Page 77 of Unmasked

“Stop.” Everleigh shook her head. “No one could have predicted how that would turn out. I was married to him for years and never expected it. He had everyone fooled. Don't blame yourself.”

“I'm just glad you two found your way back to each other.”

Tears pricked at Everleigh's own eyes. “Me too. I can't imagine my life without him.”

She let out a little laugh as she dabbed the moisture from her eyes. “Okay. No more, or we're going to ruin our makeup.”

Sierra popped her head in the open doorway. “Hey, ladies, how's everything coming?”

“Perfect,” Everleigh's mother chirped, adjusting the veil one last time. “She's all ready to go.”

Leaning in, she air-kissed Everleigh's cheek. “I love you.”

“Love you,” Everleigh whispered.

Her mother disappeared, headed for the backyard, and Everleigh turned to face Sierra. “Everything ready?”

“You bet! Thanks for letting my sister work your wedding.”

“She did a beautiful job,” Everleigh assured her, “especially on such a constrained time frame.”

Sierra’s sister, Serena, was an event planner trying to get her business off the ground, and Everleigh was more than happy to hand over the reins when Serena had pitched her idea.

“I just came to let you know it's almost time to start.”

Nerves fluttered in Everleigh's belly, and she shook out her hands. “Why am I so nervous?”

“I have no idea,” Sierra said as she glanced out the window. “If that man was waiting for me, I'd have pounced on him weeks ago to make sure he didn't get away.”

Everleigh couldn’t help but laugh. It was true.

Sierra turned back to her, a sweet smile on her face. “I’m happy for you. For real.”

“Thanks.” Everleigh pulled her into a quick hug, then drew in a deep breath as she glanced at the clock. “Guess it’s time to go.”

“You’ll do great.” Sierra smiled encouragingly. “I’ll meet you down there.”

With one last glance in the mirror, Everleigh made her way down the stairs. Her father waited for her at the bottom, a wide smile on his face. He held his hands out to her and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.” Everleigh smiled back, and he eyed her critically.

“You okay?”

She nodded. “I know it sounds odd, but… I’m just ready to get it over with already.”

Her father nodded knowingly. “I think I know what you mean.”

The music started up, and Serena approached, a smile on her face. “You ready?”

Everleigh grinned. “Let’s do this.”

Her nerves ratcheted up with each step that brought her closer to Knox, and finally, her father pressed one last kiss to her cheek at the end of the aisle.

Knox’s eyes darkened as she stepped toward him, and he pulled her into his arms. Not wasting a moment, he bent and pressed his lips to hers. Claps and hoots filled the air, and a smile broke over Everleigh's face.

Knox lifted his head, eyes glued to hers, one thumb sweeping over her face as he studied her. “I’ve been waiting to make you my wife since I was twelve years old.”

Love filled his dark gaze, and Everleigh fell headlong into it. This moment had been a lifetime in the making, and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.