Silence crackles in the air around me though I'm sure the people in the audience or talking softly I can't hear anything besides my own heart beat until the music Delaney chose to walk into starts playing and my head jerks up.
My love walks in on the arm of Bran and every other . thought that I had vanishes. She's utterly breath-taking. I smile hard enough my cheeks feel as if they are going to crack. I want to walk over to her and grab her up but I know I can't. She keeps her gaze on me and her smile is just as bright as mine. there's no way that she doesn't love me as much as I love her. We're meant to be together no matter what has happened between our families. . I've never seen a woman look as beautiful as her and She's about to be all mine. I thank Bran quickly as he hands her over to me and we hold our hands as the officiant drapes the corded roped over our hands and starts don't he handfasting ceremony. After every declaration my heart swells when I hear her say I will. I'm deliriously happy until at the very end of the ceremony when I hear the officiant say that we're officially married and to bind the union with a kiss, my heart explodes with joy as our lips combine. I hear everyone clap and cheer for her.
My love Delaney, the best decision I've ever made in my life was to go into that bar and have a drink. Now that she's mine I'll do everything in my power to make her happy no matter what opposition comes our way.
CHAPTER24
DELANEY
Looking around the beautiful hall, my face heats as happiness threads through my veins. It’s incredible! String lights hang from the tables to cast a delicate, golden glow. The atmosphere is warm, and I hum to myself as I lift my champagne glass to my lips. There’s no champagne, of course, but white grape juice.
Light conversation rises up into a buzzing hum from the tables skirting the forward side of the dance floor. The buffet had been picked clean, and I set down my glass to pick up my fork.
“You’re quiet,” Baron leans to whisper in my ear. “Are you too tired from organizing this to enjoy it, love?”
“I’m savoring the sight,” I reply, stabbing a piece of lettuce. The produce delivered fresh to this resort every three days is truly fresh, and I glance over at Baron to smile. “It’s proof we can do much more extravagant things than in London.”
“Ah, not too extravagant. Don’t want your big day to be upstaged. No, all weddings all over the world are canceled.” He chuckles, and I laugh as I lift my fork to my lips. Gazing out over my wedding reception, my heart flutters. There are faces grinning that I don’t recognize, voices I had never heard before congratulating me. By no means was my wedding ‘big’, but the Mackenzie family was larger than I knew. Did they reproduce by budding whenever there’s a wedding, or am I just inattentive?
“Have I mentioned how much I love this dress on you?” Baron’s sultry tone sends shivers down my spine as he caresses my bicep with the back of his fingers. I shake my head, and he leans to kiss my cheek with feathery lips. I swallow my bite harshly, his touch tightening my throat. “I love this dress on you, Delaney.”
“I love you in anything you wear,” I murmur, smirking and sticking out my tongue playfully. Baron’s brows wiggle suggestively. “Or nothing at all. I like that, too. Cannae make you give me all the compliments today.”
“Seeing all these people here, I think it was the right idea to skip the speeches and go straight to the party,” Baron changes the subject, and I take up my fork to cut into a beautiful piece of Mahi Mahi caught right off the coast this morning. “I’d always heard Irish weddings were a riot, but I have to admit. . . I’m glad things don’t seem to be heading towards disaster.”
“I threatened everyone,” I confess nonchalantly, and Baron stares at me in surprise as I grimace. After being ambushed by Liam in London, I didn’t want to take any chances. While reconciling with my siblings might be on the to-do list, this is my fucking wedding, and it will be perfect. Over my dead body will there be a brawl or even harsh words exchanged while drunk. “I may. . . have cornered Liam and his father this morning. Admittedly, I yelled at them about a few things. The check, and bringing Eamon to London, and some other things I’m none too happy with him about. Liam told me that he had invited Lilly and my brother just tagged along. . . like I’d believe that.”
