The Dating List (25 page)

"Your wedding day! Can't believe it, Carrie. How do
you feel?"

"Nervous, excited, happy. Coffee's ready, Leah."
Another grin broke out on her face.

Leah descended the stairs and entered the kitchen.
Colin, clad only in sweatpants, came down right after her. His
weight made the old wooden steps groan. He joined Carrie on the
sofa.

"So how do you feel?"

"Nervous…excited, too." She took a sip of her
coffee.

"Grey is probably shitting…nervous, too."

She laughed. Leah returned carrying two mugs of
coffee. She handed one to Colin. He stood up and kissed her.

"Hmm, you guys are next," Carrie murmured.

"I heard that!" Leah said.

"So? What's the big deal? A little geography getting
in your way?"

"You call the Atlantic Ocean a little geography?"

"Love finds a way, Leah."

"That's what I keep telling her," Colin said.

He stroked her hair before pulling her into his
embrace. She snuggled into his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Why didn't you wake me? There are a million things
to do," Delia said, clapping her hands together as she descended
the stairs with purpose in her step.

"Carrie, did you lay out your dress? Leah, where's
the checklist we made? Who has the shower schedule? Hop, hop,
people we have a wedding today."

Startled, the three by the window jumped before they
trained their eyes on her.

"I'm not kidding. I see coffee!"

"Getting you a cup right away, Boss," Leah chirped as
she scurried toward the kitchen.

"I think the list is on the refrigerator, Leah. Bring
it in will you? Colin, I'm putting you in charge of creating a
shower schedule. Carrie gets first pick of a time slot, then the
rest of us."

"What's the name of your…uh…friend, Delia?" Colin
asked, pushing to his feet.

"You mean Stuart? He's British, you know. Lovely man.
Oh, and don't forget your parents. Where the hell are they,
anyway?"

"Still sleeping, I'd guess. After the one they tied
on last night, I'm not surprised." Colin chuckled. "By the way, is
Grey showering here, too?"

"Horrors!" Delia clutched her heart. "The groom
never
sees the bride on their wedding day until she comes
down the aisle. It's bad luck!"

"I don't know these things."

"You have two married sisters…"

"I wasn't exactly interested in these details back
then."

"Well you should be now, since you're next in line,"
Delia said.

Both Leah and Colin blushed.

"Delia! You're embarrassing them," Carrie chimed
in.

"Like you didn't a minute ago?" Colin responded.

"Don't they have a shower at that house your parents
rented?"

"I'm sure they do. The house is huge. Maybe two or
three showers."

"Good, then your brother can shower there. Chop chop,
everyone. Let's go. There's work to be done. Leah, please give me a
hand with breakfast. Colin, wake up Janice and Harvey. And
Carrie…"

"Yes?"

"Do whatever the hell you want; it's your day,
sweetheart."

As Delia turned to go, a tall man with light brown
hair and gray eyes sauntered down the steps.

"Can I help?" He asked.

"Stuart! My love, come into the kitchen. You can help
with breakfast," Delia cooed.

Stuart stopped to kiss Delia before he followed along
behind her and Leah.

"I don't know, Colin, Delia may be next," Carrie
snorted before scampering up the stairs to her room.

****

The smell of bacon reached Janice and Harvey's room,
waking them before Colin arrived. After throwing on robes, they
lumbered down the stairs slowly. All seven sat down to breakfast
together. While they ate, Delia parceled out jobs and put initials
next to each task on her list.

"I have you on here, so don't think you can weasel
out. I'll know who does their job and who doesn't."

"This is beginning to sound like boot camp, Delia,"
Carrie said.

"You've got to be organized to put this together,
honey."

After breakfast, they all dispersed. Colin and Leah
retreated to their room. Together they began to strip the bed.

"What time is the limo picking you up?" Colin folded
the cotton blanket.

"Nine o'clock. Plane leaves at eleven thirty."

"Our last night together…" Leah sighed.

"Just for a while."

"Six months." She avoided his gaze.

"But what a night it was," he said, pulling her up
against his chest.

