“Oh, no. You’ll mess us both up for pictures. You have to wait. Come on, Tony,” she said, wiggling away and stepping through the door into the hall, smiling and looking away.
“We’re coming,” she called. “Hurry, Tony.”
He stepped out. “Yes, Miss Bossy.” He looked down the hall. “Who were you talking to? I don’t see a soul. You made that up to get me out here,” he accused, shaking his head but still smiling.
“Come on,” she said, laughing and hurrying along the empty hall.
When they passed double glass doors, Tony pulled her to a stop. “Look at that,” he said in awe, giving another whoop of joy while she clapped.
“Tony, rain! Finally.”
“Just pray it lasts for a week,” he said. “What a fantastic wedding gift—rain. Buckets and buckets of rain.”
“Reception, remember?” she said, tugging on his hand.
Over an hour later, Tony took her into his arms for their first dance as husband and wife. “Lindsay, you’re the most beautiful bride ever. You look even more stunning than the night of the auction,” he said, meaning every word. He knew as long as he lived, he would never forget looking at her as she walked down the aisle to marry him.
“Tony, I’m so happy. I didn’t think I could ever be this happy.”
“Hang on to that as long as you can. I’ll try to always make you happy, darlin’.”
“Don’t make wild promises.”
“I’m not. I want you happy. I love you,” he said, his arm tightening slightly around her waist as he held her. “Thanks again for agreeing to move into my house. My offer still stands—anytime you want me to build a new house for us, it’s fine with me.”
She smiled. “I think your house is wonderful,” she said. “We’ll see, but right now, it looks quite suitable. As long as you love me and you’re in my bed at night, what more could I ask for?”
“I wish I could dance you out the door, through that pouring rain, into the limo and off to that bed right now.”
“You can’t do that. We have to stay and be sociable before we leave for New York.”
“I hope you’re still happy with going to New York for a few days.”
“Very happy. After our babies are born, we can go to Paris and Italy, but I don’t want that big a trip right now while I’m pregnant.”
“It’s your choice, darlin’.” He held her close, inhaling the faint scent of her perfume. He just wanted to make her happy because she made him happier than he had ever been in his life.
“Lindsay, we still haven’t told anyone we’re expecting twins.”
“It’s just been confirmed and it’s still early in my pregnancy. I want to wait a bit. We have time.”
“We’ll do it however you want,” he said, and her blue eyes twinkled.
“I love it when you say that and I hope I hear it millions of times.”
He grinned. “I’ll try. That’s the best I can do, just promise to try. Something I’m trying to resist doing is going out and standing in the rain. I may succumb to that one before we leave.”
“Don’t you dare. A soggy tux would be dreadful.”
“Soggy from rainwater would be dreadful? I beg to differ.”
She laughed. “Tony, life is a blast and I intend to enjoy being married to you.”
“I’ll keep reminding you of that. I’m going to wish I recorded it to play again.”
“You still think we’re going to fight. I don’t think so. You’re doing a great job so far of keeping me happy.”
He laughed. “You can’t imagine how badly I want to get you out of here and all to myself,” he said.