Twice as Hot

by Gena Showalter

EPILOGUE

 

  The day of my wedding arrived .

  Finally I'd picked out a dress and hadn't burned it, managed to order invitations and napkins without soaking them. I now stood in front of a full-length mirror, gazing at myself. I wore a long ivory Grecian gown, with thin straps and silver roses sewn into the fabric. My veil boasted the same silver roses and flowed down my honey-colored curls (Sherridan had styled the thick mass for me, saying it was the least she could do after all the times I'd blow-dried her hair at fifty paces) and along my bare, slightly sun-kissed arms.

  The color in my cheeks was high and pink, and my hazel eyes were sparkling.

  "You've never looked more beautiful," Sherridan said from behind me. In her five-inch heels, she towered over me. She placed her hands on my shoulders.

  "You, too. But don't get any ideas. Ear filters, remember?" Three weeks had passed since my surgery and her night of loving with Cody. To my surprise, they were still together and were mushier than even me and Rome. They were always holding hands, always touching. Cody seemed to give her everything she'd been missing in her life: love, acceptance, attention. When she became too high-maintenance, like yesterday, crying because she thought she looked fat, he just told her how beautiful she was, then spent a good hour pointing out all his favorite parts of her body. I know because I'd been in the next room.

  I hadn't been able to help myself. I'd softened toward him (after gagging). I'd had to. He was Rome's best man. But part of me still wanted to hate him, since Sherridan would soon be moving out of my house and into Cody's. Yes, Cody had finally bought a house - a sign he must be serious about committing to Sherridan. He'd even used her as his Realtor. Too bad I wasn't ready to give her up.

  "I can't believe this day has finally arrived," I said. "Or that I was able to book this amazing church. Or that I was able to get the invitations printed in time. Or that I was able to secure the best caterer in town. "

  "Pays to know the right people," she said with a smile.

  Everyone had turned me down, told me no, to get lost, they couldn't help me. Then she'd made a few calls for me and boom - everyone wanted to help. Whatever I'd desired, I'd gotten.

  John was putting her powers to good use, too. He'd made Sherridan an official member of my team. So I guess I wouldn't be giving her up, really. I'd see her every day at work.

  "Are you ready?" Elaine asked as she strolled into the room. "Oh, Belle. " She stopped, placed a hand over her mouth. "You look radiant. "

  "Thank you, Vampyra," I said, using the name she and Tanner had finally settled on. They, too, were still together. Like Sherridan, they'd been talking about moving out and getting a place of their own. I'd never seen Tanner so happy as when he was with this girl, and that made me happy. Though I'd miss having the little shit at my beck and call.

  "Everyone prepared for the worst?" I asked. I mean, hello. This was a wedding of two superheroes.

  Every villain in the world would love to crash it. Desert Gall was still in prison, so she wasn't a worry.

  Reese was out but in rehab, so he could be a problem. The Multiplier was already up for parole, according to John, but as of now, he was still behind bars.

  "John swore he'd guard this place like the secrets of the universe were in the chapel," Sherridan reminded me. "Nothing's going to go - "

  "Don't say it!" Elaine and I shouted in unison.

  Sherridan pressed her lips together.

  Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. That kind of declaration would only cause fate to laugh at us.

  "I just came in to tell you that they're ready for you," Elaine said.

  Sherridan strode to the table and lifted my bouquet. Silver roses. She handed it to me with a smile.

  "Belle Masters. Can't say I'm glad Rome finally convinced you to take his name, but I like the girl that goes with it, so I'll deal. "

  I laughed, hugged her close. Waved Elaine over and she joined in the hug, still looking dazzled at being able to touch people so freely.

  "All right, ladies," I said after a few minutes, straightening. "Let's do this. "

  "You sound like Rome just before a mission," Elaine said through tears. Happy tears, though.

  "Nervous?"

  "A little," I admitted. "I don't want to trip. I don't want anything to go wrong. This is the first day of my new life. "

  "Look at it this way," Sherridan said, moving in front of me toward the door. Elaine lined up behind her.

