Our rehearsal dinner was that evening, but it was more of a reunion than anything else.
"When's the last time we had so many people we loved all together in one place?" Mom asked me, leaning in and bumping my shoulder at the round table where we sat eating.
Lincoln squeezed my thigh under the table from my other side, and I met his eyes with a broad smile.
"I don't know," I answered. "I'm just so glad everyone is here now."
"What do you think of the place, Mrs. Spark?" Lincoln asked my mom, leaning in slightly to be heard over the raucous table next to us, where my sister and Lincoln's brother were enthralling the rest of the crowd with when-they-were-little stories.
Mom looked around her, as if making a fresh judgment on the spot. "I'd been worried about Selena leaving the security of Perdido," she said. "And Lincoln, you know I was worried about her taking up with you again."
"Taking up?" I murmured, laughing.
"But this place ... it feels like magic," Mom said, her eyes shining as she looked between us.
"It does," Dad agreed. "You've captured something here, something that will make people want to come back. Maybe it's the way it feels being in a place built by people who care about each other."
I liked that. I liked the idea that the place Lincoln and I had built was influenced at every turn by our desire to be partners in every way imaginable, that every decision we made had been infused with our love, our joy at being together, at getting to build a dream together.
"Son." Lincoln's father's voice was jarring, almost like a roar.
For some reason, Lincoln's hand fell away from my leg at the sound, and his shoulders stiffened.
"I've never agreed with the path you chose for yourself." He let that nugget hang out there and my stomach twisted, worry for Lincoln flooding my chest. He'd talked with his dad a few times after leaving Oceanic, but they'd never been close. Not becoming a lawyer like him, not following some path Lincoln couldn't even imagine setting foot on, had driven a stake between them years earlier. "But I agree that this place suits you. And I know you'll be successful. Not just with the resort, but because you've chosen the right partner." Lincoln's mother was nodding enthusiastically.
"We thought he'd screwed that one up years ago for good," she said now, leaning toward my parents as she spoke.
The tension that had stiffened Lincoln's shoulders eked away as the evening went on, and soon we were all laughing and moving around the patio where we'd eaten, reuniting with family and friends we hadn't seen in far too long.
When Lincoln and I said goodnight and turned to go back to the house we'd built for ourselves at the edge of the property, it was with smiles and full hearts. And from the bed where he held me in his arms the night before we married, I could hear faint strains of happiness winding between the fronds of the palms, filtering up into the indigo blue of the night sky.
* * *
The next morning, I kissed Lincoln goodbye as he still slept in our bed, picking up the long garment bag that had been hanging on the closet door and the sparkly flip flops that went with it. Everything else was in Jenny's room, and I walked the winding path through the luxurious foliage of the property with growing excitement.
Today I was getting married to the man I loved.
"There you are!" Jenny was sitting in the lounge chair on her bungalow's patio, coffee cup in hand.
"Some of that please," I said, pointing at her cup. "And of course I'm here. You said bright and early."
"I meant like seven. I've been up for hours."
"The wedding isn't until eleven. How long do you expect it to take me to get dressed?"
Jenny shook her head as if she was so much more experienced at this wedding thing than I was and I was hopeless. Though, I guess, if you counted the first time with Ben, she did have twice the experience with weddings that I did. But I didn't want the coffee on my dress as much as I wanted it in my mouth, so I didn't mention this to her.
We went inside, where my mother was bustling around in the little kitchenette. "There you are!"
"Why is everyone acting like I'm late?" I asked.
Mom just smiled at me, taking my face between her palms and making a tutting noise as tears shone in her eyes.
"Nope. Don't do that," I told her, pulling my face out from between her palms and going to hang the garment bag up. "We're having a happy and fun day, not a crying nostalgic day."
"Both my girls are going to be wives," Mom said, ignoring me and allowing tears to slide down her cheeks.
Jenny and I exchanged a look, silently agreeing not to indulge Mom's sentimental side too much. If we did, we'd all end up crying.
