Apparently, she’d had one of her first dates here with Cain.
I’d told Shane I didn’t need anything fancy, but he’d put his foot down. He’d gone above my head, actually giving Kelly his credit card and telling her to get whatever she thought I might want, including the gorgeous dress I was wearing.
I was still shaking my head at that particular extravagance.
But he wanted it to be perfect. And as I stood at the edge of the aisle I was to walk down, I could see that it was.
My friends crowded around me. Kelly, Michelle, and Cass each gave me a quick hug before they went down the aisle. Then came Payton. I giggled as she gave me a high-five.
And then it was my turn.
I stepped out between the rows of chairs. It wasn’t a big wedding, but Shane had people. And now, thanks to him and Mason and Michelle giving me the job at the bar, so did I.
I smiled at Bessie, the woman who had shared my hospital room. She’d recovered just like I had and we’d kept in touch. She gave me a thumbs-up sign.
Jaken and Shorty grinned at me as I walked past. A few of the other waitresses from The Jar were there too. Even Danny, the sometimes bar back, was there.
But I barely noticed any of them. All my attention was on the gorgeous man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
My husband-to-be.
Shane looked so handsome standing there. His dark suit fit him perfectly, hugging his broad shoulders and showing off his trim waist. His already long legs looked even longer. To be honest, I wanted to climb him like a tree.
I could see his ink peeking out from his collar. His hair was a little too rock and roll to be a traditional groom. He looked more like a rock star at an award ceremony than anything else.
I sighed dreamily, knowing I would have to be beating off women with a stick for the rest of my life. My man was just too good-looking. Classically handsome, with just a healthy dose of dangerousness thrown in. And if they knew how loyal and loving and passionate he was, well, forget it.
It was impossible to be sexier than Shane.
It was the look in his eyes, though, that took my breath away.
All the love in the world was shining out. That look was just for me. I inhaled and exhaled, having to remind myself to breathe. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and wonder.
This is real. This is happening.
I’m the luckiest girl in the entire freaking world.
One foot in front of the other, I reminded myself. And then I was there. I’d managed not to trip over my own feet out of nervousness. I gave myself a little mental pat on the back for making it this far.
Shane took my hand, staring at me like I was the eighth wonder of the world. I gave him a tremulous smile. We turned to face Preacher.
The older man was exceptionally dashing, with his white hair and dark jacket. He looked a bit intimidating in his leather. He was just as built as my husband, and equally tatted.
I was fond of him already, but I was nervous.
I’d heard about his sermons. I’d heard in particular about his wedding ceremonies. I knew we were in for it.
Preacher opened his mouth, and I braced myself, sure we were about to get roasted at our own wedding. That was supposed to happen during the toasts at ordinary weddings. But there was nothing ordinary about my husband or his friends.
Our friends, I reminded myself. They loved me too. Just like I loved them.
Our wedding had officially begun.
Chapter Forty-Three
Shane
She was too beautiful to be real.
I stared in awe as my bride drifted toward me. Parker looked like an angel in a long white dress that floated gracefully over her incredible body and trailed behind her. The top had these pretty little fluttery sleeves that left her shoulders bare and spaghetti straps to hold up her generous curves.
What the hell am I doing here? I can’t possibly believe I deserve this woman. Someone is going to find out, and there will be hell to pay.
I felt like an imposter. A kid who had snuck upstairs to hang out with the grownups at a cocktail party. But the look in her eyes said I did deserve her. The look in her eyes said, I love you.
And goddamn, but I loved her back with everything in my heart and more.
Somehow, Parker considered me her own personal knight in shining armor. And I’d be damned if I’d let her down. Not now. Not ever.
At the moment, I was also extremely distracted by the way her body looked in that dress. That deceptively simple, innocent, yet blazingly hot dress.