“We’ve set up some lights over there,” JJ told him. “It’s completely staged, I know, but they’ll make for good pictures.”
He glanced in the direction she was pointing, then back to her. “It’s your show. Just tell us where you want us.”
***
Reese was grateful for all the distractions.
He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. Anxiety was a bitch, though. It overwhelmed without warning sometimes.
Luckily for him, they’d spent the past hour being dragged around by a very friendly, if not exuberant, photographer who wanted to capture their every movement on film. His words.
There were pictures of him and his mom, him and Jensyn, him and Z. They also had ones of the four of them together and a couple that included Hugh and Mark—which had been weird, but only for Reese. No one else seemed surprised by the extra man in their mother’s life.
But Reese couldn’t complain. Not about the many poses he was required to do or the constant click of the camera. It could be worse. He could be in Brantley’s shoes. The man had taken more than three dozen photos with his family alone. With three sisters and three brothers, getting all the various poses took time. Not to mention the nieces and nephew who were anxious to be in them.
He’d reluctantly accepted a glass of champagne and was now grateful he had. It went a long way to taking the edge off, although he was still nervous about standing up before all these people and pledging his undying love to the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It wasn’t the pledging part that had his blood pressure soaring. It was having to do it in front of so many people.
Of course, Brantley didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable. He was talking and laughing with everyone as they arrived, as though this was some informal family reunion and not the biggest day of their lives.
“Hey.”
Reese turned to see Brantley frowning at him.
“You okay?”
He nodded.
Brantley’s smile was slow and sweet as he stepped toward him. Reese took a deep breath, surprised by how Brantley’s proximity seemed to calm him.
“Say the word, and I’ll make them all leave,” Brantley whispered, putting his hands on Reese’s hips and stepping in close.
Reese huffed a laugh. “If only.”
“I’ll do it,” Brantley said, his tone serious despite the smile on his face.
“I know you will.” Reese forced himself to relax. “And that’s what I love about you.”
Brantley leaned in, his breath fanning Reese’s ear. “That’s notallyou love about me.”
God forbid that camera starts clicking now. No doubt his face was beet red. Or heading in that direction. Brantley knew what he was doing because he winked and smiled.
Reese laughed as more of the tension dissipated. Leave it to Brantley to seduce him in front of all their friends and family.
And they wereallthere. There was nothing intimate about this gathering since it looked like half the town had come out for the event. Since there was a good possibility Brantley was related to half the town, Reese wasn’t exaggerating. Not much, anyway.
Someone cleared their throat, and Brantley took a step back.
“You boys ready to do this?” Pastor Bob asked, smiling at them.
Reese met Brantley’s gaze when he looked his way again. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
He saw the emotion that welled in Brantley’s eyes and knew that this moment was the one he’d been waiting for his entire life.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
JJ stood behind Brantley, angled so shecould see him and Reese exchanging their vows, declaring their love for one another.
She had stopped trying to wipe away the tears as soon as Reese opened his mouth because his heartfelt words had made her heart swell and her eyes leak.
