Page 108 of Coming Home Country
Bex
One Year Later
“AuntieBex!Watchmetwirl! I’m a princess!”
Hope spun around so fast that she bumped into a side table in the ready room at the back of the church. When she landed on her tiny little behind, her rosebud lips parted in shock, big blue eyes growing wide as she gauged her mother’s reaction.
Evie tilted her face toward the ceiling and blew out a breath. “Lord, she’s just as wild as her brothers.”
Aspen dropped to her knees beside the three-year-old who wasn’t officially my niece yet, but I’d been her aunt since the minute we met. Helping Hope to her feet, Aspen hugged her from behind. “Don’t listen to your mama. I think you’re precious.”
And because they couldn’t be left out, especially when their sister was being showered with praise, Hunter and Hendrix also decided to declare they were princesses and became a two-toddler wrecking crew as they spun.
They might wear their poor parents out, but they were adorable as sin.
A knock sounded on the door before it opened, and Mac poked his head in with a hand over his eyes. “Everyone decent?”
Aspen scoffed, but there was a hint of humor in her tone when she spoke to her husband. “Did you think this was like a sleepover, and we’d all be in our underwear having a pillow fight?”
Mac dropped his hand. “Well, shit, if I did, I wouldn’t have covered my eyes.”
“Need I remind you that you’re a happily married man?” she challenged.
Twisting his lips, Mac teased back, “You know what? Maybe Idoneed a reminder.”
With a roll of her eyes, Aspen crossed the tiny dressing room and planted a kiss on his lips.
“Mmm. It’s slowly coming back to me now.” Mac placed a hand on Aspen’s lower back, dipping her and giving her a kiss so passionate that I contemplated covering the kids’ eyes.
My best friend swayed on her feet when she was released, but thankfully, her husband looped an arm around her waist, keeping her upright as he flashed me a roughish grin.
Mac was a wild card, but his antics brought much-needed laughter to our lives.
Placing a hand to her pink cheek, Aspen asked, “Did you need something?”
“Other than your candy lips?” Mac stole another quick kiss before turning his attention to me. “I was sent to fetch the bride.”
Alarmed, my gaze landed on the wall-mounted clock before a frown formed on my lips. “We can’t start twenty minutes early. Guests might still be arriving.”
He shook his head. “Not for the ceremony. Your groom wants to see you.”
My brows shot sky-high as I exclaimed, “He can’t see me before the wedding! It’s bad luck!”
“He said you’d say that. Then he told me to tell you that you two have reached your quota of bad luck and to meet him out back.”
There was a beat of hesitation on my part. Did I really want to buck tradition to have a private moment with Tucker before we became man and wife?
The image of his handsome face floated before my eyes, and the decision was automatic.
Gathering up the train of my dress, I draped it over one arm. “Lead the way.”
Mac smirked, offering a bent elbow to escort me to where my groom was waiting. “Thought you’d never ask.”
There was an exterior door not far from where the ready room was located, and we managed not to run into any wandering guests. When we pushed outside, my breath caught at the sight of Tucker’s suit-clad back with him facing away from me.
“Go get your man.” Mac gave me a gentle nudge. “He’s been waiting for you.”
He didn’t just mean today.
