Chapter 32
“I’m not sleeping without you tonight p>
Willow is sitting at the kitchen island, marking things off her long-as-fuck to-do list. She glances up at me and raises an eyebrow.
“It’s tradition p>
“Fuck tradition. We’ve been living together for over a year p>
She pops that lower lip out because she knows that I can’t resist it, the little minx. “But, Ry, it’s bad luck for us to sleep together the night before the wedding and then see each other before the ceremony tomorrow p>
“Wait, let me get this straight.” I hold up a hand. “You expect me to not only sleep without the love of my life tonight, but also not even see you until the ceremony tomorrow afternoon p>
“That’s how it works p>
“Fuck that p>
“Ryker p>
I shake my head, not even a little embarrassed to discover that a tiny bit of panic has set up in my stomach. Call me codependent, but unless there’s no other way around it, I have no plans to stay in the bunkhouse tonight, away from her.
“It’s one night, babe. Besides, we have so much going on, the time will fly by. The tents are being set up as we speak. There are so many people coming to town—it’s crazy. You invited your whole hockey team. Everyone you’ve ever played with. That’s a lot of people p>
“I couldn’t leave anyone out,” I reply reasonably.
“Even the owner is coming p>
“Barry expected an invitation p>
“And yet you threw a fit when I told you that I was inviting Shawn North. He’s a colleague and a friend p>
I shake my head. That guy wants my girl. I went to that book event with her. Hell, we’ve been to several, and this Shawn guy is constantly trying to charm her pants off with that British accent.
“He does not have a crush on me,” she continues.
“Agree to disagree, sweetheart p>
“Well, he’s coming, with his girlfriend p>
I smirk and cross my arms over my chest. “Whatever p>
Great, he can watch her come permanently off the market.
“My point is, there will be so many people around, and so much going on, that one night won’t matter p>
“Let me make myself clear.” I cross to her and hook her chin on my finger, tipping her face up. “I will not today, or any other day, sleep without you in my arms when you’re literally yards away from me. No. This is one tradition we’re breaking, Willow, and I won’t compromise on it p>
“Well, you don’t get to see me in my dress until I walk down the aisle p>
“I can live with that.” I smile and lean down to kiss her soft lips. “We’re so good at this marriage thing already p>
“Stop kissing in front of the rest of us p>
Our heads whirl to the doorway at the sound of Gideon’s voice, and Willow hops off her stool so she can run over and hug him.
“Hey, handsome p>
“Hi, baby girl.” He kisses the top of her head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner p>
“Always did avoid the heavy lifting p>
Gid flips me off, making me laugh.
“You’re here now,” Wills replies and pats his cheek. “You okay? You don’t look quite like yourself p>
“I’m great. Don’t you have enough to worry about without adding me to the mix p>
“I always have room for you,” she assures him. “Did you try on your tux p>
“Yes. Why am I wearing a tux in a field p>
“Because that’s what Willow wants, so that’s what she’s getting,” I reply.
“Fine.” He heaves out a breath, but then he grins. “Where’s the kid p>
“He’s helping with the tents,” Willow says.
“That’s code for ‘He’s bossing everyone around out there,’” I add.
“He was a born leader,” Gideon replies. “He’ll be an NHL captain before we know it p>
Gideon isn’t wrong. Aiden played hockey last year, and he slaughtered it. He’s naturally talented, and if he wants it, I know he could make it to the NHL.
But he has two years left of high school, so we’ll see what he decides to do. I won’t push him into hockey.
“Okay, boss,” Gid says to Willow. “Give me my marching orders p>
Willow
Ryker was true to his word. There was no keeping him out of our bedroom last night, but I have successfully avoided him all day today. I purposefully planned an afternoon wedding because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay away from him until a sunset ceremony.
And I wasn’t wrong.
I’m in my pretty lace gown with short sleeves and a V neckline. It hugs my curves in all the right places. Ryker insisted that I go to Seattle to shop for my dress, and we made a week out of it, all three of us. Ry sold his penthouse, and I found my dress.
I would live in this dress if I could. I love it.
There’s a knock on the door, and I turn to find Gideon poking his head in.
“Are you ready, baby girl p>
“As I’ll ever be.” Gid’s walking me down the aisle, and he’s standing up with me. I cried like a baby when Ry asked Aiden to be his best man. Aiden asked if he could also change his last name to James so we’re all the same, and then I cried some more.
“He’s going to swallow his tongue when he sees you,” Gid says as he holds his elbow out for me to take.
“That was the goal.” We walk through the house and out the front door, toward the field that has the best views of the mountains. There are tents set up, ready for the reception with a ton of food and cake and drinks. Enough for all three hundred people.
“Do we have you here for a couple of weeks?” I ask him, to keep my nerves down.
“I’m here forever,” he says in that deep, rumbly voice. “I’m not going back, Wills p>
I stop and stare up at him. “What p>
“I talked with Ry about it last night. I’ll build a house over by the lake p>
“Gid, you love your job p>
“Yeah, well, the job doesn’t love me anymore. The leg will never be the same. Not good enough to protect the president or her family, and if I can’t do that, I might as well retire p>
I squeeze his arm. “I’ll selfishly be happy you’re home p>
“I know p>
We turn a corner, and there’s the aisle, leading me to my man.
He’s standing by the judge in his tux, my boy standing next to him. And when Ry’s gaze lifts and finds me, his lips press into a hard line, and I see tears in his gorgeous brown eyes.
“That’s what I wanted to see,” I whisper as Gideon guides me down the aisle.
“You’re happy?” Gid asks.
“More than I probably deserve p>
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him shake his head. “No, baby girl. You deserve every minute of this happiness. You both do p>
We reach the men, and Ryker joins us. Gideon passes my hand over to Ryker’s, then kisses my cheek and moves to the other side of me to stand as my witness.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Ry says after swallowing hard.
“Hey, let me kiss her,” Aiden says, making everyone laugh as he leans in to kiss my cheek. “Love you, mama bear p>
Oh, God, my makeup.
“I love you too, baby boy p>
“We are gathered here today p>
The words are beautiful. We repeat solemn vows to each other, slide rings on our fingers.
Debbie’s and Ray’s rings.
Gideon had given us his blessing to use them, and the three of us finally went into the master bedroom, which had been closed up for the past year and a half, to find them. It was a bittersweet day.
“I’m honored to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride p>
Ryker’s smile is wide as he bends me backward and plants one on me that has the entire crowd applauding and whooping.
“Come on, wife.” He kisses the back of my hand. “Let’s go live this amazing life p>