This time Mitch frowned. “Is that what you want?”
“Not at all, but then I’m not the one in charge of the proposal, am I?”
“No. No, you’re not,” Mitch said with a grin. “Well, at least not the asking part, but you are still in charge of the answering part.”
Belle loved Mitch all the more in that moment, realizing that he’d given up his own dream of a romantic proposal to give her what he knew she would prefer. An intimate setting, without an audience. Something that was just between the two of them.
“I’d better get on with that part then, I suppose, eh?” Belle leaned forward, grateful when Mitch met her halfway. Just before she pressed her lips to his, she whispered, “Yes.”
The kiss they shared filled Belle with warmth. The love she felt for him swelled even more, filling every corner of her being. It was more than she had ever imagined being able to love another person.
When the kiss ended, and they moved back a bit from each other, Belle gave him a grin. “You know, I didn’t expect that you’d give up on all the traditions of a proposal.”
“What do you mean? I popped the question. You said yes. I gave you…” Mitch shoved his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. “The ring!”
He released her hand to open the box and remove the ring. When he held it up, the diamond glinted softly in the lights around them. Mitch took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.
“There. Now I’ve got it all covered,” Mitch said as he lifted her hand and kissed it.
“You certainly have.” Belle looked at the ring, wishing there was no console between them so she could hug him. “It’s so beautiful, babe.”
“Just like you, sweetheart. Just like you.” Mitch leaned close, sliding his hands up to cup her face and then kissed her again. Softly and gently, he pressed his lips to hers. Belle grasped his wrists as she returned the kiss, poring all her emotions into the act, joyful with the anticipation of what was to come for them.
Mitch stared in the mirror of the bathroom as he pulled his suit jacket onto his shoulders and then did the buttons up. He smoothed his hands down over the suit and noticed that Gabe was doing the same thing. In a room not far from the bathroom they were sharing, their family, along with Maya’s and Belle’s, had gathered to ring in the new year.
When Maya had told her dad that she wanted to have a New Year’s Eve party, he’d set them up in a private room in one of the restaurants he owned. It was an expensive place on the top floor of a hotel—which he also owned—that provided a stunning view of the city. The room itself was as intimate as a place big enough to hold sixty to seventy people could be. There were windows along one wall that looked out toward The Forks. The wall next to it held a large stone fireplace with a huge wooden mantel above it.
The restaurant was catering the party which had started at nine. Because of the situation with Ryan, none of them had wanted to spend New Year’s Eve with anyone but family and close friends. So Maya had decided to keep their party low-key, even if it was held at a posh location.
The party was just part of the reason they’d gotten together. The other part was why he and Gabe were together in a bathroom, changing into suits. And somewhere in a room a floor or two below, Belle and Maya were also changing. Hopefully, no one had noticed that the four of them had disappeared from the party.
“Ready to go?” Gabe asked, smacking Mitch on the shoulder. “I just got a text from Maya that they’re ready. We’ve got to get this show on the road.”
Mitch gave himself a final look in the mirror before turning to follow Gabe from the bathroom. When he’d come up with the plan, he’d been a bit apprehensive about broaching it with Belle and then with Gabe and Maya. As it turned out, they’d all been completely on board, agreeing that while Ryan wouldn’t have wanted them to put their lives on hold, none of them felt right about having a lavish affair to celebrate their nuptials.
Between Maya’s dad’s money and connections and Belle’s wedding planning expertise, they’d managed to plan a wedding in less than a month. It wasn’t conventional, but given the circumstances, that wasn’t what any of them wanted. Though Mitch understood the necessity of the ceremony, he’d been willing to forgo all the trappings of the wedding if it meant getting married sooner. He wanted to be married to Belle—however that came to be.
And finally, it was going to happen.
Thankfully, their pastor was considered a close friend, so no one questioned his presence there. Right then he was waiting for his cue, so when he spotted Mitch and Gabe in the entryway, he made his way to the mic which was by the fireplace.
Mitch and Gabe stood shoulder to shoulder, not looking behind them even when they heard the ladies approach, though Mitch did smile when he felt fingers find the ticklish spot just above his waist. He slid his hand over to interlace his fingers with hers and gently squeezed them. Mitch could hardly believe that this day had finally come.
“Dearly beloved,” the pastor said at the opposite end of the room from where the couples waited.
Mitch chuckled when nearly everybody present froze, then almost as one, turned in the direction of the pastor. That was the cue for him and Gabe to move to the front to join the man. They were there not just as grooms, but also as best men for each other.
They flanked the pastor who went on to say, “We are gathered here today in the sight of God to join Maya and Gabriel and Belle and Mitchell in holy matrimony.”
The string quartet that Belle had hired to play music for the evening began The Wedding March. Maya stepped into the room first and took a few steps before she stopped and looked for her dad. After kissing his wife on the cheek, Max Zavardi made his way to where Maya waited and held out his arm to her. She smiled at him as they began to make their way to where the pastor and Gabe waited. When they reached them, the strains of the music faded away.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the pastor asked as he gestured toward Gabe.
Max smiled first at Maya then at Gabe. “Her mother and I do.”
With that, Gabe approached the two and shook hands with Max before taking Maya’s hand in his. They then moved to one side as they turned to face the pastor.
