“Yep.” She laughs, with a wry eye roll. “And someday, I’ll share all the shit she pulled while you were gone.”
I can imagine. Rena is carefree and a force—a recipe for mayhem.
This might have been the best way to approach a wedding. Planning one would have had me drowning in grief, constantly mourning all Emma had missed. We made a huge, anonymous donation to the Winding River Treatment Center, which is the drug rehabilitation facility where she’d been the director. We included a stipulation that they had to extend a portion of the money to her family as well. It still wasn’t enough to bring her justice, but nothing ever could be.
I wish my parents and Ryker’s mom, Leslie, were here. But I’m warmed by the beautiful souls I get to call mine. My soon-to-be brothers-in-law are mingling with Rena and her family. Other than that, it’s only Bernard—the man—Gentry, and Amy and Vander. It’s small and intimate, but beyond perfect.
The sky is a breathtaking tangerine. The pool is massive with a grotto Jacuzzi, curtained by a soothing waterfall. The stone patio is aglow with LED lighting in the steps and string lights, creating a canopy, which leads to an elaborate wedding arch, composed of flowers. And on those steps, there are Japanese vases holding votive candles. That detail has my heart imploding in my chest. Much like Ryker’s napkin notes did. I’m going to gather them all up tomorrow and read every single one.
I drag Tessa into a hug, and she lets me. She even squeezes me back, her shoulders relaxing with a choppy breath. I don’t think she accepts comfort often, but it’s clear the bond that’s formed between us has bolstered both of us.
“Thank you for being here for me today.”
“Of course I’m here.” She clears her throat and pulls back. “Now let’s get you out there. It’s time for Mercy Phillips to get her fairy tale.”
Axel is waiting for me when we make it downstairs, so Tessa joins the others outside.
“Happy birthday, Mercy. You look … so beautiful.” He kisses my cheek, and his sapphires glisten, the pride and compassion in them stilling me. “You’re the only person who can go toe to toe with Ryker and settle him at the same time. This is long overdue.”
He glances out the sliding glass door to the incredible family he reared when he was barely a man himself before smiling at me with a veneration that burrows deep into my bones. “I’m sure you’re missing your parents today. I know my mom would’ve loved to see this. You’ve been a cherished part of my family for two decades, so it would be my honor to walk you down there and tie you to my brother.”
A chortle blasts out of me. “It sounds so menacing, coming out of your mouth, but you’ve been one hell of a mentor andfriend, Axel. I’m grateful to call you my family. There is no one else I’d rather have give me away or bind me to Ryker.”
He offers me his arm, and after I link mine through it, he leads me out the door. As soon as we step onto the patio, “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis starts playing, which is so ridiculously fitting. But Axel and I burst out laughing when everyone comes into view.
Remy is clad in a suit and has pale blue locks—my something blue.
And Ryker is wearing a black-leather kilt.
Axel pumps my hand a couple of times. “You make him stupid.”
It takes me a minute to calm down enough to respond because the sight of my formidable man in his custom-made black suit on top with his bare legs showing beneath the kilt is too much. “I really do.”
That’s the thing about Ryker. The same quality that makes him rash and intense and a bulldozer is the very trait that lets him love so much harder than most. And I’m the lucky woman on the receiving end of all that passion.
Once we make it up there, Ryker’s grin is so wide, his blues so glossy, and his dimple so haughty, that a swarm of butterflies flits inside my stomach.
I bite my lip, my eyes raking over him in a seductive perusal. “You really own that formal attire mullet, Noire.”
“Right?” Cash claps. “That’s one hell of a party on the bottom.”
“Our girl here knows how to pick ’em. Sexy legs, bro,” Maddox adds before announcing that he’s the one who will be conducting the ceremony, which is perfect.
Ryker ignores them, stepping into me and cradling my face. His lips collide with mine, muttering sweet nothings againstmy lips as Axel berates him for bulldozing before the ceremony begins.
“You’re ravishing, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Another swipe of his tongue. “And all mine.”
“Not yet, big bro.” Maddox tsks. “Papa Axe needs to tie those hands, and I need to pronounce you man and wife.” He dips his chin to me. “Good call on restraints for the ceremony, Merce.”
Ryker resumes his place, and Axel takes a long cord, tying our hands. Maddox delivers a quick yet witty ceremony speech and guides us to exchange traditional vows, all while our guests pass around the yipping Bernard—the puppy—and Wells and Ivy’s cooing baby girl. But when I expect Maddox to extend that final man-and-wife pronouncement, all the brothers, Rena, and Remy grab a piece of the hanging cord.
Ryker’s piercing blues gleam in the setting apricot sunlight. “Did you notice the vases?”
I nod, scanning the line of exquisite pottery housing the votive candles, composed of broken pieces, repaired with gold. “Kintsugi. It’s a Japanese art form.”
He smiles. “I knew you’d be familiar. But the night of the Prohibition Ball”—he not-so-subtly waggles his brows—“we talked about building a mosaic. I thought this was more fitting.”
He’s reimagining my house of shards.
