Page 43

FAITH

W eddings never appealed to me. The pompous pageantry of most of the ones I’d felt obligated to attend in Miami felt superficial and stale.

But Corinne and Trevor’s impromptu ceremony was nothing like those.

The majestic lighthouse towered behind us, rising from the crystal clear turquoise water toward the clear blue sky in the golden-hour light.

Coulter and I stood hand in hand on the Paradise Key shuttle boat, watching Corinne walk down the short aisle to the stern. Trevor beamed with pride beneath an arch of white lilies and roses as his bride approached.

Eighteen boats were rafted together around us, but the other guests had piled onto those directly tied to the ceremony boat. So everyone could see how gorgeous Corinne was in her simple-but-elegant white dress and bare feet. Everything about this wedding was perfect.

The wedding march song blasted over powerful speakers and all eyes were on the barefoot bride.

My heart swelled when my new friend smiled at me as she passed.

We were both new to the close-knit Rodman clan, and we’d bonded more than I could have imagined.

I admired Corinne’s practicality in planning such a down-to-earth and joyous ceremony, and helping her had been a great honor.

A fantasy vision of Corinne, standing alongside Laura as my bridesmaids someday, surprised me as she took her place across from Trevor. Everyone called him Trouble, but as far as I could tell, he was as good a man as his older brother that stood clutching my hand. And Corinne was a lucky woman.

The billionaire owner of the Paradise Key Resort, and owner of the boat where we stood, Clifton Barnes, had gotten an online certification to officiate the wedding. Corinne’s brother, Hayden, stood with their proud parents, across from her best friend and Hayden's fiancé, Violet, beaming.

Feeling part of this extended family was such a stark difference to just a couple of months earlier when I first met Coulter and felt like a complete outsider in the community I’d made my home.

Hayden got emotional from the start, his voice cracking in the first sentence.

“We’re gathered here today to witness something I never thought I’d see: my favorite marine biologist, my favorite human, Corinne Kincaid, met her match.

” He paused, catching his breath after his voice went shaky.

“I must say I feel a bit snubbed when she turned down my offer to host her wedding on Paradise Key. But Corinne had a different vision for their nuptials. No matter how I pleaded, she was intent on this unconventional ceremony out on the reef.”

The bride and groom both chuckled as he continued.

“It’s fitting, of course. The reef is where they met, and it’s the place that both of these warriors fight to protect.

” Clifton nodded proudly between them, letting out a chuckle.

“If anyone can handle Corinne’s strong will, it’s Trevor.

It brings me great joy to be the one standing before them as they exchange their vows. ”

Clifton passed the microphone to Trevor. Corinne handed her bouquet to her best friend, Violet, who looked like she was about to cry. Trevor took her hand, looking into her eyes as he began.

“They say opposites attract. Somehow I managed to fall in love with the person who hates fishermen the most. And somehow, you loved me back,” Trevor said, his voice trembling.

“Together we discovered that we weren’t so different after all.

Everything we hold dear is actually the same.

Our love for the ocean. Our love for these islands.

But most importantly, our love for our families and friends.

They are all probably as surprised as we are that we’re standing here today.

” Chuckles wafted from the neighboring boats.

“I can’t blame them. I know I don’t deserve you.

But now that I have you, I promise, I will never let you go.

Challenge every position I take, please.

It makes me question my resolve. Push back when I dig my heels in, and make me consider your perspective.

It makes me a better man. And I promise you, Corinne, with our family and friends as my witness, and my mother Ellie smiling down from Heaven, that I will spend the rest of my days being the best husband I can be to you.

I will honor you above all others, cherish you with all of my heart, and love you from the depths of my soul. ”

Choking back tears, I squeezed Coulter’s hand as Trevor passed the microphone to Corinne.

“I thought the universe must have a sense of humor when it made me fall in love with a fisherman.” Corinne laughed through tears.

“It made me question all my beliefs. Which was exactly what I needed,” her voice quivered, and her eyes as blue as the sky sparkled as she looked at Trevor with pure love.

“Before I met you, I saw the world as black and white. But you taught me that there’s a whole spectrum, and life is better lived in full color.

You, Trevor Rodman, are the most amazing man I have ever known, and I’m so proud to become your wife.

I promise to be the wind in your sails, gently driving you toward your dreams. To be your ballast in rough waters, and your anchor in every storm, for the rest of my days. ”

My heart melted and Corinne beamed as she passed the mic to Clifton.

“Do you, Trevor, take Corinne to be your lawfully wedded wife, ‘til death do you part?”

“I do,” Trevor said, smiling into his bride’s eyes as he slipped a platinum band over her finger.

“Do you, Corinne, take Trevor to be your lawfully wedded husband, ‘til death do you part?”

“I do,” she said with the biggest smile, sliding his ring on.

