Barbara Dunlop - The Ceo’s Accidental Bride

“I will not hop in.” She crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. She wasn’t abandoning Lindsay on her wedding day.

“Have it your way.” He gently but firmly deposited her on the narrow bench seat.

“Hey!” She scrambled to get her dress organized around herself.

“There’s something I really have to show you.” He jumped into the driver’s side and turned on the key.

Before she could escape, the cart pulled smoothly out of the garage onto the gravel driveway and the road that led down to the castle.

“I can’t believe you’re kidnapping me,” she harrumphed.

“It is the pirate way.”

“You are not allowed to ravish me in the middle of a wedding reception.” She smoothed her dress over her knees and put her nose primly in the air.

Zach gave her a wolfish grin, and she was forced to wonder which one of them would prevail if push came to shove, and he did decide he wanted to ravish her.

They drove all the way down to the Harper property.

As they entered the castle gardens, she felt herself relax. This had quickly become one of her favorite places in the world. It was filled with such history and such happy memories.

Zach pulled to a halt in front of the family chapel, then he hopped out and came around to assist her.

She shook her head in confusion as she clambered around the awkward dress. It was made for fashion, not mobility. The bodice was tight, coming to a drop waist, while the satin skirt billowed out with crinolines, ending at knee length. “This is what you wanted to show me?” She’d been in the gardens a thousand times.

“Have patience,” he told her.

“I’ll have patience after the reception. Seriously, Zach. We have to get back.”

But he led her by the hand to the bottom of the chapel steps.

“What are we doing?” she breathed in frustration.

A secretive smile growing on his lips, he reached into his tux jacket pocket and drew something out, holding his palm flat so that she could focus on a small heirloom ring.

It was a delicately swirled gold band, with a sapphire center, flanked by diamonds.

“I don’t know how old it is,” said Zach. “But I think it might have belonged to Lyndall.”

“Stolen?” Kaitlin asked, glancing up.

“Let’s assume not.” Zach’s silver eyes sparkled. He held her hand in his, stepping forward, voice going soft. “Will you marry, Katie?”

She was still confused. “I am. I did.”

“I know.” He smiled. “But I don’t think we got it quite right the first time.” Then he nodded to the old chapel. “It’s traditional for Harper brides to be married right here.”

Kaitlin understood, and her chest tightened with emotion. “You want to…”

“Absolutely. Marry me, Kaitlin. Do it here. Do it now. Love me when you say the vows, and promise my family you’ll stay with me forever.”

She blinked back the sting of tears. “Oh, Zach.”

The ancient door swung open with a groan, and a preacher appeared in the doorway.

“This way,” he told them softly, turning, robes rustling as he made his way to the front of the ancient church.

Zach squeezed her hand as they mounted the steps, leading her over the uneven stone floor, past worn wooden pews, to the altar that Lyndall had built for his own wedding, the very first wedding on the island.

Kaitlin swayed sideways against Zach, absorbing the feel of his strong body.

Footsteps sounded behind them, and she glanced back to see Lindsay and Dylan, still dressed for their own wedding.

“Oh, no,” she moaned under her breath.

“They insisted,” Zach whispered, tucking her arm into the crook of his.

As they stopped at the front of the church, one of the staff members stepped out and handed Kaitlin a bouquet.

White roses.

From Sadie’s garden.

It was beyond perfect, and Kaitlin had to blink against the sting of tears.

Lindsay and Dylan took their places, and Zach wrapped an arm around Kaitlin, gathering her close for a private word. “I love you very much, Katie,” he whispered.

“And I love you,” she whispered back, feeling as though her heart might burst wide open.

His tone went husky as he tenderly stroked her cheek, wiping her tears with the pad of his thumb. “Then, let’s take our vows and put this ring on your finger.”

writes romantic stories while curled up in a log cabin in Canada’s far north, where bears outnumber people and it snows six months of the year. Fortunately she has a brawny husband and two teenage children to haul firewood and clear the driveway while she sips cocoa and muses about her upcoming chapters. Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website at www.barbaradunlop.com.