Free Lauri Robinson by Sheriff McBride Page B

coming home to her. Never tire of the overwhelming, indisputable, sense of joy and love his closeness ensued.
    His tongue brushed over her lips, and as her mouth parted, opening to his, one vow floated through her mind before the sensations took over. She wanted to be here every time he came home, and as long as there was a breath in her body, she would be.
    The roar of the crowd below finally drew them apart. His face lifted, and he hooted with glee to the mass of people at the foot of the stairs. She ignored the blood blistering her cheeks, and raised a hand, giving a happy wave to the wedding guests waiting for the event to begin.
    He twisted her about, but before he began to guide her toward an open doorway, shouted over her head, “We’ll be back. Don’t start the ceremony without us!”
    The crowd roared, and he gently pushed her into the closest room. A large tub with swirls of steam floating above it stood before her. A bit of bashfulness crept over her body. Nibbling on her bottom lip, Hannah turned to gaze at him as he shut the door.
    “Hello, my sweet.”
    Her knees wobbled. “H-hello.”
    He stepped forward, wrapped a hand over her elbow, his gaze enveloping and pensive. “I thought I loved you, for the past six weeks you have been the center of my attention…”
    The bones in her spine seemed to melt like ice on a summer day. He thought he loved her? A huge lump formed in her throat.
    “But when I caught sight of you at the top of the stairs, it was like seeing an angel stepping down from heaven. If I were a miner, I’d call you the mother lode.” His arms folded around her shoulders, held her in a tender embrace. “I don’t just love you. I adore you.” He sighed and brought his hands up to frame her face. “I can’t even explain it, how you make me feel. Just promise me, promise me you’ll always be here when I come home.”
    Happiness rocked her, made tears sting her eyes. Her breath caught as she whispered, “Forever.”
    He kissed the tip of her nose. “We can leave tomorrow.”
    “W-what? Leave?” She blinked.
    He nodded, stepped back and began to unbutton his shirt. “Yes, leave. For Ohio. We don’t need to wait to hear if there is or isn’t an inheritance, I have enough money to help you,” he pulled the shirt open, “do whatever it is you need to do in Paradise.”
    She stepped forward, laid a hand on his bare chest. The solid beat of his heart filled her palm. “I may have changed my mind about that.”
    “May have?” He ran a fingertip along the side of her face.
    She nodded and shrugged at the same time, still somewhat confused. “I have some more thinking to do about Paradise.” She slipped her hands down to tug the tail of his shirt out of his britches. “But I don’t want to think about Paradise, or an inheritance. Right now, I want you to get in that tub so we can get married.”
    His hands went to her waist, floated up and down her sides in a gentle caress. “Well, whatever you decide is fine with me. My life is where you are.”
    “And mine is wherever you are,” she whispered as their lips connected.
    ****
    Hannah didn’t feel nervous, but she was excited. Anxious to get the ceremony over and the honeymoon started. She folded her hands together; there was no need to squeeze her cheeks, the thought of being Mrs. Adam McBride brought a warmth to her cheeks no amount of pinching could create. It had been only fifteen minutes since she’d left him in the bathing chamber, but here she stood, ready for her cousins to escort her down the aisle.
    Adam had already walked into the parlor. She’d caught a quick glimpse of him from where Birdie stationed her in the dining room. As Mrs. Orson began to dance her hands over the keys of the small piano, music filled the room and Hannah ran a smoothing hand down the front of her silk dress. The ecru, pearl-encrusted gown was absolutely gorgeous. And so very impractical. There would never be another event she’d be able to