As we blow out our candles, leaving the pillar to flicker its light over the three pictures, Chad wraps my hand in his and leads me back to the altar. Standing before the Pastor as he issues another prayer over the rings, I lean into Chad’s shoulder, resting my head on his strong frame, reveling in the feeling of his skin on mine even though it’s just our hands. I start to zone out as Chad’s lips find my forehead, pulling my gaze up to him and his amazing blue eyes. The look in his eyes makes my heart melt, full of desire and love, seemingly moving through his touch to mine, making my hand and arm tingle.
“Chad, if you would take this ring and place it on Rhea’s finger,” the Pastor says, handing Chad the simple platinum band we had picked out.
My hand starts to shake as Chad lifts it up slightly, holding it tightly in his grip as his thumb runs over my knuckles. Looking into his eyes, I can’t help but tear up and Kendall waves a tissue over my shoulder that I quickly grab and use to dab at my eyes.
“Rhea,” he starts and I can hear the waver in his voice, but he clears it away, grinning at me. “Rhea, I haven’t written anything down because it was hard for me to settle on the words to tell you how I feel. There are so many, and most don’t even do my feelings justice. But, what I keep comin’ back to, and I know you’ll laugh,” he grins and I giggle, along with the guests, “but it’s a quote from Bruce Lee, and it sums up how we came to be.” He clears his throat lightly again, never taking his gaze from mine and still rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.
“Love is a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty,” he winks making me blush, “often hot,” he winks again, getting a few laughs, “and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.”
Wow. If I wasn’t already head over heels in love with this hot as hell man in front of me, I’d fall to my knees, begging for him to be mine now. I might just do that anyways.
“So Rhea, know this,” he smiles and I can feel him sliding the ring on my finger, twisting it as his hand massages into mine, “I will love you with my whole heart, forever. Not until death do us part, but forever. I’ll do everything and anything to make sure you, and our family, are happy and healthy. I have loved you since I can remember and I will love you until the end of time.” He smiles and the tears flow fast and hot down my cheeks, too fast for me to wipe them away with my disintegrating tissue.
The Pastor gives me a minute, and as I wipe away the last couple of escaping tears, he hands me Chad’s black, sterling silver ring. I take a deep breath in; trying to keep away the shakiness that I know will be in my voice. Clearing my throat I look up at him, holding his left hand in mine while hovering the ring at the end of his finger.
“Chad,” I smile, seeing his grin and the slight tears start to grow in his eyes, “I haven’t written anything down either.” He chuckles along with the crowd, rubbing his free hands fingers into my left wrist, making my knees feel weak. “But what I keep thinking is a quote from my momma’s favorite actress, Judy Garland.” A light laugh rolls through the crowd, and I smile, knowing those who knew my mom well enough will remember she was obsessed with Judy.
“'For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.' And with that Chad, I promise to be the best wife, best friend, and partner in crime you could ever ask for.” He grins and squeezes my wrist a little more as I slide the ring on his finger. “I can’t promise to never be mad, or to never nag or complain, but I can promise to love you with everything I am and everything I will be, from this day on. Because,” I pause, letting the tears roll down, “well, because I’ve loved you my entire life and I don't plan on stoppin' any time soon.”
You can hear the mutters running through the pews, giggles and whispers filling the air as the Pastor holds up his hands, calling them to quiet. “That was very beautiful,” he whispers looking between the two of us, but we don’t drop our gazes from one another; the grin on Chad’s lips turning to a smirk.
“With those beautiful words and the blessing of the church, with the power invested in me by our Lord and the great state of Virginia, I pronounce you husband and wife.” Chad’s hands squeeze mine and I can’t help the blush flowing through my entire body. “You may kiss the bride,” I hear Pastor Williams whisper as he leans in, rubbing his hands together in front of us before Chad steps in close, wrapping his arms around my waist and claiming my lips like I’ve been waiting for since last night.
