hounded them and showed no signs of abating just yet. The bride-to-be wanted to honor Peter by replacing the memories in this place with happier ones. The beginning of their future together.
“You okay?”
Declan turned his attention to Theo.
“Yeah. You?” They were both wearing Tom Ford suits because, according to Theo, that was what James Bond wore. Declan couldn’t give a fuck about emulating the British spy, he was more concerned about fit and comfort, and he was damned glad the suit wasn’t suffocating.
“Just peachy,” Theo replied.
They both shared a chuckle. He picked up his mother’s expression whenever she was annoyed, but for the kid it was one way to annoy his mom—affectionately, of course.
“You’re gonna be a celebrity soon, Dad. Just a warning,” he said. “Told you not to trim your beard. Now everyone will be wanting us to do a father and son movie.”
“Fuck that. Not a chance.”
A clearing of a throat drew their attention to the minister, and reminded them of their surroundings.
Theo jabbed him with an elbow and they both turned to the ballroom door where the entourage was making their procession down the aisle. On any other day, his son would have made a smartass reply to the wedding officiant, but he was on his best behavior except that little scene he offered at the gates.
Nadia walked under the arched structure that marked the beginning of the row of chairs, timing her steps to the strains of the quartet. Two flower girls—Theo’s child star buddies from the Hodgetown series—scattered flower petals on the wine-red carpet.
Declan saw a flash of white fabric before the door swung shut again and his throat closed in anticipation.
Among the wedding guests were some big-name actors, as well as politicians—mostly invited by Revenant Films. Gabby had her LAPD crew. From Declan’s side, he had Kade and Yara, Levi, and Bristow as well as several Ranger buddies and men he’d worked with at ESS, and as a private military contractor.
The chatter of the crowd faded when the beginning keys of the familiar Wedding March played on a grand piano.
The door swung open.
His bride glided down the aisle in a way he’d never seen her before. Declan was enthralled. All around them everyone “ooh-ed” and “ah-ed.” Gabrielle Woodward was a vision in white, reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour and beauty.
His Gabby.
Simply luminous.
“Breathe, Dad,” Theo whispered in his ear.
“She’s so fucking beautiful,” he said softly, his eyes unwavering on the woman he’d loved for so long … the woman he never stopped loving.
She was fucking his, and this time, he was never letting her go.
When his bride and Kelso reached them, Declan immediately stepped up to take Gabby.
“Take care of her, man,” Kelso said.
“Count on it,” Declan replied and then to Gabby, he grinned. “Ready, Angel?”
She gave his arm an extra squeeze. “Always.”
As the rock band they hired started playing “In These Arms” by Bon Jovi, the newlyweds were escaping their reception through the mansion’s kitchen.
“I can’t believe we’re leaving when they’re playing my favorite song—our song!” Gabby groused as Declan led her through the kitchen that was teeming with catering staff. Minutes before their wedding caper, her husband maneuvered her out of the ballroom through a side door and pushed her straight into a gigantic cellar. At first, Gabby thought Declan wanted a quickie, but then she was immediately ordered to strip and put on jeans, boots, a shirt, and a leather jacket that were packed in a duffle. He changed into similar clothes.
“Please, can we just dance. Remember, this is your song for me,” she pleaded, digging in her heels and refusing to run.
Declan stopped and cast her an offended look over his shoulder. “No. That was your song that you declared was my song for you.” He resumed walking, dragging Gabby through the kitchen, ignoring the curious looks of the staff, until they reached the rear door. He opened it a crack to peer outside.
“Well, it was the song you sang that made me fall in love with you.”
He gave a derisive yet humorous chuckle. “You need reminding that it was your dare that coerced me to audition for the lead role in that rock musical movie?” Declan gave an exaggerated shudder. “I couldn’t even sing.”
“But you tried.” She smiled at the memory. “And I fell in love with you.”
The chorus of Bon Jovi’s rock ballad reached their ears and Gabby danced a jig, clutching her heart, and belted out how the flowers wanted the rain, and how poets thrived on pain.