Page 16 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

She laughed and shook her head "You can’t possibly giveonfor you to wear to bed on our wedding night"

"Aw, that’s very sweet"

He pulled a small box out of his pocket He popped it open to display a pair of diaown?" she asked

"We have absolutely no need for a nightgown Just these"

She pulled her earrings out of her ears and began inserting the diamond studs "There are a bunch of Coast Guard down there as well as ht be very late before you get to fully appreciate these earrings"

"No, it won’t," he said "I don’t care howto escape and lock the door Spencer and Landon have charge of Austin Carrie, Gina, Mac and Rawley have charge of the party They’re under orders--shut it down before dawn"

"Dawn?" she asked with a laugh

He lifted her chin and put a soft kiss on her lips "I want everyone to reht as much as I will" He put out a crooked arm "Come on, Mrs Cooper Let’s tie the knot And start our new lives"

She slipped her ar the bar, Cooper stopped and flipped the lights on the deck on and off a few tied abruptly and the band began to play "The Way You Look Tonight" As they descended the stairs to the beach, their guests applauded There were a fehistles and catcalls as well, h

And then they stood in front of the floral arch, facing the preacher in the Hawaiian shirt and ponytail The young man said a feords about coed, promises made, and then, per Sarah’s request, a Native A

And then Cooper was invited to kiss his wife and the beach calass as were Cooper and Sarah There was no elaborate toast, just a brief salute to Mr and Mrs Henry Cooper and followed by many a "Hear! Hear!" And then the funky little band ed men broke into "I’ne corks

While Sarah and Cooper stood in front of the arch, there were the flashes of caratulate the line was exhausted, Sarah and Cooper were first in the buffet line A neat stack of beach blankets were stacked at each end of the long serving table and Cooper handed a plate to Sarah, grabbing a blanket at the same time He spread it on the sand near the bottom of the stairs to the deck and soon others joined them, while still others continued to stand or spread their blankets on the other side of the band A group of eight or ten teenagers including Landon and Eve took their blankets and set up some distance away from their parents and elders Gina and Mac ended up beside the to corral Austin as well as a couple of plates of food, Cooper motioned them over to join their party

Not everyone needed blankets--there were several rocks and driftwood trunks scattered around that uests had enjoyed the food, the dancing began--e of thirty The ers’ style at all Cooper’s mom and dad twirled around the sand a little bit and once the eating was mostly done, Cooper took his wife onto the outdoor dance floor

Cooper didn’t have possession of her for long--her USCG friends and coworkers were present and wouldn’t let her rest

After dancing with his ratefully returned to the blanket, sitting down beside Spencer He noticed that Austin had already abandoned theuess you couldn’t convince Rawley to coht," Spencer said

"Not a chance I’ that identifies hi party But have fun? Never" Cooper laughed "He’s a cautionary tale," Cooper said, nodding at thetable "He’s exactly what I was destined to becoood party," Spencer said "You should do beach parties regularly, even when you’re not getting married"

"Makes sense," he said "I have to hand it to Carrie--she sure can pull a party together under difficult circuet that band?"

"They’re a bunch of local guys One’s a mailman, one’s a crabber and I don’t knoho the third one is Not exactly American Bandstand, but you can’t coht?"

"If you like ballroom music"

"Get out there, Spencer," Cooper said "Wrap your ar soft Give Sarah a whirl, because after tonight you can’t touch her"

Again Spencer laughed, shaking his head "Yeah, I think I’ll just enjoy the view"

"Looks like the new doc is circling a target," Cooper said He nodded toward the other side of the bandstand to where Scott Grant reclined on a beach blanket and Devon was kneeling in front of hih

Spencer had seen theether They ca hi him to people he hadn’t yet ether