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Marley’s hand tucked into Aiden’s elbow as she walked down the aisle in an absolutely stunning dress. It had to be a designer creation.
Marley might have wanted something small with family and friends, but she stood out. She looked beautiful with her hair half up, the rest hanging in loose curls down her back and covered by a lace veil.
Marley smiled at Heath with her bouquet of red roses in her hands.
When she reached the stairs, Heath met her and Aiden at the bottom. Aiden held onto Marley’s hand, saying something that was too quiet for the audience to hear.
“I will always take care of her.” Heath’s voice was loud and sure.
Aiden inclined his head, then placed Marley’s hand in Heath’s. He waited until they were on the porch before joining Heath’s brothers on the side.
The preacher stood in front of the grand doors to the hotel. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Marley Matthews and Heath Monroe.”
My heart was filled with happiness and joy. Aiden caught my gaze and winked.
We were far away from engagements or even commitments, but I was happy even though I wasn’t sure how he felt or what he wanted. He hadn’t said he loved me even if it felt like he did.
I listened to the rest of the ceremony, clapping at the end when the preacher declared them husband and wife. After Heath and Marley walked up the aisle, Aria whisked them away to take pictures. The guests went inside for cocktails.
In the ballroom, I stood with Daphne and Cole. When the flower girls arrived, Izzy took off with them.
I sipped my champagne and nibbled on a few of the hors d’oeuvres.
Finally, the bridal party appeared, then the bride and groom. Aiden sat at the main table with the rest of the wedding party, and I was seated with Daphne, Cole, Izzy, Charlotte, and a few other cousins on the Monroe side.
They talked about Sarah and Knox’s Valentine’s Day wedding earlier this year, and Cole and Daphne’s upcoming nuptials. I stayed mostly silent because I had nothing to contribute. I didn’t feel comfortable talking about my relationship with Aiden because only a few people knew about us, and I didn’t know Sarah and Knox well.
After dinner was served and cleaned up, the dancing started. I waited with the other guests while the bride and groom had their first dance, then the attendants joined them for the next one.
Aiden was an extra attendant. He didn’t have anyone to pair with since he’d walked down the aisle with Marley. He rounded the dance floor and stopped in front of me. “Would you like to dance?”
I placed my hand in his. “I’d love to.”
He pulled me into his arms, and we swayed in time to the music.
“This is a little different from when we were here by ourselves.”
He lowered his head slightly so that his lips brushed against my temple. “That’s one of my favorite memories.”
“Mine too.”
“We haven’t had much time to be alone lately.” Aiden’s voice filled with regret.
“We sleep in the same bed,” I said brightly even though it had bothered me too.
Aiden’s gaze passed over the room before settling on me. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“I’m going to spend it with my family.”
“Maybe we can have a lazy morning in bed?” Aiden asked hopefully.
“That would be nice.” Some of the tension in my chest eased at his words. He was feeling the same disconnect I was and was interested in making it better. That’s all you could ask for in a relationship: good communication, and give-and-take.
After the dance, we refreshed our drinks and mingled with the guests. At some point, there was a commotion at the doorway to the ballroom.
The doors had been propped open because the guests had expressed interest in the wedding, and we had very few for the evening before Christmas. Reservations picked up again on the twenty-sixth.
I saw a couple, not one of the guests I’d seen in the inn the last few days. They were older with faces that were worn as if they spent a lot of time drinking or smoking or probably both.
