Longing in Louisiana (At the Altar Book 8) Read online

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Seth said, jerking when the door opened. “Dr. Lachele.” He’d been surprised when he’d finally met the older woman. He had expected someone…well, someone a little less strange than what he found upon meeting her.

  “You ready for this? Your bride is pacing around the bride’s room like a crazy woman. Of course, she’s perfectly calm compared to her mother.”

  Seth smiled at that. “I take it her mother doesn’t approve?”

  “Not one lick. Her father doesn’t seem to mind, but her mother looks ready to jump out of her skin.” Dr. Lachele walked toward him, reaching up to straighten his tie a bit. “I forget what a tall drink of water you are. Your poor bride is going to feel tiny in comparison.”

  “She’s not tall?” he asked. He’d wanted someone just like Brenda, who wasn’t even five feet, so he didn’t expect someone tall. He just didn’t know what to expect. Someone shorter than him certainly. At six-five, he’d rarely met a woman who was even within half a foot of his height.

  Dr. Lachele shrugged. “She’s about my height.”

  Seth nodded. Dr. Lachele was over a foot shorter than he was, so he was marrying someone who would feel tiny beside him. He had no preference either way, so he had no feelings about it, but it would make him feel protective of her. “What can you tell me about her?”

  “I can tell you that she’s going to be walking down the aisle in about three minutes, so it’s time for you to get to the front of the church.”

  Seth grinned, having expected an answer like that. “Yes’m.” He looked over at Daniel. “You ready to do this best man thing?”

  “I suppose so. I don’t really have a choice now, do I?”

  Seth shook his head. “I wore a monkey suit for you, so you wear a monkey suit for me.” Seth knew neither of them felt comfortable in a suit. They both preferred to wear jeans and T-shirts. They’d met in college more than a decade before, and Seth had worked for Daniel for a while. Now he owned his own business, but he was still frequently on Daniel’s payroll. His internet security business was a necessity for an online matchmaking website like Daniel’s.

  Seth and Daniel strode to the front of the church while Brenda took a seat on the left side of the aisle. “I’m nervous.” Seth hated that he felt so squirrelly about marrying a stranger, but he did. He trusted Dr. Lachele though, and that was what mattered.

  “Deal with it.” Daniel had his eyes on the back of the church as music started playing.

  Seth’s eyes were drawn to the huge doors at the back of the sanctuary. The woman he’d spend the rest of his life with would be walking through there at any moment.

  When the door opened he felt his stomach drop. His new bride was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Her long blond hair was swept back, and she had some kind of pink flower in her hair. Her wedding gown was strapless and cut to fit her perfectly. Her waist looked so tiny, he was sure he could easily fit his hands all the way around it.

  She walked toward him slowly, her face solemn. He wanted to see her smile, but at that moment, it seemed to be taking all her concentration just to walk toward him. Her gaze met his and lingered.

  She walked along on the arm of a man who had hair the same shade of blond as hers. The man kissed her cheek and put her hand into Seth’s before turning to sit down beside a woman with dark hair and a grimace on her face. That must be her mother.

  Seth looked down at the beautiful girl holding his hand and smiled, trying to let her know that he was excited and nervous as well, but he wasn’t sure how to convey such a thing with just a smile. “Hi.” The word was inadequate, and entirely inappropriate, but it seemed to fit.

  “Hi,” she whispered back, turning to face the preacher, but her eyes stayed on him. He knew because he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Maybe this would work out after all.

  Michelle felt a calmness descend over her as she stood side by side with her groom. The words spoken by Pastor Franklin were familiar yet foreign all at once. She’d been told by many people that her wedding day would pass in a blur, and they were right. She wanted to stop and turn and talk to the man beside her, but she knew that Pastor Franklin wouldn’t approve even if Dr. Lachele would let her get away with it. No, she’d have to get through the ceremony first.

  Ten minutes later, the pastor’s voice boomed out. “I now pronounce you man and wife. Seth, you may kiss your bride!”

