by L. L. Muir
Roger was looking at them. “Is it really all right if I take you up on your offer for the rings?”
“I insist.”
Liam moved to study the rings and immediately found one he liked very much. A delicate gold band engraved with roses. He kept his opinion to himself. He wasn’t the bride or the groom. After they made their selection, the couple excused themselves to go and change their clothes while Liam haggled over price. More a Scots instinct than a true desire to save money. Amber wandered off to look at the wares.
Heart suddenly pounding, Liam asked for the gold ring and purchased it as well.
It was a stupid thing to do. He could never marry Amber. He’d no doubt be gone by the end of the day. But if she had the ring, perhaps she’d remember him fondly when she wore it.
“You’re sure you don’t want to sell me that coin?”
“Not at this time, but I’ll keep you in mind if I do.”
The shopkeeper didn’t look happy but there was naught he could do. Liam purchased the three rings, pocketed the one, and joined the others.
When Roger and Velma rejoined them in their wedding finery, Liam gave Roger the two rings, but kept the third. He felt as if it burned through his sporran. He’d leave it as a gift when he left.
He followed everyone out, walking behind Amber.
If only this was to be his wedding. His and Amber’s.
Would she have him if he asked?
He didn’t know, but knew he’d marry her between one heartbeat and the next if he could.
~~~
All dressed up, they rode the bus further downtown, and Amber immediately started taking pictures of the couple with her camera phone. “Smile!”
Velma’s dress was white, strapless, knee high, and flared like a bell. Roger wore a suit that had seen better days and didn’t quite fit him. It didn’t matter. They were adorable and everyone was in a jovial mood.
They stepped off at the bus stop closest to their destination and walked the three blocks to Graceland Chapel.
Velma and Roger were congratulated repeatedly and some tourists even stopped to take their pictures with them. Amber continued to snap pictures for Velma and Roger. Occasionally she took one of Liam, looking sharp in his gray suit.
Laughing and having a good time, they finally arrived at their destination. The chapel resembled a cottage, except for the tall stone steeple on one side embedded with a clock.
“I’m surprised you picked this place,” Amber teased. ‘I’d have thought maybe you’d get married along the Extraterrestrial Highway, or at the gates by Area 51. I’m sure the Little A’Le’Inn could have put on a spread for you afterward. This seems a little tame for the two of you.”
Roger laughed. “Tell her, Velma.”
Velma’s face lit up. “We actually did consider it. But we decided what could be more alien than Elvis Presley performing the ceremony.”
“Elvis Presley?” Liam looked confused.
Amber smiled. “You know, big black hair, sideburns, He Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog?”
Liam looked at her blankly
“The high collar shirts? The rings and pilot glasses?”
Liam shrugged.
Still chuckling, Amber followed Roger and Velma through the courtyard to the front doors. Liam trailed behind, studying the stone bridge, the gazebo, and the big sign that pronounced the name of the chapel. They went inside to find a check-in desk.
“Are you Roger and Velma?”
“We are.” Roger stated.
“All right, let’s get you started. I see you’ve signed up for the flowers, photography, and Elvis.”
Roger swallowed, suddenly nervous. “That’s right.” Roger held Velma tightly to his side. “Only the best for my baby.”
Amber took another picture. They were just so cute.
They paid, signed their names on the registry, were given flowers, and ushered into the small chapel.
Amber glanced around at the benches on each side, with flowers attached on each end.
“Hello!” Elvis himself came forward to meet them. He wore a high-collared black jumpsuit with a deep vee that arrowed halfway down his chest, exposing chest hair. “Come in. Come in. Who is the groom?”
Roger raised a hand as another man came into the room and snapped a picture.
“All right, young man.” Elvis gestured to the spot at the front. “Stand right here. And the bride, Velma, isn’t it?” When Velma giggled and nodded he continued. “Velma you stay where you are in the back, and your two guests come up front and find a seat.”
Amber sank down with Liam at her side. When everyone was settled, Elvis flipped a switch and a mist of fog came out from under the floor.
Sitting as they were in the front row it quickly reached their feet and Liam lifted his.
Amber patted his leg. “It’s fine. It won’t hurt you.”
Liam reluctantly settled his feet once more.
Music started blaring loudly from speakers, startlingly Liam, and Elvis picked up a microphone and started to sing Can’t Help Falling in Love as he gyrated his way down the aisle to Velma. He turned and waved his hand at the rest of them, and Amber started to sing along.
It wasn’t incredibly romantic, but it was fun, silly, and amusing. Not a bad way to start a marriage.
Liam had a look on his face, half wonderment, half horror.
Roger was singing now too, and dancing in place.
If this is what the couple wanted, they all might as well have a blast sharing in the occasion. Amber raised her hands and started dancing with her upper body as she stayed in her seat, still singing along and smiling like crazy.
Liam watched her, confusion etched on his face.
Elvis, his arm around the bride, escorted Velma down the aisle, still singing into his microphone. When he handed Velma off to Roger, he stood with the couple while a photographer took pictures.
Amber had always sort of looked down on a Las Vegas wedding, but this was so fun she might have to change her opinion.
