“Ready, Charlie?” Abby asked.
She nodded slowly. “I think so.”
Ellie squeezed her hand. “I know it’s kind of scary. But once you get in there, all you will see is Clint and he is going to be floored at how beautiful you look.”
Her dress was cream-colored. It went out from the waist in a big puff but the top half was a tight corset. It surprised her how much she liked the princess-style, but when she’d seen it, she’d known it was for her. There were small flowers stitched into the skirt. She’d decided against a veil. Instead, there were real flowers twisted into her dark-blonde hair which was up in some sort of complicated creation she’d never be able to replicate.
“Time to go, girls,” a deep voice said from behind her. She turned her head, giving the big man behind her a small smile.
She’d worried about this part. Walking down the aisle on her own when she had no family. But then she’d realized everyone was right. Sometimes, family was who you wanted them to be. Who you chose them to be.
Ellie and Abby gave her hands a final squeezed and moved ahead of her to step into the church. Then Bear stepped up beside her, offering her his elbow.
“Don’t worry, Charlie. I’ll get you to Clint safely.”
And with that, most of her nerves disappeared. Bear would take her to Clint. And then he would take care of her. Like she would do for him.
For the rest of their lives.
She let out a breath. “Thanks for walking me down the aisle, Bear.”
“My pleasure, little one. I’m honored.”
She’d been worried that she was stealing Bear from Clint. She’d thought he might have wanted him as a groomsman. But Clint had already decided who he wanted standing next to him.
As they stepped into the church, she saw everyone stand. They all turned to look at her. Faces smiling. Everyone she loved and cared about. Her gaze went past them all, to the end. There stood Clint, his gaze firmly fixed on her. Love shining from his face.
And the last of the nerves dropped away. Her gaze ran over Kent. Then fell to where Eden sat in her chair next to him. It seemed right. All of the Jensens beaming, waiting to welcome her fully into their family.
Where she was supposed to be.
* * *
Clint twirled Charlie around in his arms.
He saw Kent making a move towards him and he bared his teeth, growling as he clasped her close.
“Clint? What’s wrong?”
“They keep stealing you from me,” he complained. “You’re my bride. They should dance with their own women.”
Kent grew closer.
“Mine,” Clint snapped at his brother.
“But I just want one dance with my new sister-in-law.” Kent’s face was serious, but Clint saw the laughter dancing in his eyes. Bastard was having a great time.
“No. Go away.”
“Clint,” Charlie protested, but he could hear the amusement in her voice. He turned her another way. Dancing wasn’t really his thing, but if he didn’t dance with her every other bastard here would have her up dancing with them.
He wanted her with him.
“This is the one day I get to be selfish.”
That made her giggle. “Really? The one day.”
“Why, wife of mine, are you trying to say that I am usually selfish?” He drew back to glance down at her.