“Why didn’t you?”
“I always made quilts to sell during the summers. I would make up as many crafts as I could, and earn some extra money. I would even give lessons to some of the women in the area,” she told him.
“Did you need the money?” he asked.
“Not at all. I made decent money as a teacher, and my parents left me a decent amount. I’m not rich by any means, but I’m comfortable and have a nice savings account,” she paused. “I guess the real reason I never came is that I didn’t want to see her with Bob and start missing what I was sure I’d never have.”
“I can understand that,” he told her. “I never really worried about finding someone until about a year ago. I had a girl that I figured I’d eventually marry, but mostly I was too busy working. I sure do understand the loneliness, though. Seeing couples does add to it.”
She thought about what he’d said for a moment, glad that he’d understood. “So, how many single people do you think we’re making feel lonely by standing here like this?”
He laughed. “I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I should really show them what they’re missing.” He moved his hands to her shoulders and turned her to face him. Lowering his head, he kissed her, his tongue probing along the seam of her lips until she opened her mouth for him.
Her arms wound around his neck as she kissed him back. Her tongue tangled with his. He tasted so good. She hadn’t been expecting this kind of kiss is such a public place, but she was thrilled. She felt tingles up and down her spine. When he broke the kiss, she stared up at him with her lips slightly parted. His lips were redder than before, and his breathing was faster.
“Wow,” she whispered. “You’re good at that.”
He laughed. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I’m starting to look at our wedding night with more anticipation than nervousness,” she confessed.
“We can go back to the hotel right now and get started on that,” he told her with a grin.
“I’m starting to get hungry,” she said.
“Yeah, me too, but not for food.”
She chuckled softly. “Well, I’m hungry for food. I didn’t eat more than four or five bites of lunch. I was too nervous.”
“Well, I don’t want you passing out, so I guess I’d better feed you,” he said with a shake of his head. “There’s a little café not far from the hotel. We’ll walk back, eat dinner, and then head back up to the room. Will that work for you?
She glanced at her watch. It was already after five. “That sounds great.”
After they’d ordered their meal, they talked quietly about the future, laughing as they made up names for the kids they both hoped to have.
Once they were inside, she asked if she could use the bathroom first. She went in and brushed her teeth and hair and changed into the gown she’d made for that night. It was white satin with spaghetti straps. It went to her knees and hugged her curves. It wasn’t see-through, but with the way it clung to her, it might as well have been.
She stood for a moment with her hand on the doorknob, taking deep breaths, and trying to get up the courage to go through that door. After the time they’d spent together, she was sure he wouldn’t hurt her. She knew that she was very attracted to him, but she was still about to make love with a man she barely knew. She screwed up her courage and opened the door.
He had opened the bottle of complimentary champagne while he waited. He poured them each a glass, and took the lid off the chocolate covered strawberries that had been part of the honeymoon package. He heard her come out and turned to offer her some of the champagne. Once he spotted her, he tried to speak, but no words would come out.
She stood nervously waiting for him to say something. He just gaped at her. She started to turn back to the bathroom, and he ran across the room and grabbed her arm to stop her.
“You take my breath away,” he said.
“I thought you didn’t like it,” she whispered as she looked down.
He laughed. “I think I like it too much.”
He took her hand and led her to the table where he’d set the champagne and strawberries. He picked up a strawberry and fed it to her, watching as a trail of juice escaped her lips. She lifted her hand to wipe it away, but he was faster. He leaned down and licked the trail of juice from her chin to her lips. “Did I miss any?”
She mutely shook her head, startled by his actions.
“Champagne?” he asked her offering a glass.
“No thank you. I don’t want anything clouding my memory of tonight.”