Chapter 12
As Mendelson’s “Wedding March” played, Wade swallowed hard. Surely, the tightness in his throat was just part of the act. Until Claire walked in and her gaze locked on his. Then his heart thundered, and the gazebo-shaped tent shrank as his world narrowed to her and her alone.
She started down the aisle, her arm linked with her dad’s as he pushed his walker.
The tent could be on fire right now, and Wade wouldn’t shift his gaze from her.
She moved with effortless grace. Her white dress swayed, and even though he’d seen her in it before, it felt like the first time.
Her curls framed her face beneath a simple band, and her smile outshone the fairy lights strung around the tent, leaving him breathless.
Her bouquet of Valentine’s-red peonies accented with green leaves, white roses, and baby’s breath mirrored the boutonnieres he and his brothers wore on their cream-colored suits.
“You sure this is all fake?” His brother Rohan smirked beside him.
Wade forced his jaw to close and fiddled with his bow tie, which now felt suffocating. “Whose idea were these bow ties?”
“Let’s not blame the best man.…” Whatever else Rohan said, Wade didn’t catch as Claire narrowed the distance between them.
This was supposed to be an arrangement. Maybe if he repeated the words in his mind, they’d stick.
Sure, he’d loved kissing her for the photos, and none of that felt like a stage kiss.
When she stopped in front of him, the mellow contentment of her gaze had his palms moist and his pulse racing even more than their kiss had.
He’d never felt this way about anyone. Could it be because this was Claire?
The one girl he’d known to be off-limits and marriage-worthy.
She turned and passed her bouquet to Irina. Her father squeezed her other hand before stepping back and offering Wade a nod. Wade took Claire’s hand. Warm and soft, it fit perfectly in his palm. “You look beautiful.”
Her lips curved at the corners. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
The lace traced her shoulders, exposing some of her skin but not too much. And that glow in her eyes left no room for him to assume she doubted anything about what they were doing today.
During last night’s rehearsal, Wade told the pastor they didn’t need counseling when he offered it and speculated on the rush to get married.
Now, standing before his family and friends, Wade couldn’t help but wonder if committing to even a single day of marriage counseling might be a good idea.
The tent was cozy yet spacious, holding nearly a hundred guests, mostly his family and family friends, while Claire’s side was far smaller—her dad and three close friends, two of whom stood opposite Wade’s two siblings as part of the wedding party.
As Wade’s nieces and nephews passed Bella around, each one holding her like a cherished treasure, her contentment made him wonder if she knew how much she was loved already.
Then the music faded. Murmurs rippled through the guests before the pastor invited everyone to take their seats.
The pastor began the ceremony with a prayer, and the familiar words took on a new weight as Claire’s fingers wrapped around his.
For the first time, Wade had an excuse to truly look at her, no more stolen glances.
Her long lashes framed light-green eyes that seemed to shimmer with a hint of gold under the lights.
And the way she looked at him? It wasn’t just infatuation.
It was the kind of love that had been there long before he’d stopped seeing her as a sister figure.
That terrified him. He liked her—a lot—but love? Would he fall for her the way she clearly had for him? Would he ever feel the kind of connection that made being around her something he’d never tire of? Who said anything about love?
Yet, somehow, this moment felt real, an unexpected and undeniable beginning. Still, a quiet fear whispered it might not last.
The pastor’s voice became a hum, words like to have and to hold and from this day forward hit differently now coming from Wade’s lips. This was a promise he was supposed to be making in full honesty. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he meant every single word. At least… for now.
At the pastor’s prompting, he slipped the ring onto her finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Claire’s fingers trembled as she took his hand, slid the cool metal onto his warm finger, and repeated his words back to him.
This marriage was a commitment, even if their reasons were unconventional, and this was a promise he intended to keep.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The pastor’s voice swelled with finality. “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Wade’s pulse spiked. His gaze met Claire’s, and the pastor’s next words sent a shiver down his spine. “You may kiss your bride.”
He’d kissed her two days ago with only the photographer as their audience. Okay, at the restaurant too, but they were strangers.
Claire blinked as if also battling the scenario.
But they had to prove to their friends, family, and everyone watching that their love was now real.
He bent his head and cupped her face between his hands.
He meant for it to be tender, a brief touch to sell the act.
But when her lips met his, it felt natural—too natural.
Her mouth was warm and inviting. Her hands slid around his waist and pulled him closer with a confidence that stole his breath.
His fingers glided over her neck, tangling in her hair, the delicate strands catching against the sharp edge of her headband.
She rose onto her tiptoes, melting into him, every movement unplanned and electric.
Her lips carried a faint, sweet taste of berries that made his head spin. Nothing about this kiss felt staged. It was real—too real. The thrill of it sent a shiver down his spine, chased by a pang of fear. It wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Yet here he was, struggling to catch his breath.
“Goodness, what a kiss!” one of his brothers muttered nearby, and Wade jerked back. The world snapped into focus, and applause erupted. His heart was still pounding as he looked down at Claire, her cheeks flushed, her breaths shallow and quick.
Her fingers found their way to her mouth, her smile hidden beneath them.
Her cheeks remained flushed, reflecting the way he felt.
That was—well, he wasn’t sure what that was.
It felt more real than any scene he’d ever played, any kiss he’d ever rehearsed.
His mind spun, unable to reconcile the raw, electric moment with the reality of their arrangement.
But that kiss felt anything but temporary.
As they faced their guests, he leaned in, his words meant for her ears alone. “That felt…”
“Real,” she whispered, a slight shiver in her voice as her dazed eyes met his. The same whirlwind stirring him mirrored his reflection in those eyes.
The clapping and cheering swelled as their guests rose from their seats. An unstoppable grin stretched his lips so wide it almost hurt. He slid an arm around her waist and snugged her close. “For the photos.”
Not exactly. Toby had his entire team filming and taking photos of the event, but none of that mattered right now, save for the woman who fit perfectly against him.
Was this what weddings did? Created a thrill, an excitement, and a longing for love?
Claire felt like the beginning of something achingly real—a future he’d never dared hope for.
But was he ready for that future?