Sweet Adventure Page 15

  “At least my mother and father are behaving themselves,” Katie said. “You know, my father finally gave up on advising Gary about the best way to handle me.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “Gary informed Dad that he was going to report every word of their conversation to me, and Dad clammed up.”

  “Has your mom forgiven you for having the wedding at Indigo Bay instead of back in Allentown?”

  “Probably not, but I guess we can add it to the list of things she’ll never forgive me for.” Katie glanced down at the sparkling diamond on her finger. “Now that I have Gary, I don’t care so much, anymore.”

  “Hey!” Nicole pooched out her lip in a playful pout. “Didn’t I always say you’ll never be able to please your mom? Why do you listen to Gary when you didn’t listen to me?”

  “I think it’s because Gary kisses me until I can’t think anymore.”

  “Makes sense.” Nicole nodded. “You always did think too much.”

  “It’s too bad it’s so cold outside,” Katie said, checking her reflection in the mirror to be sure Carla’s work was holding up. Swept up in carefree waves, not a hair was out of place, except the tendrils Carla had artfully left to adorn her neck. “An outdoor wedding would’ve been fun.

  “I think the place looks great,” said Nicole. “I told Zoe I might have my wedding here someday… if I ever find a groom.”

  “Maybe you should come here and stay in the pink honeymoon cottage. It worked for me.”

  “You think that’s why you and Gary fell in love? Is there some kind of magic in that pink cottage?”

  “Maybe so.” Katie winked at Nicole. “Thinking you might book a vacation here this summer?”

  “I may have to. I’m getting desperate, since Steven Gherring isn’t available anymore.” Nicole planted her fists on her hips. “When you told me you were marrying Gary, I thought it was my destiny, as maid of honor, to marry the best man.”

  “Sorry.” Katie gave a helpless shrug and a grin. “Mr. Gherring’s marriage took all of us by surprise. Especially him.”

  The door opened and Carla’s face appeared. “It’s almost time. Are you ready?”

  “I guess so. Do I look okay?”

  “You look beautiful!” Carla blinked at tears. “And Dax is so proud, he’s about to bust out of his tuxedo. I can’t believe you invited him to be a junior groomsman. It was enough that you saved his life.”

  “Stop, Carla! You’re making me cry.” Katie waved her hand in front of her face to dry her tears and prevent a mascara disaster. “I told you it was perfect because Gary had a niece who wanted to be a junior bridesmaid. I thought about asking Cade to be a ringbearer, but—”

  “Oh, no!” Carla’s held up both palms like she was warding off a blow. “He would sing and dance in circles the entire time. No one would be able to hear the ceremony.”

  “We’d better go.” Nicole pushed them both out of the room, sweet sounds from the string quartet filling the hallway.

  They approached the double doorway just as Gary’s four-year-old niece started down the aisle with a basket of rose petals. His nine-year-old niece, beaming in a younger version of Nicole’s green velvet dress, bounced in her first pair of heels, waiting for her turn to go.

  Nearby, Katie’s father waited, looking handsome in his tuxedo. She wished his eyes weren’t so sad, but understood why. He was probably missing Kindra.

  “Hi, Dad.” She gave him an awkward smile, wondering how she could ease his pain. “Are you having a hard time with this whole thing?”

  “Yes, I am. It’s harder than you can imagine to give your daughter away. You’ll understand when you’re a parent.”

  “I guess…” She straightened his bowtie. “I guess you’re sad because Kindra never got to grow up and get married.”

  He flinched. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought it up.

  “Katie, I’ve never been very good at expressing feelings and such. But I’m going to try.” He took a deep breath. “Your mom and I miss your sister, but it’s you who’ve given us joy our whole lives. Yes, we wish she could still be with us, but we’re so grateful we had you. We love you so much. All we ever wanted was for you to be happy.”

  “Daddy!” Katie’s tears overflowed. “I love you.”

  “Your mother loves you, too, Katie. She’s just let her guilt destroy too much of her joy.”

  “Mom feels guilty?”

  “Of course. We both do.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “We didn’t take good care of our daughters. We were only blessed that we didn’t lose you both.”

  “Mr. Carson, you picked a terrible time to do this.” Nicole stuck her head between them and dabbed Katie’s face with a tissue. With an irritated glance at Katie’s dad, Nicole dragged them toward the double doorway. “That’s our music. They’re waiting on us.”

  As Nicole started down the aisle, Katie moved in front of the open doors, gripping her father’s arm. At the front, the most handsome man she’d ever seen stood in a black tuxedo. His blue Superman eyes locked with hers and never wavered, full of love that washed away her fears. With her gaze on him, Katie floated to the front on her father’s arm, and stopped to give her mother a flower from her bouquet.

  Her mother, who seemed so much smaller than Katie remembered, looked up with tear-filled eyes. “Katie… I…” Her lips trembled, her eyes overflowing.

  Katie placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek, not caring if she smeared the lipstick Carla had worked so hard to perfect. “I love you, Mom.”

  As she straightened, she set her eyes on Gary again. Her father walked her to Gary’s side and transferred her hand from his arm to Gary’s. His chin quivering with emotion, her father leaned closer to Gary. “Take good care of our little girl.”

  Gary lifted his chin, and Katie felt his hand come to rest possessively on top of hers. His grip tightened, and she wondered if he was going to share a few choice words with her father. Then his head dipped in a sharp nod, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t worry. I will.”

  When her father turned to go, Gary paused, his hand cupping her face, thumb sweeping beneath her eye. “Who’s been making you cry?” he murmured, with a wry grin. “Tell me, and I’ll beat ‘em up.”

