Fated Hearts (Southern Bride 8)

Elizabeth nodded, then turned and pinned me with a glare. “I love that room! I eat my lunch in there!”

Meg, Saryn, and the hairdresser all giggled.

Placing her finger and thumb against the bridge of her nose, Elizabeth asked, “Just tell me it wasn’t on the table.”

“It wasn’t,” I quickly said. “I think it was up against Texas history, then biographies, and once again by the romance section.”

Elizabeth threw her hands in the air. “I’m going to have to find a new place to eat now.”

The day turned into a beautiful fall evening in Texas, with a soft wind blowing the leaves on the trees. Occasionally, one or two leaves would float down to the ground while Roger and I exchanged our vows surrounded by a sky painted with purple, pink, and orange. It was so breathtaking, it almost looked like a painting.

Roger cried when he saw me, and I cried when I saw him. When my father placed my hand in Roger’s, he promised Daddy he would love me forever and never allow anything or anyone to hurt me. My father finally lost the battle to keep his tears at bay. He grabbed Roger around the neck and pulled him in for one of those manly hugs. He whispered something in Roger’s ear, which made me laugh. Then, with a slap on the back, my father took his seat next to my mother.

Meg stood as my maid of honor, and Truitt was Roger’s best man. We didn’t have anyone else in our wedding party. Partly because I was still so new to Boerne, and with my brother Jax not being able to make it over from Ireland, we felt it best to keep it small and simple.

The reception, on the other hand, was anything but. The Carters knew a lot of people. I swore half the town of Boerne was there.

Toward the end of the night, Roger walked up to me and placed his mouth against my ear. “Are you ready to leave, Mrs. Carter?”

I turned in his arms and smiled at him. “I’ve been ready to leave since we cut the cake.”

He laughed and kissed the tip of my nose. I loved when he did that. Then he placed his hand over my stomach, and those dimples popped out.

“If you keep touching my stomach, people will guess why,” I said.

“I can’t help it. I’m in awe of the fact that you have my child growing inside you.”

“Our child.” He rolled his eyes, and I hit him playfully on the chest. “Seriously, can we leave now?”

“Yes. I’ve already asked Truitt to bring your car around to the front of the hotel.”

“And we’re staying at a hotel in San Antonio tonight?” I asked.

Roger nodded. “Yes.”

“And you won’t tell me what time our flight leaves tomorrow?”

He narrowed his eyes at me and slowly shook his head. “I know you, Annalise. You’ll look up every flight at that time to figure out where we’re going.”

Sighing, I leaned into his body. “Fine. You win. I’ll let you surprise me.”

He kissed me softly on the mouth. “Thank you. Now let’s get the hell out of here.”

Roger

I WASN’T SURE how I’d lucked into marrying the most beautiful woman ever, but I had. The moment I saw Annalise in that soft-blue wedding gown, with her bouquet of blue and white flowers, I fell even more in love with her. Last night in our hotel room, with her hair a mess, her makeup smeared, and a scowl on her face that should have had me running for my life, I fell even more in love with her. I made love to her for nearly half the night, and fell asleep with my hand resting on her stomach. By the time I woke, I was even more madly in love with my wife, and I knew I would keep falling. Over and Over.

“Is this blindfold really necessary, Roger? You already made me wear one—and headphones—at the ticket counter. I can’t even imagine what people are thinking,” Annalise said as we made our way to our gate.

“It’s a surprise. When we get to the gate, I have to put the headphones back on.”

Sighing, Annalise stopped walking. “Nope. I’m not doing it. I feel like an idiot. I know people are staring at me!”

I glanced around the airport and, sure enough, people were giving us strange looks.

“Okay, you’re right. People are looking at us kind of strangely.”

Annalise reached up and pulled the blindfold off, blinking a few times as she adjusted to the light.

A guy walked by and said, “Dude, save the kinky stuff for your hotel room.”

I laughed as Annalise’s face flamed.

Lacing my fingers in hers, I started for our gate. I could practically feel the excitement coming off Annalise’s body.

“Hey, you know what?” I said. “You once told me that you make a damn good ice cream sundae. How come you’ve never made one for me before?”