but this new knowledge makes me eager to help him out. “We better do something about that! Hand me those Q-tips! No more puffy cheeks though or else I’ll never stop laughing!”

“Deal!”

This time while Hunter stays still and less blowfish-like, I’m able to remove—without plucking or extracting!—his contact lenses in record time.

He blinks his eyes and nods, looking satisfied and relieved. “Thank you, Lil. You saved the day.”

I toss the used Q-tips and his daily-wear lenses into a bag set aside for trash. “It’s not that big of a deal. Anyone could have done it.”

“I wouldn’t have trusted just anyone to do what you did.” His gaze softens as he brushes a lock of windblown hair off my cheek. “It was a big deal to meandmy eyeballs. Such a big deal that I plan on relaying my thanks to you in the form of a very, very,verylong kiss, if you’ll accept it.”

“Do you have to ask twice?”

I lean forward and pucker my lips, ready to soak up his gratitude. Suddenly, my phone sounds from the side table where I’d put it earlier. I regret not turning it off, but it’s too late now. The opening line of The Beatles’ song, “Help!” cuts through the quiet of the night. It’s my mother’s ringtone, so aptly chosen for moments like this when I wish someone would come to my rescue. “Sorry, I should get that.”

“It’s your mom, isn’t it?” Hunter offers me a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay to let it go to voicemail, Lil.”

“Is it, though?”

“It’s up to you. No pressure. We can always kiss later.”

I shake my head. Talk to my mother or kiss Hunter? What am I even hesitating for?

I let the call go to voicemail, then dive back into my husband’s embrace and hope I don’t regret my decision later.

CHAPTER 16

Hunter

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