Page 63 of Black Bay Enforcer
A thick knot of emotion lodged in Kong’s throat and he cleared it with a gruff noise. This man who showed him what a father was, who sneakily played back the pranks Kong couldn’t resist pulling instead of reprimanding him, and the man who’d become a role model Kong could aspire to. “You don’t need to say it, sir. I know it. We all know it. Thank you for that.”
Looking as if he might be feeling a bit emotional as well, the general nodded sharply and turned again to leave.
“General Davies, sir?”
When the older man looked over his shoulder in inquiry, Kong snapped to attention, raised his chin, and crisply saluted.
Chapter Thirty
“That Perrin woman is…”
When her mother trailed off, Katherine volunteered, “Intimidating?”
“Exactly.” Harper went back to fixing Katherine’s hair. “You have no idea how embarrassed I was when I complimented her on her nail polish, only for her to inform me that she wasn’t wearing any.”
Katherine barked a laughed. “Oh, my God! I did the same thing!” Remembering the incident, she smiled fondly and shook her head.
Her mother lightly smacked her arm. “Sit still. I’m not finished.”
Katherine dutifully did as she was told. “How did you two end up meeting, anyway? At the mess hall?”
“She showed up, here, actually.” Harper’s eyes met her daughter’s in the mirror. “She informed me she was leaving the base to get you a dress and as the mother of the bride, she thought I might want to come.” Her mom shot her a stern look and sniffed. “Imagine how surprised I was to find out my daughter was getting married today – and not from my daughter.”
Oops. That was on her. She’d planned to tell her mom, she’d just been so excited to go get the marriage license with Kong that she hadn’t done it before they’d left. By the time they’d returned, the whole base knew, including her mother.
Her eyes returned to the mirror and snagged on the evening gown that was hanging behind her mom. They’d found a gorgeous creation. A stunning floor-length, rose gold charmeuse with a halter neck, a crisscross back, and a short train. It was a dress that screamed romance and Katherine thought it was so perfect it brought tears to her eyes.
Of course, everything today was bringing tears to her eyes. She and Kong had come back from getting the license and found Black Bay transformed. So many people had come together to make their day special. White lights had been strung along the trees in the central green, and two blocks of seating had been set up to create a center aisle with a runner that led to a beautifully decorated arch where she and Kong would say their vows and exchange rings – a gorgeous wedding set that, somehow, despite the short notice, General Davies had managed to acquire. Justthinking about how he’d approached them and shown them the rings for their approval made her chin wobble dangerously and her vision blur with tears.
Her mother snapped a tissue free from the box and waved it in Katherine’s face. “None of that now. This is supposed to be a happy day.”
Harper Knox narrowed her eyes. “Youarehappy, right? I mean, I didn’t want to say anything, you’re an adult, after all. But thisisrather sudden.”
Katherine dabbed carefully at her eyes so she wouldn’t smudge her makeup. “I am happy.” Her face grew dreamy and she smiled. “Kong…” With a heartfelt sigh, she placed her hand over her heart. “I love him so much, Mom, and he helped me understand that falling in love should never be done on a schedule.”
Her mother’s hand settled on her shoulder and squeezed. “I’m happy for you, Katherine. And while I haven’t spent much time with your young man, I like what I’ve seen so far. The way he looks at you…” Her mother trailed off, her eyes growing wistful for a moment before she nodded. “He loves you. Even a blind woman could see it.”
She picked up another tiny rhinestone to attach to Katherine’s hair. “And this place? You like living here?”
“I do.” Katherine smiled. “I’ve made some great friends, and surprisingly, I’ve grown to like my job. I didn’t at first sinceit didn’t in any way challenge me, but I’ve found certain parts of it rewarding.” Seeing how far the Resurrection soldiers were progressing made her feel like she was witnessing an important piece of history unfold – like she was part of it. It was both an honor and a privilege and one she didn’t take lightly.
Plus, she got to work with ORION, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence that could learn and adapt – and she was determined for it to learn humor. Someday, that AI would laugh at her jokes, she just knew it. But best of all, taking that job had led her to Kong.
Kong was starstruck, absolutely spellbound as Katherine walked down the aisle to meet him with a soft smile curving her lips. She’d worn her hair down in soft waves, and instead of a veil, rhinestones decorated the long length and glittered under the setting sun. She was a goddess, practically glowing with ethereal beauty.
Spots began to form in front of his eyes and he blinked rapidly. Someone, he wasn’t sure who, suddenly hissed, “Breathe!” and he sucked some much-needed oxygen into his starving lungs.
Beasts, Resurrection soldiers, and other Black Bay personnel filled the seats – everyone who wasn’t currently out on a mission – but he only knew that because he’d seen them all before Katherine had arrived. He also knew her mother escorted her down the aisle only because Katherine had told him earlier thatthat was the plan. She’d confessed that even if her father hadn’t turned out to be a criminal who had been picked up early that morning to be transported to another facility, she never would have asked him to perform this task. It would always be her mother’s right to give her away on her special day. But her presence at Katherine’s side didn’t even register in Kong’s brain. He only had eyes for Katherine.
When she reached him, he couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms and kissing her long and deep. He probably wasn’t supposed to do that – not that he cared – nor did he hear the throat clearing or the snickers from some of his friends at his impatience.
He could feel Katherine’s smile against his lips, felt more than heard her say, “I love you, Kong.”
Finally, he pulled back enough to release a shuddery exhale. “I love you, too, Katherine. So much.”
“Shall we begin?” the officiant asked.
Kong didn’t remember much of the ceremony. He knew words, vows, had been exchanged, and he knew he’d slid the ring on Katherine’s finger, remembered her sliding a ring onto his, but up until he was told he could kiss the bride, nothing registered but the soft, loving warmth in her eyes as he’d gazed into them, completely entranced.
