He must have sensed her apprehension because just as she was about to drop the upbeat Birdie persona and go full vixen and demand he explain exactly what had turned him back into the Tin Man, he leaned forward and took her hands into his. “Sorry, I’m just—”
“No, you don’t have to apologize,” she interrupted.
She needed to give him a break. He hadn’t done one damn thing to endanger this wedding. Strike that. He did send strippers, but that was before. Yes, he’d been a killjoy and had mentioned to Tom his concerns about the wedding, but he hadn’t acted on his fears. Not really. She’d prepared to go to war with the worst best man. She’d expected for him to try to undermine her at every turn. Instead, he’d helped her. In his curmudgeon way, he’d taken care of her.
She entwined her fingers with his. “You don’t have to explain anything. I get it.”
That had to be it. A terrible childhood plus a warped view of marriage would equal trepidation when witnessing one’s best friend’s nuptials.
But what did that mean for them?
Was he against marriage? Did he detest the entire institution?
Did she want to marry him?
Stop!
Their chemistry was off the charts, but they’d known each other for five days.
They hadn’t even had the boyfriend-girlfriend talk. It was hard to say much of anything after six orgasms.
She leaned forward, ready to shift gears and cash in on that missed promised kitchen kiss, when the gondola lurched. She gasped as the steel cables whined under the weight of the now swaying structure. The gondola rocked from side to side at the mercy of the wind as it dangled above the mountain.
“This just keeps happening! What are we going to do?” she cried, flying over to his side, weight distribution be damned.
He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her. “It’s all right. Dan said the gondola gets testy with the weather. Just wait a second.”
“Okay, one. That’s one second,” she counted.
“Wait twenty seconds,” he countered.
She raised her index finger. “One, two—”
“Are you going to count it out all the way to twenty?”
She balked at him. Of course, she was going to count.
“We cannot have the gondola out of commission. It’s the only way to the chapel. And I have a rehearsal dinner to put on and cake to retrieve and—”
The mechanical hum cut off her rant as the wobbly gondola continued its ascent.
“See, it’s fine. No crazy wedding lady counting necessary,” he said, biting back a grin.
She leaned against him, savoring his comforting warmth, and sighed. “I’m a little tense.”
“A little?” he teased, but his tone was gentle.
“I want everything to be perfect for Lori and Tom. And I would want my parents and grandmother to think I did a good job. I know it sounds silly. But being here makes me feel closer to them.”
“It’s not silly, Bridget,” he answered with a touch of longing to his words.
She stroked his cheek. “Thank you.”
He glanced down at her. “For what?”
“For not being the worst best man after all,” she replied, craning her neck to give him a peck on the lips.
But he was in no mood for gondola kissing.
“Is that what you called me?”
She lifted her chin with mock haughtiness. “Among other things, yes.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head as they sat back and watched the chapel come into view. Falling snow framed the structure, and the windows glowed with the soft light of the chandeliers as forms moved past the two windows flanking the entrance. Tomorrow, she’d have the candles going, which, her parents had said, gave the space a beautiful, ethereal feel when they’d wed.
A grateful ease set in. It was all coming together.
Soren opened the door, and they hurried into the chapel, entering the sanctuary in a bluster of icy wind and a rush of snowflakes.
“Ah, good, you’re both here,” the judge said, waving them in from where he stood at the altar next to Tom and Lori.
“Cole and Carly just practiced their flower girl and ring bearer duties,” Grace said from where she sat in the front row with Scott and Russ.
“I pretended to throw the flower petals. Watch!” Carly chimed, mimicking the motion.
“Very well done,” Bridget replied, taking in the scene. “But don’t you want to practice from the beginning with all of us?”
Her sister shared a look with the judge. What was going on between the two of them?