Quiet Walks the Tiger by Heather Graham

Author:Heather Graham [Heather Graham]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781480408296
Publisher: Open Road
Published: 2013-02-20T20:01:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

SLOAN DIDN’T SEE WESLEY again until the ceremony, which was, according to their desires, simple but beautiful. Fragrant displays of summer flowers were the only decoration; the lilting strains of a single guitar the only music. Cassie acted as matron of honor, Wesley’s brother Dave as best man. Sloan, in a cloud of excitement and euphoria, barely heard the words spoken, and although Wes’s replies were strong and sure, she had to be nudged by Cassie to speak at the appropriate times.

Then the brief ceremony was over; they were officially man and wife. Wesley bent obediently to kiss her; and as his lips claimed hers, Sloan felt a tension and hint of punishment in the pressure of his arms.

It’s the time we’ve been apart, she thought with loving tolerance. He released her, and their eyes met. For a second it seemed as if Wesley stared at her with cold, fathomless disdain. Then the look was gone, and she dismissed it from her mind as fancy. She was smiling up at Wes, handsome and as benevolent as an ancient god in the formfitting tux and exquisite laced shirt which seemed but to enhance every majestic line of his masculinity. Sloan reeled with the impact of his return smile, drunk from his aura and presence. She felt like Sleeping Beauty; awoken by a kiss only to find the real prince of her dreams. Was it a dream? she wondered blissfully. It was all too good to be true. Or did every bride feel the way that she did at the moment, even if it was the second time around?

The reception passed in as much of a blur as the wedding. Wes’s brother and sister-in-law were an attractive, charming couple; Dave was a slimmer version of his brother and every bit as personable; Susan, a vivacious, down-to-earth woman Sloan immediately liked. The children pranced about gleefully, delighted to be participating in grown-up affairs, stealing sips of champagne from any available glass that fell their way. Before she knew it, Sloan, higher than ever on her cloud after several glasses of the delicious champagne, was being ushered into Wes’s room to change for her honeymoon.

“Oh, Sloan!” Cassie marveled breathlessly as she followed her sister into the room and closed the door behind her. Tears of happiness formed in her deep brown eyes. “You’re so beautiful today, so radiant! I’m so happy for you.” Flying across the room, she embraced Sloan with a strangling hug.

“Thanks, Cassie,” Sloan whispered. Then they were laughing and crying together, and Sloan’s dress was spotted by their joyous tears.

Cassie finally extracted herself and smiled at Sloan from arm’s distance. “I’m going to miss you...”

“I won’t be gone long, and I’ll deluge you with postcards—”

“That’s not what I mean,” Cassie said, choking on a sniffle. “You’ll be gone for good when you get back.”

“Not for good!” Sloan protested, feeling nostalgic pangs of departure herself but determined to cheer Cassie. “We’ll be living in Gettysburg part time!”

“Yeah,” Cassie agreed, forcing a smile.

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