Page 74 of Secrets at Seaside
Vera rose from her chair. “You girls are lovely. Just lovely.”
They all held hands and smiled like goofs.
“We’re really doing this,” Amy whispered. “We’re brides!”
“We’re beautiful brides,” Leanna added.
“And we’re marrying our Prince Charmings.” Jenna squealed and wiggled her shoulders.
“I just want you girls to know that I can’t imagine a better wedding, or people I’d rather be with on this day.” Amy’s eyes teared up. “You’re my sisters, and I’m so happy that Duke is letting me work three weeks on-site and then four months remotely. I can’t wait to start my life with Tony, and I can’t wait to move here and build our lives together with you guys. I love you guys so much.”
“Aw, Ames.” Leanna hugged her. “I love you, too.”
“Me too,” Jenna said.
“Okay, okay.” Bella rolled her eyes. “We love each other. Let’s go get married!”
TONY’S MOUTH WENT dry when he saw Amy walking over the dune in her off-white dress. She looked elegant with the simple dress and her hair pulled away from her face. Her smile reached her eyes, and when her eyes met his, his body shuddered with the memory of making love on the dunes last night. She’d been so beautiful, naked and bathed in moonlight. He’d wanted to stay with her beneath the stars until morning, but they’d both known they were breaking tradition by seeing each other. Nothing about their romance had been traditional, and he’d tried to coerce Amy into staying with him using that logic. She’d smiled that adorable smile of hers and shut him up with a sensual kiss. He was putty in her hands, and knew he always would be.
He watched Evan recording the girls as they came over the dunes with Joey bounding beside them. Lizzie handed each of the girls a bouquet of white roses and fastened a white ribbon to Joey’s collar. She was a feisty little thing flitting about as graceful and unobtrusive as a bird. Tony stole a glance at his best friends, who looked as mesmerized by their brides as he felt. Duke caught his eye and nodded, as if to say,You’re a lucky guy. Tony was so grateful that he and Amy had worked things out. Duke had called him last week to tell him—in case he had any doubts—that he hadn’t been doing Amy a favor by agreeing to the new work schedule. Amy had done him a favor. Tony had never felt as proud as he was at that moment. He knew how wonderful Amy was, but it sure felt good hearing it from someone else.
The pride he felt now was ten times the pride he’d felt then, as Amy walked across the sand in her bare feet and came to his side.
“I love you,” he whispered as the others took their places beside them.
“I love you, too, but have you seen Theresa?”
Tony nodded toward the dunes.
Amy turned. “Is that Theresa? I didn’t know she was bringing a date.”
Everyone turned to look at the couple coming over the dunes. As they neared, there was a collective gasp from the girls.
“Holy Moses,” Pete said.
“Bella, I think you’ve been one-upped.” Caden kissed her temple.
“Oh my gosh. Is that…” Amy’s jaw hung open.
“Bradley Cooper,” Tony said. “Wow.”
“Hello, ladies.” Theresa set her eyes on Bella and smirked. “You might know my friend Brad Cooper.”
“No way.” Bella stepped right up to Bradley and leaned in close, looking over his face from every angle. “Are you really Bradley Cooper or a freaking awesome double?”
He flashed his famous cockeyed grin and laughed. “I’m him. Terry said you might want to meet me.” Bradley held a hand out in greeting.
“Terry?” Bella raised her brows as she shook his hand.
“Yeah.” He looked at Theresa. “Terry used to babysit me. Right, Ter?”
“Darn right I did.” Theresa stalked past Bella with a satisfied grin on her thin lips. “Shall we get this show on the road?”
Amy turned to Tony, went up on her toes, and whispered in his ear, “You’re ten times as handsome as he is.”
He didn’t care if it was the truth or not. Amy said it, and that was truth enough for him.
The service was short and sweet. Amy and Tony stated their vows, then Bella and Caden took their turn. Once they finished, Jenna and Pete, and then Leanna and Kurt recited their vows. After they’d all gone, the girls looked from one to the other, but Tony didn’t take his eyes off of Amy during the whole service. He wanted to remember the way a few wispy tendrils of hair came loose from her ribbon and framed her face. The scent of the bay breeze as it picked up her perfume, and how her eyes took on a fiery, emerald glow in the afternoon sun. There had been a time that long-ago summer when Tony had dreamed of marrying Amy just like this, on the beach among their friends. He was thinking about how their lives had come full circle when Theresa’s voice brought him back to the moment.
