“No need to apologize. It was definitely worth the wait. You are stunning.”
She was obviously not used to compliments from a man because she blushed and lowered her eyes to the floor. She was shy. It was cute to see in person. Her energy felt right. Everything about this woman screamed I had made the right choice. I couldn’t wait to make her mine.
“If you’re ready, we have an appointment to say, ‘I do’. You haven’t changed your mind after seeing me in the flesh, have you?”
I shot her a flirtatious wink, which earned me another shy smile. She shook her head without verbally answering me. I would let her get away with it this once since we this was our first-time meeting face to face. Going forward she would need to speak up when asked a question. I didn’t mind non-verbal cues, but to be clear, I would need verbal ones, as well.
“Let’s go make an honest woman out of you.”
I reached out my hand and she took it without hesitation. That put a huge smile on my face. I took the bag she had been holding, from her and led her to my waiting truck. It was time to get married. And then I would gladly help her out of that pretty white dress and mess up that perfect hair.
Six
For Crying Out Loud
Eileen
Oh my Goodness! The man was a snack. I wanted to snap a few pictures of him and send them to Trina so she could see, but I had a feeling my parents would find them. I had successfully escaped my gilded cage and didn’t want to risk them interrupting my future. Headed to the courthouse where I was about to marry the most handsome man I had seen in my life, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. That suit really did him justice. The man cleaned up well. He looked like a lumberjack on the video chats we had, but I tell you, in person he looked like he should be modeling suits for a living. He was a walking talking ad. Whatever designer made that suit should hire him right away. Sales would skyrocket.
My body tingled when we finally hugged after that silly dance of awkwardness. His touch was surprisingly soft for a man who worked hard for a living. I expected his work rough hands to scratch me. I was a bit disappointed, wanting to see what it would be like to feel rugged hands on my body like the women in my romance books described. One thing was for sure, I was attracted to him. My body was reacting in strange ways. There was a flutter down there as his hands ran along my lower back when we hugged. His smell was enticing. Woodsy and citrus. Damn.
After helping me into his truck, Lincoln made his way to the driver’s seat, but then turned to me with a smile on his face. I couldn’t help but return the smile. Looking into those blue eyes made me feel lightheaded. Was this how it felt to really like a man? It was strange, but I liked the sensation.
“I know this isn’t the most romantic way to ask, but our relationship is sort of unorthodox anyway. I wanted to officially ask you. Eileen, will you be my wife?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue box that rested in the palm of his rather large hand. He lifted the lid as a warm smile covered his face. He was sincere and appeared to be happy with his decision to ask me. I looked into his eyes that promised security and gave the hope of eventual love. It felt right. There was no turning back. This man was going to be my husband. Despite the butterflies in my stomach, or perhaps because of them, I smiled and agreed to his proposal.
“Lincoln Watts, it would be an honor to be your wife. Thank you for choosing me.”
He placed the vintage ring on my finger before informing me of its significance.
“This was my mother’s wedding ring. At first I thought I should buy you a new ring, with you being from such an affluent family and all, but I figured the woman who would be my wife would appreciate the sentiment of receiving my mother’s most treasured possession. I hope you wear it with pride and each time you look down at your hand, it reminds you of the promise I am making to protect and provide for you. I hope one day it will also be a representation of our love for each other.”
I couldn’t help it. The tears, they came without warning. His words were beautiful, and he didn’t even know it. I could hear Trina in my head telling me to cut the waterworks off, but I couldn’t control the reaction. I reached over without thinking and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. It was our first and it lingered on my lips as I pulled away like a shy schoolgirl. I will treasure that moment for the rest of my days. Linc smiled, cleared his throat and started the truck.
Unable to find the right words to say, I simply remained silent. From the corner of my eyes, I spied him touching his lips with his fingers as if he was remembering the feeling. It warmed my heart to know he liked my kiss. I was so inexperienced in the art of love and all the things that came with it, but I was eager to learn. I was also happy Linc would be the man to teach me. He gave off good vibes. I was happy I listened to Trina and took a chance.
Arriving at the courthouse, the butterflies made a reappearance. When Lincoln came around to help me out of the truck, I felt my legs go weak. Was I really about to be someone’s wife? What would happen after we said our vows? Would he expect me to know what I was doing on our wedding night? Even though my mother’s bootcamp had covered these things, it was different in the moment. I wasn’t prepared for all the thoughts running through my head.
I smiled pretty for the camera as a man who introduced himself as Lenny started snapping pictures of the ‘bride and groom’. Linc informed me he hired Lenny, the town photographer, to take some shots of us on our special day so we could always have something to remember it by. The thoughtful action promptly earned him a huge smile and a heartfelt hug.
I felt beautiful as Lenny posed us in front of the building, on the steps and in the courtroom before the ceremony began. It looked deserted, but Linc explained we were the last appointment of the day and everyone was already gone home for the day. Once we were finished with the poses, Lenny informed me to just act natural and he would get some candid shots of us saying our vows. The one word had me on edge.
