Page 109 of Make Her Mine

I look at that text and grin.

Then take a deep breath. Are these three babies? Maybe at least toddlers? Oh, God, what if they’re all teenagers? Actually, it’s more likely they’re a set of siblings she knows from work so…it could be a baby, a toddler, and a teen.

I run a hand over my face.

It’s okay. I’m ready. We’ll be great at this.

It is absolutely appropriate that Harlow Hansen would bring happy chaos into my life.

I’m feeling human again by the time the wedding set up really kicks into high gear, thank God. And my family’s excitement, and my brother’s calm happiness about this big day, seep into me.

Life is good.

My family is amazing, I love that Carver and Kaelyn are so in love, and I just love this fucking town.

I’m also really glad I have finally convinced Harlow of that fact.

Carver and Kaelyn’s wedding in the gazebo in the center of town, surrounded by any and every citizen who wants to show up, in the midst of the summer festival, is absolute perfection.

When they first suggested the idea, I agreed that it sounded like fun. But now, standing on the steps of the gazebo, watching my brother say his vows to his longtime love, and looking out over the square in the town where I’ve spent my life, and looking into the faces of the people—everyone from our Boy Scout leader, to my third grade teacher, to friends who have been by my side since kindergarten, to my parents and all of their friends, to the woman who I have fallen in love with slowly over probably nearly a decade—I can’t imagine a more perfect place to have the ceremony.

I catch Harlow’s eyes.

She gives me a soft smile.

It’s a just-between-us smile.

My heart clenches in my chest, and I feel a sense of rightness that only occurs when I’m in those rare but perfect moments that are not only just so fucking good, but that I’m tuned in enough to recognize and soak in.

This is how I want our wedding to go.

Right here in this gazebo, at next year’s festival.

“Jefferson,” I hear my brother’s harsh whisper, then Graham elbows me in the side.

I jerk my attention back to the gazebo.

“Do you have the ring?”

Oh crap. I dig in my pocket as the entire audience softly laughs.

I hand the beautiful diamond ring to my brother and he gives me a little wink.

I so appreciate Carver's laid-back personality.

“Quit staring at your girlfriend,” Graham tells me in a whisper. “You’re being obvious as hell.”

I just grin. I really don’t care.

CHAPTER 24

HARLOW

“So I’ve been thinking about the adoption thing,” Jefferson says as we dance. “How will that work? You’ll adopt them? And then later, I will?”

I look up at him with a smile. This whole night has been so great. He wasn’t lying when he said he was claiming all my dances. Not only have I not danced with anyone else, he and I have barely sat down since the street dance started. We’ve had a couple of drinks, but mostly have just been soaking up the night and the celebratory feel in the air underneath the twinkle lights that are strung over Main Street. A local band has set up on one end and people ages eight to eighty-eight are dancing on the cobblestones.

“You don’t have to officially do anything. Unless you want to. I can adopt them all. Or I can adopt a couple and you can adopt one. Whatever works.”

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