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It wasn’t until he’d unlocked the door and pulled it open, a difficult task with her still in his arrabbed the doorjamb “Stop”

He groaned, and she giggled

“What?” he asked

“I don’t have any shoes on”

“I’ll carry you the entire way”

He didn’t, at her insistence, for she wasn’t gettingfooted However, she didn’t make him put her down until they entered the shop across the street, where the wo suit fit, and told Millie about the low on his cheeksyet another pair of boots Seth bought for her, she ran with hi to the church, hand in hand, laughing all the way

The preacher was there, as was his wife, and in a private ceremony that Millie knew she’d hold as one of her most treasured memories until she was too old to remember, Seth and she became husband and wife She cried when Seth vowed his love, and when he slipped the bride’s necklace over her head But when he slid a ring on her finger, a sweet sob locked itself in her throat and remained there

Afterward, while returning to the hotel, she held her hand up, stared at how the sun glistened in the jewels “It’s theI’ve ever seen”

“You are theher temple as they walked

She leaned against hihtened around her waist “I’ll treasure it forever”

“I’ll treasure you forever”

“You’re silly,” she whispered

“No, I’m in love And happier than I’ve ever been”

She stepped in front of hiainst his cheek “Me, too”

He kissed her then, in that all-consu he would To the point she barely recognized that halfway through his kiss he’d scooped her up and started walking again

She rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her through the hotel lobby and up the stairs, and laughed aloud when he plopped her onto the bed

“Finally,” he growled

She giggled and then held her ar the door