“Not yet,” the preacher said.
Cody laughed. “She’s been stealing kisses from me for as long as I can remember.”
And that’s all it took to erase all the bad from her mind and fill it with images of them always together over the last ten-plus years.
It made this moment feel inevitable.
“You’ve stolen a few over the years.”
“That’s because you stole my heart.” Cody gave her that panty-melting grin.
She placed her hand on his chest. “You stole mine first.”
Cody smiled back at her, then nodded for the preacher to continue the ceremony. They exchanged vows, speaking the words with a poignancy that brought tears to her eyes.
Cody slid the diamond eternity band onto her finger. “I will love you beyond forever.”
She took the ring she’d bought him from her mom and slid it onto his finger. She stared down at it and touched both diamonds surrounded by an infinity symbol. “My love for you is infinite.”
This time Cody was the one who didn’t wait for the preacher to tell them to kiss. He reached for her, slipping his hand around her neck and drawing her close. She wrapped her arms around his massive shoulders and held him tight, losing herself in the kiss.
“Well, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss her all you want,” the preacher said, making the crowd laugh.
Cody smiled against her lips, held her close, turned his gaze to the preacher, and teased, “Thanks, I will,” and kissed her again.
The celebration that followed amplified her happiness. Everyone kept the mood light, focused on her and Cody. At dinner, everyone went around the tables telling one story after another about the two of them. A trip down memory lane that led straight to their wedding today.
They cut the cake, drank champagne, and laughed with all their friends. Mindy Sue and Julie hugged her a dozen times, if not more. Cody, Brad, even Doug, and a few of his other buddies all did shots. Then they were all dancing and laughing and having fun.
It was so much more than special. It was magical. It was joyous.
As night closed in and the stars took over the sky, Cody led her to the foyer. She stood on the top step and tossed her bouquet. Julie caught the roses when Mindy Sue shoved her in front, saying, “No way am I next.” Julie held the flowers to her nose and inhaled, smiling. “I’ll take it so long as I get the kind of love Brooke found.” She held the bouquet up and said, “To Cody and Brooke.” Everyone raised their glasses of champagne and drank.
Cody took Brooke’s hand and led her to the door.
“Wait, where are we going?”
“Honeymoon.” He opened the door and held out his hand, indicating the limo waiting in the driveway.
“Where are we going?”
He’d refused to tell her.
“To be alone.” Cody smirked, brushed his nose against hers, kissed her socks off one more time to distract her, then hauled her up into his arms to carry her out the door.
But not before her mother hugged both of them together. “Be happy. I love you.”
The night they spent in the luxury hotel suite started off their marriage right, but spending a week in Hawaii at a private bungalow with a secluded beach and their own chef made it extra special.
She loved being Cody’s wife.
He loved being her husband.
They spent every minute together. By the time they came home to the ranch, she’d forgotten ever feeling like this was all a dream. The reality of loving Cody and being loved in return was so much better.
Epilogue
February blew in cold and windy. Cody pulled his coat tighter around him and buttoned the top to keep the wind at bay. He brushed down one of his favorite mares, enjoying a rare day working the ranch. He liked the methodical process. He did his best thinking when he was alone in the stables, brushing down a horse. Not that he didn’t enjoy being a lawyer. Being a partner had its perks and also a heavy caseload. Brooke watched over the ranch with their ranch manager more than he did these days. And it was doing well under her watch.
