“We’ve known of each other for over a year now, but we haven’t really known each other for long. But you’re the only one who truly knows me, because you wanted to see the real me. You’ve supported me, and loved me, and although I know it’s soon, I can’t wait to be your husband today.”
“I haven’t done enough, Luke, but I promise to love and support you every day of our lives from now on.”
I smile up at her as I slide the ring on her finger. She drops to her knees and kisses me. I have to pull away in order to keep my promise to wait until tonight. “If we don’t stop kissing, I won’t be able to wait until tonight for you. I’m already rock hard.”
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Oh, and I love my ring.” She looks down at the heart shaped diamond with skinny rectangular diamonds on the side.
“That’s my girl. I know you’re ring isn’t big or flashy, but I thought you’d like it.”
“I do. I don’t need flashy, I just need my hot man.”
“You’ve got me. For as long as you want me.” She starts crying harder, and I panic a little. “Honey? What did I do?”
“You love me.”
“I do love you.”
“I’m just so happy.”
“Me too, Ollie. Me too.”
I pull her into my arms and hold her tight for a long time. She eventually pulls away and insists on making us breakfast. It’s my last breakfast as a single guy, and I know I should be freaking out, at least a little, but I’m not. I can’t wait for her to be my wife.
Chapter 14
Olivia
Luke and I are in his Tesla, heading for the Fashion Show Mall. I wish I could buy my own fancy dress, but I do want something special, so I’ll let him buy me one. When we pull into the parking garage and park, I see Rose and Alex standing near the mall entrance.
“Damn.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Rose and Alex are here.”
“I know. I invited them?”
“What?”
“I thought you could use help with your dress, and we need people to stand up for us. I thought they’d be perfect, and they’ll keep it a secret. For now.”
My husband to be is perfect. Just perfect. I lean over and kiss him hard. “Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
Luke and I walk over to the girls, who promptly start hugging us. “This is so cool,” Alex says.
“A secret wedding is so romantic,” Rose adds.
“Thanks for helping. You have your Amex that’s linked to my account, right Alex?” he asks her as we go up the escalator and enter the mall.
“Yep. We’re all set. Go across the street and set up the romance.”
“I won’t spend much, Luke.”
“The hell you won’t. I don’t want you looking at prices.” He turns to the girls. “Make sure she doesn’t look and just buys whatever dress she loves the most. Oh, and shoes and whatever. Get dresses for yourselves, too.”
“We will, Uncle Luke.”
He leans over to kiss me lightly. “The next time I see you, you’ll be walking down the aisle to me. I can’t wait.”
“I can’t either.” I’m the one kissing him now, but it’s not lightly. I don’t want to let him go, but I want to look beautiful for him at the wedding, so I pull back. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“I’ll be waiting.” He smiles at the girls and walks out onto the Strip so he can take the bridge to the Wynn.
“Let’s go get you a dress, Liv,” my sister says, grabbing my hand.
I smile at her and Alex. “Thanks for being here girls.”
We go to Neiman Marcus first. When we walk into the designer area, I see my dress immediately. It’s got a high neck with thin straps and is covered in what looks like rose petals. I go to it and pull it off the rack, seeing that the back dips low. I’m in love, but I instinctively grab the tag to look at the price. Alex snatches it out of my hand and raises her eyebrow at me. We have a battle of wills for a minute, but I give in. I know this is my dress and Luke said to get what I want. I don’t like spending his money, but I want us both to be happy today.
I try on the dress and the girls agree that it’s the one. We look at shoes, but nothing catches my eye, so we head back into the mall to look. After a few stops, I find some perfect silver shoes with leaves on them. The girls pick out pretty hot pink lace dresses that have a high neck, mirroring my dress, and some cool pink heels. I also stop by Tiffany to pick up a wedding band for Luke. I find one that’s platinum and black titanium and buy it with my credit card. I can’t wait to put it on his finger.
We’re grabbing something to eat when I realize that I’m not done. “I should probably find some jewelry, I guess,” I tell the girls.
“I brought something for you. You know, for your something old and borrowed,” Alex tells me as she pulls a velvet box from her purse.
She opens the box and I see a beautiful bracelet inside. It’s platinum with pearls and small diamonds all around it. “It’s beautiful, Alex.”
“My mom wore it on her wedding day. So did my grandma.”
“Oh my God. I can’t wear it.”
“Yes you can. I want you to. They’d want you to wear it, too.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I know they can’t all be here with you, but it will make it more like the family is at the wedding.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll be really careful with it.”
She smiles as Rose hands me another, smaller box. I open it to find my mother’s prized pearl and diamond earrings. “You took Mom’s earrings?”
“I feel the same as Alex. Family should be there with you, even if they wouldn’t approve.”
I’m overwhelmed by these two girls. They may only be eighteen, but they’re both such wonderful women. Before I can cry too much, they remind me that I need something “blue” as well as some sexy lingerie. Now I’m just blushing as I wipe the last teardrops away. I suggest going back to the Forum Shops for something fancy, but the girls tell me that Luke won’t care how much I spend, he’ll just appreciate the sexy. I find something I’m pretty sure he’ll like, as well as a blue garter, and then we head across the street.
