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ChapterEight
Madeline Lancaster stood very still while Ben slid up the zipper on her dress. He touched his lips to the back of her neck and said, “Done, gorgeous.”
She turned into his arms, beyond grateful he’d gotten the weekend off to attend this wedding with her. Originally, she thought she’d attend the wedding from the balcony of the church in New York City, watching her only son get married from afar.
Now, she got to sit on the front row, only an arm’s length from Kyle and Bea. They’d been on Five Island Cove for ten days, and Maddy was so excited for them. The trip from Rocky Ridge to Pearl Island had taken over an hour, but they’d all made it.
Her parents. Chelsea. Ben. Julia and Annie had come from Nantucket and Chatham. Tessa and Janey had been here for a few days as well, and Maddy had put her big house on the northernmost island to good use, sheltering them all.
They’d talked and laughed for too long last night, but Maddy didn’t care. Her motto right now was she’d sleep when she was dead.
Or at least, after her son got married.
The only person who wasn’t here that Maddy had thought would be for sure was Chris. Her ex-husband. The politician both of her children had chosen over her in the divorce. Apparently, new things had come to light, but neither Kyle nor Chelsea would talk about them.
Maddy hadn’t pressured her children; she was just glad to have them close to her again.
Kyle had apologized profusely, and Maddy had been talking to Chelsea for months previous to this.
“Thank you for being here,” she whispered against his lips. “I needed you here, and you’re here.”
“I’ll always be where you need me,” he said. He matched his mouth to hers and deepened their kiss. The man knew how to make her feel like a much younger woman, and Maddy had to sternly tell herself not to get too carried away with him.
The wedding was set to begin in only fifteen minutes, and though he could be and had been quick with her in the past, she didn’t want that right now. She wanted love, not just sex. She wanted understanding and passion, not just physical touch. She wanted to create memories, not just give in to lust.
“Maddy.” Ben pulled away and stroked his rough hand down the side of her face. “I’m in love with you.”
She looked at him, searching for any hint of deception in those glorious blue eyes. He was a much younger man than her—eleven years younger. She couldn’t give him children, and he said he didn’t care. He only wanted her.
“What do you think of us?” He cleared his throat and dropped his chin. He rarely did that. The strong, sometimes a bit tactless, Coast Guard Captain didn’t mince words. He looked up, a storm in his expression now. ‘What do you think of us doing what Kyle and Bea are doing?”
“Getting married?” she asked, though she knew exactly what he was saying.
“Yeah,” he said.
Maddy grinned up at him and leaned her full weight into his chest. “You want to marry me.”
He barely twitched his lips into a smile. “Yeah,” he said. “I do.”
Maddy giggled and stretched up to kiss him again. Maybe she rushed it a little this time. Maybe she did like giving into the lust and physicality of her relationship with Ben. She slowed her stroke and pulled away gently. “I think if you ask me properly, Captain, I’d say yes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered. “My mother wants to meet you. She won’t stop hounding me about it, especially now that I’ve—and I quote—‘rearranged my whole life to be near you.’” He stepped away and straightened his tie. He wasn’t wearing his uniform. If he had been, Maddy might not have been able to control herself.
“Let’s go on your next vacation,” she said.
Ben turned toward her. “That’s not until August.”
“Then tell her it’s your work schedule preventing us from coming, and that of course, I want to meet her too.”
“You need a passport to go to Canada, you know.” He took her into his arms again and swayed with her.
“I’ll get the application filled out the moment this wedding done.” She smiled up at him. “I can’t believe this is happening like this.”
“Are you happy?” he asked.
“Yes,” she murmured.
A knock sounded on the door, and Maddy barely had time to step out of his arms before Robin poked her head into the room. Her angel from on-high. Without Robin Glover, Maddy was quite sure she’d be hosing Kyle and Bea’s wedding in her backyard on Ricky Ridge.
