Smiling, he swooped down and licked a patch of sweat between her heavenly breasts. His release came next, swiftly, urgently.
God, she was fantastic. He collapsed against her, out of breath. "Andrea, how do you feel?"
He could tell she was smiling against the cord of his neck. "I feel like Mrs. Wilson Struthers. Finally."
Finally.
For a few minutes, they whispered sweet nothings to each other. Or rather sweet everythings. Then, as uncomfortable as their makeshift bed was, Andrea's breathing slowly settled into a steady rhythm.
Will had no need for rest. He preferred to watch her as she slept.
Her luscious lips curved in a smile. Briefly brushing his against hers, he hoped he wasn't too heavy on her.
Thanking the good God above, he knew he was the luckiest man alive.
* * * *
Andrea smiled. For the first time since leaving the Big Island, she was warm. Toasty.
Loved.
At that thought, she opened her eyes. There, lying on top of her, was the most comfortable and sexy blanket ever. Wilson.
"Hello." He trailed kisses down the length of her face. "You took a little nap. How do you feel?"
She had no hesitation. "Wonderful! Fantastic! How about you?"
He grinned. "I think I'm going to need a chiropractor to get all the kinks out."
"Oh, I forgot. You're sooo much older than me--"
He silenced her with a kiss.
Mmm! When she came up for air, she sighed. "You know, I'm never going to look at this car the same way again. And whenever I sit in this seat..." She wiggled under him, savoring the sensation.
More kisses, more delights.
Wilson lifted up to reach into the backseat. He retrieved their clothes. "Okay, let's get dressed and make plans."
She rubbed against him. "Let's not."
He wagged his finger at her. "Later, my girl. For now, you're going back in the house and I'm going to my bed. You've got to promise me you'll stay put. No running off. I'll deal with your father."
"It's the strangest thing, but I'm not afraid of displeasing him anymore." She bumped her hips against Wilson's again. "I think you've given me some backbone."
"Of a sort." He laughed. Then he rolled to the door side of the seat, off of her.
She missed his warmth already, but they did need more space to dress. With difficulty, she managed the climb back over the console, into the driver's seat.
He shrugged into his shirt. "Seriously, Andrea, I will tell him, later today. After all, what's the worse he can do, fire me?"
"If he does, I can teach you how to strip the kukui nuts." Pulling her sweater over her head, she then slipped on her panties.
She was a little sore. But it was a good sore. She felt complete inside.
"You didn't promise, Andrea." He finished dressing, then crossed his arms against his magnificent chest, waiting for her answer.
Her jeans were more difficult to pull up. "I promise, Wilson. Truly. Besides, running away was cowardly of me. Dad would've been really upset when he woke up this morning."
"He's not a well man, sweetheart. The last thing in the world he wants is to lose you."
Guilt settled on her shoulders, but then she shook it away. She hadn't run away, and she wasn't going to. There was no need for guilt.
"Are you ready?" Wilson asked.
Nodding, she used the remote to open the garage door. After getting out of the car, she looked down at the vehicle with fondness. "You know, I almost hate to leave."
It was still raining outside. A gust of wind brought in cold and dampness.
He enveloped her in a hug. "I'll be working on the divorce paperwork today, but I'll see you later. I can't wait until..."
His kisses created the most heavenly yearning.
Curving his arm around her shoulders, he walked with her out of the garage. "After the final decree comes in, you want to have the wedding on the Big Island?"
Once outside, she shivered again. Bone chilling cold. She pressed in the automatic code to close the garage door. "Absolutely. By the water."
Instead of the rain, she concentrated on the beauty of her island setting. "I couldn't get married without the Lawai'as, and Dottie, Nicky, and Archie."
He laughed again. "Naturally. Every wedding should have dolphins."
She took his left hand. His gold band from Stella was noticeably missing. She ran her finger over his third finger. "Do you have our wedding ring, Wilson? It would mean a lot to me if we could--"
"Not to worry, sweetheart. Of course I have it." Reaching the back door to the house, he stopped and lifted her chin up with his finger. "I wore it for quite a few years."
Tears suddenly sprung to her eyes. "Oh, Wilson, we're so blessed for this second chance."
"I know, love. I know." His kiss shivered her down to her toes. "Now, get to bed and I'll see you later."
