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The Elliotts Come Home Chapter 8
“Megan? It’s time for the bouquet toss,” Cindy’s mother called out and Megan backed out from Gage’s arms, his kiss still tingling on her lips. Why had he done that? Was he really interested in her, or—
“Megan!”
“Coming!” she cried and darted away from Gage without another word. She hurried toward the house, desperately needing a moment alone before this next event.
“There you are,” Cindy said, meeting her on the porch. She was rosy cheeked from all the dancing and champagne and Megan was glad to see it looked like her friend was having a fabulous time. “Help me pull myself together.” They went up to Cindy’s room and fixed their hair and makeup. She fussed around Cindy, smoothing wrinkles in her gown, catching stray strands of hair and winding them back into her regal updo. When they were both presentable, and Megan’s heart wasn’t pounding anymore, they went back downstairs and out onto the porch.
“Unmarried women, come to the front,” Mrs. Glendale kept calling. There was a lot of good-natured jostling and pushing as mothers and sisters forced their reluctant, single siblings to the front of the crowd.
Megan fetched Cindy’s bouquet and handed it to her.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Cindy demanded when Megan hesitated by her side. “Go join the crowd.” Megan shook her head, but Cindy was adamant. “Go join them. You need to get married soon, too.”
“Fine.” Megan slunk down the steps and circled the small group of women who’d gathered there, moving to the very back. On her way, Blake Warrington detained her, swaying a little.
“You know, you can come work for me,” he said, leaning far too close to her. “I can always use a pretty face around the place to brighten things up.”
Megan pushed past him, wishing she could go find somewhere to hide, but Cindy was tracking her progress from the porch.
“That’s it. Get right in there,” she called in encouragement. “Don’t be shy, Megan. You’re at the perfect age to marry. Don’t you think so?” she asked the gathered crowd.
Cheers greeted this idea. Megan was going to have to have a good talking-to with Cindy when she was back from her honeymoon, but these were her friends and neighbors and she could see the humor in the situation, especially when Blake linked arms with another of the single women in the group and held his free hand up as if he was going to try to catch the bouquet, too.
“All right,” Cindy called out. “Get ready, everyone.”
The other women put their hands up. Megan kept hers resolutely down. She’d let someone else catch the flowers and be the center of attention.
Cindy turned her back on them, wound up and pitched the bouquet over her head.
Arms still at her sides, Megan looked to see who the lucky lady would be.
And got the bouquet square in her face.
Someone snatched it before it could fall to the ground and placed it in her hands as Megan cried out in pain. An arm came around her.
“That had to hurt.”
“What the hell?” Megan found her voice. “Cindy!”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” Cindy called from the porch, her hands pressed against her face. “Megan, are you okay?”
Not really, but she didn’t want to spoil the evening. “I’m fine,” she called back, forcing herself to smile. “No bones broken.” At least, she didn’t think so. Her nose wasn’t feeling so great.
“Let’s get some ice on that.”
Megan looked up to see that it was Gage supporting her. He must have been the one who’d caught the bouquet when it bounced off her face. Who’d kept her from crumpling to the ground. Now he was guiding her into the house. Cindy came to join them at the top of the stairs, her eyes wide.
“I’m so sorry,” she said again.
“I’ve got this,” Gage assured her. “Looks like you’ve got a plane to catch.” He motioned to where Matt was loading suitcases into the back of a shiny, red truck.
“I do.” Cindy looked unsure.
“I really am fine,” Megan said, although she was mortified. Everyone would be talking about her lack of coordination. “It was a wonderful wedding.”
“And soon you’ll get one, too,” Cindy said, brightening up again as she pointed to the bouquet.
“Sure,” Megan said and let her friend sweep her into a hug. “Have a fabulous honeymoon.”
“Thank you. For everything,” Cindy said. “See you soon.”
“See you!” Megan allowed Gage to help her to a seat on the porch. A moment later, he came back with a bag of ice. She put it gingerly on the bridge of her nose. Cindy went inside to change and by the time she came out again, escorted by her parents, Megan was able to stand and wave her off with the rest of the crowd.
“Don’t forget this,” Gage said when the happy couple was gone. He took the bag of ice and handed her the bouquet.
“You’re the one who caught it, you know,” she said. “It only bounced off me. Maybe you’re the one who’ll get married.”
He considered the flowers. “Maybe,” he said lightly. He lifted his gaze to meet hers and Megan went all shivery inside as he drew her close again. He brushed her mouth with another kiss. “Maybe we both will.”
The End
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