Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

Drawing back, I rested my forehead to hers and whispered, “It’s over.”

“It’s over? What do you mean?”

“He sold me the land, it’s mine. The title is in my name.”

Kynslee took a step back. “But we’re not married yet.”

I placed my hand on the side of her face. “The judge convinced him it would behoove Peter to take the offer, or he might risk losing it all. He agreed to the price I offered without the contingency of the marriage.”

“What? That’s amazing!” she said, throwing herself into my arms. My heart sank a little knowing she was that excited she didn’t have to marry me right now.

Pushing that all out of my mind, I held her tighter. I was going to enjoy and cherish whatever Kynslee gave me. I’d wait for her, for as long as it took.

She slid down and looked up at me, a smile on her face. “Well, that takes pressure off of everything.”

I chuckled and said, “Yeah. I guess it does.”

Lacing her fingers in mine, she guided me back into the bakery. “Okay, we need to head back in and decide which cake we want.”

My heart nearly started beating out of my chest. I pulled her to a stop. “Kynslee, we don’t have to get married now. I mean, we can wait until you’re ready. There’s no need to rush.”

With a sexy smile, she tilted her head and gazed at me for a moment or two. “I know there’s no rush, Miles. I want to marry you. I want to start our lives together, and I’m tired of waiting. I feel something in here,” she pointed to her chest. “A longing I buried for so long. I love you, and I know you love me. I want to build a house, buy one of those SUVs that will fit a couple of car seats. I want to have your baby. I want what we have both been waiting for. I want to be your wife.”

My pulse thundered in my ears, and I wrapped my arms around her, lifting her up and spinning her while she let out the most beautiful-sounding laugh.

Kynslee giggled, then kissed me as I let her slowly slide down my body.

“You just made me the happiest man in the world.”

“Do you know what will make me happy?” she asked.

“An orgasm in the backseat of my truck?”

Playfully slapping my chest, she replied, “Yes, but not now. What will make me happy is getting the cake picked out.”

She gave me one more quick kiss and pulled me back into the bakery. After another round of tasting, the vanilla cake with the strawberry filling was the winner. The chocolate fudge was picked for the groom’s cake which was going to be decorated like the Marine Corps symbol. When I looked over at Kynslee laughing with my sister and Heather, I finally let myself believe this wasn’t a dream.

This was real, and I was going to be marrying my best friend, my lover, the woman I had loved nearly my entire life, in just a few days. It was almost too perfect.

Kynslee

WITH MY EYES closed, I took a deep breath, and slowly let it out. I repeated the process until I no longer felt like I was suffocating from the inside out.

“Panic attack. They suck so hard.”

Heather’s whisper filled the room. I peeked one eye open and looked at her. She motioned with her fingers like she was zipping up her lips. I closed my eyes again and repeated the breathing technique.

“So why didn’t you see this coming?” I heard Patty ask Heather, to which I heard a hand slapping against skin.

“Ha. Ha.”

“Do you think she’ll go through with it? I mean, folks in town think she’s pregnant,” Patty whispered, loudly.

I dropped my hands and opened my eyes. Heather and Patty both took a step back.

“You do know I can hear every word you bitches are saying, right?” I asked.

They nodded.

“Shit, I knew bridezilla would show up eventually,” Heather said with laughter in her voice.

I buried my face in my hands and screamed. I was nervous. I was excited. I was scared. And most of all, I was feeling sick as a dog. No, I wasn’t pregnant. I took four tests to confirm that.

“I’m going to get sick,” I said. Heather ran for the little trash can as Patty bounced into action and grabbed a wet cloth.

With the trash can positioned under me, I took a few deep breaths. Patty bent down. “Honey, are you preggers?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Positive?” Heather asked.

Nodding, I replied, “Yes.”

They both stood up and said, “Thank God.”

There was a light tap on the door to my old bedroom. I was getting ready in my folks’ house and the plan was to walk to the barn where the ceremony was taking place. It was early November and the weather couldn’t have been any better. Sunny, a high of seventy, and a very light breeze.