In the early fall, on the back patio of his newly finished home in the Texas Hill Country outside of Austin, Gage stood in front of Sophie, her hands in his and counted his blessings. Dressed in white, with a frothy veil pulled back from her face and her gorgeous blond hair swept up in layers of swirls and curls, she couldn’t have been more beautiful.

Gage Jenkins, the last confirmed bachelor to take the plunge into marriage, couldn’t be happier.

He and Sophie had flown to Rip and Casey’s destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas and Jesse and Rachel’s wedding in a quaint little chapel in Fredericksburg, Texas. Rachel’s dress had done a good job of hiding her baby bump. She’d been a radiant bride, but nothing compared to Sophie, at least in Gage’s eyes.

As he stood before his strong, talented, beautiful bride, he slipped the ring on her finger, repeating the words the preacher quoted. “I, Gage Jenkins, promise to love, honor and cherish you until death us do part.” Then he added, “I love you, Sophie Keaton with all of my heart.”

She slipped his wedding band on his ring finger and repeated the preacher’s words. “I, Sophie Keaton, promise to love, honor and cherish you until death us do part.” Her voice came out firm and clear. She added to the end, “I love you, Gage Jenkins, to the moon and back. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

The preacher smiled and completed the ceremony with, “By the powers vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

A cheer rose from the gathering of friends and family.

Gage heard it as if from a distance as he gathered his bride into his arms and claimed her lips in a long, soul-defining kiss that left them both breathless and laughing.

When he turned with his bride to face the members of his unit, the Texas Billionaire’s Club and their brides, he couldn’t believe he’d actually found the woman of his dreams, and all according to the plan he and his friends had laid out way back when they’d been poor college students, barely able to afford food for the week. They’d all done it with a year to spare.

Everyone crowded around the newlyweds, congratulating them. Beer and wine were passed around for toasts.

When someone handed Sophie a glass of champagne, she held up her hand. “Thank you, but I can’t.”

Her brother, Bryce, stepped in with a wine glass full of sparkling liquid.

She shook her head. “Really, I can’t have any alcohol.”

Gage frowned. “Since when don’t you drink wine and champagne?”

Bryce grinned. “No worries, Sis. This is sparkling grape juice. I take it you haven’t told him.”

Gage’s frown deepened. “Told me what?”

Sophie touched her flat belly and smiled, her joy spreading across her face. “I’m pregnant.”

The shock of her announcement made Gage stagger back a step, and the blood rushed from his head. He bent and rested his hands on his knees, waiting for the fog to clear. When it did, he straightened, a rush of the purest happiness threatened to steal his breath away yet again. “You’re…”

She nodded. “Pregnant.”

He cupped her elbow and looped an arm around her waist. “Shouldn’t you be sitting down? Are you feeling okay? Do you know what it is? Holy hell, I’m going to be a father!”

Again, he swayed.

Jesse’s wife, Rachel, leaned toward her husband. “Get the man a chair before he faints.”

Jesse snatched a chair from the rows of chairs set up for the wedding guests and positioned it behind Gage. Then with a gentle, but firm, hand on his shoulder, he guided Gage into the chair. “Hey, buddy, sit before you fall.”

Gage looked up at Jesse in a daze. “I’m pregnant.’

Everyone laughed and cheered.

Rachel enveloped Sophie in a hug. “I’m so glad our two babies will grow up together.”

Tanner’s wife Janine held up her hand. “Make that three.”

“What?” Tanner’s face turned white. “We’re—

She nodded. “Pregnant.”

Jesse ran for another chair and shoved it into the backs of Tanner’s legs, forcing him to sit.

Rip laughed. “Something must be in the water. We weren’t going to say anything, since this is Gage and Sophie’s day.” He pulled Casey into the curve of his arm. “Casey and I are expecting as well.”

When Jesse grabbed for a chair for Rip, Rip held up his hand. “I’ve already gone through the shock. I don’t need a chair.”

Toasts were made with whatever libation the guests chose and laughter was abundant.

Sergeant Schott, First Sergeant Horton, and Private Johnson exchanged high-fives and stood back like proud poppas.

First Sergeant Horton lifted his beer. “I’d like to propose a toast to the captain and the lieutenant. May you have a long and exciting life together.”

“Here! Here!”

Sergeant Schott added, “We knew you two were meant to be together.”

Tanner, Jesse and Rip shook hands with the members of Gage’s unit, congratulating them on their matchmaking skills.

Gage glanced around the gathering of his family and friends. He’d never been happier in his entire life. For so long, he’d felt his life was incomplete, but he hadn’t been able to put his finger on why that was. Now he knew without a doubt, what had been missing. He pulled Sophie onto his lap and hugged her to him.

She clasped his face between her hands and smiled down at him. “Gage Jenkins, you make my life complete.”

“No, sweetheart, you complete me. You’ve made me so very happy. Will you be my wife and the mother of my children?”

She laughed and kissed him. “I already am, babe. I already am.”