Mountain Charm (Appalachian Heart Series)

by Sydney Logan

  His tone was soft but cold, and it made Angelina wonder if there wasn’t more on his mind than just their argument from last night. Her suspicions were confirmed when he reached for her hand.

  “I know you’re mad at me, but right now, I need to talk to my best friend. That’s why I’m here, even though you asked me to stay away.”

  “I’m sorry I asked you to stay away. I don’t want that.”

  “You don’t?”

  Angelina shook her head, and he smiled.

  A nearby frog caused Cash to awaken from his nap, and he jumped up, bolting straight toward the water. With him out of the way, Angelina moved closer. Relieved to have the contact, Dylan lowered his head, nuzzling her shoulder.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Dylan sighed heavily. “I had a job interview in Knoxville today.”

  “That’s amazing! I didn’t know you had an interview.”

  “I didn’t get the chance to tell you before . . . my latest arrest.”

  Angelina squeezed his hand. “How’d it go?”

  “Horrifically. The editor-in-chief is my father.”

  Angelina’s eyes widened.

  “What are the odds, right?” Dylan chuckled, but there wasn’t a hint of humor in his tone. “He offered me a job. A full-time position as a columnist.”

  “That’s . . . incredible.”

  “Of course, he never got around to officially offering it to me. He said something about me being just like him, and I—”

  She closed her eyes. “And you lost your temper.”

  “Yeah. And it’s something I have to work on. I know this. But to hear him compare the two of us . . . it just enraged me, Angelina. I’m nothing like him. I would never abandon my family.”

  “I know you wouldn’t.”

  “Do you?” Dylan asked, his voice laced with uncertainty as he gazed into her bright blue eyes. “Do you know I’d never desert you? I’d never deliberately hurt you? It doesn’t matter if the spell is designed to keep me devoted and faithful. I am not Nathaniel Rose. I am not Adam McDonald, and I am most certainly not Charles Thomas. I know I’m not perfect, but I would never . . . I could never . . .”

  “I know.”

  It was overwhelming, the need to be as close to him as she could possibly be. Without thinking twice, Angelina crawled into his lap, and Dylan enveloped her in his arms. His eyes flickered to her mouth, and she leaned in, kissing him softly.

  “Don’t be mad at me,” he murmured.

  “I’m not mad.”

  He smiled against her lips—his first honest smile all day—before kissing her once more.

  “Am I really your best friend?” Angelina asked.

  “Yes, you are. Not that I have many friends back home. I worked crazy hours and was always on the road. But yeah, you’re my best friend. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be when you love someone?”

  Angelina thought of her parents. They’d definitely been best friends throughout their marriage. She’d always wanted that kind of love, and now she had it.

  “Yes, that’s how it should be.”

  Dylan rubbed his nose against hers. “I hate when we fight.”

  “Me, too.”

  They held each for a while until she finally asked what he was going to do about his father.

  “I don’t know,” Dylan admitted with a sigh. “The job opportunity is incredible. I just don’t know that I can stand working for him.”

  “I understand, but even if you don’t accept the job, what will you do? Obviously, he wants to get to know you.”

  “He had his chance to get to know me. He blew it.”

  Angelina’s eyes softened, and he couldn’t ignore the sadness there.

  “You think I should?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t answer that. You just . . . you don’t know what I’d give to have one more conversation with my father. Just one. Your dad is offering you a dream job. He didn’t have to do that, and I think it proves that he wants to try to make amends. Family is so important. You could wake up tomorrow and he’d be gone forever, and you would have missed your chance. I can’t tell you what to do, but I do think you should think about it.”

  Dylan pressed his forehead to hers.

  “Okay, I’ll think about it.”

  She smiled, and they sat in a comfortable silence as they watched Cash chase frogs around the pond. He never caught them, but whether that was because the frogs were much too fast or because Cash just enjoyed the chase was a mystery.

  Angelina played with the hair along the nape of his neck. “I know it’s been a crazy day, but I need to ask you something.”

