Weeks later

I take one last look at myself in the mirror before I leave the house and head to Logan’s childhood home. Shelby is renewing her vows there today. She wanted all the women dressed up and looking perfect. So, she booked us a session with her favorite makeup artists. I’ve spent the last three weeks helping her pick out decorations. Thankfully by then, the ceremony Kat and I put on to honor the women of the shelter had passed. Kat did a fantastic job; the event was a huge success.

I was glad to help Shelby; it also gave me a chance to pick out what I wanted for our wedding. I saw this amazing wedding dress that I would give anything to wear. It’s a floor-length, sweetheart trumpet wedding dress with lace. I earmarked it for later. I earmarked a lot of stuff in the past few weeks thanks to Shelby’s insistence that I might as well start looking. The wedding planning has had to take a back seat until Logan can get time off. I don’t mind because the two of us are already married in my heart. Also, I waited two years; I can wait a few more weeks.

Besides, we have something more important to talk about—my last trip to the doctor. He went with me but he got called into work and had to take off. He called afterwards but I was too stunned to really talk. I vowed to myself that after I’m done with Shelby’s wedding renewal tonight, I’ll sit Logan down and tell him the news…

“I normally don’t agree with Shelby on anything, but damn, she was right about that dress. You look incredible,” Logan says from the doorway of our bedroom.

I look myself over again. I’m wearing a champagne A-line dress with a slit at the side that shows off my legs. It’s elegant, yet simple. My dark hair is pinned up in loose curls and my face is elegantly made up, thanks to Shelby.

“Are you sure you won’t be upstaging her because when I see you in that dress, I can’t even remember my name,” he says.

“Thanks but I’m sure Shelby will be dressed to kill,” I reply. He walks up behind me and places his hand on my hip. That’s all it takes to make my body begin to buzz with anticipation.

Damn him.

He leans in and nuzzles the nape of my neck, palms my ass, then works his way around to the slit in my dress.

“Logan Hunter, what are you doing?” I tease.

“I want to make sure you’re not carrying a weapon into the party. So I have to frisk you. Sorry, it’s protocol,” he says as he makes his way to the front panel of my panties. I wisely pull away. He groans in dismay.

“No! You’re going to make me late and Shelby will kill me. Are you sure you can’t come to the party?” I ask.

“Yeah, I have to take this training, the whole team does.”

“Okay but I’ll see you after, right?”

“Yes, I’ll come pick you up and help you out of that dress.”

“Wow, you’re such a gentleman,” I remark.

“Fuck yeah,” he replies. I look into his eyes and my stomach flips with excitement. That’s followed by a pang of disappointment. He watches me and already knows something is wrong.

“What is it, babe?” he asks.

“I just wish our wedding could happen already.”

“I know. I’m sorry about that. I want us to be married as soon as possible but the fact is work is making it hard.”

“Then let’s just go to city hall,” I reply.

He narrows his eyes and turns me to face him. “Is that really what you want?” he asks.

“I want to be your wife, the ceremony would be good but that’s secondary.”

“Well I want my woman to have what she deserves. And you deserve a fantastic dress, a big cake, and all of that crap.”

“Crap?”

“You know what I mean. Tell you what; at the end of this month, we’ll start planning. We will pick a date and I’ll quit my damn job if they don’t give me the time off.”

“Okay.”

“I love you,” he says as he takes my breath away with a deep, soulful kiss. “Tell Shelby and my brother I’m sorry I missed it,” he says as he makes his way out the door.

***

I make it to the Hunter household about an hour later. The decorators have done an excellent job. They decorated the halls using ivory and gold with a hint of champagne as the theme. The dining room has been transformed into a vintage, romantic dining hall. There’s a round ivory five-layer cake at the center of the table. It’s decorated with gold trim and has a sophisticated white ribbon on the side.

I wish this was something Logan and I could do for our wedding. But I don’t want him to spend that much money on us. I know he has it, but that doesn’t mean we should spend it. The thing is, even if we can’t have a wedding like this, it would be nice if he were here to share it with me.

Damn training session.

“Shay, you’re here!” Shelby says behind me. I turn to face her. She’s wearing a long, off the shoulder champagne dress and killer satin heels.

“Hi! Are you ready for your big day? Don’t be nervous, you look beautiful,” I advise.

“Oh you are too sweet. He’s gonna have his hands full with you,” Shelby says.

“What are you talking about?” I ask. She smiles but says nothing. Mrs. Hunter comes down the spiral staircase.

“You and Logan have kept us waiting too long. Now, get your butt up the stairs and put on your dress so we can start this thing,” she says to me. That’s when it hits me—I was such an idiot. Why didn’t I see it before?

“This is my wedding?!” I gasp.

“Yes, it is. So, let’s get on with it,” Winter—Wyatt’s wife—says as she comes up behind Mrs. Hunter.

“Winter, you and Wyatt knew about this?” I ask.

“Yes, we all knew. Now, go and get ready. Your husband-to-be is waiting,” Mrs. Hunter says. I am still not really over the shock but there’s no time for that—IT’S MY WEDDING DAY!

I’m glad that I have no time to really think because it also means I have no time to be nervous. Shelby and Winter take me to one of the many bedrooms on the second floor. I walk in and find the dress that I wanted for my wedding on the bed, laid out for me. I also find the heels and the drop earrings I picked out. But then, I find something even better than the dress—Kat.

“You’re here!” I reply as I hug her tightly.

“Hell yes. I have waited too long for this damn day to be here,” she says.

“Okay, ladies, let’s get this show going,” Mrs. Hunter says.

“Wait, is my mom here?” I ask, still lost in the whirlwind of events.

