A Very Married Christmas: A Silver Bell Falls Holiday Novella(21)

A gentle shove on his good shoulder had him slowly lying down on the bed. Straddling him, Melanie leaned down and kissed him and it was slow and wet and a little bit dirty and it was like hitting the launch button. More than anything he wanted to reverse their positions and do all the things to her that he knew drove her wild. It was impossible, but still…a man could dream.

With no warning, she broke the kiss, straightened, and unhooked the lacy bra she was wearing. She tossed it over her shoulder, and the look on her face made every kind of sexy promise that he could imagine.

All thoughts of changing positions left his mind.

“Brace yourself, Sheriff,” she said huskily.

Yeah, there was no need to wish for anything else.

Because this was his dream come true.





Chapter Eight



Looking back, Melanie would say she was glad they took that afternoon and the rest of that day for themselves because the following day began what could only be described as wedding planning on steroids. All it had taken was one phone call to Lisa to confirm the barn and from that point on, Melanie couldn’t remember the last time she got to have a conversation that wasn’t about the big day.

Now, ten days later and standing in the middle of a bridal boutique back in New York City, she sighed with impatience. She was getting zipped into her tenth gown and was no longer having fun.

“C’mon, Mel,” Josiah’s sister Danielle said with a grin. “Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle. You don’t want to make a snap decision on a wedding gown. Most brides take months to do this sort of thing. You knew it was going to be a marathon weekend.”

Between the hopping in and out of gowns and the bad holiday puns her future sister-in-law was so proud of, Melanie was certain she’d go out of her mind. At this point, she’d be willing to close her eyes and point at a gown and take it if it meant getting out of this hell.

“I did, but I still had hopes I’d luck out and find something fast,” Melanie reasoned as she looked in the mirror and frowned.

Nope. Not her gown.

“I think it’s…” Danielle began but Melanie instantly cut her off.

“This isn’t it.”

“It’s not so bad,” Danielle reasoned. “I mean, it has some redeeming qualities.”

“Like what?” Melanie asked, almost cringing at the amount of lace that was practically choking her.

“It’s white.”

Melanie couldn’t help but laugh. “Good one.”

Before she knew it, she was back in the dressing room and stepping out of dress number ten. Hannah, her sales clerk, promised to be right back and with nothing to do other than stand in her underwear, Melanie wondered if she should just give up and get a regular dress—something a little less bridal and a lot more…ready to wear.

That thought lasted a nanosecond because no matter how much she tried to pull off the I’m-not-a-girly-girl thing, she secretly kind of was. And the idea of not wearing a big white gown on her wedding day just wasn’t going to work.

“Okay, Miss Harper,” Hannah said as she breezed back in. “This one wasn’t part of your original choices, but your future sister-in-law just found it and asked me to show it to you.”

Melanie was about to decline when she heard Danielle on the other side of the door.

“Just try it!” she called out. “I’m telling you, it’s the one! Trust me! Have I steered you wrong yet?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to remind her how she hadn’t really steered her anywhere but kept it to herself. Glancing at the gown, Melanie wasn’t sure she was on board. For starters, it was strapless.

“This is more of a summer gown, isn’t it?” she quietly asked Hannah.

But not quietly enough. “They have beautiful wraps out here, Mel!” Danielle called out. “And everywhere you go will be heated!”

“Wasn’t asking you!” she called back but couldn’t hide her amusement with the situation.

“Don’t be such an angry elf! Just try it on!”

With a shrug, she looked at Hannah and said, “I guess I’m trying it on.”

It took all of two minutes when she knew.

This was her gown.

With a soft gasp, Melanie studied her reflection and looked over at Hannah who nodded approvingly.

“I heard that!” Danielle yelled. “I heard you gasp! I was right, wasn’t I? It’s the one!”

“Let her in,” Melanie murmured, unwilling to take her eyes off of the mirror. She turned and studied the gown from every angle. It had a satin bodice, chapel train, and lavish organza ball gown skirt with beautiful beaded and embroidered details.

“It looks even better than I imagined,” Danielle said with a hint of awe as she walked around Melanie. “I’m telling you, with your hair up and one of those winter wraps, you’re going to look stunning.”

In that moment, Melanie believed her.

“You aren’t going to need a lot of alterations,” Hannah said. “Other than the length, the bodice fits you perfectly.”

“Can you grab a couple of wraps for her to try on?” Danielle asked and once Hannah left the room, she gave Melanie a knowing smile. “See, ye of little faith? We found it! Well…technically, I found it. Just promise to name your firstborn after me and we’ll call it even.”