Chapter 25
Grace
I checked my reflection in the mirror one final time, turning this way and that. I wore a simple white shift dress with ? length sleeves made of lace. The dress fell to my mid-thigh and had a plain scoop neckline. My hair was pulled up in a twist and held in place with a fake pearl clip and pins. My necklace and earrings, also fake pearls, and nude heels completed the look.
It was just over a week since Michael had suggested we get married. I still wasn’t entirely convinced that what I was doing was right, but the time for doubts had passed. Michael was waiting for me, and I had no intention of leaving him standing at the altar, so to speak.
I turned as there was a knock on the bedroom door and Mercy stuck her head inside.
“They’re ready.”
My stomach jumped as I took a breath. We were at Levi’s house. He’d graciously agreed to let Michael and I get married there, out on his back deck surrounded by the beautiful colors of fall. He, Mercy, Ace, and Ry were serving as our witnesses and the ceremony was being performed by Jamey’s friend, Vaughn, a master brewer who was also a minister.
All I had to do now was walk down the hall, through the great room, and out to the deck.
Mercy eyed me as I walked toward her. “Michael’s going to flip when he sees you.”
I looked down at what I was wearing. “In a good way or bad way?” Not that I could do much about it now if it was bad.
“Good,” Mercy reassured me, putting her arm through mine as we walked. “Very good.”
The next moment we stepped through the doors to the deck and all I could see was Michael.
He was stunning, wearing a deep blue dress shirt and black dress pants that both looked like they were made for him. He was tall, and dark, and heart-stoppingly gorgeous.
And the look in his eyes when they met mine was breathtaking. He looked at me like I was the most priceless treasure on earth, as if no one and nothing else could ever compare.
I felt tears well up and I willed them back. I forced myself to remember why we were here. This was an agreement between friends, nothing more. Just an arrangement to try to keep me safe. As wonderful as Michael was, no matter the way he looked at me, he was not in love with me.
He was an amazing man doing an amazing thing. I had to remember that, or I was destined for utter and absolute heartbreak when this all ended.
Head firmly on straight, I walked forward with a smile to stand next to my husband-to-be.
“Ready to get hitched?” I asked brightly.
“Ready.” The intensity in Michael’s eyes didn’t diminish even a fraction as he reached for my right hand, lifted it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss to my fingers, then turned us to face Vaughn.
My head swam as Vaughn’s words flowed over me. I heard Michael rumble “I do” and roused myself to do the same when asked if I would love, honor, and cherish the man standing beside me, to have and to hold, for all time.
As we turned to face each other and I looked up at Michael, I realized that unconventional as this marriage was, the promises I’d just made were true. Regardless of what did or didn’t happen between Michael and me in the future, no matter how this crazy situation turned out, Michael had a permanent hold on a big piece of my heart.