Page 96 of The Billionaire's Teacher

We exited through the kitchen door and crossed the expansive back garden to the detached garage.

I climbed into the passenger seat. “Why doesn’t Noah want to get married here?”

“Hm? Oh.” Jenna clicked her seatbelt into place and looked over her shoulder as she reversed out of the garage. “I think he’s worried it won’t hold everyone. But I don’t think we’d end up with hundreds coming anyway. Megan and Cody had more people at their wedding than I want, and I think Megan said their guest list was right at eighty.”

I pictured the space in the foyer. “Would you just put two rows of seats along each of the long foyer walls?”

“That’s an idea. I was thinking of making short rows with an aisle between. I’m pretty sure we could get four chairs on either side with enough room for people. And probably eight, maybe ten rows.” Jenna slowed and flicked on her turn signal.

“That’s a good number. Maybe you should show him what you’re thinking? You’re an architect? I think that’s what Wes said.”

Jenna nodded and turned.

“So draw it up in CAD. Let Noah see that you’ve thought it out. Where would you hold the reception?”

“In the back. Heated tents. I really want to get married New Year’s Eve. Noah’s also not sure about that, but how great would it be to have a built-in reason to celebrate every year? Plus, it’s an easy out for declining party invites that we don’t want. ‘Oh, so sorry. It’s our anniversary.’”

I laughed. “You’ve thought this through.”

“I have. I guess Noah’s worried I’m going to be upset if I don’t have a big church thing. But that’s not really my style. I love church, and Jesus and the marriage covenant will definitely be the focus of our ceremony, but I think we can do that without being in an actual church building.” Jenna slowed at a stop sign. “Plus, as much as I like our church? The sanctuary is stuck in the nineties.”

I fought a grin. Redecorating was expensive. I’d always wondered why churches didn’t take that into consideration and choose more timeless palettes when they finally worked up the money to change things.

“You’ll see.” Jenna turned again and then pulled into a parking lot in front of a brick building.

It was obviously a church. I didn’t need the white sign out front or the cross on the steeple to tell me. But it was also charming. “We don’t have churches that look like this on the islands. Or, not usually.”

“I wouldn’t imagine architecture there runs to colonial brick.”

“Fair.” I waited for Jenna to stop the engine then undid my seatbelt.

We both got out of the car and crossed the parking lot to the main doors. I glanced around, hoping to see Wes’s car. How hard would it be to spot a BMW? Turned out, in the northern Virginia area, BMWs weren’t as rare as I imagined they would be.

“He’s here.” Jenna turned and pointed to one of the cars I’d missed in my scan. “That’s his.”

“How do you keep it straight?”

“His license plate.”

My gaze drifted down to the white-and-blue Virginia plate and I laughed as I read it. DVWM3. “Dive with me? Is that what it means?”

“You really are made for each other. None of us got it until he explained it.” Jenna shook her head and pulled open the door to the church. “Come on. I bet he’s already staked out our row.”

I walked in behind Jenna and took in the foyer. Stairs led down and up over to the left. More doors stood straight ahead. And there was Wes.

“Or not.” Jenna waved. “I’ll go find Noah. I think you’re in good hands.”

“There you are.” Wes crossed the foyer, expertly dodging groups that were chatting, and pulled me into a hug. “I was beginning to wonder.”

“Are we late?” I eased back and shifted to hold his hand. I could PDA with the best of them, but in church? That seemed…not quite right.

“No. Not really.” Wes stepped closer so our arms touched from shoulder to wrist. “I just missed you.”

His breath on my cheek set delicious shivers through my body. I swallowed. My voice was a hoarse whisper. “We’re inchurch.”

Wes pressed a quick kiss just below my ear and I thought I might burst out of my skin.

“Quit it.” I stepped away, breaking all contact except our hands. I shot him a warning look.

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