Decker's Daughter - Caroline Lee Page 0,32

back of it, so it flowed down across her bare shoulders.

And CJ’s boots were much more obvious.

The little girl stuck one foot out and admired her purple cowgirl boots—as she called them—with a little grin.

“He wanted me to wear these, did I tell you?”

Only every day.

But Bobbi smiled and nodded as she clamored to her feet. “And I’m glad we were both able to.” Shifting her weight a little, she hiked up the skirt of her gown so that one purple toe stuck out.

Of course, on the other side, the toe of the big, clunky rehabilitative “boot” stuck out. But it was a lot better than going down the aisle on crutches, which is why they’d waited.

It had been weeks since Decker’s incredible proposal up in the attic, weeks since she’d said yes, and her life had changed for the better.

So much better.

Her doctor had cleared her to go back to work, albeit sitting down a lot more, and eventually, she’d transitioned to the removable boot, which she now only had to wear when she was walking or moving around a lot.

She and Decker had spoken quite a deal about their plans for the future, and he’d already taken her up to the ridge, where she’d helped him pace out the location for the house he wanted to build. Their house.

In the meantime—probably at least the next year—he’d be moving in with her and CJ, and now she knew she wouldn’t have to worry.

In fact, with Decker in her life, she didn’t have to worry about anything. Not just money, either; he helped with grocery shopping and driving CJ back and forth and vacuuming and the million and one things she, as a single mom, had just gotten used to doing on her own.

CJ loved him, she loved him, and she absolutely, one hundred percent trusted him.

That was huge.

Dropping her skirts, she smoothed them down, then reached for her daughter’s hand again. CJ sent her a quick smile, then straightened her shoulders and tried her best to put on a serious face as she looked ahead to the front of the church, where Pastor Dinkleheimler was droning on about…something.

Decker had kept them both in stitches, telling them about the pastor’s finger-licking-obsession, so CJ was likely trying to appear suitably reverent.

Well, that wouldn’t do. Hoping to make her daughter smile, Bobbi whispered, “Who are you today?” from the corner of her mouth.

The little girl’s head swiveled back in her direction, and the most beautiful smile came to her little face. “Actually,” she whispered back, “today I thought I’d just be CJ.”

Oh.

Bobbi squeezed her daughter’s hand, then pulled her bouquet in front of her in the bride-ly position. “I think being just CJ is perfect, baby.”

Ahead of them, Pastor Dinkleheimler cleared his throat, and most of the congregation turned their way.

There was Pops and Griselda, sitting in the front row, and Decker’s cousins and brothers, some with, and some still without, wives. Ted and Wyatt stood up with him at the altar, but Wyatt’s attention was on the second row, where Laura and her son sat with Artie and Jax Weston, Bobbi’s only family. Of course, Jax was Wyatt’s best friend, so he was likely trying to catch his attention.

And then the music started, and Bobbi didn’t have eyes for anyone other than her fiancé. The man who’d made the boots she and her daughter now wore. The man who loved her enough to commit, after just one date. The man she loved enough to trust with her life.

When she met his eyes, she saw all that commitment shining back at her.

She swallowed. “Come on, CJ. Let’s go get married!”

With Bobbi in his arms, Decker stepped over the threshold of her—their—little house, and kicked the door shut behind them.

He was smiling as he carried her into the living room, his cowboy boots echoing on the wooden floor the same as hers had when she and CJ had dressed that morning. With a little sigh, he eased her down to her feet, then quickly pulled her into a kiss.

It was longer than the kiss they’d shared at the altar only a few hours ago, and much longer than the kisses they’d shared at the reception Griselda had managed to throw together. It was long and deep, and when he pulled away, he left her wanting more.

Much more.

Well, it is your wedding night.

Bobbi suspected she should be nervous about such a momentous occasion, but she wasn’t. Maybe it was because she wasn’t a virgin,