affectionately says from behind us.
I leave Lane’s warm grasp to enter Jace’s. I’ve never felt more at home than I do in this moment. It’s almost as if there’s been a light turned on for me, and I can finally see how blessed I am. And just like Jace said to me a year ago, I would walk through the sadness all over again if I knew I would be reaching this point.
Lane leaves Jace and I alone out on the porch to look out over the pond. When Jace wraps his arms around me from behind, I whisper, “You know, it’s unheard of for a bride to not know where she’s getting married.”
He tucks his face into the nook between my chin and my shoulder and says, “I promise this is my last surprise. From then on out, we’ll make joint decisions. This is a good one though. I know you’ll be happy with it.”
I turn in his arms and grab the lapels of his suit coat. “I love your surprises, Jace. Quinn may have had a point about your work hours, but she failed to mention that you’re great at surprises,” I rise up on my toes and whisper in his ear, “and at taking control.”
A low rumble emerges from his chest and he growls, “Well, that’s a damn good thing, babe, because there’s no way in hell that’ll ever change.”
I never pictured myself standing outside on my wedding day, with my hair tightly pinned to my head and my long, white dress blowing in the cold breeze…blindfolded. When Em approached me as I was climbing into the limo with a light blue sash in her hands, I stared at her with apprehension.
“Your something blue,” she chuckled wickedly.
“I already have something blue,” I reply, gesturing to the thin, sterling silver bracelet with diamonds and turquoise gemstones that Jace had sent over while I was getting ready.
“He wanted you to have something else too,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. That was the last thing I saw before she wrapped the sash around my eyes and helped me the rest of the way into the car.
Standing out in the breeze, completely blind to the world around me, I hear a familiar deep voice say, “Well, this is different. A blindfolded bride. I’ve heard that usually happens on the honeymoon, but not
“Don’t make fun of me. I have no idea where I am,” I nervously confess.
His arm is instantly around me in a protective hold. “You look beautiful and you’re going to love this.” Shortly after, I hear a door open and close. “Well, doll, that’s our cue. Should we bail and run away forever, or go inside?” he asks teasingly, although I know if I asked him to, he would whisk me away in a heartbeat.
“I’m ready.” And I am. I’m ready to marry my best friend and the one true love of my life.
“Good, because Jace has been pacing nervously all damn morning.” When he feels my body lock up, he rushes to say, “Not that kind of nervous. More like, so-fucking-anxious-to-see-you nervous.”
I let out a deep breath and allow Lane to lead me inside to my mystery wedding. We step inside and I immediately feel relief at the warmer setting. My dress has a deep V-neck and my back is almost completely bare. Not the best choice for a wedding in the chill of November, but the second I put it on I knew Jace would love it. It feels classic and elegant, just like him.
Wherever we just stepped into has a very distinct yet recognizable aroma. It smells antiquated and musty. I scan through locations in my head that can produce this scent. When realization hits, I gasp and grab to pull my blindfold down. The first thing I see is Lane’s bright smiling face. I skim my surroundings and take in the beautiful old bookstore. The very same bookstore that I first crashed into Jace, right out front on the sidewalk. The store that I’ve spent countless hours in since we’ve been back. I don’t like to come into town much, but this is the one place I make an exception for.
I stare up at the towering shelves full of old books with yellowing pages that contain beautiful love stories. Gorgeous white flower arrangements hang from the high ceilings. My family has strung tiny little lights between the books and tea lights adorn the shelves to create a magical atmosphere. Strings of light bulbs criss-cross along the ceiling, giving off a romantic glow. I smile widely when I realize I’m going to say my vows in front of a bunch of love stories that have stood the test of time. I can’t imagine a more perfect setting.
My eyes make their way down from the mesmerizing shelves and finally land on my handsome fiance. The breath is stolen straight out of my chest when I catch the look on his face. Tears are streaming freely and shamelessly down his face, and I can feel his deep love with just that look alone.
Jace stands at the end of a long center aisle, with our closest friends and family sitting in front of him. Before I realize it, Lane has walked me all the way down the aisle and placed my hand in my soon-to-be husband’s comforting one.
Nothing else matters. No one else matters. It’s only Jace. Jace, with his gorgeous grey suit and copper- colored tie that perfectly matches the pennies strung around my neck.
“It’s not fair that every time I see you, you look even more delicious than the last,” he whispers into my hand, right before he gives it a soft kiss.
“You can’t keep using the same lines on me,” I softly say back.
“I’m sorry, but you really shouldn’t be allowed to look this beautiful,” he expresses, while leaning in toward my neck.
A couple of throats clear from behind us and Jace freezes. “Vows first, you guys,” I hear Jaxon chuckle.
We behave for the remainder of the ceremony, repeating each vow after the priest prompts us. Sniffles are heard from our audience, but my eyes are still glued to the man in front of me. His eyes are equally spellbound as he looks at me. We are all alone in this magical bubble. Although I’m aware of the eyes boring into us, the only ones I care to look at right now are Jace’s.
Jace surprises me yet again with a beautiful, sparkling wedding band. Tiny little diamonds surround the platinum ring, and the lights above us cause it to glisten and glow.
I realize that the priest has finished his speech and that the room is completely quiet. I look up to Jace for clarification, because I don’t remember what we are supposed to do now. I hear a few chuckles and then Jace gives me a drop-dead sexy smirk, right before he scoops me into his arms and lands me with a breath-stealing kiss. Instantly, I remember what I’m supposed to be doing, so I thread my fingers through his soft hair and return his kiss with equal passion.
After a few more beats, Jace pulls back and gazes down at me. “I love you, Mrs. Riley.”
“It’s about time you changed my name,” I whisper breathlessly up at him.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he says and smiles lovingly.
Before he can dip down for another kiss, I stand up on my tiptoes, deciding it’s finally my turn to give him a surprise. When my lips brush the edge of his ear, I let him know the news he’s been begging to hear from me. I overhear the catch in his breath and his grip on my arms squeezes a bit tighter.
In front of our clapping and cheering audience, he leans back to look at me with tears running down his face for the second time today and questions in his eyes. He needs me to confirm it for him.
“You’re going to be a dad, Mr. Riley.”
