Page 54 of Wicked Cowboy
“I love you, too.” Georgie, Nicole, and Olivia all called out.
I couldn’t stop a tear. This was how happiness showed itself.
As I closed the door, the makeup lady dabbed my face and I stopped crying.
Soon, I’d be in Carter’s arms again.
As she gave me the "go" sign, Chelsea slipped in. She took my arm and guided me out. “Thanks. I’m scared this is all a dream,” I said.
“It’s not, Ridley,” She said.
At the door, Sally handed us bouquets and pointed for Chelsea to walk as my bridesmaid.
My family now included her. Forever.
I refused to cry, hoping her parents blessed us from wherever they were.
The music changed and Sally acted as a wedding coordinator as she directed me to go. My gaze went to the front.
Carter was in a black tuxedo and my heart torpedoed me forward. His broad shoulders filled my dreams. Those full lips of his captured my attention and made me ache like I’d been in a desert of kissing. And those muscles that no tuxedo could ever disguise made me warm inside. Our gazes were locked and as soon as I joined him, he took my hand. “You are my angel tonight.”
I’d never be an angel, but I said fast, “I’m here. Let’s make this official.”
The minister spoke, but, honestly, I was in a haze of heady excitement and didn’t hear a word. Finally, he stopped. “I was told the couple wrote their own vows.”
“Yes.” Carter nodded at him. I moved closer and he held my hand up as he said, “Ridley Steel, you make the world brighter by being in it. I’ve never forgotten how you came into the groom's area of the rehearsal dinner and collected us all to walk down the aisle, making us put down our beers and dinner. You even checked my buttons were done right, so I was proper for photos. I’m a lucky man that years later you returned to my life and once again straightened me out. I love you.”
That bubble in my feet had washed through me now. I wasn’t able to stand. I swayed into his arms, but I spoke from my heart on my turn. “I… I didn’t think I’d ever be the girl who falls in love. I’d always thought I’d go through the motions of life and never have a partner. Then, I came to your ranch to talk and now I know what love feels like, I don’t ever want to leave.”
“I love you.” He said fast and had a tear in his eyes.
My heart swelled. I held him tighter and, finally, the minister said, “By the power invested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Carter’s arms around my waist sent trembles through me and my lips tingled. I closed my eyes and his lips met mine.
Wow. I’d been rocketed out of my heels and to the stars. All I could do was hold his shoulders, but as the kiss ended, I met his brown-eyed gaze and realized one thing… I belonged here. I didn’t want to be anywhere else, ever, not without him.
Nicole’s voice penetrated my hearing when she screamed out, “Aww, you and your husband are adorable.”
I turned toward our small group and Carter walked with me down the aisle.
The others followed to our small, outdoor dining area for a Texas barbeque.
As people took their seats, Carter squeezed my fingers and directed us inside. “I wanted to show you something.”
He led me to our bedroom. Goosebumps grew on my body. It was too soon, but he didn’t head to the bed. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand and I asked, “What’s that?”
He flipped through his pictures and then showed me a picture of me in that mint green bridesmaid dress I’d worn ten years ago as he said, “I was looking through my phone this morning. I snapped your picture at the wedding, too."
I couldn’t stop my cheeks from blooming, and I ignored the flutter in my soul when I gave it back. “You did?”
He flipped the screen to the next one. “Here.”
This one was us holding hands in the dance. We’d seen so intimate then. I hadn’t known he’d snapped a photo or that anybody else had. I’d been lost in his arms. My eyelids fluttered as I handed it back and asked, “Why?”
He wiped my face that had another tear as he said, “Because I wanted to remember the most beautiful woman I’d ever met.”
The storm inside me dissipated entirely as I asked, “Seriously?”
