“Mmm.” He glanced down then up. “Now I know why they call it giving away. It feels like that.”
“You’re being very brave.” She teased him but laid a gentle hand on his cheek.
Not really. He’d needed to see her. She lowered her hand before he could cover it with his own.
“McKinney’s taking all my fun. I can hardly act domineering and scary when he’s checking his watch and pacing like a damn tiger we’re holding caged from his mate.”
Mia smiled again, her eyes sparkling like black pearls. Love for her rolled through him and over him almost violently. Damn, he wanted to fall at her feet, beg her to say she still felt the same. Not now, but soon. “How’s everything going in there?”
“Fine. All excited smiles and giggles. I got her to eat.”
“Good. That’s good.” He laughed nervously. The day, the wedding, Mia, all of it had him twisted up. “Did Hannah say anything about Dallas?”
“Not really. She told me he couldn’t be here, but I don’t think she was that surprised. I don’t think it’s dampening her day. She’s just too happy.”
“Okay. That’s good.” He continued to stare, his eyes roaming over her exquisite face, thinking about doing something crazy, like hauling her in for a kiss, when the door cracked open.
Lizzie McKinney stuck her head out. “Hey, what’s going on out here? Are my idiot brothers being idiots?”
“No. Everything’s under control,” Nick said.
“Okay. This is girl time. Mia, get back in here.” Lizzie closed the door on a burst of raucous laughter.
Nick raised an eyebrow. “Maybe we should be more worried about what’s going on in your room.”
She smiled softly. “I should probably get back in there.”
“Yeah.” A beat of silence passed, and neither of them moved.
He searched her face. He was pretty sure she loved him. He’d felt it, seen it in her eyes. However long it had been, he knew her eyes. He dreamed of them. But did she trust him? His job had taken longer than he thought, then it had been full throttle toward the wedding. They needed their time. “I want to talk to you.”
“We will. Later.”
“Okay.” He reached for her hand, held it loosely in his, then turned it over slowly, just needing to touch her. “You know, if I’m playing the part of father of the bride, you fit the role of mother. You were like a mother to Hannah for a lot of years. Like a sister, but also like a mother. I’m not sure I ever thanked you enough for that.”
Her dark eyes glistened with tears.
“Shit, Mia, I didn’t mean to—”
“You didn’t. And you don’t have to thank me.” With her hands on his shoulders, she rose up, pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “We did good.”
“Yes, we did.” He could finally say that and mean it with no self-recriminations.
She looked at her watch. “Now it really is almost time.”
“Yeah. I should get back to the man side.” He waited until she’d closed the door before he walked away. Very soon, he wouldn’t be walking away anymore.
* * *
ZACH HUGGED HANNAH ONE more time, as Luke had, then, with a smile and a kiss on the cheek, left to take his place in the church. Now Nick stood with Hannah off to the side of the church’s narthex. It was almost time. “You look so much like Mom.”
“Don’t make me cry.”
“I don’t mean to.” Her hair hung in long, loose curls, and he touched one gently like he’d done so many times since she was born. Still soft. Even on this day, Hannah wouldn’t have stiff, sprayed hair. That wasn’t his sister’s style. And she did have style. And grace. The only other woman he’d ever thought that about was Mia.
“I’m glad you’re here, Nick. I’m glad you’re walking me down the aisle. Every girl should be so lucky to have a brother like you.”
His nose burned. Now he was in danger of water works. “I’m so damn proud of you. I know Mom and Dad are too.”
“I know. I feel them here with us, don’t you?”
“They wouldn’t miss it.”
“Nick?”
“What, baby?” He adjusted her veil. Not really adjusted, just touched, because what did he know about veils?
“I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
She stared at him so long he thought maybe she’d changed her mind, and he started racing through his planned escape routes.
“I need you to be happy,” she said. “Please be happy.”
“I am happy for you. Shit, Hannah—”