Chapter Twenty-Six
Breathe, Amy. Just breathe.”
She felt like she was about to hyperventilate as she stood in the dressing room in the huge mansion. She’d spent the morning being pampered for her wedding day.
Her hair was up in a bun, with curls cascading down her neck and face. Her makeup had been expertly applied to erase the dark circles and highlight her eyes and mouth. Her nails were extended and painted. She didn’t even feel like herself. They’d just placed her magnificent dress on her, and she was staring in the mirror at a stranger.
Who was the girl gazing back? They’d given her a few blessed minutes to calm herself, for which she was grateful.
“It’s time, Amy,”
she heard Joseph softly call through the door before he opened it and stepped inside. His muted entrance was enough to make her turn her head. She’d never heard him speak so quietly before. He looked incredibly handsome in his tux. She definitely could see where the boys got their great looks. He was so like and yet so different from Lucas.
Joseph had aged well. The biggest difference between Joseph and Lucas was their eyes. Lucas’s eyes were always so focused and determined, where Joseph’s were surrounded by laugh lines and always had a sparkle to them. He was far more relaxed than his son. She wondered if he’d been that way his entire life or if there’d been a time he’d held that same focused look.
As he approached, he kissed her sweetly on the cheek.
“I’m so glad to finally have a daughter in the family. You’re beautiful inside and out.”
He wrapped his large arms around her in a gentle hug, his words meaning so much more to her than he could ever imagine. He had no clue how much she needed to be included in a loving family. She’d give up any amount of money to be loved the way Joseph loved his children. She was getting just a small piece of that now, and she didn’t ever want to let it go.
“With your own father not here, I wanted you to know I’d be more than honored if you’d allow me to walk you down the aisle.”
Amy’s eyes were burning as she replied.
“It would be my honor to have you escort me. You’re the kind of father I always dreamed of having.”
She couldn’t say anything further because she got entirely too choked up as she looked into his kind eyes. He pulled her close for another hug, and she clung to him, hoping he’d never let go. She’d been so careful all her life not to get too attached to people, and yet, in a few short months, she was falling in love with an entire family.
“Now, now, you don’t want to get all teary-eyed and ruin your makeup. I don’t think my son could handle any delays. He’s already pacing up and down the hallway. The preacher just led him to his spot at the altar,”
Joseph chuckled. Amy had her doubts about that but didn’t argue with him.
She took one final look in the mirror and then a fortifying breath.
“I’m ready.”
She took hold of Joseph’s arm and let him lead her from the waiting room. Music filled the air as they stepped through the doorway.
She gasped, and the only thing that kept her from running back the direction they’d come was Joseph gripping her arm.
“I thought only a few people would be here,”
she whispered.
“Now, Amy, don’t be frightened. My oldest son’s finally getting married, and we couldn’t hurt people’s feelings by not including them in the affair,”
he said, making her feel guilty about her minor outburst.
Amy took a calming breath, ready to panic as they took the first few steps down the beautifully decorated aisle. She looked straight ahead, because she feared if she faced the strangers, she’d turn around and run.
She spotted Lucas standing on a stage, just a short distance from her. He took her breath away with how beautiful a man he was. Their eyes met and held. He gave her a smile that seemed to tell her everything would be okay.
Amy felt like the wind had been knocked out of her and she had to stop to catch her breath. Joseph looked at her quizzically, but she didn’t notice. She didn’t notice anything but the way her body quivered.
She didn’t know how or when it happened, but somehow in the midst of their time together, he’d become an unstoppable force in her life. He was arrogant and bossy, demanding and pig-headed. He was also kind and gentle, giving and loving. He was the kind of man she didn’t think existed.
He was also about to be her husband, but he didn’t love her.
With the knowledge of living a life with the man she loved, knowing he’d never love her back, she didn’t know how she was going to get through the wedding. How could she be with him every day, making love and raising a child, all the while knowing he didn’t love her? She’d slowly wither to nothing.
Joseph prompted her, and she finally began to walk forward. She had to fight to keep the tears away.
Maybe he’ll eventually fall in love with me, she tried to comfort herself. If he thought she’d somehow trapped him into the marriage, how would he ever trust her, much less love her? He knew she hadn’t planned the pregnancy, but he was honorable in doing what was right for his child and, therefore, he’d always feel like he was trapped.
There was nothing she could do at the moment, so she’d continue down the aisle and get the wedding over with. She was a strong person. She’d just have to store away her love and try to survive as best she could.
Lucas felt a moment of panic as Amy stopped halfway down the aisle. Was she going to turn and run? He wouldn’t let her get far. He knew how badly she wanted her baby and, as much as it hurt him to trap her, he couldn’t let them go. In the months he’d known her, she’d invaded his every sense, and he couldn’t picture his future without her in it.
He breathed a sigh of relief as they began walking toward him again. When his father placed her hand in his and she stepped up to stand beside him, a quiet calm washed over him. He had her in his arms, and he wasn’t letting go.
He barely heard the preacher speaking. He focused just enough to repeat the words he needed to say; otherwise, his mind was consumed by his beautiful bride.
She was a vision. He’d dated models and heiresses. He’d been with far more women than he should’ve, but none of them had been able to cause the tightening in his gut that Amy did. She had a natural beauty that outshone the brightest stars of Hollywood.
He’d move heaven and earth to have her as his wife forever. He was slowly falling in love with her. If she knew of his feelings, she’d know she had the power to make him drop to his knees and beg her for mercy. That had happened to him once, and only once, several years ago, and he wouldn’t let it happen again.
His mother and father were the only examples of true love he knew of. Every other couple he knew was together for what the other could bring them. It was just easier that way. If he gave Amy power over him, she’d slowly whittle him to nothing. He wouldn’t let that happen.
He wouldn’t let her destroy him. He’d be a good husband, and she’d be taken care of, never wanting for anything again. Please let her love me and not what I can give her, he secretly added to his vows of love, honor, and obey.
They finished the ceremony, and the preacher told him to kiss his new bride. Lucas gave a full-fledged smile.
“Gladly.”
He bent her slightly backward and consumed her mouth, quickly forgetting they were standing in a room full of people.
He lost track of time and had no idea how long the kiss lasted. It had been too long since he’d last held her and tasted the sweet nectar of her lips.
“Ah, Son, you have plenty of time for that during the honeymoon,”
Joseph interrupted the pair while slapping Lucas on the back. Amy turned scarlet as their guests laughed.
To all those witnessing the wedding, the marriage looked like a union of love that was going to last forever. The way each of them looked at one another could only be described as besotted.
“Everyone, please follow the staff to the backyard where the reception is taking place,”
Joseph announced as Lucas led Amy back down the aisle.
He looked at the large diamond shining on her finger, feeling a sense of satisfaction in knowing she was now his. He couldn’t wait to get to the honeymoon.
In true Anderson fashion, they’d set up a spectacular wedding in only a week. Lucas watched his bride’s facial expression as they passed through the crowd. She was in awe.
The yard had glamorous tents set up, filled with linen-covered tables. There was soft lighting, a dance floor, and a band playing music. Caterers carried trays of champagne and food, attending to the guests. On each table sat crystal, china, and the most fragrant and colorful floral arrangements.
Lucas had wanted all the silly little traditional things. He didn’t even know why. God knew it wasn’t a traditional wedding. Amy probably thought it more appropriate to have guards with guns ushering her from station to station since he’d strong-armed her into the entire event.
He was surprised to see she seemed to be enjoying herself. Either his bride was full of surprises, or she was one phenomenal actress.