Page 151 of Can't Get Over You
He knew another way to let her know how loved she was, so he yanked her up to his chest and kissed the living daylights out of her.
As always, she melted against him, throwing her arms around his neck and filling his senses with her touch, her taste, and those sexy little moans.
“Oh, honest to God, you two.” Ava pushed them apart and stepped between them. “Give me ten minutes, and then you can make out all you want.”
They pulled apart, but he liked her lips all shiny and wet. Liked the well-loved look in her eyes. “Let’s get a move on, then.”
“Uh, no,” Boone called from the front row. “They can wait till they’re home.”
“There are children present,” Decker said.
“All right. Hush now.” Ava stood under the arch and faced the guests who’d taken their seats. “Our bride has decided to skip the formality of walking down the aisle to focus on the heart of the matter, the joining of two people to form the greatest bond this world offers, which is the formation of a family.”
Finlay looked at her father. “Sorry, Dad. You can have a dance, though.”
“Hey, I have a front-row seat. All good on my end.” Buck grinned. “Happy for you, sweetheart.”
“It took a community to pull this wedding together, so thank you to everyone who helped,” Ava began. “We’re here to celebrate the bride and groom’s love, but before I start the ceremony, I’d like to begin with a little story.” Ava gave him a warm smile. “Jude was six years old when I met him. He was wide-eyed and watchful, barely said more than two words, buthe wasn’t hard to read at all. Because Jude might’ve been scared in that new environment, but he shoved his own feelings aside to take care of his brothers. And let me tell you, his brothers were four, two, and three months old when they showed up on the doorstep of a biker club.”
When Finlay reached for his hand, it anchored him. He didn’t know where Ava was going, but he sure as hell didn’t want to visit a childhood of reckless mistakes.
“I knew he was special from the moment I met him,” Ava said. “He was smart, clever, and deeply sensitive. He’s got the biggest heart of anyone I know, and there’s no one else on this earth I’d want to see him with than our dear, sweet, generous, kind Finlay.”
“Oh.” His bride let out a shaky breath. “Thank you.”
“Finlay treats every child in her classroom as if they were her own. She makes them feel like their every thought matters. And she’s an includer. If she sees someone sitting alone, she’ll invite them to sit at her table. She’s got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known, and there’s no one I’d want to see her with more than Jude.”
He glanced at his bride to find her beaming that warm, affectionate smile at him. “Sounds like we’re a perfect match.”
“And now, we’ll begin,” Ava said. “Today, two separate lives will become one. Jude, do you take Finlay to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love her, honor her, protect her, and keep her happy for the rest of your lives?”
“Oh, hell yeah,” he blurted out. When their guests laughed, his neck heated, and he said, “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting any of this.” He cleared his throat. “Uh, yes. Yes, I do.”
Ava nodded. “Finlay, do you take Jude to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love him, honor him, protect him, and keep him happy for the rest of your lives?”
“I do.” The two simple words were drenched in emotion.
And he loved it.
“And now for the rings.” Ava looked at the row of seats behind Jude.
“Well, wait a second,” he said. “What about the vows?”
“I didn’t give you a chance to think about them,” Finlay said. “So I figured we’d skip that part. Besides, we live our promises every day anyway.”
“No, I want to say them.” It meant a lot to him.
“But you’re not prepared.”
“I’ve been preparing since the day I asked you to marry me a year and a half ago.”
Finlay grinned with a look that said,Go for it.
He reached for her hands, forming a bridge between them. Leaves shushed, and her long, wavy hair fluttered in the breeze. With her pink lips and rosy cheeks, he was lost in her beauty.
But he’d asked to exchange vows, and he was damn well going to deliver. “Fee, I wasn’t man enough to ask you out on a date back in high school. I told myself it was because I didn’t want to ruin your reputation, but the truth was, you intimidated me. You knew exactly who you were and what you wanted, and nothing would stop you from getting it. I admired the hell out of you back then?—”
“That’s two swear words, Dad,” Cody grumbled from the first row.
