Falling for Her Fiancé Epilogue (SPOILERS if you haven't read the book)

Dani glanced around the
room, at the whir of all the last minute getting-ready-type things like more
hairspray and perfume, her soon to be sisters-in-law and Brynn in their royal
blue bridesmaid dresses. There were so many times she and Wes had talked about
scrapping the wedding planning and going to Vegas, but after she’d seen the
atrium of the Levine Museum decked out in dark blue and silver with flowers and
lights, throughout, she was glad they’d waited to get married in a place that
meant something to both of them. Their nerdy love of history had brought them
together in the first place, and the venue seemed like a good way to honor a
friendship that’d turned to more.

            Closing her eyes, she replayed Wes dropping on one knee
and asking her to be engaged to him for real. Falling for him had been a
wonderful, unexpected adventure, and she’d forever be glad for their fake
engagement scheme that had led them to this moment. Then, after she’d said yes
with her lips more than words, he’d carried her to the helicopter, deposited
her in the backseat, and kissed her like he meant to make up for all the years
they should’ve been kissing.

            They’d had sex in many unchartered places since their
first time in the back of the helicopter, from woods to a boat on a mountain
lake to a secluded waterfall, but that first time, releasing all that pent up
romantic tension would be one she never forgot. That night she’d wanted to
slowly take in every detail, yet go fast because she could hardly wait to
discover the one part of Wes she hadn’t yet.

            She felt that way right now, too—wanted to enjoy the buzz
and the lights and the trip down the aisle, yet wanted it to be over so she and
Wes would be married already and off on their honeymoon.

            Finally it was time to line up, so they left the room and
headed to the back of the aisle. Mama stepped up next to Dani—she was giving
her away in the absence of Papa. Abuela Morales was up near the front, her
oxygen tank left in the car since she refused to have pictures with her “damned
oxygen tube” covering her face. Her health was good, though she tired out
quickly and breathed better with the oxygen. Luckily, with the adventure tour
business already turning a profit, Dani and Wes were able to help out with the
medical bills. The fact that Wes never hesitated to help, and talked to Mama
and Abuela over the phone almost as much as she did made her love him even
more.

            The wedding party headed down the aisle, two by two, the
way they’d practiced the day before. Then the “Wedding March” started and
everyone stood. Dani cracked her knuckles—something Wes always winced at—and
then started down the aisle, wishing for a basketball to hold instead of a
useless bouquet of flowers.

            But then Wes’s face came into view and her nerves slowly
melted away. A slow smile curved his lips, the corners of his eyes crinkling,
and excitement tingled through her veins as love filled her from the inside
out. His hair was long enough to curl around his ears, his face sporting a five
o clock shadow. Dani knew his mom and sisters had asked him a hundred times
about getting a trim and making sure his face was shaved, but Dani preferred
him slightly scruffy, and since she was the bride, she got what she wanted.

            Wes leaned in and kissed Mama on the cheek, whispered
something to her that made her smile, and then reached for Dani’s hand. He
slipped his fingers between hers and curled them around her palm. She glanced
at him, feeling the grin stretching her lips. A sense of camaraderie passed
between them, like they were almost to pull off the biggest stunt yet.

***

Wes held tightly to
Dani’s hand, happiness bubbling up in him. His friend Connor had kept asking
him if he was nervous leading up to today, but this moment was all he’d wanted
since they’d first gotten engaged—the second time. The real time. Honestly,
though, he’d always wanted Dani in his life forever. He just didn’t know he’d
be lucky enough for it to be as his wife.

            His mom and sisters had done a wonderful job getting the
atrium transformed to the fanciest place he’d ever been and it was good to have
all his friends next to him—he had a feeling they were all about to become
married men soon, and every one of them was way more thrilled than they might
admit. If this was the reward for
admitting it, though, he’d shout it from the rooftops.

            As he and Dani approached the front, he took a moment to
look her from head to toe. When she’d come down the aisle, she was so pretty he
could hardly breathe. Now he could see the way the dress scooped low in the
back, displaying her bronze, toned skin. He couldn’t help but reach out and run
his fingers across the opening. “You found another backwards dress,” he
whispered.

            One corner of her lips turned up as her gaze met his.

            “Just a little more forward,” the preacher said, urging
them closer to him.

            Wes ran his fingers over Dani’s soft skin one more
time—the way he planned to all night, every chance he could, and definitely
when they were dancing, her body pressed against his. He took her hand again
and they made the last few steps before turning to face each other. She swept
her bangs behind her ear and they immediately fell forward in that way he
loved. Then he stared into her dark brown eyes as the preacher started the
ceremony.

            And Wes knew that he and Dani were about to embark on
their greatest adventure yet.