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“You ready for the big day?” Seb kissed Maelie on her neck as she finished her make-up in the mirror. She shivered at the feel of his lips on her bare skin and smiled at the love of her life in the reflection.
“Just about,” she answered, putting in the beautiful diamond earrings Seb had given her for her birthday. She turned around with a flourish, her pretty pale blue silk dress swished around her ankles deliciously, showing off her silver heels. “How do I look?”
Seb let out a sigh and shook his head. “Incredible, Mae. You take my breath away.”
She smiled at him and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his lips. After she finished, she adjusted his bowtie and the pocket square on his tux coat. “I could say the same about you.” He was so sexy. Sometimes she would catch a glimpse of him and wonder how on earth she had gotten so lucky.
Once they had gotten back to Chicago, they had moved into an apartment together. She had made it into the New York Phil, but once Seb had assured her he secured Betsy, she kindly turned them down and resumed the life she loved—writing her book and teaching at Hanson. Her father wouldn’t speak to her anymore, but that was fine with her.
Seb was back to teaching—he had a whole studio full of students now—but also wrote music for the small, local jazz combo he had put together. They had a pretty popular following, and his music was going to be published for worldwide distribution. He told her once that hearing his own music played was far better than ever being on stage, than any money he could have made. And he credited her with being his muse.
Maelie had never been so in love in her life, and she made sure she told him every chance she could get. She wasn’t ever going to let him doubt it again.
“I mean, you could just say it.” He suggested, cocking his head to the side.
“You, Mr. Adams”—she tugged him closer to her—“take my breath away.”
He turned up the decibels of his smile, and she felt that familiar tug in her nether regions. “Mmm.” He bit playfully at her neck. “I could take your breath away for real, Miss Barre.”
“Not now.” She swatted him away. “Your mother will kill you if you’re late.”
“Don’t you mean us?”
“Nope, she loves me, you”—she tossed at him—“not so much.”
“Watch it,” he warned, “or I’ll rip that bridesmaid dress right off you.”
She gave him the type of smile she knew would have him heated for hours. “I’ll let you when we get home later.”
“Really?” His eyes widened.
“Really, now let’s go.” She shooed him toward the door. “We don’t want to be late for your mother’s wedding.”
“Yeah,” he gave in, “I’m pretty sure she’d never let me forget that one.”
She giggled and finally managed to get him to the car.
The wedding was a small outdoor ceremony in the rose garden of the Finch house, a Gold Coast Victorian that Gabi and Mason had worked on. It was breathtaking. Katherine wore a beautiful ice blue sheath dress and Steve wore a white tux with a matching blue shirt. They were the perfect complement to each other.
On either side were the brothers, handsome in dark blue, and their ladies in light blue silk. Lula looked like a Grecian goddess, her hair swept up into a pile, and Gabi was a work of art with her hair tumbling down her back, her brand-new engagement ring glinting in the sun.
Maelie was just happy to be a part of this big, wonderful family.
They had accepted her like a sister and a daughter, and she couldn’t have asked for a better circle of people. She couldn’t keep her eyes from her handsome man during the ceremony, and he kept her gaze in return. She knew without a doubt that she would marry this man one day.
As they walked back down the aisle together, Seb whispered, “Just two weddings left.”
She looked at him, questioning, her heart overflowing.
“Yep. Gabi and Mason.” He grinned. “And ours.”