by Rita Sawyer
“I’m sure they would. So what are you suggesting?”
“Marry me?”
“I already said I would.” She laughed, but he didn’t.
“Marry me right now?” His serious tone told her he wasn’t kidding.
“How? Don’t we need a marriage license?”
“If I can work out all the details, would you marry me right now?” He pushed.
Joey’s heart was beating so hard she thought it might explode. “Yes.”
He pulled her close and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Stay here.”
Joey watched him run off, wondering what the hell he thought he could possibly do at eleven o’clock at night. Even if they wanted to get married right away, there was nothing they could do today. With it being the weekend, they probably couldn’t start to make plans until Monday when they got home. After a few minutes, Abigail, who Joey had learned was the one who invited her and Cameron on the moonlight cruise, appeared at her elbow.
“Dear, you need to come with me, or people will think you two are having a lovers’ spat.” The older woman hooked her arm through hers and led Joey away from the railing.
* * * *
Cameron wasn’t looking forward to telling her how he managed to pull it all together, but hopefully she wouldn’t ask right away. A few strategic calls and all the paperwork was faxed to the ship. All they needed to do was sign them and have the captain perform the ceremony, which he was more than willing to do. Thankfully, it hadn’t taken very long to get everything underway.
Cam had called in a couple of favors, but he had one more and it was the biggest and most important. He hoped this would show Joey just how much he loved her. Cam dialed and waited for someone to answer.
“Hello.” He recognized Bobbie’s voice right away.
“Hi, is Georgie there?” He figured she was since it was so late.
“Cam, is that you?” Bobbie asked, her voice raising a little.
“Yeah, it’s me,” he confessed.
“Is everything all right? Where’s Joey?” He felt guilty at the note of concern he heard.
“Bobbie, everything is fine. Actually, better than fine. I just need to talk to Georgie for a second.” He heard some rustling and what he thought might be running.
“Cameron, what’s wrong?” Georgie asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. Everything is very right.” He tried to reassure her. “I just need a favor.”
“What?” He could still hear the concern in her voice, but there was curiosity too.
“I know it’s late, but can you round everyone up right away, like in the next twenty minutes, and get them in front of the computer?” He hoped so, because it was a significant part of his plan.
“Yeah, why?” Now she just sounded curious.
“I can’t say just yet.” He wanted to surprise them all. “I’ll call you back and tell you when to log in.”
“Okay. I’ll get everyone here.” If she managed to do it, he would really owe her one, and he always paid his debts.
“Good. I’ll talk to you in little bit.” Cameron hung up and quickly dialed his sister Kirsten’s number and asked her to do the same with his family.
With nothing left to do but wait, Cameron headed back on the deck where he’d left Joey. Not spotting her, he searched the rest of the deck. He found her sitting at a table with Abigail and her husband Harrison. It couldn’t have been more perfect. He could ask them to be their witnesses. She looked over and smiled at him as he strode forward. He came to a stop beside the table and leaned down and kissed Abigail’s cheek before joining them. Once seated beside her he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. He laughed. She let out a little sigh as he pulled away.
“Abigail, Your Honor,” Cam said nodding in their direction.
“Cam, it’s Harrison.” The judge reprimanded him.
“Sorry, sir. I just can’t seem to get the image of you sitting on the bench out of my mind.” They all laughed.
“Well, you bring Josephine to our barbeque and watch him chasing our grandbabies around, and it’ll wipe it right out of your head.” Abigail patted her husband’s hand lovingly.
“We’d love to. Better yet, when Joey and her sisters are done remodeling their lodge, you two should come up for a visit.” Cameron would enjoy having a nice visit with them.
“I was just telling them the same thing,” Joey said reaching up and covered his hand resting on her shoulder with her fingers.
“We’d love to.” Harrison winked at his wife, who blushed.
“Good. Now I have a favor to ask of both of you.”
“Really?” They said in unison looking intrigued.
Cam gave Joey’s shoulder a little squeeze, and when she looked over at him, he smiled at her. “Joey and I are going to be getting married in about a half an hour, and I was hoping you would stand up for us.”
Abigail clapped her hands, and Harrison said, “We’d be honored.”
“You found a way?” Joey’s voice was filled with awe.
“The captain agreed to marry us. And just in case you think it may not be legal, Harrison can look over the paperwork.”
“Wow. You don’t waste any time.” Abigail was right. When he wanted something he went after it.
“The boy is smart enough to know a good thing when he sees it.” Harrison’s praise had Joey blushing.
Abigail quickly took control of the conversation. Cam did his best to keep up, but it wasn’t easy. He checked his watch and realized only five minutes had passed. By now, his friend Luke was on his way with the equipment they needed for the webcast. He planned on taking a smaller boat out to the one they were on and coming aboard, with the captain’s permission, of course.
After Luke got all the equipment set up, he’d call their families and get them online. Cam would have liked to see to all the details himself, but at the same time he didn’t want to leave Joey again. If she felt half as antsy as he did, she sure in hell wasn’t showing it. He wondered if she would be reacting differently if she knew what he had planned.
