Betting on Love (19 page)

Not wanting to stink, she decided to take her chances on smelling like a man and sprayed a little on.
Maybe he’ll think it’s just from working with the guys all day.

As presentable as she could get herself, she folded the coveralls over her arm and walked back into the living area. He smiled at her and winked. “Much better.”

He sniffed the air. “Do I smell my deodorant?”

Warmth raced up her neck, and she shrugged. “At least I don’t stink.”

Drew smacked his leg, bent back his head, and laughed. “Melody Markwell, I really did miss you this week.”

She laid the coveralls on the back of one of the wooden chairs around the dining room table. She loved how the house was so open. He’d made it so the living room and dining room and kitchen all shared one big area. The house was small, but the design made it seem so much bigger. “Do I still get a tour of the house?”

“Absolutely.” He stood, and she followed him down the hall. He pointed to the first door on the right. “You’ve already seen the bathroom.” He opened the second door on the right. “This is the guest bedroom.” She nodded at the room painted a plain white with nothing more than a bed and dresser inside. It definitely looked like a guy had decorated it, but then she liked simple. But maybe not that simple.

He turned and opened the door on the left. “Here’s the master.”

Not sure she felt comfortable going into his bedroom, she just peeked inside. Again, he didn’t have pictures or any decorations, only a huge bed, dresser, and armoire that held a TV. But just as she’d envisioned and suggested, he’d put in french doors along the back wall. The simple brown curtains were open, and she could see they opened up to an enormous deck that was probably only twenty yards from the pond. “It’s beautiful, Drew.”

“Thanks. It means a lot to me that you feel that way.”

A sudden wave of emotion washed over her. She stepped away from the door and walked back down the hall and into the living area. She looked back at the puzzled expression on his face, but unable to talk without crying, she walked outside the door.

She stared up at the sky. The sun still shone bright, and it was still hot and humid. Her stomach growled again, and she patted it to be quiet.
I love him, Lord. I love him. I want to tell him, but… seeing his house—I could imagine it being our house, his and mine.

“Melody, what’s wrong?” Drew stepped out onto the front porch.

Still unable to say anything, she sat on one of the porch swings and started to rock. She tried to look up at him and grew flustered again. She stood up and grabbed one of the poles and gazed at the wooded area in the front of his house.

“Melody?”

She smacked her hip. “Who would have ever thought I’d be so nervous?”

“Why would you be nervous?”

She spread open her arms and smacked them down on her thighs. “Because I love you. I love that you’re God-fearing. I love that you’re hardworking. I love that you’re competitive, and that you’re protective, and that you’re my very best friend. I love the way you get sunburned along the base of your hair every time you get a haircut. I love—”

Drew wrapped his arms around her, and before she could say another word, he pressed his lips against hers. She inhaled and closed her eyes at his sweet touch. Feeling weak, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled away, looked at her lips, then kissed her again, then again. She giggled when he pressed his lips to hers a fourth time.

“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to do that.”

Melody unwrapped her arms then placed her hands on her hips. “I think you just wanted to kiss me before I kissed you.”

He cupped her cheeks with his hands and kissed her again. “You’re right about that.”

He pulled her close to his chest and wrapped his arms around her back. She felt another soft kiss on the top of her head before he released her enough to lift her chin so that he could look into her eyes. “I love you, Melody.” She lifted her eyebrows and smirked. “I said it first.”

“But I kissed you first.”

“Oh yeah, well—well…” She searched her brain for a comeback. “Well, I’m going to ask you to marry me first.”

“Oh no you’re not.”

Melody gasped when Drew pulled a small box out of his front shirt pocket. He bent down on one knee and took her hand in his. “Melody, I’ve been carrying this ring around with me for a month. I knew one day God would show me when I could give it to you.”

Her heart beat so fast she thought it would take flight and soar out of her chest. He opened the box, and she gazed at the gorgeous marquis diamond. It was simple, just like her. It was perfect. “I love you, Melody. Will you marry me?”

Her hand trembled as he touched the ring to her fingertip. Unable to speak, she nodded, and he pushed it all the way up her finger.

A sudden wave of excitement surged through her, and she flung herself into him for a big hug. He lost his balance and fell backward. She toppled toward him, and they bopped heads.

He sat up and rubbed the place that was already turning red. “So this is how it’s going to be?”

She laughed as she felt to see if she, too, had a bump forming. With her other hand she punched his arm. “Every day.”

He reached over and pinched her nose. “I’ll take it.”

May

Drew could hardly wait for the wedding to just start already. He’d been waiting all morning to get the thing going, and he was just about to lose his patience. He didn’t care about all this fancy dressing up and the pink and yellow flowers and the white lace and whatever
else
they decorated the church with. Now the food afterward, he was okay with
that
part of this whole wedding gig. But all the froufrou stuff—he just wanted to make Melody his wife.

