Keeneston, eight months later . . .
“Damn. That’s enough to bring a man to his knees,” Jackson whispered in Ryan’s ear. They stood in the front of the whole town and the entire Thoroughbreds franchise and watched Sienna on her father’s arm walk toward them.
Ryan couldn’t form words to agree. He simply gave a single nod and watched his soon-to-be wife walk toward him. Her long auburn hair was gently swept up with pearl combs. The ivory lace dress fit tightly against her breasts, her trim waist highlighted by a satin ribbon, and her deliciously curved hips caressed by the column of the dress before it fell straight to the floor. Behind her, the dress flared, and pools of delicate lace seemed to float as she walked.
And then she was there, standing in front of him. If you paid him a million dollars, Ryan wouldn’t be able to tell you what happened next. All he knew was he’d never experienced such happiness in his life. And when Judge Cooper pronounced them man and wife, a sudden shift occurred deep in Ryan’s heart.
Nothing had really changed, but everything had with that simple proclamation. He had a wife. A wife to share his life. A wife to raise a family. A wife to love and protect. And in that one moment, their whole life flashed before him: kissing her when they were children, seeing her standing up to the boys who didn’t want a girl on their flag football team, seeing her after their first real kiss as they spied on Nabi and Grace, seeing her in Bahir’s office sending him off with the order to come back to her, seeing her naked in bed in the early morning light, and now seeing his wife. He smiled and stopped them both in the middle of the aisle to kiss her.
The guests cheered and Sienna heard the noise drift away as her husband stopped their exit down the aisle, placed one hand around the top of her neck, one arm around her waist, bent her over, and kissed her. He must have been thinking all the things she had, for his kiss was full of loving promise. It had taken Sienna’s breath away when her father offered her his arm and escorted her to the front of the aisle. She had seen Ryan, devastating in his tuxedo, and had almost run up the aisle toward him.
Ryan pulled his head back and ran his thumb over her cheek. “I love you, Dr. Parker. Now, let’s go party and get everyone drunk so they won’t notice when we disappear early.”
Sienna laughed but didn’t disagree, especially after getting through the receiving line. But soon enough she was in his arms as they slowly danced their first dance as husband and wife. Their mothers cried. Their fathers pretended not to. And Hooch’s tail happily wagged, nearly knocking over the table holding the wedding cake.
“I have a confession,” Ryan whispered in her ear as they swayed to the music.
“What’s that?” Sienna asked, smelling a trace of his cologne and feeling the urge to sink farther into his embrace.
“I can’t wait to see what happens next.” Ryan smiled at her as her head fell back and she laughed. Hooch howled, and Sienna had never been happier.
Jackson twirled Sydney around the dance floor as her cousin and his new wife laughed and stood outrageously close to each other. She let out a sigh. Not for the first time, she wished she could find that. But who had time? She certainly didn’t.
“They look sickeningly in love,” Jackson said to her, spinning her.
“I wonder how long until we hear the pitter-patter of little feet running around,” Sydney smiled.
“Odds are 5-2 within one year,” Poppy whispered from where she was dancing nearby with Gabe.
Jackson shook his head. “Nah, I think they’ll be married two years before they have a baby. You got my bet, Poppy?”
“Sure do!” Poppy called out gaily as Gabe spun her away.
“May I cut in?”
Jackson stopped dancing and smiled as Sydney's younger brother, Wyatt, took his place. At twenty-six, Wyatt already acted like he was forty. He’d always been the quiet, serious type who had impeccable manners and a Southern drawl that made the girls melt before him. While he was more uptight than Sydney, Wyatt was the best brother a girl could ask for.
“How’s your evening going so far, Wyatt?” Sydney asked as her brother pulled her into a perfect dance.
“It’s a nice break from being on call,” Wyatt said, a little tired. After graduating from veterinary school, their mother, the local small-animal vet, brought Wyatt on board to take care for the large animals of Keeneston. He’d been elbow-deep in half the cows in the county ever since.
“It’s called paying your dues. I had to do it, too, as a model.”
“I know. Have you seen Great-Grandma Wyatt recently?” Wyatt asked.
“A couple days ago. I went out to read to her and show her some of my new designs. We talked fashion and business for about an hour before she got too tired and fell asleep.”
“Good. I haven’t had the time to see her recently. I’m going over tomorrow to tell her about the wedding. I’m sure she’d love it if you joined me.”
Sydney smiled as she thought about their great-grandma. She’d raised their mother and had been a staple in their lives as well. She favored flowing gowns, huge hats, and bright red lipstick. The preference for bright red lipstick and big hats had rubbed off on Sydney as well, especially with Aunt Paige designing said hats.
“I would like that. How’s ten o’clock?”
Wyatt slowed as the music drew to a close. “Great. I’ll meet you there. Now, I need to find out if Bethany prefers a Southern gentleman or the dark, mysterious type.”
With a wink, her brother sauntered over to one of the other bridesmaids. He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Smooth, very smooth. Sydney stepped off the dance floor and watched as Ryan and Sienna not so subtly tried to leave, only to be thwarted by the Rose sisters and their husbands.
“You look beautiful tonight. Would you care to dance?”
Sydney turned and smiled at a tuxedo-clad Nash. He looked so good in that tux that the sight had her contemplating what he might look like out of it. And when he pulled her near, she gasped.
“Don’t worry, it’s just my gun,” Nash said with a little gravel to his voice.
“Merciful heavens,” Zinnia gasped as she danced by.
Nash’s lips quirked slightly. “Trust me, you’d know if it was that gun.”
Sydney felt her face flush. She might die on the spot if he stripped naked. Definitely too dark, too mysterious, and well, was there really such a thing as too handsome? But that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a little fun.
“Lead on, my dark knight, and then shots all around!” Sydney laughed as her cousins cheered.
“Are they looking?” Ryan asked Sienna.
“No, Dylan just unbuttoned the top half of his shirt to show a tattoo over his heart. Trust me, no one is looking at us right now,” Sienna said with excitement.
“Excellent!” Ryan scooped her into his arms and dashed out of the tent in her parents’ backyard.
Sienna giggled with glee as he ran to the limousine. “I can walk, you know.”
“Not tonight, wife.”
Ryan slid into the backseat and kissed her senseless. It was then Sienna came to the conclusion that walking was overrated when you had a strong, handsome husband intent on carrying you to bed.
THE END
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