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He shook his head "Only about whether I can make you happy"

"You can’t make me happy, Alex Not any more than I can make you happy We have to want to be happy"

He nodded "I know"

"Do you think I don’t want to be happy?" she asked

The waitress arrived with their food and placed it before them Alex thanked her, and when she left, he turned his attention to the food

"I didn’t say that," he said, pushing her plate toward her and reaching for his coffee "I said I know That’s all"

The rest of the ht conversation about the weather, the clinic, the anie When he took her home, they didn’t kiss He simply squeezed her hand and said he would see her in a few hours Maybe he was getting nervous because he had been this close to getting married once before and she si to happen this time He probably knew that, but that wouldn’t stop hi anxious about it On the other hand, hadn’t his ‘appoint to talk to her about last chances been indication enough that he was anxious?

The next few hours were spent getting ready It was as if she suddenly awoke fro to wipe theat Katie in thedress, Car this way, I’et dehydrated"

Katie looked up at her in thethe dress

"I wondered if you were ever going to get nervous I guess that answers od At least now I know you’re noret you to put that in writing?" She looked down at her dress as she continued

"Alex tookto ask if I really wanted to do this I wondered if he wanted to back out, but he said he didn’t"

Katie patted her shoulder

"I wouldn’t think anything about it If I had his history, I’d be nervous about the bride’s intentions on this day too"

Carhtened her skirt and surveyed the overall effects in the mirror

"All of the sudden I feel overwhele Do you think she did too?"

Katie’s laugh was hu a star When the opportunity presented itself, she grabbed it I don’t think she had a responsible bone in her body"

"Why did Alex pick someone like that? It seeed "Who knows? I couldn’t figure out his fascination with her at the tireat lover he was – like I wanted to know," she added sarcastically

Carmen felt the flush start up her neck It wasn’t the kind of information she wanted to hear at the h to be re reminded she had none But there was always a first tie Whatever his ranking of lover, Alex at least knew she was inexperienced, so hopefully he wouldn’t be expecting too ood sex fro with her dress and her full attention riveted on Car if that’s why he wants to marry you?"

The flush made its way to her cheeks "No Not really Soh"

Katie s about that"

Car So is Josh"

"Well, you’re the one who put that thought in his head I wonder how it’s going to work out sos, but you were always soseton children being a part of your future As for Josh, he’s still hoping you’ll change your mind"

"Why? He’s et UNmarried, you know"

"He wouldn’t do that What about Lori? He wouldn’t leave her like that"

Katie let out a long sigh "Everybody isn’t as honorable as you, Carmen If you were suddenly available, he’d drop her like a used rag I’d keep that inmore about it Josh wouldn’t do that to Lori He wasn’t like thatwas he? What about all the tiood, or his? No, he wouldn’t do that

Tian to race It see the last minute checks before she walked down the isle

"Where’s your veil?" Katie asked anxiously

"I don’t want to wear it," Carmen said "He knohat I look like I don’t need to hide my face"

"Oh for" Katie said with exasperation in her tone "For once, just follow tradition and look like a normal bride Where’s the veil?"

"On the table - in there" Carmen pointed to the next room

Katie dashed off and was back seconds later, frantically pushing it firmly into place The music started as Katie pulled the veil forward

Carh the door and Mr Reynolds took her ar

"Beautiful," heisle with everyone watching It would have been inti next to Bill Her gaze focused on Alex The warmth in his eyes drew her to hi the bride and Mr Reynolds said he was That over with, he left Caran, "We welcoe of Alexander Matthew Barnett and Carmen Natalie Pulock" The rest of the ser of vows

As the reverend quoted the vows to them, he turned to Carmen

"Do you promise to love, honor and obey?"

Carmen stared at him mutely Obey? They didn’t say that anylanced up at Alex His startled look re for her answer Alex lifted a brow

"Do you promise to love, honor and cherish?" the reverend amended

"I do," she said quickly

The solemn moment was broken with a snicker that went around the room

When the reverend announced that Alex could kiss the bride, he wasted no time He put an arm around her waist and pulled her to hiroceries after waiting a long time in line to pay for them She barely had time to lift the veil before he took possession of her lips as well It was a war as snickers and giggles cauests Alex had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that toyed with the smile on his lips Carmen and Alex turned to face the others as the reverend introduced Mr and Mrs Alex Barnett It was surreal They were actually ed indelibly with his

Katie whisked them away to the reception room Tables were covered hite linen table cloths and adorned with violet colored napkins inside light gray napkin holders The wedding cake rose gracefully in three tiers, graced with crystal staircases and small cakes on either side The cake topper was a si flowers spilled gracefully down the srape vines and forget- pictures

By the ti fro her hand steady as she cut the first piece of cake Amid jokes about his skill with a knife, they shared bites and endured ave no indication Hopefully they were unaware of her discoe clothes and go ho for her in the other roo so that they could enjoy their honeyether withoutand congratulations diverted their attention fro, she hadaway passion and desire Now there were few lily, the idea wasMaybe it was because always before she could stop him at will Now she would have no excuse If he wanted to take her hoht to bed, it was acceptable In fact, that was probably what he had inon a plane wouldn’t have ht now But then, eventually the day would end, and they would have their first night together Putting it off for a few hours wouldn’t be much help