A Bride for Sam (A Red Maple Falls Christmas Wedding Novella) Read online

  “If it isn’t my two favorite soon-to-be newlyweds. What can I get you two today?” she asked but not before messing Sam’s hair up then pinching his cheek.

  “Have any miracles in that kitchen of yours?” Hadley asked as Sam smoothed his hair back into place.

  “I make miracles in there every single day, sweetie.”

  “We can take all that you have of them.”

  “So an order of my sweet apple pecan pancakes and a side of sausage.”

  “Sure, why the hell not,” Hadley said. “What’s the worst thing that can happen? I can’t fit into my wedding dress? It’ll just be par for the course.”

  “Rough day?” Terry asked.

  “You could say that.”

  “Hey Terry?” Sam said, and she turned her kind eyes to him.

  “What’s cookin’ good lookin’?”

  Maybe he didn’t know any priests but priests weren’t the only ones who could officiate a wedding. “You happen to know anyone who’s ordained?”

  She popped her hip, her hand resting snugly on the curve as a big smile spread across her bright red lips. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  “Oh, thank god,” Hadley said a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

  “Who?” Sam asked.

  “You’re looking right at her.”

  Going from Father Morris to Terry was a drastic change, but they were desperate, and besides, Terry was a huge part of who he was. She looked after him when his mother was incapable and never let him go hungry. In a weird twisted way, having Terry marry them seemed almost perfect.

  He looked across the table to Hadley and asked her opinion silently. She gave him a smile and nodded.

  “How about it, Terry?” Sam said. “Want to marry us?”

  “Me?” she exclaimed. “What about Father Morris?”

  “He has the flu,” Sam explained.

  “And you want me to marry you two?”

  Hadley took Terry’s hand, her bright red nail polish standing out against Hadley’s fair skin. “We’d be honored if you said yes.”

  “Then yes!” Terry bounced, and Sam held out a hand, afraid she would tilt over in her heels. She threw her arms around Hadley then planted a big ol’ red kiss on Sam’s cheek. “I’m so excited.” She fanned her face with her hands then paused. “I have to find something to wear.”

  “You can wear whatever you were going to wear to the wedding.”

  “Oh no, honey that’s not going to work now.”

  Hadley looked to him and he shrugged. They both laughed as Terry teetered away, calling to her husband. “Walt, you’re never going to guess what just happened!”

  “What is it, woman?” Walt’s voice floated from the kitchen.

  Sam took Hadley’s hand in his and ran his thumb across her palm. “Does that work?” he asked, wanting to make sure Hadley was completely on board.

  Her eyes met his, bright and as beautiful as ever. “I couldn’t think of a better way to get married in Red Maple Falls.”

  Chapter 9

  After a long day at the station, Sam came home exhausted and ready to collapse in bed. He opened the door and smelled the delicious scent of meatloaf—his absolute favorite. Hadley greeted him at the door with a smile, wearing nothing more than one of his t-shirts that hit just at the top of her thigh.

  She lifted on tiptoe and pressed a chaste kiss to the edge of his lip. No longer exhausted, he tilted down to her, capturing her mouth with carnal desires. A moan slipped up her throat and muffled against their joined lips, causing him to instantly harden.

  His hand slid down the curve of her back and slipped beneath the thin material of the t- shirt until his hand was firmly resting on her ass. He was surprised when the soft feel of her skin wasn’t interrupted by cotton briefs.

  “Mmm,” he groaned as he took a handful and pressed her closer to him. “No panties?”

  Her teeth slid over her kissed swollen lip and an adorable blush spread across her cheeks as she shook her head.

  “What’s the occasion?” he asked.

  “I’m wooing you.”

  He laughed. “Isn’t the guy supposed to do the wooing?”

  “Not in this relationship. We are equal wooers, and after your Christmas Farm woo and fixing the Father Morris disaster I needed to up my game.”

  “After the day I had, I’m not even going to argue.”

