Want some secret, exclusive extra scenes that come after The Peppermint Lodge?
Cass and Landon get married!
Get your comfy reading chair ready and your confetti. (Formal dress optional.)
Let’s dive in!
Exclusive Secret Scenes: The Peppermint Lodge
Cass and Landon’s wedding
Late spring
Cass raced across the open living room, searching for the wedding rings. Her hair was pinned up in curlers, a silky robe wrapped tight around her body.
She was going to be late for her own wedding, even though it was being held at her own lodge.
“Rylnn, where are the rings?” Cass called.
The little girl bounded in, a smear of chocolate across her mouth. “Dusty and I were practicing being married.” She pointed to the fireplace’s stone hearth.
Cass hustled over, swept up the two velvet boxes and checked inside for the rings. Present and present. Perfect.
Hannah hurried in from the kitchen. “Rylnn? We need to wash your face.” She gave Cass an apologetic smile. “Sorry. We were testing the chocolate fountain.”
“No problem.”
“I promise the kids will be ready in time,” Hannah said, ushering her charge from the room.
Yeah, but the bride might not be. As she turned away from the fireplace, her gaze caught on a familiar sight. Rylnn’s drawing of the four of them had been framed properly, the photo of them all holding hands on Armadillo Day tucked in its corner.
Holding hands like a family.
Rylnn’s drawing had become a reality.
Cass zipped back to her room, where her sister was waiting with Daisy-Mae Ray.
Daisy-Mae was going to take care of Cass’s hair and makeup, Alexa the dress.
Cass and Landon were keeping the wedding simple. Which hadn’t been easy. Once Cass started a list of bridesmaids—Alexa, Athena, Hannah, Violet, Daisy-Mae—things had quickly begun to grow. Not just her family, but also her circle here in Sweetheart Creek.
Home.
When Landon began considering groomsmen they’d eventually looked at each other, tossed out their lists and agreed to keep it small and simple.
Landon’s shaving commercial had done well, and been aired what felt like a zillion times. He’d been hired on to shave on camera for several more ads, keeping him busy while Cass whipped the lodge into shape.
She’d been reluctant to allow Landon to pour money into her project, but eventually she’d relented, knowing he wanted to be involved, already talking about how he would help her run the lodge once he retired from the NHL. It wouldn’t be for a few more years, but his input and financial support were definitely helpful, and he had some pretty good ideas.
It was also handy having a brawny man around when she was carrying in new flooring, or hundreds of gallons of paint.
And now that the weather was warmer and the days longer, they were back on the front porch, sipping iced peppermint tea in the evenings and dreaming about their future. It helped that the Dragons hadn’t made the play-offs, meaning Cass had him all to herself for a few months.
Honeymoon.
Help around the lodge.
Speaking of the lodge, it wasn’t quite ready for overnight guests, but Landon’s family had made themselves at home in the upstairs rooms nevertheless. They were amazing. Kind and generous, making it obvious where Landon got it from. They’d even painted a few walls for her.
“Let’s get the dress on you first,” Alexa said, when Cass reached up to start undoing her curlers.
“No, makeup first,” Daisy-Mae declared, pushing her into a chair.
Cass grinned. She might be late to her own wedding, but she was going to look fabulous.
* * *
Landon stood under the pergola, his back to the small pond. He looked up at their handiwork, noting that the spot where he and Cass had bickered over the building plans, and had ended up pulling out a few nails, had been expertly disguised by the decorations she’d strung over the cedar structure.
Landon kept his hands clasped in front of him, trying not to reveal his nervousness.
No, that wasn’t right.
His excitement.
He was eager to have Cass as his wife. To make it official.
His family waved to him from the front seats, the row behind them a wall of wide-shouldered men in dark suits and expensive dental work. A few of the Dragons gave him subtle nods when he caught their eye.
The bachelor party had been wild, but eventually he’d slipped out, sneaking home to curl up with Cass in front of the fireplace.
On the other side of the aisle, Cass’s family and close friends were seated in their own white folding chairs, along with many other familiar faces from Sweetheart Creek.
It had been a struggle to keep the wedding guests below fifty people, but they’d managed.
If seventy was the new fifty.
He loved it.
Music began playing, and Landon made a mental note to suggest building a small band platform, should any of their future clients decide they want a string quartet.
The lattice archway that Cass had put in at the lodge’s back door remained empty.
The music continued playing.
Landon looked to the DJ with the stereo system, then back to the open door.
Then his daughter came blasting through, skipping and singing, a basket in one hand, her other one waving. She was skipping so fast in her white cowboy boots it was like a sprint across the yard, her energy and enthusiasm spreading smiles and chuckles throughout the gathered group.
That was his kid. His very happy kid.
When Rylnn reached the far end of the aisle, she stopped and waved vigorously at him. “Hi, Daddy!”
“Hey, kiddo.”
“I’m a princess!”
“That you are.”
