That and the white flower holding up one side of her hair with a gem-studded clip.
So beautiful.
“For better or worse.” Talia’s smile held steady. “In sickness and in health.”
Those last words he caught had Jagger’s gaze falling to her left shoulder. The dress’s halter top design kept the still-healingscar from being seen. But he knew it was there. A permanent reminder of how close he came to having lost her forever.
The hands holding his gave a tiny squeeze as his soon-to-be-wife finished with, “As long as we both shall live.”
As long as we both shall live.
Jagger forced his wandering thoughts to abandon the hidden evidence of the past and forced his wandering thoughts to focus on the future.Theirfuture. As man and wife.
“And now to the exchanging of the rings.”
He and Talia shared a loving smile before turning toward the man who’d just spoken. Liam was grinning ear-to-ear, like the goofball he was. But at least he was wearing a tie.
Jagger and Talia had shared the news of their engagement almost immediately. That very same day, Liam had gone online and gotten himself officially ordained. When the crazy man practically begged to be the one to do the ceremony, neither Jagger nor Talia had the heart to tell the excited man no.
They considered it part of their wedding gift to Liam, since Delta’s computer genius extraordinaire and Allison had also recently been wed. And, in a surprise move the other couple had been keeping secret from the entire group, Liam had also officially adopted Allison’s daughter, Maddie.
The adorable little blonde had made the perfect flower girl for Jagger and Talia’s day. They’d forgone the traditional best man and maid of honor, however, keeping the event as small and intimate as possible.
Aside from Liam, their friends all faced them from their chairs as they witnessed yet another unbreakable union between a Delta Team man and the woman he loved.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Jagger couldn’t wait to place the simple gold band on Talia’s left ring finger.
In turn, Talia slid a matching ring onto his. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Their hands became intertwined as they stared into each other’s eyes while Liam said a few more eloquent words, bringing the wedding to a close. Jagger was so hypnotized by the love he found reflected in Talia’s eyes he almost missed the best part of the whole damn thing.
The kiss.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Illinois…and some internet site I can’t remember…I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The computer genius turned his toothy grin Jagger’s way. “All right, brother. It’s official. You’d better hurry up and kiss the?—”
Jagger pulled his smiling bride into his arms.
Atiny cry of surprise barely made it past his new wife’s lips before he lowered her into an old-fashioned dip and covered her mouth with his. Several whoops and whistles came from the small crowd as they cheered the happy couple on with vigor.
“Congratulations, brother.” Liam yanked Jagger into a tight bear hug the second the kiss was over.
“Thanks, man.” Jagger gave his friend a few pats on the back. “For everything.”
A high-pitched squeal announced the arrival of the women in attendance, who came rushing their way to greet the bride.
“You did it!” Christian’s wife, Megan, was the first to reach Talia. “I amsofreaking happy for you two!”
The petite brunette wrapped her arms around Talia, and the two shared a congratulatory embrace.
“Thank you.” Jagger’s wife beamed as she returned Megan’s hug.
My wife.
He became hypnotized by her laugh as she continued talking with the girls. In a million years, Jagger never could have predicted that this would be how things ended.
Only things hadn’t come to an end. They were only just beginning. And he couldn’t fucking wait to get started.
Several changes had already occurred in both their lives since that horrifying night. Both the personal and professional kind, starting with Talia’s resignation from Homeland Security.
