Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
He growls back at me. “My wife designed your wife’s dress. Of course, she looks pretty.”
It’s a fair point but I’m not in a gracious mood. I glance at my watch again for the tenth time in the past hour. How is it there’s still fifteen minutes to go before I can stand beside the love of my life and claim her in front of all of Courage County?
“There’s no accounting for her bad taste in men though,” River complains.
Lily tugs on his tie and he glances down at his baby girl. “You’re never leaving Daddy and getting married. You hear me?”
She grins at him, drool dripping down her chin and onto the red dress she’s wearing. She’s the happiest baby I’ve ever met and I’m already thinking about how it’s going to feel when Jenna’s arms are filled with a little one of our own.
I take off my Stetson and run a hand through my hair before plopping down on a bench in the corner. “Was it this bad when you married Mallory?”
“No, but I dragged her to the courthouse. No sense in prolonging the inevitable. She was mine and it was high time the world knew it.” He nods to himself and Lily coos as if in agreement. It used to amaze me the way the three of them became an instant family then I met Jenna and I get it. I understand how when you meet the right person, they become an instant part of you.
I could have taken Jenna to the courthouse. It’s what I wanted to do the day after I slid that nine-carat princess cut diamond ring onto her finger. I didn’t want to wait a moment more.
Still, I couldn’t have her thinking that I was ashamed of her or that I was trying to hide our marriage. I’m proud to be with her. I’ll call her mine to anyone that’s willing to listen. So instead of a courthouse ceremony, I insisted on having a wedding here in town.
A big wedding with all of our friends invited. It took three months to put together and I left all of the decisions up to Mallory and Jenna. Whatever makes my woman happy makes me happy.
There’s a knock on the door and the preacher is poking his head inside. “It’s time for y’all.”
We make our way to the front of the church and standing here in front of the altar, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I was given the most amazing woman on earth and I’m going to work hard to make sure she feels loved and wanted every day for the rest of her life.
The music swells and I wait impatiently as the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. Or wheel as in the case of Mallory. But the entire time, I’m silently willing everyone to go faster because there’s only one person I want to see right now.
As the old organ continues the melody and the doors open at the back of the sanctuary, my breath catches in my throat. There’s my bride. She’s dressed in a floor-length white wedding gown with long, lace sleeves. Her face is glowing as she clutches a mix of autumn flowers.
Her hand is tucked in the crook of her father’s arm. The night after we got engaged I went to him and demanded that he set things right. I made it clear that he’d never get to spend time with her or his future grandchildren if he didn’t make some changes.
He went to his first AA meeting that morning. He went every day for two months until he showed up on my doorstep to make amends with his daughter. They both cried and he told her how sorry he was. He’s working on repairing their relationship though it’ll take more time.
He wasn’t originally invited to the wedding. But Jenna came to me a week ago and asked if I had any objections to her father giving her away. I explained that as long as he stays in treatment and speaks kindly to her, he’s always welcome in her life. But if he ever reverts back to his old behavior, he’ll be out on his ass. I won’t tolerate anyone being cruel to my wife. I’m her protector and first line of defense now. That’s what I’ll always be.
I know the moment that Jenna’s eyes lock with mine because a big smile lights up her face. It’s probably the same grin I’m wearing.
I used to be a grumpy cowboy but ever since meeting Jenna, I have a thousand reasons to smile every day. I look in the mirror and barely recognize myself because I’m so damn happy.
Her slow walk down the aisle with her swaying hips has me thinking things that I definitely shouldn’t be while standing in the middle of church. But I can’t help it because this woman gets me going. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing. I can’t get enough of her.