Chapter 16

Leah faced her mirror and smoothed the front of her emerald green sleeveless dress, pirouetting to look at the cutout back. While the gold pumps completed her look, she had a pair of ballet flats stuffed in her clutch bag. Her head jerked toward the door when she heard the doorbell.

When she opened the door, Cole stood in his black tuxedo, his eyes gleaming. “You look… incredible.”

Warmth spread through Leah. “Thank you. You look good too.”

Cole extended his hand. “Ready to go?”

Grateful her neighbor agreed to watch Chip, Leah pivoted to grab her purse. “Ready.” She placed her hand in his hand. Sensations danced through her fingers and heat coursed in her veins. She quickly released his hand and slid into the passenger’s seat of his truck.

“Nervous?” Cole asked.

“Why should I be nervous? I’m not the one getting married.” Disappointment sagged through her. “Sorry that came out wrong.”

“I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

Leah shrugged her shoulders. “It’s weird going to a wedding, and I… thought I’d be married by now too.”

“Is that what happened with your ex?”

“I got dressed up for a romantic dinner, and next thing I knew, Brian tells me he’s moving to Chicago. He broke up with me, and I left.”

Cole looked at her, a rueful smile on his face. “He must not have known what he had.”

Leah gave half a smile.

“So… I’m guessing this has to do with your dating… what was it?”

“Hiatus.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s nothing set in stone. I wanted to take some time for me.”

“So, if a man was interested in you, would you give him a chance?”

“If I liked him back, but I would still want to take things slow. The last thing I need is a rebound relationship.” She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head toward him. “Why do you ask? You’re not going to chase away my prospects, are you?”

“I have to make sure we keep the ‘heartbreakers’ away.”

“You were always protective of me.”

“Still am.”

Leah’s eyes scanned Cole once again in his tuxedo. A smile tugged at her lips.

****

Cole checked his watch. The ceremony would begin in less than fifteen minutes. By the time he and Leah had arrived, the bride and groom’s friends and family all gathered at the Florence Resort two miles outside of Piedmont Valley. Cole’s eyes twinkled when he spotted Leah mingling among the other guests. Her smile shone across the room, and when they made eye contact, she grinned extra wide. His mouth turned up into a smile, but his forehead creased when he noticed a woman talking to Leah. Based on the woman’s arms flinging in the air, something was wrong.

Cole scurried to the scene with his camera in hand. “What’s going on?”

Leah tilted her head toward him. “The bride is having a wardrobe malfunction.” She patted his shoulder. “No worries. I’ll be back.”

He gave her the okay sign, but a slap on his back diverted his attention.

“Good to see you here.”

Cole chuckled at his friend Jeremy. “Same here. Is April in the wedding?”

Jeremy smiled at the mention of his girlfriend. “Yes. Ever since April volunteered at the animal shelter, I can’t keep her away. She and Holly grew close, and I think she’s talked April into adopting a puppy.”

“I think that’s how Leah adopted hers. Holly is an advocate for the animals.”

Jeremy folded his arms over his chest. He raised an eyebrow. “Leah? Did you two come here together?”

Cole cleared his throat. “Yeah, she’s my plus one. I couldn’t show up here without one.”

“Uh, huh? Are you still crushing on her?”

“J, man—”

His friend gave a dismissive wave with his hand. “You don’t have to say it. I already know.”

Cole held up his camera. “I got a job to do, so I’ll see you later.”

“See you later.”

Cole explored the venue, taking pictures. Leah hadn’t returned, so he hoped everything was all right. He would photograph the bride and groom after the ceremony.

“There you are.”

He turned to see Leah staring up at him. “How did it go? Holly okay?”

“Yes. Everything is fine.”

He held up his camera. “One more shot?”

She waved her hand. “No, I’ve had enough photos of myself. How are the pictures coming along here?”

“Good. Having fun yet?”

She rubbed her forearms. “I am, but I can’t wait for the ceremony to start. It’s my favorite part.”

“Why’s that? Let me guess, the bride walking down the aisle and all the people admiring her dress.”

Leah wagged her finger. “No, Mr. Parsons, that’s not my favorite part. I look at the groom.”

He raised an eyebrow. “The groom?”

Her eyes danced. “I love how he looks at his bride to be. You can see in his eyes how much he loves her. My dad told me when he saw my mom, she stole his breath. I guess that’s…”

Cole wasn’t able to peel his gaze off her. “What?”

“It’s silly.” She lowered her eyes.

“Leah?”

Her eyes brimmed with warmth. “What I want is… for a guy to look at me the way a groom looks at his bride. Brian never looked at me like that. He loved me, but I wasn’t enough for him.” She rubbed her forehead. “I can’t believe I said that.”