"Sit down. We need to do your hair first."
I obliged, smiling as Jenny put a mug of steaming coffee in my hand. "Where are Chris and Dad?"
"They went diving this morning at like six," Jenny said, shaking her head. "I should have known having my parents on my honeymoon might change the focus a bit."
"I'm just glad it worked out for us all to be together," Mom said, sniffling. There had been a lot of discussion and coordination, between Jenny and Chris's wedding, the opening of the resort, the planning of their honeymoon and my own wedding plans.
"Sit still," Mom said, her mouth full of bobby-pins and the tears forgotten as she got to work on my hair.
* * *
It was a few minutes before eleven when Jenny and I left the little bungalow and made our way toward the beach. The sun washed the bay in brilliant hues of blue and gold, the white sand shining at our feet as we approached the spot where Dad, Mom, Chris, and Lincoln stood with the officiant from the island. The gathering was small and intimate, family seated in just a few rows on either side of an aisle strewn with petals from tropical flowers.
“You look so pretty.” Jasmine, Lincoln’s niece smiled up at me as her mother ushered her back to where we stood.
“So do you,” I told her, lowering myself to look her in the eye. “Your dress is very pretty. Thank you for being our flower girl.”
She smiled a gap-toothed smile and lifted her little basket of petals for me to see.
“Are you ready?” I asked her.
She nodded, her expression serious now, and we took a few more steps toward the gathered guests on the beach. Toward my future.
Lincoln was chatting with my dad, but as Jenny and I stepped out onto the sand, his eyes found me and his lips stopped moving. A moment later, all heads turned in our direction.
My father came across the sand to take my arm, and a moment later, strains of music rose to meet the gentle roll of the tide against the beach.
"Hey honey," he said, kissing my cheek. "You ready?"
I glanced past him to where Lincoln stood, his blond hair shining in the sunlight and his lips pulled into a bright smile as he stared at me. My heart squeezed inside my chest and I felt my own smile widen. "I'm ready," I told my father.
Jasmine was walking slowly along, tossing petals, and my heart squeezed at the perfection of the setting.
Jenny preceded us down the aisle, and once she'd taken her place at the front, Dad and I followed.
"Who gives this woman away?" the officiant asked when we'd reached the front.
"Her mother and I do," Dad said, and he turned to face Lincoln, placing my hand in his. "Take care of her," he said quietly, and I heard Dad's voice crack.
"I will, sir," Lincoln said.
We faced the wide open sea as we exchanged our vows in front of our family and friends, and Lincoln pulled me into his arms once we were wed, kissing me fiercely. "I love you, Selena," he said, and as I stared into his deep brown eyes, I felt the truth of it in my heart.
"I love you too," I said. And as I hugged him close, I let my eyes wander out across the water. Just as I was about to look away, a dolphin leapt and arched, diving back beneath the surface. A moment later, two more dolphins jumped, and everyone in the small crowd noticed, turning to watch.
After a few more playful lea
ps, the little pod of dolphins swam away, and Lincoln and I walked with our families back to the home we'd built together to celebrate the beginning of the rest of our lives.
<<<<>>>>
Sneak Peek - Shut Up and Dance with Me
Monique McDonell
“Here we go again.” I let go of the handle of my suitcase and looked up at the Oceanic Aphrodite. Around me on the dock people buzzed with excitement about boarding the cruise ship and setting sail for a fun-filled, sun-filled week-long vacation. Me, not so much.
Unlike these people I have never been a big fan of organised fun for large groups of people or for that matter confined spaces. I was also most definitely not a fan of the fact that my best friend Vivi had decided to remarry her no good ex-husband Lance on board this very ship the same week they’re hosting a singles cruise.
You would think once bitten twice shy but not my Vivi. The woman is a hopeless romantic who believes she and Lance are soul mates. I’m not sure how she justified her soulmate cheating on her, but she’s a believer in people changing and second chances and apparently cruise ships.
