Alex gave her two hours to pack. As the reality began to sink in, Dana's inclination was to hyperventilate. She wasn't bemoaning her decision to marry, but she was torn as to her next course of action.

Should she call her parents? As an only child, she'd been close to them, accustomed to sharing pertinent tidbits about her life with them. Since she hadn't even mentioned Alex, what would they think if she announced she was eloping? Would they be horrified, disappointed? There was no way to gauge their response and no way she could adequately explain by telephone. Perhaps she and Alex could stop over in Dallas on the trip home. News like this should be delivered in person.

Then there was Stephanie. She would understand – be thrilled. Dana's only regret was that Steph was on duty with a patient instead of at home sharing in the euphoria. The happy news had to be related in a brief note. She could just hear Steph's squeals of joy when she read that note and learned Dana was going to be Mrs. Alex McLean.

The thought brought a smile to her lips and helped Dana recover her composure. No need to behave like a ninny. She had no doubt about her feelings – or Alex's. Dana Evans McLean. It sounded wonderful. Dana grabbed her suitcase from the closet and began assembling a makeshift trousseau.

Las Vegas could be laid-back or formal, so she'd take slacks and tops. . . her heather green chiffon cocktail dress. . . what else? Shoes, hose, underwear were tossed into the bag. She had no idea how long Alex planned for them to stay, but if necessary, she'd buy additional clothes.

She'd changed into a denim jumpsuit and packed her makeup when she remembered the most important item and rushed off to the Bride's Room. This might be a spur-of-the-moment elopement, but she intended to look the part of a proper bride and the just-purchased antique wedding gown would ensure that she did.

Dana had never visited Las Vegas before, but all of her expectations were fully met. The Vegas Strip lined with majestic hotels and lit by megawatts of neon was a tribute to excess, but with it came an aura of liveliness, a contagious excitement that captured her fancy.

She and Alex had settled into luxurious suites at Caesar's Palace having decided to delay the actual ceremony until the next evening while Dana shopped for a veil and Alex put the final touches on their arrangements. He was being unduly secretive. "You get to plan weddings all the time," he said. "Now it's my turn. And I want to do it by myself."

Alex chose not one of the well-known chapels, but a small traditional church in a residential area. He had kept the destination a mystery until Dana's arrival. It was a beautiful church, but even more beautiful was the sight of her parents, standing on the sidewalk as the limousine drove up. Her father opened the car door and assisted her out. "How. . .?" She was too astonished to complete the question.

"We'll go over all that later," her father assured her, as both parents gave her hugs and kisses. "But in the meantime, your groom is waiting."

Over the years Dana had envisioned many scenarios for her own wedding. . .the old family church in Houston, one of the yacht clubs on Galveston Bay – or more exotically, a Caribbean beach or the wine country of France. . . but none of those places could compare with the rites Alex had arranged. His parents and band mates, and Leighanne and Kristin were there. As were Jenna, Stephanie and Jay. Stephanie, her matron of honor, exactly as Dana had wanted. And Howie standing up for Alex.

"No second thoughts?" Stephanie asked, handing Dana an elaborate bouquet of white roses and baby's breath.

"None whatsoever. . .absolutely none," Dana answered as she took her father's arm and the organ began playing. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." How had Alex known her favorite music? Steph, no doubt. Again, another of Dana's wedding dreams fulfilled. But the best dream, the one of real importance, was Alex – the man at the end of the aisle.

Following the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the reception at a suite in the hotel. On the drive there, Alex told Dana about calling her father to ask for his blessing. Described how, with input from her mother and Stephanie, he'd managed to organize the wedding in less than twenty-four hours. "Jenna helped, too. She said she owed you after putting you on the spot with her own wedding."

"It was perfect. You're perfect." Dana grasped the lapels of Alex's tux and pulled him to her for a kiss.

"I wanted to make all your wedding fantasies come true, to prove how deeply, how completely, I've fallen in love."

"So you've become a convert," Dana teased.

"Unequivocally. I'll be boring people silly bragging about what an extraordinary wife I have. . . what terrific children."

"We haven't talked about having a family." The realization shocked her. Alex had indicated a desire for children when discussing his proposal to Sarah, but that was a far as the subject had gone. "There are so many things we don't know about each other."

"We have a lifetime to discover them. Do you want a baby?"

"More than one."

"Four or five then?"

She laughed. "Not quite that many. Let's go for one to begin with."

Alex's eyes burned with desire. "We'll start on it as soon as I can push everyone out the door."

Dana nestled into his embrace, happy, content. "Even in my fantasies, I didn't know love could be like this."

"Me neither. Until you came along, I've convinced myself I'd never feel this way about anyone," he said. "Then we met and it was as though a void I wasn't aware of had been filled. I'll cherish you all of my days, Mrs. McLean." He lifted her face to his and there was no more conversation for the rest of the trip to the reception.

Guests were greeted, the toasts completed and the traditional cake cutting over when Dana heard a voice much resembling "The King's" crooning "Love Me Tender." A spotlight announced the appearance of an Elvis Presley impersonator who was soon joined by a quartet of clones, all dressed in white-spangled bodysuits, necks draped with flowing red scarves. "I couldn't let you be disappointed with your Las Vegas wedding," Alex said, nodding toward the group of look-alikes. "And I knew you wouldn't think it complete without the Elvis touch."

Dana gazed up at him. "It's been everything I hoped for."

"Not too gaudy?" Alex asked, easing her into an embrace.

She laughed. "This is Las Vegas. There's no such thing as too gaudy. It would have been fitting even if it'd taken place in front of the roulette tables in the middle of the casino–"

"I didn't want you to feel you were taking any gambles," Alex interrupted.

"No gamble," Dana answered. "After all, we have a sure thing. We have love."

"Yes," he echoed. "Forever and always."

The End

Chapter 23
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