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She flashes me a bright smile as Henry stops for a moment signaling to her that they’re stepping onto the dock. The poor pup’s harness is also decorated in flowers and pink material to match Penny’s dress, but it doesn’t look like he minds.
I take a step forward, extending my hand. “Penny.”
She follows the sound of my voice as Henry brings her to a stop in front of me. “Did I do good?” she whispers, her hand slipping into mine.
When I found Kate, I also found a little sister I had never had before in Penelope. In a way, I got to watch her grow into the stunning young woman that she is—stubborn, independent, talented, confident, smart, but, most of all, kind.
“You did amazing,” I whisper, pulling her into a hug. “Now, six steps on the right, and you’ll reach your spot.”
She pulls back and nods. I watch her do exactly as I told her, and only when I know she’s safe do I turn around just in time to catch Becky step into view.
Miguel sucks in a sharp breath as his eyes land on her. She’s in a golden, floor-length dress that hugs her every curve, and I can already see more than one pair of eyes tracing her every move. Becky has always been pretty, but today she looks stunning, and she owns it.
“That, my friend, is what you lost when you walked away,” I smirk knowingly.
Miguel grunts something, not moving his eyes from her for a second. Or she from him, for that matter. As Becky takes her place on the other side of the arch, the three musketeers are finally back in one place.
But then I forget all about my best friends because the music changes and all of my attention goes to the house.
Kate comes into view, and it’s like I’ve been kicked in the head with the football all over again. Five years. Five years, and this girl, this woman, still leaves me breathless like she did that very first time I laid my eyes on her.
Then she didn’t know me, but today she’s about to become mine forever.
A smile spreads on her mouth as she watches me, and the need to say screw it all and run to her is overwhelming, but I force myself to stand still.
God, she looks beautiful.
Not that’s anything new.
To me, Kate is always beautiful.
Early in the mornings, when I wake up to go to work, and the sun is peeking through the curtains illuminating her dark hair and sleepy face, late at night when we sit curled on the couch to watch tv and anything in between.
Her dress is simple but completely and utterly her. It’s more yellow than white and matches the bouquet of sunflowers and daisies in her hand. Her hair is pulled back, only a few strands curling around her face, her red mouth shimmering under the late afternoon sun. Her hand is tucked safely in her dad’s elbow as he leads her down the aisle toward me.
“Is she pretty?” Penelope’s soft voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
“The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Little Adams,” I answer honestly just as Kate stops in front of me, those bluebonnet eyes twinkling in amusement.
“Who hands this woman away?” the pastor asks, his voice reverberating in the sudden silence.
Bradley’s eyes meet mine. “I do.”
And then her hand is in mine, my nerve endings sizzle at the softness of her skin, and it’s like I can finally breathe. With her here, it’s like all the pieces have fallen in place once more, and I’m whole again.
“Hey, Kitty,” I whisper, pulling her to me, my lips brushing against the top of her head and inhaling that familiar apple scent that’s all Kate.
“The most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, really?”
“I’m just telling the truth, baby.”
Her hand touches my chest as she looks up at me. “You clean up nice too, Mr. Santiago.”
“Good to know,” I flash her a grin. “Ready to become Mrs. Santiago?”
Kate chuckles. “Yes, I’m ready.”
“Good.” Swiping my thumb over the back of her hand, we turn to the pastor to find him watching us with a smile. He lifts his brows, and I give him a small nod.
