Chapter 15

15

T he ushers seated the last of the late arrivals. The flower girl started down the aisle, tossing handfuls of rose petals. Gwen straightened her gown and took her bridesmaid bouquet of daisies and pink roses from an usher. The wedding consultant cued her and she began to walk, focusing on the group of men standing with the clergyman.

Halfway down the aisle, she passed Will, more handsome than ever in a navy suit that contrasted with his short auburn hair and beard.

Their gazes met. He winked. She closed her mouth before she could gape, but missed a step and had to concentrate to get back in rhythm. They'd only been apart six days, but seeing him now made her want to throw herself into his arms.

He stood in the same pew as Erin, who held hands with her ex-boss, Nikos Metadorakis. She had accompanied him to Greece intent on getting over her secret crush but instead came home even more in love. The surprise was that Nikos had loved her for years.

Gwen took her place opposite the groom and best man, and the organist began to play the bridal march.

* * *

Leslie pulled Gwen over to the side of the parish hall after the ceremony. "Stand on the right. I'll throw you the bouquet."

"You can't favor me. That isn't fair." Gwen shook her bouquet at her cousin.

She glanced at her new husband. "I'm hurrying. Gwen, this is a good time for you. You've already got a guy on the hook."

Gwen wasn't sure. She and Will had talked every night this week, the same as the past three weeks, but Will had kept to neutral conversation about their everyday lives. There had never been a good time to discuss her reaction. Before she'd still been processing and hadn't been able to explain face to face. That seemed to be the best way, though. If she could work up the courage.

Leslie peered at her. "Are you all right?"

"Never better." This was Leslie's day, and she wouldn't ruin it with her own problems. She lifted her yellow roses. "I've already got a bouquet."

"It's not mine." Her cousin walked toward the rear of the reception area without looking back. Gwen stepped back to where Erin stood with Nikos. Will arrived with two glasses of champagne and handed her a flute.

"Thank you." She sipped the bubbly. He was always so attentive in an understated way, but private with his feelings. Except for that amazing kiss outside Bailey's. He'd caught her off guard and then he backtracked into teasing to deflect her attention. But she remembered. "According to Leslie, I have a duty to stand for the bouquet toss, but I don't want to catch it."

Will took her glass and set it on the table behind them. "You realize most bridesmaids would be eager."

"But she shouldn't be rigging the tradition." Gwen took in the eager women standing in front of them.

Up front, a giggling Leslie raised and lowered her hands.

"Come on, babe," her groom said. "Just throw it."

The white lilies sailed toward them and smacked Will before he could step out of range. He automatically caught the flowers before they hit the floor.

"Leslie, wait," one of the waiting women called. "You need to throw it again. A guy isn't supposed to catch it."

Will set down his drink and jogged across the floor to the newly-married couple, who stood frozen in the doorway.

"Take two," Leslie called. "All men stand clear."

Gwen grabbed Erin's arm. "You need to be in here."

They stepped into the cluster of women guests. "I saw how Nikos was looking at you," Gwen whispered to her best friend. "Be sure to catch the bouquet."

This time Leslie had perfect aim, and the flowers dropped right at Gwen's feet. She retreated "Hurry, Erin. Pick it up."

Erin didn't move fast enough, and one of the bridesmaids scooped up the flowers.

"You didn't even try," Gwen shook her head at the best friend.

"I didn't want to lose an eye." Erin laughed. "Nikos and I are already engaged. His parents are giving us a party." Nikos put a hand on her shoulder, and Gwen couldn't miss the shared smile.

Didn't she want that closeness with Will? She'd already proved she could handle whatever came her way, why be afraid of the future?

The four of them chatted a bit longer, and Erin and Nikos left. She and Will drifted over to the table they'd shared with her family. She drank the last of her champagne and set the flute on the table with her bouquet. "That's the end of my official duties as bridesmaid."

"Then I can ask you to dance." He tugged her toward the dance floor, spun her into his arms, and pulled her close.

The song ended. Uncle Tim and Aunt Kathy stayed on the dance floor and Gran, relocated to chat with relatives, caught her eye and grinned. Gwen smiled back. "Gran seems to be enjoying herself."

Will took the seat beside her and took her hand. "It's good to see you laughing and smiling, too."

"I'm happy for Leslie."

He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. A deep warmth filled her from her toes up to her heart. "What about you? Are you happy?"

"Sure."

"Good. I was concerned about you."

"Why?" She stared at him. The arms dealer and his hired muscle were out of circulation. Her boss had returned from vacation and praised her actions. Nothing else… Realization dawned. He would be thinking about last weekend and her unusual reaction. They were so attuned to each other, of course he'd noticed.

"I'm sorry." She pulled her hand free. "I know I wasn't forthcoming about my freak-out when we had to take the detour. I simply couldn't talk about it then. On top of that I was also worried."

Will moved her roses and leaned closer, resting a strong, tanned hand on the tablecloth. "What were you worried about?"

"You. Us. Being a couple. My parents died in a car accident at that train trestle. I never go down that road, so being there made all my impressions flood back. Like a tsunami."

"I'm sorry." His blue eyes crinkled at the edges.

"I needed to work through those and think what it really meant to me—us." Gwen touched his hand. "My aunt told me my mom married impetuously, and I was afraid I might be rushing into our relationship and making the same mistake. That was what worried me."

Will leveled a concerned gaze on her. "Do you still feel that way?"

"No. Not anymore." She smiled at him. "But I didn't exactly react positively to your comment about being a couple. Later, I was afraid you'd think I didn't have real feelings for you. But how can love be a mistake?"

"Beats me." His frown vanished. In fact, his gaze seemed to sparkle. He squeezed her hand. "I told you that first night how I felt."

"You did." Her heart did a little jig. She hadn't ruined things. "I figured you just wanted sex."

"I did want that." He grinned. "But that wasn't all. I felt we were destined for each other. All the days since have only confirmed that, and I'm anxious for us to be together. I love you, Gwen MacLaine."

"I love you, too, Will Strongbow."

Then he was pulling her into his lap, wrapping her in his strong arms and kissing her in a way she'd never been kissed before. Because before now, she'd never been in love.

* * *