Cole reached out and raised her chin. “You’re more than enough, Leah.”

She clasped his hand, giving a half smile. “Thank you.”

Longing whispered through him. “Leah,”—

“Okay, everyone. We’re getting ready to start the ceremony. We ask that you all take your seats.”

Cole nodded at the wedding planner. Leah released his hand, and his spirits fell.

“I’ll see you inside,” she said.

“I’ll see you.”

Cole captured the moments of Holly and Josh’s ceremony. He even photographed Josh’s expression as Holly strolled down the aisle with her father. Leah was right. The way he looked at his bride-to-be was heartwarming. Cole spotted Leah with a hand to her chest. Her emerald green dress for the night was perfect.

His heart nearly stopped when she gripped his hand. He’d come close to sharing his feelings. Could he risk telling her? Was tonight the perfect moment to tell her? He blew air out of his cheeks. He clutched his camera and resumed his photos. When Pastor Hill pronounced Holly and Josh as husband and wife, he caught their first kiss.

Family and friends cheered and applauded, and Cole followed the couple to the reception area. From there, he photographed the bride and groom, along with the wedding party. During the couple’s first dance, Cole circled the couple, catching the romance.

Round tables covered in tablecloths strewn with confetti decked the ballroom. Cole captured it all: the floral centerpieces, china place settings arranged with place cards, champagne glasses, and twinkling strings of lights. Waiters maneuvered through the crowd with appetizers and drinks, and the small table held the wedding cake, the focal point of the room. Applause and whistles filled the room as Holly and Josh kissed while on the dance floor.

Then Cole caught glimpses of Leah circulating the room, her demeanor relaxed and her smile brighter than he had ever seen. She settled in her seat at one of the round tables as the waiters served dinner.

“Take a break,” Holly said.

Cole hugged the new bride. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, but take a break. We won’t need you until I toss the bouquet.”

“The wife has spoken so have a seat, Cole,” Josh said. His eyes lit up as he hugged his new wife’s waist.

“I will take a break, and congrats again to you both.” Cole then walked to Leah’s table. He sat in the chair next to her and sat his camera down. His mouth watered at the sight of Dijon chicken, sautéed medley vegetables, and golden mashed potatoes. He rubbed his hands together. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

Leah flashed a huge grin at him. “Me too. My second favorite part of a wedding is the food.”

Cole swallowed and spotted his Caesar salad. “And I’ve worked up an appetite.”

Leah slid her cleared salad plate toward his; a few croutons sprawled in the center. “Go ahead.”

He glanced at her for a moment, but then he transferred his croutons from his plate to hers. “You remembered that I don’t like croutons.”

“You would have done the same for me.” She took another bite from her Dijon chicken.

Leah nudged his shoulder, and his heart skittered. Being so close, he yearned to touch her. Would she shrink back if he draped an arm around her shoulder? Did she know how much she affected him?

Even in high school, Cole wanted to be around her. He never turned away her friendly affections. She would wrap her arms around his waist in an embrace. Then he would tease her about her petite stature, only for her to pinch his arm. He had it all planned, but her eyes glowed with happiness when Seth had asked her out. Sorrow had shredded Cole’s insides like a blade.

“You’re quiet,” Leah said. “Tired?”

He pushed his empty plate to the side. “No, a lot on my mind.” When he heard Nat King Cole’s “Fascination” in the background, he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Want to dance?”

She faced him and her eyes lit up. “Sure.”

He rose from his seat. Clasping her fingers, he led her to the dance floor. He twirled her, and she giggled. He then embraced her hand and placed the other at her waist, drawing her closer. At first, his stare remained on her full lips, but then he led them into a simple waltz. The pleasant tune surrounded them like a breeze. Leah followed his moves, flowing with him across the dance floor.

Cole cracked a grin. “Are you taking more dance classes besides salsa? You’re good at this.”

Her lips curled upward giving her away. “No, maybe I’m a natural. You’ve improved though.”

He led her into another turn. “I try.”

Cole then dipped her to one side. When he brought her back to his chest, he heard Leah’s breathing hitch. His hand brushed her mid-back, and he closed his eyes to savor the experience. Sensing a fluttering in his chest, he inhaled deeply, but he only caught the fresh scent of her perfume.

He paused their waltz for a moment. The others danced around them, but the affection glowing in Leah’s eyes captivated him as her hands rested on his shoulders. He then bracketed her waist and resumed to sway her back and forth to the music. The sensation of being flooded with warmth overcame him.

“You keep surprising me,” she said. Her delicate fingers grazed the nape of his neck.

He smirked, but unconsciously parted his lips. “Is that good or bad?”

“I don’t know yet, but I can tell you one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m glad I’m here with you.”

Cole lowered his head and rested it against her forehead. “I said you were beautiful tonight, right?”

