"I have to get goin'," Daryl nestled his face closer into Kate's neck, "but I wish I could stay." He kissed her and inhaled the smell of her like she was oxygen and he'd just come up for air. "You'll meet Irma and Dale at the farm and they'll take ya to the church."
"Um hmm," Kate didn't open her eyes.
"Don't forget to bring a bag for tonight." After making love in the barn they had returned to the farmhouse for an awkward cup of sweet tea with Irma and Dale. It turned out he couldn't get all the straw out of her hair, combined with her dishevelled dress and something he couldn't quite put his finger on he'd found Irma giving him a strange look. A look that said 'I know exactly what you just did in that barn.'
They hadn't spent the night at the Horvath's, they'd drove to Kate's house but she had agreed to spend the night at the farm after the wedding. It was an easier drive than making their way back into Atlanta after a long day celebrating but more than anything he wanted to see how it would feel to spend the night in his future home with her soft little body curled beside him. He hoped she'e like it so much that she'd never leave.
"And…" he squeezed her even tighter, "I love ya."
One eye popped open, a sleepy smile on her face, "you too. Now let me get my beauty sleep."
"You too?" he poked his finger in her side before tickling her until she was breathless. "There ain't gonna be no you toos."
"You're evil," she shrieked, trying to tickle him back but he overpowered her and pinned her to the bed, arms above her head as she writhed.
"Ya gotta stop wiggling 'round or I ain't gonna be able to get outta this bed for the rest of the mornin'," he pressed his length along her centre and wanted nothing more than to have her again and again. Except he'd already abandoned Jim for the past couple of days and he was feeling guilty enough without abandoning him on the morning of his wedding.
Daryl groaned into her mouth as he gave her a goodbye kiss then somehow managed to peel himself from between her thighs. He could have spent the whole day with her legs wrapped around him. Damn, when he turned to get one last look at her before he headed off he felt harder than ever as the sight of her Georgia tan all tangled with the crisp white sheets and her glossy hair spilling along the pillow like molten chocolate. He wanted to eat her all up but he'd have to save that for later.
He loved and hated that her last weekend was the wedding. He liked that it meant he could take her with him and have the prettiest date in town on his arm but he hated that it was distracting him from the final precious hours he could guarantee with Miss Uppity.
Jim and Jason were in the kitchen frying up a big pan of bacon and eggs when he stepped into the house.
"Hey," Daryl rasped as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Is it just us this mornin'?"
"Yeah, I wanna keep things as stress free as possible. In fact, the wedding ain't until one so I reckon we should go fishin' after breakfast," Jim said and since it was his day they did exactly that. They ate their eggs and bacon, grabbed the fishing tackle out of the shed then headed for the nearest sweet spot to hook a few catfish. Daryl had to admit that fishing was a great way to spend the morning, it was so peaceful and cool by the waterside.
It wasn't until they were back home donning their tuxes that the men noticed the bowties which Charlene had insisted on. They weren't the clip on's they were expecting but were the kind that needed tying.
"Oh Jesus," Jim paced the floor red faced and flustered with this bow clutched in his hand, "either of ya'll know how to tie these damn things?"
The hell if Daryl knew, he'd never wore a bow tie in his entire life. He never worn a tie until recently, he recalled the day at the Piedmont Park when Kate's fingers had wrapped around his tie and pulled him to her lips. His trousers felt the strain and he stepped behind the kitchen counter to conceal his memory.
"I betcha Katy knows her way around a bowtie," Jason grinned.
"Ring her!" Jim demanded as he stomped outside for a cigarette, even if he hadn't smoked in about three years.
Daryl dug his phone and out of his pocket and shifted the front of his pants. He was suddenly thrilled that the bowties weren't clip ons since he'd been missing Kate like crazy all morning and he couldn't wait to get his hands around her waist and his lips on hers.
/
Kate knocked on the yellow door. There was no answer so she let herself in, "hello?" she called before spotting the boys standing outside. Her heart leapt at the sight of Daryl looking so dashing in his charcoal suit. Especially when she knew what lay underneath. She felt the heat flush across her body despite the AC pumping around the house and she couldn't wait to get her hands on him. She rushed across the living room and out through the screen door to greet Jim, Jason and Daryl.
"You're a goddamn lifesaver," Jim insisted as he pulled his bowie from his pocket and took a drag on a cigarette like his life depended on it..
