Ghostly Wedding (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 17) Page 20

  “Well, we do, and what we say goes,” Zander replied.

  “Since when is that the rule?”

  “Since I said so.” Zander gave Jared a terrific push through the door. “Now ... go across the street and do manly stuff.”

  Jared flicked his eyes to Shawn, who was carrying a duffle bag. “So ... what? Is he saying we should watch SportsCenter and make farting noises with our armpits?”

  Shawn brightened considerably. “Can we do that?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s worth a shot.” Before Zander could shut the door in his face, Jared wedged himself in the opening and leaned in to give Harper a kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She grinned at him “I’ll be the one wearing the white dress.”

  “And I’ll be the one gearing up to make all your dreams come true.”

  “You’ve already done that.”

  They kissed again, the exchange long and soft. Jared looked tortured when Zander shoved him outside again. “I’ll miss you.”

  Harper laughed at his morose expression. “We’ll be together again before you know it. Next time you see me, we’ll be exchanging vows ... and then going on the honeymoon you won’t tell me about.”

  Jared smiled. “Yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to that.” He grabbed her hand and lavishly kissed her knuckles. “Until we meet again, Mrs. Monroe.”

  “Until we meet again, Mr. Harlow.”

  Zander put some muscle into shutting the door, and when it was finally just the two of them, his eyes lit with glee. “So ... glow masks, chocolate martinis, and Dirty Dancing?”

  “Ah, it’s just like high school again.”

  HARPER DIDN’T THINK SHE WOULD BE nervous about the actual ceremony. She was wrong.

  She slept hard, the two martinis she allowed herself serving as a pleasant sleeping pill. When she awoke, Zander curled up next to her, she spent twenty minutes staring at the ceiling thinking about what was to come ... and then she proceeded to whack Zander with a pillow.

  “I’m getting married today. Get up!”

  They spent hours getting ready, Zander taking over hair duties when the stylist Harper hired didn’t come up with a hairstyle he deemed appropriate. By the time he was finished, soft waves kissing the tops of Harper’s shoulders, even she had to admit that she looked pretty good.

  “What do you think?” she asked Zander as she pirouetted in front of the mirror in Jason’s bathroom. The restaurant was shut down for the day so they could have the reception on the balcony after the ceremony.

  “I think you look like a princess.” A tear slid down Zander’s cheek as he smoothed the front of her dress. “An absolute princess.”

  “That only works if I’m Princess Leia.”

  “But of course.” His emotions threatening to overwhelm him, Zander sucked in a shaky breath as he straightened his own tie. He’d opted for a purple suit to differentiate himself from Jared and Shawn and still complement Harper’s dress and coloring. “I love you, Harp.”

  Even though she’d promised not to get emotional, Harper felt her throat constricting. “I love you, too, Zander.”

  “You’re always going to be my best friend no matter what.”

  “Of course I am.” Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “You’re always going to be my best friend, too.”

  “I won’t let Jared totally steal you from me no matter how hard he tries.”

  That earned a laugh. “He’s not stealing me. We’re simply expanding our family.”

  “It’s been just you and me for a long time.”

  “No, it hasn’t. It was just you and me for a long time. Then Jared and Shawn entered our lives. It hasn’t been just you and me for well over a year now ... and I’m not sorry. As much as I love you, I think we’re better people now than we were before they joined our circle.”

  “I still think we’re the best part of our circle.”

  “I think we all fit together perfectly.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “You’ve been my champion for as long as I can remember. That’s not going to change. We’re only going to get stronger from here.”

  “Yeah.” Zander wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. “I still think you should get him to shave his nipples down. Maybe for a first anniversary surprise.”

  “I think you should be the one to bring it up to him, but only when we get back from our honeymoon.”

  “Deal.”

  ON THE BEACH, THE SUN HIGH in the sky, Jared stood with Shawn and Josh Stoker, a friend from his childhood, and watched as Harper emerged from the restaurant.

  She took his breath away.

  Molly and Zander had already made their way down the aisle — Zander letting loose a glitter bomb halfway down to make sure he had everybody’s attention — but it didn’t matter now. There wasn’t an eye on the beach that wasn’t glued to Harper and Phil as they appeared between the aisles.

  She didn’t cry, although her eyes were glassy. Phil was another story. His chest and shoulders heaved as he walked his only child down the aisle and prepared to give her away. Once they reached Jared, Phil gripped Harper tightly, as if he didn’t want to hand her over.

  “It’s okay, Dad,” Harper reassured him, rubbing his shoulder. “You’ll see me again in a few minutes.”

  “Knock that off, Phil,” Gloria said as she grabbed her husband’s arm and dragged him toward the chairs. “You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”

  The comment only caused Phil to cry harder.

