Nice Until Proven Naughty

“Yes,” I nod, throwing myself at him. Ben topples to the ground and takes me with him.

/> “Yes?”

“Yes!” I kiss him and squeal. “Let’s do it. Let’s get married.”

“Our parents will be furious. So will Naughty.”

“We can still have a small ceremony for them when we get back,” I say. “Let’s do this for us.”

Ben lifts me into his arms and carries me to a giant room on the far side of the resort labeled: bridal suite.

There I’m whisked away by three island women who do my hair, nails, and makeup, and two hours later I’m standing at the end of an aisle in a gauzy white dress staring at the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.

Ben.

My heart.

My soul.

My lover.

My best friend.

In my haste to get to him, I start walking forward before the music starts to play. Ben laughs and meets me halfway.

“You are breathtaking.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He holds out his arm. “Shall we?”

I nod and giggle as we step in front of the pastor.

“I’m thrilled to be performing your wedding ceremony today. I perform quite a few every year—almost every day—but none have been quite like this. You’re soon-to-be husband was adamant that you leave this island as his wife, and when I saw the determination in his eyes, I had to step up to help. Rather than perform traditional vows, Ben has asked that he say his own.”

The pastor steps back, and I turn to Ben, shocked. “I didn’t write my vows.”

“That’s okay,” he whispers, taking my hands in his.

“Ben—”

“Dani,” he starts, not giving me a chance to dwell on it. “You are the love of my life. You are the missing half that makes me whole, and today, I ask you to be my wife, my partner, my best friend, my strength. For the rest of my life, I promise our lives will be filled with laughter and love. I will be loyal and faithful to you. I will love you and adore you. I will help you achieve your dreams and conquer your fears. I will laugh with you and hold you and strive to bring out the best in you. For you, I will be the best possible version of myself, as your husband.”

Tears are falling down my face, and I want so badly to hold Ben, and even though I didn’t write my own vows, my feelings toward him pour from my mouth.

“Ben.” I squeeze his hand and take a breath. “I stand before you today proud and ashamed. Proud to be your wife and ashamed that I don’t quite have the words to explain exactly how I feel about you. Our love is more than words, so today I’ll show you what you mean to me, by becoming your wife. My deep love for you led me here, standing before you, happier than I’ve ever been, and I’ll spend every day of the rest of our lives making sure you’re just as happy. I’ll cherish you and laugh with you. I’ll encourage you and hold you and cry with you. I’ll walk with you through this life, proud to be your wife. With every beat of my heart, I will love you.”

Ben wipes a tear from my cheek. “I love you, Danielle.”

“I love you, too.”

The pastor drapes a strand of flowers around my neck and a strand around Ben’s. “It has been an honor to stand before you today, and by the power vested in me, it’s an even greater honor to pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Wallace. Ben, you may kiss your bride.”

Ben’s lips are on mine before the pastor finishes speaking. His tongue sweeps inside my mouth. The steel drum band starts to play. I hear the quiet waves of the ocean hitting the sand and the sounds of the birds chirping, and I can hear Ben’s heart hammering inside of his chest with love…for me.

When he pulls back, his eyes are shining. “Dinner, cake, one dance, and then straight to the room.”

I laugh and push onto my bare toes so I can kiss him again. “Eager much?”