Penny
A year later
“I wonder if that will ever happen to me?”
“What do you mean?”
“That was supposed to be an inside thought.” Elizabeth makes a face. “I keep wondering if I’ll ever find a man who’ll look at me the way my brother has been looking at you all day.”
I glance over at where I last saw Jacob. He’s chatting with Lewis and another guy at a table, still looking as handsome as when I stood in front of him at the altar.
He’s wearing a grey tuxedo that really brings out his blue eyes. He’s so delicious in his suit which makes me want him out of it as soon as we’re able.
Jacob looks over at me and meets my gaze across the room. We’re surrounded by guests, music and loud conversation floods the resort. This man always makes me feel like when we’re in a room together, nothing else matters.
I smile at him and he returns it, that look in his eyes letting me know I’m in for the best kind of trouble once he gets me alone.
In bed, he’s Daddy.
Today, in front of a small group of friends and family, he became my husband.
“See what I mean? He looks like he might come over here, pick you up, and carry you away caveman style. I’m so fucking jealous I might snap this flute in half.”
I snort and cover my mouth so I don’t spit out the sip of champagne I just took.
“You’ll get your wish someday,” I say.
“From your lips to God’s ears and He better be fucking listening.” Elizabeth shakes her fist at the ceiling and I giggle. She takes a sip of her champagne, sweeping her gaze over me. “I can’t blame him though. You’re beautiful in that dress.”
I smile in thanks as I play with the silver choker necklace Jacob had custom made for me with June’s design. It has emeralds and diamonds evenly spaced around the thin chain.
I better look beautiful. This dress cost Jacob a pretty penny. Pun intended. He acted like it was no big deal to drop four months’ rent on a singular piece of a clothing. I’m still getting used to the fact that he’s secretly wealthy and it’s OK to spend his money.
Despite the cost of it, my wedding dress is a simple A-line with a curved neckline and slim straps. I loved it on sight because of the pattern on the organza.
It looks like I’m wearing snow, and I thought that was fitting. It was because of a snowstorm—and that damn moose!—that led me back to Jacob.
For once, winter didn’t totally suck.
Elizabeth takes a sip of her drink as sweeps her gaze around the room. Then she looks at me again, a solemn expression on her face.
“I still regret that night, Penny. I want to die every time I remember it, especially today. I could have ruined Jake’s chance at happiness with you.” She sighs and shakes her head. “We almost wouldn’t be standing here right now because of me.”
I pat her arm with a reassuring smile.
“Liz, you apologized a bunch of times already. It’s all in the past. Besides, you’re the main reason why we’re here now. You sent me to Jacob.”
Elizabeth blinks rapidly and wipes at her eyes. She gives me a one-armed hug that I return. As we separate, there’s a muffled vibrating coming from her clutch. She groans.
“I bet that’s work.” She opens her clutch and takes out her phone, nodding at she looks at the screen. “Yep, it’s my assistant. This is why my dating life fucking sucks.” She gives me an apologetic look. “I have to take this.”
I nod and she hurries away as she answers the call.
It’s the first time I’ve been left by myself today. I take advantage of it by sneaking off to my left to hide behind a wall, pulling the skirt of my dress out of view.
After hours of being everyone’s focus, it feels good to fade into the background for a bit. I peer around the wall while I sip on my drink, watching my guests like a creepy peeping tom spying on someone through a window.
The band is playing an upbeat number and some people are on the dance floor enjoying themselves. I snort at Kevin and his girlfriend who totally matches my cousin’s energy, making silly faces and dance moves together.
“A pair of lovable dorks.” I chuckle into my glass as I take another sip of my drink.
Near the south wall, June is laughing at something her husband Malcolm is saying to her. He’s smiling too, watching her with devotion.
I wasn’t sure they’d be able to make it because of their baby, but June insisted that nothing was going to stop her from being my maid of honour.
My smile deepens when I shift my gaze to Aunt Dee next, sitting at a table with her “gentleman friend” as she likes to call him.
My aunt is only in her early fifties. She’s always kept herself sort of plain which made her appear older. For the first time in years, she ditched her loose v-necked shirt, linen pants, and chunky sandals for a form-fitting mauve dress, pearls, and heels.
It’s been hard to believe the transformation in my aunt from plain to gorgeous. Her “friend” has been stuck to her side the whole time, probably afraid that the second he turns his back, someone else will swoop in to take his spot.
