When it was time to recite our vows, I turned to face Paxton. “We are our family, and we will watch out for each other, put the other first.Always. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.” Paxton’s gaze held mine as he told me how he’d love, honor, and cherish me for the rest of my days.
I believed him, just as I believed in us.
We exchanged rings and our first wedded kiss, during which Paxton, being Pax, slipped me some sexy tongue. I wrapped my tongue around his and sucked harder, bringing his flavor into my mouth. We both moaned, and the officiant cleared his throat.
“It’s my honor to present Mr. and Mrs. Paxton Naese,” he said.
“Did he just reduce Hana to Pax’s wife?” Naomi blurted. “Man, you better get your eyes checked. She’s a preeminent aerospace engineer who’s going to save your ass from frying in a Houston street.”
“He meant Mr. and Mrs. Paxton and Hana Sato-Naese,” Adam soothed.
“That’s better,” Paxton murmured against my lips. “As long as you’re mine, Han, I don’t care about those details.”
“Damn straight,” Cormac said with a firm slap on Pax’s back. “Now, break it up and keep it PG for the babies.”
We all laughed as we headed together toward the buffet that had been set up in the large conference room next door by the awesome arena staff. Rain buffeted the windowpanes, and I smiled at my reflection, enjoying the bloom of color in my cheeks and the sparkle in my eyes.
After we’d eaten, Paxton leaned over and whispered, “Happy wedding. I paid off your student loans. And your medical bills.”
I smiled. “I knew it! How long have you been waiting to do that?”
He smiled. “A long time. I didn’t want to scare you off or make you feel manipulated.”
I laughed. “Nope. I’m glad things worked out this way. I’m thrilled to be here with you.”
He hugged me close, and I closed my eyes, realizing this was my dream—the one I’d given up on, the one I’d secretly yearned for. Paxton had made it all come true because he was brave enough, strong enough, to come find me again. We were surrounded by good friends and food, kept close by love and hope.
A little while later, on the makeshift dance floor, Paxton wrapped his arms around my waist and rocked me gently. “How’s the leg holding up?”
“Great,” I said.
“Soon you’ll be able to leg press more than me. Interested in a whirl around the ice?” he asked.
“With you? Sure.”
The DJ made an announcement, and Paxton led me out to the arena. I sat on the bench as I slid on white custom-made skates, which Paxton insisted on tying for me. Keelie handed me a white faux-fur wrap that covered my bare arms. Together, with most of the Wildcatters, we drifted sedately around the ice. I breathed in the faint tang through my nose and smiled.
“Thank you,” I said, tipping my head back against Paxton’s chest as he held me securely.
“Of course. What are you thanking me for?”
“Today. For asking me to marry you. For loving me. For not taking no for an answer when I was too scared to join you in Houston. For believing in me. For introducing me to the greatest group of women I could ever hope to know. For not laughing at my inability to skate. For making me feel beautiful despite my rather apparent flaws. For?—”
Paxton’s lips sealed over mine, and he kissed me with a slow thoroughness I couldn’t help but melt into. And as he kissed me, he navigated us expertly around the ice.
I broke the kiss with a laugh when I heard the thick, pulsing thump of Ginuwine’s well-known song.
“Now?” I asked.
“We have to perfect our performance for the fundraiser in August.”
“Well, then, let’s have it,” I said.
I skated to the boards and off the ice to settle in a front-row seat.
“It never gets old watching them dance,” Millie said with a lusty sigh. She bit her lip.
“Nope. Never,” Naomi said. “As one of the oldest married women here, I can tell you it just gets better and better—like great tequila.”