  Michelle hadn’t thought about their first kiss being in front of all those people. She looked up at the huge man beside her. He was tall. So tall she felt like she was insignificant beside him. He reached out and caught her by the shoulders, pulling her to him.

  Michelle tilted her head up, standing onto her tiptoes. She was barefoot under her wedding gown, because she’d always preferred bare feet. No one would see her feet under her gown anyway.

  Seth smiled at her, leaning down and gently brushing his lips against hers. As soon as their lips touched, he felt a charge of electricity shoot through him. He’d felt passion before, of course, but never anything like he felt for his beautiful new bride. He wanted to stand there and go on kissing her, but he knew there were far too many people watching for that.

  Michelle’s eyes were wide when he lifted his head. It had been a chaste kiss. He hadn’t tried to bring tongues into play. It had been a mere brushing of his lips against hers. So why had she felt so much from that simple kiss? She’d never had tingles spread through her belly when she’d kissed Bob. Seth had made her feel so many new things with a sweet kiss. She wanted to be alone with him. And soon. She wanted to talk to him. But more importantly, she wanted to kiss him again. And again.

  He took her hand in his and turned to face the congregation. The pastor introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, and he led her back down the aisle to the room at the back of the church where he’d waited for the wedding to start. “Do we have a minute before we have to go to the reception?” he asked.

  She nodded, her eyes on his face. She was going to get a crick in her neck if she kept trying to look up at him this way. “The venue is just a couple of blocks from here.”

  “Sounds good.” He took a step toward her, his hands going to her shoulders. “I—this is going to sound stupid, but I’m going to say it anyway. Kissing you was amazing. I have to do it again.”

  She smiled for the first time since he’d met her. “Oh?” She felt the same way he did. If she could bottle the feelings she’d gotten from kissing him, she would sell them and become a millionaire overnight.

  He nodded. “So I’m going to do it again. Okay?”

  His head was already descending as she nodded. Her hands rested on his biceps, feeling the strength through his suit coat. Her lips lifted to his, and she went on tiptoe again.

  This time his kiss was more than just a gentle brush of lips against hers. He opened his mouth and slanted it across hers, demanding that she open for him as well. She moved closer to him, pressing her body against his. Her last coherent thought was that she could get drunk on his kisses, but then there were no thoughts at all as she was carried away by the passion of his kiss.

  When he finally lifted his head, she took a step back, her breathing heavy and her heart beating rapidly in her chest. “Wow.” It was the only thing she could say. She knew she sounded like a teenager, but all of her schooling went right out of her mind. She was a mass of emotions.

  He grinned. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” He sat down in a chair and pulled her down onto his lap. “I know I need to quit touching you, but I can’t. I hope there’s going to be dancing at this reception, because I need to have my hands on you.”

  She blushed even as she nodded. “Yes, there will be dancing. We’re having chicken catered in, and we’ll dance. The local country club is on a small lake, and that’s where we’ll have it.”

  “So your name is Michelle, right?” He laughed at himself. “I promise, I usually ask a woman’s name before I start kissing her and pulling her onto my la
p.”

  Michelle frowned. She didn’t want to think about him with another woman on his lap. “Yes. And you’re Seth?”

  He nodded. “Yes. What do you do, Michelle?”

  “I’m a high school principal. I started out as an English teacher, but now I’m in charge of the school here in Malloy.”

  “Really? You don’t seem like the kind of woman who would be able to be strict with kids.”

  “I rule with an iron rod…encased in velvet.”

  “So you’re strong, but soft on the outside?” His fingers traced her cheek as he spoke. He really couldn’t seem to stop touching her.

  She nodded. “I love my job. I love my students. I work twelve hour days during the school year and sometimes longer, because I go to every game the students play in the evenings.”

  He nodded. “I’ve always worked long hours, so that won’t bother me.”

  “The only evening I’ll be home early will be Wednesdays, and that will be five instead of nine.”

