dear. Congratulations on your wedding, and you come back to see me in a year, OK?”
Chapter 2
“A re you ready for tomorrow?” Vivian asked Emma breathlessly, watching her sister closely. It had been almost one year since her psycho ex-husband, Norman had tried to take Emma’s life a second time, but then inexplicably saved her when the car they were in careened off the bridge and sank in chilly Westwood Harbor Bay. Emma had been different, changed, for a long time after that second attempt. She seemed to have lost some of her light, some of her joy. Every day, Vivian watched for it to come back, prayed for it to come back. But so far, the only thing that seemed to completely light her up like she used to be was the wedding planning and preparations.
They were sitting at the sweethearts table in the large reception hall in the Eller’s mansion, waiting for all the rehearsal dinner guests to arrive. So far, they were the only ones there.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” Emma smiled faintly and pushed her strawberry-blond hair out of her face. “I can’t believe the day is finally here.”
Emma smiled again, wider and more relaxed this time and gave her sister a hug. “How about you? Are you nervous?”
“Nervous? Yeah, I am. I’m going to be married! And to the most amazing man I’ve ever met.” Vivian sighed, and looked around, hoping Hawk would walk through the doors right then so she could put her arms around his muscular body and inhale his scent. To her, he always smelled like spice and soap. Just the thought of him made her heart beat a little faster still.
For a split second she thought about telling her twin sister about her little secret, but then Emma asked her another question.
“What?”
“Do you have to pick up your parents?” Emma asked again.
“Oh. No. They are staying at the Ritz which is only a block away. They are going to walk over.”
“Ok. Emma looked at her phone. “People should start showing up any second. Have you heard from the guys?”
“Yeah, they’re on time. They’ll be here soon.”
Vivian opened her mouth to ask Emma how she was feeling these days, and if she’d been going to see Dr. Anderson, but closed it again. She’d ask after the wedding and after the honeymoon. She didn’t want to ruin the happy occasion with her worrying. She just wanted to see her sister back to her old self again.
The double doors at the far end of the large room opened and Hawk came through first, followed by Craig.
Vivian let out a little squeal, and ran across the room to throw herself in Hawk’s arms, even while she was laughing at herself for acting like a 14 year old.
Hawk caught her and lowered his face to hers, kissing her warmly on the mouth. He let his lips trace across her jawline and spoke into her ear, low and husky, with a timbre that vibrated through her body in a delicious way. “Hi gorgeous, I missed you.”
“Hi yourself, I missed you too. Come on.” She pulled Hawk back to the main table, to show him where they’d be sitting, but glanced over her shoulder at Emma and Craig.
Craig was holding Emma in a long embrace, and rocking her a little bit. Emma’s face was buried in his shoulder, almost like she was crying. Vivian’s alarms went off. She decided to corner Craig later and see what was up.
After the men were set up at the table, Vivian gave them instructions on what would happen tonight at the rehearsal dinner, and the next night at the reception. Just as she had finished explaining where everyone would sit and in what order the speeches would be given, the door opened again.
“Mom! Dad!” Vivian yelled, and ran around the table to hug them. Hawk followed, looking rather shy and awkward in his suit.
“Mr Dashell.” Hawk held out his hand to shake and Vivian’s dad pulled him into a bear hug instead.
Vivian watched them with a smile on her face. She knew both her parents loved Hawk and she knew that Hawk felt incredibly anxious that they didn’t, but
Chapter 2
“A re you ready for tomorrow?” Vivian asked Emma breathlessly, watching her sister closely. It had been almost one year since her psycho ex-husband, Norman had tried to take Emma’s life a second time, but then inexplicably saved her when the car they were in careened off the bridge and sank in chilly Westwood Harbor Bay. Emma had been different, changed, for a long time after that second attempt. She seemed to have lost some of her light, some of her joy. Every day, Vivian watched for it to come back, prayed for it to come back. But so far, the only thing that seemed to completely light her up like she used to be was the wedding planning and preparations.
They were sitting at the sweethearts table in the large reception hall in the Eller’s mansion, waiting for all the rehearsal dinner guests to arrive. So far, they were the only ones there.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” Emma smiled faintly and pushed her strawberry-blond hair out of her face. “I can’t believe the day is finally here.”
Emma smiled again, wider and more relaxed this time and gave her sister a hug. “How about you? Are you nervous?”
“Nervous? Yeah, I am. I’m going to be married! And to the most amazing man I’ve ever met.” Vivian sighed, and looked around, hoping Hawk would walk through the doors right then so she could put her arms around his muscular body and inhale his scent. To her, he always smelled like spice and soap. Just the thought of him made her heart beat a little faster still.
For a split second she thought about telling her twin sister about her little secret, but then Emma asked her another question.
“What?”
“Do you have to pick up your parents?” Emma asked again.
“Oh. No. They are staying at the Ritz which is only a block away. They are going to walk over.”
“Ok. Emma looked at her phone. “People should start showing up any second. Have you heard from the guys?”
“Yeah, they’re on time. They’ll be here soon.”
Vivian opened her mouth to ask Emma how she was feeling these days, and if she’d been going to see Dr. Anderson, but closed it again. She’d ask after the wedding and after the honeymoon. She didn’t want to ruin the happy occasion with her worrying. She just wanted to see her sister back to her old self again.
The double doors at the far end of the large room opened and Hawk came through first, followed by Craig.
Vivian let out a little squeal, and ran across the room to throw herself in Hawk’s arms, even while she was laughing at herself for acting like a 14 year old.
Hawk caught her and lowered his face to hers, kissing her warmly on the mouth. He let his lips trace across her jawline and spoke into her ear, low and husky, with a timbre that vibrated through her body in a delicious way. “Hi gorgeous, I missed you.”
“Hi yourself, I missed you too. Come on.” She pulled Hawk back to the main table, to show him where they’d be sitting, but glanced over her shoulder at Emma and Craig.
Craig was holding Emma in a long embrace, and rocking her a little bit. Emma’s face was buried in his shoulder, almost like she was crying. Vivian’s alarms went off. She decided to corner Craig later and see what was up.
After the men were set up at the table, Vivian gave them instructions on what would happen tonight at the rehearsal dinner, and the next night at the reception. Just as she had finished explaining where everyone would sit and in what order the speeches would be given, the door opened again.
“Mom! Dad!” Vivian yelled, and ran around the table to hug them. Hawk followed, looking rather shy and awkward in his suit.
“Mr Dashell.” Hawk held out his hand to shake and Vivian’s dad pulled him into a bear hug instead.
Vivian watched them with a smile on her face. She knew both her parents loved Hawk and she knew that Hawk felt incredibly anxious that they didn’t, but
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