Chapter 14

A wedding rehearsal always seemed like a weird idea in Hunter’s mind. How many times could you mess up walking down an aisle?

Apparently several.

He was on his fourth time going down with Caroline, who had long since stopped grinning and was now muttering things that kept him relaxed.

“You guys are naturals!” Jenna called from behind.

“I’ve never felt less natural in my entire life,” Caroline grumbled, blowing hair out of her face.

“At least they let you take your shoes off.”

She tilted her head in consideration. “True. But we’re still walking like it’s a funeral. Can’t we just quickstep it?”

“I dare you to try.”

She glared up at him. “Don’t do that. Then we’d have to do this again when we’re obviously the best ones in this whole party, and then I won’t get to help a certain someone get ready for a certain something.”

Hunter looked down at her in surprise, caught her warning look, and swallowed. “Right. Fourth time’s the charm, right?”

“Right.”

“Do you want them to go slower?” Grace called from her place at the front.

“No!” Hunter and Caroline and a few others said at once.

They were out on the lakeside gazebo, where rows of white chairs adorned with fabric and ribbon had been set up, a long roll of white linen was spread along the stone aisle, and the gazebo itself was decorated with matching ribbons, fabric, and flowers. It would all be adjusted in the morning for the wedding, but for this afternoon, it was good enough. Hunter’s crew had outdone themselves, and Jenna was beyond pleased with the results, which meant Tom was pleased, which made everyone else happy too.

Caroline and Hunter parted at the right spot, went to their respective places at the front, and turned to watch Jenna and her dad one more time.

The flower girls had already lost their patience and had been given permission to go off and play, so their part was skipped, which Hunter was grateful for. They’d squabbled two of the three times they’d come down the aisle, drawing things out more painfully for all of them.

Drake looked about as happy to do this again as the rest of them and was saying things under his breath that made Jenna giggle.

Hunter heard Tom catch his breath after one laugh and was about to tease him when he heard another laugh nearby. Mal, standing near her uncle and cousin, had heard the last comment and was now laughing behind her camera. The camera came down, and she looked at the display screen, laughter still on her face.

His breath caught, and he had nothing to tease Tom about.

Mal looked up at him, then turned back to plan angles with Taryn and Dan, who would be doing the pictures during the ceremony. Mal had been informed she would be sitting with the family during that time, which made her smile but also left her flustered. As much as she liked her assistants, she was a control freak with her projects, which was pretty endearing, Hunter thought.

She’d been her usual sweet and mischievous self at the sunrise shoot this morning and more cuddly than normal, which didn’t bother him one bit. They’d talked about their childhoods, which was a revelation. Mal was very open with him about the death of her parents and moving to Iowa, living and working on her grandfather’s farm, living in a small town. She’d overcome a lot of obstacles and skeptics to become what she was today, a world-class photographer with high prospects. No farm girl from Iowa, in their minds, could do that.

But one had.

Hunter didn’t have as many stories to share with her, having grown up all along the East Coast without any difficulty or objections to his future, but he and his cousins had managed to get into their fair share of scrapes over the years. He and Deke alone had caused a dozen hospital trips for themselves and the girls, but his older cousins were just as vicious, only sneakier about it. The McIntyre family was not exactly shy and retreating, especially not around each other.

Mal had been surprised at some of their adventures. Hunter was so reserved and careful, she said, so how could he have been reckless or come from a family like that?

How indeed?

He’d thought about that, wondering how he had become the man he was now. Was it something he’d had to prove to himself? That he was to be taken seriously and not just because of his family name and fortune? It had worked, whatever it was. He was still the same person with his family, but he rarely opened up for anyone else.

Until Mal.

“Aunt Cady, you can’t cry now!” he heard Mal say with a laugh, slipping an arm around her aunt in the front row. “It’s the rehearsal!”

Her aunt dabbed a tissue at her heavily lined eyes and sniffed. “I’ll cry if I want to cry, Mallory Jo. I’ll be crying all day tomorrow; think of this as a makeup test.”

Mal grinned and shook her head, and so did Lucas, standing at the end of the line. “Mama, you’re a goddess and you know it,” he called.

Cady smiled broadly at him. “Baby boy, you got something brown on your nose.”