Aunt Dee’s support for my relationship with Jacob came easier than I expected. When Jacob and I sat down with her, she was surprised at first but took it in stride. She admitted that Kevin was the result of a forbidden fling between her and her boyfriend’s dad.
“So I don’t have room to judge,” she said.
My religious aunt getting up to such naughty shenanigans in the past was a huge shock. To think I agonized about telling her, afraid the news would stress her out and make her unwell.
“Others will say you two are wrong, but you are right in God’s eyes as long as you make each other happy,” she said. “That’s all that matters.”
Then she scowled at Jacob and told him not to knock me up unless he was planning on marrying me.
Well, we’re married now. The baby-making is on the horizon.
“What’s my wife doing over here, all by herself?”
Jacob’s voice fills my ear as he embraces me from behind. I startle then turn in his arms to smile at him. A pleasant thrill goes through me that he called me his wife. I’m never getting tired of that.
“Your wife is enjoying some much needed peace and quiet from our guests. How did my husband know I was here? And how did you even get over here without me noticing you?”
He squeezes me. “I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you, sweetheart. Every step you make, I’ve been watching you.”
“Every breath I take too?”
He smirks. “Of course. You belong to me.”
“I feel like I should be concerned with this level of obsession from my husband.”
“You were my prisoner once. You shouldn’t be surprised.”
I play with his tie. “I’m one of those too-stupid-to-live kind of girls, huh? Instead of running away from my captor, I married him.”
“Or maybe I’m just that persuasive.”
“Your mouth is pretty good at… persuasion.” I grin when he chuckles at my dirty joke. “What were you and Lewis talking about?”
“Wayne and Sasha. Apparently, Wayne’s testifying against Sasha in a plea deal and Sasha tried to escape custody. She made it three blocks before they caught her and hauled her back to the courthouse.”
My eyes widen. I cover my mouth in shock and also to suppress my amusement. Jacob gives me a knowing look.
“You want to laugh, don’t you?”
“I don’t want to.” I fight harder to hold back the laugh. “It’s not funny.”
“It is funny.”
“OK, it is, but it’s also terrible she tried to run again.”
After Sasha fled Lewis’ party, she tried to run away from Wenora. She took Officer Brent and a few other cops on a short car chase, only to end up in a ditch when she swerved to avoid hitting a deer. Yet another instance of Wenora wildlife causing chaos for the greater good.
My humour fades. “Poor Ruth. I wonder how she’s handling this mess?”
Ruth stayed a few more days in Wenora after the drama with her mom and Wayne then left without saying goodbye.
She wasn’t responding to my texts for a long time. She recently reacted with hearts to some sketches I sent her of Cupcake Girl.
That tiny bit of feedback means I’m going to keep pestering her until I hear actual words from her. Cupcake Girl won’t get rid of me that easily.
“That won’t do,” Jacob says, pulling me back to the present with another gentle squeeze.
“What?”
“You worrying about others on your special day.” He pushes me up against the wall and leans his face close. “The only thing my babygirl should be thinking about is how many times she’ll come for Daddy.”
“How many would that be?”
He smirks as he pulls me away from the wall.
“Let’s find out.”
* * *
Knowing smirks follow me and Jacob as we leave the reception.
I’m embarrassed people know I’m about to take a good dicking from my husband. Then again, it’s not like people expect newlyweds to play with kittens and blow soap bubbles on their honeymoon.
Our wedding is at a resort in Muskoka and our room has one of the nicest views of the lake. After Jacob unlocks the door, he sweeps me up into his arms and carries me across the threshold.
I smile and caress his face.
“Aw. So traditional.”
He smiles too. “I don’t want you to say you didn’t get the full blushing bride experience. You might demand a refund.”
“Didn’t you hear what the preacher man said? ‘Til death do us part.’ This is final sale for you and me, dear.”
He chuckles. “You’re damn right about that, darling.”
Jacob takes me over to the huge bed. It’s so neatly made and prettily arranged with brocade pillows. It’s a shame what’s going to happen to it soon.
He lays me down on the mattress and crawls on top of me, giving me a deep kiss. My arms coiled around his shoulders, I hold him tight as I return his kiss.
Jacob and I have been a couple for over a year. He’s kissed me like this so many times and they always light me up with need for him. This time is no different.
Actually, it’s worse. I wanted him all day and my body is rejoicing it’s finally getting its wish. I’m sure I’m already wet.
Judging by the firm bulge against me, he’s affected by our kiss too. I try to widen my legs so he can press it right where I want to feel him. My legs are trapped with his weight on my dress.