I really wanted to please my husband. What if he hated it and sent me packing? Those thoughts plagued me as I stood in front of the judge who was asking me to repeat after him. I could do this. It was what I had trained my entire life for. I just needed some practice. I noticed Linc looking at me with trepidation as he gently tugged my hand.
“Eileen? Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am fine. I’m sorry what did you say?”
I looked at the judge who repeated the vow and waited for me to say the two words that would seal my fate.
“I do.”
Relief washed over Linc’s entire body. I never thought he would be just as nervous as I was. He was a successful, good looking man. I still wondered why he chose me out of the women he was matched with. Hell, he could probably have any woman in this town if he wanted. I really hope he didn’t want. I needed a man that would be faithful. Forever mine or whatever Journey said in that song. All I knew is I would never be able to accept my husband running around on me. I had witnessed my father and some of his associates with their other women, and it bothered me to no end. How my mother put up with it was beyond me. She seemed to brush it off like dirt off her shoulders. That could never be me. I had never had a boyfriend, but I was possessive in my friendships. I can’t even imagine what I will be like with my husband.
Linc was looking at me again. This time expectantly. That’s when it donned on me that it was time for us to kiss and seal the deal. We had already exchanged rings. I surprised him with a custom wood carved ring that I saw while I was shopping for wedding rings with my mother. I had mentioned it to her, and she scoffed at it, causing me to like it even more. Once I decided to marry Linc, I went back and secretly purchased it. He seemed to love it.
Watching the smile grow on my husband’s face made me giddy. He leaned down and took my lips with his, lingering longer than was appropriate. The judge cleared his throat and laughed at Linc’s enthusiasm, as he called it. We pulled away from each other and the same feeling came over me that happened wit
h the first kiss. We both touched our mouths with our fingers, trying to preserve that feeling.
“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Watts!”
The judge was speaking to a virtually empty courtroom. The only people left besides us in the room were his court reporter and a bailiff. They both clapped and smiled genuinely as Linc snagged my hand and pulled me toward the exit.
Smiles racked our faces as we left the building. Walking down the sidewalk of the small town’s center, I felt all warm and fuzzy. There I was walking hand in hand with the man who I would spend the rest of my days trying my best to make happy. I was excited, scared and a little anxious. I had no idea what this life with Linc would bring, but I knew as long as we faced it together, we would be able to weather any storm.
“Linc, where are you taking me?”
“I gotta feed my wife. You’ve been traveling all day. You must be starved. It’s a little early for dinner, but I’ve arranged for a few friends to join us at the local restaurant for a celebration.”
The use of the word wife caused an involuntary smile to grace my face. I was someone’s wife. It had been a dream of mine since I could remember.
“You planned a reception for us?”
“If that’s what you want to call it. It’s just a few friends from town who heard about the wedding and wanted to meet you and celebrate our union. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not. I would love to meet your friends.”
As soon as we walked through the door of the restaurant we were bombarded by loud cheers of congratulations. There were about twenty or so people in attendance, all with grand personalities and crazy stories about Lincoln they were chomping at the bit to tell me.
Overall the people were fun, and I enjoyed meeting them all. Let’s see, there was a big, burly man named K.B. who owned the local barber shop. Proud of his Scottish heritage, the man wore a kilt complete with boots. I dared not ask if he was a true Scotsman. That would be quite inappropriate for a newly married woman to inquire of her husband’s friend. I am sure at some point in the future it would come up because I was curious about the whole balls out thing. Retired from the Corp, he gave Linc a hard time about ‘having to settle’ for the Navy Seals instead of being a real Marine, whatever that meant.
Next there was a pale hippie type red head named Sage who owned the local bakery. She reminded me of a young Sissy Spacek, except the woman talked a mile a minute. She asked a million intrusive questions, all of which went unanswered because she was unable to stop talking long enough for me to get a word in. I didn’t mind, though because I was sort of private and wouldn’t have answered most of them anyway. That may have offended her which would have been a bad way to start my life in a new town.
Throughout our celebration everyone seemed genuinely happy for us. All except one lady who wore a permanent scowl. The woman was shooting daggers at Linc, but when her eyes landed on me, the daggers turned into AK47s. Oh, someone was salty. I would have to ask Linc later on who the woman he avoided like the plague was. Something tells me she was a former lover. If that’s the case, I need to be prepared so I can watch my back. I didn’t know much about love, but I knew enough to know scorned lovers could be very dangerous.
As the party wound down, Linc came over and rescued me from yet another of his quirky neighbors by informing me we need to head out. On our way to say goodnight, an old school song by Montell Jordan dropped, and I dipped my hips a bit and started dancing. Much to my surprise, Linc fell in step with me and we tore the floor up. My man had moves. We had the entire room out there pumping their fists and hollering ‘This is how we do it!’ at the top of their lungs. That kicked off the dance portion of our celebration, and we spent another two hours jamming on the floor to 90s R&B. My favorite genre.
“Oh my goodness! That was so much fun. Thank you so much Linc. I have never had such a good time.”
I sat in the front seat of his truck clutching a plate of leftover cake we were told by his friends Mika and Shonda to enjoy in bed later tonight. They owned the restaurant where the party had taken place. The sign hanging outside simply said Eats. I found the name and the place as charming as the owners. We instantly clicked and I hoped it would be the beginning of a long-term friendship. Linc was smiling from ear to ear at my declaration.
