Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Joe nodded his assent. “I believe you’re right, Luther.”
Music played. It didn’t sound like any wedding march Leila had ever heard, but it was upbeat and fun. Bridget moved up the aisle to stand opposite Rubin, who was acting as Diego’s best man, just as Bridget was Leila’s maid of honor. Luckily, there were enough anchors in the crowd that her sister wasn’t feeling any pain at all in spite of the fact that Whitney had stripped her brain of most filters.
Leila took a moment to take in her sister. She still looked drawn and pale, but her face was relaxed, and her smile was huge. Her eyes were bright. She met Leila’s gaze, and instantly, Leila felt the love Bridget projected.
At Luther’s urging, she started down the aisle, following Wyatt’s triplets and Gracie as they threw the petals of flowers in front of her. Gracie was very enthusiastic with the tossing of petals. They went into the air, showering the four girls with colorful flowers. She threw them at the people seated in the rows of chairs on either side of the aisle. She ate one just to see what it tasted like. All the while, Ginger, Thym and Cannelle kept her moving when she tried to do a little dance and got distracted by a purse on the floor by a chair.
Luther and Leila exchanged an amused look, and then she looked toward the archway that had been set up where Diego stood. He had that smile, the one she loved so much, his gaze on Gracie. He looked so proud of her. It was easy to forget he wasn’t her biological father.
Diego’s gaze lifted to her. She felt his swift intake of breath. The surge of love pouring into her mind. So Diego. So her man. She concentrated on him. How handsome he looked in his suit. How he made her heart skip a beat the moment their gazes connected. How focused he was on her. It was easy to block out everything around her once she was falling into his gaze.
She tightened her hold on Luther’s arm, blinking back tears of joy. This could be the best day of my life.
I’m with you, sweetheart. I can’t say for certain because we’ve had several incredible times together. I know I’ll treasure every memory I ever have with you.
I’m going to love you like you never expected to be loved, she vowed.
I never thought any woman would ever love me, Leila. Not ever. You’re a miracle to me. I swear to you, no matter what happens in the future, you’re always going to be safe with me. Things aren’t always going to be perfect. Life can be tough, but I believe we’ll do fine as long as we’re together.
Diego took several steps to meet them, and Luther put Leila’s hand in his before leaning down to brush a kiss on her cheek. Luther answered the preacher when asked who was giving the bride to the groom. When he answered, his voice was firm.
Diego led her to the archway, which was covered in flowers. He took both her hands in his, and the intensity in his dark velvet eyes made her heart melt. This was her man. Her choice. Her forever. She was that certain. She had no idea how she’d gotten to this place, was granted this miracle, but there he was, standing in front of her, looking at her with stark, raw love.
Her heart beat wildly, the way it often did when she caught her first sight of him or when she watched him carrying Gracie, rocking her or talking softly to her. He had a voice that could soothe the most feral of beasts and the calmest energy she’d ever encountered.
She repeated her vows in a whisper, but she meant every single word. Diego slipped a ring on her finger and brought her hand to his mouth before turning back to the preacher. It was those little things he did that captured her heart.
Thank you, Leila, for changing my life. For giving me a family and loving me so unconditionally.
As always when he spoke so intimately, she could feel his emotions. She smiled up at him, love bursting through her. She still had to face their reception, but she felt she could do anything with him at her side.
“I’m going to love you for eternity,” she whispered, meaning it.