Page 6 of Bride ’N Boots

“I’m decent,” Stratton called.

I turned and my jaw dropped.

Actually dropped.

Better than decent.

The groom had been six two, and Stratton was easily six three. The brown suede jacket strained a bit against his shoulders, but otherwise it was a perfect fit and the tightness of it showed his chiseled physique. His starched white shirt was open at the collar to reveal tan skin. And the brown felt hat completed his ensemble.

“Close your mouth, gremlin.” He grinned. “It’s almost like the suit was made for me. I clean up good, huh?”

I nearly swallowed my tongue. “Yeah. You clean up nice.”

Brisk footsteps alerted me that Arden had finally shown up. “Oh my,” she said. “You’re hotter than the original we had planned on. Let’s get the show on the road, yeah?”

CHAPTER THREE

Arden touched up my makeup and fixed some of the errant curls that had escaped my messy-bun hairstyle that looked both elegant and effortless.

“Okay, I’m going to take some test shots in the barn to make sure everything’s working. Plus, it’ll give you guys some time to get used to one another,” Arden said.

Stratton took a step toward me and angled his body slightly in my direction.

He looked down at me.

I looked up at him.

“Move closer to one another,” Arden commanded.

“She’s going to be bossy,” I whispered the warning to Stratton, who smiled.

I heard the shutter of the camera.

“Good,” Arden said. “Maisie, grab his lapels and stand up on your tip toes like you’re going to kiss him.”

With shaking fingers, I grabbed his lapels and did as Arden directed.

Stratton’s hands immediately grasped my hips to hold me in place. I could feel the heat of him through the fabric of the wedding dress.

My pulse drummed in my neck.

Stratton bent his head and I instinctively closed my eyes, waiting to feel his lips on mine.

“Don’t actually kiss!” Arden yelled. “You’ll ruin her makeup!”

Arden’s shout startled me and I jumped. The boots I wore were one size too big and didn’t give me any control over my own feet and I swayed.

I would’ve fallen over if Stratton hadn’t caught me. And then we both laughed as he scooped me up into his arms, carrying me bride style.

“Oh, this is perfect,” Arden breathed. “Do more like that.”

Stratton instinctively seemed to know what Arden meant and he gently began to twirl with me in his arms.

I twined my arms around his neck, my fingers playing with the hair at his nape.

And the two of us stared at each other.

The sound of the camera disappeared.