Page 29 of 40 and Flashing (the Scotsman)
Laughter filled the room. Scarlett watched her friend, thinking about how similar they were—neither of them had married in their younger years; both of them had long-term careers, but no children. Both were content with those areas of their life, even if their romantic lives had been lacking when they met the person they wanted to be with.
WhenLilymet the person she wanted to be with, of course. Lily. Not Scarlett.
And yet she couldn’t help thinking that this morning had felt completely natural, that her time with Gavin had been the smoothest she’d ever experienced in a romantic relationship. But this was temporary, right? He would leave for Scotland tomorrow, and she would be here in Black Wolf’s Bluff, writing her stories, living her life. She could be content doing that forever.
So why did her chest ache at the thought of Gavin leaving?
The three bridesmaids worked on their makeup together, fixed each other’s hair, and donned their dresses before turning their attention to Lily’s wedding gown. Knowing they would be outside in December, Lily had chosen a strapless dress that fitted her body all the way down to her thighs, where it flared out into a ball gown. The top would be covered during the ceremony with a faux fur coat of creamy white, keeping her warm and beautiful in the chill air.
Once Lily was ready, they sneaked out into the yard for pictures. Sooo many pictures. The photographer shooed the bridesmaids away when they were done, and led JD out for the first look at his bride. Though it was a private moment, Claire and Erin and Scarlett looked on from the upstairs window, and there was definitely some makeup repair that had to take place after that.
More pictures followed, with the groomsmen coming out in their black tuxes, smart and sexy, to pair with the bridesmaids. Gavin in a tux was devastatingly handsome. The flutter in her belly when she saw him, his curls falling over his forehead, his grin, flirty and focused only on her, had her thinking back to those moments watching Lily upstairs. What if she and Gavin weren’t short-term? What if there might be more for them just as there had been for each of her friends? Was it even possible?
And just like before, she shoved the thoughts away. Now was the time to focus on Lily and JD. Their wedding. Their future. She could think about herself—and Gavin—later.
ChapterTwelve
Lily was beautiful. JD’s gaze came to rest on her at the end of the aisle, and Gavin could tell instantly that this moment in time would be a perfect memory for both of them. No fear. No worry. No shallow lust that wouldn’t last the week. Just a deep, abiding love and desire that shone from their eyes in a way he’d never seen before.
When tears welled up in JD’s eyes, Gavin knew he was right.
Linc laid a hand on JD’s shoulder, his firm grip steadying their friend. In front of Gavin, Carter surreptitiously swiped a hand over his face. Across the aisle from them, where the bridesmaids were lined up, Gavin could see Claire dabbing at her eyes. Erin beamed, watching her friend walk slowly down the aisle. But when Gavin’s eyes reached Scarlett, she wasn’t looking at JD, and she wasn’t looking at Lily.
She was looking at him.
That look hit him full in the chest.
He wasn’t certain he could say why. He only knew that he couldn’t push it from his mind—it had been something soft, cautious, but happy. Something yearning. Something… He didn’t want to use the wordlovebecause they hadn’t known each other long enough for love, but almost like the precursor. Satisfaction and joy and friendship, all rolled into a single look.
Maybe that’s why he couldn’t describe it, because it was too many things at once. Too many things that made his chest feel funny. And at the same time, too many things that felt just right.
After a short discussion of the joys of a wedding on a white Christmas day, the judge performing the ceremony led Lily and JD in their vows, then in the exchange of rings. A Christmas hymn came next, then a prayer. When JD kissed his bride, the room erupted, only to quiet down when the judge asked the couple to turn and face the audience. Holding hands, JD and Lily turned, and the biggest smiles that Gavin thought he’d ever seen broke out across their faces.
“May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. John David and Lillian Ann Lane.”
The crowd stood, everyone clapping, as Lily and JD made their way back down the aisle. At the end they disappeared into the house for their first moments together as a newly married couple, alone. Gavin thought they better enjoy it, given the enthusiasm of the crowd. They might not have a moment to themselves once they came back out.
Lincoln stepped up to the podium and directed the well-wishers into the next tent over for “a feast to be remembered,” and then he took Claire’s hand and walked her back down the aisle. Carter approached Erin, and hands clasped, they followed.
And then it was his turn. Gavin stepped forward, gaze locked on Scarlett, and reached for her hand. She stepped forward, her velvet gown swishing and swaying with her steps, and reached for him. When their fingers touched, a surge of pleasure shot up his arm. Pleasure and satisfaction. Joy and friendship. All the things he’d seen in Scarlett’s eyes, surging through his heart as he entwined his fingers with hers.
For a moment he froze, captivated by that feeling. Scarlett smiled up at him, green eyes dazzling. “Amazing,” he said.
She blushed.
They made their way to the back of the tent and into the house to meet Lincoln and Carter, Claire and Erin. His friends were cuddling their partners, warming them up. When Gavin and Claire entered, Carter held up his hand. “Before we get bombarded—and before Lily and JD come back from wherever they are—”
“Probably making out somewhere,” Linc suggested.
Carter chuckled, shaking his head. “Can you blame him?”
“Not a bit,” Linc declared smugly. “I intend to follow his example soon enough.”
Claire backhanded his arm.
Carter ignored the byplay. “We have an announcement.”
“We?” Gavin asked.
