Truly, Madly, Deeply: Book 2

by L. S. Scott

  “Well, I couldn’t let my buddy get married without a best man, now could I?” Nick said smiling at Natalie then Jaron.

  “What,” she gasped. “Jaron, what’s going on?” Jaron looked to Greg and received a nod.

  The group of family and friends stood watching, smiling and sniffling as Jaron took Natalie by the hand and led her through the house to the back door. He slid it open and the pair stepped onto the deck. It was covered in billowing bouquets of white roses and lavender. A beautiful cream rug with tiny purple flowers covered the wooden deck floor, sheer purple fabric was stretched over head like a tent, the picnic table was covered with Jaron’s grandmother’s white lace table cloth and a three tiered wedding cake sat in the center; ivory with fresh wildflowers spiraling from top to bottom. It was perfect.

  “Jaron,” she whispered his name through happy tears as she buried her face in his chest. Sobs and sniffles could be heard all around.

  “I think we’ve waited long enough. Don’t you?” he whispered in her ear. “Go with Janna and Tiffany, they have another surprise for you,” he said lifting her head to wipe away her tears with the pad of his thumbs. “I love you baby doll,” he said before kissing her and releasing her to be whisked away by the excited duo.

  Natalie knew that they must be taking her to get dressed and was surprised when they ushered her past the master bedroom all the way down the hall to the seldom used spare room. It had been cleaned and set up as a dressing room, complete with vanity, makeup, hair tools and full length mirror. Tiffany reached in the closet and pulled out dress bag.

  “You ready,” she asked nervously.

  Natalie nodded anxiously. Tiffany cut her eyes to Janna, who was holding her breath and back to Natalie. Slowly she unzipped the bag and let it fall away, revealing the prettiest, most perfectly ‘Natalie’ wedding dress Natalie had ever seen.

  It was a knee length, ivory organza dress with a delicate lace overlay, a lavender sash around the empire waist and spaghetti straps. She ran her fingers across the fabric and the sweetheart neck line.

  “It’s perfect,” she beamed.

  Tiffany smiled and clapped her hands excitedly.

  “I knew it would be. Now, jump in the shower, shave your legs, and let’s make you look like a bride.”

  Jaron was dressed in gray slacks, a crisp white shirt with a silver tie. He stood on the soft cream rug, fidgeting and nervous but smiling uncontrollably, with Greg, Nick, and Nate, waiting. When the music started, Can’t Fight This Feeling, by REO Speedwagon, the guys snapped to attention and turned to watch as Olive twirled and threw flowers into the air, causing everyone to laugh. Behind the flower girl, Jake lead Natalie up the steps and across the deck toward her true love.

  Jaron’s heart pounded and his eyes sparkled as they misted. He took a deep breath and blew out through pursed lips. Greg patted his back and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Natalie white knuckled her bouquet trying to restrain herself and not run and fling herself into his arms. The two stood side by side in front of Greg.

  “We are all gathered here today, to witness Natalie and Jaron come together as husband and wife.” Greg stopped to clear his throat and push away a stray tear. “If ever two souls were bound to each other, it is yours. You can recite your vows,” Greg said, nearly unable to speak through his emotion.

  Jaron turned to Natalie and took her hands in his. She was taken by surprise that Jaron had prepared his own vows. He smiled a smile like she had never seen; a smile full of hope, and promise, and love.

  “Natalie, I love you, so much. You are my anchor, my rock, my soft place to land and my light in the dark. You are my reason to live and without you, I can’t. This is my vow to you,” he paused. “I will be your dream, I will be your wish, I will be your fantasy. I will be your hope, I will be your love and I will be everything that you need. I promise, I will love you more with every breath, till death.”

  Natalie’s tears fell uncontrolled.

  “Jaron, I don’t know if love is a big enough word for what I feel for you. You are my hero, my shelter, and my peace. You are my home. And I vow, that I will be your dream, your wish and your fantasy,” she swallows her tears, “I’ll be your hope, your love and everything that you need; and I promise to love you with every breath, until death.”

  Her lips trembled and Jaron struggled to resist the urge to cover them with his.

