Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Finally, Laila was almost his.
The little white church was full of flowers and cheer as music started. Hallie and Jorge toddled down the aisle together, dressed so cutely their guests oohed and laughed. Tessa’s daughter threw pink rose petals, smiled like the ham she was, dancing to the altar. Jorge followed in his little tux, ring pillow in hand, looking deer-in-the-headlights as he headed to the front, where Kata and Tara Edgington waited for them both with pieces of candy and high-fives.
Once the children were settled in the front row, Kimber walked down the aisle in a delicate V-neck dress in a shade somewhere between pink and beige. Tessa glided to the front of the church, dressed similarly, except her gown was draped across one shoulder, leaving the other bare. A glance at his best friend told Trees that Zy only had eyes for his wife, and their love for each other was palpable. Finally, Valeria made her way to the altar in a strapless dress of the same color, holding a bouquet of soft summer flowers—and finally looking at peace.
Then the music changed again. Everyone rose. Trees held his breath, his heart chugging wildly.
The most beautiful bride ever walked toward him, a vision in dark curls, white lace, and a smile of radiant joy. She beamed with love. He could feel it in the way she looked at him as she approached, one graceful step at a time, never taking her eyes off his.
God, he felt so humbled, his devotion for his bride so thick it almost choked him.
Finally, Laila stood before him, fitting her hands into his, trusting him with her body, her heart, and the rest of her life.
In front of their friends and family, he vowed to love, honor, and cherish her, forsaking all others for the rest of his life. Trees didn’t think that would be hard. He was already doing it happily.
Laila spoke the same words in return, tearing up as she bound her future to his.
They exchanged rings. He was gratified that Laila’s fit her finger perfectly, and he was touched to find her hand shaking as she slid the titanium band onto his finger while swearing she would love him until the end of time.
Then finally, the minister told Trees to kiss his bride.
“About damn time,” he murmured for her ears alone.
Through her happy tears, she smiled, and Trees swore he’d do whatever he could to put that smile of pure joy on her face every day.
Their lips clung. He breathed her in as he soaked in the moment—his first as her husband. The rightness of that hit him in the heart, and in some ways, Trees felt as if he was just starting his life.
Then he took her hand and ushered her back down the aisle. He’d love to keep running straight to their tricked-out honeymoon suite he’d booked at a posh hotel in Baton Rouge before they left for a week at a cabin on the lake where he’d spent summers as a kid. She wanted to know more about his childhood while he taught her to fish. He was dying to show her all about cuffs, blindfolds, and clamps while he reminded her how to scream.
First, they had to make it through the reception.
After an amazing toast from Zy that made everyone both laugh and cry, Valeria followed with a moving speech about her sister’s tenacity in the face of adversity and the strength of Trees’s love for her against all odds. There was clapping, crying, and hugs all around.
Dancing followed, first Trees leading his gorgeous wife onto the floor for a slow love song. He held her and kissed her and thanked God again for bringing Laila into his life and making it so much better.
At the end, he took her lips again to the sound of their guests clapping. “Can we leave now?”
She sent him a chiding grin. “We have not even cut our cake.”
“I can live without cake. I don’t think I can live without you, wife.”
Her smile glowed with love. “I cannot live without you, either, husband. But you must be patient because I am not skipping our cake.”
They ceded the dance floor to their guests. Brea and Pierce Walker slipped in to congratulate them with hugs. The birth of their son, Ryker, three weeks ago, had been joyous but exhausting. Brea was still recovering—and having new-mom jitters about leaving their son for long, even with her dad and stepmom.
Trees shook hands with the sniper.
Pierce’s answering smile was genuine. “How’s it feel to be married?”
“Amazing.”
“It is.” He took his wife’s hand and kissed her fingers. “Congratulations, man. I’m happy for you.”
They hadn’t always seen eye-to-eye, but over the last couple of months…they were getting there. Trees would forever owe the man for saving Laila’s life. “You, too. Hope you’re enjoying fatherhood.”