Page 172 of Love Me Reckless

When Sofie emerges on Rowdy’s arm, the crowd gives a collective “Ohhhh.”

Across from me, Zach releases a sharp breath and swallows hard. Sawyer puts a hand on his shoulder, and Zach reaches across his chest to grasp it, his eyes locked on his bride.

Rowdy’s handsome face is tense with emotion, but his eyes are bright with joy. He and Sofie make the slow advance down the aisle, then Rowdy plants a kiss on Sofie’s cheek and whispers something in her ear. She smiles, her eyes glistening. They share a sweet embrace, Rowdy’s eyes closing for an instant before he releases her. And then Sofie takes the final steps to join Zach beneath the arch.

Zach wipes a tear from his eye before taking both her hands. Sofie has to let go of one hand to wipe at her cheek, and they both laugh.

And then they lock eyes, and the world beyond our intimate circle falls away.

Sawyer twirls me around again,making me dizzy, thenwraps his arms around me from behind, our bodies rocking in time to the music.

“I love holding you,” he says in that low tone, sending goosebumps down my arms.

“Kiss me,” I say, and turn my face toward his. I close my eyes as our lips touch. We’re both breathing hard from the dancing, so he’s quick to break away but his hands glide to my hips, his grip firm and sensual.

He spins me to face him, and I wrap my arms around his neck. We kiss again, the music and swish of fabric from the guests nearby fading to a happy buzz in my ears. Sawyer pulls me closer, our bodies moving together. We’re warm from the summer night and the dancing, which only seems to intensify my craving for his touch. Anticipation zips beneath my skin.

The song ends, and Barb Hutton steps up to the microphone. “Time for the bouquet toss! Let’s get all our single ladies up front.”

Cheers erupt from the sea of guests.

Sawyer pinches my bottom, making me yelp in delight. “You heard the woman.”

I send him a snarky glare but weave through the crowd to join the others.

Ava sidles up next to me. “This is such a silly tradition. I mean, why not include the single guys up here too? Why make it a big deal if women are single? I’m perfectly happy being single.”

I give her a sideways glance, taking in her flushed cheeks and the feisty gleam in her eye. “Does this have something to do with the fact that you and Hutch have been inseparable all night?”

“What?” She scowls. “No, of course not.”

“I’m glad you two made up.”

She laughs, her expression so carefree, so… joyful. “He’s impossible to stay mad at.”

I scan the crowd for Hutch, and sure enough, he is fixed on Ava, a tense look of yearning on his face. “Wait, are you two?—?”

The crowd counts down, “1, 2, 3…”

Sofie tosses her bouquet over her head. Arms reach into the air as the flowers lob into space. A shriek of surprise rings through the crowd as the flowers land to our left. William’s girlfriend Charlotte hoists them, a goofy grin on her face. Zach grabs William in a headlock and the two tussle at the edge of the crowd, both of them laughing.

The music starts up again, getting people mingling and dancing again. I turn to find Sawyer just as he reaches for my hand.

“No bouquet for you, huh?” he asks, a playful gleam in his eye.

I shrug and give him an easy smile. “Guess not.”

Once our fingers lock, he leads me through the crowd. We leave the tent for the meadow, the grass trimmed for the ceremony but the surrounding hillsides lush with wildflowers and golden grasses catching the last of the sun’s glow. The heat of the evening is fading just as fast, sending goosebumps down my back.

“Where are we going?” I ask, though I don’t really care.

“Here,” he says, glancing up before pulling me into his arms. I follow his gaze to the darkening expanse of open sky above us, the stars winking to life one by one.

“So pretty,” I say.

“Sure is.” Sawyer caresses my hair from my forehead and combs it down my back. “Last winter, on clear mornings, I would look for your queen up there.”

I smile. “I love that.” I scan the sky until I find the distinctive ‘W’ of Cassiopeia on her throne, watching over us.

---