Page 7 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

Bennett nodded his head to the crowd as another round of applause rang out.

"At the Carrington Hospitality Group," Victor continued, "we've always believed our resorts should feel like a home away from home, and our fellow travelers and hosts should feel like family. So, this weekend, we're all going to be family. And we're going to celebrate the beautiful love story that Lauren and Andrew have found together. We want this new resort to be the site of many more happy weddings to come. We appreciate that Lauren and Andrew are giving us a chance to start with them. Now, Andrew, would you like to say a few words?"

I was happy Victor had called for Andrew instead of me.

Andrew let go of my hand to shake Victor's. Then he moved to the microphone and sent his dazzling smile around the room. "Lauren and I are grateful and honored to be having our wedding at this beautiful new resort. As Victor mentioned, we truly feel like we're part of the Carrington family, and we want you to know how appreciative we are. To the resort staff and to the company employees who have helped create this magical time, you are all amazing, the best of the best. To our friends and family who have made the trek here, we can't tell you how lucky we feel to have you be a part of this."

He paused for a moment, turning to two women standing off to the side. "We want to give a special shout-out to Megan Farris and Jeanette Bilson, who have put in long hours before tonight, and I'm sure will put in many more long hours before this weekend is over. You are truly making this our dream wedding. Thank you."

As the crowd clapped once more, Andrew turned to me and held out his hand.

I stepped forward, feeling anxious, shaky, and more than a little relieved when his fingers tightened around mine.

"And to my beautiful bride," he said, gazing at me, "who is making me the happiest man on earth, I can't wait to see what our future brings."

He gave me a kiss as our guests cheered once more.

As he ended our kiss, he added, "We'll have more toasts later in the evening. But for now, please enjoy your meal."

The music ensemble in the corner of the room began to play quietly as Andrew ushered me to our table and pulled out my chair. He was always such a gentleman.

"You didn't want to say anything, Lauren?" Harper asked as I sat down next to her.

I shook my head. "I'm happy to let others do the talking. It was very nice of Victor to be here to welcome everyone."

"He's definitely taking a personal interest in this event," Harper commented as she sipped her wine. "But it's not surprising. He's invited a lot of industry media here, so he needs to be front and center."

The reminder of the media present sent another wave of anxiety through me. I dreaded the thought of the photos and interviews ahead, but I wasn't going to think about those now. Putting my napkin in my lap, I smiled at our friends.

Sitting next to Harper was my other bridesmaid, Jamie Trent, and her fiancé Brad Stevens. On the other side of Brad was Andrew's best man Colin McCallum, who was on his own this weekend. Filling out the table was Jay Hollingsworth, who was with a woman named Dana. Apparently, she was someone he'd just started dating, which was why I hadn't met her before tonight. Both Colin and Jay worked with Andrew at his real-estate development company.

"This wine is fantastic," Colin said as he held up his glass of red wine. "The Carringtons are pulling out all the stops for you two."

"They've been very generous," Andrew agreed. "It's probably because Lauren is one of their best employees."

"It's all about the marketing campaign," I said hastily. "That's why everything is so good. It's not about me."

"It's a little about you," Harper said dryly. "It's not like they offered Jamie the wedding of a lifetime. She's engaged, too. This could have been her dream wedding."

My gaze swung to Jamie, a short brunette who was far more easygoing and positive than Harper. But tonight, her smile looked forced.

"I already had my venue selected when this all started, and I'm having a much bigger guest list," Jamie said. "This is perfect for you, Lauren. I have no hard feelings about it. I wouldn't have felt comfortable getting married as part of a promotion, not that this isn't amazing. And I'm thrilled I can help make this weekend special for you both. I want it to be perfect."

"It will be perfect," Andrew interjected, putting his hand on my thigh, sensing I probably needed the comfort of his touch.

He was so good at reading my feelings. I didn't even have to say anything most of the time; he just knew what to do. And that's why it didn't matter that I didn't know half the people in this room, because I knew him. All I had to do was eat a delicious meal and enjoy myself. I really didn't need to worry about anything else.

The dinner was wonderful, as expected, and after dessert, there were fun toasts from Harper and Colin, both of which recapped our first meet and our whirlwind love affair. After that, Megan and Bennett introduced us to the media, both traditional industry press, as well as travel bloggers and influencers. Most of those conversations were brief, with promises of a longer chat over the next few days. Eventually, the room began to clear, and we were able to call it a night.

As Andrew and I left the restaurant and walked hand in hand through the lush grounds of the resort, I felt my stress ease. It was a beautiful starry night with a temp in the low sixties and the crashing ocean waves adding a reassuring and calming cadence.

"It's nice out here," I murmured.

"The weather gods want this weekend to be perfect, too," Andrew said lightly.

I gave him a smile. "I'm beginning to worry we've saidperfecttoo many times. I don't want to jinx anything."

"That would be impossible." He paused, turning to look at me. "I wish I could help you feel more relaxed, Lauren."

---