Then there was Tiffany. That was the kind of man she wanted to marry, one that had a delicate heart and was deeply in love—not the one who had his arms crossed and a sour expression on his face.
The hula dancers were in full motion when Tiffany flagged down the waitress and ordered another drink. Stress… There was only one way to combat this. Playing nice and masking all of her feelings was a taking its toll on Tiffany. This is exactly what adult beverages are made for.
* * * *
“You can’t see the bride. Go away, Owen,” Mackenzie said when Owen knocked on their hotel room door the next afternoon.
The wedding ceremony was to take place in just a few hours. Regardless of how completely nontraditional their wedding and entire romance was, some superstitions were meant to be kept, this being one of them.
“I need to talk to Tiffany.”
“Why?” Tiffany whispered to Molly and Mackenzie, both shrugged at her.
“What do you want, babe?” Molly called out.
“Just to speak to Tiffany for a moment. Please.”
Tiffany went to the door. “I’ll go outside and talk to him,” she told the girls. “Hey, Owen, I’m coming out now. No peeking at Moll, okay?”
“No peeking, I promise.”
Tiffany slipped outside as quickly as she could. Owen looked handsome in a dark floral Hawaiian shirt and khakis.
“What’s up? You okay?” Tiffany asked. She was praying he wasn’t going to tell her that he had cold feet and was going to cancel the wedding.
“I’m good—a little nervous, but very happy.”
That was a tremendous relief.
“Okay, that’s great. So why do you need to talk to me?” Tiffany followed Owen as he led her away from the hotel and toward the beach.
It was slightly breezy. The sun was painting the sky orange. It was the perfect backdrop for what was going to be a special union of love.
“It’s about Colin.”
“What about him?” Tiffany wrapped her arms around herself—not for warmth, but to shield herself from whatever Owen had to say.
“Well, Colin’s wondering if he should leave.”
“Leave? He’s your best man. That’s kind of a shitty thing to do.” Tiffany was upset. How dare he trample on this special day?
Owen nodded. “But I also see where he’s coming from. Last night was really hard, Tiffany.”
“On him? Because he’s the one in the wrong here.”
“I don’t know who is right or wrong. Honestly, you both mean a lot to me, so I don’t care. I want you to talk to him,” Owen pleaded.
“Owen, there’s not much to discuss. I’m sorry that he wants to pout and run away. I’m here for Molly and for you. This isn’t about Colin or me. It’s about my best friend marrying the man she loves.” Tiffany hugged Owen. He looked like he could use it.
“You’re a good person. Colin is too. That’s why I can’t figure out what’s going on with the both you. I mean, he’s told me his version, Molly explained yours, then there’s what really happened.”
“Owen, it’s simple. Colin and I don’t have anything near what you and Molly have. You guys love each other, like real love. Colin and I were drunk in Vegas and you know what they say about Vegas. ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’.” Tiffany smiled up at him.
“But it didn’t stay in Vegas. Heck, I don’t think it even started in Vegas. I think it started in Seattle, on my boat,” Owen countered. “Sometimes the unexpected is the best thing that happens to us.”
“There was nothing unexpected about Colin and I.”
“Wrong. Do you think he expected you to kiss him that night on the boat?” Owen raised his eyebrows knowingly at her.
“How did you know about that? Damn, Molly.” Tiffany shook her head. Is nothing sacred between them anymore?
“Colin.”
“Colin told you?”
Owen nodded. “That’s not all he told me.”
“Oh God,” Tiffany gasped and her cheeks burned.
“No, no, not that.” Owen tried to reassure her.
Yeah, right. Tiffany looked away. She was fully embarrassed.
“Hey, I’m serious. Colin really does care about you.”
“He sure has a funny way of showing it,” Tiffany replied angrily.
“Oh stop. You know how us guys are. Cut him some slack. When he saw that surfer dude hitting on you, he got a little territorial. Was it right? No, but most of the time men aren’t.” He looked over his shoulder dramatically. “Now, you didn’t hear that from me.”
