Beyond Promise (22 page)

Ayden’s mouth was soft, hinting of
peppermint. I giggled internally realizing he’d been planning this
moment, and nothing but sweet desire drifted through my body for
the man I was about to marry.

I let out a soft gasp of anticipation as his
hands slid down my back, bringing me in closer. It didn’t matter
that we were in public in the middle of a garden where people could
watch and whistle. All that mattered was that I was in Ayden’s
arms.

My mind submerged into the blissful
realization that I no longer had to be in charge, my heart was no
longer afraid to be shattered. Ayden’s kisses intensified, and my
arms slipped around his neck, tightening my hold on him.

We were both losing our self-control, and
the moment Ayden took a step backward with me in tow and leaned
against the palm tree, I knew we were in trouble. I ran my fingers
through his hair with an eagerness I hadn’t predicted. The idea of
waiting until tomorrow seemed extreme as his lips gently tugged at
mine before he brought his head back up.

I licked my lips, and his smile deepened in
satisfaction.

“I was beginning to worry…” his voice
trailed off.

“Worry?”

“Your resolute determination against…” He
scowled playfully. “Giving me what I wanted…had me worried.”

“And what exactly do you want?”

“All of you.”

His hands worked their way around back to my
hips, and I took a step back.

Satisfaction coursed through his gaze, and
all I could do was grin. He knew how close he was to making me
unravel.

“You said something about the guests
earlier,” I mumbled, lost in a daze and left to wonder why I’d
resisted him for so long. “Why do I suddenly feel like the shoe is
on the other foot?”

“Because you’re perceptive,” he replied,
pleased at the power he’d regained.

I sighed and drew my finger along his
abdomen in wonderment, feeling the hardness underneath.

“You healed up well.”

“The ice packs and antibiotic ointment did
the trick,” he laughed. “Trying to change the subject, I see.”

“What subject?”

“The subject of us. In our suite.” He looked
at his phone. “In twenty minutes. Naked.”

My heart flittered with fulfillment, but
even with all my growth as a human, I couldn’t resist torturing my
future husband. I took a step forward and snuck my fingers under
his shirt and then along the waistband of his board shorts, getting
dangerously low to an area that could drop him to his knees.

His gaze hardened as his eyes locked on
mine, and my fingers sank deeper before slipping away. I sucked on
my lip and flashed him my widest and most innocent expression
before turning around and walking away.

Even with my moment of almost weakness, I
managed to get back to the hotel, change, and wiggle my hips just
enough to leave Ayden groaning as we left the hotel room to meet
everyone on the beach.

By some miracle of God, we’d all made it out
of the storm of the century to arrive in Bermuda where we found
ourselves wandering beaches and Crystal Caves.

I was so excited. The texts had started
coming in that they’d all arrived at the hotel and would meet us
downstairs at rehearsal time. It felt as if the world had suddenly
been flung into fast-forward with no signs of stopping.

“Are you ready?” Ayden whispered, while we
waited for the elevator. “There’s no turning back soon.”

I laughed and shook my head, leaning against
him just as the elevator opened up.

“No, playing dirty,” I glanced up at him as
we stepped into the elevator.

“I never would,” he insisted, slowly
following behind.

I pushed the lobby button and stood a few
feet away from Ayden. There was something electrifying about being
in small spaces with him, and he was using it to his advantage.

“I don’t bite.”

“Yes, you do.” I smiled and his mouth broke
into a daring grin.

“Maybe sometimes.”

Without another floor passing, he stopped
the elevator and wound his arm around my waist while swooping me
into him. His mouth scattered along my neck, and my pulse raced as
his other hand ran up my bare leg, the sundress working too much in
his favor. The elevator buzzed, and a woman’s voice broke over the
elevator music asking if we needed assistance. I giggled at the
rude interruption as Ayden released me, and he reengaged the
elevator after apologizing to the mystery voice.

The plan had been to meet everyone on the
beach, but as the doors glided open, we were greeted with Brandy
and Gabby’s smiling faces.

“We heard the elevator buzz and we knew it
had to be you,” Brandy informed us.

“You did not.”

“And she’s got rosy cheeks,” Gabby pointed
out.

“Please,” I said. “We were rushed. We just
got back from the Crystal Caves.”

“I don’t buy it,” Gabby said. I gave her a
hug and she jumped in place. “Can you believe it? I can’t believe
it.”

I shook my head and gave Brandy a hug.

Ayden had walked over to where Mason and the
others were congregating by the automatic doors that led out to the
beach. It was funny to watch Katie, Jason, and Aaron taking turns
hopping out of the way of the door’s sensors.

“We’ve got one shot to memorize what to do
for tomorrow,” Ayden’s voice instructed his guys. “Let’s not blow
it, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Blow it,” Katie repeated.

“I’m just glad you’re doing the big deed
first,” Aaron joked. “I can watch and learn.”

“Ready?” Ayden called over.

I nodded as we all walked to the guys and
headed toward to the beach where we’d meet up with Jenny, our event
coordinator, and learn exactly what we needed to do for the big
day.

Brandy gave me a quick squeeze as we headed
outside. The balmy breeze swept through the air carrying pure
anticipation of tomorrow. I looked toward the sandy beach and saw
where we’d be saying our vows, and my soul became filled with
promise.

