Wish Upon a Wedding (8 page)

“Oh, Lordy.” Mary sniffed and cleared her throat. “Anyway, Carrie Ann, what I'm trying to say is that you've got a lot of livin' left to do. You just don't know what's waiting around the corner. So embrace this relationship. From all I've ever known of Easton and the Fisher family, they're good solid folks.”

“Yes, he's a good man. It's hard to believe he's remained single all these years too.”

“Maybe Easton was waiting around for you to come to your senses.”

“Mama . . .”

“Is he a good kisser?”

“Mama!”

“Well?”

“I am not going to kiss and tell!”

“Ah so you've kissed then! Ha, you fell right into that one.”

“Mama!”

“Quit sayin' ‘mama' like that.”

“Well, then quit asking me those kinds of questions.”

Mary chuckled again. “Aw, sugar. I sure wish I was there to give you a big ole hug. But next time tell your mother juicy news like this first, you hear me, child?”

“I promise,” Carrie Ann said, and then smiled. “I sure do love you to pieces.”

“Oh, now just hush before we both start blubbering and ruin our makeup. And it takes me a long time to look this good.”

Carrie Ann pictured her mother fluffing her hair and smiled. “I'm still lollygagging around in bed. Can you believe it?”

“Well, you get yourself up and stop wasting daylight. And I want a full report after your next date with cutie pie Easton.”

“You'll get one.”

“Now that's more like it. Send me a selfie next time you're out with him.”

“A selfie?” Carrie Ann had to laugh.

“Just remember to hold the phone up high and tip your head back so it looks as if you'd had a face lift. Or better yet get one of those selfie sticks.”

“I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip.”

“Or even better yet, FaceTime me but do the same thing and hold the phone up or it puts a good ten pounds on you.”

Carrie Ann had to chuckle. “I do believe you're savvier about this stuff than I am.”

“I've got a lot of time on my hands, sweet pea.”

“Are you kidding? Mama, you have a full social life.”

“True, but I sure do miss my girls.”

“I miss you something fierce too. Love you, Mama.”

“Love you too, Carrie Ann. Well, time for my water aerobics. Gotta run! Or should I say ‘gotta swim'? See you in the funny papers.”

Carrie Ann smiled at the old-fashioned saying that her father used to say with a wave over his head when he headed off to work. She hadn't heard her mother say it in a while and perhaps chatting about the past was much more healing than Carrie Ann wanted to admit. Ava and Ellie had rebounded with the resilience of children, but for a long time Carrie Ann felt guilty about feeling happy. Well, it was high time that she put that silly notion to rest for good.

While shaking her head, Carrie Ann looked at the phone. Her mama was one piece of work. But it did her heart good to hear her mother's voice and to know that in spite of the tragedy she endured she'd managed to carve out a fulfilling life for herself.

Carrie Ann leaned over to put the phone back in the cradle, and then rested back against the pillows. If the news of her getting cozy with Easton at Wine and
Diner up on Main Street in Cricket Creek, Kentucky, had found its way down to Naples, Florida, then it was highly likely that she and Easton were the talk of the town.

And yes, Mama, the man was a good kisser and so much more than that. Carrie Ann closed her eyes and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. No, Easton was an amazing kisser. Thorough, deep, and yet somehow tender but with enough heat to make her simply melt. Just thinking about making love to him made her all hot and bothered. With a groan she reached up for the chain to her ceiling fan and yanked it up on high. She tilted her flushed face up to catch the breeze.

She wanted to make love once more to Easton Fisher. No, not just once more . . . but a lot . . . as in over and over.

“Oh, mercy, I should give myself a little overhaul.” Carrie Ann looked down at her cherry red toenails peeking out from the edge of her pajama bottoms. Holy cow, it had been a long time since a man had seen her naked. Carrie Ann rested her palm against her forehead. Before had been spontaneous but now she had time to think about when it would happen again.

“Where do I begin?” Well, for starters she could use a manicure, pedicure, and facial. She needed to buff puff, exfoliate, tweeze, and moisturize from head to toe. Maybe drop a pound or two. Of course making love to Easton had been quite the workout. Maybe her weight-loss plan could be . . . sex-ercise. She chuckled at her own joke.

Carrie Ann looked at her light blue flannel pajamas and shook her head. “Lingerie. Candles.” She looked her best in soft lighting. “Mood music . . . oh, mercy me, I need to make a list. No, several lists.”

