Page 68 of Nashville Cowboy
He tipped her chin up. “From the moment I fell in love with you, I’ve been on the wildest ride of my life. I figure this is going to be another interesting turn, just a little sooner than we’d planned. But there’s nothing you could ever do or say to make me walk away from you. We’re together and nothing, or no one, can come between us.”
“I love you so much.” She gripped his hands and squeezed. “Let’s hurry up and make this official before we lose the pastor.”
“Great, because you had me wonderin’ there for a minute.”
She blinked. “Like I would ever run out on you?”
“Well, our town is known for runaway brides. And…there’s Eve. It did occur to me.”
“Never. I would never abandon you.” She palmed the side of his face. “I love you.”
“Then I’ll see you at the altar.”
“Hurry!” She laughed and shoved him toward the door.
Lincoln rushed out and clapped his hands together. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road. Mr. Stephens, she’s ready for you.”
“Well it’s about stinkin’ time.” Mr. Stephens rushed inside.
“Everything okay?” Jackson asked.
His poor brother. The worry and fear etched in his eyes were a reflection of the day Eve had left him. He wished it could have been as easy as a conversation for Jackson and Eve, but their situation was different. Far more complicated.
“Looks like I’m going to be a daddy.” His chest felt so puffed up with pride he might lose a button.
“Congratulations are in order, then.” Jackson gave a big grin and slapped Lincoln’s back. “You stud. Let’s go get you married, brother.”
* * *
Other than a slightly delayed start,the rest of the Carver wedding went ahead without a hitch. Tilly McGregor the flower girl, dropped rose petals down the aisle without tripping once, and the ring bearer had possession of the ring. Jackson and Eve walked down the aisle and separated at the altar without a single wedding guest snickering. Rings and vows were exchanged. Tears were shed, but not by Jackson. He was in another place.
He’d never seen Eve on their wedding day. Something ridiculous about that being bad luck. But maybe if he’d given in to his desire to see her before the wedding, to be reminded of how much he loved her, he wouldn’t have felt like a man being led to the brig. All of the months of preparations and planning had meant they’d spent less time enjoying each other and too much time thinking about one day out of the rest of their lives.
Yes, he’d wanted Nashville, but ultimately, he wantedhermore. They could have reassured each other, just as Lincoln and Sadie had done, and he’d have married her sure as he was currently in the great state of Texas.
Whether that was a good or a bad thing, he still didn’t know.
He couldn’t say for certain that their marriage would have worked, but he’d loved her enough to try. Hestillloved her. Which was going to make all this way too complicated. She’d built her defenses up so well that he often couldn’t be sure of what she was feeling unless they were kissing. Then, he could feel her. He could taste her.
One thing for certain.He’dreverted to behaving like an idiot minutes before the wedding. He’d lost his temper again and behaved illogically when he’d blamedherfor Sadie’s issue. But doubts were powerful. Especially when they got fed on a regular basis.
He should know.
Everyone headed over to the lodge at the ranch for the reception, but the wedding party was held back for photos. Eve looked beautiful in a blue bridesmaid dress, wearing fancy cowgirl boots with inlays that matched the dress. Though they were on either side of the bride and groom, he kept catching Eve’s eye. The first two times, she looked away. The third time, she squinted at him. The fourth time, she stuck out her tongue and laughed when he did the same.
“Folks let’s save the funny faces until the end,” the photographer said.
Finally, they left the bride and groom to even more photos and the wedding party made their way to the lodge. But he and Eve took separate trucks. He’d wanted to ride with her because he had some groveling to do, but she’d wound up getting into a truck with the other bridesmaids before he could intervene. Instead he found himself with fellow groomsmen Beau Stephens and Wade Cruz.
“Can you believe it?” Wade said. “Our Lincoln is a married man.”
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Beau said. “But if anyone could have gotten him to settle down it was my little sister. She’s a charmer.”
“Made an honest man out of him,” Wade said.
Jackson turned into the lot following a long line of trucks and noted when a single limo pulled up to the curb. Out piled the “rented dates,” hired by the ladies of SORROW to attend the wedding reception, another Stone Ridge tradition. “Rented” was actually misleading, as they simply came for the free food, champagne, dancing, and all the eager men. They were instantly recognizable by the fact that no one recognized them.
“Thank the good Lord, someone to dance with,” Beau said, looking out the window.
