Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,107

and their heartbeats were in sync, confounding even the obstetrician.

Tanner looked at the church door again, then back at Reverend Maitland who was smiling patiently at them all. From the corner of his eye he saw Gray lean over to take Marley, hitching him up against his wool suit jacket and kissing his fuzzy head. Somebody at the back of the church sighed, making Logan chuckle softly.

“Babies and guys,” he murmured. “Ovary exploders.”

“How would you know?” Cameron whispered to his own twin. “You haven’t exploded anybody’s ovaries for years. When was the last time you got laid?”

“Last time you won a game.” Logan raised a brow at his brother.

Reverend Maitland cleared his throat, making Tanner bite down a grin. It was so good to have his brothers here with him. It felt like coming home, except he was already here. Every piece of the jigsaw was sliding into place.

The doors finally opened, and Zoe walked forward, wearing a pale green dress that wrapped around her neck and fell in gentle folds to the floor. She grinned at Tanner, and he smiled back at her, watching as she moved down the aisle, scattering pale pink petals in front of her.

Then came Becca, wearing the same color, but this dress was fitted and sophisticated. But Tanner wasn’t looking at her. Because behind her was the only person he ever wanted to look at.

And damn, was she beautiful.

Van’s hair was pulled back from her face, caught in a low chignon at the top of her neck. Golden tendrils spilled from it, curling around her cheeks and catching the light of the autumn sun. Her eyes caught his, and he felt his chest tighten. This was it. The moment he made her his.

The music began, the organ reverberating through the church as Van and her mom slowly walked down the aisle. With every step she took, his grin widened, knowing that in a few moments he’d be able to touch her, hear her, kiss her.

It filled him in a way nothing else ever could.

Then she was there, her head lifted as she gazed up at him, a smile playing at her lips. He swallowed hard, emotions spilling through him as Reverend Maitland spoke out, welcoming them to the church.

She was beautiful. She was everything. She was his.

He took a deep breath and slid his hand over hers. “Ready?” he murmured.

“Yes.” She nodded, her face radiant. “I’m ready.”

The party was dying down. The music was softer now, slower, too, as a few couples swayed drunkenly on the dance floor at the center of the huge circus-style tent Gray had erected behind his house. Tanner was leaning on the bar, Logan and Cam next to him. Gray had disappeared, no doubt helping Maddie with the babies. And Van was sitting in the corner with Becca, her mom and Zoe, and some of their girl friends, laughing as they talked.

“So Fairfax didn’t come,” Logan said, ordering all three of them a whiskey.

“Nope. But we didn’t invite him. Or his family.” Tanner shrugged. “Van didn’t want them here.”

“She not interested in connecting with him?” Logan asked.

“Doesn’t seem to be.” Tanner took a swig of his whiskey. “Says I’m the only family she needs.”

“Damn, that girl needs a lobotomy,” Cam said, winking at him.

“What an asshole, though, pretending he wasn’t her father for so long.” Logan shook his head. “What kind of man does that? Denies his child? No wonder she doesn’t want to see him.”

“What would you do if you found out you had a kid?” Tanner asked him.

Logan smirked. “Sue the condom manufacturers.”

Tanner laughed. “Logan wouldn’t have a surprise kid. He doesn’t have sex? He’s too busy for that.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. You go on believing that.”

“Who doesn’t have sex?” Gray asked, walking over to them. “Apart from me, that is. Maddie’s already told me we’re never having sex again. She’s scared that next time it’ll be triplets. I told her it doesn’t work that way.”

“Logan,” Cam said loudly. “He’s the one who needs to get laid.”

“Thanks for saying that in front of Reverend Maitland, by the way.” Logan shook his head at his twin. “And for your information, I get plenty. I just don’t brag about it like you do.” He grinned.

Cam shrugged. “Can’t help it. Girls throw themselves at me.”

“You could dodge them. You’ve been pretty good at dodging the ball this season,” Tanner teased him. “Just channel that skill.”

Gray started talking to Cam about next week’s game, leaving Logan and Tanner leaning