He pressed his forehead to hers, his nose nudging hers. “Remember our coat closet?” he asked in a husky whisper.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice featherlight. In spite of herself, she couldn’t help wanting his kisses. They were so incredibly wonderful, after all.
“How about we revisit it?” His lips brushed over hers, and Hope’s head spun.
“I…I don’t kno—”
He nibbled on her lip, and she murmured her assent without even meaning to.
“Mmm-mmm.”
“I know, sweetheart,” he said, holding her closer. “I know.”
Then he led her around the dance floor one final time as their onlookers broke out in polite applause.
Moments later, Brent tugged Hope along, pulling her by the hand. “Brent. Really, we shouldn’t. Can’t…”
He raised a devilish eyebrow and steered her into the hall. “Oh yes, we—ack.”
Brent froze with his hand on the doorknob and goggled into the darkened coat closet under the stairs, where Ava and Gavin were engaged in an amorous embrace.
Hope did a quick body scan, relieved to see they both had all their clothing on. Although Ava’s hem did look slightly hiked up, and Gavin’s tie was askew.
It was bad enough that she and Brent had caught them making out, but she supposed it could have been worse. Knowing Ava, a lot worse.
“Mom!” Hope yelped.
“Uncle Gavin?” Brent said in mild shock.
Ava cupped a manicured hand over her puffy red lips. “Oh, hi, kids.” She pulled a guileless face and stared at her daughter. “Is it time to toss the bouquet?”
…
By the time the bouquet toss came, it was after nine o’clock and Hope had been on her feet for almost ten hours. She was gratefully barefoot now, having kicked off her shoes shortly after the dancing—and her and Brent’s discovery of Ava and Gavin in the closet. Ick.
She could barely stand to think about it. Why oh why was her mom so constantly out of control? She’d promised Jackie she’d tried to rein Ava in, but she might as well have been charged with roping a bucking bronco. Ava definitely marched to her own tune. She sang to it, too. Hope tried not to grimace while recalling Ava’s serenade.
She was still on tap as the bride and had a duty to appear perky—for just a few more minutes, anyway. Then she could go upstairs and crash. Though from the look in Brent’s eyes, he clearly had other ideas in mind.
He took her bouquet-free hand and gave it a kiss. “Let’s get this part done so we can retire.” His tone dipped toward sultry, and Hope staged a yawn.
“Good plan,” she said, willing herself to look innocent-eyed. “I’m beat.”
Hope peered over her shoulder at the wedding guests gathered on the lawn. Night had fallen, and shadows stretched long across the grass from the muted lighting on the porch, which included strings of tiny lights wrapped around its columns and complementing the dripping lighting display hanging from the surrounding bushes and trees.
When combined with the twinkling lights adorning the tent, the entire backyard looked like a whimsical wonderland. The sound of the surf gently splashing against the cliffs only added to the magic, as did the glint of the nearly full moon against the darkened water.
Hope stood on the highest step of the wraparound porch with her back to the others. A small gaggle of women had collected at the foot of the stairs, all of them shifting awkwardly on their feet. Meredith was among them, and so was Sally.
Though Sally kept trying to creep away, Grandmother Margaret shoved her back into the fray. Hope was grateful at least that her mom hadn’t inserted herself in the group. Yet, that begged the question of where Ava currently was. Hope’s head pounded as she willed herself not to think about it. Especially as Gavin appeared missing in action, too.
“Are we ready?” Hope asked when Eleanor gave her the go-ahead. Even she looked eager to get this done with. It had been an extra-long day for Eleanor as well, and the caterers had begun packing up after setting out a large coffee tureen, cups, and supplies.
Hope was aware there’d be remaining food left out for nibbles, and the bartenders had left chilled buckets of drinks at the ready for any late stragglers to self-serve later.
People behind her roared, a few of them sounding more inebriated than others. Hope had never possessed truly great aim, but she aspired to landing her bouquet on Meredith.
Who better to be the next bride than a woman intent on creating happily ever afters for others?
Sally wasn’t angling for marriage herself, and Hope didn’t know the other hopefuls well, having only just met them. So, Meredith it was. Assuming Hope could make a straight shot.
The countdown began behind her.
Three. Two. One.
But when it was time to let go, Hope just couldn’t. There was too much at stake to leave this to chance, so she spun on her heel and lobbed her bridal bouquet right at Meredith, who caught it as it hurtled toward her like a speeding bullet.
She stared down at the flowers and then up at Hope, her face beet red, and everyone cheered. Everyone but Derrick, Hope couldn’t help but notice, as he set his beer bottle down on the side of the firepit and quietly stole away.
“Looks like that does it,” Brent said, sweeping Hope off the top step and into his embrace. “Now, folks, if you’ll excuse us.”
Onlookers whistled and cheered as Brent bent low, scooping Hope into his arms.
“Brent!” she cried, kicking her heels. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you upstairs,” he said with a sexy grin. “Thanks, everyone, for coming!” he shouted across the lawn. “Stay as long as you want!”
…
Hope stared at Brent, wide-eyed, as he carted her through the den. “You’re not seriously going to carry me all the way upstairs?”
“Oh, no?” he said with a determined air. “Watch me.”
Hope panicked over what was going to happen next. He was taking her up to their bridal suite, where he was expecting them to get to know each other—as man and wife.
Think. Think. Think.
She had to do something to ward off his attempts to take her to bed.
All the kissing had been bad enough. She definitely wasn’t crossing that line.
Aha. Their early flight might be good to bring up.
“What an exhausting day… Exhausting but great.” She staged another yawn. “Shame about that morning flight. I suppose we’ll have to get up early.”
His eyes glimmered in a predatory fashion. “Yeah, but we can always nap on the plane,” he said, and she bit her lip.