Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Piper waves away my concerns. “These women are miracle workers. As soon as they’re done, we’ll start on your hair and makeup.”
An hour later, I’m seated in front of a big vanity while my hair and makeup stylist work their magic.
“How did you meet your husband?” I ask Piper. I know that she’s married to Gray, the man who runs the Forever After Lodge. It’s been in his family for generations.
Piper tells me that she used to be a police dispatcher in another town when she came here on vacation. “The first thing I did was come face-to-face with a black bear.” She laughs. “Fortunately, Gray was there and he rescued me.”
Her eyes mist over when she says that. “After years of writing romance books, I found my real-life fairytale.”
“When did he tell you he first loved you?”
She thinks for a minute and says, “Probably about a week after we met. He was standing in the police station after he’d been tackled by my brother’s officers. He told me how much he loves me. But more than that, Gray shows me every day how much he cares for me and our son. He’s always doing a million little things to make us smile. Always looking for ways to make our lives easier and better. He takes care of us.”
I smile at her, some of the tightness in my chest easing. Roman has never said he loves me, but like Gray, he shows me he cares. But is it love? Maybe my feelings run deeper than his. Maybe I’m the only one in love here.
Ivy lets out a soft sniffle. “That’s so romantic.”
I know she’s thinking of Hale. He comes in and watches her at the dessert shop almost every day, yet he’s never asked her out. I worry that she’s losing hope that he returns her feelings.
“You and Hale will be next,” I tell her. I don’t know how I know that. I know there’s a certainty in my gut. She and Hale are meant to be. He just has to get off of his butt and claim her.
She rolls her eyes and busies herself with fussing over her hair. “I got your purchase to Grizz.”
Grizz is the best man, and he’s already here. He and Roman arrived a few minutes ago for the wedding. I want to go to my groom. I want to see my gruff mountain man, but the girls already talked me out of that three times, insisting that I wait for the big reveal at the wedding.
“Almost there,” the makeup artist says as she puts the final touches on me.
When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize the woman staring back at me. It’s rare that I wear makeup or do anything fancy since I spend my time in the auto garage. But these women have made me look and feel like a queen. Today, this queen is getting married to her perfect man. The one who calls her kitten.
“OK, no tears,” the makeup artist playfully insists as she blots my face with a handkerchief.
There’s a ding on Piper’s phone then she’s grinning. “Everything is in place. Are you ready?”
Ivy clears her throat and straightens to her full height. “It’s archaic because women aren’t property, but I still think you should have someone there to give you away, and that someone should be me.”
She knows. Somehow, Ivy sensed my sadness over having no family here, and she’s stepping into the role without hesitation. Even if my brother were here, I’d still want Ivy to be the one to do it. For the last two years, she’s the one who’s been by my side. It makes sense that she would be the one that would walk me toward the love of my life.
I stand and loop my arm through hers, smiling broadly at her.
It’s a short walk out of the lodge and down the petal-covered path to the white gazebo, but it feels like it takes a century to make that walk. Every slow, measured step brings me closer to the love of my life.
I know the moment he sees me. It’s almost like he lights up from the inside out.
When I reach him, he takes my hands in his and runs his thumb along my skin.
Gray leads us through our wedding vows, and Roman slips a beautiful gold band on my finger. The wedding ring is simple and beautiful, but that’s not all that he’s giving me.
There’s also a huge engagement ring. The diamond is the largest I’ve ever seen, and I’m pretty sure it’s his way of marking me, so every other man in town will know I’m taken. I can’t say that I mind because I feel the same way about him.
I smile at him, my heart overflowing with love. It’s my turn to slip a ring on his hand.