  He planted both hands on the round curve of her ass and hoisted her up. Her legs wrapped around him, pressing her center against his growing erection. He nudged at her chin with his nose so she could tilt her head for better access. She did as he requested, and he crushed his lips to hers, swiping his tongue at the crease until she parted and let him in.

  “Want to talk about it?” she asked, pulling back from him, her voice breathy and sexy as hell.

  “Talking is the last thing I want to do right now.”

  “I made you meatloaf. We’re supposed to have dinner and then cuddle in front of the fire while Rudolph is on TV.”

  “You met me at the door in a t-shirt and no panties. Did you honestly think that was going to happen?”

  “But you love Rudolph.”

  “Not as much as I love this.” He dug his fingers into her ass then gave it a little tap. “Tell you what,” he said as he dragged his lips down her neck. “We’ll do all of that after, because right now all I can think about is being inside you.”

  “Then you better hurry. Rudolph is on in twenty minutes.”

  “Good thing I have it on DVD. I plan on taking my time.” Before she could argue that the DVD was at his house, he kissed her until her body melted against his and the sexiest of moans vibrated against his mouth.

  He carried her to the bedroom and laid her down on the bed, stepping back and taking in her sheer beauty. She pressed up on her elbows, her blonde hair brushed behind her shoulders. Her eyes filled with desire as they skimmed him from his head down to the bulge in his jeans.

  She held up a finger and motioned him to go to her. He took his time, shrugging out of his coat and pulling his shirt over his head.

  “Where’s Lady?” he asked, surprised the nosey dog hadn’t made her way in to say hello.

  “I gave her a bone right before you pulled up. She should be good for at least an hour.”

  “Good.” He unzipped his pants and pushed them down until they were a pool of denim at his feet. He kicked them aside and stood in front of her in nothing but his black boxer briefs. “Your turn,” he said, nodding to the t-shirt that earlier wasn’t covering enough skin and was now covering far too much. He wanted to see her bare, waiting and ready for him.

  “I thought I’d leave that part for you.”

  “I thought you wanted to woo me. That would definitely tip the scales.”

  Her eyes locked on his, seduction in the black ring of her irises and in the slight part of her lips as she rose on her knees. She hooked her fingers in the hem of the shirt and slowly—very slowly—dragged it up the beautiful curves of her body.

  Her hips swayed, captivating his complete attention. His mouth watered as the tight rosy tip of her nipple peeked out just before she covered it back up. A giggle slipped from her mouth, knowing that she was pushing all of his buttons.

  His erection strained painfully against his cotton briefs, and he swallowed down the temptation to rip the shirt from her body. He grabbed himself instead, stroking the solid length as she continued her slow, agonizing striptease.

  Finally, she pulled the shirt completely off and tossed it at him. He caught it with his hand and threw it on the floor where it belonged. He went to her then, unable to hold back for another second.

  He grabbed her face, crashing his lips down on hers, letting his pent-up desires flood into the kiss. She whimpered against his mouth, and he scooped her up, laying her back down on the bed. His hand roamed her body freely, loving the soft feel of her skin against the hard calluses of his hands.

  It had been over a year since the first time he touched her
intimately, yet he never got bored of how easily her body reacted to his touch, how she whimpered and moaned when he grazed the right spots and how she pressed into him as if they belonged as one. Another fifty years could go by and he would still be in awe of this beautiful woman beneath him.

  He had no idea what the hell he did to deserve her, but he was going to make sure that every day of his life he’d do everything in his power to be worthy of her love.

  An insatiable fire burned inside of him as her fingers trailed down the bare skin of his back and rested just above the curve of his ass.

  “Promise me something,” she breathed.

  “Anything.” He would promise her the setting sun and the rising moon, the white puffy clouds and the twinkling stars if he could.

  She trailed her fingers back up his back and brought them to his face. “Promise me that it’ll always be like this. That no matter what life throws at us we’ll always desire each other as much as we do in this moment.”

