After a pause the violinist began a new song and Erin stepped into view, her arm linked through her father’s.Even through the veil Ryan could see the tears in her eyes and the tremulous smile on her mouth as she walked toward Wade.
He smiled.Those two had gone through hell together too.Ryan was damn glad they were getting the chance to have a happily ever after.
During the vows, Ryan watched his wife, reminded of their own wedding last year.There had been hundreds of guests there, most of whom he hadn’t even known, and the whole thing had been over-the-top in his opinion, but he still remembered the important things.The way Candace had looked in that gorgeous ivory gown, the way her hand had gripped his during the vows...and every single promise they’d made to each other that day.
Even though she knew he loved her and he’d tried to show her how much, Ryan had to admit that in some ways, he hadn’t been the greatest husband so far.Like she’d said, he’d let her down, and that still bothered him.He’d never meant to make her feel alone or insignificant.He was going to work way harder to be there for her emotionally going forward.
She’d known what she was getting with him and his job when they’d gotten married, and she’d stood by him.His career meant he was away from her for long stretches at a time, but from now on when he did have the chance to talk to her, whether by phone or computer, he would try harder to love her the way she deserved.
A second honeymoon was exactly what the doctor ordered for them.Now that they were both recuperating from gunshot wounds, getting away for an extended trip was even more important.Time to heal and have the chance to fall in love with each other all over again.He’d romance her so much she wouldn’t even know what hit her.
Sounded like a hell of a plan to him.
Erin and Wade finished their vows and sealed them with a long, definitelynotPG kiss that had the audience whistling and cheering.As soon as they disappeared up the aisle, with Maya, Candace, Dev and the others trailing behind, Ryan followed.
When the blessedly short receiving line wound to a close, he snagged his wife’s hand and took her to a private corner around the side of the main building.He wanted to be alone with her for a few minutes.
“What did you think?”she asked him, eyes glowing with happiness despite the fatigue and discomfort he could see lurking there.“Wasn’t it great?”
“What I think is that you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”Her expression softened as he took her face in his hand and brought his mouth down on hers.He nibbled at her luscious lower lip for a moment before delving his tongue inside to stroke hers, unable to get enough of her.
“I can see you two necking over there,” said a scratchy voice from behind them.“Don’t make me come over there and slap you for public indecency, Ryan, because I will if I have to.”
Breaking the kiss, Ryan sighed and rested his forehead against Candace’s.“She’s like a bad smell that won’t go away.”
Candace giggled and wound her right arm around his waist.“Don’t let her hear you say that.”
Not in a million years.He was too afraid of what she’d do.
Straightening, he turned slightly to face Ruby, who stood near the front entrance of the main building in her bright purple dress, puffing on a cigarette, her right wrist still wrapped up.“And here I thought you had to be all slapped out after last night.”
Ruby exhaled a mouthful of smoke and grinned, her expression delighted as she dropped the cigarette and crushed it into the grass beneath the toe of her high-heeled shoe.“Not quite.”Chuckling to herself, she turned and disappeared back inside.
He looked back at his wife.“I guess this means we’re finally buddies?”
“I think it must,” she answered, sounding impressed.
“Guess being teammates on a little covert night op is all it takes to win her over.Who knew?”Candace’s husky laugh filled him with warmth.Slipping a hand around the nape of her neck, he kissed the bridge of her nose.“I love you so much.More than you’ll ever know.And I’ll even risk bodily harm by dancing with your bat shit-crazy grandma later on to prove it.”
She laughed again, softly this time, leaning her body against his.“She’s in her late eighties, Ryan.Chances are she won’t be around that much longer.We should embrace her quirkiness and enjoy her while we can.”
More like she’ll live to be over a hundred with the way she’d already pickled her internal organs with a lifetime of rye.
“Like I said before,” he said, wrapping his left arm around her waist to escort her back inside.He’d do anything for her.“She’s growing on me.”