Caroline and Jenna chortled, and the minister shook his head with a grin.

“Right, back to work,” he said over the general conversation. “Mr. Hudson, you give your daughter away . . .”

“She’s away,” he said, releasing her and holding his hands up in surrender.

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Nice, Daddy.”

“ . . . and go join your wife,” the minister continued as if nothing had happened.

Drake did so, giving Mal a quick peck on the head as she slid past to take more pictures.

Hunter did not come from a particularly demonstrative family, and he knew Mal was not a hugger generally, but the warm affection from her aunt, uncle, and cousins fascinated him. They were loud but loving, and though they had not seen Mal in ten years, they treated her as if she’d never left, and from her accounts, they never made her feel guilty about it. And now, seeing Mal interact with them, he wondered whether this wasn’t some part of her nature too, something she’d forgotten. Mal grinned at her uncle and then went back to business behind her camera.

“Jenna and Tom, you say your vows,” the minister said, peering over his spectacles as he read the order of events.

“Blah blah blah, I love you, et cetera,” Tom said, making Jenna grin.

“Exactly,” praised the minister. “I say my spiel, and yadda yadda yadda, you are man and wife, kiss the bride.”

Tom made a show of dipping Jenna and kissing her, which earned some whoops and hollers from the rest.

The minister chuckled and waited for them to set themselves to rights. “And I present you as the mister and missus. Wait for applause, and down the aisle with you.”

Tom and Jenna marched their way down. Hunter offered his arm to Caroline, and they followed. Mal snapped a picture of them, and Hunter cast a wink at her that earned him a scolding look. The rest of the group followed perfectly, and they all held their breath and waited to be dismissed.

“All right, y’all,” Jenna finally said over them all with the help of a whistle from Tom. “Thanks for your patience. Dinner’s on your own or at the lodge. Boys, you got stag night later; I guess a text will be going out with details. Anyone brings a stripper near my man, I will beat you with a tire iron.”

That was met with some chuckles, and Hunter noticed some of the girls looked ashamed.

“Tomorrow morning we all have breakfast at nine with the rest of the family members that are coming in for the wedding,” Jenna continued, holding Tom closer. “You all need to be there. We turn in phones after that. You can pick them up when you leave the reception for the night.”

Some of the group grumbled, but Hunter actually didn’t mind that. Tom and Jenna had thought of everything for the security of their wedding, and it should work. Wedding guests would turn in their phones when they arrived at the resort before they were shown to the venue, which should not prove to be an obstacle, as everyone who had been invited knew about their wish for privacy. His only concern would be keeping track of Mal throughout the day with all the running around they would both be doing, but so long as he stayed close, it shouldn’t be a problem.

But when the wedding was over, when Jenna and Tom left for their mystery honeymoon, when everyone started going back to their lives . . .

What was the plan then?

“Okay, dismissed!” Tom called out, cupping his hands over his mouth.

People began dispersing, and Hunter looked for Mal but couldn’t find her. Caroline saw him and took pity on him.

“She’s headed over to her cottage,” she told him. “I’m bringing things over to help her get ready, and then I’ll take her stuff back to the Hen House for tonight. You pick her up at six thirty, all right?”

Hunter gave her an assessing look, then sighed. “Take care of her, okay?”

Caroline reared back. “Tonight? Oh, buddy, you better take care of yourself. She is going to knock you off your feet.”

He smiled, then said, “No, I mean after. Tonight, at the house.”

Caroline’s expression softened, and she patted Hunter’s arm. “I gotcha. Rest easy, Hunter. I’ll take care of our girl.”

He swallowed a lump that had formed and nodded, turning to go back to his truck.

Tonight was going to be special for them; he could feel it. It might be the last night they had together before the real world took them back. He wasn’t letting her go, he knew that much, but where did she stand?

Where did they stand?

“Mallory Hudson, if that man does not want to eat you with hot fudge and a spoon, I am checking him for a pulse.”

Mal teetered on the heels that had been forced upon her. They weren’t especially tall or crazy; in fact, they were perfectly Mal’s style, if more strappy. Mal was just ungainly and uncoordinated and the tiniest bit nervous.

