Page 81 of A Taste of Whiskey
He inhaled deeply and blew his breath out slowly. “Now I know what my clients feel like when they come to me asking for advice and solutions.”
She smiled. “You know the best resolutions usually find themselves.”
“I know, but it’s hard to bide my time when it affects my son.” It was just as hard to bide his time with regard to his and Sasha’s situation. But that was not a subject that was up for discussion. He pushed to his feet, and she stood as well. “I appreciate you listening.”
“I’m always happy to listen. Come here, honey.” She opened her arms. He stepped into her embrace, soaking in the maternal comfort she gave so willingly. “You’re a wonderful father, and you’re doing a great job with Gus. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you.” He stepped out of her arms. “I learned a lot from you and Tiny, but this is a rough one. I wish I knew the right thing to do.”
“Nobody said parenting would be easy, but you’ll get through it. You always do.”
“I don’t need easy.” He reached for the door. “I just need to know my son won’t pay the same price I did.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
AFTER A WHIRLWIND week of busy days spent working with the horses and helping with wedding preparations, fun-filled evenings of costume making with Gus, and stolen midnight hours with Ezra, Dare and Billie’s wedding day finally arrived. They were blessed with a perfect clear, warm evening. The barn looked magical. Cowboy and their father had built a beautiful altar, and Sasha and the girls had decorated it with drapes of white silk, red and white roses, and twinkling lights. More lights sparkled from around the rafters and support poles. The aisle was lined with barrels overflowing with red and white flowers and greenery, and the chairs along the aisle had red bows tied to the sides.
Sasha stood at the altar with Birdie, taking it all in. She’d never seen Dare as excited as he was last night, when they’d met some of their out-of-state cousins and friends at the Roadhouse. He hadn’t been able to keep his hands off Billie, and she’d eaten up his attention, the two of them going on about how excited they were to go on their honeymoon to Spain, where they were going to watch the running of the bulls. But that was nothing compared to how elated Dare was tonight, standing at the altar with Doc and Cowboy, as handsome as could be in their black leather vests and dress shirts with jeans, boots, and cowboy hats. Dare looked like he was going to jump out of his skin if Billie didn’t walk down that aisle soon. Cowboy was looking lovingly at Sully, who was sitting in the audience with their parents, and Doc appeared as stoic as he had all day. He’d been in a foul mood and had been short with Sasha when she’d done rounds that morning. She didn’t know what was going on with him, but no matter how much she tried, she hadn’t been able to get him to loosen up.
Birdie nudged her, drawing her attention to Bobbie as she walked down the aisle in her mint-green dress. “She looks gorgeous.” Her blond hair was fashionably styled in an updo, with tendrils framing her face. She wore a similar sleeveless, knee-length dress to Sasha’s and Birdie’s, although Sasha’s was peach and Birdie’s was lilac.
“So do you,” Sasha whispered, her gaze catching on Ezra crouching in front of Gus at the end of the aisle. He was straightening Gus’s dress shirt beneath the little black leather vest Ezra had bought him, so he’d look like all the Dark Knights today. Her heart beat faster every time she saw them.
Birdie nudged her again, nodding to Hyde and Taz slipping out the back door. “Where are they going?”
“Who knows?” Sasha said as Bobbie joined them at the altar, smiling brightly.
Her thoughts fell away as Gus walked down the aisle, beaming proudly, carrying a small white pillow with the rings and a red rose tied to it. They’d practiced walking down the aisle earlier in the day, and he was doing such a good job of not walking too fast.
“Look, Grandpa! I’m the ring boy!” he said as he passed Pep.
Laughter rose around them.
God, she loved him.
When Gus reached the last row of chairs, he ran straight to Sasha. “I did it, Sugar! I went slow!”
“You were perfect.” She put her hand on his shoulder, choking up as her gaze found Ezra’s, who looked even prouder than Gus.
The “Wedding March” began, and the din quieted as everyone turned in their seats, anticipating Billie’s arrival. But the song ended abruptly, and the Spice Girls song “Wannabe” came on as Hyde and Taz danced in through the back doors, carrying metal buckets and tossing rose petals. They danced their way down the aisle, thrusting their hips and tossing more rose petals out at the guests. Everyone cracked up as they winked at the women and caressed the backs of a few male guests’ heads. Their videographer, Hawk Pennington, another Dark Knight, was discreetly catching it all on film. Leave it to those two to ad-lib something like that.
They danced onto the altar, dirty dancing around Sasha, Birdie, and Bobbie and tossing rose petals, making everyone laugh even harder. When the song ended, they took a bow, and as they headed back to their seats, the “Wedding March” began again.
Billie appeared at the end of the aisle, looking absolutely radiant on her father’s arm. Manny was handsome in his leather vest, with a prideful gleam in his eyes, as they started down the aisle. Billie’s dark hair hung in loose waves over the thin straps of her stunning, sleeveless lace bridal gown. It was sexy, elegant, and perfectly Billie, with a plunging neckline and a slit up either side of the skirt, revealing her cowgirl boots.
Billie’s eyes were locked on Dare, and his eyes dampened. It was hard not to be a little jealous of the love thrumming between them.
Sasha teared up as Billie joined him on the altar, and Treat Braden, one of their father’s oldest friends, officiated the ceremony. The ceremony was beautiful, and she glanced at Ezra as Dare and Billie exchanged vows and found him watching her with a loving expression. Her heart stumbled. It had been doing that a lot lately. It was hard to believe they’d been together for only a month. It seemed like forever.
“You may now kiss your bride,” Treat said, drawing her attention back to the main event.
“Get over here, wifey.” Dare hauled Billie into his arms and kissed the heck out of her, dipping her low as cheers and applause rang out.
He kissed her for so long, Sasha wondered if they’d ever come up for air.
THERE WASN’T A dry eye in the tent when Dare announced, “This one’s for Eddie,” before he and Billie danced their first dance as husband and wife to “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” Sasha stood by the dance floor with Birdie and Bobbie, watching longingly as Dare and Billie gazed into each other’s eyes, whispering and kissing, wishing she could dance like that with Ezra. She could tell by Ezra’s furtive glances that he was wishing the same thing.
An hour later, the tent was buzzing with joy as couples drank, danced, and mingled. Sasha still hadn’t danced with Ezra, but they were being extra careful. On the other hand, she had fun dancing with the girls and with Flame when he’d asked her to. She was glad there were no hard feelings between them.
