Rush to the Altar (22 page)

Maddie gave him an excited look, came over and sat down in front of it. “What have you done?”

“Open it.”

Taking the ribbon in hand she pulled on it, untying the bow. With an indrawn breath she lifted the box lid and moved aside the thick tissue paper. “Oh, Jake.” She stood as she lifted the dress from the box and held it out. “My wedding dress?”

“I hope you like it.” His voice was deep with sincerity.

Maddie held it up to her and squealed. “I love it!” It was tea length, white and silver with a fitted top that was strapless, a sweetheart neckline and a full, fluffy skirt. She had never seen anything like it. The top had a subtle animal print and the skirt was silver beneath, with a white tulle overskirt that was shirred and looked a bit like feathers. It was so unique. So exactly her. How had he known?

“It’s Robert Cavalli. Sasha told me he is one of your favorite designers and he has a store around the corner from the Aria. She gave me your size and a lot of other information about you.”

“You called Sasha? She doesn’t know, does she?” Maddie clutched the dress to her chest.

“I told her I wanted to buy you a dress, that’s all.”

“I love it. Thank you. But what will you wear?”

“I ordered a tux. It should be here any time.”

“You thought of everything.”

“Almost. It’s nearly noon and I’m getting hungry.” He came over and drew her into his arms, cupping her cheek with his hand, rubbing his thumb across her cheekbone. Maddie felt the familiar melting as she looked up into his eyes. “Why don’t we go down for some lunch, and then I’ve booked us a massage. After that we should have plenty of time to dress for the ceremony.”

She found it hard to think of food when he looked at her like that. She was thinking about after the ceremony. Tonight they would truly become one. Good thing she had brought that lingerie after all.

After a light lunch (she wanted to be able to fit into that dress!), a hot stone massage, mani-pedi and a facial, she felt like a pampered princess as she slipped into the Cavalli dress. She managed to get the side zipper up and though it was tight, she thought it looked amazing. She slipped into her silver sandals that she’d worn the night before and turned in front of the mirror. Had it only been yesterday that she was in New York? It seemed like a lifetime ago, and yet there was still so much to come. She’d sent an email to her co-workers explaining that she was taking a personal day on Monday, called her mom to check on Max and tell her she was needed one more day—one more day and one more night. She shivered in anticipation and some apprehension. It had been so long since she’d been with a man and she and Jake had only kissed. It would all be new.

She looked at the bathroom clock and put the finishing touches on her hair. It was time to go!

Jake stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her, eyes full of admiration and love, as she came down the stairs, the dress floating up and down with her steps. He had on a black tuxedo, his hair freshly trimmed, his arm outstretched. “Maddie. You take my breath away.”

She took his hand and smiled up at him. “I can’t believe this is happening. Are we overdressed for Elvis?”

Jake laughed. “You can never overdress for Elvis.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

J
ake could barely tear his gaze away from Maddie as they rode in the limo to the Little White Wedding Chapel. Her makeup was light except for her lips—which were red and full. Her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires, glowing with excitement and happiness. And she was about to be his—for the rest of their lives.

As they pulled into the parking lot, Maddie hooted with laughter. “Look! They have a drive-up window! Do people really get married like that?”

Jake leaned across her, smelling her delicate perfume, and looked out the window. “I suppose they do, but don’t get any wild ideas. I want to see you walk down the aisle,” he said with a smile, leaning nearer to her throat and kissing her beneath her ear.

The limo pulled up to the entrance of the pretty white building decorated for Christmas. They got out and Jake took Maddie’s hand. He paused on the steps toward the front door.

“Are you sure about this? I don’t want to feel like I pressured you into a fast wedding.”

She looked up at him, the sunlight making her skin creamy and rose kissed. Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes searching his. “I’m sure. Are you having second thoughts?”

“No way.” He leaned down and breathed into her ear. “I’m the happiest man on the planet right now.”

She squeezed his arm and leaned closer. “Me too. Happiest woman, that is.”

“Okay then. Let’s get married.”

They made their way into the chapel and where a smiling, middle-aged woman greeted them.