The music cut out, and Elvis moved smoothly forward to begin the ceremony. “Friends, we are gathered here together to celebrate the promise of love between Roger and Velma. A marriage is two hearts filled with love coming together forever. It’s also a promise to communicate and share lives. The good and bad. It’s a commitment between husband and wife.”
Elvis picked up a microphone. “And it’s also about—” the music blared again and Elvis started to shake his hips to the tune of Burning Love. “Lord Almighty I feel my temperature rising…”
He danced his way to the couple, danced with them, spun Velma a few times, and then danced his way back to the front.
Amber was giggling at the spectacle, but also at Liam who was smiling now, if still disbelieving.
The music abruptly stopped. “Roger and Velma I want you both to think back to the very first time you met. Now I want you to think forward through to this day. Roger, pick up the ring and place it on her finger. Now look at Velma and repeat after me. Velma, I take you to be my loving wife in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for now and forever.” Roger placed the ring on Velma’s finger and repeated the words.
Amber had to admit, that as silly as the wedding seemed, the look in Roger’s eyes was tender for his new bride, and sincere, and it caused her to unexpectedly tear up.
A rush of feeling welled up inside of her and she couldn’t help glance at Liam.
Would she end up marrying this man?
Marriage was not her thing, she reminded herself.
He was a great guy. Fun, amusing, gorgeous. And, yes, she was very attracted to him. She wasn’t denying that.
“All right, now Velma. It’s your turn. Do you have a ring for Roger?”
Velma brought out the ring they’d recently purchased at the pawn shop.
“All right. Now place the ring on Roger’s finger and repeat after me. Roger, I take you to be my loving husband, in good times and in bad, in sickness
and in health, for now and forever.” Velma, repeating the words, placed the ring on Roger’s finger.
Elvis surged forward to stand in front of the couple. “Now Roger, repeat after me. I promise to always love you tender, and never act like a hound dog, and from this day forward I promise to be your Hunk a Hunk of Burning Love.” Gyrating hips accompanied the last words.
Roger laughed and repeated the words and also gyrated his hips.
“All right, Velma. It’s your turn. Repeat after me. I promise to love you tender, and always be your loving teddy bear from this day forward.” Smiling, Velma repeated the words. “I promise I will never stop you from wearing your blue suede shoes, and I will always will always be your Hunk a Hunk of Burning Love.”
Everyone was laughing pretty hard by the time Velma said the words.
But Elvis wasn’t finished yet. “There will be trying times, so make the happy times even more wonderful. Remember to always say you’re sorry, and always say I love you. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now, kiss your bride, man! And thank you, thank you very much for choosing Graceland.”
As the couple tenderly kissed, intense feelings welled up within Amber.
She really liked Liam. Was there any chance he was the one for her?
She didn’t know.
All she knew was that within hours of meeting him she’d had a strong reaction to him.
Was there a chance they might marry someday?
She chuckled, laughing at herself. It was early days and there was absolutely no rush. Time would tell. They were both young and had all the time in the world.
She took his hand, and he squeezed hers in return.
Viva Las Vegas started playing as Elvis danced around the kissing couple. The photographer took a few more pictures and encouraged everyone to stand up and dance their way up the aisle. Laughing, they all obliged and Elvis danced them right out of the chapel and to the front doors.
And that was it.
Velma and Roger were married and Elvis had left the building.
CHAPTER TEN
They left the Chapel and everyone was all smiles.
Roger pulled Liam aside. “Look. Where you paid for the rings, would I seem like an ingrate if I used some of the money I still have to splurge on a hotel?”
“Not at all. The rings are a gift and not to be taken into consideration.” Liam slapped the smaller man on the back. “’Tis your wedding day. Go and have fun.”
“Thanks, dude. You’re the best.”
As Liam watched, Roger hurried back to his bride. The Chapel offered a limousine service to a hotel of choice and the couple stood beside it as Amber, looking beautiful in her blue summer dress, snapped a few more pictures and waved them off. She blew the bubbles provided by the Chapel. “Goodbye! We’ll see you soon! Have fun!”
Roger laughed they stood beside the open door of the white limousine. “Oh, don’t you worry! We will!”
“Amber! Catch!”
Amber caught the bouquet Velma threw over her shoulder, and the newlyweds waved and climbed into the back of the limousine. Within minutes they were out of sight.
Amber smiled up at him, more beautiful than ever. Looking at her, bouquet in hand, and the ring practically burning a hole in his sporran, he felt a spurt of jealousy for Roger. Would that he could sweep Amber off her feet and find a priest.
“What did you think? Wasn’t that fun?”
He nodded. He did not wish to tell her he thought it a highly ridiculous way to wed and hurt her feelings. He did not wish to offend Roger or Velma either. “’Twas…not what I’m used to.”
Amber laughed. “Vegas weddings are a bit over the top. If you were getting married, would you go for something like that? Or would you want a different sort of wedding?”
Her bright eyes gazed up at him and his heart started to beat a little faster. He wondered if she could also picture the two of them together, or if it was just him? “This is not the sort of wedding I would care for.”