  “You can ask me anything.”

  “I need a date for Maddie’s wedding. Interested?”

  Dylan chuckled. “Very interested. Do I need a tux?”

  “Nope, just a suit is fine,” she said, smiling. “They’ve rented a chapel in Gatlinburg and reserved a block of rooms at one of the hotels for the guests. Mom isn’t up to making the trip, so I was thinking we should tell Maddie we need . . . a room.”

  Dylan grinned.

  Room.

  Singular.

  His hold tightened around her waist. He was far too excited as to where this conversation might be leading.

  “I would be honored to be your date, and I think a room is a very good idea.”

  Neither said it, but both were thinking the exact same thing.

  This wedding was going to be a monumental occasion for one happy couple.

  And it wasn’t the bride and groom.

  Chapter 16

  Candlelight shimmered along the altar, casting a soft glow inside the mountain chapel. Maddie had wanted a small ceremony, so the tiny church was the perfect solution to seat the thirty friends and family who’d been invited to the wedding.

  At the bride’s request, Angelina was standing in the shadows in the back of the chapel, checking to see if the groom had arrived. Nick was easy to find—standing at the altar with his brother and the minister. His smile was wide and nervous as he fidgeted with his tie.

  Angelina couldn’t resist scanning the crowd, and her pulse quickened when she spotted Dylan sitting in the second row.

  Tonight was the night.

  Neither of them had verbalized it, but over the past few days—and with the promise of a weekend all to themselves—their kisses and touches had become more passionate than ever.

  Angelina was nervous, absolutely, but there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that this man was the one.

  And tonight, she would tell him.

  And show him.

  Focus, Angelina. You have duties to fulfill.

  Taking a deep breath, Angelina made her way back to the little dressing room and found the bride standing in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting her veil. While the maid of honor was a bundle of nerves, the bride was calm and serene as Felicia, the wedding coordinator, darted around the room in her pencil skirt and five-inch heels, barking orders into her cell phone. That was another great thing about using the Gatlinburg chapel. The wedding details that normally drove a bride insane—the flowers, the reception, and even the photographer—were all handled by the staff. All Maddie had to do was show up in her dress and make sure Nick arrived at the church on time.

  “He’s out there,” Angelina confirmed with a grin.

  Maddie’s smile was bright. “How does he look?”

  “Nervous. Handsome.”

  Maddie sighed happily and gazed at herself in the mirror. “You’re next, you know.”

  “Next?”

  “All of this,” Maddie said, waving toward the flowers and the dress. “You’re next.”

  “Hmm. I don’t know about that.”

  “Please. He loves you. You love him. It’s time you told him, by the way. I know you hate his temper, but good grief, he’s allowed to have a flaw. Don’t let one stupid imperfection ruin all of the other perfect moments that made you fall in love with him. He loves you, Angelina. He loves your
mom. He will be faithful and devoted and treat you like a princess. That’s what you wanted when you cast the spell, wasn’t it? Your very own Prince Charming?”

  Angelina nervously glanced around the room, but Felicia was too preoccupied with wedding drama to hear their crazy conversation.

  “Sorry,” Maddie whispered.

  “It’s okay, and you can stop now. I’ve already forgiven him.”

  Her face brightened. “You have?”

  “I have. We’re good.”

  Maddie’s eyes flashed with mischief. “I did notice you only requested the one room.”

  “Well, it seemed like the . . . economical thing to do.”

  The bride snorted. “Whatever. I want all the details.”

  Angelina rolled her eyes, and the girls giggled.

  “Wow, it’s going to be a special night for both of us,” Maddie said, her voice filled with awe. “Everything really is changing, isn’t it?”

  Angelina reached for Maddie’s veil and gently toyed with the lace. “Yes, but these are good changes. Growing up. Falling in love. Finding your soul mate.”

  “We’re so lucky, Angelina.”

  A brief look passed between the lifelong friends, and they immediately erupted into sobs.

