“Too sore,” she murmured, though she flexed her hips toward him.

“Oh, you’re slaying me, Kinsey. Really, I think I’m going to die of sexual exhaustion,” he said with a groaning laugh as he kissed her on the neck.

She finally opened her eyes and blinked. He really was there, holding her close, their naked body’s touching intimately.

“That’s a nice way to die,” she said.

“I can’t believe you’re mine, really mine,” he said, awe in his eyes.

“I can say the same thing,” she murmured, hoping she wouldn’t wake up to find it all just a dream.

“I can’t believe I didn’t do this right,” he exclaimed, quickly jumping up.

Kinsey felt an immediate loss as he pulled from her. Muscles she didn’t even know existed were crying out from the exertion of their love-making, and she could feel a slight whisker burn on her neck, but still, she wanted more.

She couldn’t seem to get enough of his touch. Her eyes greedily soaked up the sight of his sculpted rear end as he leaned down to get something from his pocket. When he turned around, displaying his impressive manhood, her thighs tightened with desire.

He walked over, love shining in his eyes as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up. She forgot to breathe when he dropped on one knee and looked adoringly up into her eyes.

“Kinsey Shelton, you are my world now. I thought I knew what love was before I met you. I love my family. I love my friends, but I knew nothing of what true love was until I thought I’d lost you. You make my heart beat. You make my day begin. You make...” he choked, as his eyes glassed over.

“Austin-” she tried to help him, but he shook his head, obviously needing to finish. She didn’t even try to stop her own tears from falling as she gazed down at him, this man who wouldn’t take less than her love.

“You make me whole. This ring was my mother’s. You would’ve loved her. I know she loves you. I know she’s beaming with happiness right now. Please, marry me. Let me love you for the rest of our lives,” he finished.

She couldn’t speak through the lump in her throat, though she was trying to get the words out, it was impossible. She opened her mouth, but still no sound slipped through.

“I can get you another ring if you want a new-”

“Yes.” She interrupted him, then cleared her throat. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Austin, I’d be honored to wear this ring. I’m so touched you’re offering me something so precious. Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll mess up sometimes. I’ll cry for no reason, burn food because I’m lost in another world while reading, snap at you because I’m having a bad day, and be completely irrational at times, but I’ll love you, always. You make me so happy, so needed…” She lost her words again as emotion choked her.

Austin slipped the ring on her hand, and she couldn’t pull her eyes away as he leaned down and kissed her knuckle, sealing his promise to always love, honor and cherish her.

He stood and pulled her into his arms, spinning her in circles as his lips descended.

They ended up being very, very late to the wedding.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

“I’d like to propose a toast. Congratulations George and Esther. There aren’t two finer people to have found each other. I know you’ll have many years of happiness together, and I’m thrilled you’ve found one another. Never forget that we don’t often get a second chance at extreme bliss in our lifetime. May you always appreciate one another, love each other through the good and the bad, and always turn to each other in everything you do,” Joseph said.

The room erupted in applause as friends and family approved the couple’s union. As guests made their way to give hugs and good-will to the couple, they never let the other out of their sight.

When the music began playing, George swept Esther onto the wood floor and showed the kids what real dancing was. As the music began, the newlyweds floated across the floor as if their feet weren’t even touching the ground. They looked like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire – dancing together effortlessly.

Applause thundered when they finished, not that they noticed, as the two of them were locked tightly in a loving embrace.

“Come on, Joseph. These boys need to learn how to properly treat a lady,” George called when he finally lifted his head. Esther’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling, and a smile overtaking her lips. She looked delighted, content, and in love.

“You don’t have to talk me into it.” He turned to his wife, “Katherine,” he called as he held out his hand. She readily followed.

The music began, at first nothing more than violins caressing the early evening air. Joseph pulled Katherine close, and slowly began spinning her in a slow circle as they began the French Waltz.

George smiled at his brother as Joseph got lost in his wife’s eyes, their bodies moving in sync as the other instruments slowly joined the violins, music drifting over the guests, as they watched in awe.

“Dance with me,” George said as he pulled Esther back into his arms, then easily followed Joseph and Katherine across the floor.

“I’ve never seen dad dance before,” Lucas said as he watched his parents in awe.

“They’re stunning,” Amy sighed, her eyes glued to the couples who were so lost in each other.

“Yes. Yes they are,” Alex said as he pulled Jessica closer to him. “Shall we?”

