She smiled as she read the card and punched in the number. “Claire, hi, it’s Sierra Morley, and we have an emergency. Can you stay open for an extra half hour? We’ll be right there.” A moment later she said, “Thanks, I owe you one,” and closed the phone.
“Norah,” she yelled as she stepped into the dining room and removed the glass from the bride-to-be’s hand. “Get your shoes back on, we’re heading out.”
“Where? Why?” Norah jammed her feet back into her sandals.
Chelsea was already waiting at the door with her purse in hand. Sierra tugged Norah through the living room. “I’m driving.” She didn’t know how full that bottle had been when Norah had started. Norah stuck her tongue out at the dress as they went by and out the front door.
Matt followed Sierra into the Alberts’ house and closed and locked the door behind them. “Want to tell me again how Norah got drunk while buying a dress?”
“Norah wasn’t drunk. She was happy.” Sierra didn’t bother to turn on any lights as she walked through the house. The hallway light was always on, and it gave off enough light to see. She walked directly into the bedroom and tossed her tote onto the chair.
Matt carefully hung his rental tux on the closet door. “She was singing that song about ‘I’m getting married in the morning.’”
“See, she was happy that she and Chelsea found a dress they both liked.” Sierra kicked off her shoes and congratulated herself on making that call. Not only had Claire stayed open for them for a whole extra hour, she had pulled out a bottle of white zinfandel to celebrate.
“Ned wasn’t too happy that you went out and got Norah loaded.” Matt kicked off his shoes and chuckled. “And I never realized how off-key she sang until tonight.”
“I did no such thing, and it was Ned, who was singing along with her, who was off-key. He’s only upset because he can’t have his wicked way with her tonight because she is staying with Chelsea at the cottage. It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony.” She unbuttoned her blouse and tossed it on the chair.
“That’s a dumb rule.” Matt’s shirt landed on top of hers but his gaze was glued to the front of her bra.
“So’s dancing in the end zone after scoring a touchdown, but guys do it.” She slowly released the button on her slacks and twitched her hips as she allowed them to slide down her legs. Teasing Matt was fun. Their first night together, everything had been new. Last night they had christened her bed with wild sex and a midnight snack of Jolene’s chocolate éclairs. She would never look at cream filling the same way again.
Matt groaned as his fingers fumbled for the snap on his jeans. “Can I ask another question?”
Her fingers teased the front clasp of her bra. “Ask away.”
Matt’s jeans hit the floor. His erection was at full mast and tenting the front of his boxers. His underwear had screwdrivers printed all over them. She wasn’t sure if that was a carpenter gag, or if it referred to what they would be doing in a few minutes. At the foot of the bed was a duffle bag Matt had packed the day before and a couple of his items were in the bathroom next to hers.
“Why were Norah and her friend allowing Zsa Zsa to rip up that dress?”
“Therapy.” The front clasp released and her breasts bounced free. “It’s a girl thing. You wouldn’t understand.” Even Kay, Jill, and Peggy Porter had understood.
Matt stopped breathing as her bra hit the floor.
She smiled. “I’m heading for the shower. Care to join me?” She turned and started to walk to the bathroom.
“Sierra,” choked Matt, “did you have those panties on all night?”
She figured they would get a reaction from him. She glanced down at the tiny purple satin thong she had picked up in Victoria’s Secret in Bangor the other night. Norah and she had been having a competition to see who could buy the tiniest pair.
It turned out that Joanna, Norah’s mom, won the game.
Sierra hooked her thumbs into the thin elastic that passed as a waistband, even though it didn’t go anywhere near her waist, and gracefully stepped out of the thong. “No, Matt.” She kicked them to the side and smiled. “I haven’t been wearing them all night.” She continued into the bathroom.
Before the shower could even heat up, Matt joined her. There wasn’t a screwdriver in sight.
Chapter Fourteen
Sierra grabbed one of the last remaining seats just as the guitarist started to play a slow, romantic melody on his acoustic guitar. Norah had opted out of the traditional bridal march in favor of a local resident who had a Spanish flair.
