Page 29 of Claiming His Prize

The wedding coordinator poked her head into the room. “We’re ready for you now, ladies. He’s at the altar.”

“So much trouble, just to make sure I can’t see my groom,” Allison muttered as she moved toward the door.

“You were the one to insist on that,” Diana reminded her.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

As much as Allison had changed, she found she was a pretty traditional person during the wedding planning process. Fortunately, so was Todd. They had opted not to do a “First Look,” as tempting as it was. They liked the idea of her walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time. For the same reason, they hadn’t spent last night together.Allison had spent it at her parents’ house with Diana to help keep her distracted. The idea of waking up in bed with Todd on the wedding day just seemed somehow wrong. While she was sure plenty of other people enjoyed it, she wanted today to be different from other days. Waking up without Todd next to her was definitely different.

She just hadn’t realized how frustrating it would be.

They arrived outside the hall where Allison’s father was waiting, the last bridesmaid and groomsman, her friend, Mary, from work and her step-cousin, Chad, walking through the door.Diana gave her a squeeze and then got into position, stepping forward when the wedding coordinator gave her the nod. As soon as Diana had stepped through, the coordinator closed the doors, so Allison and her father could get into position. He looked dashing in his tux, and she was glad her mother had insisted he wear one rather than a black suit, which he thought he would have preferred.

She curled her hand over her father’s elbow, her heart pounding as she stared at the doors in front of her.

“I’m very proud of you,” her father said, barely loud enough for her to hear. “I don’t think I say that often enough.”

Blinking through the tears forming in her eyes, Allison looked up at him, feeling as if she might actually fall apart.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Are you ready?”

Emotion surged, and her throat closed up. She couldn’t find the words to speak, so she just nodded. They both looked at the wedding coordinator, who gave Allison an encouraging smile and knocked lightly on the door, and her helpers swung them open.

The room was filled with people, who all turned and stood, blocking most of her view, but at the very end of the aisle, she could see him.Her vision seemed to surge, and she took in a deep breath, knowing this next step was going to be the first one into the next part of her life. The white runner shone against the dark red of the carpet, clearer than any yellow brick road. As her father tugged her forward, she was barely aware of anything but the man standing ahead of her, waiting for her to come to him and pledge to be his forever.

* * *

“Well, Mrs. Allison Rinald? What do you think?” Todd asked as he maneuvered her around the dance floor. The lessons her mother had insisted on had been a complete waste, Allison decided. Todd was moving great, but even wearing a long skirt to the lessons hadn’t prepared Allison to dance in aweddingdress. Between the layers and the hint of train, even bustling her dress couldn’t completely get rid of, she wasn’t moving at all like she was supposed to.

“I think we should have had a morning wedding.”

Laughing, Todd twirled her around, and she did her best not to trip.One good thing about her wedding dress, people probably weren’t aware she was missing her steps because there was no way they could see her feet. As long as she didn’t trip, no one would know anything was amiss—hopefully.

“I missed you too, Princess,” he said as he pulled her in tightly, the cheers and catcalls from around the dance floor melding into general noise. Despite the fact they were the center of attention, it was the most private moment they’d had in three days, and Allison was relishing it. It was a good thing she did. After their first dance together, they didn’t have another private moment for the rest of the reception.

It had taken the wedding coordinator’s professional acumen to get them to the first area where they’d be taking pictures. One could argue, they had time for a few private words while the photographer was taking pictures of just the two of them, but they also had a photographer and an audience. The entire situation had been absurd, sending them into random fits of giggles, which made for some wonderful wedding photos. The wedding coordinator hustled them into place to enter the reception.

The first dance was followed by much-needed sustenance, speeches between the salad and entrée courses, which they had to scarf down, so they could walk around and greet their guests. They finally made it back to the dance floor, but it was very crowded, and everyone wanted a turn dancing with the bride and groom. Even when they did manage to come together, they were surrounded by people watching them—this time, from a few inches away rather than the edge of the dance floor, but that didn’t dim Allison’s happiness.

Blissful energy seemed to overflow from her and Todd, leaking out across the room, infecting everyone. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t have a smile on their face, and to Allison’s shock, her mother and father joined the crowded dance floor, even after the music changed from big band to more current offerings.Her dad obviously had no idea how to dance to modern music, but he seemed to enjoy trying, and she was even happier, she’d insisted on the wedding being only friends and family.She didn’t think he would have cracked his usual stodgy veneer if any important acquaintances had been invited. His boss was also on the dance floor, which seemed to give free rein to the few employees invited.

Grinning, Allison turned back to Todd, tipping her head back for a kiss. They couldn’t truly indulge, in the middle of the dance floor, but it was better than nothing.

After leaving the ceremony, Allison was so overcome with happiness, she’d accidentally left Diana standing there, holding her bouquet rather than taking it back from her. She and Todd had only had time for one private moment of staring into each other’s eyes before their bridal party joined them, followed swiftly by the rest of their guests, and of course, everyone wanted to say congratulations.

EPILOGUE

Todd pressed her against the wall, the moment they got into their hotel room.

“Finally,” he said, letting out his breath as he pressed his lips against hers. They’d ended up running by the time they reached the hallway to their room, giggling madly like little kids as they escaped the mass of people who had wanted to give them one last hug or word of congratulations. How was it possible, people didn’t realize newlyweds would want to escape to their wedding night? Every second of waiting had seemed like an eternity.

His lips devoured hers, a needy intensity more intimate and meaningful than any other kiss they’d shared. His hands were tight on her hips, drawing her against him, her thighs parted just enough to cradle him in her softness.Allison steadied herself on his shoulders, moaning as his lips left hers and moved down the sensitive skin of her neck, salty and sweet from dancing. With half-hooded eyes, her head turned, and her eyes widened.

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