“I love you,” he tells me, wiping away the stray tear sliding down my cheek with his thumb. “I don’t know how I got so lucky, finding you,” he adds, looking deep into my eyes and taking a step closer so that there’s only inches between us. “I can’t wait to call you my wife.”
The room vanishes around us as Collin and I stand there, looking deep into each other’s eyes and transferring the love we share, pushing it further into each other’s souls.
“Holy shit! Am I in the right place?” Travis shouts as he walks in, seeing how the pub is decorated.
Completely ignoring him, Collin gives me an adoring smile before gently kissing my lips.
“Seriously, dude. You look like a fucking tool. Grow a set, will ‘ya?” Travis nudges Collin in the arm, breaking our stare.
“Trav!” Kenz yells, slapping his arm.
“Shit, woman! What the hell?”
“Sorry, guys. Travis doesn’t seem to know what being compassionate means,” she apologizes, giving Travis an evil glare.
“Oh, I’ll show you compassionate, sweetheart,” he tells her, yanking her up against his body and holding her butt firmly in his hands as he has his way with her neck. She tries to wiggle away, but he holds her tight and growls, “Bathroom-now!” into her ear, before practically carrying her in that direction.
Collin and I both laugh, shaking our heads at how insane Travis can be. Thankfully Collin’s mom walked away at some point, not having to hear about what is probably now happening in the bathroom, although I’m pretty sure she already knows how crazy Travis is. She is practically his second mother- god help her.
*****
Once it appears that all the guests have arrived, Mrs. West asks politely for everyone to find their seats. At our table is our bridal party- my two bridesmaids, Kat and Leah, and Collin’s two groomsmen, Matt and Travis. Mackenzie and Liam are also seated with us as Travis and Kat’s guests.
“Way to be with the open bar,” Travis tries to whisper but fails, tilting his drink in Collin’s and my direction with an excited grin.
“We do own the place, bro,” Collin replies, pointing out the obvious.
Little did I know that the bar I have been working in the last three years is owned by my father. I know, it doesn’t seem possible that I was unaware of this, but it’s true. For some reason I’ve always believed that he managed the financial end of it while my Uncle Steve owned and ran it, but no- it’s my dad. Apparently, after my mom died, my dad put my uncle in charge of the bar, needing to be home more. Now, with my father getting sicker and my uncle wanting to retire, the bar was signed over to me and Collin and I are now the proud owners of Corner Pub.
“You’re so damn lucky, man.”
“Thank you all for coming…” Mrs. West begins, standing beside Collin’s father and silencing Travis and everyone else. “I’m not going to say much because, well,” she covers her mouth with her hand, already getting choked up. “Well, this is why.” She points to her face that now has tears falling down it. “So I just want to say that Michael and I are so happy for Collin and Summer and can’t wait for them to become one tomorrow. Um, Collin,” she motions for Collin to finish as the tears streaming her face grow heavier.
Collin quickly stands and I follow, snuggling into his side.
“Thanks, Mom,” he smiles as she quickly takes her seat with her husband. Slipping his hand around my waist and gently kissing my head, Collin continues, “It means so much to Summer and I to have all of our friends and family gathered together under one roof to celebrate with us, so thank you all for coming.” Not being much of a public speaker, I just stand pretty, nodding my head and smiling at everything Collin says. “But before we continue with the evening, I have something to say.” He pats Matt’s shoulder next to him. “Many of you know, Matt and I go way, way back. Ever since we were little, we’ve been inseparable and have done everything together…football, classes, fishing. Then, I found the girl of my dreams…” he gives me a sweet look. “And he found the girl of his.” He smiles at Leah. “I put a ring on my woman’s finger and he…” Collin trails off as Matt stands up, looking down at Leah with love and admiration, pouring out of his eyes.
“I’m putting a ring on my woman’s finger,” Matt finishes, pulling the jewelry box from his jacket pocket.