“Really? So what are you used to? Where will you get married? The highest mountain? The deepest cave? Swimming with sharks?”
He shook his head and smiled at her silliness. “In Kirk. With a priest to bless us. I dinnae take everything lightly, and I wouldnae marriage.”
The way she was looking at him again, with her eyes softened and sweet, he wished to bend down and kiss her lips, but decided to control himself. If he didn’t he might drop to his knees and pull out the ring. He might propose, whisk her away, and with only a few hours left to stay, it wouldn’t be fair to her.
They took off walking. In the daylight the city looked much different. It was better to concentrate on his surroundings than on the girl clinging to his arm. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself from placing his own hand atop hers as they walked along.
“I like the way you see the world, Liam.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that regardless of your tough exterior, I think deep down inside, you’re a romantic.”
He snorted. “I dinnae believe—”
A car pulled up next to them, stopped, and three men, including the driver, jumped out and rushed them.
They were the men from yesterday. The ones that tried to steal Amber away.
Before Liam had even thought, he shoved Amber behind him, kicked at the gun one man was raising, stuck his knife in the thigh of another, and shoved his fist into the jaw of the third. Two of the men went down, and Liam quickly withdrew another knife, glanced around at the crowded sidewalks and decided not to kill the man.
But his hesitation cost him. The villain lifted a gun and shot him in the chest.
Liam yelled out a curse. “That hurt!”
His fist shot out to jab the man’s throat hard.
Choking, grasping his throat, the villain went down to the sidewalk as well.
Liam collected his knife, wiped it on the pants of the screaming man, gathered all the other weapons and shoved them haphazardly about the belt at his waist.
He grabbed Amber’s hand and pulled her toward the running vehicle. “Can ye drive lass?”
Eyes wide, she reached out to touch his chest. “Are you all right? There’s no blood. Are you injured? Did he shoot you?”
“’Tis fine. Come on, let’s go.”
Looking shocked, her gaze moved to the three downed men. She sputtered for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.” She said the words faintly. “I can drive. We need to get out of here.”
Liam herded Amber into the driver seat, shut the door, and rounded the car and slid in beside her. As soon as he’d shut the door, Amber rushed the vehicle into traffic.
Moving around cars, she finally turned onto another road where the traffic was going much faster. She visibly relaxed.
Liam rubbed his chest, stuck his hand underneath the shirt, and couldn’t find any wound. He’d once been hit by a musket ball and it killed him. Perhaps in this time weapons were less effective?
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Amber worriedly looked between him and the road.
“I seem to be fine. I would’ve thought a musket ball would be strong enough to pierce even this tough hide.”
“Are you saying you were shot?” Her eyes filled with tears, but she kept her hands on the steering wheel. She quickly pulled over into a parking lot and jumped out of the car. He did as well, glancing around for enemies.
Amber tugged his dress shirt open, forcing him to throw the weapons into the car or risk dislodging them all.
She ran her hands under his shirt and over his chest.
His eyebrows rose, and he went up on his toes. “Lass! I’m fine. I have not been pierced by the musket ball.”
She finally took a step back and glanced up at him. “The bullet must’ve missed you. That’s the only explanation.”
He rubbed his chest where it hurt earlier. “I dinnae think so. It just didnae pierce my skin.”
“That’s impossible. Bullets travel at, I don’t know, thousands of miles
per hour? Do you think he had blanks?”
He didn’t know what she meant and simply shrugged.
Her comment about how speedy bullets were, reminded him of the few movies he’d seen. As the weapons had progressed over the years, so had their interest in them. Not that they were able to see much beyond the displays at Culloden Moor.
Perhaps he couldn’t be hurt? He thought to test it, but didn’t wish to stress Amber more than she already was. “Come, lass. Let us get back in the car and away from this place.”
She nodded and slid back in the car. He did the same.
“Why did you do that? Why did you take on three men? You could’ve been hurt.”
We shrugged as they drove back into traffic, much more slowly this time. “I didnae think about it. Why would I? Ye’re in my care, and mine to protect.”
She drew a deep breath. “I don’t want you dead!”
He spread out his hands. “I’m not anymore.”
She shot him a narrow-eyed look, then relaxed. “Well, I bet those guys think twice before messing with you again.”
Liam nodded. “And well they might.”
She gasped in air, but a moment later she smiled at him. He recognized the excitement and relief one felt after battle and returned the smile, feeling exuberance as well.
“You saved me.”
The way she was glancing at him, made him feel ten feet tall. “Ye are always safe in my care.”
She drew in another deep breath and nodded. “You were actually quite magnificent.”
“Careful, else ye’ll swell my head.” He ran his hand over the seat, loving the textured leather. He glanced around at the buttons he didn’t know how to use. “I like this car verra much. As ye dinnae have one, do you think we could keep it? Ye could teach me to drive?”
She smiled again. “The spoils of war? I don’t think so. Whoever hired these men will be looking for this car. We don’t want to make it too easy for them, do we?”
“But it would give us transportation. We could go about more. Roger’s car does not seem as dependable as this one.”
“We’re not keeping the car.”
Liam crossed his arms over his chest. “I want it.”