She'd invite Easton over for dinner, set the mood . . . and then have her way with him. Her heart thudded at the thought of having Easton in
her bed
this time and having his bare skin sliding against her body. She
would take her time, exploring, teasing, kissing, licking every inch of him to her heart's content.

Reaching down, she cupped her breasts, lifting them higher. “Oh, girls, you aren't as perky as you once were.” But even as a cheerleader she was never one of those as-skinny-as-a-stick kind of girls. She had curves and she liked to eat. But blow-drying and washing hair and being on her feet all day long kept her toned and in pretty darned good shape. While she primped and fussed with her appearance, she felt fairly comfortable in her skin. She just wasn't as confident about the whole naked part.

“I'm not one bit nervous,” she told herself with a lift of her chin but her wildly beating heart told a much different story. Still, she smiled and hugged a pillow to her chest. “You can do this, Carrie Ann Spencer. Oh yes, you can.”

Could It Be Forever?

E
aston stood on the front porch of Carrie Ann's house holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and clutching a bottle of red wine in the other. He looked at the round doorbell but instead of pressing it, he stood there for a moment feeling a bit uncertain. He wanted their relationship to go to the next level, but he didn't want her to think he expected her to fall into bed with him every time they got together. Making love to a woman wasn't something he did casually. But thinking about her was becoming sweet torture and he wanted her naked and in his arms once more.

Her invitation to dinner at her home seemed like the perfect occasion to ramp up the romance but he didn't want to appear too obvious or too confident. He'd actually wanted to bring a box of chocolates along with the wine and flowers, but thought that might be going a bit too far. He told himself to just enjoy the night and to see where it led. But just thinking about Carrie Ann sent his libido into overdrive. In fact, making love to her was just about all he had thought about since he woke up that morning.

Easton took a breath of the cold evening air in an attempt to clear his head and calm his ardor.

Shouldn't have worn these damned tight jeans,
he thought and nearly laughed. He hadn't been this revved up in . . . well,
maybe never
. Now that he knew what it felt like to make love to her all it took was thinking about it and he sure as hell was thinking about it right this minute.

Easton couldn't remember the last time he'd taken such pains with his grooming and appearance. His smoothly shaven face was as soft as a baby's behind. The new aftershave he wore was more expensive than he thought reasonable for a mere two ounces of anything, but the perky young clerk at Macy's assured him that the Acqua di Gio was certain to please.

Easton was the type of guy who spent more money on fishing gear than his wardrobe and a rare trip to the mall yesterday evening set him back nearly two hundred dollars. But if his new sweater and designer jeans impressed Carrie Ann it was worth every penny and then some. Even his boxer briefs and socks were brand-spanking-new. And because Carrie Ann was his hairdresser, he'd put a bit of pomade in his hair, slicking it back just a bit like she'd done in the salon. Most days he wore a baseball cap, but tonight, he wanted to look his best.

All in all he felt as if he'd cleaned up pretty well. Now if he could just muster up the gumption to push the damned doorbell, things would be just fine. Or so he hoped.

Easton looked at the flowers, wondering if he should have gone with the roses. “Oh for Pete's sake,” he grumbled under his breath. Okay, just take it slow and easy, Easton told himself and then reached over and pressed his knuckle to the round button nearly dropping the bottle of wine in the process. Geez, could he get any more nervous? He felt like a teenager going to
the prom. He squared his shoulders, put a smile on his face and waited.

A heart-thudding moment later, Carrie Ann opened the front door. “Hello, Easton. Come on in,” she said breezily and stood back for him to enter.

When Easton stepped into the foyer he leaned over and gave Carrie Ann a light kiss on the cheek. “Something sure smells wonderful.”

“Meat loaf,” she said with a rather shy smile. “I wanted to make sure I fixed something that couldn't go wrong. I'm a decent cook, but I tend to get distracted and I always seem to forget to set the timer. Meat loaf is pretty much foolproof,” she said as she took the bouquet of flowers from him. “These are lovely! Thank you!” She angled her head at him as if in question and Easton realized he was gawking at her.

