Page 41 of A Winter's Wedding

America laughed. “That sounds just like them.” America sipped her drink and stood in front of the fire. “I’m relieved that she won’t be humiliated in front of everyone, and I feel a little less guilty about keeping all of this a secret.”

“I think it will all turn out fine. We just need a good night’s rest, America Thorpe,” Leo said and watched her place her mug on the white-painted wood mantel.

She looked into the gold framed mirror hanging on the wall above the fire, and the reflection of her eyes smoldered at him, tempting him. She unpinned her hair from the top of her head, and her long dark waves cascaded down her back. She wore a blush pink satin pajama set and fluffy white slippers, and she took his breath away.

Leo stood and went to her, letting his fingers glide over the soft fabric around her back. She turned her head towards him, but her back stayed pressed against his stomach. Standing behind her, he wet his lips with anticipation. She turned her head and brushed her warm pillowy mouth across his. Reaching his other arm around her front, he encircled her waist, pulling her hips against his. Her breath caught at the tug. He moved her hair away from her neck so he could feel her jawline against his mouth, and he peppered kisses down her nape and along the line of her shoulder.

“Leo,” she whispered his name with her eyes closed.

Her little moan sent a thrill down his spine. This incredible woman washisto have and hold, and he planned on having her right now. He took her hand and led her out of the room towards the stairs, but a pounding on the door stopped them both on the bottom step. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Leo said. “Why don’t you head up, and I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”

America pouted as she let go of his hand and climbed the steps behind him. He opened the door, and in flew a curly red-haired ball of energy, screaming excitement. “Hello, Poppy,” he said as she barely gave him a hurried side hug while pushing her way inside.

“Where is that beautiful bride?” Poppy, America’s former assistant at the magazine and all-around best friend, said. She was one of those people that he liked but couldn’t keep up with, and right now, she was poking her head into the first room. “America? Helloooo,” she sang out.

America peeked around the banister at the top of the steps, “Poppy, is that you?”

Leo nodded from where he stood like roadkill in the foyer and pointed his open hand toward the kitchen to where Poppy had gone next. “That way.”

“Sorry,” America mouthed as she ran down the stairs and flung herself around the newel post.

Poppy skipped back down the hallway toward the foyer, and Leo could do nothing but watch the two women collide into each other’s embrace. Supposing it was time for a cold shower and glass of whisky, he poked his head out the front door just to make certain there were no more surprise guests coming to ruin his otherwise peaceful evening.

It was the jingling bells and horse hooves clopping on the cobblestone road that caused Leo to walk down the front steps and brick path. Looking down the road, he shook his head at the sight coming his way. Pa stood center stage in the carriage, holding Bingo’s reins. Pa’s horse was somewhat of a town celebrity and had become a bonafide mascot in recent years. Leo wasn’t even embarrassed to consider the large animal a friend.

Leo wrapped his cardigan around his torso and approached the curb as Pa pulled up. “What’s going on?”

Pa jumped down to the street. His absence exposed a horde of men who raised their steins and shouted Leo’s name. Cam, one of Leo’s closest friends, reached out and shook Leo’s hand.

“What the heck are you guys doing here?” Leo said and shook his brother, John’s, hand. “I’m a little surprised to see you here tonight.”

“I wouldn’t want to miss this, little brother. After the year we’ve had, I hope I’ve shown you that I mean no ill towards you,” John said and pulled Leo in for a double shoulder tap bro hug. “Plus, who doesn’t like a bachelor party?”

Leo’s eyes pushed back into his brain as he grasped what was happening. His worst nightmare. “I don’t have a choice, do I? I just drove across the country with a somewhat grouchy bridezilla, got a flat tire in St. Louis, got snowed in in Buffalo, saw an empty Niagara Falls, got my credit card declined. My car was broken into, and I finally got home a few hours ago. I mean, we canceled the rehearsal tonight because we’re exhausted.”

“That’s yesterday’s problems, Leopold. Time to suit up!” Cam said.

“Yeah, we don’t care how tired you are,” Grant, the operations manager at The Foundry, said.

Alfonso poked his head around with a silly grin. “Alfonso not know what tonight is.” He held his stein and cheered towards the starry sky. “Buona salute.”

A hand patted Leo on his shoulder from behind and he spun around on the heel of his slippers. “Paul? You knew about this?”

Paul, who clearly knew that the two were already married, leaned in, and whispered. “I got you covered.” He stood back and held up two pairs of hockey skates and a duffle bag. “Now, what are we doing standing around here?”

Grant and Alfonso, who remained in the carriage lifted their hockey sticks over their heads like trophies and shouted. “Let’s go!”

Luckily, the revelry didn’t startle Bingo, who Pa expertly led out of town. Leo had only one clue as to the evening’s festivities, hockey somewhere. In the meantime, there was plenty to drink from a mini keg of what he could only assume was one of Pa’s potions.

“You excited for the big day?” Cam asked. “I remember when Jenny and I got hitched. It was the most stressful day of my life, up until little Charlotte was born. Having a baby is a whole other world of stress.”

Leo nodded but had no time to properly answer before Grant chimed in. “My wedding wasn’t stressful, just really relaxing.”

“Maybe that was because of how hung over you were, or maybe because your bride was stressed enough for the two of you,” John joked, though he himself had never been married, and would therefore have no basis for his presumptions. Leo motioned with a swipe at his neck for John to not continue down his current thought path. John likely was not aware that Grant’s first wife had passed away not long after they were married.

“Maybe the next time will be different, and you can have all the stress you deserve,” Leo said. “Is there going to be a next time?”

Grant hesitated too long before answering, and the company went wild.

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