Page 142 of When We Burn

“I’m ready.” I gather my bouquet of red and white poinsettias, and Holden offers me his arm, then leads me out of the room.

“I love you,” he murmurs as we reach the end of the aisle, and I take everything in. There are no fewer than ten huge Christmas trees, all decorated perfectly. Lights are strung, giving off a soft, Christmas glow.

And don’t even get me started on the stunning garland.

It looks like Santa Claus threw up in here, and it’s absolutely amazing.

“I love you more,” I whisper to him, and then my eyes move up the aisle to where my love waits for me, and my heart feels like it’s going to burst.

I didn’t want to do afirst lookmoment for the photographer before the ceremony. I wanted Bridger’sfirst sight of me to be right now, when I’m on my brother’s arm, walking down the aisle to him.

And when I see his eyes get shiny, I know it’s totally worth it.

Bridger bites his lip and then brushes a tear away as Holden and I stop just a few steps away from him.

“Who gives this woman to this man?”

“I do,” Holden replies, and then he kisses my cheek. He reaches out and shakes Bridger’s hand before he sits next to Millie in the front row.

With Bridger’s hand in mine, I face him, and in front of everyone we know and love, we exchange traditional vows that have me choking up.

“As long as we both shall live,” I finish, my smile bright because I’msoready for this next part.

“By the power vested in me by the state of Montana, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride, Chief.”

Bridger grins, leans in, covers my mouth with his, and kisses me so long and slow that there are catcalls in the audience.

“I’m so desperately in love with you, Mrs. Blackwell,” he whispers against my lips as the room erupts in applause.

“I love you, too,Chief.”

His eyebrow pops up at that, and a slow smile spreads over his lips, making my core tighten and my panties damp with anticipation. “Oh, kitten. You know better than that.”

Epilogue

BECKETT BLACKWELL

Just when things start to look up at the ranch, something happens to fuck it all up. That seems to be the trend these days, and it’s stressing me the fuck out.

“I’m going into town for one hour,” I tell Brad, my ranch foreman. “I need just one damn hour, and then I’ll be back.”

“You got it, boss,” Brad says with a nod. “I can handle it.”

I peel off my gloves and toss them onto my desk. Grabbing my keys, I get into my truck and head for town. I want a coffee, and while I’m there, I’ll check in on my baby sister. Between Bee and Millie, I’ll get a laugh, and it’ll make me forget about asshole vacationers and equipment that doesn’t want to work like it should.

Equipment that’s costing me too much fucking money.

“Not thinking about it.” I shake my head as I driveinto Bitterroot Valley and then park in front of the coffee shop that’s right next door to Billie’s Books, my sister’s place.

First, caffeine.

The bell over the door dings as I walk into the coffee shop, and Millie grins at me with a wave.

“Hey, Beck. How’s it going?”

It’s the shittiest day so far this week.But I don’t say that. Instead, I nod and give her a grin. “It’s all right. How are things in here?”

“Hopping,” she replies and passes me the coffee that I didn’t even have to order because she knows what I like. “Even though the resort burned down in November, there are still a lot of tourists in town for the holidays, and that seems to be extending into January.”

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