Page 108 of In Every Chapter

“Let’s get you down to your groom.” Juliet squeezed my arm, and then I was ushered downstairs.

Stephanie held the long skirt of the dress so I didn’t trip. Thank goodness I’d had the sense years ago to decide on flats and not heels.

“You ready?” Pops asked from the foot of the stairs.

I studied the quiet man with his tanned face and laugh lines, blue eyes that looked so much like Greyson’s, his salt-and-pepper hair curling at the ends around his shirt collar. He’d walked me down the aisle—both times—and taught me how to drive when I moved to Serenity Springs at twenty-three because no one else had taken the time before. I’d never truly known my father. Never had a father figure. But I’d lucked out with Ian Satterfield for a father-in-law. Taking his arm, I beamed up at him. “Ready.”

His returning smile crinkled his eyes, and he patted my hand lightly. “I always wished I had another girl to walk down the aisle. I’m honoured you allowed me to.”

Now it was my turn to sniff. Even back before I’d had a claim on this family by marriage, they’d accepted me as one of them. I belonged.

September-afternoon sunshine warmed the crispness of the air, hinting at the promise of fall. Our cluster of friends, gathered in white folding chairs on the back lawn, rose as Pops led me down the makeshift aisle, littered with rose petals.

If I looked around, I’d see the smiling faces of the people I loved best. My people. But all I could see was Greyson, standing with Pastor John. Waiting for me, eyes wet with tears.

We’d made it. From Helm’s Deep to Mordor and back to the Shire again. It wasn’t the same world I’d known before, and I wasn’t the same woman. But I’d fallen in love with the man who held my entire heart, scars and all, a second time—literally.

Greyson

There were some days that stuck with you for a lifetime. Having the privilege of watching my bride walk down the aisle to me a second time was one of those days. It was every bit as memorable as the first time.

We’d kept the guest list to close family and a few best friends and used my parents’ backyard. Just like we had four years ago.

Cal gripped my shoulder from where he stood as best man while my throat bobbed with uncontrolled emotion.

Paisley was beautiful. My wife. Seeing her in the dress in our room weeks ago had stolen my breath. Watching Pops escort her down the aisle, her smile bright and full of love, had my heart doing somersaults.

I couldn’t tear my gaze from her as Pops handed her off to me, and we stood in front of Pastor John and our loved ones. We were doing this. Again.

Paisley bounced on her toes, eyes shining with love and adoration as we renewed our vows. This woman was mine. My wife. My heart. And next to God, my everything. And she’d chosen me again. There were some blanks still. Memories had started to surface in hazy wisps. But we were finally back on the same page. Writing our story together.

In sickness and health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part—take two.

Epilogue – Paisley & Greyson

Paisley

“Grey, please!” I whined, arms akimbo as I stood over the open suitcase on our bed. “You can’t tell me to pack a suitcase for an adventure and not tell me what to pack.” We’d renewed our vows last night, and Greyson had dropped the surprise of a second-honeymoon-meets-anniversary-gift-meets-birthday-present trip on me.

“You said you trusted me. Besides”—his smirk turned wicked—“Bilbo didn’t even have a chance to pack for his adventure and look at how much fun he had.”

I snorted. “Yeah, a spider killer and dragon bait. How thrilling.”

Greyson ignored my griping. “You’re following in your hero’s footsteps.”

I crossed my arms. “No pocket handkerchief and death by dragon fire is a real selling point, hon. C’mon. Give me something to work with.” An idea hit me. “Ooh, I got it! We’ll make a bargain—Stephanie swears by them—and do twenty questions.”

“That’s not a bargain, my love. That’s a ruse.”

“Oh, but you didn’t let me finish.” I smirked and sashayed over to his side of the bed. Leaning into him, I pressed my hand against his abs—which he absolutely flexed—and walked my free hand up his chest. Slowly.

Greyson’s throat bobbed, and his pulse skittered under my hands. But he didn’t move. Like he’d been turned to stone.

“For every question I ask, you get a kiss,” I murmured huskily. I was no military general, but I knew how to outfox my husband. Wow. I loved saying that. Juliet said we were worse than newlyweds now than we’d ever been the first time, but I guess that’s what happened when you faced losing the love of a lifetime. “Give and receive and all that,” I added, biting my lip for extra effect.

As I intended, Greyson’s gaze dropped instantly to my lips and molten heat flared in his eyes. Arms snaking around my lower back, he pulled me flush against him. “Pais,” he whispered, voice deliciously raspy. He leaned down, nose tracing slowly up my jawline to my ear.

“Hmm?” Victory was about to be mine.