She glanced up at the arbor where Ned, Matt, and the minister stood. The arbor had turned out better than the photo Norah had ripped out of the magazine. The Porter boys indeed could build anything. From where she was sitting it was impossible to tell which were the real roses and which were silk. Hundreds of pink, white, burgundy, and purple blooms cascaded over the white arbor. Behind the smiling minister stood four six-foot-tall brass candelabras, each holding six lighted burgundy candles.
The thousand miniature lights that Ned and Norah had painstakingly strung the other night were lit, but at four in the afternoon, it wasn’t close to being dark enough to appreciate them yet. Norah’s mom had decided that more plants were needed and had gone out and purchased a dozen indoor trees and had them all potted in huge white ceramic pots. Two six-foot palms stood on either side of the arbor. Another palm stood next to the bar and four weeping figs, strung with lights, were in the corners of the tent where the dance floor and DJ were set up. The rest were over by the tent housing the buffet.
Dozens of terra-cotta pots overflowing with colorful flowers were spread between both properties. Sometime last night, while she was out with Norah and Chelsea, a five-foot-tall bare-breasted mermaid fountain appeared, along with two wooden benches. Someone obviously hadn’t been thinking when they stocked the fountain with goldfish. Eight seagulls were perched on top of the white buffet tent eyeing the treat.
All in all, it was the most gorgeous outdoor wedding Sierra had ever seen. She made a mental note to take plenty of pictures and send them to Lianna, who always had her eye out for different weddings with a traditional touch. She also needed to send Lianna a thank-you present for all her help in pulling this together from three thousand miles away. Hours of phone calls and e-mails deserved something extra-special.
Tears filled her eyes as Chelsea stepped out of the cottage wearing a gorgeous pale pink gown that she and Norah had decided on last night at Claire’s. The low-cut, tight gown wasn’t your traditional maid of honor’s outfit, but by the murmurs going through the guests, the men appreciated the choice. Chelsea was definitely not going to be without a dance partner later on.
Sierra turned back to look at Matt to see if he was appreciating their mad dash to Claire’s. Ned had his gaze glued to the back door of the cottage waiting for Norah to make her appearance. Matt was staring at her as Chelsea slowly made her way to the arbor. She tried not to blush as a few guests turned in their seats to see whom Matt was looking at. Three hundred white chairs had been placed in a semicircle facing the arbor. All but four were taken.
Another murmur went through the guests as Norah, who was holding on to Karl James, her new stepfather, stepped out of the house. She looked like a fairy princess. Not a fairy-tale princess with long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, but a fairy princess. Norah had dyed her short spiky hair a darker red that almost matched the burgundy roses she was carrying. She had highlighted the height of her cheekbones and the tilt to her green eyes, giving her a more fey appearance. The sparkle of a dozen earrings in her ears competed with the gleam of happiness in her eyes.
Sierra turned in her seat to see if Matt was appreciating this gorgeous fey woman who was about to become family. Ned looked as if he had stopped breathing. Matt was still staring at her. She blushed and glanced away. Didn’t Matt know not to stare at a woman during a wedding ceremony? Every guest there was now probably thinking ther
e would be another Porter wedding in the near future.
A group of ten cheerleaders and their moms was standing by the food tent watching the wedding. They had taken the catering job seriously. Every one of them was wearing either black pants or a skirt with a white blouse neatly tucked in. If one took the dreamy expressions off their youthful faces, they would almost look professional.
The music stopped and the minister started to speak. Sierra turned her attention to the ceremony.
Matt couldn’t believe that the ceremony only took ten minutes. It had taken his younger brother Ned twenty-seven years to find Norah, and only six hundred seconds to make her his for life.
He held out his elbow for the maid of honor and then followed Ned and Norah back down the makeshift aisle. Everyone was talking at once and the sound of cameras clicking was driving him nuts. He glanced over at Sierra and winked. He hadn’t had a chance to talk to her in hours. Everything had seemed to be last-minute and rush, rush, rush.
