White Lace and Promises (7 page)

Trembling in his embrace, Maggie drew in a long, unsteady breath. Glenn’s kisses had been filled with such aching tenderness, such sweet torment, that Maggie felt tears stinging for release. Tears for a happiness she had never hoped to find. At least not with Glenn. This was a wondrous surprise. A gift. A miracle so unexpected it would take a lifetime to fully appreciate.

“I want you,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with desire. His breath warmed her lips.

“Yes” she returned, vaguely dazed. “I want you, too.”

His arms tightened, and Maggie felt the shudder that rocked him until her ribs ached. Gradually, his hold relaxed as his gaze polarized hers. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Should … should we tell anyone?”
No
, her mind shouted. Someone might try to talk them out of this, and she didn’t want that to happen. She yearned for everything that Glenn suggested.

“Do you want to tell Steve and Janelle?” Glenn asked.

“No.”

Tenderly he brushed his lips across her forehead. “Neither do I. They’ll find out soon enough.”

“It’ll be our surprise.” She smiled at him, the warm, happy smile of someone about to embark on the most exciting adventure of her life. And Maggie felt like an adventurer, daring and audacious, dauntless and intrepid, reckless and carefree. There’d be problems; she realized that. But tonight, with Glenn at her side, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t conquer.

Glenn raised her fingertips to his lips and kissed each one. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. We’re going directly to the airport.”

“Fine.” She had no desire to be separated from him, either.

“I’ll call a taxi.”

“I’ll get my purse.”

The night air brought a chill to her arms, but it didn’t sharpen any need to analyze what they were doing. If Glenn expected her to have second thoughts as they breezed through the streets of San Francisco, she found none. Even the busy airport, with its crowded concourses and people who stared at their unusual dress, wasn’t enough to cause her to doubt.

Glenn bought their airline tickets, and she found a seat while he used his cell to make hotel reservations. When he returned, the broad smile reached his eyes. Maggie was struck anew with the wonder of what was happening.

“Well?”

“Everything’s been taken care of.”

“Everything?” It seemed paramount that they get married tonight. If they were forced to wait until morning, there could be second thoughts.

“The Chapel of Love is one block from city hall, and they’re going to arrange for the marriage license.” He glanced at his watch and hesitated. “The plane lands at ten-thirty, and the ceremony is scheduled for eleven-fifteen.” He sat in the seat beside her and reached for her hand. “You’re cold.”

“A little.” Despite her nerves, she managed to keep her voice even. She didn’t doubt they were doing the right thing, and she wanted to reassure Glenn. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Rising to his feet, Glenn stripped the tuxedo jacket from his arms and draped it over her
shoulders. “Here. We’ll be boarding in a few minutes and I’ll get you a blanket from the flight attendants.” His dark eyes were full of warmth, and he was smiling at her as if they’d been sitting in airports, waiting for planes to fly them to weddings, every day.

His strong fingers closed over hers, and for the first time she admired how large his hands were. The fingers were long and tapered, and looked capable of carving an empire or soothing a crying child. “Are you”—Maggie swallowed convulsively, almost afraid to ask—“are you having any second thoughts?”

“No,” he answered quickly. “What about you?”

“None.” She was never so positive of anything in her life.

“I’ll be a good husband.”

“I know.” She placed her free hand over the back of his. “And I’ll be a good wife.”

His returning smile, filled with warmth and incredible wonder, could have melted a glacier.

“My parents are going to be ecstatic.”
Shocked, too
, her mind added, but that didn’t matter.

“Mine will be pleased as well,” Glenn assured her. “They’ve always liked you.”

He bent his head toward her, and Maggie shyly lifted her face and met him halfway. His kiss was filled with soft exploration, and they parted with the assurance that everything was perfect.

“After we’re married, will you want me to move to Charleston?” Maggie ventured.

“No,” he said on a somber note. “I’ll move to San Francisco.” The time had come to leave Charleston. Glenn wanted to bury the unhappiness that surrounded him there. The brief visit to San Francisco had felt like coming home. With Maggie at his side, he’d build a new life in San Francisco. Together, they’d raise their family and live in blissful happiness. No longer would he allow the memory of another woman to haunt him.

