On some level, Nick knew maybe he should have waited to declare his love until they were alone, but he couldn’t help himself because he’d already waited more than eight years. There was no way he was going to wait even one more second. It was only after he finally managed to break away from kissing Missy that he had a moment to think about what he’d just done.

Jake was going to kill him.

Nick could only hope that he waited until the end of his wedding reception. Because if Jake didn’t finish the job, Jenny would.

Hoping for a quick escape outside, or somewhere else where they could avoid the questions and comments that were sure to come from friends and family, Nick took Missy’s hand and led her off the dance floor. “Do you want to get out of here?” He could see in her eyes that there was nothing she would like more, but he also knew Missy. She wouldn’t shirk her duties as maid of honor, no matter how much she wanted to. “Maybe just for a minute?”

She smiled, relief on her face. He would never make her choose between her family and him. He would never again do anything that would cause her pain. “I think it would be okay if we escaped for a breath of fresh air before the cake cutting.”

“Perfect.” He kissed her quickly on the cheek, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms again. “I’ll just go get us a quick refreshment. I’ll be right back, okay, Marissa?”

She nodded, but grabbed his hand before he could leave. “One more thing.” Nick couldn’t help but feel a small surge of panic, but he listened anyway. “Can you call me Missy again? I kind of like it.”

He burst out laughing. “Of course.” And then he couldn’t help himself. He pulled her close and gave her a deep kiss. “I’ll call you anything you like as long as I get to call you mine.”

“You sweet talker, you.” She laughed and it was the sweetest sound. “Now go get me that drink.”

Nick was happy to do as she requested. He moved as if he were floating. Never in his life had he felt so light and so...in love. He was so distracted as he ordered a bottle of champagne and two glasses, that he didn’t notice as Jake walked up beside him until he leaned on the counter, staring directly at him.

“So,” Jake said. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

The feeling of lightness vanished as Nick turned to face his best friend. Jake had always made his feelings about dating his sister very clear. Was he about to lose the family he’d grown to love as his own? He swallowed hard. It was a risk he was willing to take.

Besides, there was no way he could turn back now.

Nick swallowed hard, straightened his shoulders and told Jake what he should have told him eight years earlier. “I’m in love with your sister. Unbelievably, irrevocably, and completely in love with her.”

Jake didn’t respond and for a moment, Nick was afraid he might punch him right there in the middle of his wedding reception. Finally, he said, “I see. And how long has this been going on?”

His answer was simple. “As long as I can remember.”

Jake nodded slowly. “I see...no!” He shook his head. “I don’t see at all. What the hell, Nick? What’s going on?”

“I love her, Jake. I always have and she loves me. I tried for so long not to feel the way I do, but it’s no use and seeing her again...I won’t let her get away. I’m sorry if that means you don’t want to see me. I’m sorry if that ruins everything between us—I really am. But I have never felt this way about another woman, and I know I never will again. She’s it for me, man. Missy is everything. I can’t pretend anymore that I can live without her, because I can’t.”

Again, Jake was silent, but there was nothing else Nick could do or say. He’d laid it all out and he’d meant every word.

“Okay,” Jake said after what felt to Nick like forever. “I’m not going to pretend I’m totally okay with it. I mean, not yet. It’s weird and...she’s my sister. But if you love her that much, that’s all I could ever ask for for my little sister. You’re a good man, Nick. The best there is. If you love her even half as much as you just said, there’s no way I’m going to stand in the way of it. Besides, now you’ll be my brother for real.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, man.” But the idea wasn’t so farfetched. There was no doubt in Nick’s mind that he’d slip a ring on Missy’s finger the first chance he could.

Nick pulled his best friend into a man hug and slapped his back. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For understanding.” He gave Jake one more slap on the back before he pulled back. “I didn’t mean to spring this on you on your wedding day, but it just couldn’t wait.”

“It’s all good.” Jake laughed.

“Can you believe it took him so long?” Alan’s voice sounded behind him, and Nick turned to see the man he loved as a father there.

“What are you talking about?”

“Nick.” Alan laughed. “We saw it years ago.” He shook his head. “We were just waiting for you to figure it out.”

He shook his head. There was no way they had known about his feelings for Missy. And... “What do you mean, you all saw it? Who are you talking about?”

“Remember when I told you I was worried there might be something going on?” Jake jumped in. “Mom tried to say something to me about it once, a long time ago, but...” Jake shook his head.

“He refused to see it,” Alan said. “I think mostly, he just didn’t want to see it.”

“True.” Jake shrugged.

“But Patrice and I saw it years ago.”

Nick’s head spun. “Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“It had to be you, Nick,” Alan said. “You had to see it.”

