CHAPTER 35
Claire
Perched on a chair on the dais in the event room at the Lark, Claire tugged on the short white cocktail dress she had changed into and took another sip of ginger ale and lemon, savoring the tart and spicy flavors rolling across her tongue.
A smile tugged at her lips as her eyes drank in the gorgeous, tall man who approached, his palm cupping a brandy snifter, his light blond hair slightly mussed.
The collar of his pristine white shirt was undone, revealing a delicious, sinewy neck.
A sapphire-blue bow tie dangled at his collar, the uneven ends lying on an impressive expanse of chest that she well knew was hard with muscle.
“Enjoying yourself, wife?” His twinkling sapphire eyes flicked to the portion of bare thighs exposed by the high hem, then rose to capture her gaze. She could feel the heat in them as surely as if he’d run his palms over her tingling legs.
With easy grace, he lowered himself into the seat beside hers, turning to regard her over the rim of his glass.
She dragged her gaze from the golden skin at his open collar. “Yes. And I will enjoy even more when I finally have you to myself.”
“It will be worth the wait, I promise.”
Her heart did somersaults, and heat pooled between her thighs as his lusty gaze dipped there again.
Leaning in, he took her lips in a tender kiss, sharing with her the complex flavor of cognac.
She cupped his face, losing herself in him, wondering how it was possible to love him more with every passing day.
“I have something for you.” He smiled conspiratorially. “You’ll get it after we go to bed.”
The way he said that made her stomach flip and her heart begin to beat erratically. “Are we still talking about this gift with which you keep teasing me?” She took his hand, where his brand-new gold wedding band gleamed, and kissed his knuckles. “The only gift I need is you. Preferably unwrapped.”
“You have me. But you will like what I got you, guaranteed.”
She tipped her head. “Give me a hint?”
“It’s red. That’s all you get.”
“Would I wear it?”
“My lips are sealed.”
She groaned.
Across the room, someone’s merry laugh sailed over the chatter, and she looked to see her parents in conversation with Frida and Olaf Larssen. Her father’s arm was wrapped around her mother’s shoulders, and Mom looked up adoringly into his handsome face, hanging on every word he uttered.
“They look happy,” Ian observed.
“They are.”
The transfer had wrought miracles, and it was hard to believe the vibrant woman beaming on her father’s arm had ever been ill.
Her parents had moved at lightning speed, going on a romantic cruise around the world as soon as her mother was well enough to travel.
They had remarried one week after they’d returned, in the Little Neon chapel.
And Claire owed it all to the generous, remarkable man who sat beside her.
“Have I told you lately how grateful I am for what you did for her?” She pressed his hand to her cheek.
He nodded, his blue eyes sparkling. “I think I heard that once or twice.”
A clinking noise sounded. Someone was tapping a utensil against a glass.
Ian grinned. “Up again.”
Lithely, he leaped onto his chair and extended a hand to help her stand on hers.
“This is a weird tradition,” Claire muttered, smiling as she let Ian plant a sweet kiss on her lips, to the delight of the guests of Norwegian ancestry, who cheered and clapped, including Mom.
He jumped off the chair, gripped her waist and brought her down, setting her on her feet. “Not nearly as weird as that horseshoe your dad gave you.” His gaze found her father, and he smiled. “I still cannot get over how much you look like him. And I think he’s about to speak.”
Indeed, her father headed to the front of the room, a microphone in his grasp.
Claire held her breath and took Ian’s hand, her eyes fixed on her father’s face, on which myriad emotions played.
“It is my great pleasure to stand before you on this occasion of my daughter’s wedding,” he began.
“To say I’ve been looking forward to this day would be an understatement, so now that it’s finally here, I want to take a moment to savor this experience because I’m never going to have an opportunity like this again.
” He paused and looked at Mom, who nodded and gave him an encouraging smile.
“The bond between a father and a daughter is an extraordinary thing,” he continued.
“When Claire was born, I realized a depth of love I’d never known.
As I was holding my daughter for the first time, I recall having this distinct sensation that my heart was no longer in my body.
” He sought Claire’s gaze, and she had to swallow hard at the love she read in her father’s eyes.
“You stole your poor daddy’s heart the moment I saw you.
Today, my heart is bursting with pride and joy.
I’m proud of the woman you’ve become and joyful that you’ve come to know the warmth and happiness of true love. ”
He turned to Ian’s parents. “My heartfelt gratitude goes to Frida and Olaf Larssen for raising a son who is good enough for my daughter. I also have to hand it to Ian because he asked for my blessing, which was a gentlemanly move and quite surprising, especially in this day and age.”
A look passed between her father and her new husband, and Claire’s heart swelled.
“What is most impressive about Ian is his strength. Not only physical, but strength of character.
