cake,” Gage said.
“Cue the music,” the wedding planner called out.
The pianist played a few bars of Friends in Low Places.
The men all laughed.
The wedding planner glared. “I promised to get you out of here in thirty minutes. I need everyone’s cooperation to make that happen.”
Moose popped a salute. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned to the others. “You heard the lady. Straighten up.”
“Thank you.” Marjorie nodded. “Now, let’s get this show on the road.”
The pianist played the correct music.
Moose and Jane started down the aisle, taking slow steps as instructed by the wedding planner. Gage and Fiona followed. After them, came Sean and Ava.
“It’s our turn,” Tag said. He meant those words in more ways than one.
Leslie tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow.
He covered it with one of his own and held on tightly.
Coop had taken his position at the front of the chapel. As the bridesmaids and the groomsmen filled in on either side, the music slowed to a stop. Everyone faced the back of the chapel as the wedding march began.
Emma appeared at the end of the aisle with her hand tucked in her oldest brother Ace’s arm. She had a smile on her face that could have eclipsed the sun. Tag’s heart squeezed hard in his chest. How he wished he could see Leslie standing at the end of the aisle smiling just as brightly, walking toward him. He glanced across the aisle at Leslie.
Her gaze captured his for a long, intense moment.
“Can we speed this up?” Emma said. “I hear the beer calling me from the Ugly Stick Saloon.”
Coop grinned. “That’s my girl.”
The piano player sped up the wedding march until Emma was skipping down the aisle with her brother. They arrived laughing.
The wedding planner pointed to the exact spot where Emma and Coop should stand.
The preacher gave a brief version of what their vows would be like. “Coop, do you?”
Coop nodded.
The preacher turned to Emma. “Emma, do you?”
Emma nodded.
The preacher smiled. “I now pronounce you.”
Coop grinned. “This is the part where I get to kiss the bride.” He gathered her into his arms and laid a kiss on her that was loud and long.
“Hey, save some for tomorrow,” Sean said.
Emma came up laughing. “Oh, if only it were this short tomorrow.”
“We can make that happen.” The preacher winked. “This is it for me. The rest is up to you.”
Coop looked up at his friends. “Who’s ready for a beer?”
“Hold on a minute,” the wedding planner said. “We still need to practice getting out of the church.”
“How hard can that be?” Coop asked.
“Easy. As long as you listen to what I say.” Marjorie pointed at the bride and groom. “You two, go.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “Are we done after this?”
The wedding planner nodded. “You’re free to go. Just be here at least an hour early for the wedding tomorrow.”
“We’ll be here,” Coop said. He faced his friends. “Last one to the Ugly Stick buys the first round.”
Emma grabbed Coop’s hand. “Let’s go.”
The bride and groom raced down the aisle and out of the church.
The wedding planner tipped her head. “Moose and Jane, you’re up next.”
Moose and Jane came together at the middle, grasped hands and ran down the aisle, laughing.
As soon as the couple passed the wedding planner, she nodded to the next couple. “Sean and Ava, you’re next.”
When Sean and Ava came together, he scooped her off the ground and carried her through the church.
Tag could hear her laughter all the way out of the building.
“Tag and Leslie,” Marjorie called out.
A wicked grin slid across Tag’s face. He stalked toward Leslie.
Leslie approached him cautiously. “What are you up to?”
“This.” He bent and flung her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and ran down the aisle and out into the open.
“Taggert…Bronson…put me down,” she cried.
Tag didn’t put her down until he reached his truck outside the church. He let her slide down his body until her feet touched the ground. “How was that for making a fast getaway?”
Leslie laughed breathlessly, pressed a hand to her belly and sucked in a deep breath. “Please, tell me you’re not going to do that tomorrow.”
“What? You don’t like being carried out like a caveman’s woman?” He grinned and held up his hand. “I swear on a stack of bibles I won’t do that tomorrow.”
Leslie stared at him with narrowed eyes. “How can I trust you not to do something equally silly?”
His grin broadened. “You can’t trust me. But I promise not to hurt you.”
Leslie shook her head. “Weddings