With his gaze anchored on his bride, Luke cleared his throat. “The first moment I saw you… spitting the coffee I’d made back into your thermos, I fell for you.Literally.”
Luke grinned as Cassie smiled through her tears. “And the more I got to know you, the more I realized your beauty ran far deeper than I’d ever imagined. Your caring heart is visible in the way you love others, from your family to those you barely know. I admire your courage and kindness. And loving you makes me strive to be a better man. I, Luke Ryan Davis, vow to pursue you no matter what. To fight with you and for you. And to joyfully accept the bad with the good. And that especially goes for the cuckoo clock.”
Sharing the laughter of their private joke, they squeezed each other’s hands, earnest desire to seal their vows with a kiss evident across both of their faces.
Eliza sucked in a breath, struggling to keep the tears of joy at bay.
Grant squeezed her hand again, and she stole a glance in his direction, flushing as he winked before returning his gaze to the bride and groom.
Oh, what she wouldn’t give to know exactly what he was thinking in that moment.
“Now, for the exchanging of the rings.” Pastor Bellman gestured to Ben whose bored expression lit up in excitement.
Proudly handing Colt the rings, he beamed at Eliza, and she whispered, “Good job,” as he skipped back to Grant’s side.
Holding out the diamond-encrusted band, Luke slid it on Cassie’s finger. “Ru, do you take me to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” Cassie said empathically, a slight catch in her throat. Accepting the solid, tungsten ring from Colt’s grasp, she held it out to Luke. “Sprinkles, do you take me to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
His lips twitched. “I do.”
“You may now kiss your bride.” Pastor Bellman took a step backward as Luke eagerly swooped Cassie into his arms, kissing her for so long, the pastor had to clear his throat.
After he pronounced them husband and wife, Luke led Cassie down the aisle to the boisterous cheers of their friends and family, his arm looped around her waist as though he had no intention of ever letting go.
“Shall we?” Grant held out his arm.
Eliza hooked her hand through the crook of his elbow, gazing fondly after the newlyweds.
Someday, she hoped it would be their turn.
And she could hardly wait.
* * *
Her pulse skittering, Eliza observed Grant lean over Tommy Jensen, a high schooler and volunteer DJ, and whisper something in his ear.
Flashing a toothy grin, Tommy gave him a thumbs-up.
As Grant strode toward her, the sultry notes of “It Had to Be You” spilled across the dance floor. He offered her his hand, his tender gaze stealing the breath from her lungs.
She floated into his arms, thankful Tommy had chosen the slow, silky rendition crooned by Frank Sinatra, the Sultan of Swoon.
Resting her head against Grant’s chest, Eliza relished the way he nuzzled her hair, whispering the lyrics, low and husky, sending shivers tiptoeing across her bare shoulders. She drank in his intoxicating scent, unaware of anyone else in the world.
“I have something for you,” Grant murmured, pulling back to look at her.
Eliza glanced up, hoping he meant a kiss.
He tucked his hand inside his breast pocket, retrieving a small velvet box.
Eliza froze, her gaze darting from the box to Grant’s face.
“Eliza Lansbury Carter… you deserve the kind of proposal that takes world-domination-level planning, with a thousand moving parts and surprises wrapped in chicanery, tied with a bow of subterfuge.”
Eliza giggled. “But I hate surprises.”
“I promise… when it happens, you’ll love every single second.”