  “I’ll go to the games that I can. I’m in network security, and I travel a lot for work. My home base has always been Boston, so I’ll probably have to spend a lot of time in the Northeast until I’ve built up a clientele here.”

  “I’m off school until the first week of August, so I have some time to go with you or whatever. Dr. Lachele said you didn’t mind a Disney World honeymoon?”

  He shook his head. “Not at all. It honestly sounds fun.”

  “Have you ever been?”

  “Nope. Never had that opportunity.”

  “You’ll love it. I went once, when I was in college. Some friends and I went for spring break instead of joining in the debauchery that everyone we knew was part of.”

  “And that’s when you decided you wanted to go there for your honeymoon?”

  “Yes! I saw all the brides and grooms wearing their wedding veil and tuxedo mouse ears, and I knew I wanted to do that someday.”

  He laughed. “Well, if it’s important to you, then I’ll wear those mouse ears everywhere.”

  Bob had hated the idea of wearing the mouse ears, and it had taken everything she had to convince him to go to Disney World with her for their honeymoon. She was so pleased Seth was willing to do as she’d asked.

  “Thank you. It really does mean a lot to me.” She leaned over and brushed her lips against his once more. “We need to go to the reception.”

  He nodded. “I guess we do.” He waited as she scrambled off his lap and stood up. “Let’s go be newlyweds for a bit.”

  He held his hand out to her, and she took it, a smile on her lips. He was going to be a good husband. She could already tell.

  Chapter Two

  Michelle drove them to the reception, and she led Seth inside. She knew she’d have to tell him soon that he’d stepped into her wedding plans with another man, but her wedding day just didn’t seem to be the time to tell him.

  As they walked into the country club, Seth stopped short. “I’m amazed you were able to pull something like this together.”

  She smiled and kept walking. “Everyone’s waiting on us to start dinner.” She went to the table set aside for her and the wedding party. As soon as they were seated, the caterers brought out the chicken dishes she’d requested more than a year before.

  At the table with them was her sister, her brother-in-law, and two people she didn’t know. “Seth, this is my sister, Alison, and my brother-in-law, John. Alison, John, this is Seth.”

  Seth smiled and nodded in greeting. “It’s nice to meet you both.” He turned to look at Michelle. “This is my best friend, Daniel, and his wife, Brenda. Dr. Lachele introduced them as well. My mom and twin brother couldn’t make it today, so it’s just us.”

  Michelle looked at Brenda. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who agreed to marry a total stranger.”

  Brenda smiled. “And she did a good job with Daniel and me. I have a good man.”

  “I’m glad. Tell me, do I have a good man?” Michelle asked as she cut a piece of chicken off from the grilled breast on her plate.

  Brenda laughed. “No fair asking in front of him! But yes, you have a wonderful man. Almost as good as mine.” She pressed her cheek to Daniel’s shoulder as she said the words, obviously in love with the man beside her.

  Michelle watched the two of them together, enjoying their banter. She hoped that it wouldn’t be long before she was that comfortable with Seth.

  The talk around the table quickly became male dominated with the men talking about their jobs. John talked about his job as English professor at the local university, while Daniel talked about his matchmaking website.

  “Why did you have Dr. Lachele set you up if you own your own matchmaking website?” Alison asked, a confused look on her face.

  Daniel made a face. “Oh, I don’t trust computer matchmaking. I wanted the personal touch for my bride. I’m so glad I went the route I did.”

  “You don’t trust your own company to do a good job?” Alison asked, surprised.

  “I trust them with my income, but not with my heart.” He brought Brenda’s fingers to his lips. “Dr. Lachele did an amazing job, though.”

  Michelle looked back and forth between the other couple. “I’m glad to see a couple she’s successfully matched.”

  Brenda grinned. “She also matched a friend of mine and her new husband. And a friend of hers. I know for a fact she’s very good at what she does. Just make sure you give it time.”

