Page 85 of Meant for Me
She cleared her throat. “Need me to get that for you?”
Linc was still staring. “Get what?”
She pointed to the unbuttoned cuff of his sleeve.
“Oh. Right.” He held out his burly wrist, his musky cologne subtle but powerful.
“Is that why you came?” She fumbled with the button, her fingers shaky.
“Partly.” His voice was low, his skin warm against her fingers. Why couldn’t she operate her hands? “And partly because Cade sent me to check on you ladies.”
“Cade?” Seriously, it was like she’d never buttoned a button before. Zoey squinted, tugging the fabric tighter.
“Yeah, Noah’s nervous as all get out. I think Cade figured if Noah got a report on Elisa, he’d calm down a little.”
“That’s sweet.”
“Sweet?” Linc scoffed. “Nothing to be nervous about. He needs to just man up and get down the aisle.”
“Is that what you did?” Zoey raised her eyebrow at him, fingers pausing over his wrist. “Manned up and got down the aisle?”
“That was different.”
“Right.” Their wedding had beenverydifferent—a fact she kept trying to distract herself from, to no avail. Here, there were candles, and flower arrangements, and formal gowns. A decorated arch to stand under. Friends to stand with.
No robed judge or courthouse in sight.
But Zoey found her smile before it got away, squared her shoulders. She was happy for her friends—they deserved a dream day. Noah and Elisa were marrying for love. Zoey and Linc had married for friendship, for need.
No reason to compare their situations when they were beyond comparison. So what if Linc thought she looked pretty in her dress? Nothing had changed.
Just like he wanted.
There, finally. She patted his buttoned cuff. “Report to Cade—and Noah—that all is well. We’ll see you guys in there.” She took a step back.
“Great.” Linc started back down the hall, toward the men’s Sunday school room, then stopped. Turned. “Oh, and Zoey?”
She waited, one hand on the door frame. “Yeah?”
“I realize we didn’t have an aisle at the courthouse, but for the record…” The corner of his mouth lifted. “There was no ‘manning up’ required.”
Then he turned and disappeared around the corner.
Leaving her with her expectations decidedly more wrinkled.
* * *
This wedding was getting to his head.
Or maybe Zoey was.
Linc tapped his fork in rhythm to the live band playing from the stage. The reception hall, a venue on the outskirts of Magnolia Bay, was bursting with people, all dancing, laughing, eating cake. Sadie, Harper, and Mrs. Peters sat at a circular table laden with floral centerpieces, while Trish, wearing a form-fitting halter dress, stood nearby, batting her eyelashes at Sawyer Dubois, who was attempting to ignore her while talking to Owen.
Elisa’s dad, Isaac, helped himself to the buffet with August Bowman and Miley. Sheriff Rubart had shed his typical uniform tonight and stood off to the side of the stage, mouthing along the words to the trendy pop song. It was as if the whole town had turned out to see the age-old family feud of the Bergerons and the Heberts officially come to an end.
And in the center of the tiled dance floor, Noah and Elisa swayed, her head resting contentedly on his chest.
Had to admit, they were a great couple—brought out the best in each other.