“Seriously, girl, come look at yourself,” Caroline insisted, waving her toward the mirror on the back of the closet door. Mal shook her head and fumbled with the jewelry Caroline had brought, looking for something that might match.

Caroline heaved a sigh, then grabbed Mal’s arm and yanked her toward the mirror. “I said come look, and I meant come look!” she ordered.

Mal glanced up, and her eyes went wide at the sight of herself.

While she had been self-conscious when the little black dress had first come out, now that it was on, it looked fantastic. It fit her absolutely perfectly without being tight and flattered what little figure she had. The material was light and flowed while still clinging to her, and the halter top left her feeling secure even with the plunging V-neck. She’d never been grateful for not being particularly well-endowed before, but it was ideal for this look, and her waist looked even smaller than normal thanks to the ruches and silver ribbons there.

Her legs looked long and fit, which was a bizarre experience for her, and thankfully, Caroline had given her a dress with a skirt that hit just above her knees. Anything shorter and Mal would have vetoed it. It swished and twirled in a subtle yet fun way, and for a night of dancing with Hunter, she was all for that.

“Oh my . . . ,” Mal managed, unable to find the right words to describe it.

Caroline squealed. “I knew the dress was perfect. You look like a jazz goddess. What do you think about the hair and makeup?”

Mal hadn’t even noticed. But when she looked, it was impossible to not notice. Her hair was perfectly curled in a ’40s style, gathered and pulled and pinned to the side—the most perfect chignon ever. Caroline had done a beautiful job on her makeup, giving her a smoky eye that made the green of her irises really pop, foundation and blush for a cleaner complexion, and a dusty-rose lip color to sealed it all.

As arrogant as it sounded in her head, Mal would have to agree with Caroline on this one: she looked like a million bucks. There were no words for this. She met Caroline’s eyes in the mirror and gaped, which made her cousin grin and nod.

“And I know what to do for your jewelry,” Caroline announced, going over to the box and bringing some things over. She handed Mal some small silver earrings that were a simple line of five black and silver rhinestones that dangled below her earlobe. Subtle, but with a statement.

“Nice,” Mal said, smiling for the first time.

Caroline chuckled low in her throat. “No, this is nice.”

She draped a necklace around Mal’s throat and fastened it in the back. Mal swallowed in surprise. The necklace matched the earrings except for one detail: the chain on which the matching pendant hung formed a Y so long the pendant sat squarely in the center of her deep neckline, above the skin of her exposed chest. Mal squeaked out some noise of protest, but it only made Caroline grin more.

“Just enough to draw the eye,” Caroline said quietly. “And with enough flair to kick a man in the stomach.”

She patted Mal’s hip affectionately. “My work here is done! I’ve got your overnight bag, and I claim privilege of being your stylist tomorrow too.” She hefted the bag over her shoulder and gave Mal a serious look in the mirror.

Mal laughed and ran her hands over her front. “With skills like this? You’re hired.”

Caroline winked at her. “Go get ’em, tiger.” She clicked her tongue and left.

Five minutes later, there was a knock on the front door. Mal’s heart leaped into her throat, and her palms started to sweat. Somehow she made her way to the door without tripping and hesitated long enough to inhale and exhale, then opened the door.

Hunter looked as perfect as ever. His scruff, which would come off for the wedding, was impeccably tempting; his hair was less perfect than normal, which was somehow more perfect; and he was dressed to kill. A simple pair of black trousers and a white button-down shirt with no tie, sleeves rolled back, and open at the throat.

He was every woman’s fantasy. And he was staring at her with wide eyes and parted lips.

“I feel shockingly underdressed,” he finally said as he studied her up and down, his voice rough.

Mal blushed and looked down at herself. “I should change,” she murmured awkwardly.

“No, you should not,” he insisted, forcing her to look up at him. He smiled softly. “You look beautiful. You always look beautiful.”

Her cheeks flamed again. “Hunter . . .”

He exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. “Mallory, I’m having trouble catching my breath here, so give me a second.”

Mal felt a smile tickle at the corner of her lips. “One Mississippi . . . ,” she drawled.

Hunter met her eyes with a grin and shook his head again. “There’s my girl.” He reached for her hand and gave her another thorough look over. With a heavy exhale, he said, “I’m way out of my league tonight, but I enjoy swinging for the fences.”