With a sigh, she slipped back into the house, missing him already. Who could sleep after what she'd just experienced?
Instead, she felt like dancing and singing, even though it was the wee hours of the morning. The song strumming through her mind was the most beautiful love song ever, appropriately called the Hawaiian Wedding Song, made famous by Elvis Presley.
With any luck, this time next month, she could be singing it to her new husband.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Hawaiian Wedding
"You must wear the flower lei, young one. I have made it with dendrobium orchids, the colors of purple, pink, and white. It is tradition for the bride."
Andrea lowered her head so Mama Kalala could drape the colorful and fragrant garland of flowers around her neck.
Touching one of the petals, she smiled. "It's spectacular, Mama Kalala. I love it."
"You will love the matching wedding haku lei I made for your head, too."
Crowned with flowers, Andrea admired her image in her bedroom mirror. Her flowing dark hair was a perfect contrast for the flowers. The long, beautiful wedding gown also enhanced the color of the exotic orchids. Traditions of both cultures, Hawaiian and American, worked together to ensure her happiness.
This day, her long awaited re-wedding day, had finally arrived.
When she picked up her bouquet of pink roses and white dendrobium orchids, she suddenly panicked.
"Do you think everyone will be ready? Will Wilson bring the license? Do you think the dolphins will be in Onomea Bay today?" She worried her lower lip with her teeth. "Do we have shrimp for them to eat?"
"Stop fussing, child. You will smear your lipstick." Mama Kalala took her hand. "Let us make haste now, yes? I will answer all your questions on the way."
Mama Kalala was dressed in a long muu muu, so both of them were careful as they slowly descended the polished oak stairs.
Once they reached the living room, the older woman said, "First, yes, your guests will all be ready. Everyone is at the inn now, except for us and Papa. Second, the marriage license is safely in the hands of the Kahu minister. Indeed, as soon as you and Will left the Office of the Governor's Liaison with the license, you gave it to the minister yourself. Remember?"
The vague memory resurfaced. "Oh. Right."
Mama Kalala straightened the strap on her wedding gown. "What was next?"
She answered her own question. "Ah, the dolphins. Whether they decide to swim in the bay is something I cannot foresee, my little coconut. You have talked with them about this for many days. Perhaps they could sense your excitement. In any case, we do have buckets of shrimp for them, should they watch the ceremony from the water."
Opening the door, Andrea walked outside, followed by Mama Kalala. Instead of a limousine to take them to the inn, Papa Lawai'a waited by his white Taurus.
That was the way Andrea wanted it. Her father had insisted that she be driven to the ceremony in a limousine. Randolph had insisted on a lot of things, but Andrea had put her foot down.
And Wilson had backed her up.
G
lancing down at the naked ring finger on her left hand, she smiled. It wouldn't be naked too much longer.
Once they arrived at the cliff side inn, she and the Lawai'as were escorted inside by Thomas. Along with hotel staff, two members of the wedding party waited in the reception area: Hi`ilani--Thomas' wife--the matron of honor, and Andrea's father.
Randolph was preoccupied with a cell phone call. "Yes," she heard him say. "Haleiwa. I gave you the address. It's on the North Shore of Oahu. Make sure you deliver the furniture on Tuesday."
Grinning, she turned away. A month ago, her father hadn't been pleased--to put it mildly--to learn his only daughter and son-in-law were setting up house in Hawaii. On Oahu. But Randolph adjusted. He even rented a beautiful condo near their house in Haleiwa.
Mama Kalala fluffed out Andrea's hair. "A kiss for luck, eh?" After the kiss, she pinched Andrea's cheek, and was ushered outside by Thomas.
While Hi`ilani straightened the back of Andrea's gown, Andrea snuck a peek outside. There were only a few chairs set out on the green lawn under the shade of tropical palm trees. That was because only a few people were invited, just as she wanted. She saw Mama Kalala and Thomas sit, and next to them, Phillip and a buddy, along with Nathan and his girlfriend.
Naomi Ballantine, the best man's wife, was seated near Wilson's sister Cassandra and her husband.
Andrea moved so she could see more of the outside. The flowered archway stood in front of the chairs. The bay lay beyond--a gorgeous and tranquil setting. The Hawaiian minister waited under the arch, as did the sun-reddened figure of Kevin Ballantine.
