Pick Up Steam: The Wedding
You've Got A Friend In Me
Seth opened the letter with fingers that weren’t completely steady.
It was from Blake MacNeil and had arrived a few days before. On the back of the envelope, Blake had added a note asking him to open it today.
Dear Seth,
I know Caden called you Babs, but I just can’t do it. Maybe one day.
I wanted to send you a note for today. It’s a big day for you, probably one of the biggest in your life. I hope it’s perfect.
Thank you for helping me out. Not only on that awful day, but in the months since then. I could be writing this from a jail cell, but I’m writing from my job on my lunch break.
My boss and the guys here have been terrific. I told them the whole story and they’re helping me. My therapist works with military personnel and that’s helping, too.
I’ve got a future now. One I can look forward to.
Because of the statements you and Mara made to the court, I’m giving back and healing. Doing my community service hours with the injured veterans is good. I’m thinking I may have another dream that Caden would like. I’m taking nursing classes at night at our community college.
Anyway, none of that’s about you, but I wanted to give you another update. You saved me that day, and I want you to know I appreciate it, and I’m doing some good with the future you made possible.
No wonder Caden looked up to you.
Congratulations to you and Mara. I hope the future brings you all your dreams. You both deserve the best.
In your honor, I’m making a donation today to the local school lunch program.
Congratulations. Make her happy.
Blake
PS. Send me a photo of Maki with you two in your wedding best.
Seth swallowed the emotion and grinned. Maki—the man, not the chicken—would approve. His brother was working through his emotions and doing good in the process.
It should probably be weird that he kept in touch with Blake after he’d planned to kill both Seth and Mara, but Seth was glad he’d made the effort.
Mara’s compassion for people must be contagious.
He was glad Maki had been right about his brother. He was a good man.
Seth put the envelope in his suit pocket so he wouldn’t lose it. Mara was using their rooms to get ready with her friends. He and the guys were using the farmhouse.
He’d wanted to be alone when reading Blake’s letter in case there’d been something unexpected inside. Thankfully, the man had taken the second chance and was making his life into something better than it had been.
“You’d be proud of him, Maki.”
Patting his pocket, Seth walked into the kitchen where his friends waited.
Knox, Lawson, Ford, Gray, Nash, and Charlie. All the males living on the No Phailed Apples farm.
A couple of cider bottles sat on the kitchen table, along with enough shot glasses for everyone.
Charlie grinned at Seth when he walked in. “You look different in a suit.”
Seth raised an eyebrow. “So do you.”
Charlie laughed. “It’s weird, but it’s not for long.”
Seth wouldn’t have cared if they wore rags, he just wanted to be married to Mara.
It couldn’t happen soon enough.
Somebody's Getting Married
Mara twirled in her wedding dress, loving the way the material danced around her legs. She’d been a sucker for swirling dresses since she’d seen Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. The library scene in that one was one of her favorites.
The dress she’d chosen for the day didn’t have a hoop skirt or a bustle. She wanted to be free and have fun.
Her friends had put Mara in touch with Nia Alexander-LaChance, a woman from Bloo Moose, Vermont who made wedding dresses from scratch, but who also used bits and pieces of old wedding dresses to combine them into something new.
Mara had video chatted with Nia several times and her dress fulfilled every childhood wish. Layers of swirling skirts, tiny flowers and sparkles sewn into the material. The sleeveless bodice showcased her arms, strong from kneading all that dough. A sweetheart neckline on the bodice had her feeling every bit a bride.
Seth’s bride.
She twirled again at the thought. The sexy, delicious man was about to become her husband.
From a young age, Mara had fallen in love with happy endings, especially those in musicals. She was so happy, she wouldn’t be surprised to see birds sitting on her windowsill, offering to help with her chores.
She stopped twirling in front of the picture of her parents at their wedding. She didn’t have many memories of her mom, but she’d heard hundreds of stories.
Kerry and James Evans had been in love. Happy ever after love. Just like she was with Seth.
Her heart fluttered at the thought of how her mom had died. Their happy ending hadn’t lasted forever.
A knock at the door had her calling out for the person to come in.
