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"Regardless, this is not a convenient time Perhaps next Sunday would be better" She sniffed and smoothed her skirts to appear unaffected I knew otherwise

I only arched a brow at her dictate and leaned my head down so only she could hear "Do you want to tell the reverend about the time you cornered me in the coat closet, or should I? How about when you accidentally spilled the water pitcher on your white blouse?" It was blackmail of the lowest for enough to make her mine

I heard her sharp intake of breath and watched her give Reverend Abernathy a furtive glance "You wouldn't" Her voice hissed out with her usual snap of anger

I bent at the waist so ere eye level Her pale blue gaze ary, fearful, yet still defiant The rooation, as they no doubt watched our exchange, wondering ould ee triumphant "It doesn't rinned "We can stand up and getof your forays, or we can just keep that to ourselves It's your choice"

Her fullI enjoyed watching her clever ood and trapped "Very well, but I don't have to like it Or you"

"You don't have to like it, but it'll sure be more enjoyable for you if you do"

With those words I stood up to ht and held out a bent arm for her to take The whole town had turned out to fill the back pews My brother, Jake, and his wife, Catherine, sat in the front with my cousin Grant and his wife, Maura Across the aisle sat Mr and Mrs Bowers and their oldest daughter, Henrietta, and husband Sheriff MacKenzie leaned against one wall toward the back and gave rin Adam Graham, the town doctor, stood with him

Tessa placed her dainty hand at my elbow and we stepped up to the altar I could have sworn I heard Mr Bowers sigh in relief

Reverend Abernathy sious portion of the service was quickly acco wo the altar were diminished if the service itself was kept brief So within minutes, I lowered my head to kiss my bride for the first time

r /> I felt her intake of breath, watched her eyelids flutter closed She did not resist; she'd been wanting ally mine, I could Her full lips were soft, warm and pliant I didn't know if it was her first kiss or if she'd practiced with another, but she oefully lacking in skill, yet it was so I looked forward to iation applauded I couldn't help but grin, pleased that Tessa was now ht I'd been kicked in the head by a horse to take on Tessa Bowers There was so unbelievably beautiful and soft beneath her uppity manner, and I aimed to see more of it

Soation stood and left, while others reave hter and her husband It appeared Mrs Boould stay as fae ceremony

Tessa turned toward the steps as if to depart While her eagerness to leave with ht have been mine now in the eyes of God, but she needed to be corked for me to claim her in the eyes of the town, and in my eyes as well

Reverend Abernathy raised his eyebrows in silent question and I nodded A week earlier, my brother Jake hadat the wedding I, however, had no such intentions The ht side of the altar He often stood behind it to give his sermons, but it held another use for occasions such as this

"We're not done, darlin','" I told Tessa

She glanced up at ave her hand a little tug and pulled her over to the bar