  The minister, an old family friend, made a lame joke to loosen up the crowd. Then he got to the business at hand.

  “Harper and Jared have written their own vows,” he said. “Jared, you’re up first.”

  Even though he knew the moment was coming, Jared found his palms were suddenly sweaty and his voice raspy. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, though, and nothing would stop him from pouring out his heart. This was their moment, and it was one they would never forget.

  “I haven’t been in Whisper Cove long,” he started. “It’s become my home, though, and I knew that would be the case the instant I saw you. We joke about how we were antagonistic to each other that first day, but I knew, even then, that we were destined to be together.

  “It might sound hokey, but I think souls connect,” he continued. “I know my soul connected to yours right away. We bonded so fast and part of me kept waiting for something terrible to happen because I’d never been so happy before. I thought for certain I wouldn’t be allowed to be that happy for the rest of my life.

  “I’m glad the something bad never happened. Sure, we’ve been tested, and life will never be easy for us. I mean ... we have Zander. Nothing is ever easy with him.”

  An appreciative chuckle rippled through the crowd.

  “We’re destined to be together forever, though,” he said. “You own my heart and I willingly give you my soul. Whatever happens in this life and the next, it’s you and me forever. You’re the strongest person I know, and I look forward to giving you the best life I possibly can. I, Jared Monroe, pledge myself to you forever. Nothing will ever change that.”

  Harper swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to hold it together. It wasn’t easy given the naked emotion on his face. She managed , although just barely.

  “I felt something the day we met, too,” she admitted, going for the early joke to settle herself. “I think it was annoyance.”

  Another laugh flowed through the crowd.

  “I thought you were arrogant and full of yourself ... and then you touched me and it was as if my entire body caught on fire,” she continued. “There was something there right from the start. You’re right about that. You made me come alive in ways I didn’t think were possible, even though you continued to drive me crazy at times.

  “We’re not the sort of people who are destined for a quiet life. We have Zander, like you said, so that’s impossible.”

  Zander beamed as he puffed out his chest.

 
; “We’ve built a family together already, and we’re just at the start,” Harper supplied. “Sometimes I wake up in the morning and watch you sleep. Not in a creepy way or anything. I just like marveling at the planes of your face and knowing that I’ll be able to wake up with you every single day, and go to bed with you every single night, for the rest of our lives.

  “You’ve filled my life with laughter, love, and absolute joy. You accept me for who I am and never try to exploit what I am. You love with an open heart and give with an open mind. You’ve become my everything, the one person in this world I can’t live without.”

  Zander cleared his throat and gave her a stern look.

  “One of the two people I can’t live without,” she corrected as Jared grinned. “We’re building something special here, and even though we’re still at the start, I can see the road ahead of us. It stretches far and long. It will be filled with more love and happiness than I ever thought possible. It might not be perfect, but it will be perfectly us.

  “I promise to love you until my dying breath and well beyond. I, Harper Harlow, pledge myself to you forever.”

  Jared gripped her hands tighter, tears springing up out of nowhere and cascading down his cheeks.

  The minister spoke again, leading them through additional vows, but what was important to say had already been said. When they were finally declared man and wife, Jared didn’t wait for the go-ahead. He swooped in and cupped Harper’s face, kissing her until she was breathless as applause exploded around them.

  “I love you,” he whispered, tuning out the rest of their friends and family. “I love you more than anything.”

  Harper wrapped her hands around his wrists and grinned. “I love you, too.”

  “And everybody loves me,” Zander announced as he moved to stand next to them, sliding an arm over both their shoulders.

  “And everybody loves Zander,” Jared agreed. “I guess that means we’re one big happy family, officially.”

  “Definitely,” Zander agreed. “I can’t wait to see how things play out now that I don’t have to worry about chasing you away.”

  Even that declaration couldn’t stop Jared’s smile. Instead, he pulled Harper to him for a hug and held Zander’s gaze over her shoulder. “Maybe we should go inside and drink to our new family.”

  Zander leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You read my mind.”

  Want more? Sign up for my mailing list. It’s for new releases only, no spam.

  http://eepurl.com/Y6bkf

  About the Author

  Amanda M. Lee and Lily Harper Hart

  I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.

  If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.

  Special thanks go out to my editors for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.

