Aaron held her close for a long while, and Cadence gathered her thoughts before she finally pushed back a bit so she could look up at him. “I think you were right,” she said, her head bobbing up and down with conviction.
“I’m sure I was,” he said, a crooked grin on his face, “but what are you referring to?”
She laughed at his cocky response. “We should go ahead and get married while we’re here. Not because it will make the big wedding any easier but because I’m ready. I want to be your wife. I want to be Cadence McReynolds.”
Aaron’s eyebrows raised slightly, as if he were checking to make sure she was certain before he said, “Good. Then let’s do it.”
A smile spread across her face, and butterflies sprang to life deep inside of her. What was meant to be an ordinary day was shaping up to be something so much more. Cadence leaned up on her tiptoes, and Aaron brought his lips down to meet hers. As his kisses intensified, she realized they were headed to the bedroom instead of the courthouse and had to push him back, a little harder this time.
“We better get this show on the road if we’re going to do this,” she said once he finally released her lips. “I think I’m still expected to go to the show tonight, even though I just pissed them both of royally.”
“What did you do?” he asked, chuckling at her, his arms still firmly wrapped around her waist.
Cadence shook her head. “Nothing. I just... reminded Aurora that Elliott wasn’t her boyfriend. Technically.”
Aaron groaned and dropped his head backward for a second. “Well, I’m not too surprised to hear that,” he said, looking into her eyes again. “It had to be hard to listen to them bash him for that long, assuming that’s what was happening.”
“Not until Ashley got there,” Cadence admitted, stepping out of his grasp but taking his hands. “I do not like that woman.”
“What? I was unaware of this,” Aaron teased. “How come you never mentioned it before?”
She didn’t bother to acknowledge that she had, lots of times. “I just wish I had never suggested she go out with Jamie. It would be a lot easier to transfer her if she wasn’t dating one of my best friends.”
“Regardless of how you feel about her, she makes Jamie happy.”
“But is that just because she looks like Ellie, or does he really like Ashley?” Cadence hoped it was the former because then maybe he’d get over it, they’d break up, and she could send Ashley to Timbuktu.
“I think at first it was because she looks so much like Ellie, but not now. He really does like her. I know you have lots of reasons not to like her, Cadence, but Ashley’s a good person. And she’s funny and nice—most of the time. To most people.”
“Not to me.” Cadence folded her arms, shaking her head. “And I had no idea how much she disliked Elliott until a few moments ago.”
“I didn’t know that either. Maybe she doesn’t. Some people will say whatever they think their friends need to hear in that type of situation.”
“True.” She thought maybe that was it. But talking badly about Elliott in front of Cadence wasn’t a good move, and Ashley should’ve known that. “That reminds me. I need to tell him he left his credit card with Aurora before she blows his limit.”
Aaron laughed. “Is she planning to do that?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Okay—well, hurry up because, like you said, we need to get a move on.”
“Right.” The thought of Ashley and Aurora going shopping reminded Cadence of another problem. “What in the world am I going to wear? I didn’t exactly bring a wedding dress with me.”
“What? You don’t wanna get married in your Hunter garb?” Aaron asked, walking back toward the bedroom. She followed behind him, wondering what he was going to wear. He’d look great in anything....
“No, I don’t think so. Besides, that’s probably still wet.” She realized she’d left most of her clothes on the floor by the door. He likely picked that up hours ago while she was still sleeping.
“Well, I have something in mind,” he said, opening the closet door.
Cadence froze a few steps behind him, not sure what to say. She watched as he pulled out a bag from one of the expensive stores downstairs. “What’s that?”
“Open it.”
She unzipped the bag to reveal a gorgeous white gown. It was a simple cut, nothing like the wedding dress she’d be wearing in a few weeks at their formal ceremony, but with tiny beadwork on the bodice and a lace overlay, it was perfect. The length would hit right above her knees, and it was form fitting through the top with just a bit of flow to the skirt. “Did you pick this out?” Obviously, he had. She stared at him for a moment as he shrugged and then back at the dress. “When did you have time for that?”
“When you were with Roar,” he said. “Do you like it?”
“Yes! It’s perfect. Thank you!” She stepped around the bag, which he lowered, and kissed him. “What are you going to wear?”
He gestured at a second bag, which she assumed held a suit, and a grin took over her face. The thought of him in a tux like James Bond entered her mind, but she had to shove it aside before they got derailed. “We’ll need to swing by the courthouse, and then we have an appointment at one of the chapels in a couple of hours.”
“So you knew I’d say yes?” she asked, pushing him gently in the bicep.
“I didn’t, actually,” Aaron admitted. “But I hoped you would. And I didn’t see any harm in being prepared.”
“You are just an overgrown Boy Scout aren’t you?” she joked. “What about—”
Before she could finish her statement, he pointed out a shoe box on the bed, as well as a bag from a jewelry store. He’d thought of everything; there was no reason for her to even ask anything else. “All right then,” Cadence said, smiling so widely her face hurt. “Let’s get married.”
“Let’s get married,” Aaron agreed, hanging her dress back in the closet just long enough to wrap her in his arms again. Cadence surrendered to his kiss, excited to think that in a few hours, she would be Mrs. Aaron McReynolds, and then nothing in the world could ever tear them apart.