Page 103 of Before You Can Blink
All at once, it hit me. I was giving away my little girl today, entrusting her well-being to another man for the rest of her life.
Mac was a good man. He’d proven that a hundred times over during the past two and a half years since Aspen first brought him home. Yes, he was a little eccentric—in cahoots with my ma of all people, the two of them feeding off each other like they were part of some late-night comedy routine—but he brought out the best in my daughter. I had never seen her smile so much; her laughter was a constant presence.
More than that, he’d brought herhome. Not just to Rust Canyon, but to Sullivan Ranch. The two of them had taken up residence in that cabin that had served as my personal hell once upon a time, claiming it as their own. Though it wouldn’t be long before they moved out, as they were building a home of Aspen’s design on the property.
My baby girl was here to stay, and I had the man she was about to marry to thank for that.
“It’s been so nice having all the kids around,” Daisy mused. “It’s like back when they were all in high school again and the ranch wastheplace to hang out.”
I hummed. She wasn’t wrong about that.
The past week brought a heavy dose of nostalgia. Beyond the chaos of the wedding week festivities—a majority of which took place on our land—Bex coming back to town had stirred up all kinds of drama.
My daughter hadn’t seen fit to tell her best friend that Mac had befriended Tucker Grant, and the boy who’d broken Bex’s heart and caused her to avoid this town for a decade would be her partner for the wedding—the best man to her maid of honor.
So far, there’d been a broken wrist, a blowup at the church, and a fiancé who had come and gone so quickly I’d only heard mention of the man. Last night, the pair of former high school sweethearts seemed relatively cozy, but then, out of nowhere, Bex took off running, and Tucker gave chase. That was the last anyone saw of them until this morning, when the girls and guys began getting ready for the day’s big event.
Honestly, I couldn’t worry too much about any of that right now. My focus needed to be on keeping it together long enough to make it through the ceremony. But I had a feeling all bets were off once I laid eyes on my sweet girl dressed all in white.
“She’s waiting for you.” Daisy pressed a kiss to my cheek and stepped back.
There was a two-ton elephant sitting on my chest, making it hard to breathe, but I managed to nod, forcing my feet to move until I found myself at Aspen’s door.
When I knocked gently, my daughter’s voice called out, “Come in!”
Eyes sliding shut as I sucked in a deep breath, I turned the knob and pushed inside.
The world stood still as I drank in the sight of the angel set before me. White lace cascaded over her slight curves, a crown of flowers sitting atop her head. She looked like the perfect country bride.
Her bright blue eyes glistened, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she lifted the fabric away from her hips, with a shy, “What do you think?”
I swallowed roughly, my voice coming out thick. “I think you’re one of the best things I’ve ever done with my life.”
Blinking furiously, she dropped her gaze to the floor and whispered, “Daddy.”
Standing here, looking at the beautiful creature I’d made with the love of my life, I couldn’t believe there had been a time in my life when I didn’t want children. The young fool I’d been couldn’t even begin to comprehend all I would have missed out on in their absence.
The joy that a simple smile from them could bring.
The comfort of knowing they were safe when I tucked them in at night.
The pride that swelled within me as I watched their accomplishments.
The love that filled my heart nearly to bursting every time I looked at them.
Was it always easy? Hell, no. But I wouldn’t trade the two of them for the world.
Jerking my chin toward the open door behind me, I offered Aspen my arm. “Can’t let you be late on your big day.”
Her palm came to rest on my elbow as I guided her down the stairs.
The first thing I saw when we stepped onto the front porch where the bridal party waited was my wife’s grabbable ass as she bent to speak to a pair of children.
One of Aspen’s classmates had married Tanner Winfield’s youngest boy, Colt—the same one who’d been his daddy’s shadow during our barn raising, what felt like a lifetime ago—and together they had three little ones.The older two, Aubree and Barrett, were serving in the wedding party as the flower girl and ring bearer, and it was no surprise that Daisy gravitated toward them.
I cleared my throat loudly, and she straightened before she spun around, eyes wide, but they immediately softened when they landed on Aspen.
A trembling hand rose to cover her mouth. “I better get out there before I ruin my makeup.” She gave our daughter’s free hand a quick squeeze and then scurried off toward where the guests were seated around the side of the house.
