Page 23 of Falling for the Delta
“Is that so?” Dash asked.
“Yup.”
“Well, in that case, I’d better make this super-duper official so no one tries to say I didn’t follow all the rules.”
He lowered his head, and Holly went up on her tiptoes to meet him halfway. The kiss was long, deep, and felt different from any kiss they’d ever shared before. By the time Dash lifted his head, Holly was ready to tear his uniform off and have her wicked way with him right there, not caring who might walk out and see them.
“Hold that thought,” Dash said gruffly.
His erection pressed against her belly and it was obvious he was just as turned on as Holly was. “You gonna be able to walk like that?” she teased, pressing her hips into his groin playfully.
“I’ve gotten really good at figuring it out since I’m this way all the time around you,” Dash told her. “Come on, let’s eat. Then we can change into more comfortable clothes, and come back out here when it’s dark and snuggle under the blankets and watch your movie. I’ve got some portable heaters I can set up after the sun goes down so we don’t get too cold. And just so you know, there’s a flap we can close so we’ll have complete privacy out here.”
“Sex in our backyard fort? I’m so down for that,” Holly said with a grin.
“I figured you might be,” Dash answered with a chuckle.
* * *
Hours later, after a delicious meal of steak and lobster; after they drank the entire bottle of champagne; after Holly had texted a picture of her ring to Stella, and gotten a return picture of Stella’s own ring that Magic gave her when he proposed; after they’d changed into more comfortable clothes and watched the movie; and after Dash had shown her without words how much she meant to him, Holly lay naked and replete in his arms on the love seat.
She was cozy and warm thanks to Dash’s body heat and the propane heaters he’d set up. She was snuggled up against his side, tracing circles on his chest as she listened to his heartbeat under her cheek.
“Dash?”
“Yeah?”
Holly didn’t know why she was whispering, but the moment just seemed to call for it. “I don’t think I want a big wedding. Your mom and sisters, my parents and brother, Stella, a few people from work, your Delta team…and that’s it. I don’t need a huge party, and I don’t want to wait months and months to marry you either.”
For some reason, she felt Dash’s muscles relax under her. She hadn’t realized he’d been tense until that moment.
“What?” she asked, picking up her head so she could look into his eyes. The fairy lights above their heads gave her more than enough illumination to see, but they weren’t bright enough to sully the romantic mood of the evening.
“I’m happy you think that way,” Dash said. “Because I have another surprise for you.”
“Another? I think you’ve done more than enough, Dash. I’ve never been so spoiled.”
“I love spoiling you,” Dash said, then turned his head and kissed her.
Holly almost forgot what they were talking about, but eventually, she pulled back and said, “Another surprise?”
He chuckled. “Right. So, I feel the same way about the small ceremony, and I don’t want to wait to marry you either. That’s why we have an appointment tomorrow to get our marriage license. This tent actually has a two-fold purpose. The second the seventy-two-hour waiting period is up, I’ve arranged for an officiant to meet us here. Our parents are arriving tomorrow, and your brother and my sisters get here Monday. If you agree, we can be married on Tuesday.”
Holly pushed herself upright, not even noticing that the blanket fell off her shoulders and her boobs were practically in Dash’s face. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
Holly’s mind spun. She couldn’t think straight.
“Is that…if it’s too fast, we can wait,” Dash said, the uncertainty easy to hear in his tone.
“What? No! I just…holy shit. Yes! I can’t believe you’ve already got it all arranged!” Holly exclaimed.
“I love you. And I can’t wait to make you mine permanently. I’d do anything for you, Hol, don’t you know that?”
“Oh my gosh, what am I going to wear?” she asked, trying not to panic.
“It’s all arranged. I stole that bridal magazine you tried to hide from me and noted the pages you dog-eared. There’re four dresses upstairs in our room for you to choose from. We can return the ones you don’t choose. The flowers have been ordered. The catering’s done. And I even took the liberty of talking to your boss about a honeymoon. It can’t be too long because of my job, but I think you’ll like the mountain retreat in New Mexico I’ve booked for us. It’s actually a retreat for people who suffer from PTSD, but the owners have assured me that our cabin is secluded and we can be completely alone as much as we want.”
