Paige took his arm and fell into step beside him. It wasn't much of a procession, since Riley chose not to have bridesmaids, only Paige as a maid of honor. And Daniel asked Damon to be his best man. Paige was tickled pink to have her cousin home for a few days, especially since she was losing her best friend. Good thing she'd always have Riley—and now Daniel—as a cousin.
"So, I hear you have a serious boyfriend. When do I get to meet him?" Damon arrived in town late last night, and they hadn't had a chance to catch up with each other properly yet. "If you want me to take leave to attend your wedding, I need to approve of this guy first."
A thrill of excitement shot through her at the mention of Phillip, the businessman she'd been dating for the past six months, but it was quickly followed by a stab of disappointment. He'd planned to come to Providence with her for the wedding, but he'd had an urgent business trip pop up at the last minute.
"He couldn't make it this weekend after all, so you're going to have to come home again soon so you can meet him."
There always seemed to be something that drew Phillip away on the weekends, leaving Paige feeling neglected. He was such a fun and charismatic guy, and he was a total gentleman, which was difficult to find nowadays. But even though she was certain she was in love withhim, there were things about their relationship that made her question whether he was as committed as she was.
He'd only had time to squeeze in lunch with her family last month, but at least, he'd met her parents. He hadn't bothered to introduce her to his family yet.
She and Damon stepped into the doorway of the sanctuary and waited for the organist to start playing the wedding march. She scanned the gathered crowd spotting many familiar faces, but not the one she really wanted to see. Shaking off her melancholy, she determined she would be happy for her cousin and friend today.
No more pining over Phillip.
She and Damon made their slow walk down the aisle followed by a positively radiant Riley. Daniel's eyes never left his bride, and Paige knew her relationship with Riley was about to change forever. But in a good way.
Riley and Daniel were finally getting the happily ever after they deserved, and Paige couldn't be happier. The first time Damon spotted her wiping away a tear, he rolled his eyes. The second time, he mimicked her, then blinked his eyes like he was trying to keep from crying.
She had forgotten what a tease Damon was. She'd have to find a way to get even with him later at the reception.
The afternoon and evening passed mostly in a blur. Paige cried when she gave her speech as the maid of honor, but she did manage to sneak in the story about how Damon ripped the seat of his pants jumping down from the cherry tree in the orchard. Before wrapping up her speech, she pulled a gift bag from under her chair.
"Daniel and I used to always fight over who Riley's best friend was. I figured I was because I was her only girl cousin on our mothers' side, and he argued that because they worked together on the ranch, he spent a lot more time with her." Paige's throat tightened as she thought about how lucky her friends were to have each other. "But Daniel did more than work with Riley. He carried her on his back for over a mile when she fell and split her knee open on a rock in the creek. He sang silly little songs when Riley and I got scared afterDamon told ghost stories during our sleepovers on the trampoline. Daniel spent countless hours at the rodeo arena with her, timing her and giving her tips so she could become the fastest barrel racer in the county."
Riley looked at Daniel with such love in her eyes, there was no contest anymore, and hadn't been for some time. She laid her head on her husband's shoulder, and again a little twinge of jealousy shot through Paige. Hopefully someday, she'd find a love like that.
"Daniel was also the one who drove over two hundred miles to take Riley to her senior prom. It was always Daniel who was there for Riley." She held the gift bag out to Daniel. "So today, once and for all, I concede the title of Riley's Best Friend to you, Daniel Hamilton."
Everyone watched as Daniel pulled from the bag a fancy wooden plaque that had one of Daniel and Riley's engagement pictures on it and a gold engraving that read:
This certifies that due to his unwavering support, immeasurable kindness, and enduring patience, Daniel Hamilton is officially Riley's Best Friend Forever.
BONUS EPILOGUE
Riley straightened after placing the Crock Pot on the bottom shelf of the Lazy Susan under the counter. She rubbed at the ache in her lower back with one hand while holding the underside of her swollen belly with the other as she turned in a slow circle, surveying her new kitchen.
She wasn't due for ten more days, but she'd been having some serious contractions all day. At first, she thought they were Braxton-Hicks, but now, she wasn’t so sure.
Despite her family’s attempts to make her sit down and let them do the unpacking, Riley had to admit she’d overdone it. She was so excited to be moving into her new home that she had to make sure everything ended up exactly where she wanted it. With the baby due so soon, she wouldn't have time to reorganize.
At least they'd gotten the kitchen and the beds, including the crib, put together. The rest would be relatively easy to do, if her back ever stopped hurting.
"Hey, beautiful." Daniel's arms slipped around her from behind, then his lips grazed her neck below her ear, sending a wave of pleasant tingles through her body. "I thought you were going to sit down and rest."
Daniel was the best. Even though it had been a long time since Riley was last triggered, he was always good to announce his presence before touching her, and his approach was always slow and gentle.
A small smile crept to her lips as she recalled their wedding night eleven months ago. He'd been so intent on taking things slow—for her sake—that she'd had to take the lead and let him know she didn’t dread the prospect of being intimate with him.
"I did, but I can't sit still." She turned in his arms and slid her hands over his muscular shoulders to lace her fingers together behind his neck. "I'm too excited."
Daniel planted a lengthy kiss on her lips. "Feels surreal being in our own home, doesn't it?"
"Yes, and it's such a beautiful home." She sighed as she laid her head against his chest. "I love the idea of staying on the ranch forever."
After they got engaged, they approached Jake about buying an acre or two to build on. He'd refused to let them buy, and instead gifted them two acres of the Dry Creek parcel at the southwest end —Madam Houdini would have to find a different pasture to escape from. Daniel had already designed their dream home, so they started building shortly after they were married.
"Me too." He caressed her cheek with his knuckles. "Although, with you by my side, I'm confident I could live anywhere in the world and stay sober."
