Page 83 of Never Wed an Outlaw

15

Live Free (Hannah)

No words.

I'd always been good with them, but now I was at a total loss. What can a woman possibly say to a man who'd delivered the heavens, the moon, and the stars in a neat little box?

My knees still hurt a little after the pregnancy and the rough treatment by Dom. I secretly hoped he was watching from hell. Looked up, saw us, andragedbecause we were alive, in love, and happy.

“Darlin'.” Dusty clenched my hand, stroking my fingers with his thick fingertips. “If it's too much, you don't have to say –“

“I've got it,” I said, standing up straighter in his arms, turning my head. I looked out over all our friends and family, men and women who'd made this crazy thing possible. “This is a huge surprise to me, and I'd like to take a second to thank everybody for coming.”

Near the wall, Bingo let out a single yip, and everybody laughed. Smiling, I was thankful for the interruption, because it gave me just enough time to know exactly whatto say. I had the man holding me to thank for it, and also the evil asshole he'd snuffed out forever.

“A minute ago, Dusty stood here talking a lot about love. I want to talk about another word that's close, but just as important.” Everybody leaned in, listening intently in the fat pause while I sucked in a breath, precious air I needed to keep it together without breaking down again. “Live.That's what I willed myself to do when things were at their darkest, when I never thought I'd stand here with you, in my husband's arms, knowing I have a second chance to do better by myself, by him, and by our family. Live free – that's what I'm going to do, and I'll never take it for granted again.”

I reached up, laying my palm flat against his rough cheek. His forehead touched mine when he leaned in, inhaling me while I breathed him in. Divine, dangerous, and masculine as a pagan god.

“Dusty...you're the reason I get to go on living. If I couldn't live, then I couldn't love. I do, with every single shred of my heart. There's no way to say thanks in just a few words. No way to repay you except with all the kisses, laughs, and smiles I know are coming, year after year. Once, I thought I had it all, chasing money and running from my past. You showed me there was more, baby...so much more. If I ever waver, if I forget and make new mistakes, they'll be brief. I know it, because you taught me what it means to live and love. I've never been prouder to be your wife – the best thing I'll ever be as long as I'm alive. I love you, Daniel.”

His name was barely off my lips before he pulled me in, smiling and eager, smothering me in another kiss. Naturally, it caused my entire body to smolder.

Applause exploded around us. Everybody cheered, if they weren't too busy wiping their tears, and preacher man said a few more words to finish the ceremony.

Neither of us heard them, though, because we were completely lost in our love.

I rememberedhow fast Huck and Cora's wedding reception blurred by, the first night Dust gave me his kiss, and turned me into a total addict.

Now, I wondered where the time went by with my own. We sat at the biggest picnic table I'd ever seen, huge enough to seat everybody with plenty of room to spare, feasting on pulled pork with spicy barbecue, beer, fried okra, mashed potatoes thick as sin, and a dozen other rich sides I barely had room to sample.

Everyone came by to wish us well throughout the evening.

Skin and Meg. Firefly and Cora. Joker and Summer.

Lion, Tinman, Crawl, Sixty. Prospects whose names I'd only started learning. Dancers from the Ruby Heel, several looking like they couldn't wait to give the single guys some late night entertainment, after the families left the party to its dying embers.

Laynie came last, bobbing a very sleepy little boy in her arms. “I should really head out when you guys do. He's hadhis fill of excitement for one night.”

“If he's tuckered out, he won't fuss later,” Dusty said, laying his hand on my thigh, underneath the table. “You've got the easy job, Ma.”

“And the best! Because now I get to be a grandma with a family who's finally had a proper wedding.” She grinned, her old cheeks wrinkling when she looked down at us, real deep pride lighting up her grey eyes. “Oh, except for the dress. Next time you renew those vows, you let her wear it, boy.”

“Well, if I'd had a little notice...” I elbowed Dusty gently, breaking into a smile. “Next time, I'll be honored, Laynie. I promise.”

“She's got the ring, and it's staying right where it belongs,” Dust said, his fingers digging into my skin deliciously, under the table. “Save the dress, Ma. Sooner or later, you're gonna have a granddaughter joining Hank. She'll need it someday for walking down the aisle.”

Laynie laughed, and then narrowed her eyes, looking right at me. “Watch out for him, honey. He's on fire today.”

“Lucky man. That's just the way I love it.” I looked at my husband, feeding the lust boiling in his eyes with a quick, subtle flick of my tongue across my bottom lip.

His hand moved higher up my thigh, under my skirt, closer to the sopping wet mess in the middle. “Get the kid home and rest up, Ma. We're out soon. I think we've had our fill, as nice as this has all been.”

She didn't need another nudge. Smiling, she stepped away, heading toward the front of the clubhouse. We lastedabout another minute, sharing several quick bites off a decadent chocolate cake Cora made, and then we stood. Everybody waved as they saw us off.

It was still too crisp for a long ride into the mountains on his Harley, so we took the truck, strategically parked by a prospect, waiting for us.

“How long does it take to get down there?” I asked, knowing full well he had a little spot in mind, deep in the Smokies, a comfortable distance from the tourist thrills in Gatlinburg for the honeymoon we were due.

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