Hunt chuckled. “Thank God, because we’re about to get married.”
Everyone present laughed, including Judge Evans.
Hunt cupped her cheek. “You are so beautiful. I love you, too.”
Judge Evans took a step toward them. “And that is why we are here today, to share this special occasion with Cyn and Hunt as they pledge to share their lives together. Most couples have a cute or funny story about how they met. In this case, Hunt issued Cyn the first of many speeding tickets he’d give her before they finally saw that there was more between them than traffic laws and whether she’d obey them.” The judge paused, then added, “Or not.”
Hunt shook his head, agreeing that she probably wouldn’t. Ever.
“Hunt admitted that he hated to write those tickets because they made Cyn glare at him all the time.”
Cyn gave Hunt a lopsided grin.
He squeezed her hands and smiled back.
Their guests chuckled.
Judge Evans leaned in to her. “He was just doing his job.”
Cyn rolled her eyes. “I know. He told me that a million times.”
Hunt grinned even more. “And you kept speeding and I kept pulling you over.”
“I kind of liked you chasing after me,” she confessed.
Hunt chuckled. “Well, now I’ve well and truly caught you.”
“Now I speed because I can’t wait to be with you.”
Their guests sighed.
Judge Evans continued. “And now you see why it was inevitable these two would end up together. When Hunt confessed his feelings, Cyn surrendered to her own and the bond between them grew. The love they shared saw them through some difficult and dangerous times, showing them how precious what they shared was and that they didn’t want to waste a minute of the rest of their lives together.
“And so they stand before us today, ready to commit themselves, not just to being partners to each other, but also parents to their sweet Lana. Hunt and Cyn have written their own vows. Hunt, make your pledge to Cyn.”
Hunt took the butterfly ring from Chase, along with a diamond band Cyn didn’t know anything about. He took her hand and slid the slim band on her finger, then her butterfly ring.
“Hunt,” she gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He squeezed her hand, his gaze steady and filled with love. “Cyn, I promise to love you unconditionally, with patience and kindness, in health and sickness, good times and bad, to be your best friend, lover and partner in everything. As I join my life to yours, I promise to be loyal and faithful and to support and encourage you—even when you do something wild for all the right reasons and I’m afraid for you.”
Cyn grinned and laughed under her breath.
Their guests, who knew her all too well, laughed with them because Hunt spoke the truth.
“In my arms and my heart you will always be safe. You will always be home. I will love you every day for the rest of my life,” Hunt finished, and kissed the back of her hand, then continued to hold it as Cyn took the thick gold band Shelby handed her and held it up so Hunt could see the butterfly she’d had stamped on the inside of the band with a heart on both sides of it.
He smiled. “Cyn, that’s perfect.”
“You’ll always have a symbol of me and my love with you.” She slid the ring on his finger.
Touched by her words, he put his hand over his heart, then took both her hands in his as she returned the pledge he’d made to her.
After the initial vow, she added her own embellishment. “As I join my life to yours, I promise to be loyal and faithful and to support and encourage you. I also promise to seduce you out of writing me any more speeding tickets.”
Hunt gave her a mock frown and shook his head. “Can’t you promise not to speed anymore?”
“I promise to be truthful.” She winked at him and he barked out a laugh.