Chapter 7 #2
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.”
“I hated to let you leave like that; it broke my heart when you didn’t come back,” she confessed. “But I didn’t blame you; I was being pretty weird. I had a tough day, and I just needed some time. I do get a bit irrational at times, so that you know in the future.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he chuckled. “Come on, let’s get out of here before people come looking for us.”
“Mac, I don’t even have a bag or a change of underwear with me,” she protested.
“The lodge has plenty of shops, and you can get what you need there. I’ll have to pick up a change of clothes, too.”
“But what about your mother and your sister?”
“They can find their own ride,” he growled. “Especially after all they put me through since last night. Serves them right.”
“And I thought I was the crazy one,” she giggled, sliding up under his arm. “I fell in love with you, Mac. I had to come. The thought of never seeing you again was a feeling I failed to process. Didn’t want to process. No matter what people might say, I think I’m in love with you.”
He pulled her in close with his free arm. “I love you too, honey. I’m also glad you’re not poaching my land anymore,” he teased. “You were difficult to catch.”
“But you did catch me. You caught me poaching, and then you captured my heart.” She knew her heart must be in her eyes as she stared up at him, but she didn’t want him to have any doubts.
“And now that I have, I’ll be keeping you,” he promised.
She reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. When he deepened the kiss, she groaned and put both of her arms around his neck, trying to crawl into his lap. She whimpered when he pulled away.
“Hold off seducing me for just a little while longer, darlin’, or the folks are going to get a show they never expected,” he said hoarsely.
Panting, she seated herself properly and laid her hand on his thigh. “Then what are you waiting for? Unless you’ve decided to stay celibate for three months after all?” She arched an eyebrow in his direction.
“Remind me to spank you when we get to the lodge. I can see we need to start this marriage out properly.”
Whitney laughed and waved to her dad, Luke, and Amelia as they came out the door of the church. Caroline and Adeline were there too, but they were waving frantically at them to stop.
“I think your mother wants your attention, honey.”
Mac turned, waved cheerfully at everyone, and then kept right on going, turning left out of the parking lot and heading out of town.
Whitney giggled hysterically. “You are so bad; your mother is going to be angry with you.”
He grinned down at her with an onery look. “She’ll get over it. Especially since she finally got me married off. Her biggest complaint will be that she didn’t get to arrange the wedding. Besides, her sister lives here in town; she’s not without resources.”
Whitney snuggled in beneath Mac’s arm. He was right. People were going to think what they wanted to think, no matter how much truth stared them in the face. And it didn’t matter who seduced whom—they loved each other enough to begin a life together. The rest would grow.
And that was all that mattered.