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Zeke took another heavy breath, building his courage. “Ember, I l-love you with all of my h-h-heart. You kn-know that. T-two years ago I gave you an en-en-en-en,” he stopped to take a breath and get the word lined up in his head. “Engagement ring, but I didn’t follow through. We’ve been b-b-busy, granted, but you deserve m-m-more than that. You deserve an occasion d-d-devoted completely to you. Tonight is that occasion.”
She blinked her big, dark eyes, looking shocked. “I don’t understand.”
Zeke smiled at her, and dropped a kiss to her lips. “Ember Norton, will you marry me?”
She smiled even as she kissed him. “You know I will, silly. I already said I would.”
“T-tonight?”
She blinked in shock, her mouth falling open. “What?”
“Will you marry me tonight?” he said, determined.
“Zeke,” she said slowly, “It’s Christmas. I don’t think…”
“It’s a perfect time to get married,” he told her, heading off her argument. “Everyone is in Denver, already.”
She blinked, her eyes widening. “They stayed over for my wedding?”
He nodded, and her chin quivered. “Are we really doing this?” she whispered, then looked down at herself. “I’m seriously underdressed…”
“Are you saying you’ll marry me tonight?”
She burst out laughing, even as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Yes, you crazy man! I will marry you tonight!”
Zeke hoisted her in his arms and spun her around. There was a roar from inside the building, and people started flowing out. When Ember saw the men in tuxes and the women in their long dresses, she broke into sobs. “You all did this for me?”
Willow and Shannon came to her, wrapping her in their arms. Willow produced tissues from somewhere, and stuffed them into Ember’s hands. “You need to clean up, woman! You’re getting married in less than an hour and a half!”
Ember gasped, looking at Zeke. “Wait, what? So soon? I need a dress.”
“There are dresses for you inside. We’ve taken care of everything.”
* * *
Ember was swamped by joy and concern and fear. Too many emotions, but so far joy was at the top of the list. She knew Zeke had been planning something, but she certainly hadn’t expected this… She’d thought he was getting her a big present. Not a damn wedding!
She looked at the women before her, and their mates behind them. It was everyone she would have picked. It was obvious Willow was the maid of honor, and Shannon, Lora, Diego’s wife Lily, Duncan’s wife Alex and Cat Harper were bridesmaids.
Ember looked at Shannon. “I’m flabbergasted.”
Shannon grinned. “That was the point! We did question him about it, though.”
“Leave it to Zeke…” she murmured.
“Well, not to interrupt your happy bubble, but we have some practical things to do, like get you in a dress.”
Ember nodded, and let herself be propelled toward the front door of the Black Orchid. She had a death grip on Zeke’s hand, and she nodded as the women chatted in front of her, though she couldn’t have said what they were actually talking about. Then the crowd parted, and she got the first glimpse of her wedding venue.
“Oh…my…gosh… Zeke,” she breathed.
It was like he’d walked into her mind and plucked out all the favorite pieces of her daydreams. Yes, she lived in one of the snowiest cities in the world, but she loved winter, and the look of everything covered in snow. Zeke had recreated that here, with crystals and fabric and subtle twinkle fairy lights. There was an arch of frosted trees at the front of the room, where they would exchange vows. It was a twilight dream, and she felt tears filling her eyes again.
“You like it?” Zeke asked, and she could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
“I absolutely love it. I could not have done better. Seriously.”
Zeke grinned, his scarred face lightening. “I thought so, but I wanted to be sure.”