  “Done,” he said, and she laughed.

  “You didn’t even think about it.”

  “I don’t have to.” Sam didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep, but this he knew would never be a challenge.

  “But what if I gain two hundred pounds or develop a growth on my face or—”

  He pressed his finger to her lips and cut her off. She was speaking nonsense, and he would have none of that. She should know him better, but in case she needed reminding, he bent down, kissed her forehead, then pulled back, meeting her eyes. “All that matters to me is you. I don’t care about your packaging because what’s most important to me are the things I can’t see. Your big heart, the way you go out of your way for the people and animals you love, your strength, your character, and how you call me out on my shit when no one else will.”

  “Someone has to,” she said with a laugh.

  “So you see? I don’t care if you develop a growth or whatever other nonsense you said because when I see you walking down that aisle in two days, I’m not marrying your blonde hair or your cute little ass. I’m marrying the girl inside.”

  She snaked her hands around his neck and a big adorable smile spread across her kiss swollen lips. “Mr. Bennett, that is the best damn answer a girl could ask for.”

  “Well soon-to-be Mrs. Bennett I’m quite the catch,” he joked.

  “You’re the ultimate catch. Now shut up and kiss me.”

  “You’re the one who started this conversation.”

  “And now I’m the one finishing it.” She pushed up until her lips met his and the room faded out around them. She reached down, grabbing his erection and sliding it against her slick folds. With one hard thrust he was nestled deep inside her. She let out a surprised yelp before letting out a satisfied giggle.

  He moved slowly, savoring her slick heat, loving how her movements synced with his. Her eyes slipped shut, and she arched into him, taking him even deeper.

  The past couple of weeks had tested them, thrown them every imaginable loop possible, but it didn’t break them because at the end of the day they had each other and that was all that mattered.

  Chapter 10

  Hadley arrived at Sarah and Cooper’s house a little before six after running last minute errands. Tomorrow she would be Mrs. Sam Bennett, and all of the running around and last-minute details would all be worth it. But first she had to get through her bachelorette party.

  She wanted to spend tonight with Sam, but since it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, she kissed him goodbye in the morning and sent him packing back to his place.

  He was going out with the boys anyway, while the girls were being hosted by a very generous Sarah, especially since she was an exhausted mother of an eight month and nine-year-old, who was also running an increasingly successful business. Ever since Bex Shepard, Hollywood’s newest It girl, wore one of Sarah’s necklaces to a red carpet event, the demand for the repurposed vintage jewelry she transformed into one-of-a-kind pieces were hot commodities.

  Even with her hectic schedule, she managed to create Hadley a beautiful pair of earrings and a matching bracelet to wear on her wedding day. Tonight, she’d see the finished pieces, and she couldn’t wait.

  Hadley knocked on the door and waited a few seconds before letting herself in. She heard voices coming from the living room and followed them until she found her grandmother and Terry sitting on the couch with martini glasses in their hands.

  “Grandma, Terry,” Hadley said as she unwrapped her scarf from around her neck and draped it on the coat hanger. “I wasn’t expecting you guys to... is that a…” The word got stuck in Hadley’s throat as she tried to push it around the growing lump of mortification. She pointed at the headbands they were wearing and tried again but only stuttered a few sounds.

  “Sheesh,” Terry exclaimed. “It’s like the girl has never seen a penis before.”

  Heat rose up Hadley’s neck and into her cheeks, turning into an all-out raging inferno.

  “Maybe she hasn’t,” Betty said, arching an insinuating eyebrow in Hadley’s direction.

  Terry snorted. “One night with that smoking hot fiancé of hers and her panties would have melted right off.”

  “Sam did grow into a little hottie.”

  “Okay!” Hadley held her hand up, hoping that would be enough to stop them. She refused to discuss her sex life with her grandmother and her friend despite the fact that she whole heartedly agreed with them. “Where’s Sarah?”

  “In the kitchen. She and the girls were checking on the Jell-O shots.”

