Holiday Wedding (25 page)

James stood on his toes. “Better?”

“Much. Now go take your seats, you two.”

Olivia winked. “I promise I won't say ‘I object.'”

“Good to know.” Lauren watched as Olivia and James headed down the aisle and took their seats next to Miles. Obviously stranger things had happened in the history of strange occurrences, but she and Olivia actually being civil—and even joking with each other? Lauren hadn't seen that one coming. It was nice.

Kate tapped her on the shoulder. “It's time.”

“Oh, yes.” Lauren centered her bouquet in front of her. Figured the wedding planner would be the one to signal it was time to get started. She winked at both Kate and Jack. “I'll see you two up there.”

With that, Lauren began her walk down the aisle to the church music. She had told herself she wouldn't look at Drew until he escorted her back up the aisle. She wasn't going to lose it. Not today. She smiled in the direction of both brothers, avoiding eye contact.

As she took her place, the wedding march began and all eyes focused on the beaming bride. Lauren stole a glance over at Drew, who along with Luke, couldn't take his eyes off of Kate.

Her chest tightened, and her eyes began to water. What was it going to be like to say goodbye to him tomorrow? Had he heard that she planned on taking some time off and was heading to Los Angeles?
Lauren, keep it together.
This was not the time or place to expose her broken heart.

Halfway to the altar, Kate paused and motioned for the music to stop.

“Is something wrong?” Lauren whispered to really no one, but looked right at Miles. He shrugged.

“I'm so sorry, everyone.” Kate let go of Jack's arm and spun around. “As most of you know, I'm a wedding planner and have executed hundreds of these. I just need to make some slight adjustments before we continue. It will only take a second,” she apologized to the guests around her and walked up the aisle.

“Kate, what are you doing?” Lauren asked.

“There's just something not quite right in this lineup.” She reached down and grabbed Lauren's hand. “Can you stand here for a minute? I need to see something.” She pushed Lauren to the side next to Luke and then turned to Miles. “Much better, right?”

Miles gave her a nod. “That's why you're the boss.”

“What's going on?” she asked through her forced smile. Had Kate lost her mind? Maybe she'd traded her white grape juice for champagne? Everyone knew champagne made her do crazy things—including make out with her soon-to-be husband the first time she saw him on the plane ride to Hawaii. Lauren looked over at Luke, who now had this hideous grin on his face, too.
Really, Luke. Get with the program.

All of a sudden, Luke grabbed Lauren's hand, and her mouth dropped, realizing immediately whose fingers were touching her. There was only one Cannon brother whose touch could send electricity straight through her, and that was exactly what was happening. “Drew?”

He threaded his fingers through hers, then turned her toward him with his free hand.

“Yep, this is much better.” Kate winked, and took her place where Lauren had stood. “Okay, we can continue.”

Drew took her hands in his. “You look beautiful.”

She gazed into his warm eyes. “It was my wedding dress.”

“I know.”

“What's happening?” she whispered.

He smiled down at her. “Lauren, I love you with all my heart, and I want to marry you in front of our family, friends, and Anna, and Tyler.” He motioned to the side of the room, where Sara sat. Lauren hadn't even realized the little girl was in the front row, but there she sat next to Natasha and—her eyes widened, not believing it—
Santa
. On Sara's lap were the two Happily Ever After dolls. “Our love inspired me to create the concept behind these dolls.”

“Really?” She had more to say, but that question was the only thing her quivering voice could manage.

“Really, and I want everything you do.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out the glittery snowflake. “I noticed this was back on the tree. I thought maybe we could both make a wish.” He teared up, which caused her to do the same. “I wish for our life together,” he said, handing her the snowflake.

Lauren glanced at her beaming parents and then back at him. “Are you sure this time?”

“I've never wanted anything more. I want it all … you, a house full of kids—”

“Don't forget me,” Miles called out and Olivia backhanded him. “What? She needs her best friend.”