Tiffany laughed. Maybe Owen had a point. Tiffany’s heart had been aching. If not being with Colin is the right thing, it shouldn’t hurt this bad, right?
Owen and Tiffany stared out at the rolling blue as it slapped at the shore. “Just please talk to Colin.”
Tiffany exhaled. “It’s just because you’ll be without a best man. Ah, the things that I do for you, Owen.”
“Oh, like making you talk to your husband. Whatever you gotta tell yourself… If you want it to be because you’re worried that I’ll have no best man, then that works for me. Just talk to him before he tries to leave.”
“You know, Owen, Molly sure lucked out that day you hit her with that fish,” Tiffany teased.
He let out a loud laugh. “Not that again. She was in the way. I swear.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself. I think you hit her on purpose. It’ll be our little secret,” Tiffany promised then patted his arm.
* * * *
Tiffany stood outside. She’d been staring at a small chip of paint on the otherwise perfectly white door. She was scared to knock. What was she going to say? But she also knew there wasn’t much time. The wedding was only an hour or so away and standing outside the door all night wasn’t really an option. Here goes nothing. Tiffany knocked softly then waited. And waited. Nothing. Maybe he’d already left and she was too late. Tiffany balled up her fist and tried again, this time with a little more force—maybe too much force. The door move as she moved in for another strike.
Colin stood there with a confused look on his face. He wasn’t wearing a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt and certainly didn’t look like he was ready to be Owen’s best man.
“So, you were just going to leave?”
“Does it matter?” Colin’s eyes were quiet, but there was something brewing in them.
“Yes, it does. Your best friend needs his best man. My best friend needs her maid of honor. They don’t deserve to have us ruin their day because we’re stupid.”
“I know. But what about this?” Colin waved his hand between them.
“We can deal with it later.” Tiffany looked up him. His lips were pouted and she suddenly wanted to feel them on hers.
“I’d like to deal with it now.” His voice was deep and rough.
“Well, we don’t have time right now. Afterward, I promise,” Tiffany offered.
Colin stepped away from the door and moved in closer.
“Tiffany, I think we have time.” He grabbed her in a swift move and before she could blink, his lips were on hers—right where they belonged.
Time stood still and sped forward all at the same time. Tiffany’s heart pounded hard. She was rattled and unexpectedly happy.
“Colin—” Tiffany started once he kiss ended.
“No, let me speak first.” He put his finger to her lips to silence her. “I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. Then saying that we should reconsider us? What a fool I was.”
“I know, but—” Tiffany began. He shook his head.
“I’m not finished. The last two days have been brutal. I’ve missed you like crazy, yet I continued to be a jerk to you at dinner last night.” Colin’s eyes were sad and regret was etched on his handsome face. “Look, Tiffany, we may not have gone about this marriage the traditional way, but here we are and that’s what truly matters. We are here together.” He wrapped his arms around her and continued, “Some people don’t get the chance
to be with someone that makes them laugh like no other, to be with someone that terrifies them so much.”
“Wait, terrify?”
“Because of how much I love you. It scares me to death. I’ve never felt this way about another person.” Colin rested his lips softly on her forehead. He gingerly brushed them against her skin then said, “How is it possible to love someone this quickly unless they are your soul mate.”
“Oh, Colin, I have been carrying around this ache.” Tiffany clutched her chest. “I thought the easiest way to numb all these feelings was to cut you from my heart. But I realized I can’t.”
All morning Tiffany had suffered, even when she’d stared out the endless blue and was sipping her coffee, the two things that should have brought her peace. Tiffany’s heart was too busy wilting inside of her. She’d missed Colin and Pauly, knowing that they weren’t more than a hundred feet away. It had been pure torture—to fight over something so petty and stupid. Tiffany was more than angry with herself. Colin was right. She should have told that guy to buzz off. She was a married woman now and couldn’t have guys hitting on her. There was only one man’s attention she wanted. Well, two guys.
