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I clap my hands, rubbing them together. “As I’ll ever be.”
This is the moment I’ve been waiting all day for. The photographer and wedding coordinator have been rotating us around the big top. All of Holly’s pictures have been taken on one side while mine have been on the other. I hadn’t been anxious that I haven’t seen Holly yet, but seeing the mill girls dressed like her makes it all kick in.
Kimber leads me away from the tent and into the clearing where Dusty and the kids were. I’m sweating when she hugs me, darting backward on her heels to get out of the picture. The photographer is on his belly, shooting upward. When I turn to see my bride, the picture he’ll snap will make it look like we’re on the big screen.
All. The. Stops.
I’m in for a dime, I’m in for a dollar if we have a daughter and she wants a lavish wedding. How do you top a big top?
I feel Holly’s fingertips dance against my sleeve. Little sparks underneath cause the hair of my forearm to stand on end. Her breath catches and she goes to pull away. I clamp mine firmly around her hand, holding onto it as I turn for the first glimpse of my bride.
I was a fool to believe she was breathtaking on our first date. Nothing does justice to this. Holly’s fucking perfection from the swish of her skirt up to the top of her head. Her victory rolls are half up, half down. The arch of her darkened brows emphasizes her cat-eye liner surrounding her bright brown eyes. Bold cherry red lips dare me to make an early escape toward our honeymoon destination. She’s a knockout.
“That was amazing!” The photographer shouts, scrambling up off of the ground to take more candids of us reacting to one another.
Amazing isn’t the half of it. I stumble for words and pat my lapels down. Pressing my front pocket, I frown.
Dusty claps me on the back. “I got the rings, man. Safe-keeping until it’s time to give them to the Best Man.”
“Th-thanks.” I stutter and Dusty shakes me to get the word out. Or maybe he’s playing with me. I don’t care. “You know you have a cape on?” I ask Holly.
She turns and fluffs at it. “I do, don’t I?”
“Rescuing anybody today?”
“Maybe me.”
I like the sound of that. “I’m going to kiss you.”
“Don’t mess the hair,” she teases. “Not yet.”
I lean in, soft and gentle, and pull away in a flash. “Flowers? Flowers? Isobel where are they? Cripes, we got you here in plenty of time, but I keep losing things.”
“Know where Bhodi is?”
“Uh, yeah.” I glance around before I actually find him and point him out. Holly assures me that means everything is under control.
It doesn’t feel that way because I have a bunch of surprises for Holly. Starting with the box Isobel is giving her.
“It’s cold!” Holly lifts the lid and is outright stunned.
I’ve had a bouquet arranged for her. It’s the colors she’s wanted for the table centerpieces and the plumeria was shipped in from a warmer climate where the gardener could force the blooms. We’ve had to keep it refrigerated so the petals didn’t wilt.
“You didn’t have to do this!”
I don’t have to do a lot of things she doesn’t expect, but I’m going to do them anyway. Sort of like… now.
“This, too.” I hand over an envelope, having to take the greenery from her while she reads the document inside.
“I don’t even know what this means?” She’s looking peaked.
“I signed a lease for Johnston’s Nursery beginning this fall.” Old man Johnston was ready to hang the for sale sign. I beat him to the punch.
“I have a job!” her mouth makes a cute little “O” that begs for another kiss.
“And now you have options.” I puck the letter back, refold it, and slide it in my breast pocket.
I know what Holly is thinking and that everyone witnessing this is aware of too. She owes Jake… And maybe we do, but Jake Ballentine isn’t ruling our lives. I won’t be indebted to him for the next fifty years or let my family be a pawn in the snake’s sordid games.
