Love is in the Air

by Devon Vaughn Archer

  Her lashes fluttered and she kissed him again. “Remind me again of just how lucky I am.”

  Anderson beamed. “That makes us equally lucky to have found one another.”

  They sat and conversed with their fathers, before the men once again became distracted with the game.

  Holly was certainly enjoying this family outing and wished Stuart and the girls were there. She was confident that they would visit soon and that she and Anderson would visit them in Portland. After all, it was a visit to Portland that had led to their whirlwind romance, and now she couldn’t be happier.

  Actually, she could, once they were officially Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Gunn. They were still working to set a wedding date. In Holly’s mind, the sooner she could become Anderson’s wife, the better. In spite of some lingering thoughts about his failed engagement to Madison, she was confident that their journey into matrimony would be smooth sailing.

  “Now what’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Anderson asked Holly, noticing that she was clearly distracted.

  She smiled at him. “Oh, I’m just trying to decide if we should put up the Christmas decorations at your place or mine this year, since we’re spending practically all of our time together at one place or the other.”

  “Why not both?” he suggested. “In the spirit of the season, decorating both of our places can be twice as nice.”

  “Agreed,” she said. Now the question was, what did she get a man for Christmas who had everything?

  Maybe I’ll wrap myself up with a bow as his gift, she thought with amusement, certain he would love to unwrap her and do as he pleased with his gift.

  * * *

  On Christmas day, Anderson planted a big kiss on Holly’s mouth as they stood beneath the mistletoe in her living room, the beautifully decorated tree in the backdrop. He had been looking forward to this moment for days and made the most of it, holding her snugly in his arms as their open mouths devoured one another desirously.

  Holly was blown away from the potent kiss that left her breathless. She clung to her fiancé, their bodies molded together, as the heat of the kiss raised her temperature.

  After kissing for several minutes, Anderson reluctantly pulled away. “Merry Christmas, darling,” he murmured, gazing into her eyes.

  “Merry Christmas back at you, baby,” she said, her lips still tingling.

  “What do you think of a Valentine’s Day wedding?” he asked.

  Holly met his gaze. “I think it sounds incredibly romantic.”

  “My thoughts precisely,” Anderson said. “What could be more appropriate and memorable than tying the knot on a day that celebrates love and devotion between sweethearts?”

  Holly’s face lit up; she was enamored with the idea. “So let’s get married on Valentine’s Day!” she declared.

  Anderson couldn’t wait to exchange vows with Holly, knowing that she was the woman he truly wanted to wed and spend the rest of his life with.

  They kissed again for an even longer stretch, before opening their Christmas gifts and making plans for the upcoming New Year’s Day celebration.

  * * *

  On Valentine’s Day, Holly was a bundle of nerves. The wedding was only an hour away. Gone were any doubts she had once had that Anderson wouldn’t show up. She knew he loved her and wanted to become her husband as much as she wanted to be his wife. But she was wound up for all the normal reasons on a wedding day: would the minister show up on time, would she remember her vows, would she trip while walking down the aisle, would the reception go off as planned without a hitch, and more...

  Just calm down, she told herself, taking a deep breath as she slipped into her dress. People go through this all the time and everything seems to work out. She knew she had to let the process play itself out and it would be over before she knew it, with her becoming the wife of the man she loved dearly.

  “You look amazing!” Blythe said as she entered the dressing room at the church.

  Holly got to see for herself as she stood before a full-length mirror. She wore an ivory charmeuse gown with cap sleeves and a lace bodice. Her hair was up and fitted with a metal rhinestone headband that had a side floral motif. The two-tiered veil had beaded flowers and lace. A pearl-and-diamond necklace and teardrop earrings added sparkle. Ivory peep-toe high heels completed her outfit.

  “I do look pretty damned good, don’t I?” she couldn’t help but say. She felt like Cinderella waiting for her Prince Charming to make her life complete.

  Blythe chuckled. “Just imagine what Anderson will think when he sees you. The man will be floored.”

  “I hope so.” Holly wanted to wow him the way she expected Anderson would wow her. She suspected there would be even more excitement when they got to remove each other’s clothing tonight after the wedding and reception.

  “Well, let’s not keep him waiting,” Blythe said, handling her role as the matron of honor flawlessly.

  “Let’s not,” Holly seconded, eager to become his bride and start a new life together.

