Georgiana came back in. “They just arrived. Seems that the plane sat on the tarmac a long time and they got stuck in Cincinnati. But all is good now.”
A knock sounded on the door. It was Kendis. “They’re ready for you.”
Oh, God. This was it. She smoothed down her dress. “Do I look fat in this?”
Both girls rolled their eyes and didn’t answer. That was probably for the best. Her nerves were already taut.
She’d invited her fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Jacobson, in part because this woman represented a good time in her life. The only sad part of the day was that her mom never got to see her get married.
Gordon MacLeash, the patriarch of Panther Cove, and Sasha’s grandfather, had insisted they have the wedding in his house. It was the largest home in the complex and could accommodate the hundred guests. She was honored that he wanted to share his mansion. The men had introduced her to Mr. MacLeash yesterday, and she was immediately taken with his twinkling eyes and sharp mind.
Another knock sounded, and Georgiana opened the door. It was Hunter. He’d agreed to escort her down the aisle.
When she walked down the hallway, the organ music began. It was cool that Hunter could just send a telepathic message to the panther musicians for them to know they were on their way. The music started up. While the man marrying them was a shifter and not a priest, he was a notary who willingly offered his services.
Chairs had been arranged in the large home’s entrance. About seven rows, five wide, bordered the aisle. She wanted to see if all of her friends had come, but the vision of her two handsome men grinning at the end of the aisle blanked her mind. There were no two more handsome men in the world.
Georgiana, Kendis, Jen, and Sasha were her bridesmaids. All were dressed in black cocktail dresses that Tanya had picked out. Had she wanted to buck tradition, she would have chosen slimming black, too. They were holding pink flowers as a tribute to love and femininity, and all looked very beautiful.
Do not cry.
Joy made her eyes water, but she didn’t want the men to think she had any regrets. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of her two men. Hunter leaned over. “You did good.”
That made her smile. He eased back to his seat.
The ceremony was the usual one. The men had asked if she wanted to write special vows, but every time she tried, the words just weren’t right. It didn’t matter what was said, these were her two men and nothing else mattered.
She was so lost in her daydream that it wasn’t until Hercules picked up her hand and placed the ring on her finger that she returned to the affair.
Both men stepped to either side of her while the official pronounced them men and wife. Cheers erupted, and she prayed no one would get too excited and shift. That would be terrible. Because this was a big event, Jen had asked if her boss, Mr. Diggers, could come, as he’d wanted to see Panther Cove for years.
Casius stepped in front of her first and planted a wild kiss on her. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Only when Hercules pried them apart did they break the kiss.
“Hey. Remember me? I’m your husband, too.”
She laughed and gave him an even better, toe-tingling kiss. Once he leaned back, he turned her around. “I want you to meet our parents.”
Two smiling people, who she swore didn’t look older than fifty, drew her into a joint hug.
“It’s so nice to meet you, dear.” His mom kissed her on the cheek.
To her surprise, their dad was only six feet tall. She’d expected another giant. “Come here and let me give you a hug.”
She thought for a moment he might squish her, but he eventually let go.
“You are a real beauty,” the father said. “I have waited a long time for my children to find their mate. I see they’ve done well.”
“Thank you.” She was so happy they approved.
“So where are you three going on your honeymoon?”
She’d wanted to know that, too, since they wouldn’t tell her. They’d had her sign a piece of paper but covered up every part but the place for her signature. “Yeah, where are we going?”
They grinned. Hercules looked over at Casius. “Think we should tell her?”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to at some point. She’s going to have to pack soon as we’re leaving in five days.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Where?”
Casius tilted back his head. “Remember you said you’d never been anywhere?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going take you on a two-week tour of Europe.”
Her heart stopped. She had to inhale to get it started again. “You’re kidding.” She jumped up and down.
“Nope. We’re going to show you everything.”
This was a dream come true. “But what about my store?”
“Since you’ve been so reluctant to hire someone, we got someone to help out.”
“Who?”
“You don’t know her, but she’s a business major from the university. We figured there will be times in the future when you won’t be up for working.” He winked.
They hadn’t told their parents about their upcoming grandchild. “I think it’s a stellar idea.”
“Really? We thought you might be mad.”
“I guess you don’t know me very well.”
Casius wrapped an arm around her waist. “Then come with me so I can learn more.”
Dance music piped up. When she looked, the chairs had been moved to the side. That was fast.
Mr. Drake moved her out of his son’s grasp. “This first dance is a father-daughter dance, and I’d be honored if you’d dance with me.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Tears brimmed on her lashes at the thought. “I would so love to dance with you.”
As he escorted her on to the dance floor, the brimming tear fell. She wiped it away. “It’s a tear of joy.”
“As well it should be.”
As he led her around the floor, peace seeped into her soul. Never had she imagined she’d find two perfect men. They loved her for who she was and for what their life could be in the future. Images of kids racing around the house and in the forest brought more joy. She sniffled and glanced over Mr. Drake’s shoulder at her two beaming husbands.
Life is good.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Unlike most other authors, I started writing late in life. Writing stories in high school and college was not for me. Only after I graduated did I fall in love with romance novels. For the next twenty years, I read voraciously. It got to a point where my book-buying habits cost as much as my groceries. At that point, my husband suggested I write a book. Hey, it looked easy, right? All the stories started in the same spot (hero and heroine at odds) and ended the same way (happily ever after). Only it was anything but easy. Eleven years and fifteen completed romantic suspenses later, I finally published. I never would have gotten that far had it not been for two local chapters whose generous members shared their amazing wealth of knowledge.
For all titles by Melody Snow Monroe, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/melody-snow-monroe
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Their Virgin Mate [Panther Cove 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 16