Page 57 of Sweet and Wild

Colt grins as he wraps his arms around me. “I did not mope.”

“Yes, sir, you did,” West says as he claps a hand on his new brother-in-law’s shoulder. “Mind if I dance with my little sister on her wedding day?”

“You can haveadance,” Colt says, placing my hand in my brother’s. “Just remember, I want her back as soon as this song’s done.”

West nods and takes me in his arms as the first strains of “Dance with Me” by Morgan Evans fills the barn. “You look perfect, Lemonade.”

I laugh through my tears. “I’m pretty sure we both know I’m far from perfect.”

He shakes his head. “Not to me.”

“Why are y’all determined to make me cry today?”

He chuckles as I pull him in close. “Because we figured it was the only day we could. You’d kick our ass any other time, but not while you’re all prettied up.”

“Shows what you know.” I pull away and lift my skirts. “I still wore my shit-kickin’ boots.”

“Of course you did.” He laughs and draws me closer to press a kiss to my hair, then he twirls me into Wade’s waiting arms.

“Well, howdy, sis.”

“Let me guess, this was your idea?”

“Nope. It was West’s.”

“Oh, then I’m definitely kickin’ his ass afterward.”

“As long as you’ll let me get it on tape,” Wade says. “I’m so proud of you, darlin’. And Daddy woulda given anything to be here for this.”

A startled sob escapes me and I lean my head against his chest. “I would have given anything for him to be here, but this comes pretty damn close.”

“Nah, you’re just saying that so our feelings aren’t hurt.”

I shake my head. “I’m really not. You boys raised me just as much as Mama and Daddy did. Colton isn’t the only reason I’m staying at the ranch. As much as you boys drive me crazy, I can’t stay away from any of you.”

“Well, the feeling’s mutual, sis. If you hadn’t come back from New York, we were planning to come get you.”

I smile at Wade and wipe away my tears. Wyatt cuts in and twirls us around the floor. He dips me and I can’t help but laugh. “I swear to God, if you make me cry the way the others have …”

“And ruin that pretty makeup? Not on your life.”

I hold him close and sway in time to the music.

“You know, even if Daddy was here for this, I think he would have insisted that we all dance with you anyway.”

I stare up at his sea-green eyes. “You think?”

“Yeah, I do. But even though he ain’t here, he’s not the only one giving you away today. You’ll always be our Lemonade.”

“Yes I will.”

My husband steps up beside us and Wyatt squeezes me tightly before letting me go. “You’re a lucky bastard, Colt.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“I know I don’t need to tell you that if you ever hurt her—”

“You’ll castrate me, I know.”

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