  Greg spoke, “Do you Jaron, take Natalie, to be your lawfully wedded bride?”

  “I Truly. Madly. Deeply do,” Jaron said smiling, his blue eyes swimming in tears of joy.

  “Natalie, do you take Jaron, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  “I do, God yes I do,” she declared.

  “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, man and wife. Jaron you may,” before Greg could finish the well-known line the two were in each-other’s arms and nothing short of death could pull them apart.

  Completing Connor

  Chapter Thirteen

  I sat at my large desk in my lavish office staring at my computer screen. I confirmed my travel arrangements, prepared Alan for my absence and in twenty-four hours I would be back in Mississippi, enjoying the salt water and humidity I had decided only four weeks ago was absolutely not for me. That was before. Before the woman I loved was reunited with her dead soul mate. After that, anywhere that didn’t remind me of her was exactly my kind of place. Before she could invade my thoughts too much, my phone rang.

  “Hello,” I answered.

  “Connor, James here. Great news, the house has officially sold,” my friend and real estate agent declared excitedly.

  “That’s, that’s great,” I replied with mixed emotions.

  “Yeah, it is. A three week turn around like that in this market is better than great. But, the wife is crazy about that master bedroom. You know what they say, happy wife.”

  “Yeah, that was the idea behind the design,” I said half under my breath, tossing my pen onto the desk.

  “They want to close immediately. I know you’re leaving town for a bit; I can have the paperwork drawn up and ready if you can swing by tomorrow morning on your way out.”

  “Definitely. Does ten sound ok,” I asked.

  “Ten will work. Just stop by the office.”

  “Ok, see you in the morning. And James, thank you. This house really needed to go.”

  “Yeah, you’re welcome man,” James said with the sympathy of a concerned friend.

  “As you can see Mr. Flynn, all the paper work is in order. All the permits and plans have been approved by the city. All we need is your signature and once you meet with the contractor he can start. It’s an ambitious remodel; he’s really anxious to get his crews here and get to work,” Daniel explained as he stood next me in the lobby of the old hotel on Beach Boulevard in Biloxi, Mississippi, that I now owned.

  “You’ve done a great job Daniel,” I said patting my new project manager on the back. “This is going to be a great hotel when it’s done,” I said as I leaned over the make shift work table and signed all the necessary documents.

  I stood up and took a deep breath, looking around at the property I had purchased for no other purpose than to escape the rubble that was left behind in Vegas after my relationship crashed and burned. It was going to be a huge job, a lot of headaches and a welcome distraction.

  “So, Daniel, where’s the best place for a man to stay for a while; and no hotels,” I asked.

  “Um, no hotels?” Daniel paused contemplatively. “Well, there’s a quiet little place near the bay called Hannah’s Hideaway. Small cabins, but it’s close to the water and out of the way. It kind of a has a country feel. There’s a couple of great old family restaurants with-in walking distance; one’s right on the dock. If that’s what you had in mind, it would be your best bet,” Daniel explained.

  I nodded enthusiastically. “Hannah’s Hideaway huh? That sounds like exactly what I had in mind.”

  I sat in the dirt parking lot of Hannah’s H
ideaway and surveyed my surroundings. Small lite blue, lite green and white cabins dotted the property, scattered along trails through the small clump of woods, about 300 hundred yards from the beach. Attached to the front of the blue cabin in front of me was a giant wooden fish with the word OFFICE painted down its side. There were a couple of white rocking chairs a small table and a big bell with a dangling rope hanging near the door.

  I got out of my rental car, removed my jacket and tie, unbuttoned a few buttons of my shirt and rolled up my sleeves as I strolled toward the office and up the steps. The room was empty. I rang the bell on the front desk and waited, but no one showed. I helped myself to a bottled water from the small, glass front cooler in the corner and dropped a dollar in the money cup on top. Standing on the small porch, I couldn’t resist the urge to ring the large bell. It was like an old school bell and a smile spread across my face as it clanged three loud times. I imagined a rosy cheeked, gray haired woman in a floral printed shirt, white capris and flip flops clipping down the trail from one of the cabins in response to the loud ding-dong. I sipped my water as I stood on the porch staring out at the beach, sweating in the humid heat.

