Page 125 of Sweet Like Whiskey

Lovehimthat way.

“You look handsome, Jack,” I tell my fiancé.

“Too much jewelry,” he mutters.

“Nah. I think it’s just right.”

Jackson tucks a strand of my hair back. “You’re stunning.”

Pretty sure my heart is trying to fly out of my chest. “You like the boots?”

He looks down, a smile on his face. “Sure do. They’re a perfect fit.”

Somehow, I know he’s not talking about the size.

When Jackson’s gaze returns to mine, my breath catches, the same way it did the first time I locked eyes with this man. And many, many times since then.

“Can I marry you now, Ashley Alcott? It feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this.”

“And what if I’m getting cold feet?” I tease.

“You’re not,” he says, so sure. “You’d have run far before now if that was the case. You’re not going anywhere.”

He’s absolutely right about that.

I take hold of Jackson’s hand, giving him a squeeze. “Yeah, Jack. Let’s get married.”

My mom gives me a nod when I signal to her that we’re ready. Neither Jackson nor I cared much about custom when it came to planning our wedding day. We’re not the flashy types; Jackson was right about that. Our ceremony consists of a small gathering, just our families, friends, and the folks from theranch. Everyone takes their seats now in front of the mountains, the river snaking along our left.

I couldn’t have dreamed up anything better.

The officiant waits up front, with Jackson’s brothers standing off to one side and Virginia on the other. My heart swoops in my chest as our music starts to play, and my hand tightens on Jackson’s.

“Ready?” I ask.

Bright blue eyes meet mine. “Ready for anything with you.”

Damn sentimental man.

Jackson and I walk down the grassy aisle together as Cat Stevens’s “The Wind” plays softly from speakers nearby. I never would have guessed years ago when I was dragging my suitcases behind me, the mountains waiting ahead, that I’d find my home right here in the small town of Darling, Montana. I wouldn’t have guessed I’d find my own cowboy, that I’d fit here with him.

But sometimes our trajectory in life isn’t what we expect. And I think that can be a good thing. I haven’t once regretted my decision to up and travel west without a solid plan.

Not when it led me here.

When we reach the front of the aisle, the music that will forevermore remind me of the sun and the mountains comes to a close. Colton shoots Jackson what I assume is supposed to be a surreptitious thumbs-up, and I huff a laugh, meeting Virginia’s gaze on the opposite side of the officiant. The tears in her eyes have me pulling in a shuddering breath.

Jackson and I separate to stand opposite one another, the breeze blowing gently and rustling the taller grasses at the edge of the water. For just a moment, everything is still and hushed, Jackson’s eyes holding mine.

I wish I could say every moment of our wedding is one that gets seared into my memory, locked away timelessly for me torevisit again and again. But that’s simply not the truth. Jackson fills my vision, leaving everything else hazy in my periphery.

I remember the important moments, though. Like our vows. I remember the way Jackson’s eyes begin to water as he speaks. I remember how his voice trembles.

“Ash,” he says hoarsely, his emotions already overwhelming him. “When I was a little boy, I used to run around this ranch, exploring every nook and cranny. I never got sick of it, and I remember thinking surely there was nowhere on Earth as perfect as this. And then…then I met you.”

Ah, God.

Jackson takes in an uneven breath, composing himself. My own smile wobbles.

---