Ready to Wed (Ready #1.5)(5)

Was it a crime that I wanted to look good on my special day, even if it wasn’t a year in the future?

The woman helping us, Maria, seemed to understand perfectly, having most likely helped plenty of women in similar situations. We weren’t in Vegas, but with views and romance surrounding you at every turn in this place, impromptu weddings were likely to occur.

“What type of dress were you looking for?” she asked, which took me by surprise.

“Whatever you have off the rack, I guess.”

“Oh darling…we have plenty. Tell me what you envision wearing the day you marry your special man, and I will see what I can do.”

Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe I was overly emotional from everything that was happening…but I began to tear up. Leah threw an arm around me and gave me a gentle hug.

“See, I told you we would find you something special. Did you ever stop to think that maybe your dress getting trashed wasn’t a sign that you weren’t supposed to get married, but a sign that you weren’t supposed to get married in that dress?”

I looked up at her confused.

“Clare, don’t try and hide it. I know you hated that dress.”

I tried to argue with her, but I couldn’t. I really did hate that dress. It was, like I said, beautiful…with a sweeping matte satin train and fitted strapless bodice…but it wasn’t me at all.

“When I see myself on that beach, marrying Logan, I see myself in vintage lace. Something simple— timeless and elegant, but not overdone.”

Maria smiled, “I think I have just the thing.”

~Logan~

“She’s going to kill you, man,” my soon to be brother in law said, shaking his head as I moved the last bag across the hall.

“I might kill myself first.”

“They’re not back yet. You could still change your mind. She’d never know.”

I stopped in the middle of the hall, looking back and forth between the two doors and shook my head.

“No, I want to do this. I think we need a bit of tradition.”

“Okay, but do me one favor?”

“Sure, what’s that?”

“Let me be around when you tell her?” he said, before hitting me on the back and laughing. I groaned, hating myself already.

We didn’t have to wait long. After finishing the task that would no doubt land me in the dog house, we headed downstairs to the bar and met the girls in the lobby, returning from their afternoon out. My eyes came to rest on Clare, and I felt my breath hitch. Even after months together, waking up each morning by her side, day after day, she still managed to steal my breath with just one glimpse.

She was glowing, full of joy, and no longer carrying that devastated expression she’d arrived with after finding her destroyed wedding dress.

Instantly, I was at her side. Bending down, I placed a lingering, tender kiss on her lips.

“I’m guessing it was a good trip?”

She smiled against my lips, and nodded.

“Leah, could you take Maddie to the pool for an hour or so, while I unpack with Logan?”

Her eyes had that look. That mischievous, want-to-f*ck-you look. I was so screwed.

“Yep. On it. Come on, Short Stack!”

Leah picked up a giggling Maddie and headed upstairs to Leah’s room to change. Maddie, deciding that since she was at the beach, a swim suit must be worn at all times. She was hopping up and down, ready to jump in. Leah kept tickling her, telling her to be patient. Garrett looked back at us, obviously trying to decide whether or not he wanted to be around for my bomb drop, and finally gave us a salute and hurried after Leah, catching her in the elevator just before it closed.

It was just her and me. She looked up with those seductive green eyes I adored and pulled my hand towards the elevator.

“So, about upstairs…,” I started, but was interrupted the second the elevator doors closed. Clare pushed me against the wall with her free hand, holding her garment bag with the other and pressing her body against mine. She teased me with a light kiss, nipping at my bottom lip with her teeth, before taking charge in an all-consuming kiss that left me dizzy.

My brain went haywire, and I lost the ability to think beyond her and how good her lips felt, how I wanted to take her right there in that elevator and if she didn’t stop kissing me like that, I would.

I don’t remember how, but somehow we made it out of the elevator when it came to our floor and to our suite. I swiped the keycard and we all but fell into the room. Immediately after closing the door, I had her pinned to it, running my hands down the curve of her ass to hook her legs around me. She wrapped both of her arms around my neck. I had no idea where the garment bag went and at that point I didn’t f**king care. I said she could get married in a burlap sack, and I meant it.

Pinned securely to the wall, her hand went to the front of my shorts, palming my hard length through the fabric. Just that one touch from her could end me. God, what the hell was I thinking earlier? I needed to go across the hall and move everything back before she noticed.

Her eyes focused on me, a pleased smile spreading across her face, knowing she could bring so much pleasure with such a small gesture.

Just as I was about to reciprocate, dive my hand into the juncture of her thighs and feel that wet heat I loved, her eyes moved away from mine and focused on the room.

“Where are the rest of the suitcases?”