Her dad walked in and crossed to where she stood with the framed photo in her hand. He tucked Mara into a hug and traced one finger over the photo. “Hello, Kerry my love.”
Mara’s eyes and throat filled with tears. She battled hard to keep them from falling.
Her dad kissed Mara’s hair. “Your mom would be so proud of the woman you’ve become. She always said you were going to make the world a better place.”
Mara leaned hard into her dad, unable to say a word without breaking into tears.
“Your mom loved watching you become your own person, not an easy task in a house with so many male role models.”
“You were all amazing, especially you. You’re the best dad I could ever have.”
James chuckled and wrapped both arms around her. “Thanks, Mara. I promised your mom I’d do my best to keep you all healthy and strong. That I’d encourage you to follow your own paths. Never expected that would lead to me being able to talk about the differences between a pie and a galette.”
Mara’s laugh was watery and it helped her swallow her tears. “I miss her.”
James nodded. “Me too. Every day, every minute.”
She wanted to ask more but couldn’t find the words. Her dad seemed to know anyway.
“Your mom made me make another promise. To not have any regrets. We had more than twenty years together. Happy years filled with more kids than we’d ever expected. More love and laughter, too.”
James leaned back and waited until Mara looked up at him. “We can’t predict the future, Mara. Enjoy the present, especially today.”
He pulled a long jewelry box out of his pocket. “I gave your mom this bracelet after you were born. We’d decided you’d be our final kid.”
“Didn’t want to go for an even number?”
His laugh boomed and filled her up. “Not a chance. Especially not after she got her princess.”
Mara blinked back more tears.
James opened the box to show a beautiful silver bracelet. Nine birthstones, one for her and each of her brothers.
James set down the box and took out the bracelet. “Kerry loved you all so much but I know she always had a special place in her heart for you, for her sunshine girl.”
He clasped the bracelet around her wrist. “Kerry’s always with you, always that little voice in your heart celebrating your wins and cheering you on. She’d want you to have this to wear for your something old today. And to keep it and pass it along to any little girls who come your way.”
Once she wore the bracelet, she hugged her father. “Thanks Dad. I love it and I love you.”
James swallowed hard. “Love you too, Mara. You’ve got a good man waiting for you out there. What do you say we head out and get you married?”
More I Cannot Wish You
Seth walked through the woods with his friends surrounding him. Vermont in the fall was incredible, but he didn’t want to stop and stroll.
Maybe later with his wife.
They approached Chick Inn Time and his heart rate accelerated. Almost there.
Ford and his brothers had spent the past few days building benches and a wedding arch covered in flowers for the ceremony. They would spread the benches throughout the orchard later, but today they were filled with their friends from Phail and Midnight Lake.
They’d reserved the front benches for the apple farm gang and Mara’s family.
As they arrived, Mara’s brothers stood to shake his hand and then he was hugged by their other friends.
Music drifted through speakers. Mara had made up playlists for the day and he hadn’t been allowed to peek at any of them.
The current music was upbeat and matched his mood. Anticipation of the very best kind.
When it changed, he searched the woods, looking for a glimpse of his bride.
Knox laughed and grabbed his arm. “Patience, Babs. This song is our cue to get to the arch.”
Knox had become an officiant to marry Jolie and Ford. Now, he’d performed the duty for all the couples at the farm, including today.
When he realized what the song was, he laughed. Mara had talked him into watching the Wizard Of Oz a few weeks before. It had been a fun flick and he recognized the munchkin song. “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”
Sure enough, when he searched the woods surrounding Chick Inn Time, he found yellow petals scattered along a path stretching into the woods.
The ladies of the farm soon appeared, all in pretty dresses, Ella Mae leading the way and tossing more petals to the ground.
Once the ladies were seated, the music changed again.
Knox leaned towards him. “Mara left me a list of the songs. This one’s “More I cannot wish you” from Guys and Dolls.”
The lyrics wished a woman would find her own true love.
His woman had a way with songs.
Soon, Mara and James appeared along the yellow petal path in the woods.
The material swirling around her knees made it the sexiest dress he’d ever seen, even though it didn’t show much of her skin.
It was the woman beneath the material who made the dress so sexy. So beautiful.