“You . . .” he began but could only shake his head. She looked absolutely stunning in a dark green dress that clung in all the right places and showed just enough cleavage to make him want to put his mouth against the soft swell of her breasts. She wore a single strand of pearls and her hair was gathered up into some sort of sexy bun that had him imagining her taking bobby pins out one at a time until her the deep red mass of curls fell to her shoulders. And she was wearing high heels. Some strappy black things that were as sexy as all get-out.

“Easton? Everything okay? Am I overdressed?”

“No . . . I . . . you . . . damn, Carrie Ann. Well, obviously you've got me all tongue-tied and rendered me speechless. And that's pretty hard to do.”

“In a good way, I hope?” She sniffed the flowers and looked at him.

“You take my breath away,” he said as he shook his head slowly.

“Are you trying to get me to give you mouth-to-mouth?”

Easton laughed. “Are you making fun of my cheesy comment?”

“I don't find that cheesy at all. Thank you for the compliment.” Her smile widened. “I tried on just about everything in my wardrobe trying to find something to make me look skinny.” She shrugged, bringing his attention to how the fabric hugged her breasts. “I failed.”

“You look perfect,” he said firmly and truly meant it. He had a sudden image of her in nothing
but
the pearls and heels and had to disguise his moan with a slight clearing of his throat.

“Thank you again.” She gave him a once-over and nodded. “Well, now, I have to say that you look mighty fine yourself, Easton Fisher. You can hang your jacket over there on the coat tree.”

Easton put the bottle onto a decorative table and shrugged out of his coat. “I have a confession to make, too. Except for my boots and this leather jacket everything else I'm wearing is brand-spanking-new, including my aftershave.”

Carrie Ann took a step closer and sniffed near his neck. “Oh, you smell divine,” she said in a low tone that had him wanting to press her up against the wall and kiss her senseless. Instead he picked up the bottle of wine.

“I hope you like this Merlot. I was told this one is exceptional.”

She looked at the label. “I do and only splurge on it for special occasions. Follow me into the kitchen and I'll put these pretty flowers in a vase. Did you get them from Flower Power?”

“Yes,” Easton said as he walked beside her down the wide hallway. He loved the lemon smell of the polished wood. Older homes were comforting.

“Gabby does such a wonderful job with her floral arrangements. Sophia is going to work with her, weaving fresh flowers into some of the intricate updos. It's
going to be so beautiful. I'm thrilled beyond measure that she is actually doing this with me.”

“Sophia is such a sweet girl. I'm sure White Lace and Promises is going to be a huge success.”

“I think it will be.”

When Carrie Ann stood up on tiptoe to retrieve a vase from one of the cabinets, Easton tried not to stare at how the dress molded to her bottom. Okay, he didn't really try at all. He just stared. “Need any help?” He hoped she did so he could slide up next to her body and reach over her head.

“No, I'm like ten feet tall in these heels.” She filled the vase with water and a little packet of mystery something before adding the flowers. After arranging them around a little bit she turned around and gave him sultry smile. “And I wore them just for you.”

“I feel the need to thank you.”

“You should. They are killing my feet.”

“Well then, take them off!”
And anything else you like while you're at it.
“I'll help you. Give me your foot.”

“No.” Carrie Ann shook her head. “They make me feel sexy. This is the time of day when I'm usually in sweatpants and a baggy shirt.”

“Let me tell you, you'd be just as sexy wearin' that too.”

“You mean I did all of this for nothing?” She laughed, and then tilted her head. “Oh, but thank you, Easton. You're good for my ego.”

“I'm not kiddin'. You are a beautiful woman, Carrie Ann. And those legs of yours seem to go on forever with or without heels.” He put the bottle of wine on the counter and came up beside her. He looked into those gorgeous eyes that appeared more green than blue tonight. “And I want them wrapped around me,” he said and put his forehead to hers. “Oh. Did I just say that out loud?”

She chuckled. “Yes, and I find it interesting because you must have been reading my mind.”

“Really?” Easton stepped back and put his hands on her waist. “Well then, I'm glad we're on the same page.” He pulled her against him. God, the feel of her lush body molded against his was almost his undoing. So much for taking it slow tonight.

Her eyes turned serious. “I think we've been on that page for far too long. Maybe it's time to start the next chapter.” She pointed to the archway leading to the dining room. Tall candles flickered, casting a soft glow over an elegantly set table. For the first time, he noticed soft sultry music playing in the background. “Is there any question as to what I have on my mind?”

“Ah, so you were planning to seduce me?”

