AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The minister recites the usual spiel, and Erica and I say the requisite words, but I can't focus on the vows or anything except her shimmering golden eyes. How did I get this lucky? I cocked it up so badly and so often with her that I can't imagine why she took me back. But she did, and I'm more grateful than I could ever express that I'm standing on this hillside, binding my life to hers forever.
When I slip the wedding band onto her finger, tears roll down Erica's cheeks, but I know they're tears of joy. She gazes at me with rapt adoration, and I know I'm looking at her the same way. My smile trembles as she places the ring on my finger, and my eyes glisten too, though I manage not to cry. I wouldn't care if I did shed a few tears. The happiness I thought I would never know had found me in the last place I would've ever expected—in an underground club in Chicago—and despite the odds stacked against us, Erica and I have found our fairy-tale ending.
After the ceremony, Erica's father claps me on the shoulder and says, "Glad I didn't have to shoot you."
I arch one brow. What is he on about? Shoot me? Over the past few months, when I talked to Erica's parents on the phone every day, I learned Frank Teague has a strange sense of humor. That means he'll fit right in with my family.
With a sheepish shrug, Erica tells me, "The possibility may have been discussed at one point. Weeks ago."
Her father grins. "I offered, but Erica said 'nah, don't bother.'"
"Frank," Deb Teague says in the indulgent tone I've often heard her use when she's speaking to her husband, "don't scare the poor boy. We decided we like him, remember? Offing your new son-in-law is rude."
"I'd only wing him," Frank insists.
Erica had warned me about the Teague family's favorite pastime of harassing friends and relatives with strange sarcasm, assuring me that "it means we love you, honey." I informed her that she might need a similar warning before she meets the MacTaggart clan.
Now Deb envelops me in a bear hug while Frank grasps my hand to shake it vigorously. I aim a bemused smile at my wife.
"Okay, okay," Erica says, pushing her parents away from me and linking her hands around my arm. "There will be no winging Lachlan today."
"Today?" I ask, eying her askance but with a slight smirk.
"I need some way to keep you in line." Erica raises onto her tiptoes to peck a kiss on my lips. "Can I have my own sword?"
"We'll see."
My brothers approach us then, with sly grins lighting up their faces. Even Rory is beaming today, having set aside his reputation as the Ogre of Loch Fairbairn for this happy occasion. I know Rory has issues he doesn't want to discuss with anyone, not even our cousin Jack, who's a psychologist. I hope Rory can recover from his past the way I've done, and I'm glad to see him smiling today.
Rory and Aidan both slap me on the back.
As the youngest brother, Aidan always feels it's his duty to harass me. So naturally, he winks and says, "Picked a hot one there, Lachie. When do I get to kiss the bride?"
"Never," I reply in a dead-calm voice. "Don Juan MacTaggart does not get to practice on my wife. And don't call me Lachie unless you're wanting to get skelped."
"So sensitive," Rory says, as he sidles around Aidan to get closer to my wife. "Welcome to the family, Erica. Best get used to Lachie being a humbug. He's a boring, humorless man."
I'm humorless? The Ogre of Loch Fairbairn outdoes me in terms of stoicism and curtness. Well, usually. But not today.
"Oh, don't worry," Erica assures Rory while snuggling closer to me. "My husband is exciting and entertaining for me. Maybe he just doesn't like you two scunners."
Aidan and Rory burst out laughing.
I shake my head at them as a slight smile curves my mouth.
"She's already taking to our language," Rory says. "Better watch your wife, Lachlan, or she'll be a true Scottish lassie before you know it, cursing at you in Gaelic."
"Let me help her along," Aidan announces, his expression full of mock innocence while he clasps Erica's shoulder with one hand. "Now, just sayantoir thu dhomh pòg."
Aidan, you bloody cacan. You'll pay for this, mark my words.
I slap a hand on Aidan's chest and shove him away. My brother stumbles backward, laughing so hard his eyes water.
"What?" Erica asks, glancing between me and Aidan.
My brother loves to joke, and I can't stop my lips from twisting into a half-restrained smile. "An toir thu dhomh pògmeans will you give me a kiss."
Done harassing me, Aidan and Rory wander off to mingle with the other guests.