Jason gave her his customary wolf whistle and a slow wink. She knew it would drive Daryl crazy if he wasn't standing stock still with his jaw creeping to the floor and his eyes dark with desire enough to make her body feel even hotter than it already did.
She was wearing a pillar box red lacy dress which hung to her shins. It had a nude underlay beneath the lace that made her look like she was naked and without a bra in the barely there top. She felt a little sinful for a morning in church. The lacy red knickers he couldn't see were definitely too sinful for church but she supposed he wouldn't be ripping those off until later. She'd pinned her hair up loose and romantic with wisps of waves escaping enough to annoy her. She wore the black strappy sandals which she loved watching him remove and then she had her little black purse dangling from a long strap on her shoulder.
He walked over to her and wrapped his big hands on her shoulders, "Jesus woman, ain't fair for ya to look so damn gorgeous, ya gonna show up the bride."
"I'm glad you approve Mr Dixon."
"Goddamn right I approve, don't know how I'm gonna think straight today but," his breath shuddered as he gave her a one over that set her on fire, "I definitely approve darlin'." His mouth covered hers and for a few minutes she forgot there was anyone else in the garden with them.
"Let me tie you up."
"What?" Daryl's voice was hoarse and his eyes dark.
Kate narrowed her eyes, "the bow tie Mr Dixon".
He cleared his throat, handed her the tie then looked over his shoulder as they both remembered there were two more people in the garden.
"Ya want us to go inside for 15 minutes while ya get acquainted with that dress?" Jason shouted loud enough that the whole town might have heard.
"15 whole minutes?" Jim laughed, "I give him 5."
Embarrassment filled her features as she tried not to look at the other men and wrapped the bowtie under Daryl's collar.
"It's a wonder ya have the swimmers to knock Charlene up if 5 minutes is all ya can manage," Daryl quipped and Kate was sure the pink in her cheeks was never going to fade.
"Congratulations," she said.
"Thanks Sugar," he smiled before smacking Daryl in the arm, "an' I told ya not to tell anyone."
"Kate ain't anyone. Besides, ya'll can't keep it a secret for long. Whats everyone gonna say when Charlene don't have a drink at her own wedding'?"
When she'd finished the bowties she took a photo of the three of them using Jim's camera. Then Daryl walked her to her car where he kissed her again, "see ya in church sweetheart." Their eyes met and for a split second she knew exactly what he was thinking as he kissed the back of her hand because for the briefest moment she imaged the lace of her dress was white instead of red. She pulled her hand from his and swallowed the dry feeling in her throat as she pushed the thought away and turned the ignition of her car.
Dale drove herself and Irma to the wedding. The church looked adorable clad in white wooden siding with yellow and white flowers flanking the door. The plethora of guests all dressed in their best were exchanging animated conversation in the bright Georgia sunshine as well as inside the airy church hall.
"You should meet the Pastor. ." Irma placed her hand on Kate's forearm, "do you go to church honey?"
"Err… not since I was a Brownie."
"Well, it's never too late. You know I've been trying to get Daryl to come to church with me for years and now he has the farm he should be making it a priority, all the farmers around these parts come here and he could do with making some new friends."
"Perhaps he'll meet them in the pub."
"Or maybe he just needs some prettier persuading? You know there is nothing I can't get Dale to do when he's eaten a handful of my chocolate chip cookies."
Kate decided not to carry on the slippery slope of conversation with Irma who was giving her a shrewd eye and light little squeezes on her arm. Instead she just smiled and greeted the Pastor and his wife before Irma pulled her along to meet the ladies in her quilting circle.
"I just don't know what we're gonna do without you Irma," the women all fawned over her.
"Maybe Daryl will host the circle, so you don't have to move it elsewhere," Irma chuckled, making light of her leaving the farm.
"Well I can't say that would be a bad idea," one of the ladies chortled as her salt and pepper hair danced around her head, "might get some of the younger girls to come and join in. If not, well, I can't say I wouldn't mind showing him a thing or two about quilting and other things."
That made the quilting circle all roar with laughter as Irma nudged her arm with a knowing smile.
The idea of women chasing after Daryl when she was gone hit her like a hammer in the head. She couldn't stand the idea of another woman with him or hosting things in his living room, even if it was some crazy old ladies. She hadn't even considered the idea of him moving on without her being here but of course that was what would happen.