  “Hello there,” a smooth, low voice called from the side of the porch.

  I snapped my head around and smiled at the woman who seemed to be floating around the side of the porch toward the steps. Her long dark blonde hair was wavy and streaked with bright, natural golden streaks from hours spent in the sun. Her skin was the color of honey and her eyes were the brightest, clearest green I had ever seen; reminding me of some of the green sea glass I had seen in local gift shops. A small tank top covered her bikini top. A brightly colored scarf was tied around her waist, showing a considerable amount of thigh and several braided bracelets hung around her wrists. I could easily imagine her diving into the ocean water and sprouting a shimmering scaled mermaid tale and swimming away.

  “Hello, um sorry,” I stuttered like a fool, reaching up to steady the bell. “Couldn’t resist,” I explained smiling.

  “It’s ok, that’s what it’s there for. I’m Hannah,” she said extending her hand as she ascended the steps.

  My lips quirked in surprise. “Connor,” I replied, taking her hand in a gentle introduction.

  She looked at my luxury car, took in my expensive shoes and slacks and then smiled as she looked me in the eye. “So, are you looking for someone,” she asked.

  “Yes,” I said smiling. “You.”

  Her brows rose in curiosity. “Ok, well you got me. What can I do for you?”

  “Actually, I’m interested in renting a cabin,” I confessed.

  “Oh, great,” she said surprised and headed into the office.

  “What,” I quizzed her tone as I followed.

  “Nothing, you just aren’t my usual renter. It’s mostly fisherman, outdoorsy types, beach bums.”

  “I would very much like to become a beach bum,” I joked as I leaned against the tall counter that separated the two of us.

  “How long are you plan on staying,” she asked as she pecked the keys of her computer.

  “Eight weeks,” I answered.

  She looked up quizzically.

  “Business,” I answered. “My company has a project going on up the road. I’m overseeing it for a few weeks to make sure it gets off to a solid start.”

  “Oh yeah? What kind of company? I need your driver’s license.”

  I pulled my license from my wallet and handed it to her.

  “A hotel,” I answered.

  She began to enter my information and stopped when she got to my last name.

  “Connor Flynn, Las Vegas? You bought the old hotel on Beach Boulevard?” Her green eyes sparkled as she looked up at me.

  “Yes,” I answered simply.

  “And you want to stay here,” she asked.

  “Yes, but your level of astonishment has me doubting my decision,” I joked.

  “Please don’t. I’m just sure you’re used to more luxurious surroundings. I mean, this is more of a hot dog and hamburger kind of place; no room service.” She shook her head.

  “I like hamburgers,” I winked.

  Once she finished the registration, she handed me my key and gave me directions from the porch.

  “It’s one of the last cottages. It’s furthest from the water, but the most private,” she explained.

  “That’s perfect. Thank you,” I said taking the key.

  “I hope you enjoy your stay, and escape whatever it is you’re looking to get away from.” She smiled intuitively.

  I glanced back at her under a furrowed brow and nodded before heading toward the car. I gave one last glance at my charming, bohemian hostess smiling from the porch and drove away with an unusual optimism.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Unpacked, showered and dressed in cargo shorts, a t-shirt and deck shoes, I strolled along the trails to the road that led to a mom and pop restaurant half a mile from Hannah’s. Hannah’s, I thought to myself, smiling at the memory of the interesting woman who in no way fit my image of her.

  I was greeted with warm hellos and friendly smiles and instructed by the waitress to sit wherever he liked. I looked around and spotted an outdoor dining area and headed out the side door. The waitress quickly found me sitting at a long picnic table and introduced herself.

  “I’m Lindsey,” she said handing me a menu. “Do you know what you want to drink or do you need a minute?”

  Her voice was warm and very southern and made me smile. It was a tone and accent that I had grown to love very much.

  “I will have a Miller Lite and ice water with lemon,” I answered quickly.

  “Bottle or draft,” she asked.

  “Draft.”

