Shannon sat in Jeremiah’s backyard, her hands still scented like machinery. But it was worth it. Seeing his face. Kissing his lips. Hearing him say he loved her. All worth going over to his parents’ house and mowing their lawn.
And she’d been right. The line didn’t go in the way his father was trying to make it, and Jeremiah had fixed it and finished the trimming. He’d fixed her too, in an indirect way, sure. But it was still because of him that she’d gone back to therapy, that she’d found a way to heal the hurt in her life, that she’d decided to be herself, be brave, and branch out.
“Well, at least Shiloh gets along with Hercules,” he said, watching the two dogs as they laid next to each other.
“Everyone gets along with Hercules,” Shannon said.
“I can’t believe you got a dog,” he said.
“I can’t believe it took me so long to get a dog.”
“What about Fuzzy and Jean Luc? How do they like Shiloh?”
“Oh, they don’t. But they tolerate him, and everyone’s getting along.”
“And you’re volunteering with Puppy Love now?”
“Yes.” She snuggled into his side. “It’s a good organization, and I feel like I’m doing something with my life.”
“I thought you liked your job,” he said.
“I do,” she said. “I love my job. But it’s just wedding planning. I’m not making a huge difference in people’s lives.”
“And that’s what you want to do?” He sucked in a breath. “Don’t answer that. I’m not trying to get you to bear your soul or anything.”
Shannon giggled and hugged him tight. “I know that now,” she said. “For a while there, I was so defensive, wasn’t I?”
“Mm,” Jeremiah said, not really committing but not really denying what she’d said either.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “I haven’t dated in a while, and I guess I sort of forgot people ask questions to get to know each other.”
“I want to know everything about you,” he whispered.
“I think you already do.”
“Not true,” he said. “For example, I don’t even know what kind of wedding you want. Or if you’d like to come with me to buy the ring or if you want to be surprised. Or—”
“Okay,” she said, a laugh following. She sobered and tilted her head back to look up at him. “You really think you want to marry me?”
“I know I want to marry you,” he said, flicking a glance at her and then focusing back on something in the yard. “But I can wait. I told you that once, Shannon, and I meant it. I can be patient. We can take the time we need to really get to know each other. You can plan whatever wedding you want. All of that.”
Jeremiah really was the best man on the planet, and Shannon thanked the heavens above that he’d been the one to rescue her from that flat tire months ago.
“I think I want a small wedding,” she said. “Maybe in your parents’ backyard. It’s nice back there. And I’d love to look at rings with you and pick one out together. But then I want the engagement to be a surprise.”
“Mm,” he said again just before shifting her so he could lean down and kiss her. And kiss her. And kiss her.
A few weeks later, a major wedding she’d been working on for months loomed on the horizon. Shannon had been busy, but she’d managed to get to lunch with Jeremiah almost every day since they’d made up. She’d been learning what it meant to make time for someone else, how it felt to sacrifice for them, and how to serve them.
And Jeremiah wasn’t very demanding in very many areas, but he did want to spend time with her. His love language was a walk with a dog, or a meal when he was tired and hungry. Shannon had learned so much about herself and him over the last couple of months, and when she stood and looked into the sky, gratitude and happiness filled her.
No, she wasn’t perfect. She still had fears and doubts, but she was able to talk to the person she needed to about them—and that was Jeremiah.
He didn’t try to psychoanalyze her. Sometimes he just commiserated. Sometimes he asked more questions. He always leant her love and support, and Shannon had finally let go and allowed herself to fall.
Cheryl had been right. It was wonderful to be in love and not be afraid to admit it.
“Shannon, have the flowers come?”
She glanced up at Hope’s question and noticed the woman looked a little red around the eyes. She bolted to her feet. “Yes, they’ve been here for fifteen minutes. Riley and Lisa have them loaded in the van. We’re just waiting on the final construction to be finished, and then we’re leaving.”
“How long until that?”
“Five minutes,” she said. “I just heard from Tom.”
“Great. I’ll meet you over there.” Hope walked down the hall and poked her head into Charlotte’s office. A moment later, they both left, and Shannon went to see what else Riley and Lisa needed.
Lisa, a blonde planner who’d been there twice as long as Shannon, wrung her hands as she spoke to Tom.
“What’s wrong?” Shannon asked Riley.
“The altar is two feet too long,” she said. “Lisa’s not sure they can cover it with the linens she ordered, but there’s no time to rebuild it either.”
“Then let’s go,” Shannon said. “We can make it work.” She’d ordered extra flowers, and it wouldn’t be a tragedy to have a few blooms on the altar to cover the short linens. She got behind the wheel of the van, and the other two women climbed in.
They usually had their weddings right on the beach across from their building, but this bride had met her husband-to-be at the Sweet Breeze Resort and Spa, and she’d rented their private beach for her nuptials.
Shannon had never been happier that she’d negotiated that partnership with Fisher DuPont last year, and the arrangement was the fifth wedding he’d booked for Your Tidal Forever.
