Bridger stood quickly and wrapped his left arm around her back. “Not possible. I could never stop loving the woman who’s exceeded my every dream.” He tugged her away from the counter and against his chest. Holding up the ring box, he whispered, “Please, Ava. Give me a chance. I swear to you on my mama’s honor that you’re the only woman I have ever loved and will ever love.”
Bridger adored his mama. He wouldn’t do anything on her honor unless he meant it.
She stared into his deep brown eyes and whispered, “Yes.”
Bridger whooped. He took her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger; then he dropped the box on the counter and lifted her off her feet, swinging her around and whooping again. Avalyn put her head back and laughed. Bridger slowly lowered her to her feet and gave her the smirk that used to infuriate her.
Avalyn framed his face with her hands. “Just for the record, I’ve loved you longer than you loved me.”
He shook his head. “Not possible.”
“I’m two years older than you. I know it’s true.”
“You just have to have something to argue with me about, don’t you?”
Avalyn bit at her lower lip. “Why don’t you kiss me so I’ll stop?”
“Now that is the best idea you’ve ever had.”
Avalyn gasped in protest, but he cut it off with his lips. She melted into his arms, her legs turning to liquid heat. She loved this man, and she couldn’t wait to spend every minute with him and let him prove that he’d never leave her side.
Bridger lifted her tighter. She was snug against his chest and had no plans of leaving his arms again as his lips took control of hers. His lips eradicated every other thought. They would travel the world together, and who knew when they’d settle down in the suburbs next to her parents? But that didn’t matter. Bridger was the only home she needed, and being in his arms was the haven she’d been searching for.
Epilogue
Avalyn had always dreamed of a traditional church wedding. As she sauntered down the aisle with a gauzy veil covering her face on her dad’s arm, she knew today was going to be perfect.
Bridger stood up front with all of his brothers, looking so handsome in his tailored tux he took her breath away. That slight smirk on his lips robbed the oxygen from her lungs.
“Impressive men,” her dad murmured.
They were indeed. From Creed the Navy SEAL to Callum the billionaire tycoon and Emmett the Texas Titans receiver—they were all impressive. But nobody was as impressive to her as Bridger. Her mom was afraid Bridger would demand they ride a wheelie on his motorcycle into the church, butherBridger wanted this day to be whatever Avalyn wanted. He loved her completely, but still would make her life a crazy and fun adventure. He stood tall and strong and his smirk changed to a grin. That secretive, wonderful grin that Bridger reserved only for her.
They finally reached the front of the chapel and her dad put her hand in Bridger’s. Her white gloves made it so she couldn’t feel his palm like she wanted, and her veil didn’t necessarily obscure her vision but it made him a little blurry.
Her dad responded to the preacher about who gave this woman away and said the traditional, “Her mother and I do.” He tenderly lifted her veil and kissed her cheek before letting the veil drop and backing away.
Avalyn turned with Bridger to face the preacher. The ceremony started and she felt happy and perfectly at peace next to the man of her dreams with all of their friends and family here for their special day.
“Excuse me for a second,” Bridger interrupted the preacher’s monologue about the sanctity of marriage.
Avalyn turned to her future husband, not sure what he was up to, and also not surprised he was up to something. He took one of her hands in his and tugged the glove off, handing it over to Kiera, who stood closest to them on the bridesmaids’ side. Then he repeated the action with the other glove.
He wrapped both of his hands around hers and said, “Much better.”
Avalyn and a lot of the crowd laughed. The preacher started talking again and Avalyn agreed—Bridger holding both of her hands in his, sans gloves, was much better.
“Excuse me again, Pastor,” Bridger said.
The man actually sighed and the crowd tittered with laughter.
Avalyn bit at her lip but couldn’t help laughing. “What now?”
Bridger turned her to face him and lifted the veil away from her face and back over her hair. His eyes swept over her face. “Much better,” he said again.
Avalyn laughed. Her traditional wedding plan wasn’t really up Bridger’s ally, and that was just fine with her.
“Can we proceed now?” the preacher asked.