Maggie felt simultaneously relieved and confused. Her career in art made it possible for her to work anywhere. Glenn’s moving to San Francisco would mean giving up his Charleston clientele and building up a new one on the West Coast. It didn’t make sense. “I don’t mind moving, really. It would be easier for me to make the change. You’ve got your career.”

He slid his hand from her arm to her elbow, tightening his hold. “I’ll transfer out here.” Turning his wrist, he glanced at his watch, but Maggie had the feeling he wasn’t looking at the
time. “I’m ready for a change,” he murmured after a while. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Did she? No, Maggie decided; she loved California. “No, that’ll be fine. You’ll like the beach house.”

“I don’t doubt that I will.”

Their flight number was announced, and Maggie returned Glenn’s tuxedo jacket before they boarded the plane. The flight attendant came by a few minutes later, after they were comfortably seated, to check their seat belts. She paused and commented that they both looked as if they were on their way to a wedding. Glenn and Maggie smiled politely, but neither of them opted to inform the young woman that that was exactly where they were going. Maggie feared that if they let someone in on their plan it would somehow shatter the dream. Briefly, she wondered if Glenn shared her fears.

The flight touched down on the Reno runway precisely on schedule. With no luggage to collect, Glenn and Maggie walked straight through the airport and outside, where a taxi was parked and waiting.

“You two on your way to a wedding?” the cabdriver asked with a loud belly laugh as he held the door open for Maggie.

“Yes,” Maggie answered shyly, dismissing her earlier fears.

“Ours,” Glenn added, sliding into the seat next to Maggie and reaching for her hand.

The heavyset cabbie closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. He checked the rearview mirror and merged with the traffic. “Lots of people come to Reno to get married, but then a lot of folks come here to get unmarried, too.”

A thundering silence echoed through the close confines of the taxi. “There won’t be any divorce for us,” Glenn informed him.

The driver tipped back the rim of his cap with his index finger. “Lot of folks say that, too.” He paused at the first red light, placed his arm along the back of the seat, and turned to look at Glenn. “Where was it you said you wanted to go?”

“Chapel of Love,” Glenn said firmly, and glanced over to Maggie. “Unless you want to change your mind?” he whispered.

“You’re not backing out of your proposal, are you?” The words nearly stuck in her throat.

“No.”

“Then we’re getting married,” she murmured, more determined than ever. “I didn’t come
this far in a shimmering pink gown to play the slot machines.”

“Good.”

“Very good,” she murmured, unwilling to let anyone or anything ruin this night.

A half-hour later, after arriving at the chapel, Maggie had freshened her makeup and done what she could with her hair. They stood now before the proprietor of the wedding chapel.

“Organ music is fifteen dollars extra,” Glenn told her as he reached for his back pocket.

Her hand stopped him. “I don’t need it,” she assured him with perfect serenity. “I’m still hearing the music from the church.”

The impatience drained from his eyes, and the look he gave her was so profound that it seemed the most natural thing in the world to lean forward and press her lips to his.

The justice of the peace cleared his throat. “If you’re ready, we can start the ceremony.”

“Are you ready?” Glenn asked with smiling eyes.

“I’ve been ready for this all night,” she answered, linking her arm with his.

The service was shockingly short and sterile. They stood before the justice and repeated the words that had already been spoken in their hearts. The stark ceremony wasn’t what Maggie would have preferred, but it didn’t diminish any of her joy. This wedding was necessary for legal reasons; their real vows had already been exchanged earlier that day as they stood as witnesses for Steve and Janelle. Those few moments in the church had been so intense that from then on every moment of her life would be measured against them. Maggie yearned to explain that to Glenn, but mere words felt inadequate. He, too, had experienced it, she realized, and without analyzing it, he had understood.

Their room at the hotel was ready when they arrived. With the key jingling in Glenn’s pocket, they rode the elevator to the tenth floor.

“Are you going to carry me over the threshold, Mr. Lambert?” Maggie whispered happily and nuzzled his ear. She felt a free-flowing elation unlike anything she’d ever experienced. That night and every night for the rest of her life would be spent in Glenn’s arms.