  She turned and disappeared inside, returning in minutes with my drinks.

  “Are you ready to order,” she asked sitting the drinks on the table in front of me.

  “Hmm,” I said mulling over the menu. “What do you suggest?”

  “Well,” she moved to stand at my side and look down at the menu. “The catch of the day is Sea Bass and it’s really good if you like fish, but you can’t go wrong with the steak and shrimp.”

  “Steak and shrimp it is,” I said smiling and lifted the menu up to her.

  “How would you like your steak cooked?”

  “Medium well.”

  “Do you want fried or grilled shrimp?”

  “Fried.”

  “Ok, I’ll have it to you in no time.”

  “Thank you.”

  The laid back atmosphere had me feeling especially friendly and I could feel the tension draining from my body as I drained my beer. By the end of my meal I had drank three more drafts and had a pleasant conversation with a local couple about the area. I strolled back to my cottage, taking the long way to meander along the beach as the sun began to set. I was standing with my hands in my pockets watching the suns slow decent along the watery horizon, thinking about nothing or no one in particular, for the first time in a long time, when a brown streak of a dog whizzed right by me and barreled into the water. I chuckled and turned to see if the dog had an owner or was a run away. Something inside me, akin to butterflies, fluttered when I saw Hannah gliding barefoot across the sand in my direction; her wavy hair and gauzy dress blowing in the breeze.

  “Hello again,” she said.

  “Hello. Is this yours,” I asked pointing at the hyper dog splashing and biting at the waves.

  “Yes, that’s Hershey,” she answered smiling adoringly at the chocolate lab.

  “Hershey? That’s a cute name for a chocolate lab.”

  Hannah smiled. “She’s a cute dog. Everything ok with the cottage?”

  ‘It’s perfect,” I answered forcing myself to look away from her as she came to stand beside me. “I had dinner at the place down the road. It was really good, very friendly.”

  “Yeah, we’re a friendly lot here at the back bay. There’s a big crawfish boil tomorrow night at Lou’s, just down the beach. Y
ou should come. Good food, live music. It’s a good time.”

  “Are you going to be there,” I asked.

  “Yeah,” she smiled up at me through wispy lashes. “I’ll keep an eye out for you,” she said before turning to walk back up the trail, Hershey hot on her heels.

  I watched her for a second before turning back to the sunset. I folded my arms over my chest and ran my thumb across my bottom lip, noting a distinct lite feeling and wondering if it was the three beers I had drank with dinner or something else entirely.

  The day had been long but productive. I had finalized all plans with the contractor and I was looking forward to a relaxed weekend, something I hadn’t had in a very long time. After changing into jeans and a t-shirt, I sat barefoot on the small front porch of my sea side cottage and listened to the waves gently sloshing against the beach and watched the glow of the sunset through the trees. It seemed as if the ocean pulled a little bit of lingering heartache out into the sea with each receding wave.

  Around eight, the clatter and murmur of live music drowned out the relaxing sound of the ocean. The crawfish boil I was invited to was in full swing. I had decided against it, but the longer I listened the more clearly I could picture Hannah and her green eyes combing the crowd for me and the disappointment when I didn’t show. I chuckled at my own arrogance for thinking that the beauty would actually be waiting and watching for me. But the thought of possibly hurting her feelings became overwhelming so I slipped on my shoes and headed down the beach.

  Inside Lou’s, the smell of beer, crawfish and seawater was thick. With my hands in my pockets I slipped through the crowd to the bar. The friendly barkeep greeted me instantly and returned quickly with an opened bottle. I leaned against the bar and watched the crowd on the dance floor move as one big vibrating mass; until golden waves swaying across honey skin caught my eye. My beer went down hard as I swallowed when my eyes found Hannah’s hips rocking back and forth beneath a sheer slip of a dress that ended just below the soft curve of her ass. With her hands above her head she turned slowly to face in my direction. My head tilted as I watched her, with her eyes closed, completely lost in the music. When her lids opened, her eyes instantly found mine. They glowed jade as she smiled, still dancing, still holding my eyes with hers. When the song ended, she made her way to me through the crowd.