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“I, Matthew Miller, take you, Jessica, to be my lawful wife,” Matt began, his voice strong and true.
Oh! This was happening. This was real! It wasn’t a joke or a dream. Jess was getting married. Her hands trembled, but Matt squeezed them gently until they stopped. He winked and caught her off guard. It relaxed her nerves and stopped the nervous giggle that almost snuck out from between her lips.
“For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health,” he continued without stumbling.
Richer? Was it possible for him to be richer?
It was her turn. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she started but grew stronger and more confident as she progressed.
“Until death do us part,” she ended loud enough for the audience to hear.
The officiate asked the ultimate question, and she responded, “I do,” with a barely discernable tremor in her voice.
Matt’s “I do” was curt and determined. It brought a laugh from his friends.
The kiss came next. Matt’s large hands cupped her cheeks ever so gently. He gazed deeply into her eyes and seemed to see all the way to her soul. She hoped he wasn’t seeing the flaws she’d so carefully hidden away from the world. If so, his lips would never join hers.
She let out a soft puff of air as he lowered his head, and his full lips were about to take hers. Either he hadn’t seen the flaws, or he’d dismissed them as irrelevant. It didn’t matter anyway. She simply wanted to taste him. She hadn’t even considered checking on his soul at all.
Warmth met warmth. A gentle caress of mouth against mouth became much more. Their eager lips melded together as if it was meant to be like two puzzle pieces. Jess thought she heard a sigh come from Matt, or maybe it was her heart. The kiss heated to a flame when his tongue darted out to cross her mouth. She had no defenses against such fire, so she allowed her lips to part. His masterful tongue eagerly entered and took control. It seemed to wander over every inch of her mouth, caressing her tongue, and drawing out her innocence. The soft suction put her in a daze.
Slowly, he backed his way out. As their lips parted, he laid his forehead against hers, and this time she definitely heard his sigh of contentment.
For such a small gathering, the applause was loud and long. There were congratulations and happiness in each clap of hands, though no one was aware of the confusion bombarding Jess. The kiss, the taste of Matt, and the sudden need for more from him made her head swirl. How could one kiss make her feel this way about a man when she’d been in love with someone else so recently? Did it mean she’d never loved Spencer? Was this what lust felt like? If so, then give her more, please.
They were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Miller which sent shivers down Jess’ spine. She was married to this man for better or worse. What if worse came too soon?
“Take my arm, Jess,” he softly ordered. “It’s time to walk out as a unit.”
“Did we really do this, or am I dreaming?” she asked to see if he’d smile.
He reacted as she’d hoped, with a broad, deliciously happy smile. “If it’s a dream then let’s not wake up. I’m enjoying this far too much, especially the kissing.”
“Where are you leading me?” Jess inquired as they left the chapel.
“We’re going to the hotel restaurant to celebrate. I’ve had it closed for the night, so we and our wedding party can have it all to ourselves. We’ll have a private dinner, some toasts to us, and a little dancing. I think we deserve that, don’t you? We both deserve to have excellent memories of our wedding night, and our guests need to be thanked for their attendance. I believe delicious food and expensive champagne are the way to do both, then we can have some fun. Do you like to dance?”
18
The restaurant manager had put a sign out front declaring that the restaurant was closed for a private gathering. Apparently, that wasn’t enough of a deterrent for Matt, or maybe he wished to advertise what was happening to him on this momentous day. Standing beside the manager's discreet sign was another more elaborate one. It was stated in bold, curling gold lettering that the wedding reception for Matthew Miller, co-owner of the hotel, and his bride Jessica was being held in the restaurant. At the bottom in much smaller letters, it also said he was sorry for the inconvenience.
Jess glanced up at Matt and asked, “Why did you want that sign added? The other one gives all the information anyone needs. It’s not like you have to explain yourself. I mean, this place is yours to do with as you please, so why bother announcing your reasoning, especially since you kept the wedding so intimate? Was this your gambling side wanting attention?”
“I don’t necessarily seek attention, Jess. It seems to follow me around whether I care to have it or not. To many people, I’m a celebrity. To others, I’m an oddity, something to be stared at yet not understood. The sign isn’t an advertisement. At least, it’s not meant to be that kind of thing. It’s just a way of avoiding questions. The manager was receiving dozens of calls asking why the restaurant was closed, some of them were angry and rude. The front desk got over fifty of the same. It was tiresome and annoying, so I ended it all with my announcement. Now, none of us will be bothered,” he explained.
“You may not have meant it as an advertisement and your motives may have been the very best, but it will draw attention to us. Those staying in the hotel or gambling in the casino will be roaming this hallway just to see if they can catch a glimpse inside now that they know who’s inside and why. This idea may backfire on you,” Jess told him.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t think of that and take care of the problem long before it occurred? You must not understand how a professional gambler’s brain works. It’s no wonder you lost so much of your own money. You see, a gambler has to think at least four steps ahead of his opponents. He has to calculate the consequences of each turn of the card or every roll of the dice. You consider gambling to be a game of chance. For me, it’s not as much about chance as it is about planning. That’s why I win and others lose. Security will keep this hallway empty. There will be no gawkers.”
“You’re a little smug about putting me in my place, aren’t you?” Jess asked.
“I wasn’t putting you in your place. I was explaining myself, which isn’t something I do very often. It was a courtesy to my new wife. I’m sorry if I made it sound as if I was admonishing you. I’m new at being a husband, and I hate having to explain anything. I know I must because my business is now yours as well, so I will do better in the future,” Matt replied.
Jess blushed. She was doing this all wrong, getting her marriage off to a rocky start by criticizing Matt. It was the nerves that had her saying all the wrong things. She needed to get them under control, so the rest of the evening went much smoother.
The restaurant manager, or some wedding decorator, had changed the whole appearance of the trendy restaurant. Excess tables had been removed. Others had been lined up to form one long table that held the wedding cake and gifts, which Jess hadn’t expected. The rest of the tables were in a circle, covered in snow-white tablecloths, set with crystal glassware, white China on silver chargers, and silverware.
One table sat inside the circle, and Jess knew it was for her and Matt. Its tablecloth was silver lace over the white cloth that was on the others. Everyone stood to acknowledge their entrance and watch them walk to the center of the room. Since Jess found it difficult to look each person in the eye, she allowed herself to check out the rest of the room.
