CHAPTER 42
The reception was still going strong when Bryce and Beth snuck off. Their wedding night would be spent at a boutique hotel before catching a late afternoon flight. Destination Unknown. At least, to Beth.
She stepped into the room first, her eyes scanning the sleek, modern lines—the soft glow from the fireplace, the freestanding tub, the hint of mountain twilight visible through the partially raised glass garage-style door leading to a private balcony.
It was beautiful. Her fingers idly played with the lace at the edge of her dress as she lingered just inside the door.
Behind her, Bryce watched her with quiet affection.
“Did you enjoy today?” he asked, voice low, his presence grounding.
Beth nodded, still facing the room. “I did. It was a lot of fun.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, a smile tugging at her lips. “Did you?”
“I did,” he said, taking a slow step closer. “How are you feeling?”
Beth hesitated, her fingers brushing lightly against the edge of the tub. “Nervous,” she admitted softly, chewing on her bottom lip.
Bryce chuckled, the sound deep and familiar. “Clearly,” he teased gently, “but that’s not what I meant. I meant physically—any morning sickness today?”
Beth turned slightly toward him, her brows rising. “Ohhh,” she breathed. “No. Still nothing. Honestly, it’s kind of strange. It’s made it easier not to say anything before the wedding.”
He gave her a curious look. “Because you don’t feel pregnant?”
“Exactly,” she said, sheepish. “Sometimes I even forget.”
Her honesty stirred something tender in him.
“Come here, let me help you out of that thing.”
Beth blinked, cheeks coloring. She hesitated before turning to offer her back. Her shoulders were drawn tight and her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
Bryce reached for the zipper but paused. He didn’t touch it right away. Instead, he let his hands settle gently on her hips, grounding her with the quiet steadiness she’d come to rely on.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice low, steady.
“There’s no rush.”
He felt her exhale—slow and shaky—like she’d been holding more than just her breath.
“You look beautiful.”
Beth’s breath caught at his words. At his nearness.
Her eyes fluttered closed for a beat. The nerves were still there—but now they were wrapped in desire.
The love, the devotion, the patience Bryce had shown her since their wedding—the way he kept putting her needs first, going at her pace—quieted that instinct to run and replaced it with something almost like anticipation.
Bryce pressed a kiss to the back of her neck as he stood behind her, his fingers grazing the fabric of her dress.
“I mean it—there’s no rush,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “But you might be more comfortable in sweats. Are you okay with me helping you out of this?”
His lips brushed her earlobe once he finished speaking, soft and reverent.
Beth gave a small, quick nod—her head bobbing up and down with more emotion than confidence. But it was enough.
Bryce’s fingers moved to the two delicate buttons at the nape of her neck, undoing them slowly, carefully. Once the halter came loose, he pressed a kiss the newly bared skin at the base of her neck.
Then, Bryce began to lower the zipper, pressing soft kisses down the slope of her neck as the fabric gave way. Goosebumps chased his touch. He traced a single finger lightly along her spine and smiled when more appeared.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me right now?” he whispered, his voice husky, his breath warm against her ear.
“No…?” Beth’s voice wavered—more question than answer.
Bryce chuckled and gently turned her to face him. “In that case,” he said with a grin, “let me tell you.”
He leaned in, murmuring something meant only for her.
Her blush bloomed instantly. She reared back slightly, eyes wide—a flicker of hesitation chased by something bolder.
Then, pointing a finger at him, she narrowed her eyes. “If this is one of your double entendre things… you are so sleeping on the floor.”
Bryce threw his head back in laughter—deep, full, and unfiltered. When he finally caught his breath, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, peppering kisses across her cheeks, forehead, and jaw.
Beth giggled, breathless, caught between flustered and completely undone by him.
“Bryce!”
He slowed, one kiss landing softly at the corner of her mouth, then stilled with his forehead resting against hers as he gradually loosened his hold.
They both drew in a breath.
And then—Beth felt it. The soft rustle of fabric. The whisper of silk against skin.