Leah tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “I don’t mind you saying it again.” Her hands inched closer, her arms coiling around his neck. “Cole…”

He met her glance. “Leah?”

Her magnetic eyes were like pools of desire, but she didn’t utter a word. He brought one hand to her face, his fingers tips grazing her jawline. She gasped. He got a warm, fuzzy feeling, adoring her as he would a sweet and supple rose in bloom. She deserved to be cherished. He felt her breath upon his cheek like a perfumed air. When Leah raised her chin, he seized the moment. Cole leaned in closer to—

“Jeremy, are you serious?” a female voice exclaimed.

Cole jerked his head toward the middle of the dance floor. Everyone turned to see Jeremy on one knee in front of April. Leah stepped away from Cole’s embrace avoiding eye contact. He regretfully released his grip, directing his attention to the impending proposal.

“Will you marry me?” Jeremy asked April.

April bounced on her toes. She clapped her hands as a smile pranced on her lips. “Are you kidding me? Yes! Yes!”

The crowd applauded as Jeremy slipped the ring on her finger. He rose to his feet and kissed his future wife. Cole clapped along with the others, but when he pivoted towards Leah, like a dream, she vanished.

****

Leah’s palms rested face down on the counter. She almost kissed Cole. Was it the music or the way he looked in his tuxedo? He looked debonair. She got a fluttering feeling in her stomach as she observed him photographing the wedding and reception. His breath had tickled her ear when he asked her to dance. Her mind had turned to mush, and she couldn’t resist the invitation.

He held her so close. The heat of his hand seeped into her skin. She practically floated across the dance floor in his arms. How did she remain on her feet while her knees weakened? His strong hands kept her from falling but did he not sense she wanted to faint? Leah fixed her gaze on him when they froze on the dance floor.

Leah sighed as she hung her head. She wasn’t supposed to have feelings for Cole. Perhaps it was a good thing they didn’t kiss. Would it make things awkward if they were more than friends? She paced the floor, hands resting on her hips. She rolled her shoulders back and checked her makeup in the mirror. So far, she looked the same, no mascara smudges.

She exited the ladies’ room and returned to the reception hall. She held tight to her clutch bag. How would she explain running off to Cole? She sighed as she noticed him marching toward her.

“Are you okay? What happened?” he asked, sounding worried. His forehead creased.

Leah swallowed the lump in her throat. She kneaded her shoulder. “I was a little dizzy, so I went to the ladies’ room.”

He rested his strong hands on her shoulders. “Do we need to leave? I can take you home.”

She dismissed his comment with a wave. “No, I’m fine. It’s been a long day. I’m okay. Besides, you have a job to finish.”

“Are you sure?” He brought his hands easily back to his sides.

“I’m sure. Don’t worry.”

“As long as you’re okay. That’s all I care about.”

She melted. “I’m okay. Besides, they need to cut the wedding cake. I hear it’s chocolate.”

Cole chuckled. “You and that sweet tooth of yours.”

“It’s a wedding cake. Who says no to the wedding cake?”

“Single ladies,” the DJ said over the microphone. “If you’ll please come to the middle of the dance floor, the bride will throw the bouquet.”

Cole waggled his eyebrows. “I guess that’s your cue.”

“Oh no. I’ve never liked that part.”

“Never caught it before?” Cole asked.

“And then everyone looks at you and says ‘better luck next time.’”

He shrugged his shoulders. “You never know, Leah. Tonight might be your night.”

She slipped him a curious glance, but her grin gave her away. “Okay.” She slid past him to join the other single women on the dance floor. Holly beamed as she clutched her bouquet filled with red roses.

“On three, ladies,” Holly said. “One. Two. Three.” She tossed it over her head.

Leah heard the surrounding ladies scurrying to catch the bouquet. She reached up, rising on her tiptoes. She could have sworn the clustered flowers moved in slow motion. Her eyes bugged when she caught the bouquet. Everyone around her cheered and clapped. Leah froze. This never happened to her. To her dismay, she spotted Cole capturing the moment on camera.

She sped to Cole. “Please tell me you didn’t take my picture.”

He patted his camera. “Looks like you caught it.”

She clutched the roses. “I guess so. This never happens.”

“Maybe tonight is your night.”

She beamed. “Maybe.”

“Want to dance, Leah?”

She twirled around to see Tyler Gage. He looked suave in his tuxedo. Yet, she looked back over at Cole. “Do you mind?”

Cole gave a half a smile but gestured for her to dance. Leah handed him the bouquet and placed her hand in Tyler’s. He then led her to the dance floor. With one of her hands on his shoulder, he held her by her waist. Her eyes searched for Cole once more across the room. His eyes smoldered with intensity as he stared at her.