Surviving Broken(101)
Giving a quick glimpse at the sign lying on the middle of the floor, she bit her lip in mortification. Heat encompassed her tingling body. Lifting her head, she gazed into his glacier blue eyes. “Yes, Reed Rider. I’m gonna marry you.”
He lowered, nibbling on the tender edge of her ear, opening to take her mouth—
“Awe!” Tracy sniffled with a squeal of delight.
JC half opened her eyes, twisting to glance over Reed’s shoulder.
Tracy stood in the open doorway leading to the backyard.
“Tracy?”
“Your family needs better timing.” He hauled her in closer, not letting go.
“Our family will learn to wait.” JC curled her arms around his back and buried her mouth in his, giving him the passionate I do he deserved, a blistering kiss that made her knees buckle.
“Awe,” came another sappy cry.
Reed released her reluctantly, his breath hot and panting against her chin. He swatted her butt, giving her the green light to run to her sister. And she did.
JC and Tracy clung to each other, both smiling with giddy excitement. She blinked hard, holding back the sting of tears. “Isn’t he great?” JC boasted.
“Yes, he’s a keeper. I’m sorry, that’s partially my fault.” She pointed remorsefully at the sign. “I thought for sure you’d want to keep the beach house.”
Reed gripped her from behind, crossing his strong arms beneath her chest and resting his cheek on the top of her head.
JC beamed and her vision blurred through a pool of wetness. “Actually, I do like the beach house a little bit better, but—” she choked, tilting her head back and resting it on his shoulder. She smiled bashfully into the eyes of the man of her dreams, ready to take on a new chapter in her life. “We need a big yard for the kids to play.”
A full grin drenched in of love and contentment crossed his face. “Yes. Yes, we do.”
EPILOGUE
Gazing past her reflection in the mirror, the morning sky held cotton candy swirls of magenta pinks and tangerine oranges floating between the palates of coastal grey. The aroma of coffee drifted through the room mixing with the essence of her bouquet of sunflowers and red roses, resting in a vase on her nightstand.
Tracy’s fingers tugged gently, pulling wavy pieces of hair from her braid, delicately bordering her face. The simple loose braid weaved three times at her nape, allowing her long tussled hair to fall over one bare shoulder.
Tom knocked softly on the open door. “Are you about ready?”
JC nodded, turning in her chair, clasping Tracy’s hands.
Tracy smiled, giving her a quick squeeze, careful not to do any damage. “You look beautiful. I’ll see you out there.”
JC rose from her seat, grabbing a photograph tucked carefully into the corner of her intricately framed mirror. She extended the picture toward Tom. “Would you mind putting this in your jacket pocket?” She blinked back the burn. “I’d like to think he’s here with me.”
“Of course.” He smiled warmly, slipping the picture of her daddy inside his suit pocket, escorting her out of the room.
Reed, Sam and Tracy stood with the preacher under the huge magnolia tree. An intimate group of family and friends gathered near the bluffs edge in the backyard. There were no chairs and no aisle. JC adamantly refused when planning their wedding, stating, “This wedding isn’t about his side of the family and my side of the family, this is about our family.”
JC paused at the open doorway at the back of the house. She took a deep breath and smoothed her palms over the tulle cascading from her corseted waist.
Tom wrapped her arm through his and patted her hand. “Are you ready, Frog?”
She nodded.
As the day began to break and the serenade of the northern mocking birds ushered her through the yard, JC caught sight of Reed. Layers of his light brown hair curled around the collar of his charcoal grey suit. His face colored a shade of blush she’d never seen him wear before.
Tom stopped in front of Reed. He pressed a kiss to her left cheek. “This one is from me.” And then to the right. “This one is from him.” He patted his pocket and relinquished her arm.
The heat of Reeds touch engulfed her senses as he took hold of her hands. Her chin crumpled and tears of joy threatened to spill from her lashes. JC tried to pull her emotions together, but knew if she dared to look up at him she’d breakdown.
“Eyes on me, darlin’.” Came a raspy whisper drawing her full attention. She slowly lifted her chin. When their gazes caught, his eyes were red, giving away the raw sentiment spilling from his heart. He smiled, steeling the very breath from her lungs.