Cowboy Up(79)

“I’m gettin’ married!”

“Not if you don’t stop dancin’ around, you aren’t. Come on, crazy girl, your man is waitin’.”

I drop my arms and turn to him, my cheeks burning from the enormous grin on my face. “This is it, Luke. This is my forever.”

His eyes get soft and he grabs the hand not holding my bouquet. “No one deserves it more.”

“Thank you, Lucas,” I tell him after he helps me into the golf cart. “Thank you for bein’ there for me all these years. You didn’t have to be, but you were. I just want you to know how much your friendship means to me.”

He taps my nose with his finger and grins. “You’re family, darlin’. I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. That’s what family does. That will always hold true. Even with you gainin’ a husband I know will protect you completely, I’m always gonna be here if you need me.”

I reach out and grab his hand, not trusting myself to answer him without breaking down like a baby, and squeeze. Luke gives me a nod, then presses his foot down and takes off on the trail that will bring me to my forever.





24


CLAYTON


“It Took a Woman” by Craig Morgan



“Jesus,” I hiss, feeling my heart try to burst out of my damn chest when I see Caroline step down from the golf cart and smile at Luke as he walks around to hold his elbow out for her.

She looks like one hell of a vision. Her dress makes her tanned skin glow, the bright white lace hugging her small frame like it was made just for her. The low-cut neckline highlights her small breasts—and the fact that there is no way she’s got a bra on. Her long, dark hair is pulled up into some messy curly bunch at the base of her neck, exposing each delicate inch.

It’s her face, though, that holds me captive, openly projecting her happiness to everyone who is with us up on the hill that I used to run to when I needed to feel grounded. The same hill that I made love to her on two weeks ago when I asked her to be my wife. If you’d told me years ago that I’d be marrying the love of my life right here in this spot, I would’ve laughed you right out of Pine Oak.

She and Luke start to walk down the flower-petal-covered path that’ll bring her to the gazebo I built in our spot. I did as much of the work as I could myself, but with limited time to give her something perfect, I had to get help. Drew and I pulled a few of the boys off their normal duties and with the help of my brothers as well, we created something I have no doubt will be standing for many years to come. The large, square base covers the expanse of where I got on my knee, the roof keeps us covered, and the low walls around the opening she’s walking up ensure I can keep loving her out in the open while giving us some privacy.

With each step she takes toward me, I have to fight the need to rush to her. Feeling a nudge against my arm, I reluctantly look away from Caroline. The handkerchief in Maverick’s hand silently gets passed to mine and I wipe the tears I hadn’t realized I was crying. Caroline takes the last step into the gazebo and pulls the material from my grasp, wiping my eyes for me with the most serene expression on her beautiful face. When she’s done, I take it from her and return the favor when one tear of her own slips down her cheek.

“Oh, God,” one of the girls sobs.

I hear some more sniffles, but I can’t look away from Caroline to see who is crying. My eyes don’t leave hers once while Judge Allan—the only person available to marry us on a Wednesday night—speaks out for the small group to hear clearly. The whole ceremony is a fog for me, my focus only on Caroline as my heart pounds happily. I slip my band on her finger without breaking our gaze, and she does the same. The second the solid weight of my wedding band registers, I feel my control slipping and my eyes watering. She doesn’t miss it either, but I reckon she’s too busy holding her own emotions in check to do much about it. It isn’t until Judge Allan tells me I can kiss my bride that I move.

My hands frame her face and my feet take a step closer until I bend and take my wife’s mouth in a slow, deep kiss. I have to force myself to pull away, but when I look down at Caroline—my wife—and see the dazed stare in her dark eyes I smile and drop my forehead to hers.

“I love you. I loved you before you were my wife and I’ll love you long after my last breath. Thank you, Linney, for blessin’ my life.”

She hiccups out a soft sob, closing her eyes and tightening her arms around me. “Heavens above, Clayton Davis. You’re an incredible man. You own my heart, honey. Now and forever.”

I move my mouth to her ear, making sure no one can hear me, and grin when she sucks in a breath. “I’m gonna be bad with my wife tonight.”