“Oh my goodness, don’t the two of you look fabulous! We haven’t had such a beautiful couple in a long time. Come right this way and we’ll get you your flowers and boutonniere. You have Elvis, right? To walk you down the aisle? Our main Elvis is sick with the flu but don’t you worry, everyone seems to be coming down with it but we have a great back-up. He used to perform in a very popular lounge right here on the Strip. You chose your songs when you called, right? He plays one while walking you down the aisle and then he plays one when you light the unity candle. They’ll take lots of pictures so don’t you worry about that either. I just know they’re going to want to record you two, why just look at how stunning you look together…”

She continued rattling off details, barely pausing for a response. Jake winked at Maddie, who had her lips clamped together, trying not to laugh.

“Here we are, then.” The woman handed Maddie a big bouquet of white roses and handed Jake a white rose for his lapel. “Now, we’ll just give you a minute to pin that on and take a breath and then Jake, we’ll have you go up to the altar to stand. Do you have any guests?”

They both shook their heads, Jake feeling a stab of guilt. His parents would not be happy when they heard about this. He could just see his father’s face, demanding answers, and his mother’s crushed expression. Maddie’s parents were going to be let down, too. A plan to rectify that started to surface in his mind but he pushed it aside. They would deal with all that later.

Maddie finished pinning on the boutonniere and stood back to judge its placement. Her eyes started to glass over. “You can’t do that yet,” Jake said with a gentle smile. “We haven’t gotten to part where you cry.”

Maddie let out a shaky laugh and blinked the tears back. She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling against the outline of the top of the dress—a dress that looked amazing on her. “It’s just that…”

She took another shaky breath. “I can’t believe I found you.”

Jake leaned down to kiss her, saying, “I’m the lucky one.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” A man in an Elvis costume came around the corner, hands waving. “None of that yet, young man.” He laughed in an Elvis voice. “Now, you take yourself off to the altar there and I’ll see to this ravishing young thing.”

