Chapter Nine
McKenna felt weightless, as though nothing could touch her as she floated along. Everything since the moment she’d said I do had coalesced into a whirlwind of conversation and activity. And now, as they all sat at the formal reception dinner, enjoying fantastic wine and finishing a superb meal, the reality of the day was setting in.
She hadn’t released Tag’s hand since he’d walked her back down the aisle, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to release him for the rest of the night. It had made eating rather difficult, but her need to touch him had outweighed her need for food.
“Isn’t the best man supposed to make a speech?” Luke called out, glancing down the table at Logan.
“He is,” Logan confirmed with a smirk.
McKenna smiled as Logan got to his feet, adjusting his tuxedo jacket and turning his attention to the entire group.
“I’m going to preface this by saying that I did ask Tag if there was anything I shouldn’t say. He said no. So, for the record, that’s on him.”
McKenna laughed, thinking of all the things that Logan could say, things that she should be worried about, but she came up with nothing. This was Logan; although he might tease, she knew he would be respectful.
“Okay, so first things first. I’d like to start out by mentioning that McKenna looks stunning today. Then again, that’s not much different than any other day, although she does have an impressive glow about her today. As for the guy next to her… Well, my grandfather always said if you can’t say anything nice, then shut the hell up. But he’s not here today, so I’ll keep going.” Logan’s grin widened as he looked at Tag. “However, in Tag’s defense, where he lacks in looks, he certainly makes up for in personality… No, wait. Not personality. He makes up for it in smarts. Yes. The guy’s damn smart. I’m sure no one can disagree with me. Especially today of all days when he made the smartest decision of his life and married McKenna.”
The group laughed, as Logan had obviously intended. McKenna squeezed Tag’s hand and looked over at him. God, she loved this man.
“By luck of the draw, I was given the coveted honor of being Tag’s best man on this special day, and though my first reaction was to rub it in everyone’s face, the truth is, it really is an honor for me. I’ve known Tag for some time now, and I’ve grown to respect him. Not only because he’s been my legal representation on multiple occasions but also because I consider him a friend.
“I’m proud to stand here and celebrate one of Tag’s greatest accomplishments to date. Marrying McKenna, devoting all of the love, respect, and friendship that he has within him to her, his wife and best friend. And as I’m sure everyone else here would agree, we’re honored to be here, to celebrate this incredible day with you.”
Logan reached for his wineglass, lifting it up as he peered over at them. “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness, and the kind of deep love that comes from finding the one person who completes you, who makes you whole. Congrats.”
McKenna couldn’t stop the tears as glasses clinked in their honor. Today had been more than she’d ever anticipated.
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After Logan’s toast, they’d resumed their conversations as the waiters came to clear the table. Although the attention was supposed to be on them, Tag couldn’t hold back the question he had for Luke. He was still wondering where the man’s optimism came from, but after seeing Sierra earlier, he was pretty sure he’d finally figured it out.
“So, Luke,” Tag began. “I’m still curious as to the change in you.”
“What change?” Luke smirked, glancing over at Sierra and Cole.
“You told me last night that you only live once. While I agree, it’s not a perspective I’d have pegged you for.”
“I turned over a new leaf,” he said.
“Yeah?” Tag asked, looking over at Sierra with a grin. “So there’s news?”
Luke lifted his eyebrows, but the smile never left his face. “What news?”
“I know those two make you happy, but I think you’re hidin’ somethin’. Care to share?”
Luke looked at Sierra, and Tag caught her slight nod. When Luke met his gaze again, there was something else there. Pride.
“This is supposed to be your day, so we were waiting to tell everyone.”
The table went silent around them.
“We’re pregnant,” Luke told them proudly.
Silence descended on the table briefly, but then there was a round of clapping and cheers as people were instantly out of their seats, hugging Sierra and clapping Luke and Cole on the back. Tag and McKenna joined in the celebration, going over to Luke directly.
Lifting his wineglass to Luke, Tag tilted it toward him. “Congrats. Just another reason for us to celebrate today.”
Luke nodded, another smile tilting the corner of his mouth.
The instrumental music started, a subtle hint for the next phase of tonight’s program, causing a hush to come over the group.
“I think that’s our cue,” Tag stated, turning his attention to his … wife—God, he loved the sound of that. Face-to-face with McKenna, Tag smiled. “Dance with me,” he suggested to McKenna, his fingers still linked with hers.
As was planned, “All of Me” by John Legend began when Tag led McKenna out onto the floor. He pulled her in close, his eyes locked with hers.
His wife.
When tears filled McKenna’s eyes, he reached up and brushed one away.
“You are the absolute most beautiful woman on the face of the earth. I just thought you should know that.”
McKenna sobbed softly, another tear escaping. “Thank you.”
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you, too,” she said softly. “So much.”
Pulling her close to him, Tag moved around the dance floor. This time, as all eyes were on him dancing, he didn’t care. It didn’t matter to him who saw. He wanted the world to watch, to know just how much he loved this woman, how overwhelmingly happy she made him. This was, by far, the greatest day of his entire life.
A few minutes later, the song faded away but quickly transitioned into another, and that was when McKenna’s father came over, asking for permission to cut in. Tag placed McKenna’s hand in her father’s and turned to find McKenna’s mother standing on the sideline. He moved toward her, reaching for her hand.
With a beaming smile, Diane accepted his offer.