  Katie couldn’t help smiling as she blinked her tears away. “It’s all good. I’m just emotional.”

  With her hand on his strong, steady arm, they moved forward to stand in front of their pastor. She tried to listen to his message, but Gary’s mesmerizing gaze held her attention.

  “I love you,” he mouthed, silently.

  “I love you, too.” Her lips mimed the words.

  When the time came for their vows, he pulled out a folded page from his pocket and read with a catch in his voice.

  “Katie Eileen Carson, I promise to love you as long as I have breath. I will cherish you for who you are and be completely faithful to you. And with God’s help, I will walk with you through our daily struggles, fly with you to great adventures, protect you when we swim through shark-infested waters, and laugh with you as we ride through life with the wind in our faces. You are my life and my joy, the first and last item on my bucket list.”

  He leaned in and kissed her lips, as the pastor cleared his throat. “Eh-hem. We’re not to that part yet. I’ll give you permission to kiss her at the end.”

  The audience laughed, and Gary obediently straightened. “Sorry. I’m a bit impatient.”

  Katie unrolled the paper in her hand and blinked to clear her eyes.

  “Gary Evens Lassiter, I promise, before God and all these witnesses, that I’ll love you with all my heart and never look at another. I promise never to take you for granted. I promise I’ll be honest with you and not hide anything. I vow to face my fears with you, because you always make them less. And I vow to share my joy with you, because you always make it greater. I promise to love you and stay by your side, no matter what the future brings. And I promise…”

  She’d come to the end of
her written vows, but felt, after hearing his, she needed something more.

  Must be that competitive streak Gary saw in me.

  “I promise I’ll go scuba diving with you.”

  His blue eyes sparkled, and he threw back his head in laughter. The pastor was pronouncing them husband and wife, but Gary wasn’t waiting for permission. She grinned as his hands slid up to cup her cheeks. The kiss he gave her made the blood rush to her face, warmth curling deep inside her soul. It was sweet and passionate and full of promise… just like their future.

  Thank you so much for reading Sweet Adventure. If you enjoyed Gary and Katie’s story, I hope you’ll leave a review.

  Ready for another fun Indigo Bay Second Chance Romance? Find out what happens when Polly Morgan runs into Nick Wylder, her first love and the man she measures all kisses against.

  Read Sweet Troublemaker now!

  Want to know how Steven Gherring beats Gary and Katie to the altar? Read Her Best Match, by Tamie Dearen. It’s free!

  Get your free copy of Her Best Match!

  Want to read more fun, sweet romances at Indigo Bay? So many choices—jump in anywhere!

  Check them out here on the Sweet Reads Page!

  Also by Tamie Dearen

  Sweet Romance

  The Best Girls Series:

  The Best is Yet to Come

  Her Best Match

  Best Dating Rules

  Best Foot Forward

  Best Laid Plans

  Best Intentions

  Sweet Romance

  A Rose in Bloom

  Restoring Romance

  Wrangled by the Watchful Cowboy

  Sweet Inspirational Romance

  The Billionaire’s Secret Marriage

  The Billionaire’s Reckless Marriage

  The Billionaire’s Wayward Marriage (Coming July)

  Christian Romance

  Noelle’s Golden Christmas

  Haley’s Hangdog Holiday

  Shara’s Happy Newfoundland Year

  Holiday, Inc. Boxed Set

  The Alora Series

  YA/Fantasy

  Alora: The Wander-Jewel

  Alora: The Portal

  Alora: The Maladorn Scroll

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  Indigo Bay Books

  Indigo Bay Second Chance Romances

  Sweet Troublemaker (Book 1) by Jean Oram

  Sweet Do-Over (Book 2) by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Horizons (Book 3) by Jean C. Gordon

  Sweet Complications (Book 4) by Stacy Claflin

  Sweet Whispers (Book 5) by Jeanette Lewis

  Sweet Adventure (Book 6) by Tamie Dearen

  Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series

  Sweet Dreams (Book 1) by Stacy Claflin

  Sweet Matchmaker (Book 2) by Jean Oram

  Sweet Sunrise (Book 3) by Kay Correll

  Sweet Illusions (Book 4) by Jeanette Lewis

  Sweet Regrets (Book 5) by Jennifer Peel

  Sweet Rendezvous (Book 6) by Danielle Stewart

  Sweet Saturdays (Book 7) by Pamela Kelley

  Sweet Beginnings (Book 8) by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Starlight (Book 9) by Kay Correll

  Sweet Forgiveness (Book 10) by Jean Oram

  Sweet Reunion (Book 11) by Stacy Claflin

  Sweet Entanglement (Book 12) by Jean C. Gordon

  Holiday short stories:

  Sweet Holiday Surprise by Jean Oram

  Sweet Holiday Memories by Kay Correll

  Sweet Holiday Wishes by Melissa McClone

  Sweet Holiday Traditions by Danielle Stewart

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  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to my great team of ARC and beta readers. And a special thanks to Tamie Dearen’s Remarkable Romance Readers: Wanda Liendro, Ann Brookes Noble, Dana McCall Michael, Nadine Peterse-Vrijhof, Trudy Dapprich, Jessica Dismukes, Eleni Datsika, Margie Shoemaker Harris, Clare Rauch Drexel, Loriann Peterson Merritt, Rennae McIntosh, Misty Geaglone Goan, and Melissa Ann Medell Hayford.

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  Thanks to my fabulous editor, Laurie Penner, and my proofreader, Tabitha Kocsis!

  * * *

  Thanks to my family and friends who put up with my stress and crazy schedule.

  * * *

  And last, but not least, thank you, sweet hubby, for taking care of me and providing endless romantic inspiration. Without you, I would have nothing to write!