It took me getting a massive sinus infection and feeling like death itself had come for me to slow down our wedding plans and make us decide to have a small wedding, three months after he proposed. I had loose ends to tie up in Santa Clarita, and he needed time to properly reschedule patients for us to take off for three weeks at sea while we took the yacht for his winning bet to Cabo.
Now, it was the day of the big event. I hadn’t seen Jake in over a week since he’d stayed close to Saint John’s with three new patients in recovery, and he finalized everything with his staff for him to be gone. I could have easily driven there, but we both felt this time apart would make for a neat reunion when Clay married us. I still couldn’t believe I’d jumped headfirst into this.
Some people—like me—could live with their soul mate without a piece of paper to validate their union, but Jake wasn’t having that. Thank God I was a fool in love because I enjoyed this playful, overly romantic side of him.
“Mija, you look so beautiful,” Carmen said after Joe finished with my hair and makeup. “Jacob is one lucky man, baby girl.” She kissed me while Joe nearly collapsed at the bright red lip stain on my cheek.
After Joe fixed the issue, I walked over to the mirror and smiled at my simple, silk dress. It was a cream-colored strapless dress that had no embellishments, but I thought it looked more exquisite than a full-blown wedding gown. It flowed from my waist and stopped just before my ankles. It was undoubtedly a perfect pick for the beachfront wedding on the shoreline in front of the beach house. I was under strict orders to stay in the rooms at the back of the house all day, which was fine. Jake had a painting room set up back here, and since we’d finalized everything with the gallery, I had been addicted to painting these days anyway. He’s lucky I was leaving with him instead of staying here to finish the canvas I’d been working on.
“And here comes the bride,” Dad said from behind me. “You look gorgeous, Ash,” he said, tears filling his eyes. “A woman in love is the most beautiful sight for any man to behold.”
I hugged him. “Are you and Carmen ready to enjoy your three weeks here, having the house to yourselves?” I smiled at him, trying to remove the emotions, or I’d be balling my eyes out. I couldn’t even think about Mom right now, or I’d be walking down to Jake balling like a baby—ugly cry.
“Well, if it isn’t the woman who tamed the wild beast in my brother,” Jim said with a smile. “Let’s go seal the deal, shall we?”
“Always business, eh?” I teased.
He smiled and walked over to me, and for the first time, the stiff and commanding man brought me in for a hug. “Always,” he said, stepping back. “My brother is likely to cry like a baby when he sees his beautiful bride walk down the aisle.” He looked at Carmen. “All right, Joe sent me up to bring you down. If Jacob has to wait another second, I think he’s going to lose his mind out there.”
“See you both in a few,” Carmen winked at Dad and me. “Love is in the air.”
“I love that woman,” Dad said.
I laughed. “You should be considering a little wedding yourself,” I said with a smile. “But your stubborn butt is too chicken.”
“Steal the show from my stunning daughter?” Dad held harm out for me to take. “Never in a million years.”
We walked down the stairs, the iron stair rails covered in ivy and lilies. The floral fragrance of the abundance of white flowers combined with the soft, salty breeze was an aroma that should be bottled up and sold as perfume. We walked through an archway covered with more white lilies, and the cellist began to play a beautiful tune.
I was doing great, walking barefoot in the white sand and through the three rows of chairs, seeing Jake standing there with a vibrant smile. His brilliant blue eyes shone as sapphires, and my heart was overwhelmed with the love I saw in them. I completely lost it when I looked to my left, and an empty chair was situated. Mom. Oh my God, he placed a chair for Mom! I thought, crumbling into my dad’s side.
“She’s here too. She’s always watching over you, honey,” he said.
“Dad…wow…” I couldn’t speak, and Dad only smiled and nodded toward Jake.
I felt Jake’s hand rub along my arm. “Come here,” Jake said, ignoring my near breakdown. He hugged me and tilted my chin up to lock eyes with him. “She’s with us, and I think she approves.” He arched his eyebrow, helping to bring some humor to his future wife losing it.
“She does. I’m sorry,” I mouthed.
Jake brought his lips to my ear. “Never be sorry, angel. I know how much you loved her and miss her. I only wanted to show she’s with here if not physically, then in spirit.”
“Thank you for honoring and remembering her, Jacob.” I sniffed.
