The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(43)

At Maggie’s insistence, there had been help from a catering service. Hors d’oeuvres, champagne and sparkling cider were ready when the wedding party assembled and their reception dinner was being kept warm. Cal and Maggie’s table was extended and appointed with the caterer’s china and crystal. The patio had a trellis covered with flowers. Lined up on the patio table were all the flowers for the wedding party—the bride’s and matron of honor’s bouquets, a corsage for Connie’s mother and boutonnieres for the men.

When Sierra saw the flowers, the dining table, the decorations, she began to cry.

“Oh, honey, is it okay?” Connie asked.

“It’s so beautiful!” she said. “It’s just so perfect. It’s exactly what I wanted for us.”

When the minister, Rafe, Lisa, Dakota and Sid arrived, they were ready to begin. With Sedona beside Sierra, and Beaner beside Connie, they stood in front of the decorated trellis with the beautiful Rockies in the distance and recited traditional vows, with the exception of a few old-fashioned words like obey. It took a total of twelve minutes and then rings were exchanged and Connie took Sierra into his strong arms and kissed her long and lovingly.

“Are you sure it’s legal?” Sierra whispered against his lips. “That was so fast!”

“It better be because I’m never letting you go.”

“I love you, Connie,” she whispered.

“Sierra, thank you. Thank you for loving me.”

And with that Sedona let a sob escape and dabbed at her eyes.

A glorious dinner of Caesar salad, lobster, filet mignon, potatoes au gratin, baby green beans and a small wedding cake decorated with orchids was served. Both Elizabeth and Sully were perfectly behaved. And afterward, the remnants of dinner was quickly and silently whisked away by the mother-daughter team that had served them. None of the guests lifted a finger.

By nine o’clock the guests were saying good-night. Sierra and Connie were headed back to their home and dog, exactly what they wanted most.

*

Dakota helped Sid climb into his SUV. He started the engine and looked at her. “Did you have fun?” he asked.

“I did,” she said, smiling. “Your family and friends are a riot. I already knew I liked most of them, but this was as close as I’ve been. Lisa Vadas is lovely. Maggie is someone I’d love to get to know better. What a great family.”

“You look wonderful, Sid. I didn’t know you could get sexier.”

“I don’t dress up very often.”

“I was worried,” he started. Then he shut it down.

“What were you worried about?”

“You had a terrible divorce,” he said. “I was afraid the wedding, even a simple wedding, was going to make you nostalgic and maybe...unhappy.”

Sid laughed. “I loved the wedding. I loved the simplicity of it. It was amazingly simple and beautiful. Intimate. And fun. My wedding was actually kind of awful—maybe I should have taken that as a sign.”

“What was awful?” he asked.

“Well, it was far too important to David. He fussed over the details and needed it to be perfect. There were bridesmaid issues, he had family issues, there was arguing, bickering. You’ve heard of grooms saying, ‘Whatever she wants’? Our situation was just the opposite. I really wasn’t that into the whole thing but I wanted him to be happy and he had to have some kind of big party even though it put us in debt. I didn’t have family to pay for that and he certainly didn’t. It was exhausting and unsatisfying. It was pretty, though. I don’t know Sierra and Connie that well, but didn’t it look like a wedding that fit them both perfectly? And didn’t they seem so happy and ready to take on the world when they left tonight? I had a moment of envy. But I wasn’t melancholy.”

He reached for her hand. “Are you tired?” he asked.

“A little,” she said.

“I can take you home now. Or I can take you to my place. It’s just a cabin but it’s very comfortable.”

“I’d love to see it,” she said. “And maybe stay a little while.”

“It sounds like you’ve given this some thought,” he said.

“Haven’t you?” she asked with a lift of one brow.

He chuckled, putting the SUV in gear. “I haven’t thought about much else since I met you, Sid.”

*

Given the size of his home, it wasn’t necessary to show Sid around. She could see most of it from just inside the door. Dakota grasped her hands and pulled them around his neck. He kissed her softly, then ran his hands down her arms, her sides, circling her waist. He kissed her again. “Tell me if it’s okay,” he said.

“It’s okay.”

Massaging her back while he kissed her, he found a zipper and slowly slid it all the way down. He slid a hand inside. “Come on,” he said. “I want to fall into you.”

He walked her about ten feet into the bedroom, where he gently slid the dress off her shoulders and down, leaving her standing before him in a strapless bra and very small panties exactly the same color as her navy blue dress and strappy heels. He looked her up and down. She stepped out of the dress, stood straight and let him fill his eyes. He loved that she didn’t cower, try to cover herself or push away.

“Damn,” he said. “I knew about those legs, even if I hadn’t seen them. The jeans. You knock me out with those jeans. But this... You’re incredible. Do you know that?” One of the first things he noticed was a long scar on her right thigh, but it took nothing away from her beauty.