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I stood under the arch and waited not-so-patiently for Paxton to appear. My parents and Paxton’s had gone all out for this quickly pulled together wedding. It appeared like it had been months in the making. Everything was beautiful. The flowers, the cakes. It was everything I could see Paxton picking out. I was glad we had decided to keep it to close family and friends only. It made things easier when it came to planning.
Cord stood next to me. He was my best man and the one who won the straw drawing. Having four other brothers is hard when it comes time to pick a best man. Chloe had come up with the whole “drawing straws” idea, and my brothers loved the idea. Damn kids at heart…all four of them.
The music started playing, and I first saw my sweet little Chloe. Then Patches. What in the hell? She wore a huge smile as she skipped down the aisle while Patches trotted next to her. I couldn’t help but laugh. The damn goat was in our wedding. We were never going to get Chloe to fall asleep tonight with all this excitement on top of it being Christmas Eve.
“Damn, Steed. She almost makes me want to have a kid,” Cord said with a chuckle.
I glanced over to him. “A kid, huh?”
He frowned. “I said almost. The goat isn’t helping.”
Corina came next. I peeked over to Tripp. He was smiling, but one look at Mitchell and I knew which one of them was more captivated by her.
Mitchell.
The way he stared was a far cry from the way Tripp looked at Corina. I looked back, holding my breath as I stared at the back door.
When the wedding march started and everyone stood, I slowly exhaled only to have my breath taken again when Paxton walked through the door with her father. I heard gasps from the small group of friends and family.
“She’s beautiful,” I whispered as a smile spread over my face.
The simple cream colored gown hugged her body, and I couldn’t help but let my eyes roam. They lingered a little more on her stomach before I dragged them back up and her blue eyes caught mine.
I shook my head slowly. I wanted to pinch myself.
Holy shit. She was mine. She was finally mine.
As Paxton and I walked around and talked to the guests, I could tell she was getting tired. So was Chloe who had stuck to our side like glue. She’d already started calling Paxton “Mommy,” and every time she did, Paxton’s face lit up.
Thank God it was mostly family, plus some friends from each side and a few of my father’s closest business partners. Other than that, it had been a small wedding and reception. We had made it around to everyone in no time at all.
Somehow Amelia had found someone who was willing to make a wedding cake last minute. It was decorated in white and soft blue. The same blue as Chloe and Corina’s dresses. Don’t ask me how they pulled that shit off.
Paxton leaned against me and sighed. “You tired?” I asked.
“A little,” she said, then yawned.
“We cut the cake, we said hello and thanks for coming. I think it’s time to leave. Besides, look at Chloe.”
Her eyes swung over to our daughter, and she laughed. Chloe was sitting at a table, her head perched up with her hands, sound asleep.
“That poor little thing. We promised her a movie too. We should probably start making our way out of here.”
I nodded in agreement. “Let’s find our parents and let them know we’re ready to go.”
Paxton laced her fingers with mine while we searched for our folks. They were sitting inside talking to some old friends.
“Mom, Dad, I think we’re going to take off. Paxton is tired and poor little Chloe is passed out.”
They all stood. Each of them took turns kissing us on the cheeks and congratulating us.
“We’ll make the announcement that y’all are leaving.”
“Plans for a honeymoon?” Karen Alright, one of my parents’ friends, asked while taking a sip of wine.
“Not right now. We’re going to go to Ireland during spring break.”
“Ireland?” she asked with lifted brows.
“Yes, Paxton’s always wanted to go there so that’s where we are heading. Tonight we are taking our daughter home and watching Miracle on 34th Street.”
“How wonderful!” Karen said.
Forty-five minutes later, we were finally leaving. Chloe was asleep in my arms as we walked past everyone cheering out “Mr. and Mrs. Parker!” I gently put my sleeping beauty in the backseat of my truck, helped my beautiful wife in, and tucked her dress safely inside.
A quick wave to everyone, and I jumped into the truck and headed to our place on the other side of the ranch.
Paxton dropped her head back. “As much as I loved our wedding, I would have been just as happy eloping. I’m exhausted and I didn’t even plan anything!”
