by AliyahBurke
Sanura slid in and watched Gavin as he placed his fine body next to hers. “Where are we going?”
“Sit back and enjoy, kitten, sit back and enjoy.”
He handed her a bouquet of different white flowers and she noticed they were tied with another emerald silk tie. The ride took them about two hours, and when she exited the car she found herself facing a huge building. It was an architectural masterpiece. It screamed old south in appearance, marble everywhere and large pillars. Sanura loved it. “Wow, this place is beautiful. What is it?”
“It is one of the few places Sherman didn’t burn. Do you like it?”
“I love it. You know I love all of these older buildings. But, what are we doing here?”
“Come inside.” He took her arm and led the way up the marble steps to the doors which were opened by silent men dressed to the nines in tails.
Together they walked up the large staircase and stopped at a pair of doors where there were two more men dressed in tuxes. They silently opened the doors to allow the couple to enter.
Her eyes swam with wonder as she took in the magnitude of the beauty this building had to offer. She barely noticed they were walking towards another staircase. Gavin stopped and she looked at him before she glanced around in front of her.
They stood at the top of another huge marble staircase. It led down into a gigantic ballroom in which there were tables set up with food, an area for dancing. It was filled with people. And flowers, they were everywhere.
People she knew, people she loved. She didn’t know what to say, emotions overwhelmed her. A silence came over the group before they all started to cheer. Gavin began the walk down the stairs with his wife at his side. At the bottom he kissed his wife before whispering, “I hope you like it, kitten.” Then he stepped back and let people say hello to her.
Everyone that worked at the restaurant and their families were there. Gavin’s mother and her date, Brandon Harris, were in attendance. Clint Hartford and his date. Many people from the firm were also there. Sanura recognized Janice, who had a date as well. Her father was even there in a tuxedo. Her very good friends, Kenya, Jacey, and Serenity, were also there. She had a picture of them on her desk at work. Jace, Shanni, and Chandi were the names beneath their images.
Suddenly the crowd parted and Sanura found herself face to face with a blonde woman in a dark blue dress. Her skin was tanned and she had a brilliant smile.
“Allison?”
“Congratulations on your wedding, Mac.” Then she ran to her best friend and they hugged. “You are so beautiful.”
“Hey,” a deep voice said, “what about me?” It was Bryce and in his arms was Allison’s child, Mona Karen McKie.
After hugs and tears all around there was a bell indicating the start of dinner. Gavin and Sanura sat side by side at the head of a lavishly set table. Dinner was amazing, with lots of glass tapping for the couple to kiss, which they willingly did. Afterward before they began to dance, Gavin raised his glass and as everyone fell silent, giving him their complete attention he made his announcement.
“I would like to thank all of you for coming to our wedding reception. From both near and far away. It was definitely a long time coming for this celebration. I want everyone to know I am in love with my wife.” He waited for the clamor to die down for his obvious statement. “I vow before God and all of you here tonight, to do right by her and spoil her as much as she will allow me to do so.”
Gavin took a deep breath and stood.
“My wife is truly an amazing woman, from dividing her time helping those less fortunate to running a very successful business to gracing all those with her astounding voice when she sings. From the first time I laid eyes on her I knew she was the woman I wanted by my side. Forever. It took me a while to convince her she felt the same.” The group chuckled and waited for him to continue. He turned to Sanura and stared directly in her eyes.
“Sanura, you are my moon and my stars, my gorgeous southern night sky. You have showed me that during the darkest of nights is when the stars shine their brightest, allowing all to see their beauty. And you, kitten, are the brightest one of them all. I thank the heavens for allowing me to be a part of your life, for sharing you with me. I pledge to you my undying love. Never a day will pass that I won’t tell you how I feel. Never a day will pass I don’t show you how you make me feel. I love you; you have ensnared my heart, roped my soul and trussed me up with those captivating green eyes of yours. Until the final breath leaves my body, I will love you with every fiber of my being. I love you kitten. To my wife!”
He raised his glass to his lips and drank deep before turning to her.
Sanura felt the tears as he leaned down to kiss her in front of everyone there. He pulled her up and as they stood locked in their embrace the people gathered began to cheer.
Finally the noise penetrated the haze they had around them and as she took her lips from his she stroked his face with a loving motion and said, “Thank you. For all of it. For everything. For loving me. And for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
“It is easy to do so.”
“I love you too. Now, do we get to dance?”
“Of course, the first dance is ours.”
As they moved as one on the floor, everyone watched as he held her so tenderly in his arms. After the dance was over, Sanura was swept away by her father and danced with him.
Later on in the night Gavin claimed her for another dance. “Are you feeling alright? You look kind of tired. Do you want to go home? Well, not home but leave for our honeymoon.”
“No. I have never felt better. Where are we going?” She put her head on his chest and smelled his aftershave which made her know how safe she was.
“To a private island. Then what is it? You are looking a little flushed and I know it can’t be from alcohol for you haven’t touched anything all night. Not except maybe your champagne. What is it?”
Sanura tipped up her head so she could meet his eyes as they slowed to almost nonexistent movement in the middle of the floor. Her eyelashes fell leisurely to her cheeks before she lifted the sooty lashes to show her green eyes back to the man that watched her. How did she say this?
“I’m fine. I’m a little tired.”
“Well, we did do a lot today. Are you sure you don’t want to go?”
“I’m fine. Or I will be.”
His eyebrow arched and he asked, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, this should end in about seven months or so.” She stared unblinkingly at him as she waited for him to understand.
“Why seven months? What happens after seven. . .” His eyes widened as his mouth moved wordlessly. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I hope so.”
“I’m gonna be a daddy?”
“Yes, yes you are. I am about seven or eight weeks. Found out yesterday for sure.”
“Oh, kitten, I love you. So much. Thank you.”
“I love you too, Gavin.”
* * * *
Gavin Rawlins kissed his wife long and thoroughly right there on the middle of the dance floor. He drug his lips off hers long enough to share the news with the room. As they cheered he reclaimed the sweet full mouth of the woman who was the other half of his soul. The one that had encouraged him to live life while he reached for his star.
A woman who made him realize that to enjoy life to the fullest, all he really ever needed could be found in a place called A Little Taste of Home.
His wife.
His love.
His Irish kitten.
THE END
Also by Aliyah Burke and TEP
Denim and Spurs
With This Ring
Dream Lover
You Don’t Know Jack
· · · ·
Graham Family
Justice Is Always Ready
And We’ve Come Full Circle
· · · ·
Just a Dream
· · ·
·
The Maddoxes
The Detective’s Lover
· · · ·
Under the Mask
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here
. She can also be found on Facebook
or Twitter: @AliyahBurke96
.
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
Twisted E Publishing, LLC
www.twistedepublishing.com
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Other TEP Books by Aliyah
About the Author