“Out of your league.” Mal scoffed, her fingers curling instinctively over his. “Please. Caroline insisted I wear this tonight, and I feel ridiculous.”

“Caroline is my new favorite person after you,” Hunter said. “She knows what she’s doing.”

“What’s she doing?” Mal asked, feeling impish.

“You tell me.”

Mal fought the urge to bite her lip as the tables were suddenly turned on her. Yet again, she felt her face and neck heat. “She . . . she wanted me to drive you crazy. In a good way.”

Something in Hunter’s eyes caught fire, and his smile turned smoldering. “Mission accomplished. In the best way.”

She grinned and tilted her head. “Thanks. Shall we go?”

“I think I’m the one who needs to say thanks,” Hunter muttered as she took her handbag and exited the house. “But yeah, let’s go.”

They drove down to the pavilion, and Mal was enchanted by the changes they’d made for the evening. The entire pavilion was now hung with basic light bulbs that created the perfect aura for the place and fit in well with the music coming from the band on risers, who had multicolored lights around their backdrop. And they were good—not in an amateurish way, but a real could-be-recording-artists way. She said as much to Hunter as they approached, and he shrugged with a smile.

“We attract all sorts here,” he said in an offhand way. “Just wait till you hear their vocalists.”

He squeezed her hand and smiled. Mal felt his excitement and matched it with her own.

Most of the people there were old, but not all of them, and they all seemed to know each other. When Hunter and Mal entered the pavilion, everyone called out to Hunter in excitement, and he grinned openly and waved to a few of them.

Mal watched with fascination as he greeted every single one of them by name, asked after kids or other acquaintances, and held light, joking conversations with back slaps and high fives.

He was an entirely new person.

But somehow, it was still him.

This was the version of him that Mal had come to know in their private moments—this easy, warm man with no airs or distance. His quick smile and quicker laugh were a hit, and he was truly adored by his guests.

And he wasn’t leaving her out of it.

He introduced her to everyone he talked to, holding her hand or wrapping an arm around her waist, keeping her close and leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind, least of all hers, as to where his head was. She earned herself some gentle ribbing from some of the older men, and they were ecstatic when she played along.

Hunter disappeared for a moment when someone needed to discuss a problem at their rented house, and Mal found herself leaning on the railing of the pavilion, looking out at the lake under the light of the moon. It was one of the most surreal moments of the trip, with the band playing smooth, emotional jazz behind her.

Could anything on earth be more perfect than this?

“Darlin’, gimme five minutes to get my car, and I’ll take you away from here,” rasped an older voice near her.

She turned with a raised brow to the old man now leaning beside her, his smoking jacket, no doubt once well fitted, hanging on him like a sack. But his eyes twinkled, and the hint of cigar on his breath reminded her of her grandfather.

“Where’ll we go?” she asked, leaning closer.

He wheezed a laugh and gave her a wink. “Saucy girl. I like you.”

“Arlo, leave the girl alone, will ya?” cawed another male voice. “Honestly, your wife is right over there; show some respect.”

Arlo gave the newcomer a look. “Don’t get involved, Richie. You haven’t had a broad since the seventies. You wouldn’t know what to do.”

“You can’t call them broads anymore,” Richie scolded as he came to Mal’s other side. “It’s disrespectful.” He shook his head and looked at Mal. “I apologize for my friend’s rudeness, miss. His wife doesn’t let him out much.”

Mal grinned, looking between the two of them. “How long have you two known each other?”

Arlo chuckled and looked at the taller man for a moment. “Fifty years?”

“Near enough,” Richie said with a nod, folding his long arms over his sweater vest. “My Ann and his wife were girlfriends from school, and we all met here by accident one year. After that, the girls did almost everything together, so Arlo and I had to get along—or else.” He made a slashing motion across his throat.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Arlo assured her with a smile. “Ann was too soft hearted to threaten anything in the world.”

Richie smiled and sighed. “Yeah, she was one of a kind, my girl. And she could dance like an angel.” He looked at Mal with a flick of one furry brow. “Can you dance?”

“Only with me,” Hunter said as he appeared as if by magic. He clamped a hand on Richie’s shoulder, smiling. “You should know better, Richie. You want to dance with a pretty girl? I think Mrs. Howard could use a dance.”

