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She bent down and lifted the skirt and pinned the key at the hem.
For my child, I vowed.
The sound of Elgar’s Salut D’Amour filled the air. It was a favorite of Paul’s and a song about love’s grace, and now one of mine. Our passion for each other hadn’t wavered, but deepened to true love. Love’s Greeting, Salut D’Amour.
“Outstanding, darling,” Xander trilled, and clapped his hands. He was in an impeccable tuxedo, and even went back to his original dark hair. “I’m here to escort Mom to her seat.” He was also my best person, and he winked at me and pointed to his pocket. He had Paul’s ring.
Mom kissed me and Dad, then left with Xander to take her seat.
Dad held his arm out for me to take. “Shall we?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Your life is about to change. In some ways, for the better, but marriage is a long road, and it’s sometimes hard. While he’s financially stable, that doesn’t mean your life will be easy. You’re marrying a man who will come with his own complexities and complications.”
“I know, Dad.”
I’d found that out in the beginning. Paul’s life came with hard times, too. We lived with restrictions and limits, but we were both determined to work on our happiness.
“You can still make a choice, even now. What I need to know is, do you love and want to spend the rest of your life with him?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
I knew Paul Crane. He was bold, passionate, and loving. He was also demanding, stubborn, and a workaholic. There would be times when I would miss him. There would be times when being with him would feel all-consuming. But in the end, there was this amazing, dynamic man who would fill up my life. There was a quote I once read that said, “You don’t marry the one you can live with, you marry the one you can’t live without.”
My life was with Paul.
Dad paused to place the veil over my head as the wedding march sounded.
I took his arm and, together, we left the room for Paul Crane to marry me.
The ionic pillars and crystal chandeliers of vines and lights shone on the silk and rose petal pathway to the grand garden court fountain, where our ceremony would take place. It was as colorful and boundless as a Monet painting through my watery eyes. I floated like mist past the stream of faces in formal gowns and suits. Cranes, business partners, close colleagues, friends, and the photographers for our press release—an extension of Paul’s life I’d only begun to know.
An instrumental of “Here, There, and Everywhere” by The Beatles started to play, and my gaze fixed on the man who captivated me like no other. I could never resist him when he was near. His magnetism radiated, and like a moth to flame, I went to him and let his fire consume me. Even behind my veil, my first glance at him at the front of the aisle took my breath away.
Paul stood on a raised platform like a king holding court. His tuxedo was tailor made to fit him to perfection. His dark waves were brushed back, leaving his gorgeous sculpted facial features on full display. But what enthralled me were his sea-blue eyes. They stared with such sensual penetration; it stripped me bare, tightening things low within me. A wave of desire and emotion rose, taking up every corner of my conscience. My heart raced in my chest, and my stomach quivered.
“Nadia, you’ve stopped walking,” Dad said in a loud whisper, calling me back from my daze. I hadn’t been aware that I stood in the middle of the aisle!
My face burned behind the veil as I took a few quick steps to recover.
Paul left his spot and walked down the aisle, his confident stride as smooth as silk. He shook my dad’s hand and Dad left for his seat. Paul lifted the veil over my head and gave me one of his devastating smiles, and my knees went weak.
“Cold feet?” he mused.
“No, not at all. I don’t know why I stopped. You look so handsome.”
“And you look stunning. We can talk later, after you’re mine.” His tone was light, but he meant what he said about me belonging to him. Paul was possessive, and it started well before the wedding. While most would feel his sentiments were old-fashioned or destructive, it wasn’t him. What he meant by being his was that he’d care for me and treat me like I was special, precious.
“I’m already yours, Paul.” My voice graveled and tears stung my eyes.
He lifted my hand and brushed his soft lips against my wrist, then led us to the front of the dais, where our officiator was waiting beneath a canopy of white roses, gardenias, and lilies. Gunnar smiled and winked at me. He stood there next to Paul as his best man. Xander’s eyes shone as he waited on my side.
Paul kept my hands in his as our officiator started the ceremony.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness this man and this woman joining in the bonds of holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred and joyous covenant, which they enter today with reverence.”
My heart pounded so hard it filled my ears. Paul squeezed my hands.