Matt had spent the morning setting up chairs and moving plants. He then had showered and changed in his parents’ house and kept Ned from going nuts until it was time for them to take their places in the arbor. His last sight of Sierra had been of her lying naked and satisfied in her warm bed this morning, teasing him to come back. She hadn’t been done with him yet.
It had taken every ounce of willpower he possessed to walk out the door. As it was, he had been a half hour late with the helping and his mother had scolded him, while his brothers had nudged each other knowingly.
Sierra was amazing, and he was in love.
He smiled as someone took his and Chelsea’s picture. At least he thought her name was Chelsea. He was having trouble concentrating because he had no idea what he would do if Sierra and Austin went back to San Diego. Sierra was hiding something from him and he had been racking his brain trying to figure out what it was. She had sworn there wasn’t anyone else in her life, and he believed her.
So why was she holding back?
“Hey, Matt, you’re supposed to be happy for me.” Ned gave him a light punch in the arm. “Smile, will you?”
“Sorry.” He gave his brother a genuine smile. This was Ned and Norah’s day and he would not ruin it with gloomy thoughts. Besides, Sierra was here and Austin was still with his father in Boston. He had one more night in her bed. One more night to convince her how perfect they were together.
“We need to get some pictures now,” said Norah’s mom. “We need everyone back to the arbor.”
Matt took the opportunity to make a detour over to Sierra on his way to the arbor. All the men were taking the chairs and placing them at the tables that had already been set up. The line at the bar was six deep and the two bartenders appeared to be working their butts off. The cheerleading squad was scattered throughout the crowd with trays of hors d’oeuvres and perky smiles.
He snagged a stuffed mushroom as he reached Sierra. “You are the most beautiful woman here.” He gave her a quick kiss and popped the mushroom into his mouth. The green dress she was wearing outlined her every curve and was a bit more low-cut than he was comfortable with. Oh, he loved the gentle swell of her breasts, but he just didn’t want anyone else enjoying them. He had recently discovered this jealous streak where Sierra was concerned.
It was unsettling, to say the least.
Sierra smiled up at him and straightened his tie. Her gaze held a devilish gleam. “My, oh my, what you do to a tux, Matthew Porter, should be outlawed in three states.” Her pink fingernails slowly teased their way down the front of his shirt.
He chuckled as he caught her hand. “Just as long as one of them isn’t Maine.” The black tux felt like a monkey suit to him, but by the gleam in Sierra’s hungry gaze, she seemed to appreciate it. He hated ties. He always felt as if he was being choked to death.
“You’d better get going. I think they’re waiting for you.” Sierra nodded toward the arbor where everyone was standing around and Norah’s mom was giving orders.
“Come with me.” He reached for her hand.
“Scared?” she teased as she tried to avoid his hand.
“Yes, of someone stealing you away.” He pulled her closer and had the insane urge to hang a TAKEN sign around her neck.
Sierra laughed and kissed him on the cheek. “No one is going to steal me.” Her fingertip was warm as it wiped away the lipstick mark she had left behind. “Now go get your picture taken, and smile nice.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He left Sierra in the crowd, but he glanced back once to see that Steven Blake, Gordon, and his friend, Juliet, had joined her. He wasn’t sure what was with Gordon and Juliet, but there was a rumor going around that Juliet was actually Gordon’s daughter. Considering how closely they resembled each other, Matt had a feeling it was more than just a rumor.
Gordon had never felt more proud in his life. His daughter was beautiful, gracious, and extremely intelligent. She was also on the shy side, but she had made friends with Steven Blake pretty fast. Part of him was a little worried that their growing relationship would take his newly found daughter away from him. The other, greedier part was hoping that his daughter would fall head-over-heels in love with Steve and stay in Misty Harbor permanently.
He was going to miss Juliet something awful come Wednesday morning when she had to go back home. She had turned his entire life and shop upside down in the short time she had been there, and he’d never been happier.
“Sierra, you remember Juliet.” Gordon introduced his daughter.
“Yes, of course.” Sierra gave Gordon, Juliet, and Steve Blake a warm smile. “Steve, the whale man, as my son likes to call you.”
