Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(41)
“You make me hot, too,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against him. “And I like it when you talk technical...about any of your girl parts.”
She rested her cheek on his chest, enjoying the sensation of being safe and the feel of his hard penis against her belly. His heartbeat was steady, the rhythmic sound relaxing her.
He drew back and kissed her forehead. “Better?”
“Than what?”
“I wanted to distract you so you wouldn’t be so nervous.”
Because of the party, she thought. “Your plan worked,” she said with a smile. Like she’d said before—Gideon was very nice to her.
They turned toward the entrance to the ballroom. Gideon took her hand and together they went inside.
The room itself had a stage at one end with what appeared to be a reggae band. There was a long buffet and three bars, along with a dessert station that featured a chocolate fountain. One side was open to a wide patio with lots of seating and a view of the mountains. Felicia suspected that the glass doors could be left in place or pushed out of the way, depending on the season or the event.
She and Gideon were offered tropical drinks in an assortment of colors. Servers walked by with trays of food. She caught sight of Charlie with Clay. Charlie had on a beautiful white dress in a tank style. While Charlie was more a cargo pants kind of woman, the simple lines of the dress combined with the silky fabric suited her. Dellina walked up to Charlie and whispered something. Charlie nodded. Clay leaned over and kissed Dellina’s cheek, which Felicia thought was strange. It was almost as if he was thanking her. Interesting.
Felicia and Gideon walked through the crowded room. They were greeted by several people they knew. Justice and Patience came over and began to chat. She saw Consuelo having what looked like an intense conversation with Mayor Marsha and Isabel ducking behind a large plant. Obviously her friend had decided to continue hiding from Ford.
About an hour later, a very beautiful, middle-aged woman stepped onto the stage. She was petite and fit, dressed in a red-and-white sarong.
“Thank you all for coming,” she said into the microphone the band had set up. “My name is Dominique Dixon, and I want to welcome you. This party is for my wonderful daughter, Charlie, and her fiancé, Clay.”
She motioned to the couple, who had moved to the front of the crowd.
Dominique’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you so much, Charlie. I hope you’ll always be happy.”
Just then Mayor Marsha joined Dominique on the stage. The mayor wore one of her suits—this one in a light pink. An odd choice for a luau, Felicia thought. Just one of many.
The mayor hugged Dominique, then took the microphone.
“Welcome,” she said with a smile. “I have to say this represents what I love about Fool’s Gold. Friends coming together to celebrate. It has been my honor to be a part of nearly every birth and wedding here, for many, many years. Today is no exception. If those of you in the middle of the room could move to the left or the right, please. We need to create a center aisle.”
Felicia didn’t understand. What were they doing?
Gideon took her hand and drew her back. It was then she was able to see Charlie had moved to the back of the ballroom. She was in the same dress she’d worn before, but now she had a bouquet of white roses and lilies in her hand. Clay had left her side and was standing by the stage. A girl of maybe ten or eleven stepped in front of Charlie. She had obviously been burned at some point, but still smiled happily as she tossed out rose petals.
Felicia found herself oddly teary and excited, without knowing why. A very pregnant Heidi and her husband, Rafe, stepped between Charlie and Clay and the flower girl. Annabelle and Shane joined.
“Oh, there’s going to be a wedding!” someone squealed.
The mayor smiled again. “Yes, there is. Apparently Charlie and Clay couldn’t decide whether to have a big wedding or a small one, so instead they picked something unconventional. Less hassle, more fun.” She paused. “Charlie said to tell you all she and Clay are going to Fiji for three weeks in the morning and they don’t want any calls.”
Everyone laughed.
The band played a Calypso version of the Wedding March and Charlie started down her makeshift aisle. Felicia couldn’t believe it. A wedding. Just like that.
Everyone turned to the front again, as Charlie and Clay took their places in front of Mayor Marsha. Their family gathered around them. Felicia saw Charlie’s mother and Clay’s mother linking arms, both smiling and crying.
She looked between the couple and saw the love in their eyes. They belonged together, she thought. They were happy and starting their lives together.
Yearning welled up inside her, but she reminded herself not to worry. She’d started down a path herself. She would learn what she needed to, and then she would find the man she belonged with. One day she would be getting married. Maybe not exactly like Charlie, but however it happened, it would be a memory she would treasure always.
CHAPTER TEN
FELICIA HAD THE entire Fourth of July festival reduced to a diagram and a flow chart. She’d organized by time, location and type of booth. She was ready. Or as close to ready as one could be before the actual event took place. It wasn’t as if she could cook the food or anything, but if she could, she would have that started, too.
Thirty-seven hours and counting, she thought. Thirty-seven hours until the vendors arrived and started setting up. The deliveries had been confirmed, as had the workers who would help. The decorations were in place. Every light pole on the main streets had either bunting or a flag. She knew the exact time the parade would start and who would be in it.