Jake gave the man a steady stare but turned toward the small room and walked down the aisle toward the altar, hearing Maddie giggle at their officiator as he said, “He ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog.”

~~~~~~

It was like a dream—a strange, yet wonderful dream. Maddie felt like she had been transported to some other world while Elvis took hold of her arm with one hand and his large microphone with the other. With a jolt, he began to sing, Can’t Help Falling in Love. He took a firm grasp of Maddie’s hand, put it in the crook of his arm and started them down the aisle. Maddie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, feeling intense happiness—despite the circumstances—swell from her heart and to her eyes. She stared at Jake, the white and red decorated chapel flashing by as they walked, so small and pretty with its short, white painted pews and baskets overflowing with flowers. It didn’t take long to reach Jake. Elvis deposited her hand into his and then finished the song with waving arm motions, his heavy thighs moving up and down as if doing sumo squats—yes, they had gotten fat Elvis—but his voice was deep and sounded just like the old records her dad used to play.

Jake’s eyes were full of mirth. He took her hands into his and squeezed lightly. “I can’t believe you picked the Elvis wedding over the gondola,” he whispered in mock horror.

“What can I say?” Maddie shrugged a bare shoulder. “I’m a fan.”

They both laughed.

“Shhhh!” Elvis took his place in front of them. “Now, Jake, Maddie, continue to hold hands, just like you’re doing there, and gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes.”

Maddie’s chest quivered with laughter.

“This is a special occasion and one not to be entered into lightly.” He looked up at the nonexistent crowd. “Any objections? No? Good.” He looked down at an open book. “Jake Hart, do you take Maddie to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love and protect her, cherish her and comfort her, in sickness and health, rich or poor, forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?”

Jake’s face grew serious at the words and his gray-green eyes darkened. “I do.”

“And Maddie, dear, dear lovely Madeline Faith Goode.” Elvis looked down with serious eyes beneath his big sunglasses. “Do you promise to love and cherish, comfort and care for, in sickness and health, rich or poor, forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live?”

Maddie looked back into Jake’s eyes, took a big breath and nodded. “I do.”

“The rings.”

Oh no. They didn’t have any rings, did they? Jake had thought of everything but that. Just as she thought it, she saw him take two rings from his pocket. He pressed one, a silver band that must have been for him, into her palm. Maddie’s brows rose, shock filling her, as he positioned the other ring, a huge diamond engagement ring, round with stones all around it and running halfway up the sides of the band, over her left ring finger.

“Wow, that’s a blinder,” Elvis remarked in a genuinely awed voice.

Maddie felt her breath catch as Jake slid it further down her finger. It was the most gorgeous ring she’d ever seen.

Elvis cleared his throat. “Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Jake slid it into place and gripped her fingers. “With this ring, I thee wed.” He leaned toward her and whispered. “I hope you like it. Sasha sent me some photos.”

Maddie just stared at him and then at the ring, unable to speak. He’d told Sasha? She couldn’t think about that now. Elvis was giving her directions.

“Madeline, put Jake’s ring on his ring finger please and say, with this ring, I thee wed.”

She took the simple band, thinking she should get him something nicer later, and slid it down his long, basketball-playing finger. He had such long fingers, such elegant hands. The way he could handle that orange basketball, flipping it and tipping it into the basket. Just the thought of it made her flush with warmth. Those hands would be all over her soon.

She felt faint and tried to shake herself out of it. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Elvis leaned toward her. “I didn’t think you were going to get that out, pretty lady.”

Maddie laughed. It was—truly—like a dream, a funny, out of body, wonderful dream.

“You may now light the unity candle.”

He started singing Love Me Tender while Maddie and Jake lit their individual candles and then held them together over the larger candle that sat on a marble stand. Maddie watched as the flames melded, became one and ignited the wick of the larger candle, thinking the song was right—all her dreams were being fulfilled in this moment and she would always love him. Always.

They sat close together in the limo on the way back to the hotel. Her skin flushed every time she thought about what was to come. She and Brandon had not waited until their wedding night, having been college sweethearts for two years before marrying and not really thinking it was that big of a deal. But now, she realized, it was a big deal. Having that moment to look forward to—coming together for the first time as husband and wife—made it so much more than a physical act. And she was nervous.

They sipped champagne, kissing until Jake’s lips were almost as red as hers.

“Here, let me wipe that off before we get out.” Maddie pulled a tissue from her sparkly clutch and wiped Jake’s mouth with it, laughing.

Jake’s eyes were heated. “I hope you’re not hungry.”

Maddie shook her head, the champagne making it feel light and weightless. “I’m not hungry.”

They made their way to the elevators, everyone staring, some people recognizing Jake and saying his name. She saw a few people pull out their phones and take pictures. Once inside the elevator, Jake pulled her to him and kissed her again, long and deep, their breathing becoming ragged.

They rushed to their room, laughing. Jake threw open the door and then turned and lifted her into his arms, carrying her over the threshold.

The room turned on by itself—the lights came up, the fire started—and Maddie gasped from his arms. The room was filled with flowers and balloons.

Before she could protest he carried her up the stairs and to the bedroom. She shrieked with delight.

“Now, to undress my bride.” He lowered her feet to the floor and lowered his lips back to hers.

Maddie took a shattered breath.

She’d never been so happy in all her life. And this was just the beginning. Jake Hart was so much more than a NBA star and all-around wonderful guy—he was now and forever her husband.

~~~~~~

It was nine o’clock Monday night when Jake pulled into Maddie’s parents’ driveway to drop her off.

“You’re sure you are okay with this?” Maddie asked, feeling bad.

“I don’t like it, but I understand. You want to talk to them alone.”

Maddie leaned over to kiss him, saying, “My parents will never understand that we ran off to Vegas to get married and it was so…special and romantic that I don’t want anyone sullying it with questions and judgments.”

“But you’ll tell them we’re engaged?”

“Yes, we’ll just tell everyone we’re engaged for a little while. We need to ease Max into this.” She gave him a quick kiss. “They will really think I’ve lost it if I tell them everything at once.”