“You really burned a hole in the floor. Don’t you ever get tired?”
“Not when it comes to dancing. My sister Trina and I would dance for hours on end in my room. She had access to all the new moves and would teach me everything she knew. We were banned from listening to the new school music, so we would turn on the 90s jams and practice new moves on old songs. We would record out antics and laugh at the results. Trust me the two genres do not mix. We looked ridiculous.”
“I bet you did. You two sound so close. I hope you won’t miss her too bad.”
“I love my sister with all my heart. She’s my best friend, but it was time for me to grow up and have a life of my own. Besides, she can always come to visit once my parents get used to me being gone.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that they would hate him on sight. Trina on the other hand would love him to death. She would have enjoyed our party, but she was at home being chastised for my benefit. I am sure my parents were blaming her for everything and raining holy hell down on her head. I didn’t want to think about that. Right now, all I wanted to think about was Linc on that dancefloor. He looked good enough to eat in that suit moving across the floor with his friends. They really knew how to have fun. I was glad that he wasn’t the grumpy man he portrayed himself to be during our chats.
“What are you over there thinking about?”
“How good you looked tearing that floor up. Where did you learn those moves? You were getting it.”
“I know a little something. Remember I was in the military. I had some good teachers. We had to have something to do during downtime. The fellas showed me how to hold my own on the floor. They told me women loved a man who could dance, and I was hooked.”
“Well, they were absolutely correct. You had some good instructors.”
“Is that your way of saying you liked the way I move?”
I smiled looking at him from the corner of my eyes. He was cute sitting there flirting with me. Wait. Was my husband really flirting with me? Oh my goodness. I had never flirted with a man before. It felt so natural with him.
“Maybe.”
My voice was high-pitched all of a sudden. Just the sound made me giggle, causing Linc to laugh too.
“That means yes!”
“How you figure?”
“Oh, I can tell. You liked my moves. Just wait till I get you home. I saved the best ones for later.”
He took my hand, brought it to his mouth and kissed it before lowering it to his muscular thigh. He held onto my hand as we made our way to his place. I mean my new home. Our home.
Nerves set in. I was inexperienced, but I knew the moves he was talking about had to do with bedroom moves. Was I ready for this? I had no choice. He was my husband now. It was expected that we have sex on our wedding night. I knew this going in, but now that it was about to happen, I was getting scared. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do it. I think I did. My body sure acted like it did. Each time he touched me I wanted him to do it more. When he wasn’t, I craved his hands on me. According to Trina, I would really crave him after we did the do for the first time.
The rest of the drive went by quickly. Before I could work out the anxiety rumbling around in my brain, Linc was escorting me into our home. As soon as the door closed, he removed the cake from my hands, tossed it on the side table and crashed his lips to mine. I hesitated for just a moment, but it felt so good that I relaxed into his touch. His hands were all over my body as our tongues battled for position. Shit! If this is what I have been missing, sign me up. Parts of my body I didn’t know I had, were awakening and craving more from him.
I felt compelled to get as close to him as I cou
ld. I wanted to climb inside that sexy ass suit so I could feel all of him. A deep groan rumbled from his chest right before I felt a hard bulge pressing against my stomach. What was it Mother said? Oh yeah, that meant he was excited and wanted me. That was a good thing because I definitely wanted him. My body felt like it was on fire and the only thing that could put it out was Linc. Just as I was getting used to the wetness that gathered between my legs, Linc pulled away from me. His eyes roamed my body and I wanted something. I needed something from him, I just didn’t know what to ask for.
“I’ve been thinking about getting you out of that dress since I first saw you. You are so fucking sexy, baby.”
Okay, the nerves were back. What if he didn’t think I was sexy once the dress was off. I could be a bumbling fool and drive the poor man away. I wanted to be perfect for him. Before I could allow the doubt to seep in any further, Linc grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall toward what I assumed was the bedroom we would be sharing. He flipped the switch and my eyes lit up with excitement.
“What’s this?”
“Well, we don’t have a fancy hotel or anything in town, but I wanted to make our wedding night special for you. I made this canopy out of blankets, sheets and pillows for us to share our first night as man and wife. I wanted it to feel like you were on a camping trip without having to worry about bugs and animals. I hung the string lights to give it a little glow, so I could see how beautiful you look under me. Do you like it?”
“Oh, Linc, it’s wonderful. I can’t believe you went through this much trouble for me.”
He moved toward the canopy pulling me along with him. His hungry lips met mine again and his hands began roaming my body, searching for my zipper. The distraction of pleasure blocked the nerves that were threatening to rise. When he ran his tongue down my neck my entire body jolted toward him, begging for more. I had never felt anything so good before. Trina never told me about this. His hands finally found my zipper on the side of my dress and pulled down. The dress showed a ton of side-boob, as Trina called it, but thankfully there was a built-in bra that moved away from my breasts as he removed my dress. My initial reaction was to cover myself. My hands shot to my breasts, eliciting a laugh from Linc.
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