The room went quiet.
Her eyes widened as the dress slipped from her frame, sliding effortlessly down to pool at her feet.
She didn’t move.
Neither did he.
After a beat, he lifted a hand and gently traced the edge of her cheek with his thumb, his expression soft—steady, reverent—as if daring to look anywhere else might shatter the moment.
For a heartbeat, they simply stood there. Silent. Still. Caught between their past and the desire threading through every breath they shared.
Then Bryce spoke, his voice low and sure. “You’re beautiful.”
Beth looked up at him with wide, hope-filled eyes.
“No teasing,” he whispered. “No double entendres. Just promises.”
“Promises?” she asked, voice barely a breath.
Bryce pulled her fully against him, his tone quiet but certain.
“Yes. I promised you a wedding night you’d never forget—and I plan to keep that promise.”
And he did.
Beth knew nothing on earth was perfect—but when she and Bryce talked about their honeymoon, that’s the word they kept using. Perfect. Bryce had rented a private yacht, they’d swam, eaten too much, laughed, and discovered beauty in the Caribbean—and in each other.
The morning after they returned, Bryce left early for work. Kim showed up not long after, coffee in hand and a grin that said she wanted all the details.
She passed the hot brew into Beth’s hands before settling beside her on the couch.
“So?” Kim grinned. “Tell me everything. Was it dreamy, or did one of you fall overboard?”
Beth laughed softly. “Both, actually.”
She stared into the steam curling from her cup. “It wasn’t without its challenges. Bryce got sunburned the first day, and we missed half the stuff he planned. But... it ended up being exactly what we needed.”
Kim raised a brow. “How so?”
Beth hesitated, her fingers tightening on the cup. “There was one night... he asked me if I was happy. If I regretted marrying him.”
Kim’s face softened. “And what did you say?”
Beth’s lips curved. “That I don’t. That I never have. I told him I might regret how we got married, but never who I married.”
Kim didn’t say anything—just waited, sensing there was more.
Beth exhaled slowly. “It wasn’t what we expected. But something shifted, and I think… I think that’s when I felt myself let go of the shame I had carried since Vegas.”
“There was this night on the boat,” Beth said, her voice going soft as she stared into her coffee.
“He was still sunburned and in a mood. I was annoyed. And tired. And hungry.”
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“I’m sorry,” Bryce muttered. “I guess after vomiting for three days from sun poisoning I’m a little grumpy.”
Beth arched a brow. “A little?”
“You don’t think so?”
“Nope. I’d say you’re a big fat crab.”
Bryce stared at her, stunned.
“Well,” he shot back, “you’d be crabby too if you weren’t some sun-kissed goddess who never burns.”
Beth fought a smile. “I’d like to think I’d be grateful I married someone in the medical profession who knew how to care for me instead of barking at said person and sending them out of the room every five seconds.”
Bryce groaned. “Fine. You might be right.”
“Might?”
“Don’t push it.”
He gently rolled onto his side. “This just isn’t how I planned our honeymoon. Even after I feel better, I can’t have too much sun exposure.”
Beth softened. “So… make new plans.”
“I liked my original ones,” he said, sulking.
“So did I.” Her voice quieted. “But that doesn’t mean the new ones aren’t still good.”
He blinked at her, uncertain. “Are we still talking about the trip?”
Beth stood, grabbing her cover-up. “Figure it out. I’m going to dinner. I’m starving.”
“You’re not eating in here with me?”
“Nope. If you want to pout, that’s your call. But I plan to enjoy my honeymoon—with or without you.”
She left with a dramatic slam of the door.
Walking into the dining room, she grabbed a magazine and slid into a chair at the table. Before she could read more than the article title, a steward arrived with two goblets of ice water and a basket of bread.
“I’ll be dining alone but could you please take a basket of crab legs to the cabin for Dr. Jensen?” she asked sweetly. “And then the chef’s special for me?”
She was halfway through her beet and goat cheese salad when Bryce appeared, scowling, holding the basket.