She worried her lower lip again. Where was Wilson?
A few seconds later, he came into view under the archway, looking as handsome as ever in his gray business suit with a colorful boutonniere on his lapel. A traditional lei of green leaves, called a mailei lei, was draped over his neck to hang down to mid-thigh.
He spoke to the minister and Kevin. He didn't appear at all nervous.
She, on the other hand, practically dripped perspiration. Mindful of her lipstick, she released her lower lip.
"Are we ready?" Hi`ilani asked. "If so, then I'll give the signal."
About to capture her lower lip again, Andrea took a deep breath. "Yes. I'm ready."
Papa Lawai'a nodded, then took her left arm. She wanted both her dads to walk her down the aisle. Fortunately, Randolph had been amenable to the idea.
He still talked on the phone. "Dad?"
"Yes, dear." Her father pocketed the cell.
She lifted her eyebrow.
He gave her an apologetic smile, pulled the cell out again, but this time turned it off.
"Okay." He stood on her other side, then winked at Papa Lawai'a. "Are we ready to give our girl away?"
Papa Lawai'a grunted. "Will is a good man. He will take care of you, Anakalia."
"Yes." Tears stung her eyes, so she blinked rapidly to drive them away. She couldn't say another word.
The music began. With Hi`ilani leading the way, Andrea followed behind on both her dads' arms. As they stepped outside, a warm breeze greeted them. The sun beamed and seagulls rode the wind, sounding their high pitched cries.
The January weather was perfect, all she had hoped it would be. The deep blue of the bay and the azure skies added to this colorful, tropical paradise.
And, at the end of the aisle stood the archway... and Wilson.
Andrea had eyes for only him. His expression of love made her heart beat so fast, she thought she would surely burst.
When she finally reached his side, she gazed into his tender brown eyes. A lifetime of waiting would soon be over. Although they'd both pledged themselves to each other before, this day would be the wedding day she'd remember for the rest of her life.
After both dads kissed her cheeks, Wilson took her hand. They turned to face the Kahu minister.
As the minister spoke, of love and sacrifice, of Hawaiian traditions, of family values, she looked out at the rippling waters of the bay. A sudden splash caught her attention.
She focused on the water. Three...four...no, eight dolphins leapt into the air almost as if participating in a synchronistic water dance. Nicky, Dottie, and Archie jumped the highest.
Still holding Wilson's hand, she squeezed it, then nodded toward the dolphins.
He squeezed back.
The minister performed a special Oli love chant with soft, drawn-out vowels. She felt transported back to the days of the ancient Hawaiians, of a people finely attuned to songs, nature, and tradition.
When he was finished, he closed his prayer book and cleared his throat. "And now, Wilson, do you take Andrea, joined together with you over seven years ago, once again in marriage? Through happiness and joy, and through sadness and grief?"
Wilson smiled down at her. "I do, most definitely."
It was her turn. "Andrea, do you take Wilson, joined together with you over seven years ago, once again in marriage? Through happiness and joy, and through sadness and grief?"
"I do." Her lips slightly quivered. Her happiness was now complete.
After they exchanged rings, the minister lifted his hands. "I now pronounce you Kane--husband and Wahine--wife...again. Wilson, you may now kiss your bride."
Wilson wasted no time. He curved his arms around her, held her close against his chest, then captured her lips in the dreamiest kiss.
All outside stimuli faded. Only Wilson existed.
They pulled apart to the sounds of cheers, murmurs of congratulations, and whistles, squeals, and clicks from her dolphin friends.
Stepping forward to begin their new life together, she knew deep down to her soul that Wilson had just the right number of wives. One. And she was that one.
Just as he was the only husband for her.
Andrea grinned. And now the adventure would begin!
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author and seven time EPPIE Finalist Susanne Marie Knight specializes in Romance Writing with a Twist! She currently has sold 29 books including the Dream Realm speculative fiction winner THE COMING. Originally from New York, Susanne lives in the Pacific Northwest, by way of Okinawa, Montana, Alabama, and Florida. Along with her husband, daughter, and the spirit of her feisty Siamese cat, she enjoys the area's beautiful ponderosa pine trees and wide, open spaces--a perfect environment for writing. For more information about Susanne, please visit her website at www.susanneknight.com.
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