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With herculean effort, Hallelujah Thomas restrained from loosening the starched collar of the expensive dress shirt. Even though he longed to relieve the pain where the stiff material chafed against the scar tissue on his neck, Hal stopped just short of tearing himself free. He had no one to blame but himself for the way that damn collar bit into his skin.
Glory had told him, had practically insisted, that he did not have to wear the formal suit and tie getup that he had chosen. Shit, even the damn groom was not as dressed up as Hal was. It did not escape Hal’s notice that while he was suited up in bespoke, Jules and his groomsmen—all MC brothers— stood waiting at the end of the aisle decked out in supple, soft, black dress leathers.
Smart sonofabitches to choose comfort and club colors over traditional monkey suitsthe thought crossed Hal’s mind as the collar bit into him again. But then he quickly dismissed it. Because really, when it came right down to it, Hal couldn’t have cared less if everyone else had shown up bare-ass naked. Despite all evidence to the contrary, he was surprised to find that a part of him still held on to the traditional and old-world values that his European-born mother had instilled in him. In Hal’s mind, a man who was honored with the task, did not give away a bride wearing anything less than the very best.
Especially when that bride was your sister.
So, if Glory wanted him to be the one to do the wholewho gives this woman to be married to this manthing—then Hal was up for that.
And he was not going to screw it up.
At least he hoped not.
When Hal overheard an exasperated sigh ring out from behind him, he took small comfort in the fact that he wasn’t the only one worried about messing up the ceremony.
“Do I throw the flower petalsnow, Mommy?” The little girl with the big blue eyes posed the question to her mother for the tenth time in as many seconds.
“Not yet, honey, not until after Mommy and Auntie Claire walk down the aisle. Next will be Auntie Dolly and she will be helping your sister. After that, then it’s your turn.” Raine reached down and straightened the violet-colored sash of her daughter’s flower girl dress.
“I’m going to get to walk all by myself because I’m a big girl, and I don’t need anyone to hold my hand like Patience does.” Willow puffed out her tiny chest with pride.
“That’s right, angel.” Raine smiled down at her.
“So, it’s my turn right before Glory and Hal?” Willow turned to Hal with questioning eyes.
Hal gave the little girl a nod and what he hoped was a reassuring look. “You got it, Willow. You’re going to lead the way for me and the bride. It’s a really important job. You up for that, firefly?”
“I think I am,” Willow whispered bravely then chewed her bottom lip.
Hal gave her a thumbs-up sign.
“But Momma, can you tell me again?” The little flower girl reached for her mother’s hand.
“Tell you what again, honey?”
“Where’s Daddy gonna be?” Willow furrowed her tiny brow.
“Your daddy is already standing with Uncle Reno, sweetheart. See? Right at the end of the aisle near the archway.” Raine pointed to where her husband, Diego, had taken his place next to his MC brother.
“How come Patience isn’t here yet?” Willow looked around for her little sister.
“She’s upstairs with Aunt Dolly helping Glory to get ready, remember?” Raine rubbed her temple and winced. “Honey, Mommy is starting to get a head—”
“But where’s Grandpa and Grammy gonna be?” Willow interrupted her mother with a scowl.
As the steady stream of already asked and answered questions began rolling towards her, Raine sent a pleading glance in her sister’s direction.
“Maybe while we’re waiting for everyone to get in place, you can go help Auntie Claire with the flowers. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
Willow shook her head in the negative. “I want to stay with you, Mommy.”
Rained let out a long-suffering sigh. It was obvious to Hal that after fielding what seemed to be a million non-stop questions from her daughter, the normally calm and composedRaine Montesalto was seriously about to lose her shit.
“I got this.” Hal took pity on her.
When Raine shot him a grateful look, he gave her a reassuring wink, then he lifted his chin across the entry way to where Claire was elbow deep in white roses. “Looks like you’re right, Raine, your sister could sure use some help with those flowers.”
“But Mommy…” When Willow began again, the mother bent down to her young daughter and whispered a few quick words of reassurance into her ear. Then Raine made her escape to the other end of the foyer and got busy helping Claire by straightening out the bows on the bridesmaids’ bouquets.
