Page 55 of A Winter's Wedding

He stood and wrapped his arms around her back, lifting her off the floor by an inch or two. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and kissed the spot below her ear. “Carol.” His whisper prickled her skin and she leaned into his embrace.

“How did you know?”

Edwin pointed at Leo with his head. “I’ve been holding on to that thing for a very long time,” he said, and she knew he wasn’t lying by how old the box looked. “Now kiss me like you mean it,” he told her.

“Yes, sir,” she said through a grin; anticipation igniting in her heart. Their kiss at the hockey game was only a tease, a prelude to what would come now.

Their lips met and he swung her in a circle. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears over the applause and cheers coming from the guests, and she thought she might fall to pieces right in front of everyone. This time, she wouldn’t be a broken woman, she would be shedding the years’ worth of walls she had built. She was showing everyone who she really was, and Edwin would be alongside her every step of the way.

Leo stepped between the lovely pair and the guests. He put his hands up. “Alright, alright. I suppose we have some explaining to do.”

“You’re not getting married today?” Cam said from his place sitting in the front row.

“We are not,” America said and joined Leo by his side.

Carol was too giddy to do anything but observe the reactions of the guests.

Leo held America’s hand high in the air, as they looked from each other to their loved ones and friends. “We accidentally got married in Vegas last week.”

“So,” America continued. “We can’t get married today because we already are.”

The crowd was full of shocked faces and murmurs.

“We’re sorry for the ruse, but we still wanted to celebrate our union with each of you.”

“And they couldn’t let all this go to waste,” Edwin said.

Carol’s eyes went wide. “You knew they were already married?” she asked Edwin.

His head tilted towards Leo again and he gave a shrug “So, are we going to do this today?”

Carol looked from Edwin to John, “Well, Mister Mayor?”

“I’ll allow it. So long as you come to city hall Monday morning.”

Carol nodded at Edwin and the officiant proceeded with the vows. She knew her mouth was moving, and sound was coming out, but all she could hear was the beating of her own heart. Her mind began to clear as a wide smile spread across Edwin’s face. His eyes glassed over, and his head tilted to one side. A thousand thoughts were exchanged between them through the tiny movements in their expressions. Apologies. Healing. Expectations. Love.

“For as long as you both shall live?” the officiant said. “You may now kiss the bride. Again.”

Edwin used his arm to hold the small of her back. He palmed the side of her face and neck, and his thumb brushed along her jawline, causing her lips to part ever so slightly. He dipped her backwards and cradled her with more love than she thought possible. His silky lips grazed against hers with increasing pressure and passion until they were joined together. A small moan escaped her throat at the most delicious contact she had ever experienced. When he was done sealing their union, he helped her stand tall again.

Carol took a much-needed breath and smoothed her bodice and skirts, as everyone stood and clapped. With a smile so big it might actually fall off her face, she and Edwin ran back down the aisle into a bright future.

Chapter30

Having been separated from his bride for far too long, Leo waded through the sea of wedding guests. He glued his eyes to the back of America’s head. Her long dark hair hanging in gentle curls to her waist. A waist that begged to be handled. Her crimson dress spilled across the floor like an invitation to come to her.

He was tired of speaking politely to each and every one of their guests, tired of answering questions about the wedding and the road trip, and tired of pretending he wanted to be somewhere he wasn’t. Dinner had been wonderful, and he had sat beside America the whole time, but being positioned at the front of the room with all those watchful and questioning eyes boring into him, wasn’t his idea of a romantic meal.

Their sweet Valentine’s date in Vegas now seemed all the more perfect for how private it had been. Their road trip that had followed had been one of the best times of his life, he knew that now. Nothing could replace that intimate time that he was able to share with his love. But one thing that had been missing from their unexpected wedding and subsequent adventure in the car, was having that first dance with his stunning wife. An oversight that he was committed to remedying.

A violinist plucked a string, then another. The staccato notes beat in time with his heart. Each step, another note, each heartbeat, closer to America.

He placed a hand on her upper back and traced the buttons descending to her waist. She turned with glimmering eyes, happy eyes, and a grin—his favorite one-sided grin—pulled her cheek up. “May I have this dance?” he asked and presented his left hand for her.

Carol and Pa looked on with giddy excitement as a stunned and radiant America took his hand without saying a word. Her fingers glided over his, allowing him to take control of her body. He used his right hand resting on the space where her bodice and skirt came together and spun her to face him. Her breath caught when her chest collided with his and he liked how their bodies fit together.

Heat coursed through his fingers where their palms touched. Another pluck of the violin string and a long pull of the bow wrapped them in anticipation. Releasing her waist, he directed her to the center of the room under the crystal chandelier that spread the candlelight around the room like a million little stars. Another violin joined the first and the music built along with the desire between him and America.

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