My heart flutters seeing the priceless look on Leah’s face; her eyes spread as wide as they can possible go, mouth practically hitting the floor, and cheeks as red as the roses on the table. I can tell that she’s internally cussing the crap out of Matt as he drops to one knee, having every person’s attention in the pub.
Collin and I take our seats, gladly putting the focus on them.
“Baby, even though you already said yes to me last night, I needed to make it official.” He rests his hand on Leah’s cheek as her eyes well with tears. “Leah Bennett, you mean the world to me and my life is so much better with you in it. Never do I ever want to walk this earth without you. Will you marry me, baby? Will you be my wife?”
Whispering, “I’m gonna kill you,” with the cutest emotion-filled smile, Leah nods her head yes before gently kissing Matt’s lips. The pub fills with a mixture of clapping and whistling, congratulating their engagement. After placing the ring on her finger, Matt effortlessly picks her up as he stands, twirling her around and never removing his mouth from hers. It’s moments like these that you wish you had a video camera in your back pocket. If I wasn’t already madly in love with Collin, my heart would be swooning with a flock of butterflies- Matt and Leah are so sweet together. There is no denying their love for one another. They are so stinking adorable and I’m beyond excited that we were able to share this moment with them.
“Man, you guys are the biggest god damn pussies ever,” Travis says disgusted from across the table. “How the fuck are we all even friends?”
Draping his arm on my shoulder, Collin raises an eyebrow when he replies, “Says the guy who was smiling stupidly at his girlfriend while Matt was on one knee.”
“Pfft.” Travis waves his hand. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talkin’ about,” he says, but winks at Kenz with a smirk.
With a knowing smile, we laugh it off.
Travis will be next. That’s for sure.
Chapter 7
Collin
“Leah wasn’t as pissed as I thought she’d be,” I say outside the bathroom door as I strip down out of my suit. Summer is doing her nightly routine on the other side.
She walks out of the bathroom and even though I can see her lips moving, I can’t hear a damn thing she’s saying, too focused on her now exposed neck. She is wearing a sleek, silk nightgown that covers her body and with her long tan legs, perfectly cut body and erect nipples showing through, I’ve got an instant hard-on and tunnel vision to get her naked and moaning my name beneath me.
Since we aren’t abiding by the ‘not seeing each other the night before’ rule, we agreed that we’d at least not have sex tonight and save ourselves for the mind-blowing lovemaking we’ll have tomorrow. However, when you’re fiancé is as hot as Summer and comes walking out of the bathroom looking like…that, all fucking agreements are off the table. I need my girl, and I need her now.
Still not hearing a damn thing she’s saying, my eyes wander up and down her body while biting down on my bottom lip.
Shit, she’s beautiful!
“Are you even listening to me?” she asks with a hand on her hip.
Snapping out of my stare, I answer, “Uh no. I’m waiting for you to finish talking so I can throw you down on the bed and make sweet love to you.”
At least I’m honest…
Her lips curl into a smile as she walks towards me wearing her ‘fuck me eyes’ that drives my insides crazy. I lick my lips, feeling them already getting dry.
Hell yeah, this is gonna be fun!
Coming in so close, I can feel her heated breath against my face when she whispers, “Not tonight,” against my lips.
Wait! What?
Before I can even register what just happened, she’s already to her side of the bed, folding back the covers. Turning on my heels with a dumbfounded look, I ask, “Come again?”
“Collin, we agreed. No sex tonight.”
“Then you should’ve put on some granny-panties and flannel pajamas…this,” I motion to the sweet, do me right now, lingerie type thingy that she has on, “is not gonna keep me from wanting to do you.”
I mean, come on!
“We’re already breaking the rules. We have to at least abide by this one.”
“And if we don’t,” I say with a raised eyebrow. I’m pretty sure there are no pre-marriage rule breaking policemen.
She tilts her head with a sweet as hell grin.
“Collin.”
Making my way to where she’s still standing, my eyes solely focused on hers, I wrap one arm around her waist, bringing her body flush to mine.