Harrison lured him into the conversation, and soon his anxiety start to ease. He seemed to forget that in less than an hour he’d be a married man. It wasn’t until he heard a loud horn sound off in the distance that he checked his watch again. He smiled, knowing that was probably Luke.
* * * *
Joey’s hid her nervousness behind her smile. She’d learned to do it a long time ago, and it came in handy. It helped that Abigail turned out to be such a chatterbox. Of course, the way Cameron fidgeted didn’t help. Every time he touched her, she had to force herself not to jump. Her mind raced almost faster than her heart.
She didn’t feel any fear. This is what she wanted. The only apprehension she felt came from knowing she’d have a hell of a lot of explaining to do when she got home. She wasn’t going to dwell on that right now. It would sort itself out in time. Cameron’s phone buzzed, and everyone at the table looked at him.
“I guess it’s time,” he said getting to his feet.
Joey took the hand he held out to her and let him help her up. Harrison rose and helped Abigail to her feet. Cam led them toward the bow of the boat where the stairs led to the upper deck. He asked the Kynsales to go up first so he could have a moment with Joey. They did as he asked, leaving them alone.
“I’m going to ask again since this is pretty overwhelming. If you’ve changed your mind, I’ll understand. Joey, will you marry me?” It touched her that he was willing to give her the chance to change her mind after he’d made all the arrangements.
She laid her hand on his chest and said, “Cameron, I’m positive that I want to marry you.”
“Then let’s go.” He took her hand and led her up the stairs.
Joey reached the top step and froze. There were two large screens on either side of the captain, who wore a uniform that reminded her of a pilot minus the jacket. She barely noticed the guy standing beside him holding a video camera. She stared at
the screen on the right, stunned to see her five sisters, her brothers-in-laws, her soon-to-be brother-in-law, and Jake. She glanced at the other screen, equally shocked to see Cameron’s family staring back at them.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming,” Cameron said, and suddenly everyone started talking at once, and Joey couldn’t decipher what they were saying.
Cam held up his hand and said, “I know you guys are all wondering what’s going on, but give us just a few minutes and you’ll see why I wanted you all here.”
With a nod from Cameron, the captain stepped forward and said, “Hello, everyone. Cameron and Joey have come before you all tonight to proclaim their love for one another and pledge to spend the rest of their days loving and supporting each other.”
After that announcement, which silenced both their families, the captain asked them the traditional questions. They both said their “I do’s,” and the captain pronounced them man and wife. When he instructed Cameron to kiss the bride, cheers rose up from all around them. It wasn’t until that minute she realized the rest of the people on the cruise had gathered below to watch the ceremony, too. The next few minutes went by in a blur.
Joey promised to give her sisters all the details when she got home. Cameron’s sisters promised to have a proper “welcome to the family” lunch ready for Joey tomorrow when they got to his mother’s house. Harrison and Abigail both signed the documents as their witnesses and headed back down to the main deck to join the rest of the people celebrating. The captain and the other man, who Cam introduced as his friend Luke, went below, leaving them all alone on the upper deck.
Music drifted up from below, and Cameron eased her into his arms. He moved her around the floor, humming along with the tune. Joey rested her head on his shoulder, letting herself just enjoy the moment.
“I can’t believe you did all this.” Joey looked up at him, unable to hold back the tears brimming in her eyes.
“I knew it wouldn’t be right without your sisters, especially Georgie, here.” He shrugged his shoulders like it hadn’t been a big deal.
“When we get back to your place, I’ll show you just how much it meant to me.” She kissed him, letting her body rub against his.
Cameron groaned as his body reacted just like she knew it would. His cock sprung to life and formed a thick ridge behind his fly. His hands slid down her back and cupped her ass. Joey rocked against him, earning another louder groan. She knew if things didn’t end, now the people downstairs might be getting a different kind of show.
It took her a minute or two to untangle herself from his arms. “We better go down downstairs before everyone tries to come up here.”
“Yes, dear.” She laughed at the mock defeat she heard in his tone.
“You’re already starting to sound like a loving husband,” Joey teased as they descended the stairs, both of them laughing loudly.
THE END
WWW.RITASAWYER.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I live in northern Maine near the Canadian border, but have strong family ties down in Massachusetts. My husband and I have been married for what seems like forever sometimes and have three great kids. One girl, two boys, and a house full of pets. When I’m not totally caught up in getting my characters and scenes fleshed out I can usually be found with my nose stuck in a book, or snuggled up on the couch with my hubby or one of the kids watching a movie. I enjoy spending time with my big noisy family and fishing when I get the chance.
When it comes to writing I’ve always made up stories to entertain my kids. As they grew up I began writing romances to entertain myself. I’ve been seriously focusing on writing for the past three and a half years. Luckily I have a wonderful supportive family, and friends that are willing to sit there and listen to me ramble on about what my characters have done, or are about to do. I am a proud member of Romance Divas and enjoys visiting the Romantic Times forum.
Also by Rita Sawyer
Brazen Sisters 1: A Brazen Love Worth Fighting For
Brazen Sisters 2: To Unleash a Brazen Desire
Brazen Sisters 3: Stroking a Brazen Lust
What Are Friends For: Doing It Her Way
Available at
BOOKSTRAND.COM
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com