When the string quartet began to play again, Belle appeared in the doorway and like Maya, she waited for her dad to come to her side. Mitch was thankful that they’d spent time with her dad’s family over the past few months, so it hadn’t seemed out of the ordinary to invite them to the New Year’s Eve get-together.
Where Maya’s dress was more elaborate, Belle’s was simple. It was made of satin that was fitted down to her hips where it flared out. He wasn’t sure if it was strapless or not because her shoulders were covered by a short jacket that was trimmed in white fur around the edges as well as around the cuffs that ended just below her elbows. Her hair was down in soft curls, and around her neck, she wore the diamond necklace he’d given her at Christmas.
Smiling as she walked toward Mitch, she looked positively radiant. The pastor asked the same question of Belle’s dad as he had asked of Maya’s, and then it was Mitch’s turn to take his bride’s hand and face the pastor.
They’d decided in the meetings they’d had with the pastor beforehand that instead of having two completely different ceremonies—which is what Bennett and Grace and Sammi and Levi had done earlier in the year—they would share the ceremony. By this point, the photographer and videographer that Belle had hired had taken their place in the room.
Mitch looked down at Belle, and when she glanced up at him, he whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said back to him, squeezing Mitch’s arm.
The pastor led Gabe and Maya through their personalized vows, and then it was time for Mitch and Belle to say theirs.
“Mitch, this time last year, if someone had told me I would be getting married, I would have laughed in their face. But that was because I could never have imagined meeting a man like you. Thank you for
being patient with me. For believing that I was worth loving. Thank you for being a man of God, and for showing His love to me through all your actions. You are my First Corinthians thirteen love, and I’m grateful to God for that. I love you with all my heart, and I look forward to the future God has planned for us together.”
“Mitch?” the pastor said to prompt Mitch to start his.
He swallowed hard, emotion having clogged his throat while listening to Belle pledge her love to him.
“Princess, I have waited for you for what feels like my whole life. I kept wondering why everyone was finding love but me. Now I know. It’s because God wanted me to wait for you. You fill my heart with joy, and I’m so thankful that you’ve chosen to trust me when I know how difficult that was for you. Each day I want to be a better man for you. I want to love you more, though honestly, that doesn’t even seem possible. You are my heart. I can’t wait to spend every day for the rest of my life with you.”
Tears slipped from Belle’s beautiful eyes as she smiled up at him. To see her genuinely happy now, after having seen her doubts and fears for so long, meant the world to Mitch, and he planned to never take that for granted. She’d made herself vulnerable when she placed her trust in him, and he would make sure that she never regretted that decision.
Once the ceremony was over, and they’d been officially pronounced husband and wife, their friends and family surrounded them, offering hugs and congratulations.
When Annalisse approached Mitch, a fierce look on her face, he winced. There was no doubt she wasn’t happy that her daughter had essentially eloped—even if their family was all present. But they’d definitely robbed her of the opportunity to be the mother of the bride.
But instead of reprimanding Mitch, she grabbed him into a tight hug, pulling his head down to hers. “I should be furious about what you two have done here, but I can’t be because my little Belle is happy. I never thought I’d see her love someone after what happened with Andre. I know she’s happy now because she loves you, and you love her. Her happiness makes me happy.” Her arms tightened briefly then she let go of him, only to grab his face in her hands. “Welcome to the family, Mitch.”
Belle came to his side and slid her arm through Mitch’s. “Are you going to forgive us, Mama?”
“Nothing to forgive, sweetheart,” her mom said as she hugged Belle. “It’s a joy to see you happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mama.”
As the clock inched toward midnight, they posed for pictures, ate the food that had been ordered and celebrated being married. Just before midnight, fireworks began to fill the night sky over the river, coming to a crescendo as the new year arrived.
Mitch pulled Belle into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Like Belle, he could never have imagined a year ago that in a year’s time he would finally be celebrating his marriage to a wonderful woman.
“Happy New Year, Princess. Mrs. Callaghan.”
Belle smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Happy New Year, babe. Did the evening meet your need for romance?”
“Just being with you is romance enough,” Mitch said, knowing that while he’d always try to sneak a touch of romance into their relationship, he was happy to show Belle in other ways how much he loved her. And always would.
Coming Summer 2018
for Kindle
A Little Ray of Sunshine
Ryan McFadden had warned them of the danger.
But it had been brushed aside. Dismissed.
Until it was too late.
Now he’s trapped in the darkness.
With only the voice of a woman to keep him company.
Their dark circumstances drew them together.
But in the light of day, will their closeness remain?
Available now for pre-order.
A Little Ray of Sunshine
For the latest news on releases and sales for Kimberly Rae Jordan’s books,
please sign up for her newsletter.
http://eepurl.com/WFhYr
If you have enjoyed this book, please check out Kimberly’s website for additional Christian romance books that she has written.
www.kimberlyraejordan.com
Contact
Please visit Kimberly Rae Jordan on the web!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyRaeJordan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimberlyRJordan
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kimberlyraejordan.com
Mailing: PO Box 40083 Lagimodiere PO
Winnipeg MANITOBA R2C 4P3
FAMILY TREE
A Touch of Romance: A Christian Romance (Callaghans & McFaddens Book 6) Page 31
