There’s harmless flirting and then there’s seduction, and Melissa just threw down the gauntlet. “I’m interested, Trouble.” How could I not be? She’s hot in all dimensions, ticking boxes that I don’t even normally think about.
“Then prove it,” she dares me.
“Captain, do you take requests?” I ask. We have nothing to lose and a three-night honeymoon at sea to gain.
The captain breaks away from his discussions with his purser. “Do you two even know each other?”
“Only for twenty years,” I say.
“They really do,” Josh adds. He winks at me. “Duck has been my best friend since we enlisted in the navy, and Joanie’s known Melissa since they were kids. They were even the witnesses at our first marriage.”
“And neither of you are legally married?”
“Divorced,” we answer in uniform.
“Not from each other,” I specify.
The captain looks at the purser, who responds with a “We can make it happen!”
Joanie steps forward and whispers something in his ear. He nods. “I guess we can do a double ceremony. Why not? What are your names?” Captain MacLeod asks.
“Melissa Alexis Prescott.”
“Wade Alan Clifford.”
Captain MacLeod smiles and clears his throat. “Let’s do this. We are gathered here, again, to wed these old friends and send them on a new adventure together. Friendship is an excellent basis for marriage and can only add strength to an already strong foundation. Do you have any rings?”
“This wasn’t exactly planned,” I remind him.
“They’re symbols, not requirements. Wade Alan Clifford, do you take Melissa to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor and cherish her for as long as you both love each other?”
“I do.”
Mel squeals and clasps her hands to her chest. “Wade, that’s so romantic!”
“Melissa Alexis Prescott, do you take Wade to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor and cherish his for as long as you both love each other?”
“I do!”
Michael and Tammy start hooting and whistling. Joanie bursts into tears, forcing Josh to comfort her. I decide that I’ve waited long enough and take Melissa’s face in my hands in for a kiss.
For a minute I forget that we’re not alone. Melissa’s mouth is heat and fire. I pull her against me and she fits perfectly. The only problem is that she’s wearing too many clothes.
The captain clears his throat. “Could you let me finish, please, Mr. Clifford?”
“Sorry, Captain.”
“You may kiss the bride.”
If I thought our friends were loud before, the laughter and cheers now are deafening. I hook one arm around Melissa’s waist and spin her into a deep dip. Her eyes widen. Then she starts to take care of our too-many-clothes problem by undoing my tie one-handed while holding onto my belt with the other.
When I set her back on her feet, Josh gives me a friendly punch in the shoulder. “Way to make me look bad, man.”
“It’s not my fault that you’ve lost the romance. Maybe you can do better on your twenty-fifth anniversary,” I tell him.
“Will the husbands and wives come over to sign the paperwork to get your shipboard marriage certificates?” Captain MacLeod asks.
While Melissa and I wait for Joanie and Josh to finish, I turn to her. “Do you want the souvenir wedding certificate?”