  * * *

  Anderson felt warm as he stood in front of the church in his designer cream-colored tuxedo. He had probably never been more nervous in his life, and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. There were no second thoughts in his mind about marrying Holly. Quite the contrary, he wanted her to be his wife more than ever, and he knew in his heart and soul that she was the woman he was meant to be with as a devoted husband and future family man. The sooner they made it official, the sooner they could begin the next chapter in their lives as newlyweds.

  “Well, this is it,” his best man, Lester, said, patting him on the shoulder. “Your big day!”

  “I’m ready for it,” Anderson assured him. “I couldn’t be happier.”

  Lester grinned. “I think you will be when you see your bride-to-be coming our way...”

  Anderson turned his head and saw Holly being led down the aisle by Robert. She had never looked more beautiful. She flashed him a thousand-watt smile, and he went weak in the knees. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve her in his life, but would do it again and again if that was what it took to keep Holly as his one and only.

  Holly had her arm beneath her father’s as they walked toward Anderson. She tried to keep her pulse from racing as she watched her two young nieces, who were the flower girls. Her brother, Stuart, was all smiles and gave her a reassuring nod.

  It was her moment, and Holly basked in it, elated to share her wedding day with so many people.

  She stood next to her fiancé, who gave her a toothy grin.

  “I love you,” he said quietly, his eyes lowered to meet hers.

  “I love you, too,” she said, trying hard not to cry and ruin her makeup. But the emotion of seeing him now—the picture of svelte perfection in his tux, his confident posture and incredible good looks—was almost too much for her to hold back her tears of happiness. To think that they were moments away from having it all made the occasion all the more joyous.

  The minister, a female in her forties, offered them a warm smile. “Are you ready to make this union of your love an official bond?”

  “Yes,” Holly and Anderson responded in unison.

  “Wonderful. Then let’s get started...”

  Anderson did not flinch when saying what was in his heart to Holly. “I promise to always love you more than life itself and be the man you fell in love with every day. Wherever life takes us, it will be hand in hand.”

  Holly embraced the tender words, knowing they came from the heart. She trembled slightly when it came time to say her wedding vows, which she had written herself.

  “I cannot adequately express how much I love you and want to be your wife and companion,” she told Anderson. “You’ve given me something I’ve never had before—a person whom I can love and devote the re
st of my life to in as many ways as possible. I’m very ready to become your wife.”

  The minister’s eyes crinkled. “In that case, let us exchange wedding rings.”

  Lester handed Anderson a three-carat diamond cluster ring set in fourteen-karat gold. Anderson placed it on Holly’s finger while peering lovingly into her eyes.

  Holly could no longer hold back the tears as she slid a two-tone gold wedding band onto Anderson’s finger.

  He smiled thankfully and they held hands as the minister now pronounced them man and wife. “You may kiss your new bride,” she told Anderson.

  He did not have to be told twice. He angled his head just right and pressed his mouth to Holly’s. She was smiling and crying at once as she kissed him back.

  Holly was so caught up in the toe-tingling kiss that she shut out their surroundings and those witnessing the occasion. It wasn’t until the minister got their attention that Holly pried her lips from Anderson’s.

  “I think you two made your point,” the minister joked. “May I welcome to everyone Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Gunn.”

  Anderson and Holly made their way down the aisle, hand in hand, as family and friends cheered them on.

  Outside, the newlyweds got into Anderson’s Mercedes, hardly able to take their eyes off one another. Holly could scarcely believe that she was now married to the love of her life.

  * * *

  Holly and Anderson flew to the Cayman Islands for their honeymoon, where they soaked up the sun and enjoyed tourist attractions and danced till dark. But much of their time was spent in bed enjoying each other’s company and the pleasures of steamy lovemaking as newlyweds.

  Having lost herself in their passion, Holly took a deep breath before falling on Anderson, totally spent from their latest round of sex. She kissed him deeply, still reeling from the orgasm he had just given her. She was beginning to believe that sex was even better when you were husband and wife.

  Anderson echoed such thoughts. “Maybe we should get ourselves a summer place here so we can always come back for a repeat performance,” he said, nibbling at her ear. “Or better yet, maybe we should simply stay in this room and never leave!”

  Holly laughed and kissed him again. “That last idea may be the best one you’ve had yet,” she said.

  “I thought you might see things my way, Mrs. Gunn.” He turned her over and kissed her passionately. “Let’s work on that.”

  Her body tingled with each tantalizing kiss and caress. “Yes, let’s...”

  * * * * *

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  ISBN: 9781460303818

  Copyright © 2013 by R. Barri Flowers

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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