Luke texted Alex that there will be a room for me to use in the bridal area of the Wynn, so that’s where we go. Alex does my hair while Rose does my make-up. Then they help me get dressed. There’s a knock at the door and Rose lets the wedding planner from the hotel in.
“Hi. I just wanted to drop off the bouquets and make sure you have everything you need.”
She hands me a gorgeous bouquet of roses, all in shades of pink. Luke knows it’s my favorite color, and I love that he did this for me. The girls have smaller bouquets of light pink mixed flowers. They’re perfect.
“Thank you. We’re good. Is the ceremony soon?”
“As soon as you’re ready.”
“Oh. I’m ready now.” I’m more than ready. I can’t wait to marry Luke.
“Great. Let me just go to tell Luke and get everything ready. I’ll be back for you in a few minutes.”
These are the longest five minutes of my life. I’m a ball of nerves. I want this so much. I know it’s really fast, but I feel in my heart that it’s right. Luke is it for me. I know it and I want, no need, to be out there marrying him. Even if we won’t tell anyone yet, I’ll know he’s my husband.
She comes back and tells me everything’s ready. I hug Alex and Rose before they take their places in front of me. The music starts, and instead of the Wedding March, I hear “All of Me” by John Legend. Oh my God. It’s perfect. I start to tear up as the doors open and then I lose all thought. Luke is there, in a beautiful garden, standing under a half arch covered on vines. It’s beautiful. He’s beautiful. He did this for me and now, there he is, in a black suit with no tie, looking good enough to eat.
When he sees me, his eyes go wide and his smile is as big as the one I’m sure I have on my face now. We look into e
ach other’s eyes the whole time I’m walking up the aisle. When I get to the front, he reaches out and takes my hand.
“Hi.”
“Hi. You look beautiful, Ollie.”
“So do you. I mean handsome. You look handsome.”
“I’ll take beautiful from you,” he says with a laugh.
The minister asks if we’re ready to begin. We have the standard ceremony since neither of us had time to write vows. When it’s time for the rings, Luke pulls out a beautiful band covered in little diamonds. I love it, and I give him a reassuring smile when he cocks an eyebrow at me. Then it’s my turn. His smile gets even bigger as I put the ring I got him on his finger. He’s told that he can kiss his bride and he does. I let my bouquet fall as I’m wrapped up in his arms. He kisses me sweetly at first, but it soon becomes passionate and hot as we pour all of ourselves into this first kiss as husband and wife.
“Okay you two. Save it for later,” Rose tells us.
We break apart and laugh along with her and Alex. Luke kisses my hand and then reaches down to pick up my discarded flowers. “Did you like these?”
“They’re perfect.”
“Are you ready for dessert?”
“You got dessert?” He nods. “Such a good husband.”
“I’m planning on being an awesome husband.”
“You will be.” I know it in my heart. Luke is going to make me so happy.
The coordinator has us pose for a few pictures and then we move to a little area with a dessert table and a table with four chairs. I see my favorite Cookie Butter macarons from Drago Sisters, along with some other fun desserts. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get you a cake. I tried, but they couldn’t make one that fast.”
“I don’t need a cake. I just married the man I love, and he brought me my favorite macarons. What could be better?”
“I’ll show you later,” he promises with a kiss.
“Seriously, I love you two, but maybe we should go and leave you alone,” Alex says.
“What? No. We’ll behave.”
“Yeah, we will. I need my favorite niece here with me.”
“I’m your only niece.”
“For now, but we don’t know what Candi and Owen are having yet.”
“I can’t wait for the baby.”
“Maybe I can have a niece soon,” Rose says with a smile.
“Umm, while I’d love to have Luke’s baby, that has to wait a little while.”
“Whatever you want, honey. Now or later, I’m game when you are.”
“Good to know.”
We all sit down and have dessert, as well as champagne for Luke and me and cider for Alex and Rose. We make a small dent on the desserts, but have a bunch left over. Luke gives them to Alex to take home with her. She can just say she picked them up herself. We would leave them for the staff, but Luke says he paid for a dessert bar from the hotel since he wasn’t supposed to bring in outside food. They made an exception, but he wanted to do something nice, so he gifted the hotel desserts to the staff. He really is a good guy.
* * *
Luke
Olivia looks gorgeous in her wedding dress, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I can’t believe we’re married, but I feel like it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m glad she liked her macarons, and I hope she likes the other surprises I have for her. I take her hand as we walk through the hotel to the valet parking. After retrieving the Tesla, I head down The Strip.
“Umm, I was just…umm…”
“You’re not seriously nervous talking to me, are you? We just got married.”
“I know, and it was so beautiful that I hate to ask for anything else.”
“What do you want to ask for? You can seriously ask me for pretty much anything and I’ll do my best to make it happen.”
She sighs and looks away before speaking. “I was wondering if we could maybe stay at one of the hotels here tonight. I know we don’t have time for a full honeymoon, but I thought it would be nice to have one night.”
“It’s all taken care of. We’ve got a hotel. But I don’t want a nice night. I want an epic wedding night with my hot and sexy wife. With a very late check out tomorrow.”
