CHAPTER TEN
Alisa
Six months later…
“Are you nervous, butterfly?” My father glanced down at me as we stood in the small Sunday school room at the church. My only bridesmaid was Lizzy, and even though Zek had a few guys he’d wanted up front, he’d finally relented and just let his brother stand beside him on our special day.
“Not at all. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember?” I turned to face my dad and slide my arms around his portly waist. “Were you scared the day you and mom got married?”
“Hell, yes. Her daddy had a shotgun pointed at me the whole time. Back in the old—”
My mother cut him off. “Oh, brother. Don’t listen to this madness.”
She tugged me away from him and brushed her hands down my shoulders. “I love you so much. I’m proud of the woman you’ve become, and I’m proud of the man who’s standing at the front of the church waiting for you. I’m going to head in there now, but promise me one thing.”
“Sure, Mom.” Tears blurred my vision.
“You don’t listen to a damn thing your daddy says once I leave.” Her smile was wide and laughter a treasured staple from my childhood.
“Never. I know him too well.” I moved into her embrace and pressed my cheek to her shoulder.
“I’m right here. I can hear you both.” My dad threw his hands in the air, and we all shared a good laugh before my mom walked out.
Lizzy poked her head into the room and wagged her eyebrows at me. “You ready? We have three minutes left. You still have time.”
“Are you saying I should run?” I smoothed my hands over the front of my gown as I watched her.
“Yes. Absolutely. I’m married to the older one and they’re a lot alike. It’s not going to get any better. You hear me?” She winked.
My father moved up beside me and cleared his throat. “Hogwash. We’re like aged wine. We get better over time.”
Lizzy huffed. “More like you guys are an acquired taste.”
I couldn’t help but reflect back on how close Lizzy and I had become. She was like the sister I wanted as a child and needed as an adult. We’d worked closely to bring Dellup and Brown to stand trial for their indiscretions. It would seem Ronnie Dellup wasn’t the only one throwing cases. His partner Jason Brown was involved in more counts of collusion and fraud than I could stomach to think about.
Jon Mills was no longer in business either, and though it was horrible to say, having both of the legal giants out of the way simply cleared the path for me and Lizzy to open our firm. We had cleaned up with both of Mills and Dellup’s clientele, and everyone was better for it.
I pulled from my thoughts as my wedding coordinator yanked the door open behind Lizzy, almost causing her to stumble as she leaned against it.
“It’s time. Make sure you listen to my commands and follow my cues. We want everything perfect for the pictures.” The woman gave me a stern look like I was a wild-ass teenager. Truth be told, I still was deep inside of me.
Zek had forced me to get a coordinator and all the bells and whistles for the event, and though I hadn’t denied him anything, he would be paying for the angst this woman had caused me over the last four months.
“Will do, Sergeant Madam Sergeant.” My father saluted her and turned to me, blocking my view of everything else. “You ready, baby girl? Today’s the day.”
“I’ve done this before, Dad.” I smirked and rolled my eyes playfully.
“Yeah, but not like this. The first time was because you were lonely. This time is because you’re in love. It’s different.” He squeezed my shoulders and placed a kiss on my cheek. “This old boy at the front of the church is getting far more than he’s giving.”
“Daddy.” I popped my father in the chest and moved to walk down the hall with him. His arm was trembling slightly, and it melted my insides to know that no matter how old I got, my father was still going to treasure me and want to protect me.
I watched Lizzy walk down the aisle, and the way Mark’s eyes lit up left my heart fluttering in my chest. After all their years of being together, they still reacted when the other walked into the room. I had no doubt that Zek and I would have a very similar story.
The wedding march started and everyone stood up in the small church my parents had raised us in. It seemed the whole city was trying to squeeze into the building, but I didn’t care. My focus shifted and the only thing I could see was my man, standing at the edge of the crowd with a loving look on his face.
“I’m nervous. Hold on tight, Dad.” I glanced up at my father as a tear dripped down my cheek.
“Me too. Don’t let me trip and eat it in front of all of these people.” He smiled as I laughed softly.
The walk to the front of the church took forever, but then again every memory I’d had concerning Zek Kellington brushed by my vision, each more endearing than the last. After having loved the same man for over twenty years, I was ready to be his fully. We had a future to create together, and having been through all we’d walked through over the last few years, I had no doubt that we’d not only make it, but thrive in the midst of it all.
“Who gives this bride away today?” The minister moved up to stand in front of me and my father.
“Her Ma and me.” My father’s voice couldn’t have been dramatically more country if he tried. A subtle chuckle resounded around the room behind us, and I smiled so hard that it hurt my face.
I kissed his cheek and moved toward Zek as he took his place beside me.
“You look like an angel.” He leaned down and kissed the side of my ear, whispering softly. “But I know what’s under that dress.”
“Alright. That part comes later.” The minister responded loudly, embarrassing me and Zek right along with me.
“Behave.” I popped his chest as everyone laughed again.
“Me? Never.”
***
The ceremony was beautiful, but went entirely too fast. I found myself giving out hugs to people I’d never met and pretending to remember names and faces I hadn’t the slightest clue about. Zek and I had started the night by each other’s side, but with so many groups of people at the reception to interact with, we’d split up to make our rounds.
I stopped by the cake table and turned to find him standing with a group of guys, his eyes solely on me. A smile lifted my lips and I motioned for him to join me.
He didn’t hesitate for a second before leaving them and walking toward me like a panther stalking its prey. The sexy look on his face let me know he was ready to leave and find a private place to explore each other.
The man was sin with a sugary coating, and though I’d had him a million times over the last few years, I wanted more. Lots more.
“You look like you could use some attention.” He touched the side of my face and moved down to brush a kiss over my lips. “You ready to get out of here?”
“Soon. I was just admiring how good you look in this suit.” I ran my hands down the lapels of his jacket and tugged him closer. “It’s making me hot.”
“No, baby. You were already hot.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me a few more times. “What part of that bucket list are we starting on next? We’re now locked together forever. You want to start practicing our baby-making techniques tonight?”
I laughed and shook my head at him. “Always, but honestly, I’m thinking I want to jump from a plane, or maybe swim with sharks.”
He rolled his eyes and took my hand as we walked out to the dance floor. “How did I know you would find some rebellious way to destroy the calm we just settled into?”
I moved into his arms as the music started and everyone crowded around the edge of the floor to watch us.
“Because, I’m still the girl you remember. I’m just in this grown up body with responsibility and stress now.” I pressed myself to his front. “Let’s find her again together. I like her.”
“Mmmm... me too. She likes to swim naked and tease me until I can’t catch my breath.” He nipped at my lips as cameras flashed all around us.
“Don’t ever let me go. Promise.” I stopped us from moving and lifted to my toes as Zek’s arms tightened around me. He lifted me off my feet and kissed me hard, neither of us caring who was around.
“Never. You’re stuck, baby.”
“You are too.”
THE END
Continue on to read a special sneak peek of my previous release, The Hunt.