A Wilde Wedding Night (The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 0.50)

“Baby, Jack might make great coffee, but you’ve got to try my waffles,” Will said. “They are out of this world.”

“I would love that,” Carol said. “Can I see more?”

“Of course,” Jack answered, pulling her in close to him.

They walked in, and he led her to the bedroom. He felt her begin to shiver.

“That’s the biggest bed I’ve ever seen, Jack. It must be custom built.”

“By my own hands.” Jack looked at her emerald-green eyes. They were wider than he’d ever seen them before. “Honey, I bet you’d like to freshen up.”

She nodded, still trembling.

“The main bathroom is this way, sweetheart.” Once they got to its door, he opened it up. Unlike the rest of his cabin, this was not like he’d left it when he’d shipped off last year. Sure, the fixtures were the same, including the big claw-foot tub he’d bought from Sears Roebuck, but the plush towels, scented soaps and shampoos, perfumes, variety of candles, and the silky white negligee were all new. More of Mom’s handiwork.

“Shouldn’t you guys go first?” Carol asked.

“There’s another bath where we can get ready,” he told her.

“Two bathrooms. That’s quite extravagant for a cabin, Jack.”

“I built this with you in mind, Carol.”

“That’s not possible.” She shook her head. “You only met me a month ago.”

He gently pressed his lips to hers, and heat flooded his body. “But I dreamed about you a long time ago, my love.”

Her cheeks turned red, and she blinked several times.

“Take all the time you need,” he said. “This is your night.”

She whispered, “Thank you.”

He walked into the hallway and shut the door behind him, allowing his new bride time alone to get ready.

* * * *

Carol stood in the center of the bathroom, not sure what to do next. She scanned the roo

m, which was lovely. Then she spotted an envelope on top of the towels. Her name was on it. She took the letter and opened it. It was from Ida, her new mother-in-law.

Dear Carol,

I hope you don’t mind me being presumptuous, but I didn’t think you would have time to pick a negligee out for yourself. I also wasn’t sure what fragrances you would like, so I bought several. Hopefully one of these will be to your liking.

By the time you read this, we will have already met each other. I can’t wait to get to know you, and am certain we will become very close.

I know I will love you and you will make my boys very happy.

Ida

Carol felt tears brim in her eyes at the tenderness in Ida’s note to her. Softly to herself, she said aloud, “I already love you, Mom.”

Folding the letter carefully, she placed it back in the envelope. She would treasure Ida’s letter for the rest of her life.

With a big sigh, she turned the two faucets of the beautiful claw-foot tub, allowing more hot water to flow than cold. She liked a very warm bath. Then it hit her that she’d forgotten something. Turning around, her body rocked violently with a new set of shivers. Jack may have had her in mind when he built this room, but he’d forgotten one important item—the lock.

Carol recalled Ida’s words in the ladies’ room. “They will be tender with you, trust me. You have nothing to fear.”