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Time was ticking down to the big moment, and the makeup artist pulled Rosie away from the tent flap. “It’s almost time. Let me make sure you don’t need any last-second touches.” She dabbed a soft makeup sponge around Rosie’s eyes. “You’re perfect.” Over her shoulder, she said, “We’re ready, ladies. Let’s get this show on the road.”
The wedding was about to begin.
Chapter Four
In the groom’s tent, the Mavericks had all put on costumes over their tuxes, as had Noah, who was the ring bearer. Matt and Ari were going to get the surprise of their lives when the Mavericks walked out, followed by Noah.
Matt was backstage with the officiant, plus Bob for moral support. Not that Matt needed it when he obviously loved Ari with every cell in his body. For Matt, there was no last-minute holy-hell-am-I-making-a-mistake questioning, no changing his mind, no worries about the future.
Standing at the tent flap, Gideon watched as Jeremy escorted Susan and Jorge down the aisle, then Bob came down the stage stairs to sit next to her.
A pang nudged Gideon’s heart. Their mother would have loved this day, would have shed so many tears of joy watching her daughter walk down the aisle to marry the man she loved. But things hadn’t turned out the way their mom had planned. She hadn’t planned for her husband to die in a car accident when Gideon was eleven and Ari was barely one. She hadn’t planned to get hooked on drugs. All she’d wanted to do was ease the pain of her loss. In the end, however, she’d not only lost their home, she’d died of a drug overdose…and left Ari all alone.
Gideon had been eighteen when he joined up. Looking back, he should never have left Ari with his mother, despite his good intentions. He should have known better than to trust Nadine Jones to take care of his sister.
If only he could find a way to make it up to Ari for all his mistakes…
He gave himself a hard mental shake. This wasn’t the day to think about what might have been, what should have been. It was supposed to be the most wonderful day of Ari’s life. For the next few hours, he needed to put everything he’d done wrong on the back burner. Because after all those days when he thought he’d never make it stateside for this moment, after finally escaping hell, after worrying that he’d never find Ari again—they were together now.
And today he would watch her marry a man who would love and respect and honor her. It was exactly the kind of marriage Ari deserved—one where that love, respect, and honor would never falter, no matter what.
With the groom’s parents seated, Matt finally took the stage, followed by the officiant.
This was it. Showtime.
Gideon left the groom’s tent and crossed to the bride’s, his heart beating harder with every step. Rosie was the first woman he saw when he walked in—and his heart leaped into his throat at the sight of her.
She was gorgeous in a pale lilac dress, the top crisscrossed in soft pleats, while the straps bared her shoulders, and the neckline followed the curves of her breasts, dipping low. He shouldn’t allow himself to even notice, but he couldn’t help the way his gaze was drawn right to her. Just as he couldn’t help feeling all the forbidden things he shouldn’t. Behind Rosie, Chi, Daniel’s sister Lyssa, and Evan’s sister Kelsey wore dresses identical to Rosie’s. But as pretty as they were, Rosie made the dress extraordinary.
She reached for his hand and pulled him inside the tent, her touch like a lightning strike, setting every nerve in his body on fire. All with nothing more than Rosie’s palm against his.
“Isn’t this amazing? Can you believe Ari is getting married in a few minutes?”
Gideon had thought he was prepared for today. But it wasn’t until that moment, when Rosie looked up at him with stars in her eyes, that the magnitude of everything finally hit him. His baby sister was about to be married.
He couldn’t speak around the emotion clogging his throat.
Rosie must have read his expression. She took both his hands in hers, holding on tightly as she said, “You’re going to do great, big brother. You’re a huge reason this is one of the happiest days of her life. Ari always prayed you’d return to walk her down the aisle.” She paused for a moment, before adding, “I did too.” She smiled at him, that glorious, beautiful Rosie smile. “And now here you are, about to see your sister in her wedding dress for the first time.” Her smile dazzled him. “Prepare yourself—she looks amazing.”
But nothing could possibly have prepared him for the glowing vision in front of him. His heart stopped, and his eyes teared up. “You are so beautiful, Ari.”
The formfitting top of the dress was patterned with pearls. Thin beaded straps held it up, the material flowing down from the high waist to a long cream-colored skirt so fine he was afraid it might tear if he touched it. Her blond hair was piled up with artfully curling tendrils falling around her face. She wore a wreath of flowers with a short veil in the back. She hadn’t covered her face, and her happiness was like a beacon of light. Her makeup was flawless, though his sister, like Rosie, didn’t need any of it. Ari was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.
Though their mother and father were both gone, in that moment Gideon could have sworn they were watching over him and his sister with pure joy.
“I’m so happy, Gideon.” Her radiant smile matched her words.
“I know, and I’m glad. Matt and Noah are everything I could ever want for you.” But there was so much more he needed to say. He took Ari’s hands in his. “I’m so proud of you. You’ve done so many incredible things without any of the advantages most people have.” The life she’d built for herself, the beautiful, smart, funny woman she’d grown up to be—they were all her doing. The same as Rosie. They were both full of so much determination and grit, along with empathy and compassion.
“I’m so proud of you too, Gideon.”
But her words only made him think of all the things he hadn’t done for her. The things he hadn’t done for his mom. For his team. And for Karmen.
Thankfully, Ari had found a good man. Matt would never let her down. Matt would always be there for her. Matt would never abandon her to fate.
Without saying another word, Ari went up on her toes and hugged him. Hard. Like she had the day he’d left when she was only eight.
“I love you, big brother,” she whispered against his ear.