His.
She was about to be his.
When they reached the front, Seth managed to shake her dad’s hand before grabbing Mara’s. He leaned down and kissed her softly, ignoring the chuckles from Knox and the crowd.
“Hey gorgeous. Want to get our happily ever after started?”
Her smile widened further. “Absolutely.”
Unable to stop himself, he kissed her again. “Let’s do it.”
Apple Of My Eye
Mara wanted to keep kissing Seth, but they needed to get through the ceremony. Then they’d be married.
Married!
When they broke apart, Seth kept her hands in his. “Get on with it, Annie.”
Knox laughed. “Looks like someone is in a hurry to get married. I feel like I’ve seen versions of this movie before.”
The crowd chuckled. Seth wasn’t sure what Knox meant, but he’d ask about that another time when he wasn’t in such a rush.
Knox rubbed his hands together. “Welcome everyone. In a nutshell, we’re here to join Mara and Seth in marriage. Just like peanut butter and jelly go together, our couple here are two peas in a pod.”
Mara couldn’t stop the giggles as the crowd joined in with laughter and groans at Knox’s food puns.
“Apparently a grumpy chef is Mara’s perfect cup of tea. And Mara herself is the apple of Seth’s eye.”
Mara watched Seth’s lips twitch at the words. Knox might tease them, but he’d never cross the line to annoy anyone.
“Seth here tried to be cool as a cucumber, and he’s a tough nut to crack, but he worked hard to butter Mara up, proving he’s one smart cookie.”
Mara didn’t know if all wedding ceremonies were this silly, but it was perfect for them.
“It might be cheesy to say, but Seth and Mara have proven they can have their cake and eat it, too. Now, let’s spice things up and have these two spill the beans on how they feel about each other.”
Mara laughed as Knox gestured at her to say her vows. “You’re a tough act to follow, Knox, so I’ll just speak from my heart.”
She looked to find Seth’s eyes trained on her, love clear in his gaze.
“I grew up with an amazing dad and enough brothers to field a baseball team.”
He grinned at her and she heard the group chuckle.
“I was lucky to be surrounded by so many excellent male role models. When I moved here to Vermont, my confidence was shaken and I wasn’t sure of my place here. Then you walked in the door. With a glance, you noticed every dirty dish and counter.”
He full out grinned at that and kissed her again, murmuring against her lips. “Chaos Machine.”
“Mr. Dirty.” She kept her voice low enough so not even Knox heard the words.
When she spoke again, she had to swallow the emotion. “You’re the only man I’ve met who meets the standard set by my dad and brothers. You’re brave, hard-working, and full of compassion. You make me feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. I love you more than I realized was possible. I promise to love you forever, to be your sous-chef when you need one, and to always, always be at your side. I love you.”
Knox grinned. “See, that was a piece of cake. Your turn, Seth.”
Seth rolled his eyes at his friend, then smiled at her. “I love you, Mara. I don’t have a lot of fancy words, so I’ll just tell you that you make me a better man. Your easy love and compassion for everyone helped me heal, helped me move forward after what happened overseas. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you’re always safe and happy. I’ll love you more tomorrow and the tomorrow after that. Forever, Mara. You’re mine forever.”
The fierceness of his gaze and his words had her lips smiling and her heart filling with love.
Seth lifted her up on her toes and kissed her while Knox laughed. “I’ll put the icing on the cake and pronounce you chef and baker, and husband and wife. Keep on kissing your bride, Babs.”
Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Seth sent wedding pictures of him and Mara to his former team. In them, they were holding Maki and surrounded by the other chickens named after them all.
Many people might think they were nuts, but having the wedding at Chick Inn Time with the representatives of his army team here was exactly right.
Clay responded immediately with a thumbs up and a chicken emoji. Congratulations. Looking good man. Love the tuxedos. You got yourself a winner with Mara. Have fun and we’ll catch up soon.
The other members were out of the country on active missions, so he wouldn’t hear back from them for a while. Might be days depending on their situations.
He should have been envious of them. Seth had been forced out of the job by injury. A job he’d planned to continue for decades.
