“Sure you are.”

Now her nervousness churned in her stomach to anger. “This is none of your business.”

“Don’t you think mom and dad should be in on this?”

“No. No I don’t. This is between me and Warner.”

“So what are you doing on your vacation?”

The elevator slowed, the doors opened to the floor and Clara stepped out.

“Taking in the sights.” There was a bite to her words.

“Clara,” Christian’s voice had softened enough to make her want to cry. But she wasn’t going to cry. Her makeup was too nice.

“Chris, trust me. You have to know I would never do anything to harm myself or my family.”

“I know.”

“I love him. I love him very much.”

“I don’t doubt it.” He let out a breath just as she arrived at her room. “Are you happy?”

“Happier than I’ve ever been.”

“That’s all that matters. I love you.”

“I know you do, even if you’re an ass.”

He laughed. “I never promised I wouldn’t be an ass as a big brother.”

“I’ll see you on Thursday.”

“I’ll be here.” There was a moment of awkward silence as she slid her key card into the door. “Hey, give Warner my best.”

The line went dead as she pushed open the door to the room.

The lights in the room were low as the sun was beginning to set. There was a bucket on the table with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Warner must have had the room filled with six dozen roses.

He stepped out of the bedroom in a suit. His hair was groomed, his shadowed chin was bare. Those tears were back and she wasn’t sure she could hold them back.

“I know I’m not supposed to see the bride before, but I’m going on the assumption that means only in the dress.”

“I’ll buy that.” She smiled.

“I wanted to have a glass of champagne with you before we head down and you officially become my wife.”

She couldn’t speak so she nodded.

Warner walked to the table and opened the champagne with a pop of the cork. He poured them each a glass and then handed her one.

“Your hair and makeup look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Thank you for all of this.”

“I don’t want you to regret a moment of this.”

Clara thought about the conversation she’d had with her brother. She had regretted not telling anyone, but it had only lasted a moment. Warner was winning over those feelings. Everyone would know very soon.

Warner tapped his glass to hers. “This is to forever.”

Her heart literally skipped a beat, she was sure of it. “To forever.”

They each sipped their drink.

Warner finally looked away from her and down to his watch. “Okay, it’s time for you to get ready. Your dress is down in the dressing room in the chapel.”

Clara placed her hand on her stomach. “Wow, we’re really going to do this.”

“You can still back out.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s not that easy to get rid of me Mr. Wright.” Just enough of the champagne had stirred in her that saying Mr. Wright made her giggle. He certainly was mister right.

“Good. I think Clara Wright has a wonderful ring to it.”

“I do too.”

He took her glass and set it on the table. “C’mon, my bride. I’ll escort you downstairs.”

Clara’s dress hung in the room. It wasn’t fancy at all. In fact, she’d picked one she could wear to almost any event. But it would be very special.

On the vanity there was a handwritten note from Warner. “Now we begin our forever.”

She held the note to her chest. Marrying a man with a way with words would never get old, she was sure of that.

She took her phone out of her purse and took a few pictures of her dress and of the room. She knew they were going to have formal pictures, but she certainly wanted a few behind the scenes pictures to remember the day.

With ten minutes left before their seven o’clock wedding time, there was a knock at the door.

Clara opened the door to the photographer.

“I’d like to get a few shots of you in the chapel before the wedding.”

Clara nodded and followed the woman down the hall.

She was impressed with the woman’s efficiency and she knew the album was going to be as spectacular as the wedding itself.

When it was time, Clara was escorted out of the room.

Witnesses were appointed to be at the wedding.

As the music started one of the witnesses opened the chapel door and Clara walked down the aisle.

Warner had thought he’d lost his heart to her the moment he’d seen her at that stop light a few weeks ago. Then there was the moment when she’d kissed him and again when she’d said she loved him. But seeing Clara walk toward him in a simple, beautiful white dress—he was sure he’d died and gone to heaven.

When she reached him and she took his hand he gazed into her eyes. “Wow. Just wow.”

She smiled softly. “Thank you.”

“I’m one lucky man.”

“And I am one lucky woman.”

The minister started the ceremony and Warner wasn’t sure he heard one word the man said. It was a good thing it was being videotaped. Then he could relive it and he’d thought he’d only added on the video package to the wedding so that her parents could have a copy.

He did hear her loud and clear when she said, “I do,” to the minister’s question as to whether she’d be his bride.

It hadn’t taken long and soon the minister was telling him to kiss his bride.

No moment in his life had held more pride than that moment when he placed his hand on her cheek and pulled her in for the most romantic kiss he’d ever had.

Whatever came his way for the rest of his life couldn’t possibly take away the joy he was feeling as his wife kissed him passionately.

He’d be a good husband and an attentive father, when the time came. But, out of sheer nerves, he knew he worried that Clara too would someday want to leave him.

Chapter Fourteen

Clara figured no honeymoon would ever be long enough when a woman loved a man as fully as she loved her husband. Husband. That too would never grow old.

She kept her arms wrapped around his as they flew back to Nashville. There was going to be so much going on in the next few months she just wanted to soak in every moment they’d have alone.