Every Beat of My Heart (New York Sullivans 0.5) - Bella Andre Page 0,24

can’t remember ever being happier than I am right now, knowing you are finally going to become husband and wife.” His mother was one of the strongest people he knew, but her eyes were damp as she said, “And now, we can’t wait to hear your vows.” When his mother stepped back, it felt to Ryan as if he and Vicki were the only two people in the world.

“Vicki.” Ryan wanted to freeze-frame this moment, wanted to remember every detail. “We were fifteen years old when you saved my life—and then became my best friend.” He lifted their joined hands to his chest. “You’re the most important person in the world to me, and I vow to do anything and everything I can to make you happy from this moment forward.” He slipped the wedding band on the ring finger of her left hand. “I love you, Vicki. More than you’ll ever know.”

His beautiful, glowing bride threw her arms around him and held on tight. But her tears weren’t the only ones falling—his were too. He’d waited so damned long for this moment, he almost couldn’t believe it was finally here.

Finally, Vicki drew back. Her cheeks were still streaked with tears, but her voice was strong as she reached for his hands again and said, “You make me so happy, Ryan. You’re my best friend. You’re my one and only love. You’re the first person I want to see when I wake up in the morning. You’re the one I want to share absolutely everything with all day long. And you’re the man I want to fall asleep with each night, knowing I’m perfectly, wonderfully safe in your arms.” Her lips curved up into a stunning smile that made his heart flip around in his chest as she slid his wedding band into place on his left hand. “It’s always been you. And it always will be. I love you.”

Mary stepped up to say, “By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” but Ryan and Vicki were kissing before his mother finished speaking.

It had taken nearly two decades to win Vicki as his wife. And now, Ryan couldn’t wait for all the decades in front of them as two halves of the whole they’d always been—and always would be.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Marcus’s wife, Nicola, Mia’s husband, Ford Vincent, and their friend Drew Morrison took the stage not long after the ceremony to sing a beautiful song that Nicola and Ford had written for the happy couples. Mary overheard more than one guest say, after listening to the three world-famous stars perform, that this had to be the wedding of the century.

Perhaps she was biased, but she couldn’t help but agree. Not only because the two couples were meant to be—but because everyone in the family had come together to help in some way. Yet again, Mary gave thanks for the day she’d met Jack Sullivan in downtown San Francisco. He’d changed her life in the best possible ways—first with his love and then by giving her eight incredible kids.

After eating their fill of the delicious meal, everyone took to the dance floor, and Mary was dancing with her brother-in-law William Sullivan. “I know I say this every single time,” she commented as they swayed together, “but this has been an absolutely perfect wedding, hasn’t it?”

He smiled as he took in the same beautiful family picture—kids and dogs and happy couples all around them. “It sure is. I just wish my brother could be here today. Jack would be so proud of how you raised your kids, and how they’re raising theirs.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat, something she’d had a lot of practice doing for the past twenty-plus years. Not just because she still missed Jack so very much, but also because William hadn’t had an easy time of it either. He’d once been a talented and extremely famous painter, with a wife he adored beyond reason and four children. But thirty years ago, things had gone off course for William. So far off course that his wife had walked out on the family and taken her own life. William hadn’t painted in thirty years, and his relationship with his kids had often been fractured as well, but Mary knew he was doing what he could to try to fix things.

“You’re not doing too bad yourself, you know,” she encouraged him in a gentle voice. “Your kids are just as