“Sweetheart, that’s like the classic case of projection. You are not your mother.”
She twisted her neck to look up at him. “Promise me we’ll get help if we ever need to. Before it’s too late.”
“I promise.”
“I wish we were home and this whole thing was over.”
“The wedding?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “Not the marrying you part but having to deal with my parents. Maybe I should’ve let her leave. I mean, how awkward will the rest of the weekend be for all of us?”
His sweet girl. How dare her parents ruin this weekend for her? This was supposed to be one of the happiest events of her life. With their selfish behavior, they’d succeeded in ruining it for her. He’d like to shake them both silly.
“It’ll be okay, baby. Maggie and Pepper and I will make sure.” He tightened his grip around her and kissed the top of her wet head. “I want you to put all this aside and focus on what we’re really doing here—declaring our love and commitment to each other in a church under God. Your parents’ lives have nothing to do with us. We’re going to get married and then go on an amazing honeymoon.”
“And then we’ll come home and spend the rest of our lives together.”
“That’s right. You and me forever.”
“I have something to tell you.” Her voicelowered into the apologetic tone she so often had around her mother. “I might have offered to pay for Mom to go to Europe for a year. Or two. I told her I’d rent her an apartment in Paris. I should’ve asked you first.”
“Why would you need to ask me?”
“Because it’s our money now. You should have a right to weigh in on how we spend it.”
“That’s sweet of you. Going forward, we should always talk about financial decisions. However, in this case, whatever it takes to get your mother out of the country is just fine with me.”
She giggled. “That’s terrible.”
“I know it is. But she hurts you, and I can’t stand it.”
“You’re my hero, you know that?”
“You don’t need one, but I’m happy to pretend.” He lowered his mouth to her shoulder and smiled against her silky skin.
“What did I do before you came to me?” Lisa asked.
“I can’t remember before you. And I don’t want to.” He kissed her neck. “Now, you have to get out of this tub. We have a rehearsal at the church to get to.”
She swiveled around to face him, then kissed his mouth with her velvety lips. “Do we have to? I’d rather stay here and make out.”
He laughed as she straddled him and splayed her hands through his hair. “I’ll make you a deal. The minute we’re back here tonight, you’re on.”
“You’ve got yourself a date, Rafael Soto.” She smiled as she placed her hands on his chest. “Thank you for always being here for me.”
“For better or worse, until death do us part.”
Rafael hustledLisa out of the cold and into the lobby of the lodge. They’d just come from the rehearsal at the church. Therest of their party had already arrived, but Rafael and Lisa had stayed behind to discuss a few details with Pastor Jordan.
“Do I look okay?” she asked as they walked toward the bar and restaurant. After getting out of the tub, Lisa had fretted about her puffy red eyes. He’d fixed a cold compress by wrapping a hand towel around a pile of ice. She’d pressed it to her eyes for fifteen minutes before fixing her hair and makeup. The compress had worked. Lisa glowed, even if it was from the outside in, instead of the other way around.
“You look perfect, albeit something’s missing.” He stopped her in front of the fireplace. “I have the perfect remedy for you.” He pulled out the velvet pouch he’d stashed in his trouser pocket. “This is your wedding gift from me.”
She pulled open the pouch, and the delicate sapphire necklace he’d picked especially for his gorgeous bride spilled into her hand. Under the lights, the tiny stones sparkled. “Rafael, it’s…it’s so pretty.”
“The stones match your eyes,” he said. “There are fifty of them. One for every year we’re married.”
“Only fifty?” She looked up at him with raised eyebrows.