She spotted Cassie standing alone in a powder blue dress and matching sandals. Maybe he would be moving on with Cassie. She didn't know what came over her but she excused herself from the quilters and marched her way over. "Hello," Kate said abruptly.
Cassie's head turned her way and the look on her face wasn't exactly welcoming.
Kate wanted to say "stay away from Daryl" amongst other things but instead she lied and said, "what a lovely dress."
Cassie's eyes became wide and she faltered a little before saying, "thank you."
That was the extent of what she had cause to say to Cassie. She wasn't really going to frighten her away from Daryl and she was terrible at small talk. She was just about to comment on the weather when an arm draped heavily over her shoulder.
"Want usherin' to yer seat pretty lady?"
She turned to see Jason, dickiebow in place and his bright blue eyes shining.
"You remember Cassie?"
"I reckon so" he gave Cassie's behind a healthy wallop and the blonde's cheeks turned firetruck red before she made an excuse and practically ran away.
"That was a little inappropriate don't you think?"
"Nah," Jason kissed the back of Kate's hand. "Ya looked like ya might fairly die of boredom talkin' to Cassie. I was rescuin' ya."
Kate couldn't help but grin as he wove her arm into his and walked her to where Dale and Irma were saving a seat.
"You'll save a little dance for me later won't you girl?"
"I'm not sure." It all depended on the dancing and her levels of alcohol consumption.
"I haven't brought a date… ya won't go breakin' my heart now will ya honey bun?"
Kate rolled her eyes with a smile and he took that as a yes as his megawatt grin grew wider and he gave a gentlemanly bow. Kate wondered what Daryl would think of Jason's shameless flirting since he had no idea about Jason's secret. In fact as she looked at Irma's perplexed face she realised that the old lady didn't like the flirting as much as her favourite redneck probably wouldn't.
/
Daryl poured Jim a shot of bourbon as they stood in a little side room of the church.
"I ain't ready to go in yet," Jim stuttered
"Sorry I ain't been 'round much these past few days."
"I get it" Jim sipped the bourbon, "Katy came to the house last night looking for you, I guessed she'd found you."
"She said she's in love with me," Daryl poured himself a measure and promised it would be the only one. He didn't want to spend today drunk, he needed his wits about him if he was going to convince Kate not to leave tomorrow..
"I'm happy for you. Now you need to put a ring on her finger and start making babies. Don't know why I waited so long. Plus my kids are gonna need some best friends."
At that moment Jason snuck into the room and grabbed himself a glass., "she'd be a real pretty bride."
"And from the way ya'll look at each other you'll be needin' to add a couple of bedrooms onto that old farm house"
Daryl's chest felt tight, "there's already four." And she's leaving, although that seemed like a little bump in the road compared to getting her to love him. Surely she couldn't stay away if she loved him?
"I know," Jim laughed and he looked slightly more relaxed as he down the last of his drink and for the tenth times asked, "you got the rings?"
Daryl patted his pocket to reassure them both, "yes sir."
When they stepped into the main church hall, everyone was seated on the long mahogany benches that were trimmed with yellow and white flowers. He spotted Kate sat on the end of the aisle and he took the time to stop by. He took her hand and pulled her up to give her a kiss right on the lips. He would have never thought he would like being so openly affectionate but there was something primal about claiming your woman that made his testosterone pump happily
The whole town was in this church and he wanted them to be sure that she was definitely his girl since it had been a subject up for debate, or in other words small town gossip, ever since she had poured beer on his head in Ed's bar. Then she'd played pool with him and Merle at Lynette's, had a fight with him in the middle of the street on 4th of July and the gossipers had gone even wilder. Being a crazy mysterious hotheaded english woman who was running rings around the Dixon brothers wasn't the worst reputation to have but he knew Kate would probably hate it.
When she sat back down, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and adored her like a lovesick fool before joining Jim in the wait for his best friend's bride to make her arrival.
Charlene looked beautiful in her wedding dress with her bouquet of yellow roses clutched tightly in her hands. Her bridesmaids were her her big sister Lisa and her best friend from childhood Mary Sue. They wore floor length yellow dresses with white bouquets. Lisa's daughter Lilly was the flower girl. She was all dressed in white frills and looking tickled pink although Daryl supposed being a flower girl was probably a dream for an almost five year old girl.