Nick looked at Jake, who shrugged. “I guess you finally saw it.” He squeezed Nick’s shoulder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my wife. Damn, it feels good to say that.”

When he was gone, Alan shook his hand. “You have our blessing, son.” He gave him a quick hug before he, too, walked away.

It took Nick a second to process everything he’d just heard before he grabbed the bottle and glasses from the bar and headed back to where he’d left Missy by the door.

It may have taken him awhile for his eyes to open completely, but now that they were, he had no intention of ever closing them. And that was a promise he fully intended to make to Missy the second he had the chance.

---

As much as she never wanted to be out of his arms again, it turned out to be a good thing when Nick excused himself to go get them a drink. After everything that had happened on the dance floor, she needed a minute to catch her breath.

Had he really just declared his love?

Yes.

That’s exactly what he’d done. And she’d done the same and it was going to be okay.

She didn’t even bother to hide her smile as she looked out over the wedding reception that she stood on the edge of. She’d never been happier in her life. And then she turned to see Nick, Jake, and her dad talking at the bar. Her heart fell for a moment but then she saw the hug and her brother’s ridiculously huge smile. Relief washed through her. When her dad shook Nick’s hand, she thought her heart might explode with happiness.

It would be okay.

It would be more than okay.

A moment later, her dad walked away, but not before winking in her direction, and then Nick was on his way back to her with a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

“How about we get some of that fresh air now?” he asked when he reached her.

“Absolutely.” She pushed the door open and held it as he walked out into the mountain air. Marissa inhaled deeply. There was something about the mountains, or maybe it was just Castle Mountain Lodge. Whatever it was, standing outside in the slightly chilly air made her feel good. Really good.

But not as good as it felt when Nick put the drinks on a table and wrapped his arms around her again.

“How are you feeling?” He traced a finger down her cheek and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“Like I’m in a dream.” It was absolutely the truth.

“I promise.” He kissed her sweetly. “You’re wide awake.”

And that was the best part.

The music drifted out through the glass doors and Nick took her hand, leading her in a slow dance, despite the fast beat. When the song finished, he poured them each some champagne and raised a glass to make a toast.

Marissa raised hers as well, but when Nick didn’t say anything right away, she giggled nervously. “To us?”

He shook his head. “I was going to toast to us but it seems kind of wrong not to toast to the happy couple, don’t you think?”

She took a step toward him to close the distance and clinked his glass gently. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong to toasting to all the happy couples.”

“Agreed.”

They clinked again and both drank deeply before he once again wrapped his arm around her and prepared to kiss her again. It was as if now that they’d finally confessed their feelings he couldn’t get enough of her, and that was perfectly okay with her.

Marissa closed her eyes and leaned in, prepared to lose herself in the sweet bliss that was kissing Nick, knowing he felt the same way she did.

But she didn’t get that kiss. The sound of a clearing voice shattered the moment. “I don’t mean to interrupt.”

Marissa’s eyes opened at the sound of her mother’s voice. Like a teenager being caught out, she took a step away from Nick. But his hand shot out and held hers.

Her dad’s lips turned up into a wry grin, but he didn’t say anything. “They’re getting ready to cut the cake in there and I thought you might not want to miss it.”

Marissa nodded and with her free hand, smoothed down her dress. “Thanks, Mom. We’ll be right in.”

“I’d tell you to take your time, but...” He winked and disappeared inside.

As soon as he was gone, Marissa laughed. “Do you think she suspected anything?”

“I sure hope so.” Nick pulled her hand and spun her into a quick kiss. “I’m done pretending I don’t love you. I want everyone to know. I want to shout it out and I promise you right here and now, I’ll never again make the mistake of not feeling each and every one of my feelings for you all the time.” He kissed her again. “And, more importantly, I’ll make sure you know exactly what all of those feelings are. And that’s a promise.”

“I believe you.” And she did. With all of her heart, she believed every word he said. “Now, let’s get in there before they send out a search party.”

The cake cutting, like everything else Jenny had planned, was perfect. Especially the way she smashed an icing-covered piece right on her groom’s nose. While the kitchen staff was preparing and slicing the rest of the cake, the DJ announced the bouquet toss. Marissa usually snuck off the dance floor and tried to hide during the traditional toss, but with Nick by her side, and her mother smiling at her across the dance floor, this time she made her way out to the dance floor with all the other single women, including Jenny’s cousins, some old school friends and the requisite children.

She felt silly as the music started to play, but when she turned and saw Nick watching her carefully, those feelings vanished. She turned forward again as Jenny, her back to the crowd, raised her arms behind her head in preparation and then turned and walked directly to Marissa, where she put the bouquet in her hands before kissing her on the cheek. “It’s about time,” she whispered in her ear.