“You got yourself a deal.”
As Jared helped me finish unpacking, I thought about our time together. We’d been through so much, but it hadn’t torn us apart. Instead, it had only brought us closer together. That’s the funny thing about love. When it’s the real thing, you’re willing to do just about anything to hold onto it. You face the struggle, you fight the good fight, and in the end, you have something worth holding onto. I certainly had something worth holding onto with Jared, and I wasn’t ever letting go.
Menace
“I thought you said we were taking a quick ride to town.” Aubrey got off the back of my Harley and removed her helmet. “That was not a quick ride.”
“Seemed pretty quick to me.”
She glanced over at the small white chapel behind us with a confused expression. “What are we doing here? Is someone getting married?”
“As a matter of fact…” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I’d bought her. As I opened the small box, I said, “We are.”
“What?” she gasped.
“I love you, babe. I want to spend my life with you.” Aubrey and I had been living together for the past couple of months, and while it was great having her there, I wanted more. I wanted her to be mine in every way possible, and I didn’t want to wait a second longer, so I got Marlowe to help me plan out our big day. As I stood there in front of the wedding chapel, I knew I wanted nothing more than to make Aubrey my wife, and I prayed that she felt the same way. “The question is, do you want to spend your life with me?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then, marry me.”
Her eyes were wide with wonder as I slipped the ring on her finger. She stared down at her hand for several moments, then looked up at me with a warm smile on her face. “So, we’re getting married right now?”
“That’s the plan.”
“But I don’t have a dress.” She looked down at her jeans and t-shirt with horror in her eyes. “And I’m a complete mess.”
“It’s been taken care of.” I motioned my hand over to the front steps of the church where Marlowe and Rafe were waiting for us. Marlowe smiled as she held up the dress she’d bought for Aubrey to wear on her special day. “I might’ve had a little help putting all this together.”
“Wow, oh my God, you really thought this whole thing out.”
“I did.” I slipped my arms around her, pulling her close. “I wanted it to be perfect for you.”
“We’re really getting married?”
“Yeah, babe. We’re really getting married.”
I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her with all the love and passion I had for her. It was a kiss filled with the promise of what was to come. We were still kissing when I heard Rafe shout, “Are you two gonna stay out there putting on a show, or are you gonna get in here and get married?”
I pulled back, breaking our embrace as I looked down at Aubrey and asked, “You ready to do this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Aubrey and I walked up the front steps, and after Rafe and Marlowe gave us their congratulations, we all headed inside the chapel. Rafe and I waited in the congregational hall while Marlowe helped Aubrey get changed. I was feeling a little eager to get the ball rolling when Rafe looked over to me and asked, “You sure about this, brother?”
“Never been more sure about anything.”
“I gotta say, I had my doubts in the beginning, especially with all the secrets and shit, but I like Aubrey. I think she’s good for you.”
“I think she’s good for me too.”
“You think the whole Rossi thing is behind ya?”
“Yeah, I think he’s done looking for Aubrey, but I’m not sure how the whole trial thing is gonna play out.”
Before I could say anything more, Marlowe popped her head into the room and asked, “You two ready?”
I nodded, then waited for Aubrey to step into view. Just as I knew she would, Aubrey looked absolutely breathtaking in her short white wedding dress. It had a plunging neckline with delicate lace sleeves, and the satin fabric clung to her curves in all the right ways. The way it showed off her long, lean legs looked like it was made just for her. I loved the way her long white-blonde hair was pulled back. It let me see those gorgeous baby blues as they locked on mine. She started down the aisle, and I found it hard to believe that the woman of my dreams was about to be mine. When she finally made her way over to me, she smiled and did a quick twirl. “What do you think?”
“Stunning. You’re absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you.”