AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please.” Keisha rolls her eyes. “Ever since Extravagance ended, Grace has been itching to event plan. She was over the moon when Cannon came to her with the idea of a surprise wedding.”
“Oh, wow, if Grace had a hand in this—”
“Yup. It’s going to be the most gorgeous wedding. Ever,” Charlie chirps, hearts practically filling her eyes. “And afterward, while the guests are having lunchtime cocktails and appetizers, we’ll have our own private Bachman-family-only ceremony. Then we’ll join the others to celebrate with an entire evening of festivities.”
Emotion washes over me. I feel overwhelmed but in the very best way. “All the people I love have come together to do this for me, for us. I’m touched.”
They whisk me away for a snack and makeup and a few last-minute things to prepare their bride. I spend the time in a euphoric state, a serene smile plastered on my face. I’m about to walk down the aisle to marry the love of my life. And I didn’t even have to lift a finger.
A whole team of people did the work for me, out of love.Deep breaths, Kylie. Don’t cry. You’ll destroy your mascara.
Our pianist is back. When the chords come, signaling my time to enter the ballroom, I feel nothing but happiness as I take those steps into the room. My gaze searches for Cannon, but I’m momentarily distracted by the amazing transformation of the place and the elegance of the beautiful music as it fills the hall.
Flowers, real live flowers, thousands of them, all colors and shapes and scents have been woven into a netting and hung overhead, pink and peach and burgundy roses, coral and yellow and sunset pink peonies, dotted with little starbursts of white jasmine. It’s breathtaking to see—I can hardly believe it’s real. Crisscrossing over the flowers, strands of white twinkling lights illuminate the room. On the back of each chair hangs a bouquet of plump pink peonies.
No decorations or music or beautiful dress could match the sight of my man, standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for me, his eyes only for me. He stares at me with such intensity, his gaze so full of love, I feel as if my heart will burst from my chest.
He wears all black.
As I get closer, he holds his hand out to me, pulling me into him. “My God, Kylie. I swear I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life as you, walking down that aisle.” He breaks all the rules in the wedding playbook, wrapping his arms around me, kissing me.
A cheer rises from the rowdy crowd. I break away from him, laughing and looking out over the sea of people. All my friends from Fire are here, some dressed in fishnets and leather, others in formal wear. The Bachman Beauties are all here with their husbands, wearing couture and dabbing the corners of their eyes with tissues to save their makeup.
I give a little wave to the crowd. “Thank you for coming!”
“Do you like your surprise?” Cannon asks.
“I love it. So much. Thank you.” I dab at my own tears.
He murmurs into my ear, “It was selfish, really. If I had to wait another day to make you my wife, I was going to go crazy.”
“I’m all yours,” I say.
He leans forward, wanting to kiss me again, but he’s stopped by the clearing of the priest’s throat.
We exchange classic vows, slipping platinum wedding bands on one another’s fingers. It’s a beautiful ceremony but in my mind it’s just a gesture. The real vows will be exchanged in private, when the Bachmans gather to welcome me into their fold.
The priest proclaims us husband and wife, saying, “And now, you may kiss your bride, again.”
The crowd stands, cheering and throwing the bouquets from their seats up in the air, over and over, peonies flying as we kiss.
The time I’ve most been looking forward to comes. The private Bachman ceremony. Cannon holds my hand in his, leading me to the Garden of Eden Room.
Tingles of sexy memories play between my thighs. “We’re having the ceremony in here?”
“I had to have it here,” he says. “The family ceremony makes us official, and I needed it to be in the room where I first touched you.”
“I love that,” I say.
Two staff members open the doors for us. My breath catches as I take in the room. The chandelier flickers overhead, filling the room with soft, warm light. Above that, the glass ceiling tiles have been opened, the starry night above us, the cool night air breezing through the room. The plants are lush, pushed to the sides, lining the walls with flowers and green leaves.
The room is filled with family, all standing, women on one side, men on the other, the gap between them forming an aisle.
“Ready?” he asks, dark eyes resting on my face.
“Yes.” I give his hand a squeeze. “So ready.”
Rockland, the head of the family, a handsome man with a deep tan and cropped, dark hair, stands in the front of the room, the black leather wall making a dramatic background for the ceremony. "These words spoken today are sacred and celebrate a lasting bond that already exists between Cannon and Kylie, who have already joined their hearts and chosen to walk together on life's journey. Today, as Bachmans, we bear witness to the pledge of a sacred, eternal bond. One that may not be broken. Ever."
