Page 22 of Five Mistletoe Moments
“Oh, my goodness. Talk about job security,” Alana said.
“I didn’t think that at first because the company had a no frat policy. We dated secretly for four months before going public.”
Mia shook her head. “Wow, that had to be hard.”
“It was.” She smiled over at Dwayne. “But worth every minute.” She turned back. “So, I heard you guys are planning a Christmas wedding.”
“Yes. It’s my favorite holiday. And this house looks like a winter wonderland.”
“I think it’s the perfect spot for a wedding.” Valencia leaned forward. “Why wait until next Christmas? You two can get married here today.”
She laughed her off. “Oh, that’s funny.”
“I’m serious. Did I mention that two days after we went public, Dwayne proposed to me?” She pointed to a deck outside in the expansive backyard. “Right there on that deck. We were married five minutes later.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Nope. New Year’s Day. It was the perfect start to the year and you and Dwight can have the perfect ending.”
Mia’s head was spinning. “You can’t just up and get married like that. Don’t you need some sort of blood test? It takes days…weeks…to get an appointment for a marriage license.”
Valencia waved a dismissive hand. “I had those same arguments and guess what? You don’t need blood tests, you can petition to get an amended marriage certificate since you don’t have a license, and you can have a bigger ceremony later like we did. As far as someone to perform the ceremony…I guarantee it’s covered. And did I mention the best part?”
She was afraid to ask, but did anyway. “What?”
“Two wedding nights and two honeymoons?” Valencia held up two fingers and wiggled them. “That sealed the deal for me,” she added with a huge smile.
She couldn’t even process what this woman was saying.
Alana clapped. “Sounds good to me. Anybody who can meet, date, fall in love and accept a marriage proposal within a month might as well go all the way. Girl, go get your man.”
“I can’t just…that’s crazy.”
“No crazier than all that stuff I just listed. Do you or don’t you love Dwight?”
“Of course I do.”
“And didn’t you change your flight yesterday because you weren’t ready to end your time with him?”
“If I’d known you’d be throwing all this back in my face, I wouldn’t have told you anything,” Mia grumbled. “Your best friend card is in serious jeopardy right now.”
“No, it’s not,” Alana countered. “Because we’ve always been straight up and want the best for each other, and that man standing outside is who’s best for you. Like Valencia said, we can do it big sometime next year. And you heard Mom. Besides, it takes the heat off us.”
She had to smile at that. Joanne Black had been trying, unsuccessfully, to get her remaining four children to the altar. The only exception was Alana’s oldest brother, who’d lost his wife a couple of years ago.
“Well?” Valencia asked. “Trust me when I tell you this family will be all in. They don’t do anything by half. And since you just happen to be wearing the cream sweater and slacks I picked out, you’re all set.”
Mia eyed the woman. “Somehow, I don’t think that was random.”
“You would be correct.” She gave Mia a smug smile.
Might as well not let all her hard work go to waste.It stunned Mia that she was actually considering it. The more she thought about it, the more she warmed up to the idea. But then she’d have to quit her job, pack up and move…live in thatfabuloushouse with the out-of-this-world kitchen, wake up every morning next to Dwight… “I’ll ask him.”
“Yes!” Alana and Valencia chorused, exchanging a high five.
“Wait. What if Dwight wants to wait? I don’t even have a ring for him.”
Alana lifted a brow. “This is the same man who plotted a way to take that vacation with you. He’s not going to want to wait and you know it. Quit stalling.”