The cheers and shouts fade into the background as my world centers around my husband and the way his lips feel on mine. The way his hands are moving across my back and hips, slowly, but full of desire. The way his hair feels under and between my fingers as I run my hands over his head to lock my fingers behind his neck is amazing. This is amazing. He’s not my boyfriend, or my fiancé any longer; he’s my husband. He’s not just Chad, the man I’m madly in love with; he’s Chad, my husband, which I’m madly in love with.
It’s only then that I realize we are in a dip posture as Chad holds me across his body, basically cradling me to his chest as the crowd hoots and hollers. I don’t want to let him go, but when we release each other, they cheer some more as they all stand.
“It’s my pleasure,” Pastor Williams shouts over the noise, “to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick Payne!” The crowd seems to erupt around us as we walk down the aisle and I take Charlie from Dana’s arms, kissing his chubby cheek as we pass by the pews and everyone wishes us well.
This is what I’ve been waiting for. My heart seems to be whole again, bigger even, bursting with the love I have for this man holding my hand. The tears flow down my cheeks, but I don't bother to wipe them away.
As we hit the outside doors, Elliot Uclid helps me put my sweater on as I hand Charlie off to Chad. Todd Benson opens the doors and my breath catches in my throat at the vehicle waiting for us. It's Randy's old truck, all shined up and already rumbling away, the exhaust steaming in the chilly air. As I take the handful of steps slowly, tears find my eyes again. There are cans tied to ribbons behind the bumper and the back window is painted with "Just Hitched", and I start to giggle almost insanely.
"You like it?" Chad's whispers, his breath hot and close to my ear and I look up into his grinning face. As the guests flow out onto the steps and church yard behind us, the photographer snaps away, catching every possible moment. Chad hands Charlie over to his mother and when he turns back around, I'm up on my tiptoes and locking my lips on his in an instant, getting a loud whistle to run through the crowd.
I move my lips with his as his hands snake around my waist, hauling me close to him with a slight moan vibrating in his throat. I can't believe he brought Randy's truck. Randy had taken so much flack from me when he bought the old junker, before he fixed it up, and he always use to come back with a defense saying, "Don't complain, Rhea, or I won't drive you home from your wedding in it." My brother may not have been here to walk me down the aisle, or give me away, but I know that he's here in spirit, smiling down on us at this moment as his truck rumbles at the curb.
"I love it," I tell Chad when I finally release him as the shower of bird seed rains down on us. His grin makes the dimple in his chin stand out and he pulls me in for a sweet kiss, kissing my cheek and neck before turning us towards our departure vehicle.
"Alright girl," he says as he opens the door, taking my hand and helping me in, "let's get to our party so I can get you home and outta that dress." The grin and wink he gives me makes me laugh happily and as he shuts the door, I wave through the window to Kendall, Rosa, and Ellie, standing excitedly on the sidewalk.
I can't wait to get home. I can't wait to rip that sexy black suit off my sexy as hell husband.
EPILOUGUE:
Rhea
The party has been going strong for the last three hours, and it is just coming time to sit down and eat. It's a good thing because I'm starving. We have the entire Muncy's
Pub to ourselves and the guests are loving it. The drinks have been flowing since we walked in and as I weave through the crowd looking for my cousin, I bump into more than one close to inebriated guest.
The other members of the wedding party are already up at the head table, all that is missing is Ellie and we can get this show on the road. The buffet is calling my name. Weaving around the bar and into the small back hallway, I find her, sitting in an old wooden chair with her feet propped up on the opposite wall.
"Hey Ell, we're ready to…” I stop as she swings her face up to me, and I see it’s streaked with running mascara and puffy from tears. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pull her into me.
"What's wrong, Honey?” I say leaning down to be face to face with her so that she can't avoid me. She scrubs her hands across her face and through her short hair, sighing loudly and shaking her shoulders as if she's shaking off some sort of invisible force.
"I'm okay, Ray-Ray. Just got a phone call is all," she almost whispers, leaning her face up to me. I don't have to ask who called; it's evident from her features. That bastard. She has changed her number six times already after their separation and if she does again, this will be the second time this month. A fire seems to ignite in my chest and I kneel before her, running my hands to her elbows and pulling her to lean closer to me.
