of sunflowers and mismatched pastel painted chairs, I felt those stubborn ripped pieces of my soul stitch back together.
There’d been days growing up when all I could do was stare at her and listen and wait for any sound of her. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d one day be able to say she was forever mine.
I was born in shadows, and she’d radiated nothing but light.
Our journey hadn’t been easy, but nothing worth having was ever easy to attain. And although there were days I’d catch her staring out the window, lost to her own thoughts, I knew she didn’t have any regrets. As much of an asshole as I was, as much as I needed her, I wouldn’t have let her choose me if I didn’t feel it was what she’d truly wanted.
All I’d ever wanted was for her to be happy, to keep that glow of hers alive, and I gave up on believing I couldn’t be the one to do that. I now knew differently. I’d always known differently. I’d just been too lost to the past to think clearly of a future or think I’d even deserved one.
But I did. I do.
And there she was, gliding toward me, glittering and golden, encased in an ivory lace gown.
Beaded flowers danced in the sunlight over her chest, and I watched, mesmerized, as the flowers morphed into silken waves that draped and dripped below her breasts, shimmering and swaying over the curves of her hips while hiding those willowy legs.
Catching a glimpse of her boots, I felt my throat thicken, and my eyes swung up to meet hers.
Her vivid blues, glossed and lined with dark lashes, shimmered with her smile.
My chest heaved and I clenched my hands together as the breeze tugged some of her long golden hair aside. A crown of daisies perched atop her head, and fuck if that didn’t just about send me over the edge.
But then she frowned, her head tilted a fraction, her smile waning. “What’s wrong?” she mouthed the words.
Fuck. “Nothing at all,” I mouthed back.
Her brows puckered, but she turned to her dad, kissing both of his cheeks.
Brad’s eyes were wet, his smile shaking as he handed her over to me. Before he could—to hell with the rules—I took his hand, pulling him close to hug, and whisper, “Thank you.”
“Jesus, kid. Don’t make me blubber like a baby.”
Smiling, I held him close another second, then released him, winking at Brenna, who’d been crying since she’d claimed her seat in the front row.
She laughed, then her face crumpled, and she blew her nose again.
Seated near Brenna, Sabrina had her arm around Gloria, who’d given up on drying her eyes.
Finally, I looked over at Clover, who was biting her lip, trying not to let the tears in her eyes spill down those beautiful cheeks. I offered my hand. “Ready?”
Nodding, she released her lip as her hand slid into mine and squeezed. “You look dashing.”
“Dashing?” We took our place in front of the celebrant, and I glanced down at my almond-colored suit, new boots, and white dress shirt.
“Sexy?”
I raised a brow.
“Handsome?”
“Getting warmer.”
She grinned, and her lips quivered, her voice choked and sincere. “You look like you belong with me.”
The celebrant cleared her throat.
I ignored her.
“Better,” I said and brought Stevie’s mouth to mine.
“No freaking way.” Stevie’s eyes widened at the stage set up beneath the dome-like tent we’d hired.
The wedding and reception were held at a flower farm a half hour’s drive north of Plume Grove. Which hid among deserted farmland just a ten minutes’ drive from the beach.
The elderly couple who owned it had stopped hosting weddings here years ago. But after showing up on their doorstep with Stevie and Mason in tow, they took one look at Stevie’s dazed expression and caved before I’d even opened my mouth to beg.
“Did you plan this?” she asked, as Hendrix started singing “Start Me Up” by the Stones.
I switched Mason to my other knee, handing him another slice of apple. “Maybe.”
“Come to Pa,” Brad said, stealing my kid.
He went willingly, his apple falling to the grass as he kicked his legs and smiled down into Brad’s face.
“Shall we?” I stood, holding out my hand.
“This is some first dance,” Stevie murmured into my neck once we’d reached the cleared space, and I’d pulled her body flush with mine.
“You don’t like?”
Her laughter fluttered over my skin, warming and drugging. “It couldn’t be more perfect.”
Grinning, I stepped back to spin her around and couldn’t help