Drew laughed. “And Miles, too.” He turned to Miles. “But if we move back to California, you stay in New York, got it?”

“I can live with that.” Miles grinned.

Lauren smiled at their banter, and then looked over at Sara, cradling Anna and Tyler in her lap. The fact that Drew had created the dolls and fought so passionately for them was now making sense. He'd been fighting for their happy ending all along.

Her fingers glided over the sparkly snowflake. It would be so easy to make the same wish, but over the last couple of days she realized she was done wishing, and Drew needed to know it. It was time he saw her for the woman she'd become: one who was ready to take charge of her destiny. Handing him back the snowflake, she took a step forward, and then another, heading up the aisle.

“Lauren.” Miles grabbed her hand. “He's your soul mate. Don't walk away.”

She removed her hand and took a few more steps to her parents. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”

“Hello, dear.” Her dad stood up while her mom smiled up at her.

“Dad.” She put her finger to her lip. “Would you mind walking me down the aisle?”

He gave her a huge hug. “I'd love to, honey.”

She turned and winked at Drew. “Let's do this!”

“Yes!” He fist pumped the air while all of their guests clapped.

Lauren took her dad's extended arm. Pulling off her red sash with her free hand, she tossed it to Miles, and took quick determined steps to her happily ever after.

• • •

Drew twirled his wife on the dance floor. DJ Dancer had lived up to his name and had been spinning tunes for the last three hours.

“I love you, Mr. Cannon,” Lauren murmured as they danced to the country hit they'd picked out. They finally had a song, and it was perfect.

“I love you more, Candy Cannon,” he teased. Cupping her face, he kissed her tenderly.

“You know, I think this is the perfect reception space for Candy Cane Sparkly Toes.”

He laughed, glancing around Santa's Workshop and its transformation into a beautiful reception space complete with green garland, red bows, and a gorgeous Christmas tree covered from top to bottom with sparkly snowflakes and red and white pinwheels. He finally realized why his father and Vanessa had been so interested in the space. They both were planning the reception with Natasha behind his back.

He'd wanted to thank Natasha and the mysterious Santa man for their roles in giving them the perfect wedding reception, but they'd both disappeared shortly after all the guests had arrived, saying that it was an exceptionally busy night for them.

“So, how long did you know?” she asked while tightening her arms around his neck.

“Know?”

“That this holiday wedding was ours?”

He nodded to Luke and Kate, seated at the bridal party table. “Luke spilled the beans. Since you wouldn't let me propose to you, I figured this was my best shot at getting you to marry me.”

“It was very romantic.” She giggled. “And I can't believe you worked Miles into your wedding vows.”

“Yeah, can I take that part back?”

She rested her head back on his chest as they swayed to the music. “How crazy was it that we were planning our wedding all along?”

“I should have realized it. There were so many clues—a playlist that included that wonderful song that summed us up, letting us pick our cake, getting that incredibly sexy wedding dress back.” He leaned down. “That I can't wait to get you out of later tonight. Still have the lingerie we picked out for the wedding night?”

She gave him a playful swat as they danced over to the table to confront the two partners in crime who'd given up their own wedding. “You two are in big trouble,” Lauren teased.

“What did we do?” Luke asked, wrapping an arm around Kate.

“Did Miles know?”

Luke smiled like the cat that swallowed the canary. “From day one.”

Just then Miles joined them along with Jack and Vanessa.

“I can't believe you all purposefully kept us in the dark.” Lauren paused, her eyes filling up. “Thank you.”

Miles hugged her before issuing Drew a warning that he'd better not do anything to blow it this time.

“Noted,” Drew said before wrapping his arms around his wife.
His wife.
God, that sounded amazing.

Lauren looked over at Kate. “But what about your wedding? Are you two ever going to get married?”

Kate grinned at Luke, rubbing her stomach. “We're kind of doing things out of order.”

“Oh, my God!” Miles blurted out and Lauren's eyes widened.