  “Are we ready?” Felicia asked brightly, but her face turned ashen when she saw their tears. She grabbed a box of tissues from the nearby table. “Okay, tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll tell you how we’ll fix it.”

  Both girls laughed as they dried their eyes.

  “We’re just happy,” Maddie promised her.

  Felicia’s shoulders sagged with relief, grateful there wasn’t a wedding-related tragedy.

  “Well, that’s what we want! Happy bride. Happy maid of honor. Happy groom. Speaking of which, Nick looks as if he’s a nervous wreck, but I’ve never seen a happier man standing at the altar. Are you ready to see him?”

  “I’m ready,” Maddie said, her voice strong and calm.

  The three of them made their way toward the tiny sanctuary. A mandolin played the soft strains of “Canon in D” as Angelina took her place at the back of the aisle. She stared down at her purple and cream bouquet, took a long steadying breath, and began to walk. Angelina fixed her eyes on the altar as she followed the path of rose petals, and when she finally reached Nick and the minister, she lifted her head and turned toward the congregation.

  In an instant, Angelina’s eyes locked with Dylan’s, and her breath hitched in her throat. He looked handsome, dressed in his dark suit and skinny tie. His eyes swept over her, and she felt a rush of excitement as his burning gaze never left hers—not even when the music changed, signaling everyone to stand.

  Taking another deep breath, Angelina forced herself to look toward the aisle, where her glowing best friend was making her way toward the altar. Her arm was looped through her father’s, and when they reached the minister, Maddie kissed her dad’s cheek before he joined her mother on the front row. A radiant Maddie handed Angelina her bouquet before joining her hands with the groom’s, and the ceremony began.

  Grateful to still have the tissue in her hand, Angelina dabbed her eyes as the preacher talked about love and patience, and how they were the foundations of marriage. Throughout the service, Angelina couldn’t help but think about her parents and how special their love story had been. The spell had brought them together, but it was their commitment and love for each other that had helped them endure the many storms life had thrown their way. In the end, their love hadn’t been strong enough to beat cancer, but it had been strong enough to let them enjoy every single second they had together. They hadn’t wasted their time on petty arguments or silly misunderstandings. They had been thankful for each and every day they could wake up together, until that very last morning when Samuel Clark had taken his last breath with his wife by his side.

  By the time the minister pronounced Maddie and Nick man and wife, Angelina was a sobbing mess. The entire congregation was crying, too, so it was easy to brush off her tears as happy ones. And she was happy. Her best friend had found her happily ever after with the man of her dreams.

  Angelina could feel the heat of someone’s stare, and like a magnet, her gaze shifted to the second row.

  While every head in the chapel was turned toward the happy couple, Dylan’s eyes rested firmly on Angelina.

  While the number of people invited to the wedding had been limited to close family and friends, the reception was open to anyone who had wanted to make the drive from Maple Ridge to the hotel in Gatlinburg. Because of the evening ceremony and the full-blown celebration expected to take place in the banquet hall, Angelina was grateful Felicia had recommended the guests stay overnight.

  The party was in full swing, but Dylan was nowhere to be found. Angelina had been busy, but now that her speech was over and her duties fulfilled, her eyes scanned the crowd in search of him. When the DJ announced it was time for the couple’s first dance, Angelina took her second glass of champagne and retreated to a dark corner of the banquet hall.

  As Maddie and Nick danced, Angelina couldn’t help but smile as she watched the two of them. She couldn’t help but think how wonderful it must be to have that kind of love—an honest, soul-stirring love—without the help of spells or charms or any other ridiculous magical enchantments.

  Just two people, till death do them part.

  The music changed, and more couples joined the bride and groom on the dance floor.

  “Isn’t there a rule that the maid of honor isn’t supposed to be prettier than the bride?”

  She smiled. His voice was soft and warm against her ear, and she trembled as his fingertips trailed across the exposed skin of her shoulder.

  “The bride is the most beautiful woman in the room.”