“Yes, indeed. That was the grand plan. Is it working?”

“No.”

She made a face. “Do I need to try harder? The fireplace is lit in the living room. Would a glass of wine help my cause? A shot of fine bourbon? I do believe I have some Woodford Reserve.”

“Nope.” He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “The fact is, darlin', you don't need to try at all. Carrie Ann, this was the longest damn day of my life. I couldn't wait to see you and have you in my arms.”

“The feeling is mutual.” She reached up and cupped his chin. “And I find the fact that you went shopping for new clothes to be just adorable.”

“Adorable? That's probably the first time anyone has used that term to describe me.” Easton turned his head so he could kiss the palm of her hand. He was falling in love with her. He knew it and truth be known, he had been crazy about her for quite some time—maybe all the way back to high school.

But a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes kept him from voicing his feelings. At least for now. And he knew where the hesitation came from. They'd been close friends long enough that they'd talked about her father's death and how much it scared her to fall in love. He'd also shared his fear of being trapped in a tumultuous marriage like
his parents shared. It wasn't too difficult to understand that they both had issues that had caused them to remain single. Young love was different from falling in love at their age. At this stage of the game, they both had emotional baggage and daily routines that didn't include another person. They each had their own homes that they loved.

Was he too stuck in his ways to make room for another person in his life? How do you blend two lives together and make it work?

Instead of expressing his feelings, he decided to keep the mood light and playful. And as much as he wanted to sweep her up into his arms and carry her off to bed, he kissed her lightly and said, “Let's open the wine.”

Carrie Ann nodded. “And sip it in front of the fireplace? Mine isn't as grand as yours, but it's cozy.”

“I like that idea,” he said even though he really liked the idea of taking her to bed a lot more. But he'd waited for this moment all week and he wanted to savor each touch, every kiss until he finally had her naked and between the sheets once more.

She handed him the corkscrew. “If you will do the honors, I'm going to turn everything down on low so we can enjoy our cocktail before we eat dinner.”

“Dinner really does smell delicious, by the way.”

“It's just meat loaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans. Oh, and cherry cobbler for dessert but I cheated and bought it at Wine and Diner on my way home from the salon. Nothing too fancy. Just good old-fashioned down-home cookin'.”

“My favorite kind.”

“After seeing your gourmet kitchen I got super nervous. I thought I knew you pretty well and I never would have pegged you for being a cook.”

Easton laughed while uncorking the wine. “Maybe there's more to me than meets the eye.”

“I have to admit I like what I've seen so far.” Carrie
Ann accepted the glass that he handed to her. She tapped her rim to his. “Well, here's to finding out so much more.”

Easton nodded and took a sip of the full-bodied wine. “Except for the occasional glass of Merlot, I'm not all that much of a wine drinker, but I think it's about time I expand my horizons,” he said and took her hand and led her into the living room. “Maybe go on a day trip to a Kentucky winery?”

“I've always wanted to do that, Easton. I've heard there are quite a few lovely wineries in Kentucky. I'd love to take a drive through horse country and stop for a wine-tasting.”

“Have you ever done the Bourbon Trail?”

“No.” Carrie Ann shook her head. “But I'd love to do that too.”

“And maybe stay at a bed and breakfast?”

“That would be divine. Since when did you become so romantic?”

“That's where the more-than-meets-the-eye part comes into play,” he said, but the truth was that she brought out a romantic side of him that he didn't know he had.

“And cooking? When did you discover you enjoyed cooking?”

Easton took another sip of the wine. “Cooking is actually something I've gotten into in the past few years. I think watching the Food Network got me interested in doing more than tossing steaks on the grill. It relaxes me to putter around in the kitchen after a hard day's work.”

“I do believe I'd like to see you in action. I'd be perfectly entertained sitting back and watching you cook up a storm.”

“We can definitely make that happen.”

They sat down on the sofa across from the crackling fire. Tony Bennett crooned in the background and for the next several minutes they chatted and sipped wine.

“I repaired Noah Falcon's dishwasher today and he said that the Cricket Creek Cougars signed a couple of good relief pitchers this past week.”

“That's good news,” Carrie Ann said as she toed off her shoes. “When Noah came back to Cricket Creek and built the baseball stadium it sure saved our town from financial ruin. I was always so proud of him playing in the majors, weren't you?”