  My bridesmaids, I thought with a tingle. This wedding was really happening. "You're the only bride in town who can relight a candle at her wedding without going near it if it blows out. " I laughed as she'd intended. And then the two began marching out, into the chapel. When it was my turn, I inhaled, held it. . . held the breath. . . and slowly released it. Seemed like the day I'd been waiting for my entire life had finally arrived. I was giving myself body and soul to the man I loved. The man who loved me for exactly who I was. And afterward, we had a few weeks off and we were going to honeymoon in the Arctic. Better snuggling there, Rome had said.

  Slowly, I walked forward. Past the double doors. Down a corridor. I could see the back of Sherridan as she stepped into the sanctuary. I reached the door and my dad, my wonderful dad, and my new daughter, Sunny, joined me. He was going to escort me, and she was acting as flower girl. Sunny took her role seriously, too. She had flowers in her hair, glued to her dress and her shoes, and the basket she held was overflowing.

  I gave them both a hug.

  "Ready?" my dad asked. He was tall and sort of thick, with brown hair and a kind, teddy-bear face.

  "Ready. "

  He kissed my cheek. "I'm so proud of you, Bell-Belle. Your mother would be, too. "

  "I love you, Daddy. " I bent down to Sunny. "And I love you. "

  "Forever," she said.

  "Forever. " That was not up for negotiation. "Now go on. It's finally your turn. " She was beaming as she walked forward, throwing petals in every direction.

  When she reached the front, music suddenly blasted from the church. Here comes the bride. Everyone stood and turned to catch sight of me. My dad and I started forward. Tears were already burning my eyes. Damn it, I didn't want to cry at my own wedding! But I saw Sunny, now standing proudly beside her own dad and grinning happily at me, my precious dogs (who this time were clad in matching white dresses and darling little tiaras) playing at their feet.

  She waved me over to hurry me along. The crowd chuckled.

  My gaze shifted, and I spotted Tanner as one of Rome's groomsmen. He blew me a kiss. Lexis, I saw next, was in the front pew. She offered me a tentative smile. I couldn't help myself. I returned it. This was my day, a dream come true. I was feeling generous.

  The crowd suddenly let out a gasp. Before I could glance around to see what evil scrim had managed to crash my wedding - and kill the bastard - Jean-Luc brushed past me, turned and stopped directly in front of me. My dad glanced between us as the crowd fell silent, watching.

  I patted his arm. "It's okay," I said.

  "Sorry I'm late. I couldn't stay away," Jean-Luc said. He was wearing a wrinkled and stained T-shirt, a holey pair of jeans and flip-flops. His hair was in disarray and he smelled like beer. "You look amazing. "

  "You look like shit. " They were the only words I could think of at the moment, but deep down I was glad to see him - bad timing or not. His absence these past few weeks had been the only dark spot in my life.

  He didn't react. He just leaned into me and pressed a lingering kiss on my cheek. "I still love you, but I wish you all the best. I wanted you to know that," he said, then spun on his heel, strode forward and plopped into a seat behind Lexis.

  Her vision, I thought, looking up. Rome smiled at me to let me know he understood what had just happened.

  Lexis gaped at Jean-Luc, but I saw the longing in her gaze. I hoped her vision about him came true. He deserved a happily-ever-after.

  "Come on, my
girl. Rome's waiting," my dad said, and I laced my arm through his.

  My head held high, we kicked into gear again. The closer we came to the altar, the faster my steps grew. Eagerness rushed through me. Finally my dad handed me over, and Rome held tight. Love glowed on his face, and damn, his body was fine, encased in the black tux as it was.

  "Belle," he said. "You take my breath away. "

  "So you like the dress?"

  "Actually, I can't wait to strip you. "

  The pastor heard, and cleared his throat. We laughed.

  "Let's get to the kissing part," Rome told him.

  And we did.