Mistletoe & Kisses (17 page)

“I thought I’d opened all of my presents from you.”

“Not yet.” I got up from the couch and moved to sit in front of her on the floor. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Caressing her face, I nodded toward the box and held my breath.

“Tanner, are you okay?”

“Yes, just please . . . open it.” The words rushed past my lips.

She looked back and forth between me and the box. My throat tightened and I pleaded with my eyes for her to open it. It seemed to take years for her to remove the paper and grasp the lid. Her brows drew together, looking at the key in the box. Slowly she lifted it up. She glanced up at me.

“I don’t get it.”

“Look at the keychain.”

Picking up the key chain, she read the word printed on both sides.

Home
.

It took a moment for it to register, but her eyes widened and her head snapped up. “Is this what I think it is?”

The way her voice cracked made my hands shake. At that point I had a feeling that every eye was on me, the silence in the room settling over my nerves like a blanket of electricity.

“Yes.”

I tried not to flinch at my words, still unsure how she felt about it.

“Holy shit!” She launched herself off of the floor and into my lap. “I can’t believe you did this. When do I get to see it? Where is it? Did you buy it, or rent it?”

For the first time in at least an hour, I was able to draw a full breath into my lungs. I had to concentrate to keep us upright, much less pay attention. The questions rolled off her tongue so quickly that there was no time to answer.

“What’s going on?” my mom asked.

With the largest smile on her face, Danielle turned to her. “Tanner got us a house.”

“You did
what?
” her mom shrieked at me.

“I bought a house for Dani and me.” I looked over at Danielle. “It’s a fixer upper, but I figured we could work together to make it perfect for us.”

She jumped up, hands clasped in front of her, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Can we go see it? Now?”

Standing, I pulled her into my arms. “We can do whatever you want.”

“Let’s go.”

* * *

We packed everyone into a few cars and left for the new house. Danielle was so excited that she was bouncing around the car, anxious to get there. The new house wasn’t far from where we were currently living and Danielle absolutely loved it. It was a small Cape Cod style house, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. While the master bedroom was perfect with its own bathroom, one of the best features of the house was the fully remodeled kitchen. There wasn’t much I could do with that room, Danielle would have a blast in there. It was the only room that had been completely done prior to being put up for sale.

Another great feature was the fenced in back yard, already set up with a deck. All we would need would be a swimming pool. Roaming from room to room,
oohing
and
aahing
, our parents joining in the admiration. When everyone had had a good look around, we headed back to the apartment and enjoy the rest of Christmas day.

Later that night while lying in bed, curled up against my side, Danielle whispered, “I still can’t believe you bought me a house. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“I’m glad you like it. I was worried that you’d be mad that I did it without you.”

She lifted her face to look at me. “You picked everything I love, how could I be mad? This has been the perfect Christmas.” She smirked up at me. “Well . . .
almost
.”

Before I could ask why, her mouth was on mine, her tongue slipping inside. Instead of trying to talk, I decided to help her make it the perfect Christmas.

Chapter Six

Danielle

AFTER MONTHS AND months of planning, preparation, and moving into a new house, the day we’d been waiting for was finally here. Everything was done, and everyone was in their place. Standing before me in the mirror, was a woman who was ready to tie her life to the man she loved more than life itself.

But while she may have looked calm and serene on the outside, the honest truth was that she was nervous as hell.

The white strapless dress, cut in at my waist, only to flare out again in layer upon layer of gracefully flowing silk, was the perfect dress, and so different from the last one I wore. It was simple and elegant all at the same time. With all of the butterflies dancing around my stomach, the woman in the mirror looked a lot calmer than I felt.

The silence of the room was interrupted by a knock on the door. It opened a crack to reveal Marissa, poking her head around the door. “You look positively gorgeous. Tanner’s gonna shit himself when he sees you.”

“Thanks . . . I think.” I laughed. Sometimes she had such an
un
ladylike way of putting things.

The trembling in my hands was getting worse. I linked my hands together in front of me to hide it from her.

“Is everyone ready?”

Marissa walked up to me, taking my hands in hers and giving them a squeeze. “They are. Are
you
ready?” she asked, studying my face.

“I’m fine,” I said, attempting to plaster a fake smile on my face. An attempt that clearly failed when she scoffed.

“Please. I’ve been your best friend for way too long for you to try and pull that shit with me. I know you way better than that. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I’m just really nervous.”

She didn’t laugh, or tell me it was no big deal. Instead, she took a hold of my shoulders, looked directly into my eyes and said, “Tanner loves you with all of his heart, just like you love him. Yeah, it sucks we can’t predict the future and his job is dangerous, but you can’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back from this amazing man. I know it’s scary, but you never would have let fear control you before everything with Nate—you finally got over it—don’t let it come back now.

Smiling, I nodded. There was a reason Marissa and I had been friends for so long. We were always there for each other, and knew exactly what to say and when to say it. Everything she said was what I’d been feeling leading up to that moment. It was exactly what I needed to hear. Even when I couldn’t find the words to explain my nerves in the first place, she had a way of knowing. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her into a hug.

“Thank you for always being there for me. I love you.”

“Always, sweetie. Love you too.”

We stood there for a moment or two before Marissa took a step back. “Now let’s go make you Mrs. Danielle Marano.”

She held her hand out to me and led me into the hall, where my dad was waiting for me. “You look beautiful. I’m so proud to be walking down that aisle with you on my arm,” he said, pulling me into a hug and placing a kiss on my forehead.

It was such a simple gesture, but it reminded me of all the things that were missing the last time around. The dam broke, the tears sliding, unchecked, down my face.