"You can't let him do this, Ellie," I plead, looking over her watering eyes and running the pad of my thumb over her cheek, wiping away the mascara. She gives me a weak smile and nods, shaking her cell in her hand in the air as if she's hailing a cab.
"I plan on talking to my boss about it," she says, clearing her throat of the scratchy hint that has settled in. Her boss has to help her, he is the District Attorney for the county. She takes a deep breath in and plasters a wide smile on her pretty face while pulling me to my feet and situating us in front of the hallway mirror. "Alright, Mrs. Payne, let’s get back to your party. No sense in having you waste your time worrying over me."
"It's not wasting time," I say, pulling her in for a quick hug, holding her tight. "You're my family and you need to let me help you." She pats me on the back, pulling me to a quick escape from the hallway, and back into the buzzing noise of the party, effectively ending our conversation. It irks me how she dismisses me every time I want to talk to her about her ex and their situation. I keep my eyes on her as we reach the head table and I release her to sit next to Rosa with a sweet smile.
"Everythin' okay?” Chad asks as his arm wraps around my waist and his lips graze my cheek. I can't help but smile at his touch, wrapping my arms around his neck as our guests hoot and holler, tapping their glasses until I crash my lips to his in a heated, quick kiss.
"We'll talk about it later," I whisper, releasing him as the DJ announces the buffet order so that we don't have a stampede. Chad gives me a knowing look and I can see in his eyes that he feels what it will be about, and he shakes his head, putting his beer bottle to his lips as he gazes over my head in the direction of Ellie.
We both push it aside and enjoy our dinner, loving all of the food that has been prepared by our local diner staff. Everyone laughs and taps their glasses every chance they get to make Chad and I kiss. Reno and Kendall's speeches make everyone laugh and cry, and I couldn't have asked for two better people to deliver them. They are filled with love and friendship, and I hug Kendall for what seems like an hour after she finishes.
By the time the dancing starts, everyone except for Ellie, Rosa, and I are at least six beers or drinks deep, all talking loudly over one another and the music. Rosa and I aren’t drinking because we are still nursing Charlie and Marisol, but Ellie has to drive home to Waverly, and she won't accept the offer to sleep in one of our spare rooms, which again makes me angry just a little bit. Pulling the three girls out onto the dance floor with me and Garth, we're soon joined by a hoard of guests, all bumping and grinding to Tim McGraw's "Truck Yeah".
As the DJ switches songs to Sister Sledge's "We Are Family", there is a circle forming on the dance floor and the girls pull me to the middle of it as I try to stop them. I like to dance, but my leg is still not at 100%, so my dancing gets awkward at times. The three of them surround me and before I know it, we're all laughing as Ellie and Rosa are having a nice little competition, trying to show the other up as everyone around us claps and shouts. Ellie had wanted to be a professional dancer her entire life, but had given it up when she married that asshole right out of high school, and Rosa, well Rosa is just damn talented.
Chad's arms wrap around me as the DJ fades into a slower song and as I slowly turn around to be in his embrace, I see Bobby Timmons approaching Ellie as she's laughing with Rosa. A sly little smile caresses my lips as I interlace my fingers behind Chad's neck, pulling myself up to be face to face with him, seeing his little grin and kissing it until I’m out of breath.
"Don't look now, but Bobby is dancin' with Ellie," he whispers as he holds his cheek to mine when we start to sway to Blake Shelton's "God Gave Me You". Knowing it's not my place to meddle, I keep my mouth shut about the events between Ellie and her ex last night and the phone call earlier, and as Chad rotates us on the floor, I spot my cousin, enveloped in Timmons' arms.
"Yeah," I whisper with a smile, seeing Bobby talking away into Ellie's ear and a smile breaks out on her face. "Just make sure his hands stay at her waist is all." I laugh as Chad chuckles in my ear, kissing it quickly before leading me out for a spin and pulling me back in, taking my lips as camera flashes go off all around us.