He already knew her long dark hair fell like perfect waves all the way down her back when she didn’t knot it up in a ponytail. He already knew her eyes were the deepest, darkest brown he’d ever seen and that he could get lost in them. He knew she had the prettiest lips of any woman he’d ever known, and that she had a tiny, yet remarkably strong frame.

He didn’t need to have a big old fancy wedding.

The music started. Finally. He cleared his throat and lifted his shoulders. At least she wasn’t going to make him wait too awfully long to see her since she’d decided to just have Addy and Gracie as bridesmaids. It broke his heart that her mom said she couldn’t make it to the wedding. He still hadn’t met her in person, but he and Melody continued to pray for her every night.

Addy walked toward them first, and Drew blew out his breath. His sister had told them last night at the rehearsal that she and Nick were expecting their first child in six months. He snuck a peek at Nick. He’d always heard that women glowed when they were pregnant, but it was Nick doing the glowing. He shrugged. He supposed it would be nice to have a little niece or nephew.

Gracie walked down next. She was huge with her second child. She looked like she was going to pop at any moment, but God answered Melody’s prayers with a yes. She’d prayed every day for months that her friend would wait until after the wedding to go into labor. And she had. Although if Drew were a betting man, and Melody told him she’d wring his neck if he did any more of that, he’d wager that Gracie would have that baby before they got back from their honeymoon. That had actually become Melody’s new prayer, as she wanted her to wait until they got back.

Drew shook his head. Melody would be appearing next. He already knew she was beautiful. He’d tried to be supportive about the whole wedding bit, but if he’d had his way, they’d have been married the day after he proposed. And she could have worn her coveralls for all he cared.

The wedding march sounded, and everyone in the church stood. Melody and Roy moved from behind the left wall and into the center aisle.

Drew sucked in his breath. He couldn’t remember how to let it out. She was an angel. She was amazing. Gorgeous. Stunning. Her long white dress didn’t have any sleeves at all. It was simple, but it hugged her body to perfection, and Drew felt light-headed that she was the woman God had given him to marry. A see-through material hung from the top of her head all the way down her back.

That beautiful hair of hers was all tied up in knots at the top of her head, but she had curls that framed her face and fell along her shoulders. But it was her eyes and her smile that absolutely blew him away. She looked at him as if he’d made her the happiest woman in the world.

He felt humbled that Melody would love a man like him.
God, You’re too good to me.

She and Roy finally reached him at the altar, and Drew took her hands in his. The ceremony went by so fast that Drew could hardly remember anything he said. The beauty of his bride and the fact that she’d allow him to be her husband mesmerized him. The only words he’d heard were “I do.” They were the two best words he’d ever heard in his life.

“You may kiss your wife,” the pastor said, and Drew’s chest puffed up so full he thought it would burst.

He’d promised himself that he wouldn’t embarrass her with a long, drawn-out kiss in front of all their family and friends. Her gaze was glued to his as he bent down and lightly touched her lips with his. He smiled and stood to his full height.

“Oh, I don’t think that’s good enough, buddy,” Melody whispered. Gripping his shirt with her right hand, she pulled him down to her and kissed him with everything in her. Drew felt woozy when she let him go, and again he inwardly praised God for having this woman to deal with.

The pastor coughed back a chuckle. “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Drew and Melody Wilson.” She squealed when Drew lifted her into his arms and carried her down the aisle. He could hardly wait to take her home.

He placed her on her feet at the front door of the church so they could shake hands with everyone as they left. Leaning over, he whispered, “I love you, Mrs. Wilson.”

She lifted her chin and kissed his lips quickly. “I love you, Mr. Wilson.” She kissed him again.

He growled. “You know I expect a lot of those tonight.”

She cocked her head and smirked. “Betcha I can give you more kisses than you give me.”

Excited anticipation filled him. “Now that’s a bet I’d like to make.”

To New Hope Baptist Church in Versailles, Kentucky. You have been Albert’s and my church family since we were newlyweds (as you know, we were still babies ourselves). You have loved us through all of life’s ups and downs. I am so thankful to know each and every one of you. I love you all so much. God is so good!

A note from the Author:

I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:

Jennifer Johnson
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683

JENNIFER JOHNSON
and her unbelievably supportive husband, Albert, are happily married and raising Brooke, Hayley, and Allie, the three cutest young ladies on the planet. Besides being a middle school teacher, Jennifer loves to read, write, and chauffeur her girls. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Blessed beyond measure, Jennifer hopes to always think like a child—bigger than imaginable and with complete faith. Send her a note at
[email protected]
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