Heart's Desire
Page 23
“More than willing, Nate,” she replied, touching his cheek.
“When I think of all the fun we’ll have, just the two of us, it fills me with more desire than I’ve ever known. I swear, I’ll jump out of my skin, I’m so on fire with it all.”
“Nate. I haven’t seen you like this since...”
“We were kids?”
“Yeah. And I like it.” She grinned.
“Me, too. So, now will you put my ring back on?”
“Yes. I love you, Nate,” she said as he tightened his embrace.
“I love you, Maddie. Forever and always.”
* * *
SARAH’S WEDDING DRESS finally found her. It was a strapless, full A-line gown in gossamer-thin organza with a white taffeta underskirt, aqua sash at the waist and a cascade of silk white-and-aqua roses down the back train. Sarah believed the gown had been made for her.
Maddie’s gown was a simple aqua organza over an aqua linen sleeveless sheath. She wore gold, low-heeled sandals and carried a nosegay of white roses with aqua streamers.
Maddie was proud to walk down the aisle on Nate’s arm, and she thought that he and the groom looked especially handsome in their navy blazers, sand-colored slacks, white shirts and aqua-and-white-striped ties. Maddie thought that hers and Nate’s happiness at being together again was equaled only by the joy of the bride and groom.
The ceremony at St. Mark’s was heartfelt and moving as Sarah and Luke spoke their own vows to each other. Mrs. Beabots cried, and Annie and Timmy were filled with so much joy, they could barely stand still.
Cove Beach glittered under the setting sun, and all of Sarah’s well-planned and exquisitely executed decorations added sparkle and festivity to the ambience. The flickering mason jars looked like fat fireflies in the tree limbs. Huge baskets of summer flowers hung from the tent poles and the hundreds of aqua bows and crystal Italian lights streamed throughout the tent’s interior, creating a summer night’s dreamland effect.
The round tables were covered in white linens, as was the buffet table. Sarah’s simple menu of cold salmon, ham, Caesar salad and Italian breads was enjoyed by all their guests.
The steel-drum player added just the right tropical touch to the occasion, and even those who didn’t normally dance got up to twirl around on the sandy beach or on the portable wooden dance floor.
Mrs. Beabots toasted the bride with champagne after Maddie and Nate offered their toasts. Timmy recited a poem and Annie sang a heartfelt rendition of “Unforgettable” that brought everyone to their feet in applause. Charmaine Chalmers accepted an invitation to dance from Edgar Clayton, while Isabelle and Scott Abbott held each other and barely moved to the music.
Nate had just pulled Maddie onto the small dance floor when they heard a woman scream.
Nate was instantly on alert. “What the...”
Nate and Luke shot to the edge of the tent and looked toward the poorly lit parking area. A man was outlined by a street lamp.
“Maddie!” the man yelled.
Maddie’s breath froze in her chest and her heart skipped a beat. “Alex.”
Luke ground his jaw. “What’s going on?”
Nate pulled Luke back. “It’s Alex. Let me handle this.”
“I’m here to back you up, bro,” Luke assured him.
Maddie rushed up to Nate. “What’s he doing here?”
Nate shook his head. “Go back with Sarah, Maddie.”
Alex stopped on the shells and gravel ten feet from Nate. “I came for Maddie,” Alex said, slurring his words. “It’s okay, Maddie. You can come with me.”
Maddie was aghast. She boldly took a step toward him.
Nate grabbed her arm, but she shook her head. She kept her eyes locked on Alex. “You’ve been drinking.”
“I came to my senses, is all. I know that a girl like you wouldn’t be happy just living with a guy. I was stupid to offer you so little. You want it all. So, I’m here to give it to you. Your entire dream. The franchises. The city life. Me. Marry me, Maddie.”
A gasp raced through the wedding guests. No one moved.
Maddie was undaunted. “Alex. I thought we had this all out this morning when you called me. I told you that I’m marrying Nate,” Maddie replied, feeling sympathy for Alex.
“Maddie,” Alex said. “Be reasonable.”
She stepped away from Nate and started to move closer to Alex, but Nate held her back. “No, Maddie.”
Nate put Maddie behind him and took two very long strides toward the distraught man. “You need to sober up and go home, Alex.”
Alex clenched his fists, swaying a little. “I wanna talk to Maddie.”
“Okay, let’s go to that picnic table,” Maddie urged. “We’ll talk there.”
Nate cast Maddie a pleading look. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine,” she said, taking Alex’s arm to steady him as they walked over to the table.
Luke put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Don’t give him more than five minutes.”
“Maddie’s my girl. She could go off with him for two days and I’d trust her.”
“Good for you, man.” Luke slapped his back and then returned to Sarah.
Once they reached the picnic table, Maddie faced Alex angrily. “What in the world were you thinking? You could have killed yourself or someone else driving in a condition like this!”
“Sorry,” he said morosely.
“Alex. For goodness’ sake. You didn’t honestly think I would go away with you, did you?”
“I was hoping you’d see that I was serious.”
“Desperate, you mean.”
“Okay. That. But we’re such a good team, Maddie,” Alex said more soberly. “I think we can do great things together.”
“I know we will. And I’ll always want you for a friend. That’s important to me. Can we do that, Alex? Be friends and business associates?”
He looked up at the stars and paused for a long moment. “Yeah. Yeah, I don’t like it, but maybe that’s the best for us after all.”
“You take care, Alex,” she said and kissed his cheek.
He smiled lovingly and touched her nose. “You, too.”
“If I get one of the guys to drive you over to the motel, will you book a room and sleep this off? I don’t want you driving anywhere right now.”
“Fine. I’ll go wait in my car.”
“In the backseat,” she warned.
“Okay.” Alex rose and walked slowly toward his car. Maddie turned around and found Nate standing with arms crossed over his chest next to the tie-down ropes on the tent.
He smiled as she walked up. “Everything okay?” he asked.
“Could Mica drive him to the Cove Inn and get him a room? He needs to sleep this off.”
“Sure,” Nate said looking over Maddie’s head as Alex flopped into the back seat of his car.
Maddie beamed up at Nate, curled her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Everything is right in the world,” she said. “Especially in my world because I have you.”
Nate folded his arms around her. “Yes, you do, Maddie. You have me always.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460337585
Heart's Desire
Copyright © 2014 by Catherine Lanigan
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