"I love you," he whispers against my lips, his blue eyes sparkling at me. I cock my head to the side, gazing at this wonderful man before me as a sly grin leaps to his lips. How can I be so lucky to finally have this man as mine? I pull his face down to mine and claim his lips again.
"I love you, too," I mumble, nipping at his bottom lip, "and I can't wait to get home and have you strip for me." I giggle as he pulls me in tight, laughing in my ear as he leans down and brushes his lips against my neck.
This is a moment in heaven, and I can't wait to have a million more.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ellie
Sitting at the bar after dancing for the last ten songs, I'm happily enjoying my glass of water. Rhea and Chad are still out there, oblivious to the fact that the song has changed from slow to fast, still holding each other close and swaying to their own beat and it's adorable. They are so in love. I'm happy she's found someone she can share that with. I can't help but scowl to myself thinking that at one time, when I was naive, I thought I had a love like that. How wrong I was.
"Hey Ell, sittin' all by your lonesome?" the voice comes from behind me, and I spin on the stool to see Bobby Timmons slip onto the seat beside me, placing his right arm up on the bar.
Even though I'm in no mood to hook up with anyone I can't help but let my gaze roam over him. He is tall, maybe six foot five, and thin but oh-so muscular. I can see the definition of his arms through his uniform, the dark blue material hugging to his muscles. His dark, dirty blonde hair is buzzed close with what looks like lightning bolts shaved in above his left ear, and his white cover is resting on his knee, making him look adorable. His light hazel eyes are framed by dark lashes, and mixed with a lady killer grin, his presence almost breaks my barrier down; but diverting my gaze with a sweet smile I take in a deep breath.
"Yeah, kinda restin' after being a crazy animal out there." I point to the dance floor and I can hear him chuckle. The sound of it seems to seep right into my limbs, making those little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I haven’t felt this way about anything in a long time and it is scaring me.
"You are one hell of a dance partner." He grins, shooting me a side long glance as he takes a sip from his beer bottle. Damn my brain but I can't help but think of Jake at a time like this. Bobby kind of looks like him, except Jake's hair is light blonde and longer, and Jake's eyes are green. I shouldn't compare anyone to him, but I can't help it. I've tried to run, but he always finds me and seeps back into my
life, taking it by the throat and almost choking the life out of it, or me, every time.
Taking a deep breath in, I let out a little sigh and shake the thoughts away. He's not going to ruin this night for me any more than he already has.
"You're not a bad dancer," I laugh, patting him on the knee, "you just have to let yourself go and have fun. That's the key." I giggle, realizing that my hand is still on his knee I snap it away, trying not to let him see the look on my face as I see him watch my hand disappear with a little frown on his face.
"Yeah, well, you make it look easy." He smiles. For a second, we just kind of look at each other, not saying anything and I can see myself getting lost in this man. No, I can't do this! I have too many scars, more internal than external and too much baggage. I can't let anyone get involved in this shit and Bobby seems like the kind of guy to insert himself into the middle of my problems if I let him. I can see his eyes move from my face to my arms and I move my hands up to try and cover the bruises barely visible under my sweater. His eyes snap back to my face.
"You wanna get some air?" he asks, standing and reaching his hand out to me with a sweet smile on his face.
"Yeah," I say, slipping my hand into his and feeling a light shock reach down to my feet. Yup, this could be bad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobby Timmons
She's beautiful. And I don't mean that nonchalantly, I really mean it.
As she sits next to Rosa and Rhea on the wooden picnic table with my pea-coat around her shoulders, Ellie is breathtaking. Her dark, short hair is curled and it's framing her face perfectly, making my hands shake with the desire to go and brush it behind her ear. When we were sitting at the bar I had the hardest time fighting the urge to lean in and brush my lips against her porcelain skin, moving them to her bright red, plump, kissable lips.
Coming Home: Book 2 The Wakefield Romance Series Page 22
