“If you aren’t going to do this for me or Thatcher or yourself, do it for Thayer. You will never get to spend time with him like he deserves if you’re drunk all the time.”

I threw the half-crumpled brochures that had been stored in my purse for weeks, the edges frayed and tattered, onto the driver’s seat of my dad’s truck. I helped decorate earlier for the wedding and had ran to our place to let Echo out once more before the ceremony. When I got back to the church, my father was nowhere to be seen, but I spotted my mother in the passenger seat of his fancy truck discreetly sipping on one of her drinks of choice.

“Oh Grace, don’t be so melodramatic. It’s a shooter. Hardly enough.”

“That’s your problem. It’s two in the afternoon. You’re going to a wedding! You can’t stay sober for a day?” When she rolled her eyes at me and looked away, I backed away from the driver’s seat. “I can’t deal with you. Not now. Maybe never. Don’t call me again for help. Until you do some research and get help, I don’t want anything to do with you.”

I pushed myself away from the truck and floated toward the church. A large, heavy rock had been taken off my shoulders because I was endlessly bogged down with her issues and with sure steps, I made my way inside.

I quickly changed into my dress and double-checked my reflection in the mirror, making sure I looked perfect. The dress was slung in a plunging neckline, and for the first time in a long time, I felt confident at my reflection in the mirror. I wore a dress where some of my cleavage showed, but I felt neither self-conscious or embarrassed. They looked perfect. For the first time in my adult life, I wore a strapless bra.

They looked perfect.

I looked perfect.

My hair was piled high on my head into a large, messy bun and my make-up had been done up by Rachel—Lone Star’s owner of Babies, Brides and Boys—a salon that catered to all genders at any point in their lives. It didn’t have to be brides, but the name had a certain ring to it.

I glossed my lips, puckered them and smacked them together, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

“Grace, are you in there?”

My heart kicked up a notch as Maverick’s deep voice came from the other side of the door.

“I’m here. Don’t come in. I’m not quite ready.”

“Hurry up, woman. What more could you possibly have to do?”

“It takes a lot to look beautiful,” I joked.

I turned to the door knowing full-well Maverick wouldn’t wait like I asked. The door swung open and Maverick stood on the other side, breathtakingly handsome in dark as night pants that were tailored perfectly to his strong thighs. A matching jacket that was specifically made to fit his chiseled arms and broad back. My rugged biker wore his suit like a second skin.

Damn, did he look good enough to eat.

“You really need to not look so handsome in a tuxedo. Then I could be upset you didn’t listen to me.”

“Princess, I knew what was waiting for me and I couldn’t hold out any longer. This couldn’t hold out any longer.”

I glanced at his obvious erection in his tuxedo pants as he palmed himself and I cocked an eyebrow in surprise.

“You really think it’s a good idea to have sex in the church’s Sunday school classroom?”

“Best fucking idea I’ve had all day.”

He pulled me into his arms, pressing tightly into my body. He was all strength and heat as his lips slipped over mine and he slid his tongue in my mouth.

“You wearing panties?” he murmured against my lips.

“Hmmmm, no,” I answered, my hands already fumbling with his black belt.

In nanoseconds, I was sitting on the edge of a Sunday school table and Maverick was inside of me. His large hands gripped my ass cheeks as he impaled himself into my wetness. Slow and sure strokes filled me completely. I held on to his arms as they flexed beneath my palms.

“Wider,” he demanded as he helped adjust my legs so my knees were bent and spread eagle as far as I could go.

The table tipped with every heavy push of his body into mine and I knew, even though this wasn’t our wedding, that Maverick and I would be joined together for as long as we lived. A few more thrusts, his breathing heavy in my ear and I came all over his cock just as he convulsed inside of me.

“Oh my god, every time it just gets better and better.” I breathed against his chest.

“You had doubts?” he gave me that cocky grin of his.

“It’s more of a surprise of how lucky I am than not knowing what you pack in that body of yours.”

He laughed and we cleaned ourselves up and moved the table back into its proper position. Once I was certain we were both ready, I placed my hand into his.

“Come on, Princess. Let’s go to a wedding.”

“Is everyone here already?”

“No, there were a few people milling around when I came looking for you.”

Miranda and Ryan’s wedding reception was being held at the community center which was within walking distance from the church. Everyone Ryan and Miranda knew would be attending the wedding and if we didn’t hurry along, she would kill us. Not having a lot of friends, Miranda had asked if I would stand up with Maverick because he was one of the groomsmen. Abby was the maid-of-honor and Brianna, Miranda’s soon-to-be-sister-in-law, was another bridesmaid.

Walking down the hall of the church, Maverick’s warm hand gripping mine, I heard Thatcher’s deep rumble of laughter and Abby’s squeal of excitement coming out of the bathroom doorway. My breath caught in my throat as we approached the slightly open door.

His arms were wrapped around her, her feet high off the ground as he spun her around, nuzzling his head into her hair and placing kisses all along her neck and cheek. Her hands were threaded through his chestnut hair, a wide smile plastered on her face.

“Oh my gosh, she’s pregnant,” I knew. My eyes glistened with happiness for them and suddenly I felt like an intruder on such a joyous moment. I glanced at Maverick, who was in a daze as well, and my heart hurt at what he must be feeling for the loss of Candi and Corey.

I tugged his hand, “Come on, let’s go.”

He glanced at me and I was surprised to see the sparkle of unshed tears in his eyes, too. He squeezed my hand, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

“You good?”

“I’m good, Gracie. Come on.”

A few steps away from the happy couple, he tugged me into an enclave off the main hallway and tingles spread through my body as he pressed a firm kiss on my lips, awareness already humming low in my belly.

“You know how you said you wanted two kids?”

“Yes, I do. You told me you did, too, Maverick.”

“Two isn’t going to do. I want more than two. I want more than three. If you’re going to be their mother, we have to have at least three. No, four. At least four.”

“Four kids?” I squawked.

“Mmmm-hmmm,” he kissed my mouth again but this time he did it slow and less demanding. “At least four, Princess. And I say we get started right away.”

I placed my hand on his chest, flattered by his admission. “We aren’t married, we have to wait until we’re married before we have any kids.”

“Fucking fine. Marry me then, Gracie. Marry me yesterday. I want a family with you. I’ve been denying myself too long.”

“Is that your proposal?” I countered, arching my brow.

“Yes, fuck yes.” He sunk to his knees and pressed his face into my stomach, “Marry me, Grace. I will spend the rest of my life making you happy and being the best father to our four kids. I will buy you a ring tomorrow. In fact, let’s skip the reception and drive into Deer Creek and find one tonight.”

My pulse thumped and those damn tears welled in my eyes once more. “Okay, but can we wait awhile first? See how all of this works out with Echo and I living with you?” I said because that was all I could manage as tears spilled down my cheeks and Maverick jumped up and pulled me into his arms much like Thatcher had just done to Abby.

“Anything you want. I love you, baby.”

“I love you. You know, when we get married, Echo is going to have to be in the wedding, right? I think it’s only fitting since she brought us together.”