Blackstone Ranger Charmer - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,55
ceremony at St. John’s Chapel in Blackstone. Damon was not very fond of crowds, so only his parents and a select few people were at the church, including Gabriel and Temperance.
“I’m glad the ceremony went well,” Temperance said as they stood with the guests outside the church, waiting for the bride and groom to exit. “Was there any problem? Why were Anna Victoria and J.D. late?”
The ceremony had started thirty minutes later because the bridal car didn’t arrive on time. “According to J.D., there was some drama about the dress,” Gabriel said. “But I guess they fixed it; they just needed some extra time.”
The doors of the church flew open, and as Damon and Anna Victoria stepped out, they were greeted with a shower of rice and rose petals. The groom looked handsome in his tux, while Anna Victoria was radiant in her blush peach gown.
“Well, she—they look perfect,” she said as they watched the bride and groom get into the Mercedes waiting at the end of the driveway, a “Just Married” sign hanging from the back.
“You’re perfect,” he said, pulling her into his arms and growling against her lips. “In case I forgot to tell you.”
Her cheeks went pink. “You have Anna Victoria and J.D. to thank for the outfit and my makeup and hair.”
“You do look beautiful, but it’s not just that. You are perfect.” She was wearing a simple yellow dress with sleeves made of a delicate translucent fabric that covered her arms, but looked comfortable and elegant at the same time, while her hair was styled so that a few tendrils of hair covered her cheek, but not fully. He reminded himself to thank Anna Victoria and J.D. for whatever they did to help Temperance feel less insecure about her scars.
“We should go to the reception,” she said. “J.D. said she needs some help setting out the party favors.”
They made their way to Blackstone Castle in his Jeep, and soon, he was pulling up to the massive driveway in front.
“Wow, it really is a castle,” Temperance exclaimed. “Have you been inside?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve been a couple times. Damon and I were the same year as Jason and Matthew Lennox, so we were invited to their birthday parties and other events.” Not to mention, his mother had sat on the board of the Lennox Foundation, and liked rubbing elbows with the Blackstone dragons. When he was a teenager, Geraldine Russel had hinted that he should ask Sybil Lennox to the prom, which he promptly ignored. The youngest and only female Lennox was not even in high school then, plus, he did not want to face the wrath of three—which included their adoptive brother, Luke Lennox—protective older brothers, two of whom could breathe fire. “I’m sure we can poke around later. Maybe I can show you that closet where we used to play seven minutes in heaven,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at her.
“It’s Damon and Anna Victoria’s wedding,” she reminded him with a chuckle.
“So? What do you think they’ll be doing tonight?”
She slapped him playfully on the chest. “C’mon, J.D. said to meet her by the refreshment table.”
Special rope fences and markers had been set up to lead guests around the castle to the massive grounds in the back. There was a huge stone and marble patio where tables and chairs and the dance floor were set up, while three industrial-sized barbecue pits were placed on the lawn just below the patio, along with several tables laden with sides and desserts. The snow-capped Blackstone Mountains made for a spectacular backdrop for the whole affair, and Gabriel couldn’t help but think what a fitting place this was for his best friend to celebrate his wedding.
The bride and groom arrived shortly after them, and soon the guests were coming in. As Anna Victoria requested, she did not want any pomp or fuss around the reception, so she and Damon mingled amongst their guests as they pleased, then opened the dance floor when the sun was beginning to set and everyone had their fill of food, cake, and wine.
Gabriel danced with Temperance three times before he relented and released her to Damon. J.D. took the opportunity to partner with him.
“C’mon,” she said, tugging at his hand. “Before Anders finds me again and starts ragging on me about this dress.”
“Well, I wouldn’t blame him,” he said, glancing down at her outfit. J.D. looked … well, different. Okay, she was beautiful, but he only thought that because he’d never seen her