“I wouldn’t have married you any other way.” He winked. “Is the wedding still on, by chance?”
“Yes.” I inhaled and pulled it together. “Clay’s been dying to marry me off since he got this license. Let’s do it.”
After Jake and I exchanged simple vows, the sun was shifting in the sky, heading toward the horizon. His lips had been one with my cheek since we made it all legal and stood in a small reception on the beach with cake and delicious food that Jake had catered. Instead of doing the tradition of throwing a bouquet, I simply offered the arranged lilies I carried to Carmen and told her she was next.
“Thank you all for being present for the happiest day in my life,” Jake said, raising a glass. “To my beautiful bride, the enchanting Mrs. Ashley Mitchell.” He looked at me “May she live happily ever after with me.”
Jake’s brother and friends burst out into laughter, along with me and everyone else. “I love you, silly guy,” I said, reaching for his face and kissing his lips.
“You’d better.” He sighed. “This next part—our exit? Well, let’s just say, you’re legally mine, no matter if I screw this up or not.”
“What are you talking about?”
I heard a loud horn as if a cruise ship were out in the ocean. I turned to see Jake’s yacht lit up brightly and magnificently.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his white muslin shirt blowing in the wind against his khaki shorts. “Thank you all again. Camera crew? My brother has your check, and you can leave now.”
Jake turned and pulled me toward the shore. “What the hell? Are we swimming out to the boat?”
The guests and wedding photographers were following us like a mob, and until we passed the wedding podium, I hadn’t a clue as to what the hell we were doing.
I stopped on the wet sand and covered my smile. “Jacob Mitchell.” I started laughing when I saw a white rowboat parked in the sand. “What are you doing?”
He kissed my lips and pulled on his aviator sunglasses. “I’m about to live out one of my many masterpieces with my bride.”
“Jake.” Jim laughed. “Have you ever rowed a boat before?”
“Jesus Christ,” Collin said. “This one takes the cake with you. I’ve seen you do some crazy stuff, but this?”
“This is going in the cloud, never to be erased,” Alex said. “You sure you don’t want an annulment?” He winked at me.
“You’re all overreacting,” Jake said, whisking me up and into his arms. “Let us fulfill my dream of rowing you in a boat.”
I laughed and kissed his cheek. “Let’s do it.”
Jake set me in the flower-adorned, white rowboat, and until we were both in it and he was gripping the oars, I seriously thought this was just for a photo op. No. Jake was seriously letting us get shoved offshore and pushed out to the waves—small and rolling ones, thankfully.
He had a look of determination on his face that I could only admire, yet still find this as one of the craziest things I think Jake could do. “You look handsome,” I offered while he concentrated on getting the rowboat out to the softly rolling sea.
“You impressed?” He smirked at me, now past the breaks, rowing us smoothly toward his yacht.
“Highly,” I teased. “Most people have a getaway car like a limo—perhaps a horse-drawn carriage.”
Jake smiled, looking over his shoulder. “And you have a rowboat.”
“You’re the best man ever,” I said, enjoying this unique ride through the sea and toward the extravagant yacht that looked like it was lit for a huge party. “How the heck did you—I mean, what made you think of this?”
“Well, our first conversation, of course,” he said, working the oars like an Olympic medalist, still profoundly funny to me. “But I knew I had a time limit. Bringing the yacht in?” He smiled at me. “Permits and working with the coast guard was a bitch. You were right, babe.” He smiled. “The rowboat is much easier, and the couple could enjoy amazing sex in it.”
“Well, since I can still hear them laughing from shore? I think we should opt-out of my idea.” I rubbed his leg, and he stopped rowing, locked the oars, and framed my face with his hands.
“I couldn’t give a shit what they’d all think.” He brought his lips to mine while sliding one hand under my dress, feeling me instantly getting hot and wet with this kiss alone. “You’re wet for me already, angel,” he said, pulling away. “When we get to our yacht, your sexy ass is mine.”
“Better row your little boat faster, buddy,” I said, trying to calm myself down.
It might have been a simple and fast wedding, but it was memorable and beautiful. And to have Jake row me in a boat out to the yacht? This one could never be outdone. How is it that you could love someone more than you believed your heart could take? I was learning very quickly that there were no limits in love—especially loving my Jake.
