“With this ring, I give you my heart, my loyalty, and my life.” He slides the band onto her finger with careful hands that are a little unsteady.
“Robyn.”
“With this ring, I give you my heart, my loyalty, and my life.” She has to try twice to get his over the knuckle, whispers, “big hands,” and Ridge grins through his tears.
The minister spreads his arms.
“Then by the power vested in me, and in front of these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He beams at Ridge. “You may kiss your bride.”
Ridge doesn’t need telling twice; he lifts her veil. Then he hauls Robyn in, dips her right there in front of the altar, and kisses her like there’s no tomorrow, one hand splayed across her back, her bouquet flung out sideways, and the chapel goes absolutely nuts. Cheering, whistling, stamping, someone in the back howling like an actual wolf. Cath is sobbing and clapping at the same time. I can’t hold back the smile splitting my facein two, even while tears run right past it, because that’s my girl, married and dipped and kissed within an inch of her life.
When I finally look away from them, I look straight at Magma.
He’s already looking at me.
He’s clapping along with everyone else, but the second our eyes meet, his expression changes, the polished best man front dropping away into something softer and more serious. My stupid heart stutters.
He mouths, “Hello.”
I mouth back, “Hi.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and then the music swells, and Ridge and Robyn are being ushered up to the small table at the side to sign the register, laughing, wiping each other’s faces, and the whole front of the chapel dissolves into hugs and handshakes and noise.
Flint reaches me first, arms already open.
“Hi, Carla. That was some wedding.” He wraps me up and lifts me half off my feet. “Green suits you, by the way. You look great.”
“Thank you,” I say into his shoulder, laughing. “You’re looking good yourself. I like your hair shorter. It suits you. How long are you here?”
“I fly back tomorrow.” He puts me down, grinning, and steps aside, and then Magma is there.
“Hey, Carla.” That deep baritone does things to me.
“Hi.” I go up on my toes and hug him.
His arms come around me. I hug him close, and of course he smells so darned good. So, so, so good. He’s big and warm and solid.
Let go, Carla.
Let. Go!
I make my arms release him and step back, smiling. “You did good with the rings. Very smooth.”
“I only had one job.”
“Over here, Magma,” Flint says, waving him over.
“I’ll see you outside?” He lifts his brows, those gorgeous eyes on me.
I nod.
“Carla.”
I turn, and Malachite is right there, tall and blond and beaming in a charcoal suit, and he folds me into a tight hug before I can say a word.
He hugs me tightly, putting his face in the crook of my neck. “You smell great.”
“Oh…um…thanks.”
