Sweet as Honey (The Seven Sisters) - By Caitlyn Robertson Page 0,60

him get off lightly.

Still, it could have been a lot worse, he thought, closing his eyes and letting the warm afternoon breeze play across his features. And what better way to clear the cobwebs than to stand here, looking out over the Bay of Islands on the last day of March in the still-warm autumn sun, waiting to marry the girl of your dreams?

“Don’t doze off,” Koru said beside him.

Dex opened his eyes and gave his best man a wry smile. “I’m not asleep. I was enjoying the breeze.”

“Yeah, yeah. I swear I heard you snore.”

“Have you got the rings?”

“Will you stop asking me?”

Dex chuckled. “I…”

His voice tailed off as a ripple of whispers began behind him, and he turned and stood, Koru rising beside him.

Honey had exited the hotel and stood with her father while Daisy and Jasmine fussed over her gown, straightening the skirt and making sure her veil hung properly.

“Told you it would be a meringue,” Koru murmured in his ear.

Dex smiled. “She looks like an angel.”

Usually Koru would have given a sarcastic remark to that, but for once he said nothing, his silent agreement bringing a lump to Dex’s throat more than anything else could have done.

The music started and everyone stood, waiting for Honey and her father to approach.

Dex took the opportunity to have a last glance around. They’d chosen to have the wedding at the Carlton Hotel just south of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Although she had been brought up a Catholic, Honey had decided she’d prefer a civil wedding, and Dex had been happy to go with whatever she wanted.

The hotel’s wedding team had organised everything for the day, and the location was just amazing. They would be exchanging their vows beneath two palm trees with the glorious Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, and afterward they’d go into the hotel and have the reception in one of the Treaty Rooms. Then they would spend the night in a special luxury suite before heading off the following day to the exotic island of Rarotonga.

Dex was glad for Honey that the sun was shining and the weather was as beautiful as the setting, but he wouldn’t have cared if it had been thunder and lightning. Today he would be married, and tonight he would have her in his bed at last, and everything would be right with the world.

She approached the guests and paused with Cam at the top of the walkway, but even from there Dex could see she had eyes for no one but him. He hoped she liked the suit—he and Koru wore matching dark grey tuxes, silvery-grey waistcoats with a subtle paisley pattern and light grey ties. He’d even used product in his hair, much to Koru’s amusement. He winked at Honey, and saw her answering shy smile before she lowered her head.

Cam—also dressed in a dark grey tux—led her down the aisle, and her sisters took their places among the guests. All five girls wore the same plum-coloured long gowns, and with their varying hair colours looked like jewels in the bright sunlight.

“I thought all seven sisters were supposed to wear gowns,” Dex murmured to Koru. “I’d like to have seen you in one of those.”

Koru muttered something rude in his ear and Dex stifled a laugh.

“Last chance,” Koru whispered. “No getting out of it after this.”

Dex just smiled. He couldn’t wait.

He glanced toward the hotel door. No one there except a few of the guests, come out to watch the event. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Honey and Cam approached the front where Dex and Koru stood with the marriage celebrant, Peter, an older guy in his sixties with silver hair and a patient, calm and reassuring manner.

Cam helped Honey lift up her veil, then he kissed her on the cheek. Finally, he took her hand and passed it ceremoniously to Dex before taking a seat at the front with the guests.

Honey turned her big brown eyes up to Dex, and his heart swelled. He raised her hand and kissed her fingertips, not missing the collective sigh that rolled around the crowd at that little gesture.

The celebrant smiled. “Good afternoon, everyone, I’m Peter Jordan, I am a Registrar of Marriages, and it is my pleasure to welcome you all here today.”

He gave a small speech about marriage and how it shouldn’t be taken lightly, and Dex listened, although he didn’t need to be told. He smiled at Honey, who lowered her lashes, a flush spreading