“Your integrity as an individual is essential because that one trait, in particular, will have an overwhelming influence on the likelihood of my daughter’s long-term happiness.
“It’s evident that you’re deeply in love with Claire, and there’s nothing more important to this father than to know that his daughter is being cared for with that kind of love.
“Everyone, please join me in raising a toast to the happy couple.”
Glasses clinked, the guests cheered, and Claire beamed as she picked up her champagne flute and sipped. “None of this could have happened without you.”
Ian’s hand drifted to her knee, caressing gently. “The two of us made it happen, Penny. It was us.”
Us.
Now that she’d joined her life to Ian’s, she couldn’t understand what had taken her so long.
“Uh-oh. Here comes trouble.”
Claire looked to where Ian was staring to see three Hogettes head to their table, led by Alexis, who’d ditched norms and worn a sparkly red dress.
“Congratulations, you two,” Samantha gushed, kissing Claire on the cheek. “And I’m so happy about your mom and dad.”
Claire hugged her friend. “Me too.”
Kira also moved in for a hug. “Good thing I wore waterproof mascara,” she said, running her hand through her mop of glossy curls.
“Your dad’s speech!” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I’ve lost count of the times I’ve cried today.
I’m so happy for you! And Ian, you have to show us Claire’s new bike. ”
“Aha!” Claire gave him a triumphant grin.
He sighed and gave her a sheepish look. “Will do,” he said to Kira.
But his blue eyes were trained on Alexis, who stood there with perfect posture, holding what looked like a glass of water, but Claire knew it was straight Stoli.
“I might have been wrong about you,” she said, looking Ian squarely in the eye. “I hate it when I’m wrong.”
Ian was silent for a moment. He watched her smirk and take a long sip of her vodka. Then he started to laugh, the sound making Claire feel all warm inside and earning a micro smile from Alexis.
“Who is the man sitting at the far end of the room?” she asked, her gaze practically devouring the new pilot Adam had hired to fly with Jon.
“That’s Gunn McLaren, former Air Force pilot, newest hire at LarsAir, and just as sunshiny as you.” Ian gave her a sly grin. “Would you like an introduction?”
Alexis’s dark eyes gleamed. “I would.”
Claire sipped her champagne. “Angie might not like that.”
Angie sat by Mac, leaning toward him and speaking animatedly, but he nursed his lowball and looked toward the deejay, his lack of interest evident.
Alexis narrowed her eyes on Angie, and Ian grinned.
“A little competition never hurts,” he said. “Follow me, Alexis.”
Claire watched with interest as Ian walked Alexis over to the ever-brooding Mac. Whatever she said must have struck a chord because he motioned with his chin for her to sit on his other side, drawing a pretty pout from Angie.
Ian returned to Claire, shaking his head. “Be afraid. Be very afraid. Those two might actually hit it off.”
He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“Jannie sends her love and congratulations,” he said, frowning at the screen.
“Is she OK?”
“Still on bedrest.”
Claire sighed. “I wish she could have been here.”
“Me, too.” Ian typed a quick text, then pocketed his phone. “But she has a lot on her plate. She’s tough, though. She’ll be OK.”
Strains of guitar music began. He tipped his head. “Dance with me.”
He held out a hand, and she took it, allowing him to lead her toward the dance floor, where Adam and Eve already swayed in rhythm to Ed Sheeran’s “Afterglow.” And sure enough, as he held her close against his powerful frame, Ian lowered his head and began to sing, his beautiful voice in her ear, just for her.
The poignant lyrics and his voice nearly undid her.
“I love you,” she said.
“And I love you.” His smile was stunning with that dimple she adored. “Can you say that again? I want to relive the feeling.”
She laughed. “I love you.”
“That makes me hard, Mrs. Larssen,” he murmured, blowing hotly in her ear.
She shuddered. “It’s almost time for our grand exit.”
“Thank God. I am so ready to get out of this tux.” He pulled her closer. “I’m going to need some help with that. You wouldn’t mind helping me undress, would you?”
Her heart began to race. “I was kind of looking forward to my groom stripping for me.”
“I see.” A wicked smile. He drew her arm around his shoulders, wrapped his arm around her waist and dipped her. “Looks as if I’ll need to channel my inner Chippendale. Your job is to make sure you download the Right Said Fred song.”
She laughed as he drew her upright again. “The ‘I’m Too Sexy’ song?”
“The very one.”
“How do you do that?” she asked, shaking her head incredulously.
“What?”
“Make me happy just by being you. I’m crazy in love with you, Ian Larssen.”
His smile was scintillating. “And just like that, you’ve turned me into the hero of my own love story.” He kissed her thoroughly. “For life.”
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