The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(59)

“That still doesn’t mean you should be going full throttle all the time. It was one thing going back to work, but between the rehearsal dinner and bachelorette party this week, you’ve been pushing yourself.”

As much as she hated to admit it, she was exhausted. “Okay, okay, Mr. Bossy. When we finish with the pictures, I’ll sit down and put my feet up until the ceremony.”

A pleased smile filled his lips. “Good.” He brushed one of the curly tendrils out of her face. “But save me at least one dance at the reception.”

Her stomach clenched at the very mention of the reception. Not only was she singing at the ceremony, but Casey had asked her to sing during hers and Nate’s first dance. Aidan must’ve noticed her apprehension because he drew her to him. “Getting stage fright?”

She gulped down the rising bile in her throat. “A little.”

“You’ll sound amazing. You always do.”

“I hope so,” she croaked.

He pulled away to cup her face in his hands. “Well, I know so.” He brought his lips to hers. Both a calming and pleasing tingle spread from the top of her head down to her toes.

“No, no, no! Don’t you two start! You’ll ruin Emma’s make-up before the pictures!” Casey protested.

Aidan groaned against her lips before Emma broke apart from him. “You are such a bridezilla,” he kidded.

Casey laughed. “Watch it, Big Papa. I might find another purse to nail you with.”

With a shake of his head, Aidan only chuckled at her jibe. “Don’t think I haven’t warned Nate to steer clear of you when you’re pissed and wielding a purse. It’s a dangerous weapon!”

Emma continued to be so shocked by their friendly banter that she merely followed dumbly behind them as they walked into the sanctuary. After taking a million pictures, first with Casey, and then after she disappeared, with Nate, Emma began to feel her face was frozen in a smile, and she might be blinded from all the flashbulbs.

All too soon it was time for the ceremony to start. Emma took her place in front of Carlee and gazed out at the massive crowd in attendance. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched as Casey took her father’s arm. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’ll always be my little girl,” he said.

A pang of sadness washed over Emma that her own father would never walk her down the aisle. At the same time, she knew that if she and Aidan ever married, Granddaddy would be more than happy to do the honors. She turned away from her feelings of sadness and regret. Instead she embraced the ones of pure and complete happiness at the future ahead for both herself and Casey.

She didn’t have to force a beaming smile to her face when she met Aidan at the altar door. As she slipped her arm through his to take their walk down the aisle, Noah gave a gentle kick. She couldn’t help feeling like the most blessed woman on earth.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Emma sat with the bridal party at the head table under multiple glittering chandeliers. She couldn’t believe how beautiful everything looked from the overflowing floral arrangements to the ice sculptures. Casey and Nate’s families had gone all out for the reception.

After devouring his plate, Aidan cut his eyes over to survey how she was playing with her food. “Noah’s going to get feisty if you don’t eat,” he cautioned, wiping his mouth with his linen napkin.

“I’ll eat when I finish singing. The last thing I want to do is puke from nerves on Casey and Nate’s big day.” At his skeptical look, she replied, “I promise as soon as I’m done, I’ll shovel it in, including several pieces of the bride and groom’s cakes!”

Aidan took a sip of champagne before nodding in agreement. “When are you up?”

“After the speeches.”

“That’s not long.”

“Looks like it’s sooner than I thought,” she replied, motioning to where Nate’s brother and best man stood with a microphone in his hand.

While Anthony spoke, Emma noticed it was Aidan, not herself, who had begun squirming in his seat. His hand shifted from his thigh to his coat pocket several times. When she shot him a questioning look, he mouthed, “Sorry.”

Once Anthony finished his speech to a round of applause, Carlee took the microphone with a shaky hand. Already teary, she lost it as soon as she began speaking about her sister. It wasn’t long before everyone was crying, Emma included.

When the bandleader took the microphone from Carlee, Emma felt the butterflies in her stomach turn to boulders. Once again, Aidan became shifty in his seat. “Don’t tell me you’re nervous for me?” she whispered in his ear.

“Oh, um…yeah, I think I caught your nerves or something,” he finally mumbled.

“And now it’s time for the bride and groom to take the floor for their first dance as man and wife.”

Emma winced. “That’s my cue.”

Aidan grinned. “Break a leg, babe.”

“Thanks a lot,” she mumbled.

Without anyone else seeing, he reached out and smacked her ass. His playfulness melted her nervousness.

The first time Casey ever heard her sing at an open mic night at one of their favorite coffee shops, she swore Emma sounded just like one of her personal favorites, Patty Griffin. So there had never been any question that Casey wanted Emma to perform Heavenly Day for her first dance with Nate. It was also one of Emma’s favorite songs to sing.