Page 23 of Just One Promise (The Carter Brothers 3)
Our eyes never leave one another’s, when Audrey mouths, “I love you,” it takes everything in me not to kiss her senseless, something tells me that if I did that, our officiant wouldn’t be too thrilled. Instead I mouth, “I love you, Audrey.” We say our vows, it’s short and sweet, just how Audrey and I wanted. Nothing too big or showy.
“You may now kiss the bride,” is spoken, my hands cup Audrey’s cheek, and we take our first kiss as husband and wife.
My brothers’ whistling and the girls’ hollering break us apart. The smile on Audrey’s face, I would do this every year, if she wanted.
When everything is said and done, all of us head toward our back deck, the catering company we hired has the buffet set up, it’s enough for a feast. Audrey didn’t want anyone to have to worry about clean up. Even when the girls said they wouldn’t mind doing it, she put her foot down and said no.
The biggest surprise I have though, is we’re leaving tonight. Audrey didn’t say where she wanted to go for our honeymoon, the stubborn woman. So, I made plans of my own. We’re heading to Jamaica for a week, her bags are even packed.
Thank god for the girls, I tried to just pack bikinis, once they realized that they took over.
My brothers, damn do they rally for you, I didn’t end up getting the help I thought I would need too. Instead I had Rome and Mason in my corner, we took a guy’s trip down to Costa Rica, it wasn’t for too long. Only a weekend, but it was enough to let us surf, get some heavy shit off my chest, and to have a few beers.
Coming back after that weekend, talking to Audrey, it lifted a heaviness off of my chest. Somedays the cloud likes to settle over my head, but with the help of my family, I’ll be okay.
I didn’t think I could love my family any more than I already do, but they continue to prove me wrong and I couldn’t be more thankful.
Epilogue Two
Audrey
One Year Later
It’s our one-year anniversary, not our wedding anniversary, but it’s been a year since that first night I met Heath, right here where it all began. I left him a note on our kitchen counter, knowing he said he’d be working late tonight. I make my way to the bar and tavern, that will be another thing I’m sure he’ll threaten to spank me over, as well as a certain article of clothing I’m purposely missing.
In a dress, with my body moving to the beat of the music, in another ten minutes or so he’ll be here. I just hope Heath knows I did this for us, and also for another surprise I have up my sleeve. I mean he had a surprise of his own when it came to our honeymoon, nothing but sunshine and a private bungalow over the water. The only interruption we had was room service. The girls packed my suitcase to the gills, but we never left our bungalow. Bathing suits were about the only thing both of us wore, and even then, they didn’t stay on very long.
Two hands wrap around my waist, the scent, the feel, I know it could only ever be Heath. Plus, we’re in a small town, everyone knows everyone.
“What the fuck were you thinking coming here, on your own,” he grumbles, not even saying hello first.
“Hello to you too, Mr. Carter,” I whisper.
We dance, slowly, our bodies moving to the beat of the music. “Hello, Mrs. Carter, didn’t like coming home to an empty house,” he whispers into my ear. I’m about to make a snarky comment about, Barrel, our golden retriever, being home to greet him when Heath replies with, “A dog is not my wife.”
“Well played, but still. I have a few surprises up my sleeve,” I turn back around, my back to his front, his hands on my hips. I back my ass into him, letting him know what I really want.
Two songs later, Heath’s hands have dipped below the skirt of my dress, not quite moving all the way where I need him the most.
“Want to take a break?” I throw out, I’ve already scoped out a place that has the perfect place I want to lead him too.
“This is your night, Baby. Lead the way.” My hand finds his and I pull him out the back door, through the small patio they have, and down an alley. No one is around, we can still hear the music from the bar. Heath catches onto what I’m going for and takes over.
He backs me up against the brick wall, Heath’s hand dives into my hair, moving me exactly where he wants me.
I want his lips on mine, except he doesn’t want the same thing, it seems he’s in a teasing mood tonight. His lips find my skin, kissing a path from the shell of my ear down to my neck. I growl in frustration, one of my legs slide up against his hip. I’m open and waiting for him now, it gets the point across. Heath picks me up, I wrap my legs around his waist. Both of his hands slide up the outside of my legs as he positions himself between my thighs.