Cass had chosen a dress that made Rylnn look like true royalty. In cream-colored satin with a velvet sash, it featured soft flounces, beads and fluffy sleeves that looked striking against her beautiful dark skin. Her hair had been brought up into a large bun at the top of her head, with small white flowers tucked in among it, and she wore a delicate tiara.
Plunging a hand into her white basket with its bright pink bow, she flung red rose petals into the air with a flourish. Rylnn walked regally, tossing the petals as though throwing money at her royal subjects.
She made her way up to the front row, while Dusty solemnly followed, his black pants, white shirt and white vest matching Landon’s. He was wearing a white cowboy hat and black boots, and held the padded ring pillow carefully, giving Landon a shy smile as he drew closer.
And then Cass was exiting the lodge door, with sunshine trickling through the lattice archway dappling her in light. Landon lost all track of anyone else around him.
A breeze ruffled Cass’s dress as she strolled toward him. She held her bouquet of pale pink peonies in one hand, the other swinging through the air, the skirt of her dress catching on her thighs.
Her gown was perfect. Strapless. The skirt landed above her knees in front, and several inches below in the back. She was wearing white cowboy boots, her hair a riot of a long, sun-kissed brown curls.
She looked gorgeous. Just like the cowgirl wife he’d always wanted.
Landon chuckled to himself, having forgotten that he’d wished for this as a kid. Wishes came true if you waited. And moved to Sweetheart Creek.
She came up the aisle, and when she stopped in her spot across from him he slid his hands around her waist and, unable to help himself, pulled her in for a long, slow kiss.
“Somebody’s impatient,” the officiant mumbled.
Landon broke the kiss and grinned. He was impatient. Impatient to make Cass his wife.
“I waited all my life for a woman to sweep me off my feet,” he said. “Apparently, shattering my ankle and nearly ending my career was a blessing in disguise.” He’d never doubt being traded again in his life. Although he hoped he got to stay right here for the rest of his pro hockey days.
Cass smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him in for another kiss.
It was going to make for a very long ceremony, with all their kissing, but he didn’t mind.
* * *
Cass had put some spit and polish on the barn, turning it into a dance hall. With her hand against his chest, she admired her rings and savored the happy, warm glow in her heart.
“Well, what do you think?” Landon asked. “Is this place going to make it as an event center?”
“It might. The food got a thumbs-up. Location, too. Very convenient and close to us. The accommodations could use a little work, though.” She looked around the barn. “This part’s still a bit too rustic. The pergola is gorgeous, though, and I like the archway.”
“I was thinking we should build something for the band.”
“Me, too,” she said, lighting up.
“Maybe I should retire sooner rather than later and help you with this place. I saw the list of things you want to work on here.”
“You think you could handle me twenty-four/seven? I’m pretty bossy, you know.”
“That’s true,” he said, as though considering it. “And this place is a bit of a money pit. Maybe I should keep working for another year or two.”
“Might not be a bad idea.”
The kids came over and joined them, the four of them doing a giant hug dance.
“I want a sister,” Rylnn announced.
“No, a brother,” Dusty said firmly. Clearly, this was an ongoing fight they’d been having.
Cass laughed. A baby while trying to get her lodge business off the ground? She didn’t think so.
But she wasn’t exactly young anymore. If they were having more kids, they needed to get on it.
Landon pulled her close and whispered, “I’d make a good stay-at-home dad.”
“You reading my thoughts?”
“You think so, too? Thanks. That means a lot.” He held her hand against his chest.
“We’ll talk about it later,” she said, when the kids opened their mouths. “And we don’t get to choose if it’s a boy or a girl.”
“You get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” Rylnn said, quoting Karen from the library.
“That’s right.”
“That’s a horrible expression,” Landon said in disgust.
Cass gave him a curious look.
“When I didn’t get you right away, I got upset. And when I got upset, I went in there and fixed it. I made sure I did get you.”
“You did not get upset.”
“Oh, I did. Why do you think we had such a horrible season out on the ice?”
Cass laughed, pushing on Landon’s chest. “You lie! You can’t blame me for that.”
“I think I just did.”
“Well, I am very happy now, so I expect you to win the Stanley Cup next season.”
Landon tossed his head back, laughing. “Your wish is my command, my beautiful cowgirl wife.”
“Beautiful cowgirl princess wife,” Rylnn corrected.
Landon decided it was time to kiss his bride again.
Copyright © Jean Oram 2023. All right reserved. Do not copy or print.
* * *
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed Cass and Landon’s wedding!
If, for some reason, you’ve missed some of the books in the Hockey Sweethearts series here they are! (They can be read out of order and as standalones.)
Hockey Sweethearts
The Cupcake Cottage (Maverick and Daisy-Mae)
Peach Blossom Hollow (Leo and Violet)
Chocolate Cherry Cabin (Louis and Hannah)
The Peppermint Lodge (Cassandra and Landon)
The Huckleberry Bookshop (Mullens and Athena) Coming July 2023
Sugar Cookie Country House (Dylan and Jenny) Coming November 2023
The Gingerbread Cafe (Dak and Miranda) FREE Newsletter exclusive until November 2023—then available in stores.