Page 55 of Courageous Yearnings

“While I’m intrigued, I’m already heading out the front door to the truck and will be home in ten minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Oh, and heads up… we’re going to have an audience. My team is coming to celebrate with us.”

“Can one of them record the entire moment on video?” she asked, remembering his request and she wanted both of them to be able to look back on this moment forever.

“Absolutely, Boop,” he whispered emotionally. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. See you soon, darling.”

As they walked into the courthouse, Blythe felt Lance take her hand and he gave it a small squeeze. She looked at his profile, saw him swallow visibly as he stared straight ahead and almost said something… only to feel someone tap on her shoulder only a second before she was enveloped in a hug from behind.

“Everyone gets a hug 'cause you marry my bro, that makes you my sister…”

“Dude, Lance is gonna beat your…”

“Hey, now. Don’t hurt her…”

“My turn for a hug…”

“Bros with the hose, boyyyy…”

“Guys…”

“Just huggin’, ain’t nobody coppin’ a feel of your bride – although…”

“Alec!”

“The dude has a point, you know…”

“Austin! Seriously? What would Sabine say?”

“She'll say she’s pretty too – and then she’d probably yank me out the door.”

“Because Sabine is on bedrest and pregnant with your child – again.”

“Gosh, I love baby bellies. Now, move over. Welcome to the family, Mrs. Lance.”

“Nope. Mrs. Cortes.”

“Wait, we call Justin’s wife ‘Mrs. Justin’ but we aren’t calling Lance’s wife ‘Mrs. Lance’?”

“Come to think of it, how come you don’t call Reyna ‘Mrs. Kyle’…?”

“Or Beth ‘Mrs. Chase’…?”

“Are you seriously asking this when they just called their names?”

“Wait,” Lance blurted out, his eyes widening as he looked at Blythe, who was currently getting hugged again blindly by another set of arms. Half of them smelled like barbecue, and the other half smelled like soap – all of them a sea of smiling faces that blurred together. “They did? Guys, would you all pipe down for a second and let go. Justin, can you record this for me? Here – take my phone!”

Blythe felt Lance pry her out of someone’s arms, heard laughter, and saw his grumbly yet proud frown as he pulled her forward into his own arms, silently saying ‘Mine!’ before walking her to the front.

“Cortes and Monroe party?”

“Yes, sir,” they answered in unison before sharing a look and smiling at each other. She saw Lance’s eyes rove over her and knew she looked nice, but this man certainly stole the show.

He was dressed from head to toe in a black suit that was emblazoned with a badge and regalia that looked so incredibly good. Large brass buttons held his formal coat together, making it formfitting and only served to make his already lean body look even more trim beneath those bulky shoulders. She had never thought she was a ‘shoulder girl’ – but seeing him in his uniform, dressed like this?

Mind. Changed.

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