She sucked in a deep breath of courage. “Corbin, I would be delighted.”

“Good. I’ll meet you right here tonight at seven?”

“I’ll be here.”

He kissed her cheek again, and she turned toward the elevator with a smile. Perhaps she could start all over.

Carlos looked into his bride’s eyes. She’d shed a few tears and he’d brushed them away. If it weren’t for the enormous smile she had on her lips, he would have been worried, but she was happy. He knew she was happy.

The minister had asked him if he’d take her for his bride and he’d answered, “I do.”

He’d posed the same question to Kathy, who let another tear fall but answered, “I do.”

“By the powers vested in me by the state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the minister said.

Carlos touched her cheek, brushing away the very last tear. He lowered his lips to hers and pressed a soft kiss to them. He felt her tremble beneath him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and took the kiss deeper.

“I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Keller,” the minister added as the guests applauded.

Carlos took her hand and started back down the aisle. He guided her until they were clear of everyone and back into the house. Then he guided her into Zach’s office and shut the door.

She laughed as he gathered her into an embrace and let all the tension that had built in him slide out into a kiss. It was over. He’d moved on and there was no going back now.

“Hello, Mrs. Keller.”

“Oh, Carlos.” The tears were back in her eyes.

“Please don’t cry.”

“Oh, damnit. They’re happy. I promise they are happy tears.”

“Good.” He rested his forehead against hers. “You look beautiful. Just beautiful.”

“Thank you. I wanted to take your breath away.”

“You did.” He gently kissed her again. “You sure did.”

“The boys look so handsome and Clara, so grown up.”

“I was thinking earlier that it won’t be long before they are all up there getting married themselves.”

Kathy shook her head. “I guess that’s the chain of events, right? Cycle of life?”

“That’s how it works.” He looked up, and through the French doors he could see the guests walking around, being directed by the caterers and attendants. He and Kathy would receive their guests, have pictures, and then the reception would start. “I guess we should see to our guests.”

Kathy nodded nervously. Her eyes darted from Carlos to the door and back. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like just a moment alone.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Of course. Don’t be too long.”

“I’ll be right out.” She kissed him and he left the room.

Kathy let out a deep breath, but the air still buzzed with tension. They’d gone through with it, and he didn’t seem to be troubled. But she was. The whole cycle-of-life topic had stabbed her right in the gut. People were supposed to get married, raise a family, and then that family would grow up and marry. But Carlos had pointed out the obvious very subtly—he’d already done that.

His children would in fact begin to drive, go off to college, and meet someone, fall in love, and get married. It would be within the next ten years, not eighteen or twenty.

She tried to still her shaking hands by clasping them together. It was a damn silly time to be worrying about it. But she couldn’t help it. It had shaken her up.

They were married. Why couldn’t she find the joy in the moment? She was happy, damnit. She was married to the man she loved. It was enough, and she grew angrier with herself for letting her thoughts wander beyond the cutting of the wedding cake.

“Sweetheart, are you ready?” Carlos opened the door.

“Yes. Thank you.” She straightened her tense shoulders and willed her unsettled stomach to be calm as she walked to him. As he stepped back to let her through the door, she stopped and looked at him. “I love you. You need to know I love you.”

Carlos cocked his head to the side and slid a look over her. “I love you too. Everything’s okay?”

“Fine.” She balled the fabric of her dress in her fists and forced herself to smile. “Let’s go greet our guests.”

As the doors to the elevator opened, Madeline saw Corbin standing next to the fountain in the lobby. She wondered if he’d recognize her in her long, flowy dress. Her eyes weren’t covered now, and her hair was long and red.

He noticed her and smiled.

“You are stunning.”

“Wow. Thank you.”

“No, thank you.” He offered her arm, and she laced hers through it as they walked to the restaurant.

Madeline had spent the afternoon in her room, wondering if going to dinner with a stranger was the right thing to do. How many times had she read a newspaper article about vacations that ended in robbery or murder? The thought made her twitchy.

“Everything all right?” Corbin turned to her with his bright smile.

All she could do was nod. Stepping out of her comfort level was never something Madeline did well, but after the years she’d spent inside that zone, she thought she’d better learn.

They sat together outside where the terrace overlooked the ocean. The sun dipped down into the water and cast a glow over them. They ate, drank wine, shared conversation, and laughed. The more time she spent with Corbin, the less stressed she felt.

During the evening, Corbin proceeded to move his chair closer to her and now leaned in, touching the softness of the red hair that gave her such personality.

“Why red?”

“My sister-in-law.” She sucked back a breath. “My ex-sister-in-law gave it to me to wear. She’s an actress in New York and has an entire closet full of these fabulous wigs. She was quite helpful when I needed a pick-me-up.” She smiled thinking about it. “My sons like the red one, so I wear it most often.”

Corbin sat back in his chair and watched the people as they walked through the restaurant. She wondered what he was thinking. It was obvious to her that he enjoyed people, but why had he picked her out of the crowd? There were hundreds of women on that beach, many with bodies that would fascinate any man.

“So why are you in Mexico,” she asked, taking a sip of her wine.