"If we don't…"

His mouth came down hard on hers before she could
finish her sentence. Leah melted against him as he demanded her
surrender. His fingers wound through her hair, holding her head in
place while his mouth ravaged hers. A small sound escaped her
throat as her fingers gripped his shoulders.

Leah tried to focus her senses on the feel of his
chest up against hers, his strong thighs pressing hers and his
lips, hard and soft at the same time.
Feel it, remember it.
She tried to lock the sensations his closeness caused into her
heart forever.

A loud knock on the door drove the lovers apart.

"No more fooling around in there. We've got work to
do," Delia's voice rang out.

Looking sheepish, Colin picked up the sheet he was
folding.

"Christmas, huh?" He murmured.

"Yeah. I'll be back at Christmas."

"Will you wait for me?" Colin put down the sheet and
picked up a towel.

"I will if you will," Leah said.

"What?"

"I mean…of course I will. Will you?"

"Where could I find another woman like you?" He
grinned.

"The same place I'd find another man like you." She
got on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips.

"Since I'm handling the shower list, I've put myself
first."

She threw a pillow at him. He caught it and tossed it
back at her. Pillow toss quickly escalated into a pillow flight. He
tackled her on the bed, restrained her hands, and kissed her
passionately.

"Take that to France with you," he said.

"I will…I love you, Colin. Nothing can change
that."

"I love you, too, honey. And I won't forget you."

"We can email." Leah took her jeans out of her
suitcase.

"Text."

"Call."

"I'll
friend
you." Colin said, stacking the
linens on the bed.

"Skype."

They hugged then Colin grabbed his towel and headed
for the shower.

Leah tossed on her jeans and a t-shirt then descended
the stairs in search of Delia. By now, the caterers had arrived and
the backyard was bustling with people setting up tables and chairs
as well as preparing serving areas in the tent.

"How many are coming?" Leah asked.

"Seventy-five but to see all this, you'd think it was
three hundred. My my! What a job."

Leah made herself busy directing the caterer's staff,
cleaning up messes, washing and drying dishes. At one o'clock she
scurried upstairs to dress. Colin was buttoning his tuxedo jacket
but his tie hung loose. He faced her and shrugged.

"Can't tie the tie? I'll do it."

Memories of tying Hank's tuxedo tie time after time
for the myriad of charity functions they attended flooded back. For
a second, her breath caught in her throat and her fingers froze.
Colin wrapped his warm fingers around her hand and brought it to
his lips.

"You okay?"

She nodded, smiled at him then tied his tie
perfectly. He glanced in the mirror.

"Wow, perfect! That ability alone is a reason to
marry you," he joked.

Leah turned her back to him and handed him her
necklace. Colin took his time fastening it, then caressed her neck
and shoulders with his fingertips, bringing goose bumps to her
skin.
I'm going to miss his touch.
Tears forced their way
through her defenses, watering her eyes. She shut them tight and
took two deep, shuddering breaths.

"I'll remember the feel of your skin forever," he
whispered, his breath warm on her ear.

She battled with herself to control her emotions,
winning temporarily. Backing toward the door she stopped when she
hit the knob.

"So much to do…I'll…Delia will kill me if I'm not
downstairs in two seconds."

Colin nodded.

"That's okay. Run away. Someday you'll stop running
from me."

****

Without a little general like Delia at the big house
down the street, pandemonium reigned. Jenna, Grey's younger sister
was yelling at her husband, Bill, to dry the dishes faster,
Barbara, Grey's older sister, was in tears because she'd lost an
earring. Barbara's husband, Earl, was on all fours, searching the
bedroom for his wife's missing jewelry and Mary couldn't stop
crying because her oldest boy was getting married. John sat in the
kitchen, his tuxedo tie untied, mumbling about the suit he was
wearing while he drank a cup of coffee. Grey maintained his cool
with no sweat.

The day I've been waiting for is finally here.
He showered and took his time donning his tuxedo. He wanted to
remember every little action.
The next time I put in studs, I'll
be married. The next time I tie my tie I'll be Carrie's husband.
The next time I wear these stupid, shiny shoes, Carrie will be my
wife.
His smile got broader as the day went on. He flipped open
his cell phone to check with Colin about the ring, then picked up a
set of keys and stowed them in his pants pocket.