  Michelle looked at Seth and found him watching her. “I think we’re going to be just fine. I don’t give up easily.”

  Alison nodded. “I can agree with that. She’s the most tenacious woman I’ve ever met. Especially when it comes to her students.”

  After they’d finished the meal, they were called onto the dance floor to start the dancing. When Seth took her into his arms, she smiled. “Make sure you take tiny steps, or I’m going to fall.”

  He laughed. “I don’t have much experience dancing, but I do know my legs are longer than yours. I’ll be careful.” His lips went to her ear. “How long do we have to stay here? I want to get you alone.”

  She shivered at the feel of his breath against her ear. “Not long. We’ll dance a few dances, cut the cake, mingle a bit, and escape.”

  “Please tell me you want to be alone as much as I do.”

  She smiled at that. “Well, I’m nervous about tonight, but I want to be alone with you.” Her hand which had been resting on his shoulder, stroked his face. “I’m surprised by how much I want to be alone with you.” She’d expected to be going to bed with a man who she had no feelings for that evening, so she was pleasantly surprised to realize that while there was no love yet, there was plenty of lust.

  He smiled at that. “I’m glad.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “When do we leave for Disney?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon. I figured we should have our wedding night here before we rush off to the airport in New Orleans.”

  “Tell me about this area. How long have you lived here?” He really wasn’t terribly interested at the moment, but he had to keep her talking so he could keep his mind off his hormones and talk of the wedding night would just make things worse for him.

  “I’ve lived here my entire life. I grew up here in Malloy. I went to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, which is about a twenty-minute drive from here. I lived on campus, but that’s the only time I haven’t lived in Malloy.”

  “Why didn’t you commute if you were so close?”

  She shrugged. “I had an honor’s scholarship, so there was no need for me to commute. It was easier to live on campus and do the whole college student thing.”

  “Are you glad you did it that way?”

  She nodded. “I am. I was very shy when I graduated from high school, and I’m not sure I’d have made friends on campus if I hadn’t lived there. I’d probably still be having trouble talking to strangers.” Many of the people attending her wedding were friends she’d made at
Southeastern.

  “How many people live in Malloy?” he asked.

  “Only about three-thousand. The high school graduates less than thirty every year, which is just perfect in my opinion. I know every one of my students personally by the time they leave. I love my job.”

  He smiled at that. “I’m glad. I really will go to games with you as I can.”

  “I’m happy to travel with you this summer, and every other summer, if you’d like.”

  “You would?” He hadn’t expected that from her.

  She nodded. “Sure. I wanted to marry at the beginning of the summer so we could spend time getting to know each other until I go back to work. I couldn’t do that if we were in different states.”

  “Sounds good to me.” His hand stroked up and down her back. “How old are you?”

  “Thirty-two. And I really want children,” she blurted out. She hadn’t meant to tell him so bluntly. “That’s why I sought out Dr. Lachele. I feel like I’m getting too old to start a family, and I desperately want one.”

  Seth nodded, his eyes on hers. “I have no complaints. In fact, I look forward to making babies with you.”

  She blushed. “You really shouldn’t say things like that in public. What if one of my students heard you?”

  “Do you have students here?” he asked, surprised at the idea.

  She nodded. “You know the girl who served our dinners? She’s going to be a senior next year.” She nodded at the boy who sat in the DJ booth. “That’s Steven. He’s going to be a junior.”

  “I’ll watch my step then. And my tongue.”

  She smiled at that. “How ‘bout you watch your step, and I’ll watch your tongue.”

  He chuckled. “Now that’s not fair. You can’t talk about things like that if I can’t.”

  “I made sure none of my students were close first. You didn’t.”

  The song ended, and she danced with her father, and then her brother-in-law. Seth danced with her mother.

  “You’re going to be nice to my daughter, aren’t you? You’re not going to cheat on her?”

  “No, ma’am. I’m not going to cheat on her, and yes ma’am, I’ll be very nice to her. She seems like an amazing woman.”