Just Let Me Love You (Judge Me Not #3)(53)

“We are gathered here today…” Father begins, and I can’t help but smile and smile and smile.

God, I am happy.

This isn’t the first marriage ceremony for Chase and me, but already this one feels much more real than the one in Vegas. Don’t get me wrong—that one will forever be special in its own right. But this one is amazing, surrounded as we are by our loved ones in our hometown. Who knew this would feel so incredibly special?

Not to mention, Chase in a superbly fitted black tux is all kinds of hot.

I squeeze his hand and venture a glance up at him from under my veil. He winks at me and sends me a soul-touching smile.

All I can think is: I love this man.

After the ceremony, a reception is held at the diner. Management was more than happy to oblige us when we first asked. They closed early and decorated the place just for us.

I have a plain napkin saved from one of the first lunches with Chase, and I hurriedly snag a pretty maroon one. This one, inscribed in gold, reads:

Chase and Kay

December 7

My husband catches me slipping my souvenir from our wedding day into my clutch, and he asks, “What are you up to, Kay?”

He drapes his arm around my shoulders and when he leans in close, I breathe in all that is Chase Gartner—a little soap, a little trouble, and a lot of virile male.

“Nothing,” I reply. “I’m up to nothing at all.”

I am up to something, though—a surprise for my beloved. The napkin I slipped into my clutch—as well as the plain white one I saved from the summer—is an integral part to my plan. If all turns out the way I’m hoping, I know it will be amazing to see Chase’s face when I gift him with this surprise. But the timing will have to be right. In any case, I don’t want to blow it now.

No need for me to worry. Chase is too busy whispering sweet nothings in my ear, which is rather distracting. With his warm breaths tickling enticingly at my skin, I whisper back, “Let’s get out of here soon.”

Our families, who are all staying at the farmhouse, pitched in and bought us a suite at the only hotel in town. We intend to christen it with our love tonight.

Plans are placed on hold, however, when Will saunters over.

“Hey,” he begins, “what are you two crazy lovebirds up to?” Mock-punching Chase’s arm, he adds, “You’re not planning on cutting out early at your own reception, are you?”

“Actually—” Chase begins.

I quickly interject, “No, no, not at all. We’re staying.”

Chase groans, and I remind him, “We’ll be alone soon enough.”

“True,” he murmurs under his breath.

Will, never one to miss a thing, laughs. “Good to see nothing has changed with you two,” he says.

We head back over to our bridal table, which is just a large booth—the very same one Chase and I used to eat lunch at during our early diner days. Missy is on one side, seated next to her younger cousin, a girl about Will’s age named Emma. Emma is pretty and perky, and her eyes light up when she looks up and notices a very good-looking Will heading to her table.

“Bro,” Chase says in a low voice to his brother. “I think you have an admirer.”

“Yeah! Wedding hook-up.” Will pumps his fist. “Cool.”

“Hey”—I smack his arm—“that’s Missy’s cousin. No funny stuff.”

Will is a heartbreaker, just like Chase. Well, like Chase used to be. Oh, Chase is as gorgeous and hot as ever, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not breaking any hearts these days. He’s all mine.

Will and Emma can’t stop sneaking peeks at one another. Oh, they think they’re coy, but it’s quite obvious. I’m happy, though, to see Will has moved on from Cassie. He’s been playing the field, becoming quite the ladies’ man, according to Chase. But he’s a good kid.

“I’m just teasing around,” Will says sheepishly at the exact second we reach the booth.

“Hi,” Emma says, smiling brightly as she looks up at Chase’s brother.

“Hey,” Will replies all nonchalant.

I shake my head. “He’s just too cool,” I whisper to Chase.

He rolls his eyes.

Meanwhile, Missy introduces Emma to Will.

She then slips out of the booth, and says, “I’m going to go find Nick. Emma, why don’t you stay here and talk with Will for a while.”

“Sure,” Emma replies.

“Cool,” Will agrees, his nonchalance faltering.

“Guess we’re the designated chaperones,” I murmur to Chase.

He laughs as we all clamber into the booth with Emma. “Guess so.”

We all talk for a while and conversation flows easily. After some discussion of the ceremony and how good the food is at the reception, Will tells Emma about his plans for college.

“I want to go into graphic design,” he says, watching this girl he’s obviously smitten with for her reaction.

“That sounds very interesting,” she replies. “Do you have any experience in that sort of stuff?”

“Actually,” Will says proudly, “I do have experience, lots of experience, in fact.”

I glance over at Chase as Will starts to detail his comic book projects to Emma. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Chase as contented as when he watches his younger brother—this new, got-my-shit-together Will.