Enlightening Bloom(27)

"What?" Bloom asks. I explain my image of Tucker skipping around while picking the flowers and she giggles too. "That would be a funny sight." She gets all serious. "He's doing everything he can to make tonight perfect for you."

The tears spill out of my eyes before I can stop them. "Dang it! I'm messing up my makeup."

She hands me a faded red handkerchief. "Go ahead and cry. I'll help you fix your face when you're done."

"I love you." I tell her between wiping away tears.

"I love you, too."

I sit down on the edge of the bed, gripping the bouquet to my chest. "I wish you could use your Oracle super powers and tell me I'm doing the right thing."

"Oracle super powers?" She giggles, sitting down beside me.

"Yeah, super powers."

"I'm about as close to being a super hero as Super Grover." She bumps her shoulder into mine as her giggles turn into a full blown laugh.

"You have super powers though unlike him."

"Let's call it gifts. Super powers make me think of a man flying around in a cape with his underwear showing."

"Fine. I wish you could use your gifts to tell me I'm doing the right thing. Better?"

"Much." She puts her arm around my shoulders and I lean my head against hers. "I don't need to use my gift to know this is right. He's your mate, Bon. Tucker was born to be by your side, and you by his. Not every moment will be perfect, but if you both open yourselves to your connection the perfect moments will outweigh the imperfect."

"I'll take your word, but if the big oaf breaks my heart I'm stabbing him with my new dagger."

"If he breaks your heart I'll help you stab him. Now, on to something more important."

"What's more important?"

"Picking the shoe's you're going to wear with that dress, of course!"

I hold up my feet and wiggle my toes while laughing. "I was thinking of going barefoot." At her shocked face I explain. "I thought it would fit the dress better, plus I'd break a leg trying to walk through these woods in heels."





Chapter 17 – Bonnie



The ATV lurches up the mountain. I have a death grip on the frame, using sheer will to keep my ass in the seat and not on the dirty ground. I may be a small town girl who knows how to use a gun, but that doesn't mean I enjoy this redneck shit. Bloom is a different story. She’s driving with huge grin on her face. The silly girl loves anything that’ll put a new layer of dirt on her boots.

We hit another bump that threatens to dislodge me from the vehicle and I ask, once again. “How much further?”

“I see the break in the tree’s up ahead. So not much longer my prissy friend.”

“What’s the plan?” I ask, ignoring the prissy comment.

“Pike said for us to park inside the tree line and walk out. That we’ll know where to go from there.”

“Why didn’t we do this at the cabin?” I grumble like a petulant child.

She brings the ATV to a stop and smiles at me. “Because Tuck has a surprise for you. Stop the whining and enjoy.”

I cross my arms against my chest and huff. “If I must.”

“You must.” She says, mocking my tone of voice as she climbs out of the vehicle.

“Where are you going?” I ask, uncrossing my arms.

She motions to the woods around us and states the obvious. “We’re here.” She walks around to my side and offers me her hand.

“This really is the middle of no-where.” I say, taking hold of her outstretched hand and sliding out. I straighten the dress, run my fingers through my hair, and then grab the bouquet out of the seat I just vacated.

“Were you expecting a five star resort to be hidden out here?”

“Of course not.”

“I didn’t think so.” She holds out her arm. “Now stop trying to stall. You have a giant wolf who’s anxious to see you.”

I twist my arm through hers, but before she can start leading me to Tucker I stop to take a deep breath and release it. I agreed to this. It’s time to put on my big girl panties and get the job done.

“I’m ready.”

Together we walk out of the woods and into the clearing. I’m not expecting much. How can I? I threw this out there only a few short hours ago. That didn’t leave a lot of time to plan, not to mention being pretty far from any sort of store. But still the view that meets my eyes takes my breath. A small clearing is lit with an aisle made of mismatched candles. The sun is setting so the once blue sky is now streaked with hues of purples, pinks, and oranges. As we start down the aisle, music starts up. I look around and find Rhett strumming a guitar. It’s not the traditional wedding march but instead a soft, sweet melody. He and the rest of the Savage pack are seated on quilts on the ground, lining either side of the makeshift aisle. But after the quick glance around to see where the music was coming from, my eyes move straight ahead and get locked with the man waiting on me.