揑 appreciate you being here.?
Her head whipped up and her breath caught at the sight of me. 揙h, Hannah.?Her throat worked and she gave me a watery smile. 揧ou look so beautiful.?
I glanced down at the floor-length white dress. The sleeves flared and the fabric draped perfectly over my body. I skimmed my palm over the delicate lace.
揑抦 so glad you chose the boho style,?Avery breathed, shaking her head. 揑t抯 not what I would have expected for you but it turned out to be perfect.?
I smiled. 揕ike Wyatt.?
She nodded. 揧eah, Han. Like Wyatt.?She reached for my bouquet on the table, a small collection of soft pinks and deep reds and greens from the Queen抯 Cove area the florist had put together yesterday. 揜eady??
I took the bouquet from her, running my fingers along the pearl pins on the handle. 揜eady.?
We made our way to the beach and left our shoes at the edge of the sand. They waited for us closer to the water桬lizabeth, Sam, Holden, Finn, Emmett, my dad, Veena, and in the center of them all, Wyatt.
I nearly laughed in surprise at the sight of him in a suit. My Wyatt in a gray suit. It fit his tall, slim form perfectly, and the bright white of the shirt made his tan even deeper. The gray fabric made his hair blonder. He watched me approach, gaze never leaving mine, and I had the sensation he was trying very hard to memorize this moment, like I was.
When I got close enough to the group, they quieted down and he stepped out and wrapped me in a hug.
揋ood morning, bookworm.?His voice was soft in my hair.
揋ood morning,?I whispered back, aware that everyone was listening to us.
He pulled back to look down into my eyes. 揧ou抮e beautiful, you know that??He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
揥ith you, I do.?I raised an eyebrow at him. 揑抦 surprised you抮e in a suit. Don抰 get me wrong, you look incredible.?I gave him a quick heated smile that told him how much I was looking forward to getting him out of it later, and that familiar roguish grin crossed his face. 揑 half expected you to wear a wetsuit.?
He laughed, and my heart squeezed at the sound.
Wyatt kept his arm firm around my shoulder and turned to the group. 揕et抯 do this before my girl changes her mind.?
Everyone laughed, myself included.
I shook my head, smile ear to ear. 揘ot a chance.?
Emmett performed the ceremony there on the beach to the sounds of the waves rolling in and to Avery and Veena and, who I was pretty sure was Holden, sniffling. The sun slowly rose, the sky changed colors and Wyatt held my hand. He rubbed his thumb over my skin while watching me with all the love and adoration and euphoria that I felt for him.
Emmett said the words that bound us together and Wyatt placed the simple band with a pale blue stone onto my finger.
Blue like the dress you wore at Emmett抯 wedding, he had said when we saw it in the jewelry store a few weeks ago in Australia. The first time I realized how beautiful you were.
I slipped the silver band onto his finger, and he leaned down to kiss me, pulling me into his chest and reminding me that we belonged to each other.
I had so much to lose with him, but I was going to be brave and love him with my whole heart.
My dad watched with a proud smile on his face, and my heart panged, thinking about my mom, missing her and wishing she could see me now, but grateful that I knew her. Grateful that she lived on in my bookstore and in my memories.
Later, after the families had brunch at our house and had gone home, Wyatt dragged me into our bedroom.
揕et抯 have a nap.?He kissed my neck as he backed me toward the bed.
揂 nap, huh??I grinned and then gasped as his teeth scored the sensitive skin beneath my ear. His hand was already working at my zipper and I pushed his jacket off.
揗hm.?The low, hungry cadence of his voice sent a zing of desire through me and I made quick work of the buttons on his shirt.
I turned my head to meet his mouth and he groaned deep in his chest when he coaxed my lips apart. The slow glide of our mouths drugged me and made my head float.
揌ey, bookworm??He pushed the dress off my shoulders and it pooled at my feet. His hands found the top of my strapless bra and he slid the cups down and pinched me, pulling a light moan from my mouth.
揗mm??I nipped his bottom lip.
揜emember that conversation we had the other day??His breath tickled my mouth.
揥hich one??My bra lay discarded on the floor somewhere next to his pants, and I leaned into his warm hand on my chest, loving the way he knew exactly how to touch me. One of my hands rested on his hard chest and the other palmed his stiff erection. I thrummed between my legs with every brush of his fingers on me.
揙h, shit,?he breathed against my mouth, clenching his eyes closed as I stroked. 揟he conversation about having a baby.?