“Thanks, Dad,” I said, squeezing him tighter, emotion clogging my voice.

“No crying. You’ll ruin your makeup,” Marissa reprimanded. Her mouth was still going a hundred miles an hour when, out of nowhere, she produced a handkerchief for me to wipe my eyes.

“Everything okay?” Dad asked, his eyes wide, searching between me and Marissa.

I tried to reassure him. “Everything is fine, Dad. Just some nerves.”

“Everything is going to be fine, you’ll see.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Nowhere I’d rather be.”

* * *

The time had come for Marissa to leave us and make her way to the front of the chapel, where Tanner, Greg, and Chaplain Hayes were waiting for us.

She turned and smiled at me. “I’ll see you at the end. Just remember, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you. So do you.”

Marissa turned and slowly walked down the aisle, all eyes on her as the light blue silk of her dress swayed with every step she took. The closer she got to the front, the more I could feel my heart racing in my chest. It was almost time, and I was beginning to have a mental meltdown. Maybe it was the thought of getting married, or because of everything I’d been through. Either way, Marissa had finally reached the front and it was my turn. The music changed, heralding the entrance of the bride. While it is customary for  brides to walked down the aisle to
Here Comes the Bride
, I wanted something different—something unique that would represent our relationship.

Pachelbel’s Cannon
seemed the perfect choice.

When the introduction to the music began, I took a step out into the doorway, watching all eyes turn to look at me. Except there was only one set of eyes I was concerned with.

Tanner’s.

There he stood, at the front, in his dress uniform, looking handsome as ever, his eyes instantly connecting with mine, giving me the strength to make it down the aisle without my legs collapsing out from underneath me. Tina, my friend from work, Marissa, Colin and Greg were probably staring at me as well, but I only had eyes for Tanner.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. The smile on his face said it all. Each step down the aisle was another step closer to a future I couldn’t wait to begin. There was one small misstep for me when I saw Nate’s parents sitting in the same pew as my mom. I almost lost it. What a bittersweet moment. The thought that they had come to support me meant more than they could ever know.

Taking a deep breath, I continued my walk. It seemed to take forever for me to reach him, but once I did and my Dad gave him my arm, it all seemed worth the wait.

“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered, causing me to blush. It seemed like he always put me in that predicament.

“Should we get started?” asked Chaplain Hayes.

“Yes,” we said in unison.

The Chaplain nodded. “Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to witness the joining of Tanner and Danielle as husband and wife. Before we do the exchanging of rings, they’ve written their own vows to express their love. Tanner?”

Tanner took my hand in his and began. “Danielle, every day I look at you and thank my lucky stars that you came into my life. I know life with me may not always be easy, but life is what we make of it. You are my life, my love, my best friend. There will be times that I have to leave, but I promise that I will hurry back to you as soon as I can. And know that hurts me just as much to walk away from you as it does for you to watch me walk away. I promise that every time I return, I will hold you in my arms and dry your tears. You have made me the happiest man alive today, and I’m so glad I’ll be able to call you my wife.” The words were familiar to me. They were the exact same ones he’d posted on the pinwheels the day he asked me to marry him.

My vision blurred, yet I knew the smile I bestowed on him let him know that they were tears of joy.

“Danielle?” the Chaplain said, turning to face me.

“Tanner, today I am the luckiest woman in the world. I get to marry my best friend. My rock when life gets hard, the moment you walked into my life I knew there was something different about you—even if I wasn’t ready to face it. Your patience and love are the reasons we are standing here today. I know that being an army wife is not an easy job, but I promise to do it the best I can. I know there will be tears, but I also know that when you’re here, you’ll wipe them away. All I am is yours. I love you, and can’t wait to be your wife.”

I’d given him all of me. Everything in my heart and soul, and to see the tears forming at the corner of his eyes reminded me of the love we shared.

“Your vows were beautiful,” the Chaplain said and turned to Tanner. “Tanner, do you take Danielle Renton to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, so long as you both shall live?”

He looked at me. “I do.”

It was my turn. The moment when I would officially connect my life with his. The butterflies went crazy in my stomach, but as Chaplain Hayes looked in my direction, I knew I was more than ready for it.

“Danielle, do you take Tanner Marano to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, so long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

Chaplain Hayes turned to Greg. “Do you have the rings?”

Greg reached into his pocket and pulled out the rings we’d picked out together a few weeks ago. They were simple, and symbolized everything about our love. He took the rings out of Greg’s hand and gave the smaller one to Tanner.

“Tanner, repeat after me. ‘I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.’”

He took my hand in his and slid the ring down the third finger of my left hand. “I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.”

The Chaplain turned to me and handed me the larger of the two rings. He asked me to repeat the same phrase. I took Tanner’s left hand in mine and held the ring above his finger for a moment, smiling as I let it slide down and repeated the words of the Chaplain. “I give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you.”

The Chaplain smiled. “Now, by the power vested in me by the United States Government and the state of Georgia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Those were the only words I wanted to hear. Tanner wrapped his arms around me and captured my lips in a searing kiss. It didn’t matter to me that we were surrounded by our family and friends. It felt as if he was molding himself to me, trying to prove his feelings—something he didn’t need to do because I knew he loved me as much as I loved him. He told me that all the time.

When the kiss ended, the applause in the room was deafening. There was this slight sense of déjà vu when we turn to face our guests. The sight of our family and friends reminded me, that while I’d been here before, but that time had been different. Taking my hand, Tanner led me down the steps, for the first time as Mrs. Tanner Marano.