Page 19 of Mechanic's Charming Bride

“Nate…”

Turning, I see her looking down at a pair of socks she’s folded over at the hem a few times. I cross the room and cup my hand under her chin. “Talk to me.”

Her eyes are shiny. “I don't want to stay here.”

My chest tightens, ready for the inevitable ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech. I know it’s going to hurt me badly when she says it, but so soon after what happened with her fiancé makes me not want to fight her on it. She’s been through enough as it is; she doesn't need my needy ass adding to the already tall pile.

“With me?” I ask.

She blinks in astonishment. “No. In this room. I don't—can we not be separated? Or maybe you can stay in here too?”

A surprised laugh escapes me. “What?”

Sam swallows, reaching up to take my wrist. “I don’t want us to sleep apart. I liked you next to me last night. I’m sorry, I know that this is all kind of sudden. I just…”

Anticipation chokes me. Oh god. Please feel the same way. “Just what, angel?”

She wets her lips twice before finally saying, “I’ve really fallen for you, Nate. And I… I don’t want there to be any distance between us.”

I grab her face and kiss her hard.

Fuck! She wants me too!

Sam giggles against my lips, walking us backwards to the bed and tugs me down onto it with her.

“Nate,” she says between my kisses. “Tell me.”

“Tell you what, angel?” I lean back to look at her.

Her voice is soft. “That you feel the same.”

I smile, brushing my hand down her beautiful face. “Of course I do. Sam, I’m the luckiest son of a bitch to have met and fallen for you.”

Her eyes grow shiny again. “Really?”

“Really, really,” I say and kiss her once more.

Epilogue

Sam

“Second time’s the charm, huh?”

I look in the mirror to where my bridesmaid, Nicole, is smiling at me with a mimosa in hand just as Lydia’s putting on the final touches of my makeup.

“There, now she’s all set.”

“Thank you, guys,” Looking myself over in the mirror, I admire the beautiful work of my makeup and my hair pinned with my veil hanging down my back.

All of this is such deja vu that it’s throwing me off, but instead of what happened an entire year ago to the day, I feel nothing but butterflies and happiness.

Today, I’m getting married.

“Awww, you look so happy, Sammy.” Nicole says. “It’s a good look on you.”

I can’t help but laugh.

Honestly, I’m not surprised she’s poking a little fun. Last time was so obvious that I was making the wrong choice to everyone but myself, which I later found out through the grapevine when I called everyone and told them my engagement to Frank was no more.

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