But it was also a symbol of something more, and she supposed another step toward the next step and the next.They’d talked about having kids—sooner rather than later.
She’d never had a mother, unless Mrs.Bennet counted, which in a way, she supposed she had.After her own mom had taken off when she’d been a baby, it had just been Aly and her father and the kind, mothering influence of Mrs.Bennet.
Aly wanted to be that for someone.She wanted to watch Landon be a father—she knew he’d be a good one.Not just because he had an example of whatnotto do either.But because he was agoodman, with more love to give than he probably realized.
She wanted a family that extended beyond the tentative one they were making with Landon’s brothers.She happened to think it would be good for every last one of them to have that.Tobethat.
But first, she was getting married today, and nothing could make her happier than that.
“We’ve got another two hours before people start arriving to get set up.”His mouth trailed down her neck, and she laughed a little breathlessly.
Tempting, but there was so much to do, and that was what the wedding night was for, wasn’t it?They were actually going to go stay at a resort outside of Bozeman for the weekend.A mini-honeymoon, Landon had called it.
Just a weekend, but Aly only needed a weekend.One weekend of a littledifferentspecial, but the most important thing was all the regular nights, right here, in the place they both loved.
Maybe they’d go somewhere farther away for longer in October, but maybe they wouldn’t.Aly didn’t care either way.
This,right here, was what she wanted.But… there was a lot to do before people started showing up to prepare for the wedding.She gave Landon a little ineffective push away.
“I should go make some breakfast and—”
Landon rolled on top of her.“You’re not lifting a finger today.That’s everyone else’s job.”Then he pinned her to the mattress like he’d physically stop her from trying.“You are the bride.It’s your day.”
She wrinkled her nose.“But Ihatenot doing things.”
He chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her mouth.Sweet, simple.Then he just stared down at her for a few moments, his dark eyes growing serious.
“Last chance to back out.”
She knew he was joking—mostlyjoking—but she could see there was a small part of him, minuscule really, that thought she deserved an out.
She studied his face seriously.He still had her arms pinned, so she lifted her mouth to his.Pressed a gentle kiss to it.
“I’ll never back out, Landon.We both know life doesn’t play fair, and we can’t control anything, but I can and will control this.I’llneverback out.”And she meant it.With all she was.“And neither will you.”She had no doubts on that score.
“Neither will I,” he repeated, a vow just as good as any they would exchange this afternoon.“I love you, Aly.”
“I love you too.”And that was what they’d always hold onto.
*
Landon couldn’t haveexplained why the hell he was nervous.It was a small wedding on the ranch.As much as he didn’t really likeperformingfor anyone, the crowd would hardly be a big one.His brothers, his ranch hands, Jill and Glenda, and… Sam Price.Nothing to be uptight about.
He didn’t have any nerves or doubts about marrying Aly.Maybe every once in a while he figured she deserved better than some taciturn asshole, but he was less of an asshole these days.
He really tried to be.
And she seemed to want him, whether she deserved better or not.So he’d work to be better, and if there was one thing Landon knew he was good at, it was putting in the hard work, and stubbornly moving forward doing what he thought was right.
But he felt that a lot stronger when she was right here, not off with Jill and Glenda getting dressed.
He liked it better when he wasn’t being choked by a button-up shirt and a suit jacket with his brothers watching him with faint amusement in their identical eyes.
He stared at himself in the mirror, in his new, stuffy suit and the tie that felt like it was choking him.Freshly shaved, he wasn’t sure he even recognized himself.
“I can step in for you if you’re too nervous,” Cal offered blandly, looking as he always did in a suit.At ease and like a success.
“Bite me,” Landon muttered, straightening his tie in the mirror.Again.“It’s not nerves.It’s… discomfort.Fucking tie.”
