“I love you.” I pressed my lips to hers in a chaste kiss, and she giggled. “So fucking much.”
“Okay,” Juliana said. “You need to get back out there. The guests are getting antsy…”
“Right.” I stepped back and followed her outside. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Questioning. But I smiled a big smile and puffed out my chest. Who cared? I was going to be a dad to another kid.
We’d already met with Audrey, the local attorney, to start the process for me to adopt River. And Wren was carrying my child. I was one lucky bastard.
The song changed. The doors opened. And out walked my bride. My beautiful Wren.
The guests stood, watching as she floated down the aisle toward me. I’d been so preoccupied earlier, I hadn’t gotten to take a good look at her. But I did now. And boy was she something.
Her dress was cream, the material so similar to her skin tone that it gave the illusion she was only covered in a thin overlay of flowers. The train was bold yet elegant as it fluttered behind her. The front dipped low, and I did a double take at her cleavage.
Instead of a veil, she wore a crown of flowers. She looked so happy as she smiled down at River when he said something to her. He was on one side of her, her dad on the other. And when she finally came to stand before me, I was speechless. Breathless.
Mr. Beaudin sat down next to his wife, River took his place next to Liam, and the officiant began his speech. We’d opted to recite vows instead of writing our own. Preferring to keep those private words to ourselves.
By the time I slid her ring onto her finger, we were both crying. I mouthed, “I love you,” and she mouthed it back. I glanced at her stomach and our child growing there, and we shared a secret smile.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant said.
I turned to Wren and pulled her into my arms, one palm splayed on her back as I cupped her face with the other. Her blue eyes sparkled at me, and I lost myself in them. For a moment, it was just the two of us. I captured her lips with mine, sealing our union with a kiss.
It wasn’t until I heard the whoops and cheers that I realized how heated our kiss had become. I couldn’t seem to help myself when it came to this woman. She smiled at me, and I smiled at her, so fucking happy.
And then, with a nod from the officiant, I asked River to come stand with us. I hadn’t told Wren about this, but I’d prepared a special set of vows just for him.
“River,” I said, trying to steady my breathing. “I’m not just marrying your mom today, I’m tying myself to you. The three of us are a family, and I promise to be there for you no matter what. I promise to guide you and respect you. I promise to love you unconditionally because you are my son.” I felt those words to the depths of my core.
I pulled a box from my pocket and opened it to reveal a silver necklace I’d had made just for him. It was shaped like a dog tag with the words “Today I tell your mom ‘I do,’ and I promise you forever too” stamped on it. He was crying as I fastened it on him, Wren too. I picked River up, and the three of us hugged.
He leaned back to look at me. “Can I call you Dad now?”
I laughed through my tears. “You can call me whatever you want.”
He threw his arms around my neck. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, buddy.” I gave him a squeeze.
“I’m pleased to introduce the Nash family,” the officiant said.
Everyone clapped and cheered, and I carried River down the aisle, my other arm wrapped around Wren.
“You feeling okay?” I asked Wren once we were alone. River had run off with my mom and hers.
“Much better now.” She smiled.
“Good,” I said, grabbing her a glass of water. “Do you think we should leave early?”
I’d asked because of how pale she’d been earlier. But her wicked grin told me she was thinking of sex.
I gaped at her. “Is that on the table tonight?” Considering how she’d been feeling earlier, I’d figured it wasn’t an option.
“Um, yes. Are you kidding? It’s our wedding night.”
“I just don’t want you to overdo it,” I said, caressing the skin of her arm, the flower details on her sleeve telling a story of craftsmanship beneath my hand.
“I’ll tell you if it’s too much. I promise.”