This trip could have been incredible, full of romance and making love. But instead, it was ruined because Tiffany and Colin were both more stubborn than a certain English bulldog. Tiffany had put on a brave face most of the day. When she’d snuck off into the restroom to cry, no one had noticed thankfully. Molly had been too deep into her own anxiety, constantly dabbing an array of emotional tears. Mackenzie had taken charge, being the bossy one they knew and loved, making sure everything else went according to plan. She’d turned out to be the best of the maids of honor. Mackenzie had even made sure Molly ate, napped and had tissues easily at her disposal when the tears revisited. Tiffany was doing the bare minimum of her bridesmaid’s duties. Her mind was miles away. Colin had been on her mind all day.
But now she was here in his arms and it was too much. Tiffany melted against him. Colin bent down, resting his chin on the top of her head and tightened their embrace. Tiffany began to cry into his chest. These weren’t dainty pretty little tears. It was full-on, snot-dripping ugly crying.
“Sweetheart, please don’t cry. You’ll upset Pauly. He’s missed you.” Colin pushed her away a few inches to look at her. He gripped her bare arms softly. “But not nearly as much I have.”
Tiffany could only nod. Her words were caught up in her throat. She could only imagine how awful she must look. Her mascara and eyeliner were probably ruined. Tiffany desperately tried to smooth any smudged makeup and compose herself.
“Sorry. I must look like a hot mess,” Tiffany apologized.
“No, you’re beautiful, Tiffany,” Colin whispered as he left a trail of feathery kisses where tears had dampened her cheeks. “Pauly and I are the luckiest guys on this island. This planet.”
God, I love this man—and his stinky, slobbering bulldog.
* * * *
Tiffany’s arm was looped with his as they walked slowly down a makeshift aisle on the sand. It was lined with large tropical flowers, creating a romantic pathway to the sea. Owen stood with his pants rolled up, the tide splashing his exposed calves. Colin took his place next to him. Mackenzie had her arm linked with Molly’s. They were only several paces behind Tiffany and Colin.
Mackenzie and Tiffany were wearing identical dresses in a pale aqua. They each wore their hair up with flowers pinned neatly inside and were fighting the ocean breeze to keep them locked into place.
Molly looked stunning. Her cream-colored dress was blowing around her. Molly’s dark hair was loose with a single flower tucked behind one ear. She looked like an island princess and Tiffany watched Owen’s reaction. His face lit up and pure love radiated from him as he gazed at her. This man truly adored and loved her friend.
The ceremony began, an explanation of what all this meant from a man that wore flowers draped around his neck. The couple exchanged beautiful words and made promises. Tiffany’s gaze kept finding Colin’s. Her heart was both mended and broken at the same time. Mended because she was healed now from of the love that had gone missing, if only for less than two days. That had been long enough for Tiffany. Broken because this ceremony was simple and beautiful and Tiffany wished that she and Colin had been able to have had something even half as lovely. Deep down it shouldn’t matter where or how they’d gotten married. They were two souls that belonged together, but she yearned for it nonetheless.
Husband and wife, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Tiffany had agreed to those terms. Molly had just agreed to those very same ones with a bright smile and tears streaming down her cheeks. They were all no longer single in Seattle, except for Mackenzie, who was taking it all in stride. Tiffany knew the right guy was out there for Mac, but it’d be great if he would just show up.
“You may kiss your bride,” the man performing the service announced.
Molly was now a married woman.
Colin smiled at Tiffany and they moved together slowly, following Molly and Owen away from the shore. Love had been declared that day, not by one set of souls but two, each who had found one another in the most unexpected way.
* * * *
Molly and Owen would be staying behind in paradise for another week to break in their new marriage and enjoy a quiet honeymoon.
It had been hard to say goodbye after breakfast. Tiffany could have stayed there forever, but real life awaited back in Seattle—a new adventure with Colin, her husband. She also had a new secret mission. Find Mackenzie a husband.