I snort, and Baron grabs my hand soothingly as I stab my piece of fish and munch on it grumpily. There’s something profoundly irritating being lied to my face and knowing it, but Liam. . . whatever his reasons, he did inadvertently give me an opportunity to show Eamon how serious I am. The very same day the resort’s ownership transfer was signed, before the ink had dried, Eamon was on his way here.
Thankfully, he asked my permission first. My gaze finds him, sitting with Audie and Delilah, chatting leisurely.
“Stop that, love,” Baron reaches to caress my jaw and neck, drawing my attention away from my family problems. “One is good enough right now. It’s progress. You and Eamon made considerable progress, and you shouldn’t drag yourself down by minimizing it.”
“I know. I was just reliving him on his knees,” I inhale deeply, sharply, through my nose and clear my throat. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Your family has a problem with telling each other the whole truth. It’s caused so many problems, I can understand why you wouldn’t believe he didn’t know about Keeva coming here,” Baron agrees, and I fight a grimace before grabbing my champagne glass. “Do you want more- ahem- champagne?”
Before I can drain my glass, Baron reaches for the bottle in the chiller vase. He turns it over a few times, searching for that discreet, red mark on the bottom of the label. Some of them had been emptied, their alcoholic contents replaced specifically for me. “Do you think I’m making a mistake keeping the baby a secret?”
“Well. . . I don’t think it’s not a mistake,” He answers vaguely, popping the cork off the bottle to wrap his hand around mine around my glass. Baron meets my gaze before his slides down to my abdomen. “You can’t hide it much longer. I think you could take the opportunity to make an announcement, but at this point, you’re not risking anything by keeping the baby a secret. You’re at 4 months. Everyone will accept that you wanted to wait, and you don’t have to give them the real reasons.”
“Aye,” I look out over the two dozen tables before realizing we’re one short. There’s a large hole where one should be to the left of us in the middle of the throng. “Weren’t there 24 tables? Why’s one missing? Wait, where’s your sister and Klaus?”
“I asked them to take my mother to her suite. I had one of the waiters bring up some food,” Baron reveals, and I stare at him in alarm. He waves a hand dismissively. “It’s a nonissue. I don’t want anything ruining this party. It represents so much, I won’t take any chances with my mom.”
I don’t even know what to say; I hadn’t known Petra tried to start some shite, but I’m proud of Baron for shutting it down. Covering his hand with mine, I squeeze tightly. He grins lopsidedly before standing up, releasing my hand to clap his palms together. The already soft, upbeat music becomes a whisper over the crowd as they quiet.
“My wife and I,” He smiles so lovingly at me, and I stand up as well, smoothing my dress down my abdomen. “Are having a baby!”
Blood drums in my ears before the room erupts into thunderous cheers and applause. People stamp their feet and hollar congratulations, and a rush of relief burns my cheeks. Glancing at Eamon’s table, I meet his eyes, filling with regret even as he tears up. But I don’t let him drag me down, convincing myself that no matter what he feels, I was doing what was right for me.
A stream of people approach the head table to shake our hands and congratulate us. The music starts up again, and Bran is the last to approach the table. I move to hug him, and he whispers sweet things in my ear before pulling away. Luna and I hug while Bran shakes Baron’s hand, but we only exchange pleasantries before Baron wraps his arm around my shoulders.
My heart aches as my brother and I walk to the dance floor. Tears glisten in his eyes when he faces me, and Bran holds both my hands as the song changes to one of our childhood favorites. It’s an Irish folk song, and I close my eyes and rest my cheek against his chest.
Bran hums the tune in my ear unstably as we share a tender moment. Memories of his courthouse ceremony flash behind my aching lids. At the time, I was worried that Luna would drive Bran and I apart, but oh, I’m glad I was wrong. He sniffles harshly, breaking me from my thoughts. I crack open my eyes, glancing up at him as he struggles to keep his composure.
“Looks like. . . we won’t need those code words anymore.” I say, and a brace tear streaks down his cheek. Cupping the back of my head, Bran wraps his other arm around my back.