I’m a believer in that Oprah quote, ‘when people show you who they are believe them’ and the fact that if your soulmate is a leopard or a cheetah (get it!) he won’t change his spots.
Vivi is the world’s sweetest second grade teacher and Lance is a pitcher for the Austin Armadillos. He’s not A-Rod famous in the baseball world, but in Texas he is pretty well known, which means over the years women have wanted to shower him with affection and in the past, he’s been happy to soak in some of that lady love. Was it really in the past? I had no idea.
Still, Vivi was my best-friend and so I always tried to be everything she needed from me, including in this case her bridesmaid. So, for one week I was going to bite my tongue so hard and so often I may be able to put a piercing in there by the time we docked back in Miami. I braced myself. It was going to be a long week.
“My mom always told me that if you keep making funny faces, your face will get stuck like that.” That voice could only belong to one man. Danny Moretti, aka the Italian stallion, aka the best man.
In this case we’re being very generous with the term best. He may or may not be better than Lance but in my humble opinion that’s a very low bar.
Danny has been loyally Team Lance while I’m Team Vivi all the way. We didn’t have official t-shirts made but I considered it more than once. Yeah, we picked sides when they split up and he was very definitely on the opposing team. I can’t say that didn’t disappoint me. Over the years, before the split Danny and I spent quite a bit of time together and, arrogance aside, I’d always thought he was a decent guy. He ran a successful chain of Italian restaurants in Texas. He’d taken a small family brand and now he had ten restaurants across the state. He was constantly being written up as one of the State’s most eligible bachelors. The hotness of the man was undeniable and there’d always been a spark of chemistry between us, but the timing had never been right. I’d had a boyfriend, or he’d had a girlfriend, then he’d had a fiancé and then when Vivi and Lance split that was that.
Danny met Lance at college where they’d been roommates and those bonds were tight. I’d been friends with the happy couple since middle school. Still, sides were chosen, and choices were made that could not be unmade.
I was glad nothing ever happened between Danny and I because any man who backed his cheating friend was not the man for me.
I glanced up at him and gave him an icy look. He was standing super close and as he’s nearly a foot taller than me I could feel his presence like a sexy cloud hanging overhead. In the moment he smelled really good despite the heat and he looked better than ever. Dark hair, a five o’clock shadow and those eyes that have always seemed to see right inside me were part of Danny’s charm.
Nope. I can’t like the man not even a little. No pondering the charm or the abs or what that stubble might feel like against me… No. He’s Team Lance. And Lance can’t be trusted. Birds of a feather. And they flock together.
“Danny.” I have to tilt my head up to look at him even though I was I’m wearing sky high heels.
“Sandy. You look good as always.” He looked like he wanted to lean in and kiss my cheek like the old days, but he hesitated. Probably for the best.
I may or may not have pretended not to see him last time our paths crossed. I liked that I wasn’t the only one a little uncertain about how to handle our current predicament.
“Thanks.” I may have gone to a little bit of extra effort to get ready for the trip just because I knew he’d be there. As a shoe buyer for a large department store back in Dallas fashion is my thing but cruise ship fashion is a little different from my usual attire. I chose a tropical print, off the shoulder sundress and cute silver heels. My blonde hair hung loose and was held back by my large sunglasses. It was a contrast to the sleek low-ponytail I favour for work and my makeup was fresher and more natural than my corporate look. “You don’t look terrible yourself.”
He let out a low throaty laugh. It was way too sexy. “Thanks for the compliment. I know that cost you, darlin’.”
The man’s Texan drawl made my stomach flip. Maybe if I imagined him talking with a cockney accent that would help me keep my head in charge and not my hormones.
I took a step back, and slid my sunglasses on, hoping to break some of the pull he had over me. “Look, just so you know. I’m here for Vivi but I still don’t think this whirlwind of a reunion is a good idea.”
He searched my face. “I get that. But Lance has changed.”
I arched my brow, hand on hip. “I’m not buying what you boys are selling.”