  “Jell-O shots?”

  “It wouldn’t be a party without them now would it?” Terry said, and Betty nodded her agreement.

  Hadley was all about a good time, but she was getting married tomorrow and she didn’t need a bunch of hungover people standing at the altar with her. “I’m going to go check on them.”

  “Can you get me a refill while you’re in there, sweetie?”

  “You still have half a glass,” Hadley said, pointing to the half-filled martini glass.

  “Oh well.” Terry tipped the glass back and finished it off. She smiled those big red made up lips and held up her glass. “Not anymore.”

  “That makes two of us,” Betty said, finishing off her cocktail as well.

  “You know you both have to be functioning tomorrow, right?”

  “Don’t you worry about us, cupcake. We’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been on this earth,” Terry said, and Betty swatted her arm which caused them to fall into a fit of giggles.

  “I’ll get you those drinks,” Hadley said, taking the empty glasses from them.

  She walked toward the kitchen, a million scenarios of what could go wrong between now and tomorrow running through her mind. When she entered, she nearly dropped the glasses from her hands.

  Unexpected tears pricked her eyes as they landed on her baby sister.

  “Daisy!” Hadley placed the glasses on the counter and ran to Daisy who was sitting on top of the counter by the sink. Daisy slid off and met her in a hug. Hadley squeezed her tight, so happy to see her. It had been far too long since her last visit home. Hadley pulled back, looking into Daisy’s big blue almost cartoon like eyes. “I thought you weren’t getting in until tomorrow.”

  “After hearing about all the mishaps, I wasn’t taking any chances. Besides, I couldn’t miss your last night as a single woman.”

  Hadley pulled her back in for another hug, happy tears filling her eyes. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

  “Me too.”

  “I never get a greeting like that,” Kate said before taking a sip from her wine glass.

  “Because I see you all the time. Maybe if you moved to New York and only came home once every year.”

  “Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I don’t want to live in a cement play box. No offense, Daze.”

  “None taken.”

  “New York is not all that bad,” Shay said as she handed Hadley a Jell-O shot. />
  Cassie laughed. “Says the New Yorker.”

  “I guess you can take the girl out of New York, but you can never take New York out of the girl,” Shay said. “I love it here but I do miss Christmas in New York. There’s something magical about walking though Rockefeller Centre with the big beautiful tree rising above the crowds.”

  “You’ll get to see it this year, though. When you come to visit,” Daisy said.

  “You’re going to New York?” Hadley asked, feeling completely out of the loop. She hadn’t realized how self-involved she’d been the past few months.

  “Yup, she’s going to visit Cruella.”

  “Does Matt know about this?” Hadley asked. Shay and her mother had a very bumpy relationship, and Shay had completely shut her out of her life but had recently reached out to her to try to rebuild the burned bridge. Shay missed her dad, and unfortunately with him in the middle, it made seeing him difficult and that had weighed heavy on Shay.

  “He’s coming with me. It’s going to be a family affair.”

  “Wait a second,” Hadley said. “My brother is going to New York to spend time with your mother? Did I just step into the Twilight Zone?”

  “Since I had Matthew things have been different. I think my mother finally realized that Matt’s not going anywhere, and if she wants to be a part of my life she needs to accept my choices and, more importantly, my husband. So far, she’s been okay. She has her moments when she forgets to bite her tongue, but it’s just who she is and that’s something I have to accept.”

  “You’re a better person than I am,” Kate said, popping a chip in her mouth.

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” Shay winked at Kate and they both laughed. “Okay enough about me and my dysfunctional family. Tonight is about the bride-to-be.”

  Cassie handed out the rest of the Jell-O shots and then held hers up. “Let the celebration begin.”

  Hadley squirted the red gelatin into her mouth and her lips puckered and her eyes closed as the strength of the alcohol hit her. “Oh my god, who made these?”

  Sarah squinted as she swallowed. “Cooper,” she finally said. “I told him not to overdo it with the alcohol.”