  Dylan stepped closer, drawing her gently to his chest. She melted against him, loving the heat of his body as he held her close.

  “I can’t agree with you.” He glided his nose along her skin, causing her to moan softly. “You’re so gorgeous, Angelina. This dress is going to haunt my dreams for the rest of my life.”

  He gripped her waist and pulled them deeper into the corner. His lips ghosted over her, touching every inch of visible flesh his mouth could reach. Angelina’s long black hair was swept up, granting him access to her shoulders and neck.

  “You look so beautiful tonight,” he murmured against her ear. “Seeing you walk down the aisle and listening to those vows . . . all I could think about was us.”

  “Us,” Angelina said quietly, her voice quivering.

  Burying his face against her neck, he sucked the skin there, and her head fell back against his shoulder.

  “Look at them. Look at the way Nick’s staring at her. As if he can’t take a breath without her. I know how he feels, Angelina. I can’t breathe without you.”

  Dylan gently bit her earlobe, making her groan.

  “Just so there’s no misunderstandings, I want this with you. All of this. The chapel. The rings. The vows. I want it all.”

  Her heartbeat accelerated as the enormity of his words washed over her.

  “I want it, too,” she admitted with a whisper.

  Dylan smiled against her skin. His fingers danced along the straps of her halter dress, grateful to find that with one tug, the dress would easily fall away from her body.

  “Do you know what else I want? I want you, Angelina. I love you, and I want you. Tonight.”

  Angelina whimpered as his teeth gently nipped at her neck.

  “Not tonight. Now.”

  It was all he needed to hear. Dylan grabbed her hand, and without a backward glance at the partygoers, the two of them rushed toward the elevator.

  The hotel room door had barely closed before he was pushing her against it. Angelina grabbed his tie and pulled him closer, whimpering when their mouths collided.

  “I love you,” Dylan whispered in between kisses. “I love you so much.”

  Angelina closed her eyes, savoring his sweet words a
nd heated touches as his hands skimmed the fabric of her dress. Her lips parted, and his tongue found hers, causing her to whimper louder and arch against him. Dylan groaned, grabbing her leg and hitching it around his waist as he pressed into her. Her hands wove into his hair as she kissed him harder.

  “Please,” she begged when they came up for air.

  Breathing harshly, Dylan pressed his forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes. She was too beautiful . . . too eager . . . and he knew he had to slow down.

  Dylan gently lowered her leg and took her by the hand, leading her toward the bed. Angelina gasped when she saw daisy petals scattered along the blanket.

  “I know rose petals are typical,” Dylan said sheepishly, “but nothing about us is typical.”

  “When did you—”

  “That’s why I was late to the reception,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to find daisies in this hotel.”

  Angelina’s eyes welled. It was the most romantic thing she’d ever seen.

  “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

  With trembling fingers, she reached for his tie. Dylan noticed her unease, and he took her hand, pulling it to his lips and kissing it softly.

  “I’m nervous, too,” he admitted.

  “You are?”

  “A little, yeah.”

  “But this isn’t your first time.”

  “No, but it’s yours, and I don’t want you to regret a moment of it.”

  Feeling slightly braver, Angelina tugged the tie, letting it fall to the floor. She slipped her fingers beneath the buttons of his shirt, undoing each one with a slow, agonizing pace that made him tremble. He unzipped his slacks, letting them fall and pool at his feet. Angelina’s appreciative gaze drifted over his body.

  “Turn around, baby,” he murmured, desperate to see her, too.

  Angelina obeyed, and he let his hands slide along the straps of her dress. Her entire body shuddered when she felt his fingers undoing the tie. The dress fell away, leaving her in nothing but her lacy underwear and heels.

  Angelina stepped out of her shoes and turned around.

  His hungry gaze gave her courage, and she reached for her panties. The fabric drifted down her legs and joined her dress on the floor. Angelina loosened her hair, letting it spill around her shoulders, and Dylan’s eyes drank her in, examining every curve.