Her mouth dropped open in shock as he got down on one knee. “Megan Vandemeer, sitting by you on that plane was the best thing that ever happened to me. And when I thought about losing you, I was devastated. I don’t want to live without you. I don’t know how I fell in love with you so quickly, but I did. I know it’s probably too soon, and this is so unlike me, but I love you. I know deep in my gut that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
She laughed between her tears.
“Are those happy tears?” he asked, still on his knee. “Please tell me those are happy tears.”
She nodded.
“Is that a yes? You’re leaving me hanging, Meggie, and this floor is hard. But I’ll grovel if I have to. I’ll do anything to prove myself to you.”
“Yes. Yes.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms, kissing her until she forgot everything around them.
When she looked into his eyes, she smiled. “I love you, too.”
He laughed. “I sure as hell hope so. You just agreed to marry me for real.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Josh was more nervous than he’d expected. This was a fake wedding, arranged for his now-fiancée and another groom, so why was he so nervous?
Fake wedding or not, it felt incredibly real, especially since there was a real wedding in their near future. He knew Megan was worried that her parents wouldn’t arrive in time, and he wished his own mother were present. All he could do was hold Megan’s hand and stand by her side.
Megan and Josh waited behind the glass chapel and around the corner by the flower garden, out of sight of the guests who were being seated. Libby, Blair, Noah, and Kevin were with them. Josh was happy that Kevin’s animosity had softened, even if he wasn’t overly friendly. Noah kept grinning like a fool, as though he had something up his sleeve, and Libby, who was probably in the know since she and Noah were besties now, seemed perkier than usual. Josh pulled his brother to the side.
“What are you up to?” Josh asked, scrutinizing him while waiting for an answer.
Noah held out his hands. “What? I can’t be excited my baby brother is getting married?”
Josh leaned into his ear. “It’s not like this is our real wedding, Noah.” He stood upright. “But thanks for having Grandma’s rings sent.” He swallowed. “It means a lot, especially since she left them to you.”
Noah clapped his brother’s upper arm. “You and Megan deserve them and all the happiness that comes with them.” He glanced over his shoulder at the bride. “It looks good on her finger.”
Josh studied his brother before whispering, “She’s going to keep wearing it after the ceremony. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”
He expected more surprise from his cynical brother, but Noah’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
“You—a firm believer that true love doesn’t exist—think me proposing to a woman I’ve known for four days is the best news you’ve heard in a long time?”
Noah shrugged, glancing at Libby, then back at him. “What can I say? I’ve been convinced this is true love. And I have to admit that I’ve never seen you happier.” He turned serious. “You deserve all this happiness and so much more, Josh.”
A lump clogged Josh’s throat. “Thanks, Noah.”
Noah shrugged again, an arrogant grin slowly spreading across his face as he straightened his tie. “I’ll try not to outshine you up there.”
“With that black eye?”
He winked his bruised eye, then winced, still grinning. “It only adds to my rugged charm.”
Josh’s gaze fell on Megan, once again stunned this woman who was so beautiful—inside and out—was his. “We’re both going to be outshone.”
Noah rested his hand on Josh’s shoulder, following his gaze. “I think you’re right about that one, little brother.”
Bart and Nicole arrived with minutes to spare—Nicole hopped-up on painkillers, with an arm sling on her right side and an eyepatch on her left. The instant Megan saw her parents, all the tension drained from her body, leaving her with a radiant glow. She gave the go-ahead to start the wedding procession.
“Thanks for keeping me calm, but I’m good now.” Megan reached up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “See you at the altar, Mr. McMillan.”
Her mother’s unfocused eyes darted around. “Did she just call him Mr. McMillan?”
Just then the usher came around the corner to lead her to her seat.
Josh started to head for the chapel but stopped when he saw Nicole pull away from the usher and stumble toward her daughter. She was probably planning to give her an earful about letting Josh see her dress. This wedding might not be real, but he wasn’t going to let her mother screw this up for her any more than she already had.
Sensing that Megan’s mother was chemically impaired, the usher reached for her good arm to lead her away, but she shrugged him off again.
Josh was about to bolt toward them to intervene but stopped when he heard Nicole’s first words. “You’re a good girl, Megan. I wanted you to have the perfect wedding. I’ve been a terrible mother to you, and I know it. This was my way of trying to make it up to you, but I went ahead and screwed that up, too.”
“No, Mom.” She shook her head, tears glittering in her eyes. She looked up at Josh, and he offered her a reassuring smile. All the drugs must have shaken some warmth and affection from Megan’s mother, and he was relieved. Granted, Knickers hadn’t handled the wedding arrangements the best way, but as a gesture, it was appreciable.
“It’s the most beautiful wedding ever. Thank you,” Megan said, placing a hand on her mother’s good shoulder.
Assured that Megan was okay, Josh took his place at the altar of the all-glass chapel, the view of which overlooked the gardens. Knickers had outdone herself with the organza draping gracing the ends of each pew. Flowers were everywhere—roses in varying shades of white and pale pink. Josh hated to admit it, but Knickers’ wedding madness had paid off. The glass chapel was gorgeous on its own. The plethora of flowers made it stunning.
Kevin stood on the altar with him, and Noah stood in the best man position. Noah leaned over and whispered in Josh’s ear, “I know Knickers was worried about your side of the church being too bare.” He pointed to the right. “There’s a surprise for you.”
Josh turned his attention to the front row and was shocked to see his mother. Tears filled her eyes, and she gave him a warm smile. He turned back to Noah, silently demanding an explanation.
“You can’t get married without Mom. She’d kill us both.” When Josh didn’t avert his gaze, he continued. “When I asked for the rings, she demanded to know why, so I told her everything. She overnighted the rings, but her plane barely landed in time.”
Josh leaned closer to Noah’s ear. “But this wedding isn’t real.”
Noah smirked. “You just keep telling yourself that.”
The string quartet switched to the wedding march, setting Josh’s heart to racing, and first Libby then Blair walked down the aisle.