EPILOGUE
Ash - Thirty Days Later
I took a quick look up at the bright sunlight, calculating in my head the approximate time, knowing damn well my bride was late.
I gritted my teeth together. I’d barely held on the last thirty days, waiting to make her mine. Officially, that was.
She hadn’t taken my ring off since the moment I’d put it on her finger, and she also hadn’t worn a bra in all that time. Every single day, she’d found some way to show me she hadn’t worn one, either by covering herself in oversized sweaters or jackets, or floaty scarves on warm days. She’d made me laugh every damn time because it'd become clear pretty damn quick that she thought of it as a challenge, some way to one-up me. I’d continued to give her hell for it. Seeing her riled up was too cute—truth was I got my rocks off on it, and she hadn’t quite figured that out yet.
I couldn’t wait to find out if she’d worn a bra today.
I slid my Ray-Bans down over my eyes and sauntered confidently through the doors of the small bed-and-breakfast she’d chosen for this day. “She ready?” I spat at the first person I saw.
It happened to be her dad.
Shit.
“She is.” His eyes cut up to me. “You respect her. She’s good, like her mama.” The little old man wiped at a tear in his eye. “She deserves the best.”
“I'll treat her like a queen. You’ve got my word on that, Lieutenant Abernathy.” I saluted the man.
He nodded. “Gonna hold you to that, son.”
His one word did a number on my soul. I hadn’t heard that word directed at me since my father had last uttered it so many years ago.
“I’ll always do my best by her,” I reassured him, fingering the heavy diamond wedding band that was nestled in my pocket. She’d said she didn't want another ring; she loved the one I’d gotten for her while I was deployed. But I insisted on showering my girl with all kinds of classy things, so I bought her the largest one the jeweler had in stock. I didn’t give a shit if she wore it or not, but I wanted to give it to her.
“Believe you’re due at the end of that aisle, son.” Lt. Abernathy patted me on the back, squeezing softly before letting go.
“I love her so much it hurts. That’s how I knew,” I said to him.
He only nodded, eyes growing wet with unshed tears. A happy grin spread over his cheeks. “I’m glad, son. You both deserve it.”
I swallowed the razors tearing at my throat before turning back to the massive garden and gazebo that stood beyond.
“Tell her I’ll meet her up there,” I said before making my way back down the aisle to my future.
It wasn’t a minute later that the music was starting and the sweet little flower girl, Tinsley's cousin, sashayed down the aisle with rose petals. Moments later, it was my girl and her father.
My heart cracked wide open then, the soft glow of the sun lighting her hair like a halo. Her cheeks were pink, and the smile was so wide on her face, she looked happy enough for all of us for the next thousand years.
She made her way up the aisle slowly, clutching her dad’s arm like she might fall without him.
I couldn't wait to be the man who held her up high, helped her achieve, loved her.
The ceremony started, and the officiant couldn’t get to the part where he said “Who gives this woman” fast enough.
I needed Tinsley in my arms. I had to touch her, needed that feeling of her skin on mine to know she was real.
The part finally arrived when her dad gave her away to me, our fingertips connecting for the first time. I couldn't help myself and leaned in. “You look good enough to eat.”
Her cheeks warmed to a sweet shade of crimson.
“There’d better not be a bra underneath all this frilly shit.”
Her grin darted to the side, and she shook her head, turning away from me for an instant to show off the deep vee of her back. That damn dress was cut down nearly to the top of her ass.
My cock ached, dots of pre-come leaking from the tip and I hoped not wetting the front of my suit pants.
“You don't know what you do to me.” I pressed my forehead against hers, palm wrapping around her waist to stroke along the edge of the lace that outlined the creamy skin of her back. “I can’t wait to unwrap you tonight.”
The officiant cleared his throat, and Tinsley stifled a giggle before I backed away, still refusing to move my palm from her bare back, and I nodded at the gentleman to continue the ceremony.
The small crowd of our closest friends and family laughed softly, and in no time at all, we were pronounced man and wife.
That day, Tinsley Abernathy Ford made me the happiest man in the world.
And the days only kept getting happier.
“I never stood a chance against you, Ash,” she breathed as we turned, hands clasped, to look out at the familiar faces.
“We never stood a chance against fate, Peaches. She had this planned a long time ago.”
I squeezed her hand, then pulled her against me in a kiss that showed her every important thing I didn’t have the words to say.
Starting with forever.