This time tomorrow I’d be walking down the
aisle!

Ayden and I held hands on the elevated
platform and gazed into one another’s eyes as Jenny instructed who
did what and when. Aaron and Mason stood behind Ayden, and Gabby
and Brandy were giggling behind me.

Jenny announced us as a pretend Mr. and Mrs.
Rhodes and instructed us to walk back down the aisle. We were like
giddy high schoolers and I loved every second.

“Can I get a kiss first?” Ayden asked, but
he didn’t wait for my response. He slid a quick kiss along my lips
and grinned. “There’s more where that came from.”

I rolled my eyes and giggled.

We walked down the aisle and turned around
to see Ayden’s mom and dad stand up from the front row and walk
down next, followed by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. My nerves
ignited at the thought of doing this for real tomorrow in front of
our friends and family. We were so close. There was only one dinner
and a night’s sleep in the way.

Ayden’s mom squeezed me tightly.

“We are so lucky to gain a daughter,” she
whispered. “One who loves our son as deeply as we do.”

She took a step back and wiped away an
escaping tear as her husband squeezed her tightly.

“Come on, now,” he chuckled. “The waterworks
can’t start until tomorrow.”

“Alright, alright.” She reached over and
gave my hand one last squeeze.

Katie let out quite an exasperated groan and
sat down on the sand as we congregated and chatted too much for her
liking. In order to avoid a possible meltdown with Katie, Jenny led
us a little ways down the beach where our other guests were already
waiting with drinks in hand and appetizers circulating.

The hotel had done a beautiful job. Candles
flickered in the sand near the water, and several arrangements
framed the entrance to a canopy that had been erected for our
dinner. It was a beautiful night. The weather was calm, the breeze
light, and the temperature a pleasant seventy-two degrees. All
poignant reminders of how lucky we were to be so far away from
Seattle at this particular moment.

Jenny took us to our seats and gathered the
guests inside the canopy. Everything was going seamlessly, and it
was as if all the cares in the world had never existed. I looked
around the table where Brandy, Aaron, Gabby, Jason, Mason, Tori,
Ayden’s parents, aunts, uncles, and four cousins had settled in.
Seeing everyone’s smiling faces as they chatted with one another
made tonight the casual and fun-loving night I’d wished for.

I wasn’t a stuffy kind of person, and I was
thrilled that the resort had created a relaxed rehearsal dinner.
Three long driftwood tables had been put together to make one giant
table where ivory candles flickered on top of shiny green anthurium
leaves that were used like placemats, and ivory orchids towered
over the appetizer plates.

Ayden’s hand was on my knee, and I swore the
pull we always shared was only intensifying. Ayden’s eyes gleamed,
and he leaned over, placing his mouth near my ear.

“Do you remember the first time I kissed
you?”

My smile widened, and my body warmed at the
thought.

“I even remember the first time I hoped
you’d kiss me, and the first time I fantasized about kissing you,”
I whispered back.

It felt as if the world had fallen away, and
it was just us two sitting on the beach, remembering how we first
fell in love.

“When was that?” His eyes glinted with
amusement.

“The night you showed up to my place to tell
me about Brandy and Gabby’s plan to find my high school boyfriend,
right after I’d had that disastrous date.”

“You wanted me to kiss you that night?” his
voice lowered.

“I prayed you would.”

“And what about this fantasy you
mentioned?”

“Same night,” I confessed, giggling.

“Really.” He was intrigued. “A woman who
knows what she wants.”

“Yep. I thought about my hands running
underneath your sweater.”

“You even remembered that I was in a
sweater?” he asked.

“Absolutely.”

He threw his head back, and his fabulous
laughter wrapped around me. “And to think I drew it out so
long.”

Brandy caught my gaze. “Okay, you two
lovebirds. What’s so funny?”

“Just reminiscing.” I flashed a grin and she
rolled her eyes.

“Already, I sense too much information on
the way,” Brandy said wryly.

“You asked. No secrets, remember?” My brow
arched, and Brandy’s cheeks reddened as she glanced at Aaron for
help.

So they
were
hiding something from
us.

I glanced around the table and noticed
everyone completely immersed in their own conversations, the sign
of a healthy dinner party, and also, the sign of the perfect time
to pounce on Brandy. I wanted answers.

“Is there anything you’re not telling me?” I
whispered, leaning slightly against the table.

“I could ask the same,” she replied.

I looked at her quizzically and let out a
slight miffed sound.

“When we both know what I’m hiding, I
wouldn’t really say it qualifies as hiding…”

She wrinkled her nose and glanced at Aaron,
who was busy talking to one of Ayden’s uncles about
photography.

So it really
did
have to do with
Aaron.

“I have to be honest.” I glanced over at
Ayden who’d jumped into a conversation between Jason and Ayden’s
dad. “It’s making it hard for me to concentrate on all my
festivities. Today Ayden planned a tour for us at the crystal caves
and do you want to know what popped into my mind?”

“What?”

“What could Brandy and Aaron be hiding from
us?” I answered.

“I didn’t mean to detract from your day,”
she said softly, and my chest constricted. Please let their
relationship be okay. “Aaron and I just decided that—”