Colin helped Mackenzie into the cabin of his private jet. Tiffany walked the other love of her life, Pauly, up the stairs. The little chunk should be used to traveling by now, but he wasn’t eager to leave this little slice of heaven, either. It finally took a lot of gentle coaxing and a nudge on his cute bully butt to get him to go up the stairs.
Once they were all boarded and had taken their seats, they were able to relax. The mood was quiet, except for Pauly’s snorts. Even the jet engines could hardly drown out his hard breathing.
“That poor creature probably has sleep apnea,” Mackenzie said as she tried to snuggle deeper into her chair. “You should get him one of those sleeping masks.”
Tiffany glanced down at Pauly then looked over to Colin. “Is that possible, Colin?” Can we get him one?”
Colin laughed. “I don’t think they have one that would fit his face.”
“Well, I’m going to find out. Good thinking, Mac,” Tiffany said.
“Who would’ve thought that you, a non-dog lover, would care so much about one?” Mackenzie commented. “Not that anyone can blame you. He’s super cute. I mean, just look at him.”
Pauly slowly turned around in the seat, knowing full well they were talking about him. He stared at Tiffany and lifted a paw.
“He’s not just any dog. He’s Sir Pauly McCartney, the cutest bulldog ever.”
“I swear the only reason Tiffany likes me is because of him,” Colin teased.
“Probably true.” Tiffany laughed. Pauly put his head on her lap, his wrinkles scrunched up on his meaty face and he began to snore.
They had been in the air for a few hours, Mackenzie was curled up and napping, the gentle hum of the jet engines and Pauly’s snoring was enough to lull anyone to sleep. Tiffany was watching the jet wing slice through the clouds when Colin spoke.
“You know he was miserable those last couple days without you,” he started.
“Just Pauly?” Tiffany winked. She already knew that Colin had suffered as much as she had, if not more. Last night they’d made up for lost time and today Tiffany’s body was proof of just how much. She was a little sore and even had dark circles under her eyes from barely sleeping.
“Pauly wouldn’t eat or anything. He just stayed by the door, waiting for you. It was quite sad.”
“Aww, my poor li’l man,” Tiffany cooed to Pauly, who wiggled his tiny nub of a tail. “I’ll never leave you again.�
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“Tiffany, I really want you to move in with me when we get back. I want to make this work.” Colin’s eyes followed hers. “We also need to tell our families.”
Then there was that. Tiffany hadn’t even mentioned Colin to her family—not that they spoke a lot, but they did deserve to know. How am I going to tell them I’m already married? It would be easier to say they were dating or that they had just gotten engaged. Explaining that they had already been married for nearly a month was going to be difficult. Then there was his family. Tiffany knew next to nothing about them. What if they hate me?
“Well, I guess we can hold a dinner or something to announce it, just get it done all in one shot,” Tiffany suggested.
“That may prove to be a tad challenging as mine are back in Ireland, love,” Colin said with a wink.
Tiffany considered that for a moment. That meant they weren’t likely to tell his family anytime soon and now she needed to muster up the courage to tell hers.
“We can fly out to see mine maybe in a week or so. We do have that fundraiser event that we need to attend, since we skipped out on that last function,” Colin explained.
“That’s because when I was getting dressed, you couldn’t keep your hands off me.”
“You shouldn’t have looked so delicious.” Colin’s voice grew deeper and he had the burning in his eyes.
Tiffany gave him a sly smile and she peeked over to where Mackenzie was.
“Fancy becoming a member of the mile-high club?” Colin asked with a devilish grin.
He’d read her mind.
Chapter Twenty
Moving sucked. It didn’t matter that Tiffany was relocating or upgrading to a wonderfully new place with her lovely husband. Packing was not a fun task. However, it helped to have a bottle of wine and one of your besties to suffer along with you.
“So, you’re totally good with this, right?” Mackenzie ran packaging tape along another cardboard box.
“Yes, I actually am. I mean, I’m a little bummed to be leaving here. Colin told me he wants us to start looking at houses.”
Puppy Love Page 18