The beach seemed to be a frenzy of activity when they showed up, but Tom got the altar in place, and Lisa’s linens looked fine, even with the extended length. Shannon checked on every detail as she flitted from flowers to arches to bows on the backs of the chairs.
Lisa did the same, and finally, the two women stood side-by-side, ready for the bride to make her appearance. “It’s a beautiful wedding,” Shannon said, admiring the pale pink and purple color scheme. It matched the sky on this gorgeous summer evening.
“Hey,” a man said, and Shannon turned to find Jeremiah there, his top two buttons undone on his white shirt, and his tie missing. He was sexy and professional at the same time, and a rush of affection for him yanked through Shannon.
“Hey, yourself. I was just wondering if you were going to make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He pressed his lips against her forehead and laced his hands through hers. “This looks great. Nicely done, Lisa.”
“Thanks, Jeremiah,” she said. “I don’t think that music is loud enough. Excuse me.” She scampered off, and Shannon was glad it wasn’t her.
She stood and watched as the bride arrived, and the wedding march blasted out of the speakers hung in the trellises. The pastor said wonderful things, and Shannon basked in the warm glow of the almost-married couple’s love.
She and Jeremiah hadn’t talked much more about their wedding. She hadn’t chosen a date. They hadn’t gone to a jewelry store to pick anything out. No, since she’d arranged to be mowing his parent’s lawn when he should’ve been, they’d been working through some of their issues and learning more about one another.
He really was patient, and she was a quick learner, so things were going well.
The bride and groom kissed, and a general shout of joy filled the air, Shannon’s included. She clapped as they bride and groom walked up the aisle, their faces simply beaming with happiness.
She wanted to feel that way too, and she knew she could—with Jeremiah.
With the ceremony over, it was time to move into the hotel, where Lisa had also decorated the ballroom and arranged all the catering. Shannon’s job was to get the beach back to a regular place to hang out and watch the waves, so she and Riley and Jeremiah did that, folding and stacking chairs on the truck the business owned.
Sweat ran down Shannon’s face by the time they finished, and her back ached. “So, we’re going to dinner, right?” she asked, quite out of breath.
“In a minute,” Jeremiah said, wiping his own face. He whistled, and she knew Hercules would come trotting out from whatever patch of shade Jeremiah had left him in.
Sure enough, the big yellow lab appeared in the doorway of the Spam Hut, and Shannon shook her head. “You know he’s been chowing down in there, right?”
“He better be,” Jeremiah said. “I paid the owner to feed him and keep him cool.”
Shannon laughed and tucked herself right against Jeremiah’s body as the dog came closer. “He’s got something in his mouth.”
“Does he?” The false casualness riding in Jeremiah’s tone set off Shannon’s alarms.
“Jeremiah,” she said in a warning voice.
He stepped away from her as Hercules neared and said, “What have you got there, boy? Huh? What is it?” He stooped down and took something from the dog’s mouth. “Oh.”
Shannon took a step forward but froze when Jeremiah turned and dropped to both knees right there in the sand. She sucked in a breath, and it got stuck in her lungs.
“Shannon Bell,” he said. “I love you. I want you to be my wife, and I’ll do my best to be a good husband.” He held up a slobbery black box. “Will you marry me?”
One hand fluttered near her mouth while the other pressed against her firing heartbeat. “You went to the jewelry store without me?”
“I flew to Belgium without you,” he said. “Picked out the diamond there and have been waiting for it to be set.”
“Belgium?” Her mind raced. “But you said that was a conference.”
“It’ll be my last lie, I swear.” He grinned at her, that ring box still extended toward her. He opened the lid and said, “I think it’s a nice ring. Everyone I’ve shown it to has agreed.”
Shannon gaped at the size of the diamond. She’d known Jeremiah didn’t hurt for money, but wow. “How many people have you shown it to?” she asked.
“Everyone except you,” he said with a chuckle. “Riley’s been asking me for a week when I’ll propose.”
Shannon took another step forward and said, “It’s beautiful, Jeremiah.” Tears pricked her eyes. “I love you too.”
He glanced at Hercules, who sat panting in the sand. “I think that means yes, bud. What do you think?”
The dog just closed his eyes halfway and Shannon laughed, took the ring box, and pulled Jeremiah to his feet. “It does mean yes, Jeremiah.” She kissed him, not caring that they were in public and quite a crowd had gathered around them.
He kissed her like he loved her, and Shannon felt the happiness way down deep in every cell in her body. After he pulled away, he gently took the ring back and slipped it on her finger, gazing at it with wonder.
“Looks nice,” he said.
“It’s more than nice,” Shannon said. “It’s perfect.”
“You’re not mad I picked it out without you?”
She shook her head, having realized that life was not a script. Things didn’t go the exact way she thought they should, or even planned that they would. Life was messy. Love was chaotic. But she wanted to live, and she wanted to love.
“Like I said,” she whispered, her lips almost on his again. “It’s perfect.” Then she kissed her fiancé, her mind deciding on a date right then and there.