All The Way (All Series Book 3) (20 page)

Finally

Brynn looked at everyone around the table. Luckily she was seated with people she knew, and who were her own age.

The restaurant was beautiful. The back room had been shut off for Phil and Sophia’s wedding and transformed so much, Brynn hardly realized she was sitting in a restaurant in Manhattan right now.

Sophia’s mother, Victoria, and Isabel had done a beautiful job with the decorations. Sophia loved flowers and plants and the entire room was filled with every color of flower imaginable, some Brynn wasn’t sure she had ever seen before.

She’d overheard Sophia’s father, Spencer, last night saying that no expense was being spared for his baby’s wedding. And by the looks of the room, his ex-wife, Victoria, went all out.

The upscale restaurant was stuffy when Brynn entered it, but walking into the back for the wedding it gave way to another world. It wasn’t just the flowers everywhere, which should have seemed overwhelming but didn’t. There was an arch brought in to the front of the room where everyone could see the ceremony while Phil and Sophia stood under it.

It was a one-stop affair. Phil and Sophia were being married in that room, and then the staff would come in and remove the arch and put the head table up.

Right now, tables were placed on each side of the room. Sophia’s mother and some of her family were seated on Phil’s side. Sophia’s father, some of his family and Sophia’s work colleagues were on the other. Currently everyone was relaxing and having a drink while the bride was getting ready.

Brynn had never been to a black tie wedding before. She’d had nothing even remotely suitable to wear for it either. Thankfully Kaitlin offered to take her shopping. She was ever so grateful, because the dress she ended up buying was nothing like she imagined she would have originally bought had she gone on her own. Shaking her head, she reminded herself it wasn’t a dress, it was a gown.

She thought back to that day with Kaitlin. “Thanks for shopping with me today,” she’d said.

“No problem,” Kaitlin replied. “It gets me out of the house for a few hours. My mom all but pushed me out the door, telling me to enjoy some girl time. She just wants the twins for herself. I’m not stupid.”

“She does love snatching them out of your hands when you walk in the door,” Brynn said, chuckling.

“I know, right? She doesn’t have to be so mean about it.”

Brynn knew Kaitlin was jesting. Isabel didn’t have a mean bone in her body.

“Besides,” Kaitlin said. “She wanted me to have some time with you to talk.”

“About what?” Brynn asked, hedging and starting to regret accepting Kaitlin’s invitation. She’d thought it was an odd request when Kaitlin offered, but she was just so pleased to have some girl time that she didn’t question it. Now she wished she had.

“Oh, nothing. My mom is just nosy is all. She wanted me to fish for information on you and Alec and your relationship.”

Brynn choked on that. She didn’t expect Kaitlin to come right out and admit that, but was glad she was upfront enough to do it. Except, now she didn’t know where to go with this. “Does your mother not approve of Alec and me dating?”

Kaitlin looked startled, stopped walking around the boutique they were in, and hurriedly assured her, “I’m sorry, don’t think that. My mother adores you, but she’s nosy. She’d like nothing more than for all of her kids to be married and popping babies out. You’d think she’d be happy with the twins and two weddings coming up.”

Trying not to stutter, Brynn said, “I’m glad she likes me. I love being around you and your family. It brings back memories of my childhood and my own mom, but I’m not sure Alec and I are at any stage to be talking about marriage, let alone children.”

“Please,” Kaitlin said, dragging the word out. “We aren’t blind, you know. I’ve never seen Alec this happy before.” Kaitlin stopped and tilted her head, then narrowed her eyes. “Oh no, don’t tell me you guys have some silly code on how you feel too.”

Huh, what was she talking about? “I don’t understand.”

“Ben and Presley used to say, ‘I won’t break your heart.’ Phil and Sophia used to say something along the lines of ‘I feel it and mean it but can’t say it.’ Which is pretty stupid if you ask me. My brothers have a problem with saying they love someone. Please don’t tell me Alec and you are doing the same thing.”

Brynn looked away and tried not to blush. She should have known that was a Harper trait. Alec had been the first one to throw out their statement of “admit it, you love me.”

“I knew it,” Kaitlin said, pointing her finger. “You do have one, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I guess you could call it that.”

“What is it? I’m just dying to know what silly thing Alec came up with. He’s always joking around.”

“It’s not silly, at least I don’t think so.” Brynn proceeded to tell her and watched Kaitlin’s jaw drop.

“Really? He couldn’t just say he loved you. He had to accuse you of it first to see if you agreed? What’s wrong with my brothers?” she said, shaking her head.

Nothing was wrong with Alec, but Brynn found amusement in it just the same and was glad she told Kaitlin. Maybe it was time to just say it to Alec. Maybe he just couldn’t bring himself to voice the words first.

“I should have known she would want to eat right when the ceremony was going to start,” Cori said, as she reached over and picked Summer up out of the playpen, drawing Brynn out of her memory of that day with Kaitlin.

There were several playpens set up along the wall for the children, but close enough for the parents to keep an eye on them. Jack reached over and pulled a bottle out and handed it to Cori so she could feed her daughter. “She takes after her mother. Can’t wait to put food in her mouth.”

Brynn chuckled over that true statement, then glanced around the table some more, looking at Evan and Michael in their high chairs next to each other, playing quietly with their mothers on each side of them.

Zoe was seated next to Brynn, gazing around the room in awe and pointing out everything she saw, saying it looked like a fairy tale to her. Lucas and Mac were currently laughing over how nervous Phil looked last night.

Brynn saw Michele turn quickly and look into the playpen behind her, checking on the twins, then turn back around. So far having the children at the wedding was working.