“Where is the little fellow?” Steve looked around the crowded yard.
“I’m afraid he’s not here.” Sierra looked a little overwhelmed by the crush of people.
“How about if you sit with us, since I believe your date has to sit at the head table with the wedding party?” Gordon, and anyone else in town with two good working eyes, knew that Matt and Sierra were an item. Since Sierra was an out-of-towner, he wasn’t sure if she knew anyone else at the wedding.
“Thank you, I’d be delighted.”
“Great.” Gordon now wouldn’t feel like a third wheel with Juliet and Steve. His date for the event had deserted him for a younger man. “Steve, why don’t you and I go fight the crowd around the bar and get the ladies a drink?”
“Sure.” Steve looked at Juliet. “What would you like?”
“White wine would be fine if they have it.” Juliet gave Steve a smile that gave Gordon hope that his daughter just might stay in town.
“Sierra?” Gordon asked.
“The same.” Sierra glanced at the crowd. Some guests were already making their way to the tables. “Why don’t Juliet and I go get our seats?”
“That’s a good idea.” Gordon noticed that Steve’s hand was still on the small of Juliet’s back. “We’ll find you there.” He turned to go and said over his shoulder, “You coming, Steve?”
Steve gave Juliet’s waist a squeeze and then hurried after her father.
Matt carried a chair over to Sierra’s table and wedged it in between her and Gordon Hanley. “There, my obligation is now complete. The toast has been given, the meal eaten, and the music is about to start any minute now.” The past hour had seemed like three without Sierra with him. Every time he had glanced in her direction she was laughing, talking, and totally enjoying herself with her new friends.
Sierra’s cheeks were flushed, and he had to wonder if it was from the sun or the wine. “Matt, did you know Olivia is three days overdue?”
Matt glanced at Olivia Wycliffe and had no idea what to say. Was he supposed to offer condolences or encouragement at a time like this? “Ah, hang in there, Olivia. Won’t be long now.”
Olivia chuckled while her husband, Ethan, seemed to grow pale. “Thank you, Matt. That’s very sweet,” Olivia said.
The dress Olivia was wearing was stretched across her enormous stomach. She w
as sitting so far back from the table, he had no idea how she had reached her plate to eat. He honestly didn’t remember either Jill or Kay getting that big while carrying his nieces and nephews. Maybe there was more than one little Wycliffe in there.
Sierra kicked him under the table. “Ethan’s a little concerned, Matt.”
“Why?” Short of Olivia exploding in front of them, he didn’t see a problem. Olivia looked radiant, but there were traces of dark circles beneath her eyes. Maybe she hadn’t been sleeping well, but who could blame her for that one? He wouldn’t be able to sleep in that condition either. It would take Rusty Miller’s crane to get her out of bed once she was lying down.
“Look at her, Matt,” demanded Ethan. “You don’t see a problem?”
Olivia frowned at her husband. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
“No.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “But, hon, you can barely walk.”
“Yeah, well, now I want to dance.” Olivia pointed to the tent set up in the other yard. The DJ had started to play dance music for those who had already finished eating. “Unless you think I’m too fat to dance with.” Olivia smiled sweetly across the table at Gordon. “I’m sure someone won’t mind whirling this old cow across the dance floor.”
Gordon bowed his head. “I would be delighted.”
Olivia’s eyes went wide and her hand flew to her stomach. A soft “oh,” tumbled from her lips.
“What’s wrong?” cried Ethan.
“Nothing. Your kid kicked me.” Olivia rolled her eyes.
Ethan threw up his hands in defeat. “She’s been doing that all day long. She’s driving me nuts.”
Matt shrugged. Olivia looked healthy to him, and she sure sounded feisty enough to deliver twins. He looked at Sierra, who was looking at the soon-to-be mother with speculation. “Ethan, why don’t you take your wife dancing? I’m sure she knows what she can and can’t do.” Both his sisters-in-law had beaten the fact that pregnancy did not make them stupid into every male Porter’s head.
A Misty Harbor Wedding Page 22
