“I do,” he said, cutting off Reverend Carlson’s monologue.
“I’m sorry, Chief Buchanan. What did you say?”
He cleared his throat and spoke up. “I said I do. What do you say, Virginia? Do you take me, too?”
She pushed the veil away from her face and smiled up at him. “I do,” she replied, her husky voice strong and steady.
Reverend Carlson scrambled to get on the same page. “All right then. With the power vested in me by the state and the church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
“Brace yourself, sweet Virginia.”
Her fingers brushed the hair at the nape of his neck. “Don’t let the white dress fool you, sugar. I’m no virgin.”
“You are, by one important measure.”
Her brows drew together. “How do you figure?”
“You’re spending your first night as a married woman with me. You going to kiss me, Mayor Boca, right here in plain sight of God and everyone?”
She came up on her tiptoes and claimed his lips. “Hell yes,” she said against his mouth. “I have nothing to hide.”