“You're having a baby?” she asked.

“Yes,” Luke answered and rested his hand on Kate's belly. “We're thinking of doing what you did, Dad, and heading to Vegas after the holidays.”

“A Valentine's wedding!” Vanessa chirped, obviously excited about the prospect. The wedding party spent the next several minutes congratulating Kate and Luke, making plans to return to the cabin and celebrate.

As the guests started to leave, Drew took his bride into his arms and led her over to the Christmas tree, touching a pinwheel. In his heart, he knew his mother was with him today, sending her love from above.

He wrapped his arms around Lauren. Holding her close, he never wanted to let her go.

“Drew, look. It's snowing.”

That it was. Beautiful white snowflakes coated the trees of this wonderfully magical place that had given him a second chance with the woman he loved. As they watched the snow fall, Drew nuzzled into her neck, breathing in the festive scents, sights, and sounds all around them. “Man, I love Christmas.”

Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore new places; watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit; can't live without Dunkin' Donuts coffee; and has never met a chocolate chip cookie she didn't like. She writes romantic comedy—sometimes with a hint of magic—always with a heartwarming ending.

Subscribe to her e-newsletter at
www.robynneeley.com

 

“I do. I do.” Wedding planner Kate Ashby quietly repeated her calming mantra. Paralyzed in her window seat, she stared at the illuminated fasten seatbelt sign while her hands gripped the metal buckle strap.

Please turn off. Please turn off.
They had to be close to cruising altitude. Soon, she'd be able to request a strong drink to knock her out for the duration of this bumpy flight.

She sat still, trying to ignore the terror pulsating through her. Why hadn't she bought sleeping pills before boarding a twelve-hour flight from New York City to Hawaii? Now, that would have been the smart thing to do.

Glancing out the tiny passenger window, she clutched her gold “K” necklace. It was completely irrational to be terrified and she realized the odds of her and her fellow passengers landing safely in Honolulu were more than in her favor. Still, this was her first time flying such a long duration. Departing Manhattan this evening in turbulent thunderstorms had shot her nerves. She was grateful that her boss had sprung for a first class ticket for the long flight.

A loud rattle caused her to grab hold to her armrests. “What was that?” She turned to the stranger sitting next to her. He had short blondish brown hair and was wearing a blue blazer. His face had a nice tan. She had failed to realize that her row mate was incredibly handsome. Usually the person sitting next to her was a grandparent or couldn't speak English. Perhaps he could help her ease her nerves?

“Um … I think it's the drink cart. Would you like something?” He folded his
Wall Street Journal.

Sexy and smart.

“I'll take a tequila and tonic,” he said to the flight attendant.

And likes his drinks strong. This could be fun.

She ran her hand along the fabric of her hem, praising herself silently for choosing to wear her white sheath dress and matching jacket. It oozed confidence with each expensive thread. At this point in her career, she had no business wearing such a costly outfit. Although she'd be making partner soon and needed to start dressing the part, at least that's how she rationalized the purchase. It certainly was the perfect outfit for a chance encounter with a handsome businessman.

“Miss, what would you like?” the flight attendant asked.

“Tomato juice, please.” She glanced out the window. “How long until we land?”

The flight attendant cracked a smile. “Just eleven and a half short hours.”

Kate sighed. “Then can you throw some vodka in?”

The flight attendant handed her a small can of tomato juice and a plastic cup filled with ice cubes. Two tiny vodka bottles were lodged inside. “Here you go. I slipped in an extra one for later. Press that button up there if you need more.”

“Thank you.” Kate unscrewed one of the bottles and poured it into her cup, swirling it around with her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the stranger tuck his newspaper into the seat pocket in front of him. Her eyes darted to his ring finger. No wedding band.

He turned to her, and she noticed his sexy full lips and blue eyes. One word to describe him. Hot. Way cuter than any guy she'd ever dated.

“Don't fly much?” he asked and smiled. She caught the small dimple in his right cheek.