Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train #4)(62)

Jus the sight of her brought tears to my eyes. God, she was so beautiful. She always had been, but something about her in that moment made her more breathtaking than I’d ever seen her. I had to fight the urge to kick myself that this perfect woman was about to be my wife. Even after I had almost ruined things between us, her heart was big enough to forgive me.

I had to swipe my eyes several times before she finally arrived at my side. After Jake and AJ kissed her cheeks, they then went to sit down beside Susan and Rhys. As I took her hand in mine, Elvis sang, “Take my hand. Take my whole life too. For I can’t help falling in love with you.”

He strummed the final chords of the song. After putting his guitar away, he smiled at us. “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today to join together Brayden Michael Vanderburg and Lily Marie Gregson.”

We went through the vows and then exchanged platinum wedding bands that I had picked up yesterday while Lily went dress shopping. I slid it on over her the diamond engagement ring I’d bought the day before as well. After we’d slipped the rings on our fingers, Elvis smiled, “By the power vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

I didn’t have to be told twice. I practically dove at Lily, my hands cupping her face before I brought my lips to hers. I thrust my tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. We must have been putting on quite a show because the guys started whistling behind us.

I quickly pulled away to give Lily a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that.”

Although her cheeks were red, she laughed. “Don’t apologize. That was the best first kiss as a married couple ever.”

“I thought it was pretty good, too.”

Instead of walking straight on down the aisle, we exchanged hugs with the guys and Susan. Then as Elvis started strumming Love Me Tender, we walked out of the chapel as man and wife.

***            

I gave Lily her choice of where we would stay for our Honeymoon night. Instead of the Bellagio, she wanted to stay at the Venetian because as she claimed, “It just seems so much more romantic there.”

So after we finished with the necessary paperwork, we all piled into the limo and took off for the Venetian. We had our wedding reception dinner at Zefferino’s, one of the restaurants inside the Venetian. I’m sure we would have gotten a few stares considering Lily was still in her wedding dress and veil, but it didn’t take too long for fans to spot us. I knew that within a few moments, Lily’s and my secret wedding would explode all over social media.

After downing his beer, Jake cocked his head at me. “Any chance you let the label know you were getting hitched?”

“No, I sure as hell didn’t. Some of those f*ckers cost me my relationship with Lily. I wasn’t about to let them try to interfere today.” Lily took my hand in hers and squeezed it. I’m sure she was glad I hadn’t involved the label handlers either.

He grinned as he shook his head. “Man, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when this shit hits the fan with Marcus and the others.”

“You’re impossible,” I muttered.

After dessert and coffee, we said goodbye to the guys and Susan. Then Lily dragged me over to the canal so we could go on a gondola ride. “You seriously want to do this?”

“Yes, I do. It’ll be so romantic.”

“At the moment, the most romantic thing I can think of is taking you upstairs and getting you out of that dress,” I teased.

She smacked me playfully. “That’s not romantic.”

With a resigned sigh, I paid for our tickets, and we moved forward in the line. At the sight of us in our wedding finery, people were all too happy to let us go in front of them. We first objected, but after they insisted, we finally inched up. Once we got into our gondola, our driver turned back to the people waiting in line. “Let’s give a round of applause for the lovely bride and groom!”

A cheer went up through the crowd as people clapped and whistled. “We love you Brayden!” was screamed by two girls at the end of the line.

Ordinarily Lily would have been embarrassed at being called out, but since it was her wedding day, she seemed to be enjoying it. As the gondola glided across the water, Lily lay her head against my chest. “One day will you take me to Venice so I can ride in a real gondola on the canal?”

I smiled down at her. “I think that’s a promise I can easily keep. I never knew you wanted to go that much.”

She nodded. “I love Italy. I love the idea of traveling anywhere in Europe.”

“We have a European tour coming up.”

Her brows arched in surprise. “You do?”

“Yep. As my wife, you’re more than obligated to come along.”

She laughed. “If it works out with my teaching schedule, I’d love to.”

At the mention of teaching, I sighed. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I just hate that you have to go back home in a week. I want you out on the road with me. Can’t you quit your teaching job?”

She gasped. “Why would I want to do that?”

“Seriously, Lily, you don’t need to work. I make plenty enough money for the two of us.”

“But I just started teaching. And I love it.”