"So far so good. Looking at her right now, you'd never know she was shot last night." He broke into a smile when he saw her standing off to the side of the white gazebo set into the middle of the garden, talking to Devon and Maya, all in their bridesmaids dresses.
"Yeah, she looks good."
She sure as hell did. The soft peach gown made her skin glow, and the sunlight glinted off her golden-blond hair. She'd carefully tucked the bandage beneath the edge of the fabric where it crossed her shoulder blade, and what the dress didn't hide of the bruising she'd managed to cover with makeup.
Watching her now, a powerful tide of love and protectiveness flowed through him. She meant everything to him, and as much as being wounded sucked for them both, it meant he'd have more time stateside with her while he healed up. After all this he wanted time alone to reconnect with her without any interruptions or distractions. To show her how much he loved her, how much she meant to him.
"Went, Thatcher."
They both turned their heads to find Liam and Honor Magrath heading their way across the lawn. Liam wore a dark suit and Honor had on a pale green dress. "Hey, you guys made it after all."
"Just in time." The Night Stalker pilot took in Ryan's sling and offered him his left hand to shake.
Apparently not satisfied with a mere handshake, Honor wrapped her arms around Ryan's waist instead, her pale blue eyes searching his. "We just heard what happened. Are you all right?"
"I'm okay."
"And Ace?"
"See for yourself." He nodded toward Candace.
Honor's strawberry-blond hair swished around her shoulders as she turned her head toward Candace, then back to him. "Okay, now I feel better."
Liam set an arm around her shoulders, looking at him and Jackson. "Sorry I missed out on the action. I hear you guys had one hell of a hunting expedition last night."
"Yeah, we did." Ryan looked around. "Where's Cam?"
"He'll be here in a sec." Jackson nodded toward the neatly-arranged rows of white folding chairs set out on the lawn in front of the gazebo. "Shall we?"
Violin music started up a minute after they'd sat down, signaling the start of the ceremony. He half turned in his seat to watch Wade stride down the grassy aisle with his groomsmen and stand at the entrance of the gazebo dressed in a black tux and Stetson to await his bride.
Next came the bridesmaids. He couldn't take his eyes off his wife. She glowed up there at the front of the line of bridesmaids, tall and gorgeous and strong, giving no sign of the pain he knew she was in.
Damn, she amazed him. When this was over, he was going to take her away someplace to relax. Somewhere with a white sand beach and their own private hideaway within sight of the ocean, where they could be alone and enjoy each other's company.
When everyone was at the altar, Maya appeared at the top of the aisle, looking shockingly soft and feminine in her matron of honor gown. She walked down to take her place directly next to the altar, and faced front to await the bride.
After a pause the violinist began a new song and Erin stepped into view, her arm linked through her father's. Even through the veil Ryan could see the tears in her eyes and the tremulous smile on her mouth as she walked toward Wade.
He smiled. Those two had gone through hell together too. Ryan was damn glad they were getting the chance to have a happily ever after.
During the vows, Ryan watched his wife, reminded of their own wedding last year. There had been hundreds of guests there, most of whom he hadn't even known, and the whole thing had been over-the-top in his opinion, but he still remembered the important things. The way Candace had looked in that gorgeous ivory gown, the way her hand had gripped his during the vows … and every single promise they'd made to each other that day.
Even though she knew he loved her and he'd tried to show her how much, Ryan had to admit he hadn't been the greatest husband so far. Like she'd said, he'd let her down, and that still bothered him. He'd never meant to make her feel alone or insignificant. He was going to work way harder to be there for her emotionally going forward.
She'd known what she was getting with him and his job when they'd gotten married, and she'd stood by him. His career meant he was away from her for long stretches at a time, but from now on when he did have the chance to talk to her, whether by phone or computer, he would try harder to love her the way she deserved.
A second honeymoon was exactly what the doctor ordered for them. Now that they were both recuperating from gunshot wounds, getting away for an extended trip was even more important. Time to heal and have the chance to fall in love with each other all over again. He'd romance her so much she wouldn't even know what hit her.
