Page 110 of Finding Lord Landry

“I know.” I pulled him close and cupped his beautiful, dear face. “And that’s what gave me the strength I needed to realize that youaremy dream, and I want my legacy to bethis. You and me. Us. The life we choose, the family we choose, everything we build together. You’ve already helped me accomplish so much, Kenj. Now it’s my turn to supportyou.”

As he stepped up on his toes to kiss me, I felt our love like a promise.

This, here, was our stated vow.

The actual ceremony was quick and cheerful. Each of the guys had volunteered to step forward and say something. Dev went first.

“A strong marriage is not two halves becoming whole, but two wholes growing together.” He nodded solemnly and stepped back.

I tried not to think that it sounded cliché as hell. And uncomfortably familiar.

Silas stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Marriage is not about finding the right person… but becoming the right partner.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Bash gave Silas a serious nod of approval before taking his place. “Like a river and the shore, true partners shape each other with time and grace.”

Foster muttered, “Mostly through years of gentle erosion.”

Were they joking? Had these come from the back of a soda can?

Zane stepped forward. “Love is theseed… but commitment is the garden.”

Ryan reached out and yanked Zane back as everyone tried not to howl with laughter.

Kenji snorted but tried to maintain his composure as the men who were supposed to love me most in the world spewed Chaska Inira bullshit all over my wedding.

Kush Whiteplume, the judge most likely to throw back a beer or three with us on a Saturday night in town, rolled his eyes at Foster before looking back at Kenji and me.

“It’s a blessing to solemnize a relationship in which I’ve been able to witness the, uh…seedflingingfor a couple of years. May you live long and prosper with a sense of humor and a heap of patience. By the power vested in me by the great state of Wyoming, I now pronounce you… two wholes. Growing together. Or whatever the hell Devon said. Now… go on and kiss. You two earned it.”

Everyone burst out laughing as I grabbed myhusbandand kissed him soundly.

Warm puffs of air escaped his nose as he laughed, and I wondered just how many times I’d get to experience such a thing.

“I love you, Kenji.”

“I love you, too.”

A champagne cork popped, followed by a whoop. Way’s sister, Sheridan, and her husband brought out trays of appetizers and champagne glasses while Foster’s mother, Jo, danced around with Lellie in her arms. “With this Ring” by the Platters crooned over the Bluetooth speakers.

Balloons and streamers in birthday colors hung from the ceiling and walls, ostensibly for Lellie’s birthday but in reality for our wedding celebration. They had Kenji’s fastidious nature written all over them, and they were definitely too fresh to have been left over from her birthday party.

Kenji grinned up at me, his arms still wrapped around my waist. “You don’t seem bothered by all this. Just used to me telling you what to do?”

“Maybe,” I mused. “Or maybe I’ll do anything to be in your presence, including getting ambushed into marriage before giving a sit-down interview with one of the most intimidating media personalities alive today.” I narrowed my eyes. “Speaking of, how did you get Anna Kincaid to Majestic, Wyoming, on such short notice, anyway?”

“Zane called in a favor with Jude Marian,” he admitted as someone pulled us apart long enough to shove glasses into our hands. “Apparently, she did his original coming out interview, and they stayed in touch.”

“Speech!” Tully cried.

Bash and Silas gave their vocal agreement, and Dev pulled out his phone to take pictures.

I wrapped my arm around Kenji’s waist. “I’d like to say thank you to everyone for pulling this together so quickly. Thank you to Judge Whiteplume for the incredibly expedited paperwork.” I shot him a wink, earning an eye roll and a grudging nod. “Thank you to Foster for being a rock-solid witness at our, ah,Decemberceremony. And mostly, thank you to my beloved husband, Kenji, for always rescuing me from the many scrapes I get into.” I lifted my glass. “Including this one.”

Kenji’s cheeks darkened as I gazed at him and continued, “Did you know lobsters shed their shells to grow? In the meantime, they’re left vulnerable. Their mate holds them and protects them until it’s over.” Just as his eyes softened, I grinned. “And then they mate for several days.”

Everyone groaned and clinked glasses while Kenji grabbed the front of my sweater and pulled me in for a punishing kiss.

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