When she nodded, he led her out to the floor and quickly joined the dance. It didn’t take long for the rest to follow.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

“Ah, I see you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence, Austin,” Joseph’s voice boomed out over the crowd.

Austin never thought he’d be so happy to hear that wonderful sound. He took a moment to say a silent thank you for his prayer being answered. He’d even received so much more than he’d asked for. His father finding happiness, his uncle back to full health, and the love of his life agreeing to be his forever.

“I had something to do that couldn’t wait,” Austin called back, his face bright as he held tightly to Kinsey’s hand, letting everyone in the room know what, or rather, who couldn’t wait.

“What’s more important than your father’s wedding?” Joseph asked, his eyes zeroing in on their joined fingers.

“I had to convince this lovely woman to marry me, though I don’t know how I did it,” he said with pride.

The room was nearly silent for a moment, with just the sound of the music playing in the background, as his words sunk in. Cassie was the first to rush over and give the two of them a hug.

“Ah, very good, boy,” Joseph said, his voice a bit quieter, emotion in his tone.

Austin knew exactly how he felt.

“Champagne,” Joseph called, and the waiters appeared with trays full of sparkling flutes. The adults grabbed the bubbling refreshment, while the children and pregnant women took sparkling cider.

“We have so much to celebrate. So much indeed. Here’s to romance, marriages, children, and family,” Joseph called.

Everyone raised their glasses and moved through the room, excitement overflowing from every corner.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

One month later, Austin stood on the beach as he dipped his wife in his arms and kissed her tenderly. When he stood back up, he turned and looked at the faces of his family, joy radiating off him in waves.

“I’d like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson,” the preacher said as Austin and Kinsey began walking down the aisle of grass, their bare feet hardly touching the ground.

Austin led her to a large tent where the music was playing, and he immediately pulled her onto the dance floor.

“Have I mentioned today how much I love you.”

“Once or twice,” Kinsey replied before resting her head against his solid chest.

“I can’t believe I managed to win you, Kinsey, but I’ll be grateful till the day I die. I love you more now than I ever thought possible.”

“I love you, Austin Anderson. I can’t believe I ever ran from your arms.”

“You were wise, woman. I plan to wear you out,” he told her, his brows lifting as he attempted an evil grin.

“Promises, promises.”

“Receptions are unnecessary. I say we sneak off to our room. I have plans for you,” he said as he stopped moving and looked into her eyes.

“I agree,” she answered, excitement lighting her face.

Austin grabbed her hand and they started to slip away, excited they seemed to be eluding Joseph, and the rest of the family.

“I’m going to-”

“Turn around so you can cut the cake,” Cassie interrupted them with a very satisfied expression on her face.

“Cass…” Kinsey pled.

“Oh, no. Payback’s such a pleasure,” Cassie said as she snuggled in-between the two of them and started pulling them toward their guests.

“You’re just mean,” Kinsey said, knowing full well she deserved it.

“I know. I’ve been waiting since my wedding for this moment. Suffer, really, really suffer,” she said with an evil grin.

Kinsey gave up the fight and let Cassie lead her back to the reception. Payback really did suck, she thought, as she eyed her husband with longing.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

“You never did finish your story, Mom. With all the excitement of dad waking up, and then the two weddings, I forgot for a while, but what happened with the corporation?” Amy asked as they sat by the fire, the kids sleeping, and the adults enjoying a midnight snack.

“I guess I did leave you hanging. To answer your earlier question, yes, this is the same corporation your grandfather began. The board met and voted Joseph as CEO a few weeks after our wedding. Neilson was furious and threatened to take us all down. It truly was sad he turned out that way,” Katherine replied.

“What ever happened with him? I don’t remember ever seeing pictures of him?” Lucas asked.

“It was quite tragic, actually. We didn’t hear anything for several years. Then one day a woman showed up on our doorstep, carrying a child in her arms, saying she was Neilson’s wife. She had to have been twenty-five years younger than him. Joseph wasn’t home, and I didn’t know what to do so I invited her in, which probably wasn’t wise. She told me Neilson had died of a heart attack, and she had nowhere else to go. I told her to wait until Joseph got home and we’d work things out. In the morning, when I woke, she was gone. She took ten thousand dollars your father had in his office, and disappeared. Joseph searched for her, knowing that’s what his father would want, but we only came up with dead ends. We never did find out if she was speaking the truth, or not.”

“That’s so sad,” Emily said.

“Yes, it is indeed. We would’ve given her the money, but maybe she was just a stranger, and wanted to get what she could before we found out. We’ll probably never know.”