My throat clenched as I tried to swallow down the tears before they could spring forth. Witnessing two souls pledge to support one another into eternity had never touched me so much. Gasps, whistles and cheers erupted from the neighboring boats.

Spencer’s shoulders shook as he choked back tears.

Despite the explosive jubilation around us, the words ‘til death do you part echoed in my mind with an eerie insistence.

Death had parted Spencer from his beloved, and yet he was still here, surrounded by so much love. From darkness had sprung this light.

But then I wondered…was it my guilt that Kylie’s death was what had brought me and Coulter together, that was tugging at my heart so insistently?

A tear trickled down my cheek. Coulter scooped me up in his arms.

“You alright?” he asked, his brow wrinkling with concern.

“Just a little emotional,” I said, dabbing the moisture from my eyes. “People cry at weddings, you know?”

Coulter pulled me into his side. “The opposites attract part hit home for you too?”

I smiled up into his hazel eyes. “Something like that,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I’ll be right back.” I rushed off to help Violet make sure the champagne and glasses were distributed for a sunset toast to the newlyweds.

At least another hundred guests were waiting on the dock when we returned, cheering for Trevor and Corinne when they stepped off the boat as husband and wife. So, even though we arrived on the first boat back, the party had already started for those who had missed the nuptials.

It was quite the operation getting everyone unloaded at the dock, but it went like clockwork. The band started up just as the last guests stepped off of the boat, playing Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love. ”

When I spotted Violet heading for the tiki hut, I told Coulter I needed to be sure the buffet is set up. “I’ll be back in a bit,” I said, kissing his cheek.

The buffet dinner was exquisite, and the three open bars made sure everyone was happy.

Coulter’s buddies' band rocked the night away. Trevor left the dance floor, sweaty and beaming, and found me talking to Violet. “Have you guys seen Coulter? Adam wants him to join in for a song.”

He’d wandered off a few minutes earlier. “I’ll find him and let him know,” I said, excited to see my man on stage again.

I spotted Coulter with his older brother Spence away from the crowd, their backs to me. As I approached, I heard Spencer say, “Don’t go getting crazy ideas that will open old wounds,” sounding annoyed. “If dad and Waylan have secrets, that’s their business. Let it lie, Coulter.”

“Hey babe,” I said, touching Coulter’s back. He jumped, head swiveling with a start.

“Sorry, you scared me,” he said, eyes wide.

“That’s okay,” I said, cupping his elbow with my palm. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine, babe,” he pulled me into his side, kissing my cheek. “You wanna go dance?”

“Actually, that’s why I was looking for you. Adam wants you to play a song with the band.”

“Oh,” Coulter said, eyes lighting up with his smile. “Hell yeah!”

“Knock ‘em dead, Jimi,” Spence said, patting him on the back .

“I hope he doesn’t want me to pull off a Hendrix cover,” Coulter grinned.

Coulter made no mention of what I’d overheard, and I didn’t ask. Now wasn’t the time.

The band was winding down a song when we made it to the makeshift plywood stage. Coulter stepped up, looking sexy as could be when he slipped the strap of the electric guitar over his shoulder.

“Thanks for letting me play a tune,” Coulter said into the mic, staring me in the eyes. “I wanted to play a variation on a classic. Since, much like my brother, Trouble, it wasn’t a brown-eyed girl who stole my heart.”

I was dancing like a groupie on the front row to the band’s Blue Eyed Girl when I felt someone touch my elbow.

“Fancy meeting you here.” I met Louis’s smiling eyes.

“Sorry I missed your birthday party,” I leaned in, almost shouting into Louis’s ear. “I had already committed.”

“I figured. Thanks for the invite though,” Louis said, raising his voice over the altered lyrics.

“Of course! Happy birthday, Louis!” I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug.

“Oh, well,” Louis stammered, awkwardly patting my shoulder. “Thanks, Detective.” His face was beet red.

Just as Coulter was singing about making love in the green grass behind the stadium with his blue eyed girl, staring directly at me, Oscar appeared.

“Looks like you’re being serenaded,” Ramirez quipped. “You wouldn’t be fraternizing with a former suspect would you? ”

I planted my fists on my hips, puffing out my chest. “I’ll have you know, that innocent man is my boyfriend.”

Oscar’s lips spread in a grin. “Good job, partner. Now that he’s off the hook, don’t let him get away.”

I looked up at Coulter singing to me like I was the only woman on the planet, and told Oscar what I knew in my heart to be true. “Not a chance. I’m reeling this one in.”

***

THE END

***

If you’re wondering what the heck Spencer and Waylan were up to back in the day, read their story in On The Line .

Kai’s story is coming soon in Bait & Switch .

If you missed Trevor’s story, it’s Trouble in Paradise (book 4 in the Paradise Key series but a complete standalone).