The dress itself was relatively simple with a belted waist and plunging neckline. The deep slit that showed off lots of leg was where it stood out. Liv had fought like hell to get me to wear it. And now looking at myself, I was glad, as usual, that I’d listened to her.
After everything that had happened with Jared, Max and I didn’t want to wait long to get married. Instead, we’d thrown ourselves into creating an outdoor oasis in the backyard. We’d cut down trees, cleared brush, and landscaped it into a perfect setting for our wedding.
It felt right to both of us to get married at home.
“The guys are having trouble keeping Max out of here,” Ginnie shared with a grin as she looked at her phone, no doubt texting with X.
“Well he’s just gonna have to wait,” I replied. It was important to me that he didn’t see me before the ceremony. Less so because of the superstition and more because I wasn’t sure what he’d think of the dress.
“Won’t be long now.” My mom smiled through a sheen of tears.
Jill wrapped a supportive arm around her as they both looked at me through tears. When she approached, cupping my face in her hands, I had to bite back my own emotion.
“You make my son so happy,” she murmured. “Thank you, Wren.”
“He makes me happy too.” I barely managed to speak around the lump in my throat.
“Now, you’re marrying a Jackson man, I have a bit of advice that you probably don’t need, but you’re going to get it anyway.”
I nodded with a grin, knowing there was no stopping her even if I wanted to.
“Our men, they’re stubborn as hell, but you and I, we’re cut from the same cloth. We’re just as stubborn and usually right, am I right?” She winked. At my nod, she continued. “Let him win some, honey, especially when it comes to your safety. Let him be overprotective when he needs to be. Let him brood if he wants to, but force him to talk when you know he needs to. Let him be himself, but push him in the only way someone who truly loves him can.” Tears were sliding down both our cheeks as she continued. “Let him eat all the muffins—I left you his favorite recipe.” She smiled. “But most of all, just love the hell out of each other.”
“We will,” I promised.
“Let’s get married.” Her words were met by whoops of excitement from the women I’d loved for as long as I could remember.
A knock at the door had me biting back tears all over again because I knew it was my pop coming to get me. When he stepped inside, I watched him visibly swallow.
“You look beautiful,” he told me hoarsely, opening his arm for me to press into his side.
“Thanks, Pop.”
“You’ll always be my baby, you know that?” he murmured, kissing the side of my head.
“I know,” I agreed as Mom led the girls outside to find their seats. We weren’t doing a formal ceremony, no bridesmaids or groomsmen. Our only wedding party member was Rosie, who would hopefully cooperate and bring us the rings.
Pop took my hand, and together we walked down the hallway and toward the patio doors that would lead me to my man. Nerves had my pulse racing as we stepped onto the deck and I caught sight of Max, looking incredible in black slacks and a vest, his muscular arms clasped in front of him as he waited.
The moment our eyes locked, my nerves disappeared and all I could think about was running toward him. I watched as Max’s gaze slid slowly over my frame, devouring every inch. He shifted his stance as though impatient to get his hands on me.
That made two of us.
My pop pulled me back with a chuckle. “Soon enough, little bird.”
The walk through our friends and family was a blur as I kept my eyes glued to Max. Finally, he was a breath away and my pop was placing my hand in his. He clapped Max on the shoulder. “Take care of her.”
Max looked at him with an earnest nod. “With everything I am.”
Cole cleared his throat, clearly ready to begin. We’d asked him to officiate our ceremony, wanting someone close to us, and Cole could command a room, there was that added bonus.
With Max’s strong hands engulfing mine, my dream since childhood came true as I became his and he became mine.
I didn’t even care when Rosie went rogue, and instead of running toward us, she took off toward the house with a squeal.
The sight of Gunner and Cash trying to grab her, swearing the entire time, made it well worth it. When X bellowed, “Grab the ham!” I thought I was going to lose it.
“You’re finally mine,” Max growled as he pulled me close for our first dance. The ceremony was over and our friends and family stood milling about, drinking and talking, the sound of joy booming off the trees that encircled our land.
“I’ve been yours,” I reminded him with a smile.
He tweaked the rings on my left hand. “Now there’s no doubt.”
“No doubt,” I assured him.
“This dress….” He trailed off. “Glad I didn’t see it before—probably wouldn’t have let you wear it, and you look hotter than hell,” he admitted. “Those damn legs of yours.” He shook his head as though to clear it.
I smiled. I knew my man too well.
He looked at something over my shoulder before turning back to me. “Gonna have you dance with your pop, baby,” he murmured, dipping to kiss my lips gently. “This isn’t easy for him, even if he’s happy.”
“No,” I agreed, falling a little more in love with my man in that moment.
“I’ll be right behind you.”
I got to have this man at my back for the rest of my life, and I got to have his. It had been a wild ride to get here, but it was worth every misstep and every bump because it had led me here, to him.
Where I’d stay for the rest of my life.
~The End~