Summers' Love, A Cute and Funny Cinderella Love Story (LPC Romantic Comedy Series) (29 page)

“I understand. That’s fine, really.” She paused, unsure what to say next, a deep sense of loss gripping her. “I had just hoped the two of us could—”

He interrupted before she could finish. “When you didn’t return my calls, I wasn’t sure what to think. I didn’t want to believe it was over between us. But then I was at a marina walking around, trying to figure out what to do next and …”

With his hand he lifted her chin so that their eyes met. The intensity of his gaze reached into her soul. An overwhelming sense of peace swept over her and even though it was over between them, she knew she would be okay. He
wanted
her to be okay, to be cared for, and cherished.

“I didn’t go looking for someone else, Kate, really I didn’t. I just wish you’d called, is all. Even once.”

She ordered herself not to cry again. Then, when a trickle of tears spilled down her cheeks, she told herself she was relieved it was over. At least now she could move on with her life. The pain would pass. It had to.

“There’s someone else, isn’t there? Of course there is. Why wouldn’t there be? You’re Stu Summers.”

In a gentle voice, he whispered to her,“You’re leaking. Here, let me help with that.” With his thumbs, he dried her eyes.

Her nervous laughter unleashed more tears. With hands, soft and tender, he caressed her face.

“I didn’t go looking for someone else, Kate. But I had to do something to get my mind off you.”

“Really, it’s okay. You don’t have to explain.” She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She’d be all right. As soon as she picked up the pieces of her heart, she’d be fine.

“But I did find an old boat.” He dried the side of her damp cheek with the back of his fingers. “And fixing the boat fixed me. Helped me get over you.”

It took a moment for the words to sink in. “A boat?”

He nodded. “
Summers’ End
. An old wooden schooner. I’m sure you saw her. She’s berthed along the bulkhead.”

“So … there’s nobody else? No other woman?”

He shook his head. “Only you. Always and forever.”

She wiped away more tears. A sailboat. Not another woman, but an old wooden boat. She hadn’t seen that coming. The buzzing of mosquitoes invaded the peaceful silence.

“I’m glad. Not that I would want you to be sad and lonely. It’s just that I was hoping the two of us …” She paused and slapped the back of her calf. “Is there someplace inside we can talk? These mosquitoes …”

He nodded toward the church “It’s usually unlocked. Or we can walk back down to the marina.”

“Church is fine.”

He reached over and took her hand. “Shall we?”

Inside he lit two candles he found at the communion table, then returned to where she waited at the opened door. He handed her one. She took it before allowing the door to glide shut. Side by side they walked to the front of the sanctuary. They stopped at the altar steps and placed the candles in brass candleholders. She took his left hand and turned to face him, then before he could stop her, she knelt on one knee.

“Oh my God, don’t tell me …”

Kate fished a gold wedding band from her pocket. She slipped it over the tip of his finger.

Stu leaned his head back and chuckled. “Really? Are you kidding me?”

“I hope it fits. I had to guess at the size.”

She slid the ring over his first knuckle and stopped.

Smiling up at him she said, “I love you, Jeb Stuart Summers. I have since that day in the bookstore. But I never believed you loved me. Not really. Why would you? Why would anyone? I’m a neurotic nobody with serious trust issues. It wasn’t until I saw you throw away your career that I knew for sure you loved me. And even then I couldn’t believe it, not really. But I wanted to find out for sure. To find out if we could be sure together. You may not be the man I thought you were, Stu Summers, but you are the man I hoped you would be.”

She slid the ring over the second knuckle. It fit perfectly. She silently thanked her brother.

“Will you marry me?”

He swallowed, blinked. Kate couldn’t tell if he was overjoyed or scared to death.

“Give me a second, I need to think about this.”

“Don’t take too long. I’m a fugitive. They could pick me up any minute and whisk me away to a holding cell in who knows where.”

“Now you’re just messing with me.”

“No, I’m serious. I’m not supposed to leave the country.” She stroked the back of his hand. “But I had no choice.”

“If I marry a fugitive what does that make me?”

She stood. “You know? I’m not sure. But I bet there’s a story in it.”

He laughed. “I can’t afford another engagement ring for you. Or, at this point, even a wedding ring.”

With a devilish smile she held out her other hand and opened her fist. There, on her palm, lay her engagement ring.

“I thought you said your brother took all your jewelry to a pawn shop?”

“Not all. Just enough so I could afford to buy that.” She gestured toward his wedding band. “This,” she said, handing him her engagement ring. “I would never part with.”

With tears welling up, he closed his eyes and bowed his head. She hoped—no prayed—they were tears of joy and love.

“Ask me again,” she said.

He lifted his head. Moist eyes met hers. “Kate Winston, will you marry me?”

“Yes.” Giggles rose up in her. She wrapped her arms around him and planted kisses along his jaw line. “A thousand times yes.”

Chapter Thirty-five

On a warm May afternoon in Beaufort, North Carolina, a wooden schooner tugged on its anchor rope as it made a lazy half-circle turn. Stu watched the
Summers’ End
from a rusty beach chair parked next to a book-signing table on the wooden walkway that ran the length of the waterfront. Bright sunshine warmed his face, causing rivulets of sweat to erupt on his forehead. A vent in the roof of a nearby cafe delivered the intoxicating aroma of grilled burgers and fried seafood. Stu scanned the fleet of sailboats and motor yachts anchored in Taylor’s Creek, his eyes searching for the gray inflatable boat that served as the small tender of
Summers’ End
. He hoped his best man remembered to bring the bookmarks and Sharpies. He also hoped his publisher had shipped enough books. A book-signing without books could become a riot.

“You ready for this?”

