She slipped his ring on his finger and beamed up at him, so full of love and happiness she thought she’d burst from it.
“Gina,” he said, his thumb rubbing across her hand, “you are wonderfully wild and crazy and my life hasn’t been the same from the moment I met you. I don’t think I was truly alive until the day you walked into my life. And I know life wouldn’t be worth living without you in it. I promise to always have your back. Even when you are doing something borderline illegal and most likely insane.”
That surprised a laugh out of her, and a couple of tears. He wiped them away as he smiled.
“I promise to support you in all your endeavors, even when they are harebrained and guaranteed to get us arrested. I won’t promise not to try to talk you out of them…but on the good chance I can’t change your mind, I’ll be there for you, no matter what. I promise to love you, and protect you, and do my best to make you happy every day of your life. I also promise to keep you safe from Alejandro and the rest of his cartel for as long as I live. After that, you’re on your own.”
She laughed and squeezed his hand. “Deal.”
“I promise to love you every day of this life and into the next, and to show you how much you mean to me for as long as the universe allows.”
He slipped her ring on her finger and enclosed her hands in his. Then they looked at Jared.
He wiped what Gina thought might actually be a real tear away and cleared his throat. “Damn, you guys.” He blew out a breath. “Okay. So, by the power vested in me by the internet guys, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
They didn’t need any prompting. Rick pulled her close. “Mrs. Boyd.”
She reached up to caress his cheek. “Mr. Boyd.”
His lips met hers, and their audience cheered.
Gina barely heard them. She was lost in her husband, her heart overflowing with a love and happiness she had never dreamed possible. She’d never have guessed that Rick would be such a perfect match for her. His steadfastness, far from being boring and predictable, brought the calm security she needed in her life. He was her haven, her safe place. He was everything she never knew she was missing.
But hey, what did she know? Looked like even girls who had never dreamed of a happily ever after sometimes got one.