“We’re far from traditional, beautiful,” I practically growl against her lips. “There’s no reason to start now.”
With no further explanation needed, Summer gives in, pressing her lips hard against mine. Like I just scored the lottery, my hands and mouth eagerly get to work, wrapping her tongue with mine and reaching for the hem of her gown to pull it up and over her head.
Within seconds she’s bare and beautiful, wearing nothing but the smooth silk of her skin. In another second, I’m resting her back gently on the bed while caressing her smooth delicious tongue with mine and massaging her plump breast in my hand. The moans that escape her mouth as I grip her nipple with my two fingers is enough to make me come in my underwear so, without a second to lose, I move my mouth down the curvatures of her body, spreading her legs when I get past her torso.
A low, pleading cry reverberates throughout her body as I tease her clit with my tongue. Sucking it in then swirling around it again, her hips rock out of control as her hands tangle in my hair. With just the vibration from my moan, her body clenches then spasms in a sweet as hell orgasm, making my cock impossibly harder.
Pleased with my work, I kiss her now swollen nub before quickly removing my underwear and climbing back over her. Skimming the length of her body with my mouth, a mix of heat, perfume, and lust fills my nostrils as I inhale the fragrance of her body. No other scent compares, bringing a euphoric peace to my soul. She’s the air to my lungs and the rhythm to my heart. Summer has taken control over my body, claiming it hers, every square inch, inside and out.
Easing my length inside of her opening, I lay my arms on each side of her head, resting our foreheads together. Flooded with emotions, I gently kiss her lips before whispering, “Marry me,” against her mouth. A stray tear trickles down her cheek, feeling the passion behind my words.
“Every day,” she breathes out, “for as long as we both shall live.”
Chapter 8
Summer
Last night I tossed and turned, not able to get comfortable or calm my wandering brain. I’m assuming this is normal and that most brides get anxious the night before. Of course, Collin seems unaffected- sound asleep within seconds of rolling off of me. Yeah, and so much for not having sex the night before. I had pretty much assumed that wasn’t going to happen. Collin has no off button and me, no willpower, so it was inevitable.
Even though it’s still dark and hours before I need to be up, I quietly slide out of Collin’s arms and slip on my nightgown that is still crumpled on the floor. Not much of a coffee drinker, but deciding today is the exception, I start the pot not even bothering to make Collin any- he won’t be up for hours. Grabbing my fleece from the closet, I wrap it around my shoulders and escape out to the porch. Already I can feel the temperature rising, much warmer than the usual fall morning. Everything is set for a perfect day for a perfect wedding. The only thing that feels off and unprepared is me. Something just doesn’t feel right, like I’m forgetting something or something bad is going to happen. Maybe it’s that I don’t have my mom here. That she’s not here to walk me through the day and everything that leads up to the moment I vow my life to Collin. As I get older, the memories that I have of her seem to get smaller and smaller. I was only seven when she passed, but still remember the little things that we used to do and the feeling of comfort that she used to bring me. Maybe that’s what is missing- her comfort.
Taking another sip of my coffee, I rock back and forth in my chair, thinking about all the things that my mom, dad, and I used to do as a family before she became severely ill. We were the perfect trio, happy all the time. Well, at least that’s what I remember. You always seem to remember the good over the bad, especially when time is limited. We knew her time was limited years before she died. God extended her life expectancy just like he has done with my dad. We Walkers are fighters- we fight until the bitter end.
I can only hope that Collin and I find the love and happiness that my family once did, praying that it isn’t shortened as early as mine. That we love and cherish our children just as much as my parents loved me. I smile at the thought of Collin having a baby, holding it possessively and snug to his chest. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Collin won’t be a good dad. He’s got a heart of gold and protects what’s his. There’s not a day that goes by that Collin doesn’t make me feel loved, needed, and secure. I can’t imagine that will ever change- it is just who he is.