When the music started to play, the room became quiet. William Harper walked out first, followed by Ryan and then Phil. William took a seat off to the side by the arch, Ryan standing at the altar with Phil. Next came Ben, escorting Victoria down. Brynn wasn’t surprised to see how beautiful Sophia’s mother looked. She definitely didn’t look old enough to have a thirty-year-old daughter.

Then Alec escorted his mother down.

Brynn had all she could do to stop the gasp from her mouth. She’d never seen him dressed up like this before. He just made her heart stop, especially when he passed by her and reached his hand over and ran it across her shoulder in a caress.

Then the music changed and everyone turned their attention to the back of the room. First Sophia’s half-sister, Olivia Hartman, made her way down. Brynn thought back with a laugh at watching Olivia during the rehearsal with Ryan on her arm last night. To say Olivia was intimidated was putting it mildly.

Next Presley made her way down. The bridesmaid’s gowns were beautiful, each their own style and color. What should have looked out of place actually worked well with the theme and decor of the colorful array of flowers around the room. The Maid of Honor, Kaitlin, was next. There was no way anyone would have realized she gave birth to twins just months ago.

Last, Sophia waltzed down on her father’s arm. Spencer Mansfield looked distinguished and polished in a way that made Brynn think of a Southern gentleman. Listening to him talk to Phil and Alec last night about construction seemed like such a contradiction. Spencer even came over and picked her brain on real estate. He looked so unapproachable right now, but Brynn knew differently.

“Mommy, Sophia looks like a princess,” Zoe whispered, loud enough it actually wasn’t a whisper at all. Sophia heard and winked at Zoe, then mouthed, “Thank you” back at her.

The ceremony was short and to the point, but the love the in room wasn’t. Brynn looked around and thought back to her own humble middle-class background. A girl who was happier swinging a hammer and running in the yard playing sports than sitting in an expensive gown surrounded by people way out of her social class.

But the funny part was she felt like she belonged. She didn’t think of herself as different than them, and they didn’t look at her as anyone other than Alec’s girlfriend.

***

Alec looked over at Phil while they watched each of the bridesmaids make their way down the aisle. For someone who was so excited and in a rush to get married, Phil was having a hard time standing still, acting more nervous than Alec had ever seen his twin.

Then Sophia made an appearance and Phil stopped moving and just stared at his future bride. Suddenly, Alec felt his own heart burst, like he was in Phil’s body, the same joy radiating off of him. They often felt each other’s emotions, but never like this. Ever.

Alec didn’t know what to make of it. Sophia did look stunning; of course, he expected no different. He could see the tears forming in her eyes as she made her way closer, the same tears that seemed to be forming in Phil’s.

Then Alec turned his head and caught Brynn’s gaze on him, and he realized at that moment, that was what Phil was feeling. It wasn’t Phil’s emotions. It was his own, what he felt when he looked at Brynn and she returned the same look back at him.

Spencer stopped right in front of Phil with Sophia on his arm. He reached a hand out and shook Phil’s, then leaned down and kissed Sophia on the cheek.

The judge started to speak and within minutes he was announcing them man and wife. Nice and quick. The best moment of all came when Sophia reached up and grabbed Phil’s face and said, “You’re finally mine,” and laid her lips to his.

***

Hours later, Alec stood on the dance floor with his arms around Brynn. She looked stunning tonight. He’d seen her dressed up before, but never this elegant or this fancy.

She just took his breath away in the floor-length strapless gown. She was completely different than the girl that had paint flecks on her face last week, yet she was the same. One and the same, and the woman he had waited his whole life for. He needed to tell her, just not now with everyone around.

“There’s not too many people left,” Brynn said, lifting her head from Alec’s shoulder.

He looked around and took note that everyone with kids was gone, most likely sleeping right now. Ben and Presley were making the rounds and saying their goodbyes. All the parents were still sitting around and talking, but most everyone else had left within the last twenty minutes. There were just a few couples on the dance floor. The DJ would be finishing in about twenty minutes himself.

“We can leave now,” he suggested.

“It’s up to you,” she replied, snuggling in closer to his chest.

He was done. He needed to get back to the room himself. He was surprised he had stayed as long as he had. The time just seemed to fly by with Brynn by his side, if not in his arms. He’d been content to be with her most of the night.

Ten minutes later, Alec was sliding his keycard through the door and holding it open for her. Shutting the door behind Brynn, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight, inhaling her scent and feeling her softness all around him.

He couldn’t get enough and didn’t ever want to let go. The way she held onto him, he knew she had to feel the same way.

His hands moved to the back of the gown and slid the zipper down slowly, then she stepped back and he watched the gown fall away and pool at her feet.

She was left standing in her heels and very pretty, very tiny, lace panties. Raising her hands, she brought them to his tie. “I can’t tell you what seeing you dressed up like this has done for me today.”

“I could say the same thing.” He stopped her progress when she went to unbutton his shirt next, gripping her hands and holding them in his. He leaned in and laid his lips over hers. Softly. Gently. Just a touch, then a taste. “It’s not the dress, it’s you. Always you, only you.”

He felt the shivers go through her, held her as she swayed, and then lifted her in his arms and laid her on the bed. Standing back, he looked at her, and saw. Saw the woman that was his, the woman he loved, and he wanted to tell her. Needed to tell her. Only he couldn’t figure out how to get the words out of his mouth.

Quickly undressing, he laid one knee on the bed, then another, reaching forward and sliding off the sexy stilettos she was still wearing. Dropping them to the floor, he crawled up and grabbed her panties and made quick work of removing them.

Laying his mouth on hers, covering her body with his, he felt every part of her against him. Every movement she made was another slice of heaven to him.

Pushing back on his hands, he looked into her eyes, held her stare and whispered, “You love me.”

She smirked ever so softly, her eyes glossing over and staring back at him. “Maybe.”