Page 76 of Fireworks & Forehead Kisses

“I met her the night she came to Atlanta for her interview,” I answered honestly.

Her eyes narrowed. “You said you didn’t see her that night.”

“We spent the night together, and we didn’t feel that it was anyone’s business.”

“And what is the rush now?”

“The will did move our timeline up.” It was always good to stay as close to the truth as possible. “Since I’m leaving for Vancouver in two days, and then Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Maui, before Chicago, Austin?—”

“I don’t need your itinerary.” Her tone was clipped as she lifted her hand dismissively. “So, is that why she handed in her resignation? Because of your relationship.”

“Not at all. I know she found the work you two did rewarding, and she valued the opportunity you gave her, but she wanted to pursue other things as well as have more time with her family, which, as you know, is very important to her.”

“Hmm.” I never knew how to interpret Gran’s noncommittal tone. She either agreed with what I was saying or she thought I was full of shit. It could go either way.

We rounded the corner of the house into the backyard, and I guided Gran to the two rows of white folding chairs. Since Ashley wanted to keep everything private, I hired an event coordinator from Savannah instead of someone local. They’d set up an arch with flowers and fairy lights and a farm table with string lights overhead and lanterns hanging from the oak trees for a catered dinner after the short, very short ceremony.

“This is beautiful,” Dorothy enthused as she and Fred took their seats beside Gran, and my heart sank.

I’d watched the video Gran showed me of Ashley’s audition tape at least a dozen times. She had dreamed of getting married since she was a little girl. She’d been a bride for Halloween eight times. I knew it wasn’t her dream wedding, but I wanted to make it as special as it could be for what it was.

Jimmy tapped me on the shoulder. “Are we ready?”

I nodded and took my place beside him under the arch. He gave a signal to Nadia, who was standing at the French doors that led to the house. I glanced out over the few people in attendance. Besides Gran, Frank, and Dorothy, there was Hank, who was seated beside his very pregnant wife, Skylar, Ashley’s sister, who I met right before Gran showed up. I could see that she wasn’t thrilled with the situation, but I hoped that after the ten weeks she’d feel differently. I knew there was nothing I could do or say to put her mind at ease now.

As I waited beneath the arch, my palms were damp, and my heart was racing. I knew that my physical reaction was ridiculous. This was not a real wedding. This was not a real marriage. My brain knew that. It seemed my nervous system wasn’t aware.

With each moment that passed, second, third, and fourth thoughts crowded in my brain. Was this the right thing to do? I’d talked her into this, and guilt began to overwhelm me that. Ashley deserved a real wedding, a real marriage, and I couldn’t offer her that. Setting up this makeshift ceremony and getting her an expensive diamond ring was my way of trying to make it up to her, but I knew that it was a poor attempt.

What she really wanted…what she really deserved, I couldn’t give her.

Then the doors opened, and Ashley’s niece Luna walked out. She made her way down the steps of the deck, pretending to tossflower petals as she walked toward the arch. When she reached me, she waved. I gave her a thumbs up, and she took her place in the front row beside her mom and stepdad.

The doors closed once more, and I took a deep breath as I glanced down at the ground in an attempt, well, to ground myself. This was it. The moment had come. When I heard an audible gasp, I looked back and saw the doors were open again and Ashley was standing in the doorway. My breath caught in my throat. She looked like a living angel. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face. Her large blue eyes were outlined with dark lashes. The simple white dress she wore clung to her body and had a slit that ran up her thigh.

Sweat broke out at the base of my neck as she walked toward me. My chest got so tight I wasn’t sure I could breathe. It was so tight it felt like an elephant was sitting on it. Emotion swelled in me, and my eyes began to fill with tears. I lifted my hand and quickly wiped the moisture with my forefinger and thumb before anyone noticed.

Logically, I knew this wasn’t real. But for some reason, that was not how I was feeling. Emotionally, this feltveryreal.

When she stopped in front of me, I could barely breathe, much less speak or think.

“You look beautiful.” The words were strained with emotion.

“You don’t have to say that,” she whispered. “And you didn’t have to do all this. I only wanted to do it here and not at the courthouse so my sister could be here because…she’s my sister.”

“You may be seated,” Jimmy Comfort announced. “Declan and Ashley have asked that I keep this short and sweet, so that’s exactly what I plan to do. Declan, repeat after me: I, Declan Xavier Wolfe, take you, Ashley Nicole Thompson, to be my lawfully wedded wife.”

“I, Declan Xavier Wolfe, take you, Ashley Nicole Thompson, to be my lawfully wedded wife.”

Jimmy continued, “To have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and health.”

“To have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and health.”

“To be faithful to you, to protect, honor, and respect you.”

“To be faithful to you, to protect, honor, and respect you,” I repeated.

“To support your dreams, goals, and visions, to be your partner and confidant.”

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