Page 30 of Sweet Surprise

“I do.” Given the hurricane of emotions swirling inside him, Carson’s voice came out steadier than he would have expected.

The judge nodded approvingly. It had taken a bit of fancy footwork, but somehow they convinced the old geezer that saying love and obey was archaic. The only thing that convinced him was the concept that if they weren’t planning on loving, why bother marrying. The till death do you part was a lost cause, but an acceptable compromise. Now, he turned to Jess. “And do you, Jessica Pratt, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward till death do you part?”

“I do.” Jess’s green eyes locked with his, a small smile playing at her lips.

“Then by the power vested in me by the great state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Carson leaned forward, gently cupping Jess’s face with one hand. This was the moment he’d been rehearsing in his mind. Not too brief to look uncommitted, not too passionate to embarrass his mother or Mason. As his head dipped and his lips met Jess’s, he was surprised by the warmth that coursed through him and the memories from all those years ago that flooded his mind. For a brief moment, the charade fell away, and it was just the two of them, as it should have been since all those years ago.

The small gathering of family at the porch steps erupted in applause, pulling him back to reality. He reluctantly broke the kiss, his hand sliding down to clasp Jess’s.

Five days had passed in a whirlwind of preparations, yet somehow they’d managed to keep it relatively simple. His Texas tuxedo—pressed jeans, shined cowboy boots, crisp white shirt, and jacket—had been the perfect compromise between casual and formal. Jess looked stunning in a simple ivory dress with boots that his sisters had bulldozed her into buying during an impromptu shopping trip. He’d been rather pleased that Jillian and Rachel had been doing their best to let Jess know how much they appreciated having her as a new sister, even if only temporarily.

Carson glanced at the small assembly of family standing on and around the porch steps. His mother was dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, while his aunts Vicki and Liz beamed with approval. Garret, Rachel, and Jillian looked on with knowing smiles—they, of course, understood the real arrangement, though Carson had caught each of them watching him with curious expressions throughout the ceremony. Preston and Sarah stood closest, having been through this exact scenario themselves. Sarah gave Jess an encouraging wink.

But it was Mason who stole the show, proudly standing at Carson’s side in his brand-new cowboy boots, jeans, and a miniature version of Carson’s jacket. He only hoped, when the charade came to an end and only Mason and his mother moved into the new house, that Mason would take that change in stride as well.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the judge announced, “I present to you, for the first time in public, Mr. and Mrs. Carson Sweet.”

More applause, and Carson felt Jess’s hand tighten in his. When he glanced down at her, he saw a mix of emotions in her eyes that he couldn’t quite decipher. Relief? Anxiety? Something else entirely? “You okay?” he whispered.

She nodded, her smile brightening. “Just taking it all in.”

It had been a small victory, talking his mother out of the town park ceremony she’d initially envisioned. Alice had been determined to make this a community event, but Carson had insisted that the ranch, with the Texas landscape stretching endlessly behind them, was more appropriate for a Sweet wedding, and a more appropriate welcoming to the family for Jess. His mother had finally relented when Jess mentioned how much it would mean to her to be married in what was now her home.

Mason tugged at Carson’s sleeve. “Does this mean you’re my stepdad now?”

The innocent question landed like a punch to the gut. They still hadn’t told him the truth. Carson knelt down to the boy’s level, meeting those eyes that were so like Jess’s.

“It means we’re a family now,” he said carefully. “That okay with you?”

Mason nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! Brady and Samson are gonna be so excited!” Almost tripping over his new boots, Mason sprinted down the steps and headed for the two dogs, seated at the far edge of the barn.

Carson couldn’t help but laugh. Leave it to a little boy to think about how the dogs would feel about the new family arrangement.

“Carson Sweet,” his mother called, waving her camera. “Don’t you dare move. I want a picture of the two of you right there on the steps.”

He stood, placing one arm around Jess. The weight of the moment wasn’t lost on him. This was his wife now, at least in the eyes of the law, his family, and his son. The feeling weighed on him more heavily than expected. A tinge of regret and sadness fell over him, almost wishing it weren’t just for show. Then again, if wishes were horses….

“Everyone say ‘Sweet’!” his mother called from several yards away.

With the ease of a person who had been corralling wayward children and extended family for years, his mom managed to get Mason back on the porch for an immediate family photo, as well as ones of the siblings, then the siblings and new members of the family, and handing the camera off to the judge, a few photos with her.

When he and she posed alone, she leaned into him. “I wish your father could be here.” Before he could say a word, she patted his arm. “Oh, I know he’s here in spirit…”

“He is, Mom. He is.” And just like that, he was reminded of why he and his siblings were going through so much to save the ranch that mattered immensely to the entire Sweet family.

As soon as the photographs were taken, his mother herded everyone toward the barn. Everyone separated, buzzing about, making sure the food was out and ready, and the drinks cool and handy. The band members already in place were fine tuning their instruments and tinkering with the equipment. His mother had made sure this would be the barnyard party of the century. Looking for his new bride, crossing the portable dance floor with a massive basket of sweet rolls, he could hear the roar of engines pulling onto the property. Any minute now they’d be flooded with half the town—heck, maybe all of it with his mother and aunts in charge. Lord, how he hoped her heart wouldn’t break at the end of the year.

Music spilled from the hay barn doors as dusk settled across the ranch. Watching the town come together the last few days in preparation for the big fundraising event, whether building the stage, the dancefloor, setting up tables, had been an amazing sight to see. Now, Jess sipped her punch, watching the sea of people crowding the makeshift dance floor and gathering around tables laden with pot luck food that seemed to multiply every time she looked.

The whole town had turned out—for the Flannagans, yes, but also for them. She’d lost count of how many hands she’d shaken, how many congratulations she’d received. Women she’d never met had hugged her like old friends, men had tipped their hats with respectful nods, and a parade of children had asked Mason if he was going to stay for good.

“There you are.” Carson appeared beside her, two plates balanced in his hands. “Mom says you haven’t eaten anything since breakfast, and I quote, ‘That’s no way for a bride to start her married life.’”

Jess laughed, taking one of the plates. “Your mother is something else.”

“That she is.” Carson’s gaze drifted to where Alice showed Mason how to do the Texas Two-Step, both of them laughing as Mason’s new boots slid on the polished floor. “Having second thoughts yet?”

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