Sweet Reckoning(41)

I moved nearer until my knees were touching Kaidan’s and I was looking down at him. My heart threatened to dance right out of my chest.

“Hey,” I managed.

“Hey, yourself.” His melty voice and darkened bedroom eyes were not helping to calm my pulse any. “You’re stunning. I feel like a slob.”

He was wearing the same low cargo shorts, fitted T-shirt, and skater shoes he’d been wearing all day.

I felt like useless warm putty when I said, “You always look good.”

Ginger made a barfing noise behind me, and Marna shushed her. Kaidan took my hips, pulling me to sit next to him. I lifted my hair from my neck, feeling too warm, and my hand shook.

Kai lifted my hand to kiss my palm, then signed to me. Don’t be nervous.

I forced myself to meet his eyes, but he looked so serious that I had to look down again. I couldn’t stop being nervous. He pulled me close and I climbed onto his lap, burying my face in the crook of his neck. His hand stroked the length of my hair and down the silky material at my lower back.

“Are you sure about this?” I whispered against his warm skin.

Without pausing, he whispered back, “I am. Are you?”

“Yes.”

We stayed like that, his arm around me and my face in his neck until Blake said it was time to buckle up and get ready for takeoff. Kaidan and I took our seats across from the twins.

It was slightly unnerving to know that wheelie-popping Blake was about to fly our plane. But he looked focused and mature sitting up at the gears with the small doorway opened for us to see. I caught Ginger leaning into the aisle and gazing at him as he worked.

Blake said something into his mouthpiece then gave us the thumbs-up, and I felt us push back from the gate. I said a prayer as we lifted. It was the smoothest takeoff I’d ever experienced. Kaidan raised his eyebrows, impressed.

When we leveled out, Marna stood and went into the small server alley, making drinks for everyone. Nobody had alcohol. I knew they probably wanted it, but they were being thoughtful about not displaying my temptation in front of me. Or maybe they were worried because I looked nervous enough to drink the whole bar myself.

I nearly choked on my Coke when Blake stood up from the pilot’s seat and walked back to us, making Marna scream, “What are you doing? You have to fly the plane!”

Blake laughed. “It’s all good! I got this baby on autopilot. Don’t your pilots ever come out of the pit?”

Marna frowned. “They have copilots, so even when someone gets up, the cockpit’s never empty.”

“Chill. It’s under control. Everyone up,” Blake announced. “Time to have us a wedding.”

My stomach wobbled.

Marna cheered. I loved that girl.

I stood, never letting go of Kaidan’s hand, and for the first time I wondered how exactly this wedding was going to go.

“I didn’t prepare any vows or anything,” I said. “I guess we’re just winging it?”

Kaidan appeared as clueless as me, and a little nervous now.

“I got you covered.” Blake grinned, pulling out a piece of paper and clearing his throat. “Just call me Reverend Blake.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Ginger snatched the paper from his hand, scanning it and then bending at the waist to laugh.

Kaidan took it and we read together. Sure enough, Blake had been ordained. Online. Technically the marriage wouldn’t be legal since we hadn’t applied for a marriage license or anything like that. We couldn’t leave a paper trail, but the marriage would be valid in all the ways that counted.

“A half-demon minister,” Kaidan said. “That has to be a first.”

“Yup. And I’ve got the traditional vows here. I thought that’s what you’d probably want.” He looked at me and I reached forward, pulling him into a hug. I will not cry, I chanted to myself.

“Thank you, Blake,” I told him. “You thought of everything.”

It was miraculous how fast it all had come together. Like it was meant to be.

I let him go, trying not to get emotional, but—GAH!—this was really happening! We all moved to the open area in the back. It was still a snug fit, so the twins sat while Kaidan and I held hands facing Blake, who was wearing a silly mock-serious look on his face.

“Dearly beloved,” he said in a booming voice.

We all burst out laughing. It must have been nerves because all five of us laughed way too long, and it took several minutes to get ourselves together again. Now that the tension was broken, we all began to calm.