Harry looked into Belle’s eyes, his voice steady and full of emotion. “I do.”
The pastor then turned to Belle. “Belle, do you take Harry to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
Belle smiled, her voice soft but unwavering. “I do.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of Wyomingand the Good Lord Above, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Cowboy, you may kiss your bride.”
Harry turned toward Belle, marveling that a few moments and some simple sentences sealed Belle to him and him to her.
He grinned and pulled Belle toward him. She smiled back, and Harry slid one hand along the side of her face and kissed her, the warmth and love of the moment enveloping him and Belle as their family and friends erupted into yeehaws and applause.
CHAPTER
FORTY-FIVE
“Ihope they have those pistachio croissants again,” Joey said as Adam pulled into the Sip and Stay. He grinned over at her, wondering how much he should tell her.
It would all come out in the end, and he wanted it to be a surprise, so he simply said, “I hope so too.”
But he knew they would. He’d asked Louisa specifically to make them for today and to make sure that she didn’t sell out before they arrived for their mid-afternoon coffee date at two-thirty. He didn’t expect the place to be busy at this time of day, and the parking lot didn’t have very many cars in it. His pulse pounded at him because he knew there would be a lot oftrucksaround the back, and he knew Joey was observant enough to pick up on them if they’d parked out in front of the coffee shop.
He cut the engine, glared at the gray sky, and sent upone more plea for sunshine, though it technically wasn’t necessary for a proposal. He got out of the car, his hand automatically sliding into his left pocket where he kept the diamond ring he’d bought. He and Joey were flying to Tennessee tomorrow, and she’d meet his momma in another twenty-four hours. Adam did not want to take home a girlfriend. He wanted to take home afiancée.
He glanced toward the coffee shop, didn’t see anyone, and proceeded to open Joey’s door for her.
“It’s freezing out here,” he said.
Joey smiled as she rose from the SUV. “You’ve even got your winter coat on, baby.” She gripped his collar and leaned in to kiss him. “Maybe that will warm you up,” she said.
“A peck?” he asked. “That doesn’t warm anyone up.” He chuckled and took her hand.
They started toward the coffee shop as she said, “Well, I’m not gonna make out with you in the parking lot.”
“Maybe the Sip and Stay will be empty,” he said.
She gave him a dry look. “We’re not making out in there either.”
He grinned at her. “I knew I should have just made coffee at my house.”
She giggled again, quickly sobering. She’d been doing that a lot this week, and Adam squeezed her hand. “Are you nervous about meeting my momma?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’ve never been to Tennessee, and I’ve never met anyone’s momma.”
“She’s going to love you,” Adam said. “I guarantee she’ll cry.”
“Is she gonna be worried about how old I am?” Joey asked.
“I don’t think so,” Adam said. “When I first told her about us, I told her you were young, and she didn’t seem to care—as long as you weren’t eighteen.”
He grinned and reached for the door, holding it open as Joey walked in and Adam quickly followed her.
A single couple sat in the corner, their pastry wrappers empty, indicating that they’d been here for a while. Adam didn’t truly care, though he had hoped to do his proposal only for friends and family. Joey went right up to the counter where Louisa pushed out from the swinging black door that led into the back.
“Oh, you’ve got the pistachio croissant,” she said.
“Yes, we do.” Louisa looked at Adam, so much knowing in her eyes. “You want that, dear?”
“Yes, please,” Joey said. “And I think today I’ll take….” She trailed off as she looked up to the menu. “I don’t know. You order, baby.”