“Summer? Babe, what’re you doing up and out here?” Collin slides the glass door open, stepping out onto the porch. He’s in just his briefs with his arms crossed over his chest, trying to hold in the heat of his body. No matter what he’s wearing, or lack there of, he’s incredibly gorgeous. Nothing on that boy is flawed. Perfect hair, skin, eyes, teeth…he’s a living, walking Ken doll.
Giving him a warm smile, I answer, “Couldn’t sleep.”
Having no worries about freezing in his underwear, he takes a seat in the chair next to mine. “Everything okay?” he asks, resting his hand on my thigh and rubbing it gently with his thumb.
Not wanting him to worry, I reply as confidently as possible, “Yeah, just anxious, I think.”
His lips curve up in a smile, displaying his dimples that I love so much.
“Me too,” he says. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to make you officially mine.”
There’s a soft tug on my heart hearing the excitement in his voice, knowing that Collin’s love for me runs just as deep as my love for him. Not that it’s something I worry about, but I think in every relationship there’s always that small doubt hidden in the back of your mind, wondering whether he does really love you as much as he says and that this really is the guy that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. I’d be lying if I said that hasn’t popped into my head a time or two. Maybe because this all seems too good to be true. That it almost seems unreal that I could be as lucky as I am to have found Collin because it’s true- I am incredibly lucky to have Collin in my life. Other than a few annoying habits, he is perfect in every way, shape, and form.
“Wanna go get breakfast?”
“It’s five in the morning,” I answer like he’s out of his mind.
“Yeah, so?”
“Is that really all that you think about? Food?”
He shifts his head back and forth, debating his answer.
“Among some other things.” He wiggles his eyebrows and squeezes my leg before standing up and rubbing his hands together. “So you down?”
Letting out a warm, soft chuckle, I stand in front of him. “Yeah, I’m down.”
“That’s my girl,” he jokes, hitting my butt as I make my way past him.
Collin
With a full stomach, Summer and I managed to doze off on the couch when we returned home from the diner. It wasn’t until my phone rang at 11:20 a.m.- my mom asking where the hell we are- that we woke up. Our itinerary started at exactly 11:00 a.m. Summer is supposed to meet the other girls at the hotel to start their day of pampering while the guys and I help with odds and ends at my parents before hitting up th
e barber shop. We both jump up and got ready so fast that I’m barely able to kiss Summer goodbye and tell her that I’ll see her at the alter before her jeep roars to life and she is off. I had imagined that our last kiss before being married would be much more romantic, with a comical joke from myself, but it was more like a peck on the lips and a quick wave goodbye.
Shrugging my shoulders at the lack of moment, I hop in my mustang and head over to my parent’s place. Matt and Travis are already there, being ordered around in every direction by my mom- move tables here, face the chairs this way, make sure the arch is perfectly centered…
God, save me now.
“Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence!” Matt hollers from across the yard as I step out of my car.
I raise my hand and nod my head with a smile. “Guys. How are we doing?” I ask once I get closer.
“Oh, you know…just busting our asses for your wedding while your pretty boy ass is fucking around at home,” he adds with a sarcastic grin.
“And that’s why I love ‘ya guys,” I smirk, clamping his shoulder with my hand.
“Fuck that shit!” Travis bitches. “If you were gettin’ laid it’d be one thing, but being a fucking lazy-ass is another.”
“Alright! Shit, I’m sorry. I was up early with Summer because she couldn’t sleep. We fell asleep on the couch…sue me!” I throw my hands up in the air.
“Fuck, dude. Calm down. I was just bustin’ your balls.”
With my hands now on my hips, I let out an exhausted breath.
“You okay, buddy?” Matt asks, turning sympathetic.
“Yeah. No, I’m fine,” I answer, but not confidently.
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
Rubbing my face with my hands, I say out loud the ache in my gut that I’ve had all morning. “I don’t know. It’s probably nothing, but Summer was just acting weird this morning, not herself. Really quiet.”
“She’s a chick. That’s what they do- act all fuckin’ weird and shit,” Travis says matter of factly.
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