She chuckled. “I won’t. I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
Leaving her at the bakery was the hardest thing he’d done. All he wanted to do was lift her up in his arms, and carry her back to their place, make love to her until the sun went down.
He would have to wait until tonight, and he already had plans to finish off their romantic evening.
****
Six months later
“Are you okay, honey?” Clark asked.
“I’m a little nervous. Do I look okay?” She ran her hands down her dress and turned in a circle for her father to see. The dress had been made by her mother, and it was the most perfect wedding dress she’d ever seen. Six months it had taken for her mother to complete the dress. The dress was the only reason they had waited so long to get married.
Raven couldn’t complain. It had been six months of pure bliss, non-wedded bliss.
“You’re a picture, honey. Drew is going to be knocked dead when he sees you.”
“The church is packed out,” Cathy said, coming into the room. “The locals are here to see Drew Reynolds fall. I’ve never known it to be so crazy before.”
“Just the way to make me more nervous. What if I fall down?” Raven asked.
“I won’t let you.” Her father came up, placing the veil on her head. “You are going to go out there, and marry the man you love.”
“Do you like him, Dad?” she asked.
“Do you love him, Raven?”
“More than anything.”
“It’s a father’s place to hate the son-in-law. It’s our place to put them through hell just to make sure they know what they’re doing. Drew had a bad reputation. I held him to that reputation, and he has done nothing but prove to me that not only is he a good man, he’s a man madly in love with my daughter, and will do anything to protect her.” Clark cupped her cheek. “I like him, sweetheart, and I’ll still give him hell. It’s my total right.”
She groaned. “I hope you don’t. I really don’t want to have to deal with that.”
“Not today. Today is your day.”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded, turning to Cathy. Her best friend was swollen with Brice’s child. It had been a shock to her to see Brice and Cathy actually getting together. She didn’t know what happened, but the two were happy, and so in love for anyone to see.
“How is our little girl?” she asked, bending down to kiss Cathy’s stomach. She and Drew were going to be godparents to the little girl she had growing.
“She’s happy. She’s settling so I can do this whole wedding properly.”
“I can’t believe you and Brice went to Vegas to get married.”
“I know. We just wanted to tie the knot. We should have done it months ago.” Cathy hugged her close, and there was a knock at the door, giving them the signal they were ready.
Everyone gave her a final hug and made their way out of the room, leaving her alone with her father.
“Last chance, you want me to shove you out of the window so you can escape?” he asked.
She giggled. “Not a chance.”
Moving toward her father, she held his arm, and together they made their way out, ready to face her man. The moment she saw him standing by the altar, all fear left her. This was what Drew did to her.
He smiled at her, and she watched as he let out a breath.
Her father moved the veil and offered her hand out to Drew.
“You take good care of her now.”