Stu looked up, squinting against bright sunshine. Kelli Creelman, owner of Rocking Chair Books, held a copy of Stu’s novel,
Man’s Best Friend
, under one arm and a wedding gift in the other.

“Almost.” Stu gestured toward the dinghy dock. “Waiting on my best man to bring bookmarks and a few other things.”

“Aren’t you worried that with you sitting out here like this you might see your bride before the wedding?”

“We’ve already held our ‘first sighting photo’ session. Did that this morning over on Shackleford Banks. Then I peeled off my tux and surfed for almost an hour while waiting for the photographer to load her gear back onto the boat. That rumor about having bad luck because you saw your bride before the wedding is a silly old wives’ tale. Trust me, nothing bad is going to happen.”

“I sure hope not. I’d hate to get stuck with all those books.”

“So they arrived?”

“Ten cases of them. You’re going to be a busy boy.” She grinned. “See you at the reception.”

Kelli turned and strolled to the large event tent that had been set up in the parking lot next to Dock House Restaurant. The line of wedding guests, many of whom remained loyal Stu Summer fans even after his public confession, stretched all the way down Front Street. The mayor of Beaufort, Pam Boney, had ordered Beaufort police to cordon off a two-block area, giving Stu and Kate the run of the waterfront.

Jimmy Buffett tunes blasted from large stereo speakers. His country-Caribbean songs, the smells, and the gathering crowd gave the wedding a festive mood. In all his years of signing books, Stu had never seen so many of his fans in one spot. Of course the deeply-discounted copies of
Man’s Best Friend
helped.

“How come you’re not dressed?”

Stu pivoted in his chair. Hattie stood behind him, leaning over his left shoulder. He gestured toward his Parrot Head Hawaiian shirt, Quicksilver board trunks, and faded Rainbow leather sandals. “I
am
dressed.”

“Not in your tux, you’re not.”

He shook his head. “I’m not putting that on until I have to.”

“Don’t get sassy with me, Stuart. Up and get changed. You don’t want to keep that girl waiting any longer than she already has.”

“Can’t I at least hold off until all the rest of my groomsmen arrive? I’ll pass out if I have to wear that outfit for more than five minutes.”

“Whine, whine, whine.” Hattie gripped a handful of hair and yanked.

“Ouch!”

“
Go!”

Half an hour later Stu stood on a raised platform at the front of the wedding tent, shifting from foot to foot in polished black shoes that cut off the circulation to his toes. A borrowed tuxedo, a haircut, and a close shave had transformed him into something that resembled the old photo on the backs of his books. His eyes scanned the crowd, watching for Kate to appear on the red carpet leading from the boardwalk. He sucked in a nervous breath and cast a wayward glance at his fiancée’s maid of honor.

Red cradled a bouquet of flowers in her arms but her scowl was deadly serious. She locked eyes with Stu and mouthed: “Don’t mess this up, Stu … pid.”

He smirked, then winked, and surveyed the rest of their wedding party. To Red’s left were several of Kate’s former stun gun clients—all of whom, he had been told, would be packing heat. “You know, just in case you decide to run,” Kate had warned with a smile and a gentle poke at his ribs.

Not that he was willing to take any chances that she—
or the posse
—were kidding.

Stu looked at his feet, inhaled the sea smells, and tried to relax.
It’s happening, it’s really happening. I’m getting married. Just breathe, boy. Just breathe.

At the sound of Bach’s
Air on a G String
played on steel drums, Stu lifted his eyes. Kate stood at the back of the tent bathed in the sun’s rays. The contrast between the tent’s shade and bright sunlight created a halo effect, making her appear angelic. A lump formed in his throat. He swallowed and, despite the pain across his toes, he bounced on the balls of his feet.

* * *

She could not take her eyes off Stu, his smile, and those liquid blue eyes. Roger and the rest of groomsmen stood rigid. But not Stu. Like an excited child, he rocked back and forth, causing his borrowed shoes to squeak. He looked handsome, just like what’s-his-name in
Paws on My Heart.
She inhaled deeply and tried to calm her nerves.
Breathe, Kate, just breathe
.

She barely felt her feet move as she walked toward the front of the tent. There she paused and unexpectedly found herself thinking of her father. Her dad would have so enjoyed this. Being outside, the smell of the ocean, tables of shrimp and crab to be served at the reception. She could almost hear him saying, “Keep it together, Kitten. Don’t fall apart, now. This is what you’ve waited for your whole life.”

“We are gathered here today,” the minister began, “in the sight of God and witnesses to celebrate the marriage of Stu and Kate in holy matrimony.” He paused. “Now marriage is an honorable estate, created and instituted by God, signifying the union of one man …” He looked at Stu. “And,” he said, turning to Kate, “… one woman.”

Kate recalled how, during their wedding rehearsal, Hattie had insisted the line be added. “Same-sex marriage is an abomination to God. Leviticus 18:22.” Even though Kate had friends who argued otherwise, she decided not to make a big deal of it. If she’d learned anything during the weeks leading up to their wedding it was that Hattie was firm in her religious convictions.

Not to mention that the woman had, after all, been right about Stu. The boy
could
write when he put his mind to it.

“Who gives this bride to be married?”

A tender moment followed as Roger stepped from the groomsmen line and kissed Kate on the cheek. He wished her good luck, whispering, “See, sis? Miracles can happen. You just needed to believe. Dad would be so proud of you right now.”

The pastor continued. “Kate, Stu … please face each other and join hands.” He waited as they complied. “Love is patient and kind. Will the two of you be patient and kind toward one another?”

Stu looked at Kate: she at him. “We will.”

“Love does not envy, it is not proud. Love is not rude, self-seeking or easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Do you promise to put aside all pride, lust, and jealousy? Will you place the needs of each other ahead of your own desires? And will you forgive each other just as God forgives you?”