34. Chapter 34

Chapter 34

T he sun was blinding as they stepped out, forcing Cleo to put up the hand not clasped in his to shade her eyes. Dozens of people had arrived and were milling about in the backyard. Patty stood on the steps of the deck, watching her daughter walk arm in arm with the man she’d seen but not officially met.

“Mom, this is Clark. Clark, this is my mom, Patty.” Clark moved to shake hands, but Patty instead pulled him in for a hug.

“Thank you for getting my girl safely to me in San Antone,” she whispered loudly enough for Cleo to also hear.

Clark answered, “Thank you for not hating me when you saw your daughter’s name in that paper.”

“A misunderstanding,” Patty replied, then patted his cheek. “It better not happen again, though. Hey, he does look like Superman!” she said to Cleo.

“ Roy Kent, Mom, but Clark Kent works too.”

Music started to play through a speaker and Patty said, “That’s our cue to get seated. Let’s go.” She handed a bouquet of colorful Black-Eyed Susans to Cleo and they followed the others to the chairs. Clark slipped into a seat next to Patty while Cleo waited at the top of the aisle for the minister’s signal. She began a slow march toward the pergola where the white-haired minister was waiting next to a dapper-looking, beaming Dale. Dottie’s and Dale's sisters, also in peach, followed behind Cleo, and when they stopped at the front, the music changed and Dottie began down the aisle. Cleo was amazed when she saw that Dottie’s escort was not the cousin or uncle who she’d said was going to give her away.

It was Clark, and he was devastating. And staring unabashedly at her.

Cleo’s knees went weak again as his gaze cut right through to her core. The corners of his lips turned up slightly; he knew exactly what effect he had on her. Dottie spared her a glance and patted Clark’s arm in amusement once, before turning her attention back to her groom. Cleo forced herself to focus on the bride instead of the much too handsome man accompanying her down the aisle. Dottie’s dress was a flowy, pale yellow number that lit her up. Or maybe it was her smile that seemed to make her glow. She looked happier than Cleo had ever seen her.

Clark deposited Dottie next to Dale, and the ceremony began. Cleo refused to look anywhere but at Dottie’s shining face or Dale’s contented one, though she could feel Clark’s eyes on her throughout the minister’s words. When at last he pronounced the couple “man and wife,” Dottie dragged Dale toward her and planted the biggest smooch on his lips that Cleo had ever seen. The minister hadn’t even had a chance to tell Dale to kiss his bride. Cleo figured if she’d waited decades for her happily ever after, she’d be pretty eager, too.

Cleo and Patty went inside to help bring out the food, and the rest of the evening the guests partied with the happy couple. There was music, dancing, way too much good Southern cooking, and lots of laughter. Cleo, Clark, and Patty were content to keep to themselves, but Dottie would have none of it. She introduced them to all her neighbors and friends, dragged them out to dance, and forced them to try every dish on the table. Cleo was grateful when a love ballad began and Clark took her hand, pulling her to the dance floor.

“My feet are killing me,” she complained. “Dress shoes, even flats, are destined to be my nemeses.”

“But they highlight your killer calves,” Clark said, peering around to where her legs peeked out from the bottom of the dress she had slung over one arm to keep from tripping on it.

“I was wearing sky-high stilettos the day I met you.”

“I remember. That was the first time I noticed your calves.” He bounced his eyebrows three times and Cleo laughed. “I was an instant fan.”

“Ah, I see. You love me for my legs.”

Clark’s eyes darkened. “Baby, I love you for your wit and your heart and your determination. The legs, and every other part of you, are just the icing on the cake.” Cleo had never before liked the endearment Baby , but it was incredibly sexy out of Clark’s lips.

“Shoot, now I feel shallow for just liking you for your face,” she shot back. He squeezed her side where his hand rested and she squirmed away from him.

He glanced at her knees. “Don’t forget I know where you’re most ticklish.”

“Ah, now I see why you couldn’t keep your hands off them in the car. You were obsessed with my legs even then.”

His eyes darkened. “I totally admit that I had a hard time keeping my hands to myself.” Clark pulled her back into the dance, wrapping his other arm around her and spinning with her. “I found you irresistible from the start.”

The singer crooned on, and Cleo laid her head on Clark’s shoulder as they slowed down their pace. She saw her mom chatting with Dale’s sister, Dottie and Dale were laughing with another couple, the crisp evening air carried a bit of Fall in it, and all felt right in the world. Cleo couldn’t be more content if she tried.