“I’ll see what I can manage,” Glenn stated seriously as he backed her into the corner of the elevator and kissed the side of her neck.

Maggie shot him a dubious look. “I’m not that heavy, you know.”

“What I suggest we do,” he murmured, as he nibbled on her earlobe, “is have me lift one of your legs and you can hop over the threshold.”

“Glenn,” she muttered, breaking free. “That’s crazy.”

Chuckling, he ignored the question. “On second thought, I could probably manage to haul you piggyback.”

Deftly, her fingers opened his tie and she teased his throat with the moist tip of her tongue. If he was going to joke with her, then she’d tease him as well. “Never mind,” she whispered. “I’ll carry you.”

The elevator came to a grinding halt and the doors swished open. Glenn glanced around him, kissed Maggie soundly, and, with a mighty heave-ho, hauled her over his shoulder, fireman-style.

“Glenn …” she whispered fiercely, stunned into momentary speechlessness. “Put me down this instant.”

Chuckling, he slowly rubbed his hand over her prominently extended derriere. “You said you wanted me to carry you over the threshold. Only I can’t very well manage you, the key, and the door all at once.”

Using her arms against his shoulders for leverage, Maggie attempted to straighten. “Glenn, please,” she begged, laughing until it was difficult to speak and probably just as impossible to be understood.

He shifted her weight when he fidgeted with the key card. Maggie couldn’t see what was happening, but the sound of the door opening assured her all was well. Her eyes studied the same door as it closed and the narrow entryway as he carried her halfway into the room. The next thing Maggie knew, she was falling through space. She gave a frightened cry until the soft cushion of the mattress broke her rapid descent.

Panting and breathless with laughter, Maggie lay sprawled across the bed. She smiled up at Glenn playfully and raised her arms to her husband of fifteen minutes. Glenn knelt beside her, his eyes alive with passion as he lowered his mouth to hers in a deep kiss that sent her world into a crazy tailspin. She clung to him, her fingers ruffling the thick, dark hair that grew at his nape. Wildly, she returned his kiss, on fire for him, luxuriating in the feel of his body over hers.

Unexpectedly, he tore his mouth from hers and lifted his head. Without a word, he brushed the soft wisps of hair from her temple and dipped his head a second time to sample her mouth. When he broke away and moved to the long dresser that dominated one side of the hotel room, Maggie felt a sudden chill and rose to a sitting position.

A bottle of champagne was resting in a bed of crushed ice. With his back to her, Glenn peeled off the foil covering and removed the cork. He ached with the need to take her physically, but feared his building passion would frighten her. Silently, Glenn cursed himself for not having approached the subject sooner. He wanted her, but did he dare take her so soon?

The dresser mirror revealed Glenn’s troubled frown, and Maggie felt a brooding anxiety settle over her. For the first time she could see doubt in his eyes. The breath jammed in her lungs. No, not doubt but apprehension, even foreboding. Maggie was feeling it, too. Maybe advancing from friends to lovers in the space of a few hours wasn’t right for them. Maybe they should think it through very carefully before proceeding with what was paramount on both their minds. As far as he was concerned, there wasn’t any reason to wait. They were married. They knew each other better than most newlyweds. The certificate in Glenn’s coat pocket granted them every right.

With her weight resting on the palm of one hand, she felt her heart throb painfully. “Glenn,” she whispered brokenly, not knowing what to say or how to say it.

The sound of her voice was drowned by the cork exploding from the bottle. Fizzing champagne squirted across the dresser. Glenn deftly filled the two glasses and returned the dark bottle to its icy bed.

Handing her a goblet, Glenn joined her on the side of the mattress. “To my wife,” he whispered tenderly, and touched the edge of her glass to his.

“To my husband,” she murmured in return. The bubbly liquid tickled her nose, and she smiled shyly at Glenn as she took another sip. “I suppose this is when I’m supposed to suggest that I slip into something more comfortable.”

“I’m for that.” He quickly stood and strode across the room for the bottle, setting it on the floor next to the bed as he sat down again, avoiding her eyes the whole time.

“However, we both seemed to have forgotten something important.” She bit her bottom lip in a gesture of uncertainty and laughter.