  If you’re interested in my future works, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or join my mailing list. I do not believe in spam. I only announce new releases or free promotions.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For more information:

  author@amandamlee.net

  Books by Lily Harper Hart

  A Maddie Graves Mystery

  Grave Homecoming

  Grave Insight

  Grave Delight

  Grave Misgivings

  Grave Concerns

  Grave Discovery

  Grave Decisions

  Grave Seasons

  Grave Holiday

  Grave Haunting

  Grave Paths

  Grave Danger

  Grave Missteps

  Grave Demands

  Grave Wedding

  An Ivy Morgan Mystery

  Wicked Days

  Wicked Dreams

  Wicked Times

  Wicked Places

  Wicked Warning

  Wicked Fog

  Wicked Season

  Wicked Winter

  Wicked Hearts

  Wicked Wishes

  Wicked Whimsy

  Wicked Haunts

  Wicked Delight

  Wicked Respite

  Wicked Decisions

  Wicked Reunion

  Wicked Games

  Wicked Wedding

  A Harper Harlow Mystery

  Ghostly Interests

  Ghostly Issues

  Ghostly Deceits

  Ghostly Worries

  Ghostly Images

  Ghostly Wrecks

  Ghostly Asylum

  Ghostly Tricks

  Ghostly Distress

  Ghostly Despair

  Ghostly Holiday

  Ghostly Ordeal

  Ghostly Fears

  Ghostly Charms

  Ghostly Business

  Ghostly Camping

  A Rowan Gray Mystery

  Welcoming Seas

  Murky Seas

  Stormy Seas

  Sunken Seas

  Choppy Seas

  Churning Seas

  Dangerous Seas

  Perilous Seas

  Raging Seas

  A Hannah Hickock Witchy Cozy Mystery

  The Dirty Coven

  A Fistful of Demons

  Boot Scootin’ Boogeyman

  The Monstrous Seven

  Dances With Witches

  A Supernatural Speakeasy Cozy Mystery

  The Hexorcist

  Witch Confidential

  Curse A Brew Streak

  Witch is the New Black

  Crossovers

  Wicked Ghosts

  Wicked Seas

  Ghostly Seas

  Grave Seas

  True Grit Spirit

  Ghostly Graves

  Hardy Brothers Security

  Deadly Intentions

  Deadly Intuition

  Deadly Illusions

  Deadly Proposal

  Deadly Prospects

  Deadly Ever After

  Deadly Honeymoon

  Deadly Questions

  Deadly Addition

  Deadly Vacation

  Deadly Secrets

  Deadly Storm

  Deadly Dealings

  Deadly Christmas

  Deadly Desperados

  Deadly Arrival

  Deadly Rivalry

  Deadly Memories

  Deadly Adventure

  Deadly Reunion

  Deadly Conflicts

  Deadly Payback

  Deadly Waves

  Deadly Forever

  Books by Amanda M. Lee

  An Avery Shaw Mystery

  Who, What, Where, When, Die

  If it Bleeds, it Leads

  Buried Leads

  Shot Off The Presses

  The Preditorial Page

  Misquoted & Demoted

  Headlines & Deadlines

  Misprints & Mistakes

  Bylines & Skylines

  Off the Record

  Unwritten & Underwater

  Extra! Extra! Dead All About It

  On Deadline & Under Fire

  Above the Fold & Below the Belt

  Oracles & Obituaries

  New Media & Old Grudges

  Mayhem & Mistletoe

  A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery

  Any Witch Way You Can

  Every Witch Way But Wicked

  Witching You Were Here

  Witching on a Star

  Something to Witch About

  Witch Me Luck

  Life’s a Witch

  Charms & Witchdemeanors

  The
Trouble With Witches

  Murder Most Witchy

  A Witch Before Dying

  A Breath of Witchy Air

  Witch, Interrupted

  Flip the Witch Switch

  Witchin’ Around the Clock

  To Love a Witch

  A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short

  Careful What You Witch For

  Wicked Brew

  On a Witch and a Prayer

  You Only Witch Once

  The Christmas Witch

  Bewitched

  A Solstice Celebration

  Witchdependence Day

  Happy Witchgiving

  Merry Witchmas

  Four-Leaf Clover

  Thistle While You Work

  Landon Calling

  I Dream of Twila

  How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas

  A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy

  Witchy Tales

  A Witch In Time

  Make A Witch

  A Witchmas Carol

  All My Witches

  Close Encounters of the Witchy Kind

  An Aisling Grimlock Mystery

  Grim Tidings

  Grim Offerings

  Grim Discovery

  Grim Reunion

  Grim Expectations

  Grim Holiday

  Grim Rising

  Grim Tempest

  Grim Vows

  Grimlock Family Shorts

  Grim Like Me

  Grim & The City

  Now & Grim

  Grim & Bear It

  Grim & The Dead

  Death Gate Grim Reapers

  Only the Lonely

  Only the Quiet

  Only the Lost

  Only the Devout

  A Mystic Caravan Mystery

  Freaky Days

  Freaky Lies

  Freaky Hearts

  Freaky Games

  Freaky Places

  Freaky Rites

  Freaky Witches

  Freaky Reapers

  Freaky Fangs

  Freaky Seas

  A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery

  The Bigfoot Blunder

  The Chupacabra Catastrophe