“You bet I am,” she replies as she enters, looking stunning. Everyone helps me get dressed and ready to go. I take one last look at myself and thank God for giving me the strength to get this far.

Soon we are ready to start the ceremony. The ladies help me down the steps as the music for the procession begins to play. I peek out into the garden and watch as Pop-Tart goes down the aisle with the ring box attached to his collar. Just before my music starts, Mr. Hunter appears beside me and says he hopes I’m okay with him walking me down the aisle. He tells me he didn’t ever think he’d get to do that with Rose gone. I bite my lower lip and try very hard not to cry.

“I’d be honored to have you walk me down the aisle,” I reply, trying to manage my emotions. When we start walking to the music, I quickly scan the crowd. All of Logan’s brothers are here and so are his teammates from SWAT. I even spot Jack sitting on the end, in the second row. In addition to the ladies from the center, I spot Helen, Henry, and Frankie. And as I look forward, I spot Banshee standing next to Logan.

Logan.

He’s standing at the end of the aisle in his impeccable tailored suit and tie. He looks like a living dream. When I make it down the aisle and stand alongside him, there is no mistaking the expression on his face—he feels what I feel—total and complete happiness.

“Dear family and friends, we are gathered here today to—”

“Yes!” Logan says before the minister can finish. The crowd laughs. Logan and I exchange an amused and loving glance.

“Mr. Hunter, you have to wait for me to ask the question,” the minister points out gently.

“Hell no, I’ve waited long enough. Anika, I say yes to being your husband. Do you say yes to being my wife?” he says.

“Yes.” I laugh.

“Good,” he says as he claims my lips. His brothers cheer loudly, the crowd claps, and Pop-Tart barks excitedly. When we’re done kissing, the minister gives up and announces us husband and wife.

We head to the dining hall, where the reception is taking place. Everyone is having a great time and I can’t remember ever being this happy. I spot Cash trying to sneak out of the reception and into the foyer. I follow him in order to playfully give him a hard time.

“Hey, you!” I call out as he looks out the window that leads to the garden. He turns and looks at me. Cash is rarely around so I always forget just how sexy he is. He’s over six feet, is muscular with dark hair, and has penetrating eyes that look right into your soul. All the Hunter boys are pretty damn hot but Cash is different—there’s fire behind his wild eyes. He seems to attract danger more so than the other brothers—he is unpredictable, impulsive, and reckless. And that somehow makes him all the more attractive.

“Hey, you’re not trying to sneak out, are you? I haven’t danced with my brother-in-law yet,” I remark.

“You looked really good up there, Shay,” he replies.

“Thanks. Don’t leave—stay.”

“I wish I could. Look I don’t know what you see in my brother, especially since I’m here, looking as good as I do,” he jokes. “But if you ever need me to set him straight, I’m on it.”

“Hey, don’t you have a stripper to take to bed and disappoint?” Logan asks as he joins us.

“Seriously, Shay, what do you see in this guy?” Cash says.

“Well, I’ll leave Logan for you but that would mean you’d have to give up going undercover, partying, drinking, and strippers.”

“Hell, what else is there?” Cash asks.

“There’s love,” I reply.

“And there’s not getting shot at by Mexican cartels,” Logan points out.

“C’mon, little brother, if no one is shooting at you, how the hell would you know which direction to run?” Cash asks as he laughs.

“You give Mom a heart attack every time you go under,” Logan reminds him.

“Yeah, I know. It’s hard for her to deal because I’m her favorite son.”

“What? Bullshit!” Logan says.

“Shay, set your husband straight—our mom, like his wife, prefers me,” he teases. Logan playfully motions like he’s about to hit Cash. Then out of the blue, Cash brings him in for a hug. Logan, growing concerned, hugs him back. I remember Logan telling me that the only time Cash hugs them is when he’s about to go undercover.

When the brothers pull away, Logan asks, “How long will you be under?”

“Long,” Cash says, suddenly very serious.

“Who you going in with?’ Logan asks.

“You know I can’t tell you that,” he replies. Logan crosses his arms in front of his chest and asks again in a more demanding tone, “Cash, who you are trying to infiltrate?”

“Russians,” he says. Logan’s eyes narrow with worry. The air grows thick with tension.

“It’s no big deal, little brother. Haven’t you figured it out by now? I’m too fucking sexy to kill,” he says as he reaches out and kisses me on the cheek. “Shay, if my brother even looks at another woman, you have my permission to shoot him in the balls. And then get me the number of the woman he was looking at.” Cash laughs as he takes off, leaving us alone.

“You’re worried about him,” I conclude as we watch Cash take off.

“Yeah but he’s the same way when he hears that I’m in some crazy shithole overseas. It’s the life we picked,” he says with a hint of sadness.

“You look like you could use some cheering up,” I reply as I wrap my arms around his neck.

“That’s not all I could use,” he says suggestively as he pulls me to him. He kisses me and holds me close.

I whisper into his ear, “You totally got me with this surprise wedding. I should have seen it coming. But you’re not the only one with a surprise, Mr. Hunter.”

He narrows his eyes and looks at me suspiciously. “What does that mean?” he asks with a big grin.

“This reception is amazing, the food is wonderful and so is the music. Too bad I can’t drink the wine…”

“Why can’t you drink—Shay, you mean—wait—are you—are we…”

“Yes, we are,” I reply.

He picks me up in the air like I’m weightless and I laugh. And as he puts me down, I wrap my arms around his shoulders. We gaze into each other’s eyes. There is no one in the world but us.

“I love you, Logan”

“I love you, Mrs. Hunter.”

***