Page 116 of The Backup Groom

I cleared my throat. “Can you do it in eight minutes?”

Scotty looked delighted and cocked a brow. “Seven.”

“Six,” I countered.

Faye’s gaze had been popping back and forth between the two of us. “Final offer? A six-minute ceremony?”

Scotty and I said simultaneously, “Deal.”

We laughed and stepped forward, ready for the ceremony to begin.

Five minutes and thirty-seven seconds later, Faye smiled and said, “You may kiss the bride.”

Scotty took me in his arms and gave me the kiss of a lifetime, even better than the one at the rehearsal, dipping me in the end like he had practiced.

I stood up straight, shaking my now-rattled brain. “Okay then. Where am I again?”

That got a laugh out of everyone.

“Now, that was a kiss!” Dean called out. “Congratulations!”

Everyone cheered and moved forward to congratulate us.

Burt Bicker stepped closer and chuckled. “You really like to cut it close. Congratulations to the both of you. Stop by my office tomorrow to pick up your inheritance check.”

“Sounds good,” I said. “Thanks so much.”

“I’m so happy for you!” Stella said, hugging me.

“Thank you.” I gave her a knowing smile. “Get ready, because we are going to be very busy when Scotty and I get back from the honeymoon. We need to get our new ad agency up and running. And I still want to have a wedding reception to celebrate with everyone who couldn’t be here, so we need to plan that again as well.”

“I can’t wait!” she said, turning to give Scotty’s parents hugs.

That was when I heard something I was pretty sure was supposed to be a secret.

Dean hugged Scotty, clapped him on the back, and whispered, “Congratulations. You’ve inspired me. I’m going to propose to Stella this weekend.”

I pretended I didn’t hear that absolutely wonderful news.

Kathleen stepped forward and gave me a big hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you,” I said. “How have you been?”

“I’m good,” Kathleen said. “Reallygood, now that I don’t have to see Ron anymore.” She smirked. “I bought a house and signed up for culinary school the same week.” She positively radiated light, looking the happiest I’d have seen her in years.

“That is wonderful,” I said. “Promise me that I can be your first client after you graduate. You can cater a party for us.”

Kathleen smiled. “I would love to.”

As my parents approached, I stood there in awe, wondering when was the last time they were together in the same room and not bickering about something. They both looked so happy for me, as if they both knew I had found my true soulmate.

“What a beautiful ceremony—there’s nothing wrong with short and sweet,” Dad said. “What matters is in the heart.”

“Absolutely.” Mom agreed. “Scotty, your parents are so delightful. They insisted that we join them for dinner in their home. Your father said he wanted to prepare a delicious pasta for us, and your mother mentioned something about her special brownies that Amber just loved.”

If I’d had something in my mouth, I would have spit it out.

“They even said there was a special yoga class on the beach that wehad toexperience before going back to Alaska,” Dad said. “We didn’t get all the details because that was right when you entered the room, but it sounds intriguing!”