Page 103 of Small Town Swoo
My breath came faster at the sight of him, and I whipped off my T-shirt. “I changed my mind.”
The following morning, I snuck back into Mabel’s room just as the sun came up. Opening the door as quietly as I could, I left the two keys on the dresser and tiptoed back to my bed.
“You can stop sneaking,” Mabel said with a laugh. “I’m not your mother.”
“Sorry. Did I wake you?” I slipped back into my bed.
“I heard the door just now. But I woke up a little bit ago and saw your empty bed. Out for a morning jog?”
“Exactly.” I pulled the covers up. “A little vigorous exercise to start the day. But it was more like horseback riding than running.”
“Ew!” She sat up and threw a pillow at me. “I told you I didn’t want any details. That is not a visual I need in my head.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Laughing, I flipped onto my side and snuggled in. “Do we have to get up yet?”
“No. I need at least three more hours of sleep. And then coffee.”
“Perfect.” I closed my eyes and inhaled, the smell of Dash still on my skin. “Wake me when you’re up.”
At seven o’clock that evening, Mabel and I sat side by side on two chairs in the refurbished lobby of Snowberry Lodge. The ceremony would take place right in front of the beautiful stone fireplace that dominated the high-ceilinged room. Devlin stood in front of it now, Dashiel right behind him—sexy as hell in his charcoal suit. Tonight he wore it with a white dress shirt that showed off his golden California tan and an indigo blue tie a few shades deeper than his eyes.
We’d chatted for a couple minutes before everyone took their seats, standing apart from the group, over by one of the large windows that looked out on the mountainside. “You look beautiful,” he said quietly, maintaining a respectable distance between us. “I love that color on you.”
“Thanks.” I looked down at the crimson halter dress with long flowing skirt I had on. “I like this color too.”
“It’s killing me that I can’t touch you.” His gaze traveled over my bare shoulders to the nipped waist to the V neckline.
I smiled. “Good.”
“You’ll come to my room again tonight, right?”
“Maybe,” I teased.
Just then, Devlin approached and clapped a hand on Dash’s shoulder. “Ready, brother?”
“Ready.” He gave my hand a squeeze before letting it go and following Devlin to the front of the room, while I went to find Mabel and ask her where I should sit.
She leaned over to me now and whispered in my ear. “Apparently that’s the Elvis impersonator who married them last fall in Vegas.”
The guy took his place at the foot of the aisle, sporting the iconic white jumpsuit and some serious sideburns. Mabel and I were in the front row, with a seat open on her right for her dad. To my left was Xander, Kelly, and Julia; in the row behind us was Austin’s family.
It was an intimate wedding—less than thirty people, mostly family—but you could feel the love in the room. And as the string quartet played “It’s Now or Never,” which Lexi had mentioned was their Vegas wedding song, you could see the love in Devlin’s eyes as he faced the staircase and watched his wife descend.
I turned to watch as well, immediately choking up.Since Lexi’s parents had died when she was young, George Buckley was giving the bride away, and he looked just as proud to do the honor as if Lexi had been his own daughter.
Next to me, Mabel sniffed and took my hand. I squeezed it as my throat constricted even more, glad I’d remembered to put tissues in my purse. They passed us by, and I admired Lexi’s beautiful satin dress, the veil that had been her grandmother’s, and the gorgeous bouquet of white roses she carried. But it was her inner radiance that stole my breath and made my heart ache, the kind of light that only came from true happiness. I wasn’t a jealous person, but I found myself envying what Lexi and Devlin had found together. I wondered if I’d ever be so lucky.
When they reached Elvis, George kissed Lexi’s cheek, gave Devlin a hug, and took his place next to Mabel. She sniffed again. “I’m already a mess,” she whispered. “Who knew watching one of my brothers get married would be so hard?”
Leaning over, I plucked the package of tissues from my purse, handing it to her. “Here. But save me one.”
“Welcome,” said Elvis. “We are gathered here today to join two hearts in everlasting love—again.”
Everyone in the room laughed.
“I’ll marry this woman as many times as she’ll let me,” said Devlin.
Mabel grabbed my hand and squeezed it again. Dash caught my eye and smiled.
