Page 22 of Wildest Forever

I pause for a moment, ignoring the way my blood pumps around my body, the way it bangs in my ear like a drum.

“I am,” I nod, “it is.”

She slips back into her seat and drops her head for a moment.

“I don't need to read the contract or the deeds, I trust that you havemyson's best interests at heart.”

Gerry bows his head and gives her a nod.

“Then I suppose I better go and buy a new hat,” she pushes back from the table. “If you'll excuse me,”and my heart implodes in my chest.

She isn't happy about this, far from it.

But it's done.

Gerry passes me a pen and I sign on the dotted line on both documents and my stomach flips at the sight of her name next to mine.

“You'll never know how much this means to me Rivera,” he just about manages before his head is in his hands and he’s crying.

My chest caves in and I find myself placing my hand on his back, palm down between his shoulder blades as his body trembles through the tears.

CHAPTER FIVE

MORGAN

Standing at the bottom of the makeshift aisle with a few seats scattered either side, I cast my eyes over the large tree trunks placed as an edging, dressed in foliage and topped with pretty wildflowers. Battery powered fairy lights are entwined through and a matching set wrapped around a metal framed arch.

This is not what I had once pictured when I dreamt of getting married, but as I got older, the dream of a marriage soon diminished into nothing.

I never wanted kids.

Never wanted a marriage.

Yet here I am, about to walk down the aisle for my pops’ last dying wish.

Talk about guilt tripped, jeez.

I glance over at him, his cheeks all rosy, thick gray hair combed over on a side parting, and he has never looked more handsome than he does now, and damn, I can see the pride shining out of him like rays of sunshine.

Inhaling heavily, I glance down at where I would normally see my tanned cowboy boots before my eyes lock on the man who I am set to marry.

Ivory sheer bows tie over each of my shoulders, the dress fits down to my waist, then moulding into a soft tulle skirt that flows down to the ground. My blonde hair is half up, half down and finished with a pretty diamanté clip, the rest is down in soft curls that tease the skin on my open back.

“You ready sweet girl?” my pops asks me, his chin lifting as he stands a little taller and inhales deeply.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I whisper just as soft sounds ofIn Your Love – Tyler Childersbegins to fill the meadow of our ranch and that's when the Rivera family stand. Dusty and his family are the only ones on our side.

They are all we have.

My heart twists in my chest as I take my first step, slowly walking to seal my fate.

Pacey isn't hard on the eyes, in fact, he is real easy.

He has never had a serious relationship from what I have heard. The town sheriff and golden boy of Lovelock Bay... but is he really the ray of sunshine everyone thinks he is?

He stands tall, shoulders rolled back and dressed in an off white suit with a white shirt and matching bow tie. Hair tousled back, stubble shadows his jaw and chin with a hint of thicker stubble coating his upper lip.

I wanted formal with a hint of rustic; he was happy to agree with whatever just to get me down the aisle before my grandad left this earthly plane.

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