Only You (28 page)

They may have been surrounded by a sea of strangers, but all she heard was the soft sounds of the violins and the cello. All she saw was Kevin—the one person who made her feel alive and loved. The man who believed in her enough to convince her to believe, too.

And in that moment, of all the decisions she had ever made, she knew this was by far the best.

When Holly appeared in the open doorway, Kevin was overwhelmed with gratitude. He was sure he'd never seen a more beautiful woman in his life—both inside and out—and she was walking toward
him
. She wanted to marry
him
.

Her gaze locked on his as she glided toward him, her silk-and-lace wedding dress floating around her and trailing behind like a billowing white cloud. She gave him a shy smile and he beamed, eager for her to reach him.

When Holly stopped in front of him, he reached out to her. She took his hand and he gripped it gently as she moved to his side.

Holly kept her gaze on him the entire service, as though she were ignoring that anyone else existed except for the two of them.

When the minister got to the vows, he cleared his throat. “The original bride and groom wrote their own vows. Would you like me to use the traditional vows?”

Holly's eyes widened, but then she leaned closer to him and whispered, “I don't. Do
you
?”

He shook his head. “There's nothing traditional about us, so why start now?”

She laughed and nodded, her face flushing a pretty pale pink. “Then I'll go first.”

He nodded, unable to wipe the smile from his face as he took her hands in his.

“Kevin, I never wanted to open my heart to love until I met you. I was never even tempted. But you make me feel light-hearted and adored. You fill me with more joy than I ever thought possible. We may have only known each other for a month, but we could wait a thousand months and I would have no doubt that there is only you.”

He'd never wanted to kiss her more than he did right now, but instead he squeezed her hands and smiled. “Holly, I wasn't looking for love. In fact, I was determined to avoid it. But then you showed up on my doorstep with your reheated lasagna and your sweet, shy spirit and I was hooked. I knew my life would never be the same. I know you're worried that I feel pressured into this, but I have no doubts—not a single one—and I am so honored that you agreed to be my wife. You've just given me the greatest gift I could ever hope to get in my life.”

She blinked back tears as the minister said it was time to exchange rings, and then suddenly her eyes filled with worry.

He gave her a reassuring smile and whispered, “I've got it covered” as he pulled two rings from his pocket. “Grams and Gramps'. Dad got them before he came.”

After the wedding, they took photos for the magazine with the bridal party and then alone, setting up exaggerated shots for the magazine layout. The writer from the magazine asked Kevin and Holly endless questions about their relationship and what spurred them to agree to an impromptu marriage. Then a local newspaper heard about the wedding on social media and showed up to take photos and interview them as well.

As soon as they had fulfilled their obligations, Holly found Miranda Johansen to let her know they were leaving. She grabbed both of their hands and smiled. “Thank you both for what you did. I realize it was unfair of me to put you on the spot like that.”

Kevin put an arm around Holly's back, his hand resting on her hip as he pulled her close. “You helped make me the happiest man alive, so thank
you
.”

She smiled at Holly. “I guess we have Holly to thank for that, don't we?”

Holly looked up at him with eyes so full of love he wanted nothing more than to take her home and make their wedding official in the biblical sense. Kevin turned to Miranda. “If you'll excuse us, I'm ready to take my wife home.”

“Of course,” the woman said. “And congratulations to you both.”

Kevin took Holly's hand and stared into her eyes. “I meant what I said. You have made me the happiest man alive, Holly Vandemeer.”

“You've made me happy, too.” She looked into his eyes. “I know you said we were going home, but where is home? Your house? Mine? Where's home for us, Kevin?”

He smiled and lifted his hand to her face and gave her a kiss. “That's simple, Holly. Home is wherever you are.”

T
yler Norris… this is the
last
place I ever expected to see you.”

Tyler leaned back in his patio chair and sipped his beer, hiding his annoyance with a smirk. This was the fourth woman to approach him tonight, and while he was used to women hitting on him, this seemed to be a bit much given he was a single man at a
couples
wedding shower.

Still, he was in the middle of a self-imposed dry spell from women, and over the last few weeks, he'd been dying of thirst. For a man who was used to having sex on a regular basis, going five months without it had been torture. However, after the disaster with his last girlfriend, he couldn't bring himself to take the plunge again. Even for a simple one-night stand. But he was safe from temptation with the blonde eyeing him like he was the last the last margarita on Ladies Night at LaFeunte Bar and Grill.

“How'd you get roped into it?” she asked, her right hand on her hip.

Theresa Fink. He hadn't seen her since high school, but the look in her eyes told him she was
very
happy to see him. She lifted the wine glass in her left hand, spotlighting her bare left ring finger, even going so far as to slightly wiggle it to catch his attention.

She continued studying him with lust-filled eyes, apparently expecting an answer. He finally shrugged his nonchalance. “Turns out being groomsman means the bride can strong arm you into anything she wants.” That wasn't entirely true—he had a soft spot when it came to the Brittany—but no need to tell Theresa that.