Daryl decided the colour combination made Charlene look like a fried egg, the prettiest fried egg this side of the Mississippi. Not that he would say any such thing to Charlene or Jim who had a far off dreamy look in his eye.
While Jim and Charlene exchanged their vows Daryl couldn't take his eyes off Kate. Every time she looked at him she blushed and her big brown eyes fell to her lap which made him smile like a damn fool in front of the whole congregation.
"The rings," the Pastor insisted and Daryl did his part, giving Jim a pat on the shoulder as he handed the wedding bands over.
/
When the ceremony was over Irma passed Kate a bag of rice and they lingered around the door of the church while they waited for the bride and groom to come out. Part of Kate wanted to disappear around the back of the church to have a good cry. She hadn't even considered that she might feel upset at the sight of someone's wedding but it was surfacing all the feelings she was constantly trying to ignore.
Her marriage with Ryan might not have been at its strongest when she lost him but he was still her husband and she had loved him. It was a different love to what she shared with Daryl. Loving Ryan was comfortable and steady, he was Harry's father and that had deepened their connection but there was always something missing. Loving Daryl made her realise that she hadn't had a spark with Ryan, the instant chemistry that created the passion. With Daryl it was like fireworks and with Ryan it was more like a party popper. Kate had grieved so completely for Harry that she'd hardly considered Ryan and the guilt of that lay heavy in her chest right now.
"Kate, Kate," Irma's voice brought her back from becoming lost in her thoughts, "such a beautiful day for a wedding don't you think?"
"Its perfect."
/
"You know it's tradition for the best man and the maid of honour to spend a little time together after the wedding," Mary Sue whispered as she sidled up to him, "who would have known you'd clean up so good." She ran her hands along the lapels of his suit.
Mary Sue was cute with her little button nose but she was also annoying as hell and she'd never given Daryl a second look the entire 30 odd years he'd known her. He might have been surprised that she was looking now if it hadn't been for the fact that she wasn't the first girl to start looking his way this past few weeks. He liked to think it was because he'd changed since meeting Kate rather than because he was getting the farm and last week when he had been organising Jim's bachelor party Lynette had called him the "most eligible bachelor in town."
It's kinda funny, I'm a bridesmaid, you're the best man…"
"Is it?"
"Well it's traditional for the best man to take home a bridesmaid. If you know what I mean sugar..."
Daryl snorted, "well I ain't much into traditions." That was a lie, he was realising he quite liked some traditions, holding the door open for Kate, buying her lunch, getting down on one knee.
When the registry was signed he couldn't wait to go find his woman and her soft kissable lips. She was standing pretty as a picture in the shade of a big Spanish moss clad oak tree besides Dale, Irma and the quilting circle ladies. Daryl rescued her from all the old hens who fussed over him, straightening his bowtie and saying things like "it'll be you next" and "you're gonna need help to run that big old farm."
Kate was coloured her usual rosy glow and it was combined with the all too familiar look she got when she wanted to run away. He held onto her with both hands as he dragged her far away from the meddling old ladies who needed to learn when to keep their damn yaps shut.
Jesus, the more people tried to encourage Kate the worse they made it for him. She wasn't an ordinary woman. She was like an unbroken horse and he needed to ease her into things with the right mix of a gentle hand and a firm one.
"I'm glad you're here. Today wouldn't be the same without ya…" neither would tomorrow or every day after that.
"You looked good."
He couldn't help himself or the smile that slipped across his face. "Ya liked the way I looked at the altar?"
Kate spluttered out an uneasy laugh, "yeah, maybe you should get ordained."
Daryl snorted. "No preacher would be thinkin' the kinda things I'm thinkin' right now." He thumbed the strap of her dress before his hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her behind the trunk of another old oak tree to kiss her full red lips senseless. Although chasing close behind all his lust filled thoughts were ideas of white wedding dresses and a house filled with wild little children.
"Ya know I meant what I said... 'bout marrying ya." He had her pinned to the tree and breathless, "I want a life together darlin'. What I gotta do to make ya stay 'ere?" Maybe he didn't have the patience for gentle coaxing. Not when her lips felt so damn good.
"It's time for photo's," Jason grinned as he bounded between them and pulled Kate right from Daryl's hands. "I want a picture to remember ya by honey bun."
Daryl kicked the tree and chased after them both, he was going to wring Jason's goddamned neck. But first he had to stand around and smile for a hundred and one photographs when what he really wanted to do was drag Kate back behind that tree.