While the others were distracted by conversation and dancing, Oliver spoke softly to Shane.

"Are you happy, my love?" he asked her.

"Oliver, what kind of question is that? Of course I'm happy."

"I just want to know how you're feeling," he explained. "These last few days have been quite hectic and possibly overwhelming, so I want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm better than okay, Oliver," she reassured him. "This week has been a whirlwind, for sure, but everything has come together very nicely. And my mom and Alex being here tonight—that's just icing on the cake. I am so grateful to you for making that happen."

She paused as she fought a lump in her throat.

"I'm excited, nervous, emotional—I'm feeling all of those things, but more than anything, I'm just very, very happy. I cannot wait to be your wife. It all seems so surreal."

Oliver nodded and smiled at her fondly. "It truly does."

"You're spoiling me, Oliver. And if you don't stop being so amazing, this is what you'll get from your wife," Shane informed him, laughing a little as she pointed at the tears emerging from the corners of her eyes.

Oliver eyed her adoringly for a moment, then reached up to dry her tears with his thumbs. Cupping her face with his gentle hands, he stated, "I think I can handle that." He kissed her softly and let go of her face, his arms once again circling her waist. "In full disclosure, though, I am hoping for a little something else as well..." He chuckled, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Maybe something a little...red?" Shane mentioned with a foxy expression, her eyebrows raised.

Oliver widened his eyes and grinned from ear to ear at her reference. Looking around the room at the flurry of excited guests, he realized that, thankfully, no one was paying a bit of attention to the happy couple at the moment. He placed another tender kiss on her lips then instructed, "Come with me."

"What? Oliver, we can't leave our guests," Shane said.

"Shhh. We're not leaving. I just want a few minutes alone with you before the chaos of our wedding day. They'll understand."

Oliver took Shane's hand and led her outside to the patio. The air was chilly, but neither one seemed to mind as each was focused on the other. Oliver slipped off his suit jacket anyway and wrapped it around his fiancee's shoulders, and she smiled at him in gratitude. He pulled her into his arms and held her closely as they swayed to the relaxing music being played inside. As he embraced her, he contemplated many things, but more than anything he was just beyond grateful that she would be completely his in less than twenty-four hours. The countdown clock was certainly ticking away, but he was still finding it rather difficult to be patient.

Shane looked at him with a sly grin. He chuckled and inquired, "What are you thinking? Or should I even ask?"

Shane laughed. "I'm so happy that you're calling my mother 'Mom' now."

"Oh? And why is that?" He raised an eyebrow.

She shrugged her shoulder a little and leaned in, lowering her voice. "I'm not too fond of you calling anyone 'Ms. McInerney' but me." She flashed him another sultry smile.

He grinned. "Well, Ms. McInerney, I now have less than twenty-four hours to address you as such. I believe you even reminded me this morning of the fact that time is running short."

"Yes, well, about that..."

Oliver raised his eyebrow once again.

"If there's one thing you should always remember, Oliver, is that a woman has the right to change her mind."

He nodded and eyed her questioningly, waiting for her to finish.

"I think I would still like for you to call me Ms. McInerney."

Concern was evident in his forehead as he furrowed his brows in confusion at her. "Are you saying that you don't want to take my name?"

"Oh, no, that's not what I'm saying at all, Oliver. I can't wait to be 'Shane O'Toole.'" The name slipped off her tongue easily as though she had practiced it and she sighed dreamily. "I just wouldn't mind hearing a 'Ms. McInerney' every once in a while, under certain circumstances." She bit her lip and eyed him innocently, then cast a playful pouty face. "I really do think I'll kind of miss it."

"I can understand that." Oliver became thoughtful, yet a little hesitant. He finally leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone. "But just wait until I 'get all Mrs. O'Toole on you.'" His charming, boyish grin and flirtatious wink was almost too much for Shane to bear. She giggled like a schoolgirl with a silly crush. Blushing from head to toe, she felt like she was standing in front of a furnace, in spite of the winter weather.

They gazed at each other for a few moments, with the music playing just loudly enough inside that they could hear the words Gabe was singing. Oliver pulled Shane tightly into his arms and kissed her tenderly yet as passionately as he could on the eve of their wedding, always opting to be a gentleman. A song with a little more tempo began, and Oliver couldn't help but hear and heed the lyrics as he continued to love on her.

