Making My Way to You

Chapter 17

Cole tapped on his glass as he stood up. "Can I have everyone's attention for a minute?"

Delilah looked up at him curiously. He grinned. "I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for coming to share this special day with Lila and I. We love you all so much. Now to my incredible beautiful wife...." He held out his hand, pulling her to her feet. "Lila, today I asked Luke to deliver a gift to you... I really wanted to know how you looked. He came back and said you looked beautiful. But he was wrong... you are stunning. When I saw you start down the aisle on your daddy's arm... darlin, you took my breath away. You are breathtaking. I might not have done a lot of things right in my life but I know when I look at you... you are one thing I have done right. Marrying you is the smartest thing I have ever done. You are the sweetest, smartest, most caring, most loving person I know. The way you love me.... My heart feels like it's goin to burst with love. So today standin there with you in that gorgeous white dress, with your brother on one side of me and your nephew standing beside you.... I thanked God for sending you to me. And I will thank him every night. You aren't afraid to call me out on my shit or tell me when I've screwed up... And I love that. You see me for me. Not Cole Swindell, you see me, the man, just Colden. You love me for me. And I promise you, I will spend the rest of my life loving you more every day than I do today. Thank you for marrying me."

Delilah wiped tears from her eyes. She cupped his face and kissed him softly as their guests cheered. "I love you, Cole. Always." She whispered.

"The bride and groom are going to have another dance, so if everyone would clear the floor..." The DJ spoke into the microphone.

Cole wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into him. "I love you so much." She said softly. "More than I ever thought was possible."

"Me too, baby. Me too." Cole leaned his forehead against hers as they moved. "Would it be wrong to escape?"

"Cole." She sighed with a smile. "You can wait a couple more hours."

"Not for that but I see where your mind is." He laughed. "Just to take a walk... just you and me. Just to catch our breaths. A few minutes alone."

She bit her lip. "I think we could manage that.... Let me tell Caroline."

"K." He pecked her mouth. "I'll steal a beer and meet you right outside."

"Deal."

Delilah made her way back over to the head table. She bent down. "Cole and I are goin to take ten minutes... Just a walk. We haven't..."

"Go. I'll stall." Caroline grinned. "Go be with your husband alone for a few."

"Wow, my husband...."

"That's what he is..." Caroline laughed.

She gathered her skirt and quietly made her way outside the tent where Cole was waiting. He grabbed her hand and led her down to where a couple of hours before they had said their vows. He sat down on the bench, pulling her with him. He took a pull from the bottle before passing it to her.

She sipped it and handed it back. "Wow."

"I know." He reached for her legs. "I know your feet have to be hurting." He pushed the lace out of the way so he could see her feet. He smiled at the bright pink toes. "How did I ever know you'd go with pink?"

"You love my pink toes." She laughed.

"I do." He agreed. He ran his hands over her legs. "Seriously, baby, today... it was..."

"Perfect." Tears filled her eyes as she finished his sentence.

"What? Why are you crying?"

"Thank you for today." She said trying to blink them back. "The wedding was the one I've dreamed of since I was a little girl..."

"Every princess deserves the wedding of her dreams." He wiped her eyes. "I love you and nothin was goin to stop me from makin it happen."

"We're actually married." She smiled at his wedding band. "We are husband and wife..."

"Yes we are." He leaned in close. "You know what that means, right?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

"After this reception.." He raised his eyebrows. "I want to see what's under this dress...."

"Oh you will." She laughed.

He pecked her mouth and downed the beer. "I just wanted a couple minutes with you alone. No photographers, no people. Just you and me."

She licked her lips. "Today when you were saying your vows... I closed everything else out. I mean I knew they were there. But I only saw you...."

"Me too. I saw the love in your eyes. The happiness."

"I love you."

"I love you too." Cole gently shoved her legs off. "Come on... we've been gone long enough. Let's go finish this party so we can be alone again, Mrs. Swindell."

"I love the way that sounds." She sighed and let him pull her to her feet.

Cole snapped a picture of her wrapped in the cardigan staring out at the sunset. "Beautiful. The sunset and her. I have all I need. #honeymoon#tendaysofus #tuscany. @lilaswindell"

Delilah smiled at him and took a sip of the wine. "This is beautiful."

"Yes it is." Thunder rumbled in the distance. "Sounds like rain."

"Yup." She wrapped her arms around him. She hugged him tight before stepping off the porch. He watched her dance in the rain. She wiggled her finger at him. He downed his beer and went to join her in the warm rain.

He spun her in a circle as she laughed. "We're getting soaked."

"Let's go in." She pressed her mouth to his. "I wanna make love while it rains."

"Done." He lifted her off her feet and stormed up the porch steps. Wet clothes were stripped off and left a path to the bedroom. He held her close as they made love slow and easy. She fell into an easy sleep still wrapped up in his arms.

The next morning they took a hike on the trails. She jumped on his back and kissed his neck. He carried her a little ways down the path before she spotted the rope. She jumped down and ran over to it. "Push me!"

He grinned and pushed her gently. She laughed and tossed her head back. Cole snapped a picture of her happiness. "This makes me happy. @lilaswindell"

She jumped into his arms and kissed his mouth. "I'm hungry."

"Then let's get you fed." He took her hand and led her into town.  "I'm gonna be sad to leave." She said sipping margarita.

"Me too but we'll come back."

"I'm serious, Cole. This villa has been a dream."

"It has. I'm glad we decided to spend a couple extra days here."

"But we're ending it in Paris.... I'm excited to see the Eiffel Tower."

"Me too." He took her hand and kissed her fingers. "Me too, baby."

A couple of days later he posted  a picture of the two of them in front of the Eiffel Tower. "Hi from Paris. Ending our honeymoon here.  Headed home in a couple of days. We miss Nashville."