“Judith?” Richie said with interest, looking across the dance floor. He suddenly straightened his bow tie. “Excuse me.”

That drew chuckles from the rest of them, and as a new song started up, Arlo patted Hunter on the back. “Enjoy your dance, Hunter. Hang on to this one, eh?”

Hunter smiled and met Mal’s eyes. “I intend to.”

She had to swallow hard as Hunter slowly pulled her onto the dance floor and into his arms. The soft strains of “As Time Goes By” floated on the breeze, the piano and saxophone playing off each other in flirtation.

“Are you having fun?” he asked as they slowly moved to the music.

She nodded, smiling at him. “The music is amazing. Honestly, this is the best I’ve felt all week.”

Her answer pleased him, she could tell, and he pulled her closer. “I’m glad.”

“You know everyone here,” she commented softly, smiling as Arlo led his cute wife onto the dance floor.

Hunter nodded, humming in agreement. “I make it a point to. Grandpa did that, Dad did that, and it’s become the trademark. But I like doing it. People trust a place with owners and managers they can put a face to.” He turned his head so his mouth was close to her ear. “But then you get guys like Arlo and Richie thinking they can make moves on my girl, and I have to remind them who’s boss.”

Mal half giggled while goose bumps raced across her skin. “Yeah,” she murmured. “I was this close to running off with them.”

Hunter chuckled. “I knew it.” His hand on her back tightened, and he touched his head to hers, slowly dancing with her in this perfect place, with this perfect feeling between them.

And then, very softly, so low she wasn’t sure she heard it at first, she heard him sing, “Moonlight and love song, never out of date . . . Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate . . .”

“You don’t sing,” she whispered, her words as shaky as her breath.

“I never said that,” he replied, and continued to sing along in her ear.

Mal swallowed hard and slid her hand to the back of his neck, resting her face against his shoulder. He serenaded her softly, just for her ears, and his voice was velvety smooth, sensual, perfect. He could sing, however unexpected it was, and she might be the only person who knew it.

There were no words for that either.

But here, dancing in his arms, his lips at her ear, words weren’t important.

Hunter couldn’t take his eyes off Mal, and it was obvious. He’d been teased about it all night, residents and visitors alike seeing how taken he was with her. He didn’t mind. He could shrug it off and laugh about it because he knew very well it was true.

She was an absolute vision tonight, and he would always remember the way she looked here, the way she felt in his arms, and how right it felt. He was going to have to tell her at some point. Tonight. There was no possible way he could hide it anymore, especially not when it must be obvious.

They took a breather after “As Time Goes By,” and he drifted off to collect his bearings, speaking with the bartender and the manager, making sure things would be cleaned up and ready for the wedding reception the next day—anything to take his mind off the breathtaking woman who had stolen his heart.

It was productive, but it didn’t work. Mostly because he never stopped looking at her. And she looked at him just as much.

A peppy number ended to applause, and the lead vocalist took the microphone again. “Ladies and gents, we’re going to slow it down again. This is one of our last numbers of the night and one of our favorites: ‘It Never Entered My Mind.’”

The piano started in slowly, then the cymbals joined in, and when the trumpet began its soulful notes, Hunter found himself moving in Mal’s direction, unable to stop himself.

She saw him coming, and he saw her throat work, then she came to him on her own. Without a word, she put her hand in his, wrapped the other around him, and laid her head on his shoulder. Slowly, they began to sway, and it felt as if they were the only people in the world, let alone on the dance floor.

All he could feel was Mal’s hand in his, her arm around his neck, her body brushing against his. It was enough to drive a man insane, but despite that, he was comfortable. It felt natural to hold her like this, to move like this with her in his arms. He leaned his head on hers, eyes closed, and moved with the music, unaware of anyone or anything else.

Their bodies moved as one. He was leading, he supposed, but only in the loosest sense of the word. He could dance, had learned how years ago, but this was something else—something other than skill. Dancing with Mal wasn’t like dancing had ever been. It went beyond the physical and he couldn’t describe it.

