Chapter 34

Elizabeth walked busily down the streets of Hope Valley. She had just finished up talking with Bill about the wedding cake and showing him the final details of what she wanted on it and was now headed to Rosemary's to try on the dress for the final time before the wedding. She could hardly believe that it was only two days away and that this evening would be spent with family and friends celebrating the upcoming nuptials. They had decided to forego the traditional Bridal shower/bachelorette party and bachelor party for a joint get together at the Queen of Hearts. Lucas had graciously offered and had finally come to terms with Elizabeth's choice and had settled his focus on running the oil business for the time being. He had hired Fiona to help him with the record keeping and according to him she was a force to be reckoned with. Elizabeth had also noticed a slight change in the relationship between Nathan and Lucas, it wasn't perfect by any means, but they had finally come to a place of peace and understanding and had developed this sort of odd friendship and admiration for one another. Elizabeth wasn't sure she would ever fully understand it, but she was grateful that they were trying.

Lost in thought and not paying attention to her surroundings Elizabeth gave a short gasping yelp when she felt a hand reach out and grab her, pulling her into a small space between two buildings and out of the public eye. Her eyes wide with shock, she found herself pinned to the wall and gently wrapped in a strong pair of familiar arms. She felt herself barely able to breathe when she looked up and into the twinkling, lake blue, penetrating eyes of the man standing in front of her and her knees went weak at the slightly seductive grin spreading across his face.

Knowing the affect he was having on her, Nathan slowly leaned in, his eyes never leaving hers until he saw her close them right before capturing her lips with his. Elizabeth felt her arms move up his shoulders and wrap around the back of his neck, running her fingers through his hair at the back of his head. She was so close to him that she could feel his heart rate increase with every kiss they passed to each other. He finally released her lips and left a trail of soft kisses down her jaw line all the way to the back of her ear as she sighed softly before he finally pulled back, leaving her barely able to breathe and completely speechless.

He had left her so utterly stunned and unable to think that the only word she could say came out in a sigh of a whisper, "wow."

He smiled down at his bride to be and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Elizabeth, now and always."

She smiled up at him, her bright blue eyes matching the twinkle in his. "That was quite the surprise, Constable Grant."

"Oh there is plenty more where that came from, future Mrs. Grant" he replied while lifting his eyebrows up in a flirty gesture before continuing on, "longest," he tapped her nose with his finger, "week," soft lingering kiss on her forehead, "of," another gentle kiss over her left eye, "my," one more over the other eye, "life." He let his lips slightly graze across hers with the last word, just long enough to leave her desiring more of him.

"Rosemary is going to come and hunt me down if I don't get to the dress shop."

"I've only seen you for all of about 30 minutes in the last 3 days, she can wait a few more seconds."

She gave a small shrug and grin, her eyes not leaving his, "you're right, what's a few more seconds anyways." She lifted her head up and slowly and deliberately kissed him with as much fervor as he had kissed her, making both of their heads swim in delight.

He finally pulled back and looking down at her with a grin that made her go weak in the knees for the second time in a span of minutes, he simply said, "two more days." He then let her go and watched has she carefully looked in both directions before stepping back out onto the streets of Hope Valley. He watched her from between the buildings, a mischievous sideways grin on his face, as she carefully ran her hands down her skirt straightening it out and trying to compose herself before continuing her walk to the dress shop where Rosemary was impatiently waiting for her.

Elizabeth had barely walked through the door when Rosemary spoke up, "Elizabeth, you are 10 minutes late. Where have you been?"

Elizabeth pursed her lips and looked suspiciously to the floor with a roll of her eyes and absentmindedly ran her fingers across her lips, the same ones that had just been kissed passionately by the man she was in love with and about to get married to.

Rosemary saw the faraway look pass across Elizabeth's face and smirked while eyeing her carefully. "With Nathan?" She questioned.

Elizabeth sheepishly shrugged and lifted her eyebrows at her, "Maybe."

"Well I guess there is always time for a little romance; however, we do need to make sure that this dress is going to work after the final alterations. Now hurry up and go try it on." She shoved the dress into Elizabeth's arms and shooed her into the backroom, "go, go, go."

Elizabeth took the dress and did as she was told. She knew from years of experience with Rosemary that when she got like this you didn't argue with her, you just complied and did what she asked of you. Elizabeth quickly changed and then turned to look at herself in the mirror. She sighed heavily, she never thought she would be doing this again and never in a million years with another Mountie, but here she was, blessed enough to have Nathan Grant in her life. Their road to get to this point had not been an easy one, but she knew she was ready to move forward and that it was what Jack had wanted for her. She also knew that he would have been delighted to know that she and their son would be well taken care of by one of his own brothers in arms.

"Elizabeth!" She heard Rosemary call to her, breaking her out of her thoughts. She gave the dress another quick look and then smoothed it out before opening the door so Rosemary could see her. She heard her loud gasp, "Oh Elizabeth, it's perfect. Nathan isn't going to be able to keep his eyes off of you." The dress was simple, yet beautiful with long lacey sleeves and a perfectly square shaped neckline that accentuated her facial features and came to a v like point. The skirt part of the dress flared out and fell to the floor, covered in small intricate beads and a lace trim that matched the lace on the sleeves and the torso part of the dress.

"Rosemary, you have outdone yourself. It is absolutely beautiful."

"No, it's beautiful because of the woman who is wearing it. Elizabeth," she began, "I know these last few years have not been easy, but I know that you and Nathan are going to have a long life together and he loves you so very much. It shows every time he looks at you. The man has never been able to hide what he was feeling, he might not always say it, but his eyes always speak it. I am certain Jack would approve."

"I know he would, Rosemary. He wanted me to find love again and to be happy and I am ready to embrace this change in my life. It's just that…..," she trailed off and looked down.

"It's just what? You're not having second thoughts are you?" She could hear the alarm in Rosemary's voice.

"Oh no," she quickly said, "not at all." She sighed, "It's just that I love Nathan so much that sometimes it scares me. I mean what if something happens to him like it did with Jack? I don't know if I could handle that again. It would devastate me."

Rosemary reached up and put her hands on Elizabeth's shoulders, "Elizabeth, nothing is ever guaranteed in this life. You know that better than anyone, but just because Nathan is a Mountie does not mean that it is inevitable that he will meet the same fate and you don't even have to be a Mountie for things to just happen. Look at Lee and myself, we both had close calls. Nathan loves you and he is going to do everything he can to make sure that he doesn't put you through that again. You can't go through life worrying about what if's. Love is a risk and it's a risk that is worth embracing and taking. There will be hard times ahead, but you two will face them together and come out on the other side of it stronger than ever."

Elizabeth slowly nodded her head, "You're right and I told Clara that I would do it all over again, even knowing the outcome. I am ready for this and I do know one thing, I don't want to go through life with regrets and oh how I love that man."

A wide grin flashed across Rosemary's face, "you're getting married in two days!"

Elizabeth matched her smile, "I am, I really am getting married!" Rosemary reached her arms around Elizabeth and gave her a hug and then pulled back. "Thank you, Rosemary."

"I'm always here for you, Elizabeth. Now go and get changed. I need to go and get ready for tonight's party!"

Elizabeth nodded and then excitedly moved across the floor to change out of her dress with a smile on her face, knowing that the next time she put it on she would be walking down the aisle to Nathan.

To Be Continued…..