The weather was absolutely perfect for the first week of June, especially for an outside wedding. Between the lake and the mountains, it looked like something out of a fairy tale. Rylan had wanted to get married as quickly as we'd gotten engaged, but I'd managed to make him wait a little over a year, telling him that I wanted to make sure every detail was perfect. That had only been part of the reason though. I'd known that everyone had already thought the two of us had been rushing things moving in together and getting engaged. I wanted people to have some time to get used to the idea.

Hell, I'd needed some time to get used to it myself.

I loved Rylan and I wanted to be with him forever. The idea of a ring and vows and all of that, though, was a bit intimidating. I'd been born Rose Lenore Kingston, then chosen to become Jenna Lang. Now I was going to change my name again and I needed some time to adjust.

I hadn't told Rylan yet because I'd just made the final decision, but I wasn't just going to be changing my last name. When I filled out the paperwork, I was going to be Jenna Rose Archer. A new name for the new person he'd helped me become.

With the prospect of a new life, I felt like I'd been waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to come in and take away my happy ending. Things hadn't been perfect because nothing was perfect, but there'd been no big disasters. I was actually starting to believe that I was going to have the life I'd never thought I'd get.

I thought about the guests outside, sitting under the canopy, waiting for me to make my appearance. Agent Matthews was there. I knew his bosses suspected that a lot of his 'anonymous tips' were coming from me, but he never gave me up. He also never mentioned the fact that, over the last year, nearly a hundred pedophiles had been exposed online, their names and addresses published, their places of work alerted. More than half of them had already been arrested and the rest were either on the run or vehemently denying the charges. More than one had attempted to bring a lawsuit against the person who'd revealed their identities, but without a suspect, nothing had been filed.

I'd taken Rylan up on his offer to become his partner at Archer Enterprises, but I was still getting used to the idea of being rich. I looked down at the elegant wedding dress Suzette had helped me pick out. It had taken Rylan nearly a month to convince me that I could spend whatever I wanted on the dress, and in the end, I'd had to insist that I not be told how much it cost.

At least Rylan's family was thoroughly convinced that I wasn't after him for his money. His stepmother still didn't entirely approve of me, especially since I'd refused to have my tattoos removed or plastic surgery done on my scars, but we'd all reached a place where I felt comfortable being a part of the family.

Family.

I let out a shaky breath. After today, I'd officially have a family. The woman who'd given birth to me was still in jail, and would remain there for the rest of her life, but I'd long since disowned her. Rylan's parents, his step-mother and his sister were my family. He also had a fairly big extended family, though they didn't live in the area. A lot of them had come in for the wedding though. I'd spent almost all of yesterday being introduced to aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. I'd gone from being totally alone to having dozens of people I could call my family.

And I'd ended up with a good friend out of all of it too. Suzette was actually only a year younger than me and she was just as smart as her brother. After what had happened with Zeke, she'd spent the next few months trying to make things up to me. The more time we'd spent together, the more we'd seen how much we actually had in common and the better friends we'd become. Her being my maid of honor was as much for me as it was for Rylan. Actually, she was my only attendant. Rylan and I had decided on one each.

His was Zeke. After six months in a psychiatric facility, Zeke had been released on probation. He'd quit his job at his advertising agency before they could fire him and was now working at an LGBT center for at-risk youth while he went to school to become a licensed counselor. He'd also started dating and had even brought a gorgeous man as his date today.

I'd been a bit nervous when he'd first gotten out, unsure how he'd react to our engagement, but after just a couple hours, I'd seen the difference. According to Rylan, this was the Zeke he'd known his whole life. Not only had Rylan gotten his best friend back, but I'd gained another friend as well. It still felt a little strange to think of Zeke as a friend, but he was.

“Ready to go?” Suzette interrupted my thoughts.

I turned towards her and smiled nervously. I wasn't having second thoughts, but I wasn't looking forward to being the center of attention. At least, I reminded myself, the people who were here were all ones who supported Rylan and me. The small handful of people at Archer Enterprises who'd had a problem with my new position had all been politely asked to leave and given a nice severance package and a letter of recommendation.

Well, all but Emmaline, but she'd made things personal. I could still picture the furious expression on her face when I'd walked into the office with that ring. I'd ignored the few choice insults she'd thrown my way, but when she'd raised her hand like she was going to slap me, I'd had enough. She'd ended up being carried out of the building, kicking and screaming like a spoiled child having a tantrum.

Suzette adjusted my veil one last time and the two of us walked down the stairs and went out to the yard. I lifted my bouquet of white lilies to my nose – my tribute to the woman who had saved me.

As I stood at the end of the aisle, I was vaguely aware of Suzette walking, of the filled seats on either side – though both sides were technically the groom's since I only had Dr. MacLeod attending on my behalf – but they were all peripheral. I only had eyes for him.

He was wearing a black tux, tailored to show off his broad shoulders and muscular body. But as much as I loved his body, it was his face I couldn't look away from. I'd seen his expression, his eyes, filled with desire, with love, but I'd never seen him like this. I'd always thought of the words happiness and joy as being interchangeable and I knew now that I'd been wrong. Joyful was the only word to describe how he looked as his eyes met mine. It was beyond mere happiness. It was hope and a promise of a future.

I hadn't had anyone to walk me down the aisle, no parents to give me away, so as I reached the end of the aisle, Rylan reached out his hand and I took it. As my palm slid across his, it was as if everything else faded away and my nerves went too. We weren't saying anything that we hadn't already said to each other. The people gathered here knew how Rylan and I felt about each other. This was merely a public declaration of what everyone already knew. Only death would part us.