Sounded like a hell of a plan to him.
Erin and Wade finished their vows and sealed them with a long, definitely not PG kiss that had the audience whistling and cheering. As soon as they disappeared up the aisle, with Maya, Candace, Dev and the others trailing behind, Ryan followed.
When the blessedly short receiving line wound to a close, he snagged his wife's hand and took her to a private corner around the side of the main building. He wanted to be alone with her for a few minutes.
"What did you think?" she asked him, eyes glowing with happiness despite the fatigue and discomfort he could see lurking there. "Wasn't it great?"
"What I think is that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on." Her expression softened as he took her face in his hand and brought his mouth down on hers. He nibbled at her luscious lower lip for a moment before delving his tongue inside to stroke hers, unable to get enough of her.
"I can see you two necking over there," said a scratchy voice from behind them. "Don't make me come over there and slap you for public indecency, Ryan, because I will if I have to."
Breaking the kiss, Ryan sighed and rested his forehead against Candace's. "She's like a bad smell that won't go away."
Candace giggled and wound her right arm around his waist. "Don't let her hear you say that."
Not in a million years.
Straightening, he turned slightly to face Ruby, who stood near the front entrance of the main building in her bright purple dress, puffing on a cigarette, her right wrist still wrapped up. "And here I thought you had to be all slapped out after last night."
Ruby exhaled a mouthful of smoke and grinned, her expression delighted as she dropped the cigarette and crushed it into the grass beneath the toe of her high-heeled shoe. "Not quite." Chuckling to herself, she turned and disappeared back inside.
He looked back at his wife. "I guess this means we're finally buddies?"
"I think it must," she answered, sounding impressed.
"Guess being teammates on a little covert night op is all it takes to win her over. Who knew?" Candace's husky laugh filled him with warmth. Slipping a hand around the nape of her neck, he kissed the tip of her nose. "I love you so much. More than you'll ever know. And I'll even risk bodily harm by dancing with your bat shit-crazy grandma later on to prove it."
She laughed again, softly this time, leaning her body against his. "She's in her late eighties, Ryan. Chances are she won't be around that much longer. We should embrace her quirkiness and enjoy her while we can."
More like she'll live to be over a hundred with the way she'd already pickled her internal organs with a lifetime of rye. "Like I said before," he said, wrapping his left arm around her waist to escort her back inside. He'd do anything for her. "She's growing on me."
Epilogue
Eight days later
"Okay, Maya and Jackson were right. This place really is paradise on earth."
Candace turned her head on the chaise lounge to look at Ryan, also stretched out on his back, enjoying the warm, tropical sun from the privacy of the back lawn of the beach house they'd rented in Poipu, on the island of Kauai.
The private property was a luxurious and insanely expensive accommodation that they were loving way too much. It wasn't something they ever would have shelled out for with their finances, but given everything that had happened at the resort, her grandmother had insisted upon paying for their second honeymoon, and for once, Ryan had accepted her generosity.
"I know," she murmured, basking in the heavenly combination of the warm sun and balmy breeze that rustled through the coconut palms ringing the sides of the yard and the birds of paradise that grew along the stone foundation of the house.
"Remind me to thank your grandma again when we get home."
She laughed at him. "Whatever, like you haven't already talked to her twice a day since we got here. I know you guys are texting buddies now."
Ryan's lips twitched, his eyes hidden by his shades. "I think I've grown on her."
"I think so too. Never in a million years would I have ever thought you two would wind up bonding so tight."
"Seriously. I'd have taken her on a mission a year ago if I'd known that was the key."
Chuckling under her breath, she settled back against the padded headrest and let out a contented sigh. Before them, the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean stretched out, ending in turquoise waves that exploded into white foam as they crashed against the lava rock on the shore. "We stopping by that acai bowl place on the way back from the clinic?" They had to get their stitches out.