Her eyes lit up. “Maybe she can spill some of her secrets. Your legend precedes you, Tyler Norris.”

Chuckling, he took a drag of his beer. “And which legend is that? I hear there are many.” He winked. “And the ones about my size and endurance are
all
true.”

Theresa flushed, pressing her hand against her chest and fluttering her eyelashes.

Jesus. Why did he tell her that? Old habits were still hard to break, but now she looked like a barracuda ready of gnaw off his leg. Or more specifically another body part in very close proximity.

“Tyler,” a deep voice said behind him. “Holly needs your help with the ice.”

Tyler tried not to look so relieved when he jumped to his feet and turned to face Kevin Vandemeer, one of his two best friends. “Yeah. Be more than happy to.”

Disappointment washed over Theresa's face, but he ignored her as she called after him. “Want to get drinks later?”

Tyler walked through the suburbian backyard, feeling like he was about to break out into hives just being here, let alone sitting outside in the Missouri hot and humid August evening for the last hour. He tugged at his collar, regretting his decision to leave on his tie.

“Thanks for the save,” he said as he followed Kevin to the back deck, then stopped to grab another beer from a bucket of ice water.

“The save comes at a price,” Kevin said with a chuckle. “You're refilling the drink tubs with ice.”

“Me?” Tyler asked, standing upright and turning to face his friend. “Shouldn't that be your job since
your wife
is in charge of the party?”

Kevin's wife. Damn, that was hard to spit out. Not that he had anything against Holly, he actually liked her, and if Tyler was honest, she was a good fit for the ex-marine. But of his two best friends, Kevin had been more like Tyler when it came to women. Lots of girlfriends that never lasted. So when Kevin moved back home two months ago after his last tour in Afghanistan, the three friends had commiserated on their extremely unlucky love life and decided to give up on marriage, imposing a ban on women and forming the Bachelor Brotherhood.

Kevin Vandemeer had lasted one fucking day.

“My
wife
,” Kevin said in a warning tone, “was the one to suggest I save your ass, you dickweed. So get your ass out to the garage and grab a couple of bags of ice out of the freezer or I'll tell Theresa Fink that you want to leave the shower and go out for a candlelight dinner. Just the two of you.”

“You suck, Vandemeer,” Tyler grumbled.

Kevin's answer was a shit-eating grin.

Tyler would have loved to kick his friend's ass right then and there, but Brittany would have killed him. And while he considered doing it anyway, instead he went into the dark, cooler garage, deciding this wasn't such a heinous task after all. It had to be ten degrees cooler in the two-car garage and he was alone. Maybe he could hide in here for ten minutes or so, then tell Britt a work emergency had come up and he needed to go.

Only her fiancé worked at his law firm and pretty much knew every case Tyler was working on. Randy would bust his ass in a New York minute.

Shit. He was stuck.

Tyler had been at Randy's house enough times to know the garage refrigerator was stocked with beer, some of which were Randy's precious import beers. Tyler opened the door and grinned. Jack pot. He replaced bottle in his hand with a Stella and screwed off the top, then took a long drag, letting the cold beer coat his dry mouth.

“I see you found Randy's import stash,” a woman said in the darkness.

Caught off guard, he choked, spitting beer down his shirt. He spun around and found her sitting on Randy's workbench with her own bottle of Stella. She leaned to her left side, bracing her body with her outstretched arm. Unlike every other guest at the shower with the exception of him, she was still dressed in business attire—a light gray, nearly sleeveless dress with tiny pleats from her hips that ended just above her knees. Her legs were crossed and she bounced her black three-inch pump as she watched him, lowering the bottle from her mouth. Long dark hair hung down her back, several strands lay over her shoulder and covering her breast. He forced his gaze to rise to her face.

“Didn't mean to startle you,” she said, her dark eyes dancing with amusement.

She was gorgeous, and damned if he wasn't intrigued. “I didn't see you over there.”

She grinned. “Obviously.”

He moved toward her, unable to stop himself. “Looks like we both have the same idea.”

She laughed. “If your idea is hiding from Brittany and drinking Randy's import beer, then we do.”

He gestured to the empty spot on the workbench next to her and she lifted her shoulder into a half-shrug invitation. Tyler hopped up on the bench and perched next to her, leaving a few inches between them. “So what's a nice girl like you doing in a musty garage like this?”

She laughed again, uncrossing her long legs and turning toward him, her eyes full of mischief. “I bet you use that line on all the girls.”

“Only the ones I find in musty garages.” Up close like this, he could see that her dark eyes were a milk chocolate brown and framed by long, sexy eyelashes. She lifted her beer and took a sip, and he suddenly found himself jealous of the bottle in her hand.

“I know why you're hiding,” she said as she set the beer next to her on the table.

He smirked. “Okay, tell me why I'm hiding.”

