Page 28 of Chasing Trouble
They all clapped and cheered again as Mac took his bride and went down the aisle of the church and out the front door.
***
“WHERE ARE WE GOING?”Whitney asked, breathless at the speed he was rushing her out.
“On our honeymoon,” he growled, whisking her towards his Land Rover.
“But...I haven’t even met your mother or your sister,” she protested.
“You’ll have plenty of time for that, they are planning a huge reception soon.For now, I get you to myself.”
Whitney tripped over a rock in the parking lot, and Mac lifted her into his arms and carried her to the Land Rover.“What honeymoon?We haven’t talked about a honeymoon, we’ve barely gotten married,” she complained as he opened the car door and placed her carefully on the seat.What in the world was the man thinking?She’d never been to a wedding where the groom virtually kidnapped the bride.
He came around and climbed in, then turned to face her.“Do you trust me, honey?”he asked intently.
She gazed up at him, her heart softening.“Of course, I trust you.I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t trust you.But I’m beginning to think you’ve gone mad.”
Mac hesitated for a moment, then he spoke.“Whitney, I love you.You’ll never know how much it means to me that you decided to take a chance on me.I thought I’d totally blown it yesterday.My mother and my sister both assured me I didn’t deserve you, and that you wouldn’t show up.”His voice cracked slightly.
Her heart melted into a pile of mush.“Of course, I couldn’t stay away.I’m afraid I love you, too, even though you make me furious sometimes.”
His eyebrow shot up.“Afraid?That’s reassuring.”
She laughed and punched him on the arm.“How else am I supposed to feel after just three days?”
“So...you processed it?”he asked delicately.
“Let’s just say that I’m either in love or need to have my head examined, because I couldn’t refuse to marry you today.I cared too much not to show up,” she teased.
“And the three months?”
“Under negotiation.”
“For how long?”He purred into her ear.
“Until you can convince me otherwise.”
He stared.“Oh, no.You aren’t getting by with that, Whitney Ann Wainwright.Before tonight is over, you’ll be seducing me.”
She shook her head and bit his ear.“Not happening, Romeo.”
Mac grinned salaciously and started the Land Rover.
“Where are we going for our honeymoon?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.
“Well...I might have made reservations at the Bobcat Lodge in Bannister just in case you changed your mind.”
Her eyes widened, and then she giggled.“Ah, you must have phone service at your place.”
“Yes, of course,” he agreed.
“Were you that sure of yourself?”she teased.
He threw his tie in the back seat.“Hell no!I wasn’t sure of anything.I just wanted to be prepared for a best-case scenario.”
She reached up and gently palmed his face.“Would you really have written me off if I hadn’t come?”she asked softly.
“Not completely,” he admitted.“I wouldn’t be able just to turn off my feelings, Whitney, but I do have my pride.I know I said I’d come and get you at first, but when you let me leave like that, I knew if you didn’t come, then you must not want me after all.If anything were to change after that, it would be up to you.I won’t force myself on anyone.”
