Page 119 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Forbidden King.” I waggled my brows as he kissed my cheek, and we took our places on opposite sides. Everyone gasped as Cutler escorted the flower girl down the aisle. Little Lacey was only three years old, and she was one of Demi’s cousins’ daughters. She took her time dropping one petal at a time, and Cutler did not look happy about it. He kept looking over his shoulder, and I could see Gina waving her hands for him to hurry up.

Cutler patted Lacey on the back before taking the basket from her and dumping the entire bunch of flower petals on the ground, and then he handed her the basket back. Laughter filled the air around us, and I looked up to see Nash shake his head with a big smile on his face.

Romeo didn’t even seem to notice. His gaze was focused down the aisle, waiting for his bride to make her way toward him. The music started, and everyone turned and pushed to their feet.

Demi made her way down the aisle looking like a real, live princess. Her white satin gown had a fitted bodice with spaghetti straps on the shoulders. A full tulle skirt started at the waist and ran to the floor, swooshing around her legs when she walked. A crown sat on her head, holding the veil, and all the stones sparkled in the sun that was shining down.

She was breathtaking.

Romeo had made his way forward a few steps, and I felt a lump form in my throat when I noticed that his eyes were wet with emotion. He just stared down the aisle, like his whole world was at the other end.

I felt a pull calling to me and looked up to see King watching me, and he had the same look in his eyes.

I smiled because the feeling was mutual.

All my life I’d had terrible examples of what love was. My parents’ marriage was an epic failure, and my stepfather was abusive and had been a terrible husband to my mother.

Our home hadn’t been filled with love or laughter.

My brother had done his best to provide that for me. And in a lot of ways, I had him to thank for finding my happily ever after.

As challenging as he had made things, he’d been the force in my life that had urged me to believe that there was a better life out there than what we’d experienced. He’d been the one to remind me every day that I deserved better.

More.

And I’d found it in this beautiful man who set my world on fire. King made me believe that the men in the pages of my romance books actually existed.

He was both an alpha and a cinnamon roll.

The perfect mix of strong and kind.

My attention turned back down the aisle as Demi and her father stood before Romeo.

Romeo shook her father’s hand and then turned to her and did the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. He rubbed his hands down her arms as he shook his head and then placed a hand on each side of her face. “You take my breath away. Thanks for marrying me today, baby.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in sight. And everyone in town was here to celebrate these two. You could feel the love all around.

Pastor Cliff cleared his throat, and Romeo chuckled as he led Demi to stand in front of him.

They’d each written their own vows, and I cried through the entire ceremony. Ruby had handed me some tissue, and by the end, everyone was reaching for a Kleenex.

“And by the power vested in me, you may now kiss your bride,” Pastor Cliff said.

Romeo didn’t hesitate. He dipped her back and kissed her hard as everyone cheered. When he pulled back, Romeo reached for her hand. She paused and glanced over at us and smiled before kicking up her heel and showing off her white cowboy booties.

They led us back down the aisle, and we spent the next hour taking photos, while the rest of the guests were taken to the large tented area for appetizers and cocktails. We made our way over to the tent and lined up to be called in, as music boomed from inside the reception. I wrapped my hand around King’s arm, and he led me in, laughing as we made our way onto the dance floor. We all made a line, and then Romeo and Demi Knight were announced, and I don’t think my feet ever hit the ground as we jumped and cheered.

My breath caught as I watched Romeo spin her around as she beamed up at him.

And before I knew what was happening, King pulled me into his arms, and we swayed back and forth to the music.

We weren’t hiding anymore, and no one seemed surprised to see us together.

“Is this weird for you?” I asked.

“What? Dancing with you?”

“No. Being with just me. I’m sure all the single ladies here are disappointed that you aren’t out there pulling them onto the dance floor,” I teased.

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