Page 41 of Falling for Ezra Thomas
“Yep. Crazy, isn’t it?”
I shake my head and wrap both arms around her waist, tucking her close. “Nope, not at all. You can do anything you set your mind to, Lorelai Mays, and I have no doubt your books will sell like crazy. I’ll be the first in line for a signed copy.”
She grins and lets me nuzzle her ear without complaint even though I know she’s ticklish. “So, I have a question about all of that other stuff you said. Does that mean you would be flexible enough to, say, travel around the world wherever a certain someone might be stationed?”
“Mmm, maybe,” she hums, her eyelids heavy. “Depends.”
“Does it? What does a guy have to do to ensure that happens?” I kiss behind her ear and bury my face in her hair.
“I suppose you’ll have to test a few options and find out,” she teases and pushes against my chest. “Come on. Let’s go have this cookout and mingle. The sooner we do, the faster we can spend some alone time at the town house.”
“Alone time, you say?” I let her drag me across the driveway towards the gate.
“Oh, yeah, for sure. We have a lot of kissing to catch up on, Ezra.” She grins and her dark eyes sparkle. Yeah. I can get used to waking up to this beautiful woman every morning, thinking about her while I’m away, and falling deeper in love with her every single day.
A vision of her doing all the things she said she wanted to do flashes in my mind, and it feels a lot like…home. Lorelai is home for me, and I get it. I get why Beck fell so hard and so fast for Vivien. These Mays ladies know what they want just as much as we Thomas boys do, and they’re very,verygood at getting it.
Lorelai has me now and forever in the palm of her hand.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lorelai
Way back when westarted planning Vivien’s wedding, I had not anticipated standing beside her as her maid of honor, completely and foolishly in love with her best friend…who stands beside his twin as the best man. But that’s how things have worked out, and here we are, a mere seven months after my sister’s whirlwind romance and short engagement, in front of God and everyone in Coldstone Creek, and it’s raining.
People scramble to get under the tents while I hold an umbrella over the beautiful bride. Her strapless, lace covered dress is still gorgeous even spotted with rain. In fact, she looks so stunning, I’m not sure Beck evenknowsit’s raining. Ezra tries to keep him dry while another of the groomsmen keeps the pastor covered.
A little rain isn’t going to slow this wedding down. I grin at Ezra, who shakes his head and lays a hand on his brother’s shoulder. He leans in and says, “Earth to Beck? Are you going to keep staring at her, or say I do and make her your bride?”
Beck snaps out of his stupor and smiles. And it’s not some small, forced smile that’s usually on his face when social situations require something more than scowling. It’s wide and bright and so full of adoration for my sister.
He huffs out a breath and nods. “I do. Forever, Vivien, I do.”
“Then by all means, kiss your bride,” Pastor says.
Beck practically tackles my sister and kisses her, his new wife. Our families cheer and the whole town erupts, temporarily leaving the safety of the cover to shower them with flowers as they walk back down the aisle. The whole City Hall courtyard has been turned into a beautiful backdrop for the wedding, and even the storm clouds can’t stop people from rejoicing.
Ezra and I toss the umbrellas—Beck and Viv aren’t even using them anyway as they kiss and trample through puddles—and he offers me his arm. I take it and let him lead me down the aisle beside him while the others follow us. Soon, everyone spreads out for the obligatory announcements, dances, and serving of dinner.
Finally, the rain ends and the sun peeks above a few clouds. With the excitement settling and everyone mingling, we’re finally able to sit and enjoy the food. I chew a bite of chicken and glance around at everyone again, giddy with the feel of love in the air. For now, everything is right as, well, rain. And even though Ezra will be sent to his duty station soon, I know where we stand. I know what comes next, and I’m ready for it.
When my eyes land on Luna again, a thought comes to mind.
“Okay, is it just me or do you think Luna showing up without a date and giving Rafe googly eyes all night means anything?” I ask. “Please tell me I’m not the only one still pulling for them.”
“I thought I was just emotional, but she did sort of indicate that day at the cabin that she still loves him,” Vivien admits. She smiles again and looks at her new husband. I know my sister isin good hands with Beck, especially when he looks back at her like she is the beginning and ending of his whole life.
“No, I noticed. She keeps sneaking glances at him,” Beck adds. “I told him to ask her to dance, but he said no because she’s moved on.”
“Doesn’t look like she has to me,” Ezra says. “In fact, I think if he acted like a man and went after her, she’d fall in love all over again.”
“Yeah, well, if that talk at the cabin meant anything, then it won’t take much of a nudge,” Vivien says.
I follow her line of sight and catch Luna staring at Rafe again while he chats with the elder Thomas boys. Her black hair is pulled into an updo that shows off her tanned, slender neck. She’s hard to miss in her red dress that I have no doubt was chosen for Rafe’s benefit, but the doofus is missing every cue she’s giving him. His second chance seems to be slipping through his fingers.
“Should we talk to her?” I ask. “Maybe go sit with her?”
“Yeah. We should. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet,” Vivien says.
