Sunny’s pale pink dress was a simple one. The ankle-length dress with the lace and veil was perfect; she felt like a princess. Her dad’s eyes became glossy when she walked out of her bedroom, and he saw her for the first time.
Now, they were waiting for the wedding music cue for him to walk her to Sebastian.
He’d hardly said a word all morning.
It was understandable, since their house was a hub of women getting ready.
Colton Hawk would never be ecstatic that Sunny was getting married three months before she turned twenty-one, but she didn’t want him to be miserable about her happy day.
Unfolding her hand from his arm, she slipped it into his palm and felt how he clasped her fingers.
Everyone invited to their impromptu wedding was told to wear whatever they wanted. She expected to see a lot of the men in their biker garb. Her dad was in black jeans and a black shirt, open at the collar, but he wasn’t wearing his club cut. He looked so handsome with his blond hair around his shoulders.
“Daddy, are you angry? This is what I want, I promise. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. You and Mom showed me daily what true love looked like, and I knew I wouldn’t ever settle for anything less.” She saw his brow edge in a frown as he looked at her. “You taught me how a man treats a woman by how fiercely you love Mom, and that’s what I waited for. It’s what Seb gives me, Daddy. I don’t need to spend years dating other people or traveling the globe for adventures because I have Seb. I can have all that with him. He’ll love and protect me fiercely. He’s been my protector all this time already. And I love him so much, I always have. Knowing Seb will be my husband is more happiness than I can cope with.”
“Sunny girl.” He gruffed in his resoundingly deep voice, which always comforted her. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “I could never be angry with you. I’m sad I’m losing my little girl long before I’m ready to. You were supposed to stay home with us until you were sixty-three.”
She chuckled, and her worry disappeared. It was funny because he was deadly serious.
“Priest is a good man. I know he’ll do right by you.”
Sunny nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with love for this man in front of her who’d loved, spoiled, and sheltered her without fault.
She’d heard all the whispered rumors and stories about the feared VP. True or not, he was always her beloved dad. The first man she loved.
“But know this, no matter when it is. Today or fifty years from now, Sunny, call me if you want to come home. I’ll come for you. Whatever time of day it is. If he fucks up, hurts you, or makes you sad. You call your old dad, and I’ll be there. Understand? Your home is always your home. And you can always run back to me.”
Her heart rolled over, and she didn’t want to ruin the makeup Clover had painted her with by crying, but her emotions crawled into her throat.
“I understand. I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, Sunny girl, right to the fucking stars. You, Clover, and your mom gave this old heart three reasons to tick right.” He bent down to kiss her forehead and then retook her hand into his. “Now, as much as I wanna drive you home, are you ready for me to walk you to Priest?”
Sunny’s grin was answer enough, and Hawk grunted, opening the door to her future.
On some conscious level, Sunny knew Danny Murphy’s church was packed with her people on both sides of the pews. Each face turned to look her way as they entered. And she knew music was playing. But as each step took her closer to the front, none of that registered to her.
Only the man at the altar penetrated Sunny’s vision.
She hadn’t expected to see Sebastian in a form-fitted suit. The jacket, vest, and shirt were all in a shade of charcoal with a pink tie to match her dress. She nearly swooned in her four-inch heels as their eyes locked. He’d even had a hair trim, amping his handsomeness up another hundred points.
She must have gasped because her dad whispered from the side of his mouth. “You can’t jog down the aisle, sweetheart. Take your time. Make the boy wait a minute.” Sunny swallowed her giggle, her eyes unable to look away from the love of her life.
Seb looked eager for her to reach him as he stepped forward long before he was supposed to. Dax was at his side as his best man.
Seb’s love was blinding.
He shook her dad’s hand, and they shared a few words she couldn’t hear, but Seb nodded earnestly. Then she was in her dad’s arms. “Be happy, my Sunny girl. We love you to the moon and back.” He whispered in her ear, kissed her cheek, and then set her free, going to sit with his wife. Emotion stuck fast in her throat, but then Seb steadied her by threading their fingers together.
“Beautiful girl.” He said low.
“Let’s get married, Seb.” She replied, and he gave her a blinding grin.
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
And that’s what they did.
Through the vows to love and cherish each other, and exchanging rings. Thankfully, no one objected. Though she knew Seb would have shot them if anyone dared to.