Jenna cornered him in his bedroom and closed the
door.

"You're sure you want to do this, right?"

"Don't you like Carrie?" His brow furrowed.

"I do. I love her like a sister, but I'm not marrying
her, you are."

"I've never been more sure of anything in my
life."

"That's all I wanted to know. I'm happy for you."

She hugged him.

"I have you to thank, you know."

"Me?"

"You and your marriage list. I never would've found
Carrie if it wasn't for you and that damn list." He chuckled.

"You take all the credit, brother. You found her, you
won her."

"And it wasn't easy. Isn't she great?" He stopped to
stare out the window.

"God, can't take all this lovesick mooning. Let's get
everyone dressed and out of here."

Grey plopped down on the sofa in the living room of
the rented house, chuckling to himself as he watched his family
race around.

"Barbara, where is my tie?" Her husband called.

"Your tie is on the bed. Don't sit on it! Jenna do
you have an extra pair of earrings to go with this dress?"

"John, don't forget your dress socks."

"Bill…out of that shower now! You're going to make us
late."

He was amused by their antics, hollering, frantic
behavior trying to pull themselves together to be ready on time. He
reminded him of newly beheaded chickens, racing around the yard
before they collapse. He nursed a second cup of coffee, put his
feet up and smiled.

John joined him. "Nervous, son?"

"Nope."

"Don't know if that's good or bad. Aren't you
supposed to be? At least a little?"

"Who knows? This is my first—and only–time getting
married."

"I guess when you make a wise choice you're not
nervous."

"Guess so. Were you nervous?" Grey shifted to face
his father.

"Nah. Your mother's the best thing ever happened to
me. I knew it then, and I know it now."

"You found her faster than I found Carrie."

"Different circumstances, different times."

"S 'pose."

"I like your gal. Smart, independent. Doesn't take
any crap from you."

"She's all those things…and…"
And the hottest
woman I've ever known.

"Pretty girl, too." He father said, as if he could
read Grey's mind.

A little color heated Grey's cheeks. "Very
pretty…beautiful."

"You've got good taste in women, always have."

"You, too, Dad."

They laughed. One by one, Andrews family members
joined Grey and John in the living room. The men first, then the
ladies. Grey stood up.

"Everyone ready?"

Grey opened the door, took a breath of the sweet June
air and smiled.
A perfect day for the perfect wedding.
The
cloudless sky appeared to be a richer shade of blue.
Maybe it's
just me.
The group walked along the side of the road to Delia's
house. Even from the front of the house Grey could see bustling
activity. John and Mary pressed the doorbell. Delia herself
answered the door, ushering them in with a broad smile and a hug
for everyone.

Grey entered last. Janice stood in front of the
staircase.

"Groom may not see the bride until the wedding."

Grey chuckled and gave a half bow. Leah came down the
stairs, her eyes glowing.

"I've never seen a more beautiful bride, Grey."

"I'm not surprised," he said.

"Smokin' brother," Colin chimed in.

The sun had warmed the air so Delia threw open the
French doors allowing people to wander outside. She had a terraced
stone patio where the ceremony was to take place. Steps led down to
an expansive lawn, trimmed to perfection. Grey checked his watch.
Two o'clock. He motioned to his father and they strolled over to
the bar. Both got vodka and tonics then found an out-of-the-way
place to watch the doings. Colin joined them.

Grey glanced up at the windows on the second floor.
He caught a glimpse of Carrie and waved. He wondered if things were
as chaotic in that upstairs bedroom as they were on the lawn.
I
hope she's as calm as I am.

****

Carrie, perched on the window seat of her bedroom and
already wearing her strapless wedding dress, spied Grey with a
drink in his hand flanked by his father and brother.
He's
gorgeous in that tuxedo.
As if by telepathy, he looked up at
that very moment, smiled and waved at her. She raised her hand in a
quick wave.