It's no secret, I don't care

Gonna shout it out everywhere

I love my baby, hot, cold, fast or slow

I love my baby, gonna tell everybody I know

Tomorrow would be the day that he would, in a sense, "shout it out everywhere." He would make it publicly known that he was committing to this special woman for a lifetime. He would vow to love her, honor her, and respect her, to provide for her and protect her from harm, and cherish her until death they parted.

He truly loved her. Oh, how he loved her—with a love that he had once never even imagined. He had not yet experienced a genuine love such as this and therefore had been unable to comprehend the magnitude of it. The love that they shared made his heart feel like it could burst into pieces. And without a doubt, she would be there to put it back together again, always taking good care of his heart.

Overcome with emotion in that unparalleled moment, Oliver began planting kisses across Shane's cheek and down onto the side of her neck, just below her ear. Her gasp of shock and sigh of pleasure in response to his brief preview of their "movies" alerted him that this was where he should draw the line—for now. He lifted his head, and, still holding her with his arms around her waist, lost himself in those magnificent blue eyes that were sparkling with eagerness and delight.

Much to her surprise but ecstasy, he sang along with the chorus as it returned once again. His deep voice, the purposeful words, and his charming, playful expressions—they melted her into a puddle and she giggled quietly in pure bliss as he serenaded her.

"Well, I love my baby, gonna tell everybody I know

Yes, I love my baby, gonna tell everybody I know"

"Tomorrow," he added softly, caressing her face with his eyes. He longed for her with a passion that consumed his entire being and overtook his ability to think clearly. He felt disoriented, as though he had lost control of his very senses. Pulling her close with one arm and cradling her head with his other hand, he hugged her cheek to cheek, simply cherishing her.

"I love my baby, gonna tell everybody I know,"he quietly sang once more.

With his lips close to her ear, in a voice just barely above a whisper, he spoke to his bride-to-be huskily. "I love you, baby...and I want you, completely."

Shane's pulse raced at the term of endearment he had spoken to her, not to mention the meaning laced in his words. She immediately became weak all over, faltered a little, and widened her eyes as she tried to catch her breath. Oliver pulled his head back to look at her, and she found him staring back at her, his expression like a child's whose hand was stuck in the candy jar, his eyes like saucers. Although he had even stunned himself, he had sensed her delicacy in that moment and instinctually situated his hands to hold her securely. They stood there frozen, staring into each other's eyes for a few silent moments, before Oliver gathered the nerve to address what had just transpired.

"I, uh, I didn't mean—well, I meant it but—" Oliver paused and closed his eyes, swallowing hard.

Shane waited, her heartbeat still soaring, her lips slightly pursed, and pondered how he would make a comeback from this one without her assistance. It took a few more moments, but he finally regained some of his composure and looked her directly in the eyes once again.

"I do apologize, my dear Shane. I allowed myself to become momentarily caught up in the music, particularly the lyrics, and of course...you. Sometimes I lose myself when you are so close, and quite frankly, I'm feeling rather out of sorts at the moment. I am sorry for my rather impulsive slip of the tongue. It was quite careless of me, not to mention inappropriate."

Shane watched him with her brows furrowed, and his mind was spinning as he tried to make sense of her expression. Was that a slight hint of amusement twinkling in her eyes? Or had she been completely offended by his verbiage? How would he repair any damage he had inflicted?

"Not that I don't feel the way I said I did." Oliver blurted, blowing out a breath and wiping at his forehead in spite of the chilly air. "Because I do. Just not now. I mean, uh..." He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes once more, while Shane tried her best to suppress her laughter. She was amused at his discombobulation but at the same time, her heart was warmed by his utmost respect for her. She hid her smile as he opened his eyes and continued. "I did not intend to disrespect you, but I let my guard down. I truly am sorry. I don't know what else to say."

Shane raised her eyebrows. "I do."

Oliver looked back at her with confusion. "And, uh, what...would that be?"

She smiled mischievously at him. "I do," she repeated, emphasizing those two small but meaningful words. She leaned in close to his ear, scrunched her nose slightly, and whispered in a seductive tone. "And then we can go from there."

The lyrics in this chapter are from "Tell Everybody I Know" by Keb' Mo'.

Authors' Note: We truly hope that you have enjoyed reading this story. The sequel, From Eschew to I Do, has been posted by POstables Unscripted. Thank you for your support—it means so much to us!

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