“Ah, Leese, don’t think that. I can’t help myself when it comes to loving you, but if I tear off that beautiful innocence, I’ll only have myself to blame.”
I was playing with the strings of my romper now, feeling a giddiness that was foreign, especially since I was crying at the same moment. “You’re right about the wine,” I admitted, taking the cloth strings and wiping away my tears, “my legs feel funny.”
“Stop that, baby,” he whispered, clamping his hand over mine as I continued to tug nervously at my strings.
I didn’t realize at the moment that I had pulled the rim of my romper too low and was exposing excessive cleavage. I pulled it back up and dropped the strings. Kimmy was still swimming and I was hidden by Micah’s broad shoulders and chest. He leaned into me and gave me a tantalizing kiss and then grabbed the strings himself. My eyes were wide, but I offered no resistance to stop what he was about to do, and at that moment I wanted nothing more than to let him take control. He began lowering the fabric. He moved closer to me so no one would know what he was doing. His cheek was against mine as his mouth moved to my ear.
“Take it down, Micah,” I pleaded. “Don’t stop.”
“You see what I mean about the alcohol? If I brought that bottle out here right now and asked you to drink with me, would you do it?”
I knew I’d do just about anything he wanted right now. “No,” I lied, realizing if he had drank a glass my top wouldn’t be teetering on coming down, it would be down and we would be relocating this game of uncovering Leese to a place where I could do the same to him.
“You want me to keep going, don’t you?”
“Yes, let’s go upstairs, Micah.”
“You were right, alcohol is dangerous,” he said pulling my top back where it belonged.
“Kiss me, Micah,” I begged. The feeling of the wine still traveling through me, and I was ready to forget about the wedding date, the fact that my family was home, none of it mattered. I felt his arms lifting me from the lounger and I was thinking I was going to be carried upstairs and get my wish, but I realized too late he was moving to the pool and before I could tell him no, he threw me in.
Kimmy thought it was hilarious. The shock of the water cleared my head as I moved to the stairs and began climbing out. He was big, but I was contemplating every possible move I had in my black belt arsenal to throw him in the water as well.
Mom heard the commotion and reappeared on the deck as I stood there dripping wet and plotting my revenge.
“Leese!”
I couldn’t figure out why she was snapping at me-I didn’t throw myself in, but she was grabbing a towel and heading for me. Micah’s face had an unmistakable flush to his skin; that was when I looked down at my outfit and discovered how very inappropriate it was when wet. Mom wrapped me in the towel, as Micah stated he’d be back in a while and headed for the garage.
“You’d have been better off to have been in your bathing suit,” she criticized, still sounding miffed.
“I didn’t jump in. He threw me in!”
“Oh,” she said, suddenly understanding what happened.
I went upstairs and changed clothes, still feeling a little odd. I was going to wait up for him to return, but he was absolutely right about the wine and sleeping. I was so exhausted I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It was only about 8:45 and I was ready to go to bed.
Chapter 3
I woke the next morning to Mom tapping on my door saying to get up and get ready for church. That was when I felt his presence in my bed. I rolled over and he was staring at me and had apparently slept in my bed all night.
“What are you doing in here?” I whispered.
“I came in to check on you when I got home last night, and I started watching you sleep. I crawled in just to be close to you for a little while and fell asleep myself.”
I smiled and snuggled against him, “I’m going to be really glad when we can share a bed permanently.”
He kissed my forehead, “Me too, baby.”
I could hear Mom down the hallway knocking on Micah’s door telling him to get up as well. I laughed, watching the grin spread across his face. “You’re really lucky she didn’t open my door,” I stated. “She would never believe that we can behave ourselves in the same bed.”
“Who said anything about behaving myself,” he moaned as he began to kiss my neck.
“Come on, Don Juan,” I giggled, pulling his arm, trying to right both of us. “You’ve got to slip out of here before she comes back. We have to get ready for church.”
“You need another glass of wine.”
I shot him a nasty look, “I don’t think so!”
He smiled, “Good girl. But you wouldn’t be shoving me out the door if-”
I grabbed a pillow and hit him as hard as possible, “Out!” I shout whispered.
He cracked open my door and peered into the hallway and then he was gone.
Our wedding planner, Linda Doradee, was a member of our church and she had been working this week on finding the perfect location for the wedding. She said we’d get together after church today and she would present it to us to see if we approved. I would have been happy to have it in my church, but she insisted she would find something very special for our day.
We went to the fellowship hall after services ended and she brought out her planning book and began.
“Since you told me Micah’s family was French and Italian, I was looking for something with old world charm; I found the ultimate location. Take a look.” She opened the book to reveal pictures of a beautiful church that appeared to be very old. “It’s Saint Bernard de Clairvaux, a 12th century Spanish monastery that was moved to North Miami in 1925 by William Randolph Hurst.”
She was going on about the different areas available for weddings as she flipped through the pictures of the impeccable grounds and buildings. I could see by Micah’s face, he was completely enthralled. I would be happy being married anywhere, but I knew how important it was to impress his father and this place would impress the Pope.
“It’s perfect,” I said, “but I want it all.”
Linda looked a little confused.
“Rent the entire building and grounds for the wedding,” Micah clarified. He knew exactly what I was saying. Simply renting an area wouldn’t do.
“I-I don’t know if they-”
“Linda, they may not normally do that, but for the right price, they will,” I assured her.
“They already said the 15th was clear,” she sighed. “I’ll call them tomorrow and ask about using the entire facility. Here is the design you ask for on the wedding invitation. Does it look good to you both?”
We nodded.
“Okay then, if the entire church can be rented I’ll give this to my printer. He is local here in town and he said if I give it to him tomorrow, he’ll have them done by Wednesday and we can mail them out. Then all we have to do is confirm some dinner menus, music and flowers. Leese, did you find a dress yet?”
“Yes, I ordered a Vera Wang, and it’s supposed to be delivered in a few days.”
“Perfect! Oh, I almost forgot about the Acqualina.”
“What’s the Acqualina?” Micah asked before I could form the question.
She flipped to the next page in her planner and the pictures of a high-rise hotel appeared. “I know you two have decided on Maui, but I was thinking you wouldn’t want to spend your first married night on a thirteen-hour flight. The Acqualina would be perfect for a few nights of relaxation before you leave for the islands. Your guests can stay here as well. It’s a gorgeous facility, they have everything and it isn’t far from the monastery.”
Micah and I looked at each other. We both wanted that first night to be perfect. I turned the page to view the deluxe oceanfront suite, 1600 square feet of luxury and Atlantic views. I smiled. “It’s perfect.”
“Sounds good to me, too.”