Page 50 of Courageous Demands

“I would love that, sweetheart.”

“I’m going to give the phone back to Alec now so we can get started planning – by the way, it was his idea, and he was so romantic about it, too. I’ll tell you everything.”

Alec mouthed ‘thank you’ and blew her a kiss as he quickly said ‘bye’ to his mom and sagged physically as he hung up the phone.

“Oh my gosh, she could have ended World War II with that mouth alone, a slipper, and ten minutes behind a closed door. Those dictators would have been sobbing when they were finally freed,” Alec grimaced. “It’s a good thing she loves me.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen your mother mad.”

“You have?”

“Sure have! She charged me a hundred bucks for three donuts.”

Alec burst out laughing, walking over and hugging her once more, and she joined in. They were both letting off steam, calming down, and putting this whole event behind them in the only way they knew how – by making jokes or cutting up.

Then he kissed her - softly, gently, and with so much emotion. It was a show of love, a silent promise between them, and a comfort to the soul as they reached for each other. His arms were around her waist as she curled hers around his shoulders, marveling that they were here.

Together.

A couple.

As he broke the kiss, he smiled tenderly and kissed the tip of her nose once more before playfully nipping at it – causing a second round of laughter between them as his teeth grazed her nose gently. Meeting her eyes, she saw his crinkle at the edges as he smirked at her.

“Let’s grab some paper and a pen, and start strategizing…”

“Strategizing?”

“If we are doing this, then we are going to use it too. I’ve got an ax to grind with your opponent, and I can’t think of a better way to do it.”

“With our wedding?”

“Why not? It would show our commitment, we can invite the entire town welcoming all of our families and friends. Let’s get everyone involved, be very open about it if they ask, but don’t give up any details, and…”

“Oh my gosh, you are scary brilliant sometimes,” she chuckled with dawning awareness. “I have someone hired to help me with ads and marketing, and I’m always trying to hand out flyers… but this takes it to another level.”

“I’m serious. Let’s shop local and start dropping little hints, but we won’t announce the bombshell until closer to the date of the wedding. Instead of flyers, let’s hand out wedding invitations.”

“You’re kidding…”

“Nope,” he grinned. “In fact, if the election is at the beginning of November, let’s get married the last Saturday in October.”

“What day is that? Let me get some paper and start jotting down notes,” she said distractedly, opening a drawer in her desk and withdrawing a notepad. “Why don’t you ask your mother to come over so we can plan?”

“Uh, that’s a hard ‘no’. That cramps my plans of further kissing you.”

Before Willow could say anything, she felt Alec’s arms wrap around her from the back as his lips pressed to the side of her neck. She immediately melted against his chest, curling an arm to thread her fingers in his hair.

“I think we are still working on a few things, needing to spend a little time together, and I’m kinda out of practice with this whole ‘romance’ thing…” he chuckled softly, kissing her throat once more. “If my mom is here, then we can’t do this.”

Willow turned in his arms, and he didn’t resist or fight the movement but instead moved with her. His lips captured hers, and she was here for it.

“She also gossips a lot,” she whispered against his lips and treasured his soft knowing laugh.

“Yeah, she does. It wouldn’t be a secret, would it? Between Mom and Mrs. Kendall…”

“Oh heavens…”

“Right?”

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