“Very funny,” he said, plunking it down beside her.
“It seemed fitting,” Beth said, not looking up. “Crabs devour their own when they molt.”
Bryce frowned. “Wait what is molting… is that like… mating?”
Beth stared at him.
“No. Molting means they’re growing—a lifestyle change. They shed their shell so a new one can grow in.”
“So… I’m the molting crab?” he asked, confused but trying to keep up.
Beth popped a beet into her mouth. “I already called you a fat crab. I think the metaphor holds.”
Bryce sat across from her, trying to connect the dots. “Okay, so this is a metaphor? The molting? Because of what you said earlier in the cabin—about new plans? About our marriage?”
Beth burst out laughing, tears forming from how hard she was trying to catch her breath.
Bryce’s stern glare softened. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”
Beth held up the Sea Life Monthly in her hand. “I was just mad and grabbed the first magazine I saw.”
She pointed at the article title: Crabs: It Should Be No Surprise That This Species Devours Its Own.
Bryce snorted. “Yeah, I can’t imagine why that reminded you of me.”
Beth shook her head, giggling again. “It felt good to laugh. I’ve missed that.”
His voice grew quiet. “I just wanted this trip to be perfect for you. I wanted to give you a honeymoon worth remembering. I rented this ridiculous boat to be alone with you. To build something deeper—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
Beth reached across the table, placing her hand over his. “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. We just have to keep surrendering it to God.”
Her hands unconsciously settled on her stomach, and Bryce noticed.
He laid his hands gently over hers.
“Are you happy, Lizzy?” he asked.
“I am.”
A shadow crossed his expression. “When you say things about regrets, or how things didn’t go as planned. I keep wondering… do you regret marrying me?”
Beth’s eyes filled, she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping, steady and sure.
“I don’t regret marrying you. I regret how we got married.
But not who I married. Bryce, I think I got hung up on things not going as I had planned but I know God’s plans are always better.
I’ve always been a little bit in love with you.
And now I don’t have to fight that anymore.
I get to love you with God’s blessing. He gave me my biggest crush as my husband. How could I ever regret that?”
Bryce leaned forward, cradling her face, his kiss deep and sure.
“I love you, Lizzy. With everything in me.”
“I love you too.”
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“That sounds like something out of a movie,” Kim whispered when Beth finished.
Beth chuckled. “It felt like a movie.”
She leaned back with a soft sigh, eyes shining. “Honestly? I’ve never been happier.”
The month that followed their honeymoon brought a few more minor disagreements, but they worked through them in a biblical way, strengthening both their relationship with each other and their individual walks with God.
Life settled into a rhythm. Mornings were spent on the deck reading their Bibles—sometimes together, sometimes separately, but always close.
Work was filled with camaraderie and stolen kisses between rounds. The nurses were once again kind to Beth, Bryce suspected Crystal had something to do with that.
Their days off were spent outdoors—hiking, mountain biking, or running together. Bryce even bought Beth a pregnancy harness so they could start rock climbing with friends.
They made cooking and eating together a priority, and most Tuesdays, they ran the Jack Quinn’s 5K downtown. Like many newlyweds, they wrestled with balancing intimacy inside and outside the bedroom.
They decided to wait until after the first trimester—or at least until Beth started to show—before sharing their pregnancy news with anyone. It was especially hard for Beth not to tell Kim, but for now, she just wanted to enjoy being a newlywed.
Beth loved her role as Mrs. Bryce Jensen—or as Bryce teased, Mrs. Dr. Handsome.
In September, they began their first week working the same schedule at the hospital. As had become their new normal, Beth spent her lunch breaks in Bryce’s office.
Though morning sickness hadn’t been an issue, Beth felt better—and her energy levels stayed more consistent—when she snacked throughout her shift.
Bryce had a mini fridge in his office, but she always kept her food with her instead of sending it with him—because anyone who’s worked in an emergency room knows a true lunch break is a luxury, not a guarantee.