Now, he couldn’t be further from military action. An apple farm in the middle of Vermont wasn’t something he’d ever thought about, but landing here was the best thing that had happened to him.
Correction. Without the farm, he wouldn’t have found the best thing—the best person—to happen to him.
As if he’d conjured her, Mara’s hand landed on his arm. “Thinking about Maki?”
He nodded. “Just sent off some pictures of us and the hens in our wedding finery.”
Even though the hens were female, they’d bought tiny tuxedo bibs for them for the photos. None of the chickens protested at the costumes and they were hilarious in the pictures.
Mara smiled softly. “I’m looking forward to meeting them in person one day.”
“They want to meet you, too. I’d love them to come up here and meet the gang, see the farm.”
She nodded. “If they all get leave at the same time, we could book rooms at the inn for them and have a reunion.”
The sun hung low in the sky and he knew he had to hang out with the group for a while longer, even though he wanted to take her to their room.
He lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers. “Excellent idea, but I don’t want to think about the guys anymore. Let’s move the party to the inn. That’s one step closer to having my wife all to myself.”
She leaned into the kiss and he lost himself in the sensations until Lawson slapped him on the shoulder. “Keep it PG my friends. Kids are still present.”
Mara laughed, so he didn’t have to kill his buddy for interrupting.
Charlie called out to the group. “The chickens are heading inside. They’re smart enough to know they’re safe inside the coop at night.”
After the birds were secured for the evening, the group wandered back to the inn, following the yellow petals. The romantic lighting of the orchard made Seth want to peel off to find a quiet corner to keep kissing his bride, but Mara had worked hard on the party and he wasn’t depriving her of a single moment.
Inside the inn, the doors between the living area, the dining room, and the porch were all open.
He, Mara, and Gray had decided on finger foods and desserts that were easy to pick up and eat without needing formal seating.
The place was covered in flowers that echoed the deep colors of the autumn leaves outside.
“Do I finally get to see the cupcakes you were decorating earlier?”
Jolie overheard him and grinned. “You sure do. You two wait right here and we’ll bring them out. Face the other way until we tell you to turn.”
He wondered what Mara had concocted for the decorations.
It took six of their friends to bring out all the platters. Seth tucked Mara under his arm, unable to keep his hands off her.
When they were told to turn, he wasn’t sure which platter to look at first.
Some of the cupcakes were decorated with tiny apples made of frosting on the top.
Others showcased each of the animals on the property, from Fritter to Boomer and the ducks. Even dragons and brucans from Olivia’s books.
There were also chicken cupcakes. All decorated to match their chickens. It was easy to spot Maki at the center of the group.
In the middle of the display, there were also two cupcakes with a bride and groom on the top, looking remarkably like the two of them.
Seth turned to wrap Mara completely in his arms. “You’re incredible. These are amazing.”
Charlie bounced nearby. “Can we try them? I’m hungry.”
Olivia laughed. “You’re always hungry.”
Which was true. The kid had put on at least five inches since Seth had arrived on the farm a few months before.
Esme handed them the bridal cupcakes. “Let’s get a few pictures of you with those. We’ve taken lots of photos of them on the platters, but we need pics of them with their namesakes.”
After the photos, Gray called out. “Okay, we’re going to do a toast with cupcakes. Everyone take one, but don’t eat them yet. Not even you, Charlie.”
Everyone laughed and soon everyone had selected their favorite cupcake, with Ella Mae choosing one that looked like her Oggie.
Esme set up a tripod with a camera on a timer and had everyone gather around him and Mara.
Knox called out. “Don’t be the bad apple that spoils the photo. Everyone, say cupcakes!”
They toasted with their cupcakes and he pulled Mara to him. They took a bite and he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Delicious, but I’m looking forward to tasting you more.”
Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
Mara had danced with everyone, but her eyes rarely strayed from Seth. Her husband—her husband!—was gorgeously sexy and she wanted him to herself.
Her brother Tate grinned down at her. “You’ve got yourself a good one, Mara.”
She nodded at her brother. “I do.”
“It surprises the hell out of me, but this place fits you. Both of you.”
She grinned. “At first, it was a place to escape, but it’s so much more than that. I think Fate had a little hand in getting me here.”