“Brittany. She's playing matchmaker again.” His eyes widened and she gave him a knowing smile. “It wasn't that hard to figure out. For the last hour, she's been sending women to you like they're going through the turnstile at a ride in Disneyland and you keep sending them away.” She flicked her fingers to demonstrate.

He lifted his eyebrows as he studied her face, then teased, “You've been spying on me?”

She cocked her head to the side, rolling her eyes. “Amateur. You obviously haven't known Brittany for long.”

“About a year.” And while that was true, it had been about six months ago when he'd really gotten to know her. When he'd gone through his ordeal with his last girlfriend, she and Randy had shown him more support than he'd expected.

She laughed again. “I have about thirty years on you.”

Thirty years? Tyler had graduated with Brittany, which meant Britt had to have met her when they were babies.

She gestured to his beer. “Since you have exceptional taste in beer
and
hiding spots, I'll be generous and give you a few pointers.”

“Should I be taking notes?” he teased. While she was flirty, she wasn't coming on to him, and it only intrigued him more.

She shrugged. “It wouldn't hurt, but I suspect we'll be seeing each other again in month so I can give you a refresher course at the wedding.”

Finally. Something to actually look forward to at the wedding.

“First,” she said in a conspirational tone. “Britt comes across as this sweet and unassuming woman, but don't let that fool you.”

“No?”

“
No,
” she said, pointing her finger at him. “She uses it as her ultimate weapon to get you to do what she wants.” She stabbed her chest to make her point. “Look at poor Randy.”

Tyler was loyal to the people who stood by him, and he was about to defend Britt until he saw she was teasing. There was no doubt that Randy had been ensnared by Brittany, but it as just as obvious the adoration went both ways.

“You have to be firm.” She brought her hand down sideways onto her open palm, like a karate chop. “If you show the slightest ounce of waffling, she'll pounce on it.”

“So,” he said slowly. “You're saying I haven't been firm enough? That I can't hold my own?” He gave her an arrogant grin. “Because I have a nickname that disputes that.”

“Oh really?” she asked, her face lighting up in mock surprise. “Are we talking about cute nicknames that your
guy
friends have given you? Like The Terminator? Or Maverick?”

He shook his head and laughed, trying to think of the last time he'd enjoyed a woman's company so much. “Have you been binge-watching eighties' movies on Netflix?”

“Busted.” She laughed, leaning her head to the side and exposing her long neck.

A wave of lust washed through him and he struggled to control it. It was obvious she wasn't an easy conquest. Oddly enough, he considered playing the long game with her.

What the fuck was wrong with him? He wasn't supposed to be playing the game at all.

She shook her head, her grin tugging at the corners of her full lips. “So what's this awesome nickname of yours? I take it my suggestions came from the wrong decade.”

He gave her a long look, now reluctant to share. “The Closer.”

Her eyes widened in amusement. “Because you're so good with
the ladies
?” She waggled her eyebrows.

He laughed, feeling like an idiot. “And because I can close a case before it goes to trial.”

“Uh huh. Sure.” She hopped off the bench and wobbled a little on her heels, cluing him in that she'd had more than the one beer tonight. “Well,
Mr. Closer
, Brittany Stewart is much more subtle than that.” She pushed his legs open and stood between them, grabbing a handful of his tie and pulling his face inches from hers. “She sees you as a challenge. She thinks everyone in the whole wide world needs to be in love and she won't rest until it happens. And
you
are the perfect challenge.” She dropped her tie and spread her hands out. “Big bad womanizer who can't bring himself to let his guard down and let a woman in, much less love her. Why Britt just can't resist.” She laughed and grabbed is tie again, slowly leaning closer. “The more obstinate you are to her efforts, the more determined she becomes.”

Her breath fanned his face, and it took everything within him to keep his hands to himself, because instinct told him that if he made a move, she'd give him a brush off so epic an 8.0 earthquake would pale in comparison.

And he definitely did
not
want her to give him a brush off.

“And how do you know all this?” he asked, proud that he sounded so in control.

Her lips hovered inches over his, and she whispered, “I've been her number one project of years. Looks like I've just been usurped.” She dropped her hold on his tie, then smoothed it down his chest, her fingertips trailing to his abdomen in small sweeps.

A fresh jolt of lust rushed through his blood and he gripped the sides of the table, hoping she didn't see how much she affected him when her eyes lifted to his.

“So why didn't she try to fix me up with you?” he asked, his voice husky despite his intentions.

Her smile became sardonic. “Because she's figured out that I'm a lost cause.” Then she turned and walked back into the kitchen, her tight dress hugging her rounded ass so perfectly another wave of desire scorched him.

Tyler waited a good minute before he could go back into the kitchen without looking like he was auditioning for the role of a circus tent center pole. As he took the last drag of his beer and tossed the bottle into the recycling bin, he realized that never in his thirty-three years had he been so turned on by a woman.

And he didn't even know her name.