His heart pounded in his chest as emotion flooded him. His head swam, yet his thoughts were perfectly clear. His arms ached but had never felt so strong. His lungs seemed to expand with a newfound vigor, yet somehow he never drew a full breath. Each fingertip tingled, and every brush of Mal’s hair against his skin sent ripples coursing through him. With the music drawing on his emotions and this woman in his arms, it was all too much.

But it was all so right.

Suddenly, he wanted to be away from here. He wanted Mal to himself without any distractions. Just the two of them together.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.

Almost sleepily, Mal nodded against him, and she let him lead her out of the pavilion, their fingers entwined. They walked down the stone steps to the beach, pausing only for Mal to remove her shoes, which she held in her other hand. They didn’t speak for a while, just walking and letting what was passing between them flow. He simply wanted to be with her.

“I want to put my feet in the water,” Mal suddenly said, her tone playful.

Hunter reluctantly let her fingers slide from his and grinned as she waded out ankle deep. “That’s what you did the morning of the first sunrise shoot,” he reflected.

She laughed and tossed him a grin. “Yep! What can I say? I love walking in the water.”

“I fell in love with you that morning.”

Mal jerked, the water splashing loudly against her calves, and stared at him wide eyed. “What?” she half cried, half whispered.

He cleared his throat. He probably shouldn’t have said it so bluntly, but it just came out that way. “I fell in love with you,” he repeated. He offered a small unapologetic shrug, smiling warmly and watching her.

She was frozen as she stood the water, watching him. Waiting.

“I’m in love with you,” he said simply. “I’ve been in love with you this whole time. I haven’t said anything because I know how crazy it is, and I was afraid it was all one sided, and I couldn’t risk you running off when I feel this way, and—”

“It’s not one sided.”

His heart and his words and his breath all stopped at once. He stared at her, something intense burning within him.

Mal shook her head, swallowing. “It’s not one sided,” she said again, quieter.

Before he knew what he was doing, he marched into the water, reached for her face, and kissed her hard. Her arms twined around his neck, her lips parting, returning his kiss with a fire of her own. She clung to him, as desperate and frantic as he was, her feet no longer touching the ground as he held her.

He couldn’t feel enough, couldn’t breathe enough. Everything was completely occupied with Mal, with loving her, with the heady rush of delight in knowing that she matched the insanity of his feelings. They kissed deeply, tasting each other as if for the first and last time, again and again, as if it would never be enough.

It would never be enough.

Then their kisses became softer, tenderer, searching and comforting and soothing. Grazing lips, settling and unsettling all at once. Hunter shifted to capture her lips fiercely, drawing a ragged whimper from her that made something primal growl within him.

After a few breathless moments, they heard whistles, applause, and catcalls from their older friends at the pavilion, who seemed to have a perfect view of them.

Mal broke off gently, laughing low and sending his blood racing. He managed to laugh too, still breathless and on fire. He touched his forehead to hers, wrapping his arms around her tightly with a long-overdue sigh of relief.

The noise from the pavilion faded, and Mal suddenly pulled back with a groan.

“What?” he asked in surprise, keeping his arms locked around her.

“I have to go back to the Hen House tonight,” she moaned, making a face. “And you have to go to stag night.”

He’d forgotten all about that, which showed how important it was. He shook his head. “I don’t care. I’m staying right here with you.”

He leaned in and kissed her again, gentling his touch and doing his best to tempt her into staying. She curled a hand around his neck, toying with his hair, and he wondered who was doing the tempting now.

She eventually forced herself away from him, stepping out of his hold, and letting the night breeze come between them. “You have to,” she scolded, sounding winded much to his delight. “And I have to. If it were anybody else, I wouldn’t care, but it’s Tom and Jenna. We have to,” she repeated firmly.

And he knew she was right. He put his hands on his hips and calmed his breathing, giving her a crooked smile. “You are going to drive me crazy, you know that?”

She tilted her head impishly. “In a good way?”

“The best,” he assured her.

She gave him a curtsy and smiled, holding out her hand. “Walk me back?”

His grin spread, and he took her hand, kissed it, then tugged her against him for one brief, searing kiss. “Fine,” he growled, chuckling when she came away panting. “But if I’m grumpy tomorrow, I’m blaming you.”

Mal shuddered and released a tiny moan, making him laugh again. He intertwined their fingers again, and they slowly walked out of the water and toward the Hen House.