When It's Right(94)
“Was Gillian pissed you were hungover this morning?” Gabe asked.
“Good thing you had a designated driver,” Dane chimed in.
“He wouldn’t have needed one if you hadn’t broken out the whiskey and called for shots.”
“Hey, we needed a toast. Beer just doesn’t cut it. Besides, Gabe’s lady drank us under the table and won every damn poker hand once she started playing for him.”
“Gillian and Summer were having a good time watching us. They really hit it off,” Blake said.
“That’s because they were the only two sober people in the room,” Dane pointed out. “Summer’s pregnant, and your girl’s not old enough to drink.”
“Like that ever stopped any of us,” Caleb pointed out.
“When did she get her driver’s license? Last month?” Dane teased.
Blake smacked him on the back of the head to shut him up. Their mother and father walked into the room, keeping him from laying into Dane.
“She’s ready,” his mother announced. “Let’s go, boys. We’ll walk down first. Your father will escort Ella.” His mother waved her hands to get them moving out the door. No one had to prod Gabe. He couldn’t wait for this day to be over and for Ella to be his wife.
Blake wondered if Gabe suggested their father walk her down the aisle just to be sure Ella didn’t run out on the ceremony like his first fiancée did. He dismissed the idea immediately. No way Ella backed out. She loved Gabe. The way she looked at him said it all.
He followed Gabe as they walked down the rose-petal-strewn path between the rows of family and friends waiting for the ceremony to begin. Gillian sat on the right. He caught her eye. Yep, that’s exactly the way Ella stared at Gabe.
The brothers stood shoulder to shoulder at the front of the small crowd, the preacher next to Gabe, ready to start the ceremony.
“I was just messing with you, Blake. I like Gillian. She’s nothing like the young girls who follow me around the rodeo circuit,” Dane whispered.
“No, she didn’t flash her boobs, despite how much you flirted with her.”
“That was just to mess with you. Territorial much?”
“Leave my woman alone,” Blake warned. Dane didn’t mean the flirting. He did it with every woman he met, young or old. One day, Dane would find a woman who’d give him a run for his money and call him on all his bullshit.
“You two looked pretty serious last night,” Gabe pointed out, talking out the side of his mouth in low tones, so no one overheard them.
“We are serious.”
“How serious?” Caleb whispered, eying him.
“I’m going to marry her.”
All of his brothers turned and stared at him, but he only had eyes for the beautiful woman sitting in the audience staring back at him with a pretty smile on her face. Lovely in her blue gown, she fit in with the rest of the female guests wearing similar shades of blue, as Ella requested.
None of his brothers got a chance to comment on his announcement. The music played, and Ella’s bridesmaids, two friends from New York, walked down the aisle ahead of Summer, who served as the matron of honor. Her round belly filled out the front of her blue dress, which draped down to her knees. Beautiful in her pregnancy, she glowed.
Blake wondered what Gillian would look like round with his baby. He glanced at her, and she cocked her head, probably wondering why he stared so hard. He couldn’t help it. Being at the wedding today made him even more anxious for the kind of life his parents shared for over thirty years, Caleb had with Summer, and Gabe was just beginning with Ella.
Their father stood with Ella at the end of the aisle. Her gaze found Gabe’s, and she smiled so brightly that even Blake thought her the most beautiful bride he’d ever seen. The white beaded gown hugged her curves to her knees and draped down to cover her feet. The neckline dipped low. The sleeves encased her arms, one tucked into his father’s, the other holding her bouquet of white roses and lilies.
Blake glanced at Gabe’s face. Mesmerized by his bride, he never took his eyes off her as she walked down the aisle toward him.
“Breathe, man,” Blake prompted.
When their father placed Ella’s hand in Gabe’s, his brother finally took a deep breath and smiled like a lunatic at Ella.
The ceremony was beautiful and sweet. When it came time to exchange rings, Gabe turned to him. An old gag, but Blake went with it anyway, patting his pockets, waiting for the look of panic to come over Gabe’s face, thinking Blake had lost the ring. Blake pulled it out and smiled wickedly at his big brother.
Just the moment they needed to break the tension. Gabe’s shoulders relaxed. Ella laughed and the rest of the ceremony flew by, ending with a steamy kiss.