“Epic sounds wonderful. Thank you, Luke. Are we going to the hotel now?”
“Not quite yet. I have a couple other things planned first if that’s okay.”
“I’m yours for whatever you want me for.” She realizes what she just said and adds, “Well, within reason.”
“You didn’t have to add that, honey. I know your limits, and I’m totally fine with them.”
“I appreciate that. So, where are we going first?”
“There,” I tell her as I point to the High Roller wheel.
“I’ve been wanting to go on that.”
“I know.”
“Aren’t we a little overdressed?”
“No. This is Vegas, after all.”
“True.”
I valet at the Linq and we walk over to the wheel. I tell the worker that we have a reservation and she smiles and congratulates us. A couple minutes later, she says they’re ready for us. We walk to the front of the line and I guide Olivia to step on to the next capsule. No one else gets on with us. She looks at me and I smile. “I reserved this just for us. I don’t want to share our first time on the wheel with anyone else.”
“So I can kiss you?”
“You can kiss me anytime. I must be doing something wrong if you don’t already know that.”
“You do absolutely nothing wrong, husband.”
“Hold that thought for when I screw up fifty years from now.”
“Fifty years, huh?”
I know what she’s asking. “Forever, Ollie, forever.”
“Agreed.”
Then she does kiss me. I lead her to one of the benches and sit with her on my lap. We make out for most of the ride, stopping when we get to the top to look out at the city. And then again as we’re almost to the end so we can fix our clothes. We didn’t take anything off since we both know there’s probably cameras in here, but we were reaching over and under quite a bit. My wife is rocking some garters and a corset under her beautiful dress, and I almost want to give up my other plans to get her to our room. Almost. I can wait a little bit since I know I’ve got her for the rest of my life.
After the ride, I buy her a cupcake from the Sprinkles ATM because she thinks it’s cool, and she munches on it as I drive her down the street to the Bellagio. I have something special planned for her here, too. As we walk up to the outside fountain, people are gathering for the next show. An announcement comes on congratulating “Luke and Olivia” on their wedding and saying that a special song will be played for us.
“You did this?”
“Yep.”
People start clapping and congratulating us as John Legend comes on and the fountains perform to our song. Thankfully they already had a routine to the song, so they just had to change the rotation. I pull her into my arms to dance with me as the fountains are going behind us. The videographer I hired is capturing the moment. When the song is over, I kiss my wife as the tourists cheer.
“I’m a little scared of what may come next.”
“You don’t trust me?” I pretend to be hurt.
She grabs my arm and looks up at me. “I do, Luke. I trust you.”
“I know. I was just teasing you. Now let’s have some more fun.”
“And romance?”
“Always romance for my beautiful wife.” I kiss her lightly and then hold her hand as we walk across the street to the Cromwell.
I walk up to the desk to check-in. The guy congratulates us, tells me everything is ready, and then hands me our keys. I thank him and turn to take Olivia’s hand once again.
“Don’t we have to go get your car? And our overnight bags?”
“Everything is being brought here.”
“Wow. You really did plan this all out.”
“Yep. I wanted you to have the
best night ever. It’s the only wedding night you’re going to have.”
“Just being with you would have made it the best, but I appreciate all your hard work.”
“I thought we could have a drink in the lobby bar before dinner. I heard they have some cool drinks.”
“Sure, but can we cuddle on one of the couches instead of sitting at the bar?”
“You know I’ll never say no to cuddling with you,” I remind her.
We find an empty couch and claim it. When the waitress comes by, Ollie orders a fruity drink and I get a beer. I knew she’d like a mixed drink, but I’m more of a simple drinker. Give me a beer and I’m happy.
We stay there for around a half hour, drinking our drinks and accepting congratulations from other people in the bar. Oh, and engaging in some PDA. Not extreme, because we are in the lobby of a hotel, but we definitely kiss. How could I not kiss my beautiful wife?
“Are we going to the room for dinner?” She looks hopeful and I almost say yes.
“No. We can, but I got us reservations for dinner at Giada. I know you like watching her on TV.”
“Really? I do like watching her. Thanks for thinking of that. I’d love to eat there and then reward you after in our room for all your thoughtfulness.”
“I’m down with that.”
“Down is an appropriate word.”
I stand up and pull her to her feet. I hold her hand as I guide us to the restaurant. We have a terrace window table so we can watch the fountains again. We both enjoy our dinners, and I pay as quickly as possible. I want to get to our room. There’s one last surprise there.
I kiss her lightly as we make our way to the elevators. I splurged on a suite for us because I wanted something special for her. It looked really cool online, so I hope she likes it.
“You’re being really quiet, Luke. Is everything okay?” she whispers to me as we get on one of the elevators.
“What? Oh, yeah. I was just hoping you’ll like our suite.”
“I just need a bed. Actually, I’d make do with a floor.”
“I’ll make love to you wherever you want, honey. Bed, floor, shower, balcony…”
“You’re so selfless.”
“The fuck I am. I’m planning on coming so many times while I’m inside my wife tonight that I pass out.”
Learning To Love (The Griffin Brothers Book 4) Page 14