“Today was perfect,” Diane told him as they moved slowly around the dance floor, allowing McKenna and her father to maintain the spotlight.
“She’s perfect,” Tag told her.
Diane smiled up at him. “I’m so glad she found you.”
Tag grinned. “Me, too.”
He remembered back when he’d met McKenna. She’d been the persistent journalist who’d done her best to interfere in his life, trying to get the dirt on him and the McCoys. She was good at what she did, there was no doubt about it, and it hadn’t taken long for Tag to find himself infatuated with her. That feeling had only intensified over time.
“You do know that I’m waiting for the two of you to give me grandbabies,” Diane said with a chuckle.
Tag laughed, his gaze cutting to McKenna’s. If everything went well, hopefully his mother-in-law wouldn’t be waiting long.
When the song ended, Jason came over and asked if he could cut in, making Tag smile. “Should I be worried that you keep stealing women from me?”
Jason laughed as he pulled Diane against him. “Just wait until y’all give me granddaughters.”
Tag could not wait for that day. When he turned to find McKenna, intending to go back to her, he found her dancing with his father, Jackson. For a brief moment, Tag was stunned, unable to move. While he tried to process what he was seeing, Victoria came up to him, an uncertain smile on her face.
His manners returned, and he instantly asked her to dance, moving closer to his stepmother. They danced in silence for a moment because Tag had no idea what to say.
Luckily, Victoria eased some of the tension when she said, “He loves you. I’ll admit, he has a very strange way of showing that, but truth is, he does love you.”
It was the first time that Victoria had ever said that to him. Most of their conversations were short and to the point. The rare times he found himself around his father, they generally talked about work.
“Thank you for coming,” Tag said. “It means a lot that he’s here.”
“He wouldn’t have missed it. He just doesn’t know how to show that side of himself.”
Tag nodded. His father had never been the type to dole out love, or to even make Tag feel welcome, but there was one positive in all that. Tag had learned, through his own experiences, what not to do. And sometimes, that was as good a lesson as any.
The song slowly began to fade. “It’s time you go back to your bride,” Victoria said as she released his hand.
Turning, he saw McKenna smiling up at Jackson, looking slightly uncomfortable, but the woman never ceased to amaze him. She handled any situation brilliantly, including this one.
Making his way over to her, he pulled her against him as the rest of the crowd moved onto the dance floor with them, joining in as another slow song started.
“Thank you,” he told her.
“For?”
“For being my greatest accomplishment to date. For making me the happiest man in the world. For … being you.”
Two hours later, Tag was trying to find a way to sneak out and take McKenna back to their cabin. He was seeking her out when his father approached, his expression sober.
“Dad,” Tag said calmly when Jackson came to stand directly in front of him.
“I didn’t want to take too much of your time,” Jackson said, his gaze sliding across the room to where McKenna was talking to Sierra, Sam, and Mercedes. “I just wanted a chance to talk to you. In private.”
Tag lifted his brow in question.
“I wanted to tell you…” Jackson thrust his hands into his pockets, his face contorting into what appeared to be pain.
“You don’t have to say it,” Tag told him, hating to see his father hurting.
“Yes. I do,” Jackson said firmly, looking directly into Tag’s eyes.
“I’ve never been the best father. I know that. I’ve never tried to make excuses for my shortcomings, but I do want you to know that I … I’m proud of you, Tag. I’ve always been proud of you. Despite the type of father I’ve been, you’ve… You’re a good man. One I admire.”
Tag didn’t move. Hell, he wasn’t sure he was even breathing. It was the first time in all his life that his father had come out and said anything regarding how he’d been as a father.
The silence lingered between them for a moment before Tag managed to croak out a thank you.
“You’re welcome. And I really am proud of you. She’s an incredible woman. And you’re lucky to have each other.”
“That we are,” Tag agreed.
Jackson’s hand slipped from his pocket. He then placed it on Tag’s shoulder, and for a moment, he expected a pat but was shocked when Jackson pulled him close, both arms circling him as he hugged him.
“I love you, son.”
Tag swallowed hard, his eyes closing as he hugged his father back. The emotion that churned in his chest surprised him. Perhaps he’d never expected his father to say any of these things, and he wasn’t sure how to process them. But he knew one thing for sure, so he said, “I love you, too, Dad.”
When Jackson pulled back, they stood staring at one another for a moment. It wasn’t awkward, as Tag had expected it to be. Jackson then smiled, a genuine grin that transformed his usually stoic features. “Like I said, I’m so proud of you.”
Tag nodded. “Thank you,” he said, his voice guttural with the emotion now clogging his throat.
Jackson turned and surveyed the room. When he turned back, he once again looked like the father he’d known his whole life, somber, expressionless.
“I should let you get back to your wife,” Jackson said.
Another nod was all Tag could offer. Although his father had shut down once again, the moment they’d shared had been real and something Tag had needed more than he had realized.
“Thanks, Dad.”
It was Jackson’s turn to nod before he silently walked away.
Tag remained rooted in that same spot for long minutes after Jackson disappeared into the group, taking it all in.
He glanced at McKenna. His … wife. Holy hell—at the risk of repeating himself—he definitely loved the sound of that.
She was smiling at her friends, laughing and joking, but then her gaze slid to his briefly. Another smile—one filled with promise and meant only for him—tilted her lips.
Definitely time to get her back to the room. Tag was ready to call it a night, but not because he was tired.
Nope, sleeping was the last thing on his mind.