Grace caught him staring at her. She held his gaze for a long moment before pulling a funny face that almost made him burst out laughing. Daniel must have seen it too, because he huffed a little laugh then elbowed Damon.
"Gabe and Paige have written their own vows which they will now recite." The officiator took a step back.
Damon pulled his attention back to the happy couple as Gabe took Paige's hands in his. "Paige, you came into my life when I wasn't looking for love. You showed me courage and strength like I’ve never seen before. You taught me that healing isn’t just about strengthening muscles. It’s about trust, courage, and love.
“I've never felt the desire to protect and love someone as strongly as I do you. You played a role when I needed you most, and in doing so, you stole my heart. Love should have been off-limits for us, but despite the risks, I’d gladly do it all again to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to..."
Damon's thoughts and gaze drifted back to Grace as he once again considered walking away from the life he'd known for over decade to be with her.
It would be so worth it.
It wouldn't even be a sacrifice, because he had a feeling life with Grace would be amazing. Grace didn't need his protection, but he'd gladly do anything for her.
"Gabe," Paige started her vows, and Damon had to make himself focus. "You healed me, both my broken heart and body. You saw me at my weakest, yet you made me feel strong. You taught me what love really was when you were willing to sacrifice everything to make your mother happy. I vow to always strive to be worthy of your love..."
Damon glanced at Marisol beside Aunt Hope in the front row. Both women had tears in their eyes. He wished Marisolcould be around long enough to see Grace married. To him. But that was doubtful. Even though she'd had a little more energy lately than when he first met her, she still tired quickly.
Before he knew it, the minister had pronounced Gabe and Paige husband and wife, and Gabe was giving Paige a lengthy kiss.
While the congregation cheered, Damon looked at Grace again. She watched him, an expression he'd never seen before on her pretty face. Thoughtful and soft. Playful but still mysterious. It pushed his racing heart into overdrive.
He finally pulled his gaze away from hers when Gabe and Paige made their way up the aisle hand in hand amidst more cheers. Grace smiled again when he held his arm out to her to escort her back down the aisle. Her grip on his elbow was firmer than last time.
Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking.
She squeezed his arm. "I thinkyouupstaged the bride in your uniform."
"Not hardly." Damon snorted. "With as gorgeous as you look in that dress, trust me, no one noticed me."
"I'm sure every single girl in the room was checking out the uniform and those ribbons and medals on your chest."
Damon made a show of looking around the nearly full chapel that held few single women. His gaze came back to Grace, and he cocked a brow. "Everysingle girl?"
She averted her gaze, but Damon spotted the hint of pink in her cheeks.
Thirty minutes later, Damon was thrilled to see Grace's name card beside his at the head table for the wedding luncheon, with Marisol’s name on the other side of Grace. He'd barely settled into his seat when the two women approached. Springing to his feet again, he held Marisol's chair out for her.
"Oh, this won't do." She paused before sitting. "Grace shouldn't get you all to herself." She deftly swapped the position of Damon and Grace's name cards. "There. That's better."
"Now I know where Grace gets her sass from." Damon laughed. "And her beauty. You look radiant today, Marisol." He helped push her chair in.
"Of course I do. This dress cost a small fortune." She winked at him, making him chuckle again. "But it was worth every penny. I've been waiting a long time for Gabe to marry." Then tears filled her eyes. "I'm so grateful I got to be here to witness it."
"I'm glad you did too." He wanted to bend down and whisper that she may not get to see Grace married, but she'd already met the man who planned to marry her daughter.
But he didn't. He still needed to convince Grace they were meant to be together.
He helped Grace with her chair before taking his seat between mother and daughter. Then he laughed more than he had in a long time—and he'd laughed a lot with Grace these past two weeks—as Marisol regaled him with tales from Grace's childhood and her own.
Grace put her hand on his arm every time she felt the need to defend herself. The contact sent shock waves of attraction ricocheting through him. At one point, she covered his hand with hers. It lingered there long enough he was tempted to rotate his wrist and lace their fingers together. But before he could act on the urge, she realized what she was doing and pulled her hand away, another blush tinting her cheeks.
It almost felt like she was flirting with him. Marisol definitely was—in an affectionate, teasing a nephew kind of way. He loved every second of the attention, from both women. It meant the world that Grace's mom approved of him.
The toasts were humorous and tear-jerking. There wasn't a dry eye in the rec center by the time Marisol finished her toast, praising Gabe for being such a dutiful son who at a young age stepped in as man of the house and worked so hard to hold their family together.
Damon recalled Grace saying she'd hit rock bottom around that time. He wondered again what exactly happened. Marisol's words,"I wouldn't wish what happened to Grace that year on anyone,"made him think that maybe Grace had an abusive boyfriend or was targeted by a bully who made her life miserable.
But he'd never know unless she chose to tell him.
