The little wedding chapel he’d reserved was close to the state border, only some forty miles from their honeymoon destination of Branson, Missouri. Located in an old, white-frame church with battered but gleaming wood floors and rows of antique oak pews, it was generously, almost overly, decorated with white silk flowers and big red hearts. Romantic instrumental music played from speakers. A portly, sixtysomething officiate with a beatific smile and twinkling eyes welcomed them warmly, introducing himself as Pastor Dave and his equally plump and smiling wife, Luanne.
“You were very lucky we had this slot available today. Valentine’s Day is our most popular day for elopements, you know,” he confided, pumping Cole’s hand and winking at Stevie. “Got five more weddings scheduled before the day’s done.”
Valentine’s Day. Stevie just barely stopped herself from slapping her hands to her cheeks with a gasp. How flustered had she been today that she’d written the date probably half a dozen times without considering the significance? She’d been vaguely aware that the holiday was upon them, of course, but she hadn’t watched much TV or spent much time on social media during the past few busy, emotionally stressful weeks. How on earth had Cole managed to make wedding and honeymoon reservations in less than twenty-four hours for this particular weekend? He’d assured her they would be staying at a very nice hotel and even had tickets to a couple of popular shows.
Watching him slip a couple of bills to their beaming host, she suspected he’d quietly greased a few palms. And he’d done this all for her. She bit her lower lip, then released it immediately to keep from chewing off her freshly applied gloss. She wanted to look nice in the Elite Matrimonial Photo Package Luanne would take with her digital camera.
“Shall we begin?” Pastor Dave waved a hand toward the altar at the front of the little chapel, looking surreptitiously at the antique clock on the wall behind him as he turned. “You requested the nondenominational religious ceremony, is that correct, Mr. McKellar?”
“Yes,” Cole agreed, glancing at Stevie as if for confirmation.
She managed a smile and a nod, resisting an impulse to nervously twist her hair. No second thoughts, she ordered herself. For once in your life, you’re doing the sensible thing.
“Here you go, Miss McLane.” Luanne pressed three long-stemmed red roses tied together with a white satin ribbon in Stevie’s hand, then stepped back to raise her camera. “Give us a big smile, hon.”
The roses were pretty, part of the Special Deluxe Elopement Package. Holding them gently in her left hand, Stevie set her small handbag on a front pew, rummaged in it for a moment, then turned toward her groom. “I’m ready.”
“When I heard your fine Scottish surnames, I chose a special wedding song just for the two of you,” Pastor Dave confided as he moved to the small lectern at the front of the room. He pressed a couple of buttons an
d after a brief pause, a bagpipe version of Ode to Joy poured from the overhead speakers. Stevie slanted a glance at Cole to find him smiling down at her in a way that almost elicited a completely inappropriate giggle. She heard the click-click of Luanne’s camera as Pastor Dave began his simple ceremony, barely referring to the little book in his hands as he recited words he must have intoned countless times before.
Somehow she managed to pay attention, and to respond appropriately at the correct times. She smiled faintly when the officiate read her almost-husband’s full name. Cole Douglas McKellar. A fine Scottish name, indeed.
She moistened her lips as Cole’s gaze locked with hers. A ripple of awareness coursed through her at the thought that this attractive, caring and complex man would now be bound to her. They would share a home, a future. A bed. As hectic as the past twenty-four hours had been, she’d hardly had time to even think about that part of their marriage. She realized suddenly that she was looking forward to the journey they’d embarked on together that morning.
What was Cole thinking? Feeling? He looked as at ease as ever. But on closer inspection, was there just a hint of tension in his dark eyes? She had no doubt he was taking these vows very seriously, but was he wondering whether he’d acted on an uncharacteristic and perhaps imprudent impulse? Was he having second thoughts?
Pastor Dave peered at them over the top of his reading glasses. “Do y’all have rings?”
“I do.” Cole drew a white gold band from the pocket of the charcoal sport coat he wore with a pale blue shirt, lighter gray pants and a blue and gray patterned tie. Knowing how much he hated wearing ties, she was touched that he’d gone to the effort of dressing up for this occasion, even though they had no audience for their ceremony other than Pastor Dave and Luanne.
“I have one, too,” she said, opening her left hand to reveal the band she’d taken from her purse. Like hers, it was white gold, his with a brushed finish. She’d bought it that very morning. She’d stopped into a jewelry store in the same business center as her office and taken only a few minutes to select a ring that seemed to suit Cole’s tastes, making a guess at his size. She saw surprise flit fleetingly across his face. Had he thought she’d forgotten to get a ring? Or had he never actually expected to wear a wedding band again?
And here she was, second-guessing his emotions again. She shook her head slightly and slipped the ring on his finger when prompted by Pastor Dave. It fit well enough, not snug but not so loose it would slip off. She saw Cole look down at his hand as if to admire the band there, and she hoped that was a sign that he liked it.
Luanne moved into position behind Pastor Dave with her camera raised as he pronounced them husband and wife. The camera snapped noisily when he added, “Y’all can seal this deal with a kiss now.”
Stevie’s giggle was smothered beneath Cole’s willingly cooperative lips. And while the presence of their approving audience held the kiss in check, she was vividly reminded of the more heated kisses they’d exchanged in private yesterday.
Her heart tripped in her chest. She and Cole would be spending this night together as husband and wife. Judging by the fireworks that went off inside her whenever their lips met, this was going to be a very special honeymoon, indeed!
* * *
Cole had made a reservation at a nice hotel just off Branson’s main thoroughfare. Stevie’s palms felt damp as she followed him into the elevator for the ninth floor. Apparently she’d been so focused on the impromptu wedding that she hadn’t looked much farther ahead. She certainly hadn’t anticipated how nervous she would be at the prospect of officially beginning their honeymoon! Nervous—but excited, she realized with a flutter of anticipation.
Cole swiped the key card without looking around at her, then moved out of the way to allow her to precede him into the room. Suite, she corrected herself when she walked in and looked around. In addition to a king-sized bed and a small table with two chairs, there was a pretty little sitting area with what she assumed to be a sleeper sofa and an armchair. Her attention was drawn almost immediately back to that huge bed. She hoped Cole didn’t hear her hard swallow.
Cole set down their bags before turning to her. Though she couldn’t stop glancing toward the bed, he seemed to be making an effort to avoid looking at it. “Would you like to change before dinner, or are you good in what you’re wearing?” he asked.
“This is fine, thanks.”
“You don’t mind if I get rid of this tie, do you?” He was already tugging at the knot.
She smiled. “I’m surprised you kept it on this long. By all means, make yourself comfortable. It’s not like ties are the typical dress code for Branson.”
He shed both jacket and tie and pulled a navy V-neck sweater from his bag to tug over his pale blue shirt. “That’s better,” he said with a sigh of such relief that she had to laugh.
She reached up to smooth his hair, resisting an urge to play in it for a bit. She really did love his springy dark hair.