His warm smile was a contrast to my own set expression. “I always appreciated how protective you are of Vivi and I can understand why you’re sceptical. I think he’s changed, however we are in agreement Sandy. I still think the marriage itself is a bad idea. They’re rushing this.”
That was something I supposed. I knew he’d called off his own hasty engagement a while back, so he probably did really believe that. I didn’t have the full story there, none of my business although I was curious. Rumor had it the poor girl was so devastated she’d abandoned the great state of Texas entirely.
“Okay well you should know; I’m watching him and I question some of what I’m seeing. I mean for starters why would a cheater organise his wedding on a singles cruise? It’s a floating temptation island.”
Danny laughed and looked around his eyes taking in the many, many single women looking for love. There was one for every taste. From short to tall, lean to curvy and brunette to blonde. “Yeah, that does seem…”
“Insane?”
“Risky.” He countered turning away from the brunette twenty feet away trying to catch his eye and back to me. “But don’t worry he’s learned his lesson in the past two years. Believe me.”
I wanted to, for Vivi of course, but also because I didn’t want Danny to be the sort of guy who supported his friend at any cost. “We’ll see.”
“Look, I know we’ve had our differences in the past and we don’t see eye to eye on this, but we need to play nice for the week, Sandy. We’re here to support them and we need to do just that.”
“Okay I know. But for the record, this is a disaster waiting to happen, and like before I’ll be picking up the pieces of Vivi’s broken heart and I don’t think I can put her back together next time.” I sighed. The woman had cried non-stop for months. I’d just gotten her functional again and now, here we were. Lance was her kryptonite.
“Okay, point taken. Can we agree to be civil at least?” He stared down at me searching my face. He looked genuinely concerned about me, but I wasn’t falling for it.
“You just stay on your side of the ship and I’ll stay on mine. I’m sure there will be lots of single women here happy to keep you occupied between wedding commitments and in the days after the ceremony,” I propose, my voice a little shakier than I’d like. I extend a hand and he shakes it. �
��Deal?”
He held on longer than expected and his dark eyes met mine. While I waited for his answer warmth spread through my body. I tried to tell myself it was because of the hot Florida sun but I’m lying to myself. It was all him.
“Deal. For the record I’m not interested in those other single women.”
I dropped his hand as two arms wrapped around me from behind and Vivi squealed in my ear. The word other played in my mind. Did that mean I was a single woman he would be interested in?
I must have misheard but there was no mishearing the woman screaming with joy in my ear.
“You’re here and you found each other.” She looked so happy and content when
I turned to face her edging away from Danny breaking our connection. I faced Vivi and wrapped my own arms around her waist.
“Of course, I’m here.” She knew I thought she was rushing this wedding, but she also knew I would never let her get married without me. Danny and I stood beside them last time and like it or not we were doing it again.
Lance approached from behind her and met my eyes with less enthusiasm than Vivi. He gave me the male chin tip of acknowledgement. He knew I was still not team Lance. He by-passed me to get to Danny and give him a man hug.
“The whole gang’s back together again.” Vivi squealed releasing me to take Lance’s hand.
“Yay.” The sarcasm in my tone was only lost on Vivi, the boys heard it loud and clear. “Shall we get on board?” Danny suggested diplomatically.
“Yes, let’s get this party started.” Vivi said as she took a champagne from the crew member standing with a full tray of glasses. She headed up the gangplank dragging Lance with her while humming the wedding march, not that he seemed the least bit reluctant to follow.
I tried not to feel a pang of envy at her ability to believe in love however crazy it is. And I tried to ignore the butterflies I felt when Danny touched me. I was hoping my anger over this crazy wedding would keep my feelings in check. There was a time when I had a mega crush on Danny, not that I ever told anyone, not even Vivi. I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was smart, successful and savvy. It was a pity no one had told my hormones.
Take a Chance on Me: The Oceanic Dreams Series Book Six Page 9