Tate rolled his eyes. “Or maybe that was Ford.”
She laughed, something she’d been doing all day. She was giddy with happiness and hope for the future.
The song finished and the next one cued up. “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked.
Seth strode up and twirled her away from her brother and into his arms. Exactly where she wanted to be.
Even while he led her through the dance, he leaned down to kiss her. “You ready to ditch the party?”
“So ready.”
His grin turned predatory and he led her in a couple of speedy twirls across the makeshift dance floor. When he swooped her up into his arms, there was a cheer and the music changed again.
“Follow the Yellow Brick Road” came on. The group sang along, but changed the lyrics, telling them to follow the pink petal road instead.
Sure enough, there was a trail of pink petals on the floor. Laughing, Seth turned her so they faced the group. “We’re out, thanks everyone.”
Mara waved. “Thank you. This has been wonderful. I love you all.”
She wasn’t sure they heard the last of it because Seth had turned and swung into the kitchen where the path of pink petals led through the next door and into their rooms.
Seth stopped at the threshold. “I love you, Mara. Let’s take this step and start the rest of our lives.”
Her eyes misted, but her smile held them at bay. “I love you so much, Seth. Can you believe we’re married?”
His grin widened. “I’m the luckiest man on earth, Mara. I can’t wait to show you how much I love you.”
He carried her over the threshold and into their living space. Someone had been inside, draping the lamps with sheer fabric to light the room romantically. More pink petals led to the bistro table holding a champagne buckets, flutes, and a selection of treats including her fritters.
Seth wandered the space with her cradled in his arms. His stride didn’t have the slightest hitch, not even after all the dancing.
Candles lit the bathroom and bedroom, more petals spread for them. “We have very good friends.”
She nodded. “We do, this is beautiful and romantic. And completely unnecessary as all I need for romance is you.”
His arms tightened on her. “Same, but why don’t we grab the champagne anyway.”
He set her on her feet and popped the cork, then poured while the background music changed to “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree”, the same song that Amber used for the inn’s door chime.
Seth handed her a champagne flute and toasted her. “To you, Mara, the only one I want to sit under the apple tree with. The only one I want to spend my life with.”
She tapped his flute with hers. “To you, my husband. My forever love.”
After a sip, Seth set down his flute and led her into another dance. The music changed again. The slow and sexy beat of “Lost and Found” from City Of Angels filled the space. A perfect song. She’d felt so lost when she’d arrived here in Vermont, then she’d found her footing. Better she’d found her hope and her future all wrapped up in this man.
Seth danced them into the bedroom and stopped beside the bed. “This sexy dress has driven me wild all day. The way it swirls around those stunning legs, the way it shows off your arms and clings to your breasts. I think I’ll start there.”
He leaned down and licked along the edge of the bodice, down to the valley between her breasts. Her already fired-up system nearly exploded.
With a chuckle, Seth caught her flute and set it down. His hands drifted to the zipper of the dress while his tongue drove her wild.
When the dress fell to the floor, he scooped it up and laid it reverently over the back of a chair. Then he turned back to her and his eyes flared. “Holy shit, Mara.”
The exorbitant cost of the lingerie was worth every penny. Heat flared between them and her entire body shivered at the look in his eyes.
He closed the distance and traced a soft finger over the lace. He walked around her slowly, only touching her with that one finger as he followed the edges of the lace and the tiny straps connecting the pieces.
Her core liquified and then her bones followed.
Seth stopped in front of her again and used both hands to cup her breasts. She leaned into his touch, desperate for more. For it all.
He put his mouth on the shell of her ear. “I love the look, and I’m going to spend long minutes tasting every part of you while you’re wearing it. I wonder how many orgasms you can have before I cave and slam into you.”
She whimpered and swayed into him.
“Then I’m going to uncover your gorgeous body one slow inch at a time, and we’ll do it all over again.”
“Show me.”
He lowered his mouth to hers. “My pleasure, Chaos Machine, my pleasure.”
And it was hers, too.
Then they lived happily ever after.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this bonus scene to the Heroes To The Core small-town romance series!
The next book in the series is Pick Your Moment spotlighting Wyatt and Esme.
