Chapter 27
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
PENNY
V ancouver hits different in the summer. It’s still a beautiful city, but it's not the same without the death-defying snowstorm and staying in a musty room equipped for toilet paper storage.
Sliding my hands over my mop of curls, I put it in a side ponytail as Gunner speeds down the country road that leads back into the city. The sun shines bright as we pass mountains blanketed in evergreens. Driving a Jeep with its soft cover top off is not good for my hair or my skin. I pull my light jacket over my shoulders.
“Cold?” Gunner questions.
“No. Trying not to get burnt. I don’t want to spend our honeymoon in pain.”
“Damn. Sorry, babe. I keep forgetting I’m married to a ginger.” He chuckles. “Maybe this wasn’t the best choice of vehicles.”
I look at Gunner and his perfectly tanned skin. “It’s okay. It’s easy for those with the ability to tan to forget.” The statement isn’t said in anger but truth. Those who weren’t born with pale skin don’t realize the torture that is the sun. “At least we’re north and not honeymooning in the Caribbean or something. If we were there, I’d be doing nothing but swimming in sunscreen.” I turn to the side and lean my face against the headrest, taking in my gorgeous husband. “It was nice to see Frank and Alice, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was.” He smiles. “They’re like family, almost. You know?”
I nod. “Well, they played an important role in our life. They didn’t seem surprised when we told them we were married.”
“No, they didn’t.”
“Come to think of it, most of the people we know weren’t shocked at all.”
“I guess they saw something we were too stubborn to see.”
“True.” I absentmindedly rub the ring on my finger. I can’t get enough of it. I’ve only worn it for a week, but feeling the weight on my finger makes me so happy.
Gunner and I wasted no time getting married. The day after he proposed, we applied for our marriage license and married two days later in the courthouse. It was a simple ceremony with Iris and Cade as our witnesses. Now, we’re on our honeymoon in the place it all started for us.
I was serious when I said I didn’t want the pomp and circumstance of a big, elaborate wedding. Heck, I didn’t even want the minimal effort required to plan a backyard wedding. I spend my days attached to my calendar, planning events for a living. I wanted a marriage that was effortless… just me and him. No coordinating with vendors, invites to be sent, decisions on colors or cakes to be made—none of it. All that matters is that Gunner is mine, and I am his.
Thankfully, he wanted the same.
I’m sure Iris will plan a dinner with our Crane family to celebrate when we get back, and we’re cool with that because we’re already married.
We could’ve waited a bit to marry, but neither of us saw the point. It’s hard to wait to start your forever, so we didn’t. I don’t have a doubt in my mind about this marriage. It was all very… kismet. Who knows? It could’ve been our mothers in heaven pulling the strings and orchestrating it all. Everything happened the way it needed to happen to bring us together. There’s no doubt that a greater power was at play. The how doesn’t matter as much as the now. My now—this life with Gunner—is everything.
I truly never thought I’d get this lucky or be this happy.
“What did it feel like being back in that room again?” I ask, remembering the curious looks on Frank’s and Alice’s faces when we asked to revisit our previous quarters.
The glorified storage closet where we were holed up for three days was the same as it was last winter. The only difference was the lack of snowdrifts against the windows. The same chaotic piles of boxes, musty smell, and one double-sized bed were exactly as I remembered.
“Honestly?” he huffs out a laugh. “That room made me horny as hell.”
Giggles explode, and I nod my head. “Same. What is wrong with us?”
He shrugs. “We had some great times in that room. Had we not, we wouldn’t be here now.”
“I know. I almost wanted to ask to stay there. Almost.”
“Just hold on to that feeling for a few more minutes, and I’ll make you forget all about that room.” He reaches his hand over and rubs my thigh. My body immediately tingles.
He’s right. Our chemistry is an inferno, no matter where we are. The penthouse suite overlooking the city of Vancouver and the beautiful blue water below is a much better spot for a romantic honeymoon. But the dingy little motel room will always hold fond memories.
The only plans I made surrounding these nuptials was this honeymoon. With a quick Google search, I made a list of some fun summer activities we could do here in Vancouver, and Gunner booked the suite.
True to form, once we get back to the hotel, we don’t leave our suite until we fly back to Michigan. We don’t explore the city at all or experience any of the activities I planned. We remain in our room wrapped up in one another for the entire week. Much like our first stay in Vancouver, we communicate with few words, but our bodies feel everything. Admittedly, the accommodations are better this time. There’s no cardboard smell, and the room service is phenomenal.
Our stay in that motel back in February will always hold a special place in my heart. But this stay takes the cake. Because this time, when we check out, I won’t lose him or this connection. This time, when he brings my body to ultimate satisfaction, he does so completely in love with me as I am with him.
Chemistry is great, but love is everything.
With Gunner, I have both.
And I always will.