MY DRESS WAS fitted through the bodice and fell into a dramatic train. The fabric was delicate crepe, and the back dipped low to reveal a string of freshwater pearls that dangled along my spine. The first time I’d put it on, Aunt Jackie had cried, then waved her hands at the rest of us like it was our fault she was emotional. Which, I supposed, it was.

Uncle Greg saw me months later, when I finally exited the bridal suite and made my way to the hotel ballroom where the ceremony would take place. His eyes watered just as much as Jackie’s had, and the hard man couldn’t stop himself from crushing me into a hug until Aunt Jackie screeched at him not to ruin my hair.

“You look beautiful,” he said, voice gruff.

I smiled. “Thank you for being here and for doing this.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he told me, then extended his elbow toward me.

I took a deep breath and hooked my arm through his. Ahead of us, Evie started our procession, bearing the wedding bands that would soon solidify Cole’s and my union. Julie and Hailey were next, accompanied by Cole’s groomsmen, his friend Rome and his father Chuck.

Jackie walked ahead of us on her own, and then Uncle Greg squeezed my arm and gave me a wink.

My heart beat so fast I thought I might pass out halfway up the aisle, but I had no choice but to take that first step and turn the corner to enter the ballroom.

That was the moment I knew magic was real. It was everywhere in that room, in the swags of fabric and the bundles of flowers on every row of seats. It was wound into the lights twinkling at the end of the aisle, and it lingered around the shoulders of my husband-to-be.

It had to be magic, because how else could I explain the fact that I was transported to another world? How could I put into words the joy that went through me, other than to call it something supernatural?

I was crying by the time I made it to the altar. Uncle Greg put his hands on my shoulders and pressed a kiss to my wet cheek, then took my hand and turned to Cole.
“You take care of Carrie for us, son,” he said. “She’s my third daughter, and she deserves the best.”

“Uncle Greg,” I chided, and it came out with a hiccup.

“I’ll dedicate my life to it,” Cole promised, and Greg put my hand into his outstretched palm. The moment my fingers curled around my soon-to-be husband’s palm, a sense of peace settled over me. My bottom lip still trembled, and the world was blurry when I tried to look through my tears, but I knew this was right.

This was exactly where I was meant to be.

“You look amazing,” Cole whispered.

“I’m messing up my makeup,” I whispered back.

He laughed quietly, then pulled out his silk pocket square and dabbed my face with it. Distantly, I heard the audience go aww.

Evie was there beside Cole, and she stepped forward to wrap her arms around my waist. That set me off again, and Cole’s pocket square was a soggy mess by the time I pulled myself together.

Then, with my hands clasped in his, I married the man of my dreams. It was a moment that I’ll never forget—a feeling of rightness, of unbelievable love. It felt like stepping through the front door of my home after a long trip away. Like finally, after all this time, I’d made it back to where I was meant to be.

When Cole swept me into his arms for our first dance, Cole leaned his lips close to my ear and said, “You came back to me.”

I pulled away and hooked my arms around his shoulders. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“When you said you wanted to take it slow, I worried.”

I smiled softly. “I’m here, Cole. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He leaned his forehead against mine and let out a long sigh, pulling me tighter to his body as we swayed to the music. “I love you,” he told me.

“I’ll never get sick of hearing that,” I admitted.

His smile was wide and a little teasing. “Good. Because I’ll never get sick of saying it. I love you, Carrie.”

“And I love you, Cole.”

We danced and ate and drank. I watched Uncle Greg haul Evie—dead asleep—into his arms to bring her up to their suite, where they’d watch her for the night. I laughed with Julie and Hailey, and I took photos with all the people who came to celebrate our special day. I was a little dazzled by the guests that Cole invited—beautiful Layla with stunning, intimidating Leif; bubbly Penny with her brooding Marcus; Rome with the vixen-like Nikki; Dani with Emil, who looked at her like she hung the moon; and Bonnie and silver-haired Arlo. All of them were gorgeous and wealthy and intimidating, but they congratulated me warmly and spoke highly of Cole, and by the end of the night I felt like I’d made ten new friends.

I was in the middle of discussing the intricacies of my dress with Nikki when Cole appeared at my side, his arm sliding around my waist.

“Uh-oh,” Nikki said, grinning, “looks like we’ll have to talk about the differences between crepe and organza another time. This man looks like he needs you.”

“Desperately,” Cole said, and Nikki laughed.

She congratulated us one more time, then found her own husband at a table not too far away. I turned in Cole’s arms and looked into his dark eyes, arching a brow.
“Yes?” I asked.

“I wasn’t kidding with Nikki,” he said. “I do need you desperately.”

I bit my lip and let him tow me across the reception, throwing goodbyes over my shoulder. We’d see everyone in the morning at the brunch we’d organized, so I wasn’t too worried about seeming like a bad host.

Besides, my husband needed me.

Darting down the hotel hallway felt illicit and thrilling. When we made it to the elevator and waited for the doors to open, I stole a glance at Cole.

“Does this remind you of something?” I asked, cheeks burning.

His thumb made a slow sweep across my spine. “Just like the first time we met,” he said.

The elevator arrived at that moment, and he tugged me inside. The doors hadn’t even closed by the time Cole had me pressed up against the wall, his lips on the pulse at my neck while his hands fumbled with the buttons at my back.

I laughed, tugging at his collar, struggling with the buttons on his clothing. My blood pounded through my veins. I was dizzy and euphoric and so, so in love. I kissed Cole and tried to convey the depth of my feeling, pulling away when the elevator stopped only to laugh at the lipstick I’d smeared all over his mouth.

“You look like a mess,” I informed him, trying to wipe the worst of the pink lipstick off his lips.

He smiled at me, boyish and giddy, and I fell a little bit more in love with him right there.

We crashed through the door to our suite. Later—much later—I would take the time to admire what a beautiful room Cole had booked for us. I would see the rose petals and chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne that had been left for us to enjoy on our wedding night.

But that was later. For now, all I could see was the dangerous glint in Cole’s eyes and the way the light reflected off his dark hair. All that mattered was getting his clothes off as fast as possible—and stripping my dress off so I could show him what eye-wateringly expensive lingerie looked like.

He gave me one satisfying grunt at the sight of it—and then the lingerie joined the rest of the clothing in a pile on the floor.

Best. Wedding night. Ever.